Judge, 1923-05-26 · page 2 of 36
Judge — May 26, 1923 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "See America First!" - Judge Magazine Satire This 1922 **Judge** magazine page satirizes a cross-country publicity tour. The Mayor of Yapp's Crossing is traveling by motor-car to the Pacific Coast, accompanied by Johnny Gruelle (Judge's staff artist), to promote domestic tourism with the slogan "See America First!" The satire mocks several targets: skeptics who doubted the trip's authenticity, the inflated promotional hype around a minor town's mayor, and the emerging American auto-tourism culture. The elaborate illustration of the crowded motorcar surrounded by townspeople emphasizes the carnival-like spectacle. The piece presents this as both genuine news (with verified facts) and absurdist humor—poking fun at small-town boosterism and the era's growing obsession with cross-country automobile adventures as markers of American progress.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“SEE AMERICA FIRST!” famous remark, casual by the Mayor of Sounnyy GRve ae s Aptiur Somers Rocue says, it’s a great respon- Just last week JupGe ial arrangements had been com- sibility to be a humorist. announced that spe pleted for JupGe’s Staff Artist, Johnny Gruelle, to the Mayor of widely heralded cross-country-by-motor trip to the accompany Yapp’s Crossing on_ his Pacific Coast. JupGe gave a brief itinerary of the route to be followed and some of the principal cities which the Mayor and his handsome family will honor with their presence. And some folks thought it was all a joke! Some dumbells thought Johnny was just going to hang around Yapp’s Johnny sure can draw, but not on his imagination to that extent. Crossing all summer and_ pretend. So, to prove to all skeptics that it’s all the gospel truth here are the incontrovertible, indisputable, hetero- geneous facts. In the first place, here’s the car. (See picture by JupGe's Staff Artist, Mr. Johnny Gruelle.) That's that! own Left Crossing last Monday and are now crossing the Alle- they through Hon. John Hylan presented the Mayor In the second place, they've started! Yapp’s gheny Mountains. Tuesday passed New York. of Yapp’s Crossing with a golden key, symbolizing the freedom of Broadway. Hon. John Harriss stopped all traffic on Fifth Avenue for 20 minutes. Hon. Will Enright gave him the high signs of all the best gasoline ple All the ships in the harbor tied down their whistles while the Mayors wet theirs. es along Broadway. Perhaps already you have seen them, as they gaily on their way. Perhaps, ere now, they've knocked at your own back door to ask which road to take to The Mayor wired Jupce from Plain Indianapolis. field, N. J., as follows: for me they may: bath in next I had bath | nert who wins dé “Congratulate them Army fliers atlanti night Yapps crossing and pacif st saturday one Unable to determine whether the last’ word implies the loss of one member of the party or was merely for have asked Western Union emphasis we to repeat. We might state further that we particularly asked Mr Johnny Gruelle, JupGe’s Staff Artist, to include the portraits of all bystanders in his pictures of the trip. So don’t be bashful, get right up close. When again will you ever have your picture in print? Extra copies of JupGe containing your picture may be had for 15 cents at any good live newsdealer. Ask him for it and insist on having it, S10 to JupGe (mark personal) and you may have 50 copies. or, send So don’t forget, pictures of the big trip every week in JupGe. See America first for 15 cents a week. ing Dirt” That boy d to say it. Wasn't that humdi And while there’s room. by Arthur Somers Roche mouthful and ain't And he’s got more on his mind; don’t miss it. sure can say a Next week ‘be sure to get that: picture in color. by James Montgomery Flagg, JupGe Staff Artist, of the non-stop dancers. MacDonall, Ralph Barton and John Held, JupGe Staff Artists, are almost among the all-stars All for a mere 15 cents. Ain’t it marvelous? Angus present. City, NvY.c under anell, Treas.: W. D. Gree