Judge, 1924-12-06 · page 19 of 36
Judge — December 6, 1924 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes theater impresario **Otto Kahn**, a wealthy patron known for self-promoting involvement in Broadway affairs. The main text mocks Kahn's tendency to insert himself into theatrical productions for publicity, making lengthy speeches while actual artists remain marginalized. The cartoon vignettes show social comedy from contemporary plays: one depicts a woman joking about having her "face lifted" (a cosmetic procedure reference), while another features actress Frances Howard making a self-deprecating quip about being "well educated" but knowing nothing. The satire's core complaint: Kahn uses his wealth and influence to gain public attention through theater patronage, overshadowing genuine artists. The author sarcastically offers to print Kahn's name repeatedly in exchange for ceasing his theatrical meddling—then immediately does so, demonstrating how easily Kahn can command press coverage regardless of actual artistic merit.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
May Vokes and Bob Watson in “Annie Dear” “Tm going to have my face lifted.” “Have it removed!” me, honor and makes the longest. speech while the visiting artist sits in polite and patient bepuzzlement down at the foot of the table between the dramatic critic for the Ladies’ Underwear Journal and the uptown manager of some stock- brokers’ firm—if, as I say, Mr. Kahn gets a great deal of happiness out of such nonsense, that is his business. But it is the business of all of us who love the theater and desire to maintain its pride and its dignity to protest against such didos as he negotiates behind the smoke-screen of artistic Frances: Howard—Don't laugh at I know I don’t know anything. I've only been well educated. box! Drtors On Frances Howard and James Rennie in The Best People” entrepreneurship. Ut it is publicity that the good gentleman his heart set upon, I'll strike a bargain with him. And this is it: If he will promise to stop his shenanigans, I, in turn, will promise to print his name in various public gazettes at least. one hundred times a month, and 1 will further promise to pe leagues, who feel the same about it as I do, to do likewise. As an evidence of my complete good faith, I herewith start the ball rolling by printing the gentleman's name ten times: Otto Kahn, de at least a dozen of my col- Otto Kahn, Otto Kahn, Otto Kalm, Otto Kahn, Otto Kahn, Otto Kahn, Otto Kahn, Otto Kahn, Otto Kahn. II *snew drama, “Desire nd Max Mar- Silence,” opened on successive nights and, unless my {UGENEO'NE: Under the cin’s new melodrama, re not so good at breakfast as y used to be, my colleagues of the dailies act Max better notices \ FY The melo- (Continued on page 26) ES oe SEI