Judge, 1924-01-19 · page 27 of 36
Judge — January 19, 1924 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a domestic comedy sketch and period advertisements. **"Getting Distance" Sketch:** A newly married couple demonstrates how radio technology disrupts household harmony. The husband obsessively tinkers with a radio set, attempting to receive distant broadcasts ("getting distance")—a popular amateur radio hobby of the early wireless era. His wife, relegated to sewing nearby, grows increasingly annoyed by the ugly static and mechanical noise. When he finally receives a transmission from London featuring a bedtime story reader named Mr. Thorn, the wife sarcastically comments that at least she won't need ear muffs that winter, then exits as the story begins "Once upon a time." **The Satire:** The sketch mocks how emerging technology captivates men while excluding and frustrating their wives, inverting domestic priorities. Radio becomes a marital wedge. **Advertisements:** A Fatima cigarette ad and Cortez cigars ad occupy the lower portion—typical period marketing emphasizing product quality through minimal cost differences. The humor derives from radio's novelty status and gender-role tensions in early 20th-century households.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
et rae oe Getting Distance \ Domestic Dialogue Showing the | Relation of the Ethereal Wave | to Marri A TION takes place in the sitting-room fA’ of a young married couple, ‘The room has been arranged to give deference to the radio set. Radio magazines are heaps on the floor about the instrument. husband is intently engaged in adjusting Is on the instrument, while his away from the radio, sews her hus- ppears annoy band’s occupation Husband Af other amateurs can get London, ean. Getting distance is what I want from this baby. Air is quiet to- night. | Instrument emits an ugly asthmatic noise, Wife Sounds as if London has a cold. | Tove these beautiful prelimin tive overtures for tho: bedtime stories. I don’t see why you didn’t buy a book of nursery rhymes in- stead of this thing. Hushand —Keep still, No wonder 1 | can’t get anything good when you con- | stantly disturb me. More ugly noises; much louder than before. su ‘ | Wife So this is London. Your getting distance all right. Tf this doesn’t. im- prove, Pl have to get a little myself. Husband —Battery’s a little low. Wife—Those bedtime stories will run anything down, Husband ignores her and places re- ceiving attachment on his cars. She continues. One good thing, you won't have to buy any car muffs this winter. Husband —Come here quick. _ I believe | I'm getting London. (She rushes to the | horn.) Do you hear t Tnarticulate sounds are Wife Unfortuna ain heard. ely, Tam not both listen intently for a minute voice is heard. Voice Hello, America (husband inter- polates, “I knew ['d get London”). We want radio fans in America to hear this mes elocutionist, is with us to-night and will broadcast from this Pittsburgh station his latest bedtime story. We take please ure in introducing Mr. Thorn. Husband sits dejectedly while his wife bids a hasty good-night. As she leaves the room a voice speaks from the horn, Voice—Once upon a time. sae Diner (who has sent for the manager) — Look here, sir; [have a very serious complaint Manager —Pardon me, sir. This is a restaurant, nota nursing home! —Tit-Bits, ae “When [its a man’e remembers it.” “When [its a man ‘e don’t.’—Pear- ons Weekly. “MADE AT KEY WEST— Mr. Thorn, well-known + “What a whale of a difference just afew cents make” @ CAll the difference between just an ordinary cigarette and the most skillful blend in cigarette history. FATIMA —a mild cigarette Eminent Specialist —So you went to a general prac- titioner. What fool advice did he give you? “Oh, he told me to see a specialist!”