Judge, 1922-04-22 · page 7 of 36
Judge — April 22, 1922 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Judge's Radio Page Satire This is a humorous parody of early 1920s radio programming by satirist Donald Ogden Stewart. The joke mocks the mundane, absurdly specific content actually broadcast on radio stations (WJZ, WVP, etc. were real networks). The satire presents deliberately tedious programming: the Smith Brothers reciting "coughs of all nations," lectures on removing fish bones, plumbing business talks, and dictionary readings. It peaks with a Sunday broadcast on "How to Make Gin in the Home"—likely a Prohibition-era joke, since home distilling was illegal during this period (1920-1933). The cartoon image shows people gathered around an early radio, apparently listening to this mediocre content. Stewart's exaggerated program listings mock both radio's novelty and the low-quality, sponsor-driven educational or commercial content that actually dominated early broadcasts, presenting them as simultaneously tedious and absurd.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Judge’s Radio Page Conducted (in Person) by Donald Ogden Stewart sluthor of “A Parody Ontline of History” Next Week’s Radio Programs Monday WJZ (360 meters) 7.00 P.M.—Coughs of all nations—re- cited by the Smith Brothers (in costume). 8.30 P.M.—Plain facts about removing bones from codfish—talk by Mr. Gorton, of the Gorton Codfish Co. WVP (1,460 meters) 7.00 P.M.—Music — “L’Apres Midi d'un Faun”—trombone solo by Fred Rothschild, late of Sousa’s band. 9.30 P.M.—Some Broader Aspects of the Plumbing Business—talk by Mr. Walter Heath, member of the N. Y. bar. Tuesday WGI (360 meters) 7.00 P.M.—Music—Aria from Bec- theven's Fifth Symphony—soprano solo by Miss Maisie Mitch, alto soloist of the New First Church, 10.30 P.M.-How to Remove Tonsils —talk by Dr. Cluff, M.D., a doctor. LISTENING IN Wednesday KDKA (360 meters) 7.00 P.M.—Exhibition of Indian Club swinging by the brothers Vlack, of the N. Y. Hippodrome. 9.30 P.M.—Twenty-five Simple Uses for Scotch whisky—talk by Miss Esther Horton, debutant (1918- 22 Inc.) Thursday WVP (1460 meters) * 7.00 P.M.—Readings from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary—“Auk” to “Axis’—by the Hon. Philemon Colutz, late of Congress. 9.30 P.M.—How we Met the Sewage Disposal Problem in Bucyrus— talk by Mr. Elwall Evartz, former Mayor of Bucyrus. Friday WG! (360 meters) 7.00 P.M.—A Hundred Simple Truths about Mattresses—talk by Mr. George J. Ostermoor, pres. Oster- moor Co. 9.30 P.M.—Demonstration of Ven- triloquism, Legerdemain and Slight of Hand by Prof. Eli Nard of the New York Stage. KDKA (360 meters) 7.00 P.M.—Was Macbeth or Lady Macbeth more to Blame and Why Not?—lecture by Professor Chan- ning Fish. Saturday WJZ (360 meters) 7.00 P.M.—Wrestling Match—Harold (‘Terrible’) Onk vs. Young Smith. 9.30 P.M.—“The Johnstown Flood”— comic recitation by Eddie Van Tyth. Sunday 7.00 P.M.—How to Make Gin in the Home—talk by Judge Cosmo M. Claypool, of the Circuit Court of Appeals. 9.00 P.M.—Sermon — “Thou? Why Not Thee?”—Rev. Elmer McGor- don (see “Dilatory Domiciles”). 11.30 P.M.—Modern Dance Music— 1, Cubanola Glide (one step). 2. Oceana Roll (Castle walk) 3. Good-bye, Girls, I'm Through (Chin-Chin). 4. Poor Butterfly (fox-trot). 5. Y Ga-ga la Va (Maxixe juli- enne). 6. A Clean Tooth Never Decays (valse). 1.30 A.M.—Children’s Bed Time Story-——“What Snoopie the Owl Found Out”—told by Miss Mil- dred Carruthers.