Judge — May 3, 1924 — page 10: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Boys of Our College Stage a Musical Comedy" This Judge satirical page lampoons a college theatrical production by depicting male students in women's chorus costumes—a common practice in early 20th-century college shows where men performed female roles. The humor derives from the physical awkwardness of athletic young men (identified by sports nicknames like "Lefty" Wing, a boxer, and "120-yard" Birch, an athlete) squeezed into revealing female costumes. Each caption highlights a specific comedic complaint: costume malfunctions, wardrobe insufficiency for athletic builds, and the general indignity of wearing such attire. The cartoonist satirizes both the absurdity of cross-dressing theatrical traditions and the contrast between masculine college athletes and feminine performance costumes. This reflects contemporary attitudes toward theatrical gender performance and college culture circa the 1920s.