Judge, 1923-11-10 · page 5 of 36
Judge — November 10, 1923 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Football for the Fair" - Analysis This satirical piece by Fairfax Downey mocks the idea of organizing football games exclusively for women spectators. The cartoon shows a theater manager scolding a comedian for arriving late, with the text below describing an upcoming "ladies-only" football event. The satire targets early 20th-century attitudes about women attending sports. The piece jokes that women would need male escorts to watch football, that they'd wear excessive flowers and jewelry, and that their presence would cause "disturbances." The comedian's excuse—"I feel so funny!"—plays on stereotypes of women as overly emotional. The accompanying dialogue ("A trip is something you take with your wife—a vacation is when you go alone") reinforces period attitudes about gender roles and marital dynamics, making this primarily a satire of contemporary sexism and social conventions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
@ Drawn by GiLuert WILKINSON. Manager of Touring Company to his you ought to have been on three minutes ago! Comedian—'Ere, you on? \! \ Why ain't Comedian—I should only fail, sir. I feel so funny! FOOTBALL FOR THE FAIR Orns to a courageous movement started last fall by a number of long- suffering escorts of ladies to football games, it is reported that one of the big games will be played this season under unique conditions. ‘The grandstands will he filled exclusively with ladies, who will, of course, in gratitude for that occasion, kindly allow their usual escorts to attend the other games alone. The following predictions of outstand- vents at the for-ladies-only game de: age foolish feminine question ique of the game will be passed three times around the circuit of the stands and still remain unanswered. There will disturbances be several by Fairfax Downey throughout the stands. Girls will forget for a moment they are unaccompanied by an escort. They will absent-mindedly snuggle up to the girl next to them, coo- i jittle me is cold.” The reply by ly being crowded will be, “What’: Shove off!” and the fight will be on. Cheering will consist of a : ig-drawn “Ohs,” i s well as some sus} strong language from the stands which will shock the substitutes on the sidelines. About 75,000 odious comparisons of escorts with the gladiators on the gridiron will either be omitted or not so closely made, owing to the absence of the former gentlemen. of shrill More flowers than ever will be worn by the fair spectators—a fact which will draw the unchivalrous suspicion that many of the bouquets were self-presented. The game, shortly before the end of the last quarter, will be declared to be a no- decision affair, the well- founded fear of anxious husbands that their spouses in the stands would indulge in a snake dance and throw their new winter hats over the goal posts. Pn because of Black—I'm going on my annual vaca- tion next week. White—But you went on a long trip a month ago! “A trip is something you take with your wife—a tion is when you go alone.” comicbooks.com