Judge, 1924-10-11 · page 9 of 36
Judge — October 11, 1924 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Explanation for Modern Readers This page from *Judge* magazine contains two satirical pieces: **"Stories from Famous Records"** parodies the opera *Carmen* by modernizing it with 1920s American references. Don Jose becomes a jealous boyfriend, Escamillo the toreador is reimvented as a prize fighter (specifically one who fights boxer Luis Firpo), and Carmen works at a cigarette factory. The satire mocks both opera's melodrama and contemporary boxing/sports culture. The accompanying cartoon shows a speeding driver—when a cop stops him, the driver deflects blame onto a girl who told him to "step on it," satirizing how people evade responsibility. **"Auto-intoxication"** is a poem by Arthur L. Lippmann celebrating attachment to an old Ford ("flivver")—even refusing a fancy Packard sedan. It's humorous self-mockery of American working-class car pride and the cultural status-anxiety surrounding automobile ownership in the 1920s. The final item notes Broadway chorus girls receive fur coats from wealthy "goats" (slang for foolish men), satirizing transactional relationships in entertainment.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Stories from Famous Records xXcERPTS from “Carmen”: Don Jose, after walking a mile, arrives at Carmen’s cigarette factory at quitting time. Carmen, who is all dressed up like a flower girl at a Charity Bazaar, quarrels with a co-worker over the relative merits of Camels and Fatimas and receives the newspaper decision. Don Jose applauds her pluck and she sings the familiar “da dum dum dum, da dum dum dum.” Later, Escamillo, the toreador, enters and announces that he has given up bull fighting for the more lucrative prize fighting and has already been signed to swap punches with Firpo. Unless some busybody obtains an injunction the fight will be held that evening. Escamillo invites Carmen to wit- ness the encounter and presents her with a complimentary ticket, which so angers Don Jose, who cannot afford to buy a ticket, that he re- solves to get the ticket from Carmen by fair means or foul. He chooses the latter method, stabs Carmen, stea's the coveted pasteboard and Cop—Say! You were speeding—what’s yer story, hey? “Well, officer, would you mind looking at the girl that said step on it?” Ny aps “If I work real hard, the boss says I’m bound to make good.” attends the fracas. It is a hum- dinger. Round One: Escamillo leads with his left, Firpo knocks Escamillo for a row of goals. As one scribe put it: “It was any- body’s fight until it started.” Robert Cyril O’ Brien Auto-intoxication I sit in my last year’s flivver With the mien and the air of a lord— Though my vertebrie’s aquiver I sing like a king in my Ford! Though other cars have passed me, I smile at their choking dust— They’ve ridiculed and sassed me, They’ve criticized and cussed. But I, in my panting flivver, Turn up my nose and ride, Scorning a vibrating liver And other things paining inside. Do you think that I’d swap my old flivver - For a Packard sedan if I could? Why, the thought in itself makes me shiver! You bet your sweet life that I would! Arthur L. Lippmann Rad It is reported that the furs for many pretty chorus girls come from Broadway goats. (wNI— ae comicbooks.com