Judge, 1925-05-16 · page 18 of 36
Judge — May 16, 1925 — page 18: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a satirical essay by George Jean Nathan critiquing theatrical productions, particularly those set in the South Seas. Nathan argues that after two decades of attending such plays, he can predict their formulaic content with certainty: they invariably feature a brunette actress in a red silk sash with a blonde male lead in a white linen suit, performing passionate duets. The page includes promotional snippets from current Broadway shows ("Tell Me More," "Sky High"), featuring actors Andrew Tombes, Lou Holtz, Willie Howard, and Edward Douglas. These brief comedic exchanges serve as examples of contemporary theater. The top illustration shows a bank robbery scene labeled "Hail, Flapdoodle!"—likely mocking another predictable theatrical trope. Nathan's critique targets the repetitive, unimaginative nature of popular entertainment, suggesting audiences tolerate mediocrity out of habit rather than genuine artistic merit. The piece is a cynical commentary on commercial theater's reliance on tired conventions and tired formulas.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
: 5 HAIL, FLAPDOODLE! by George Jean Nathan ne older I grow and the more T spend my eve- the more T conclude mething in the con- tention, so frequently voiced, that something must have happened to me when Twas a child. Surely ho sane ult human being would kee ing te such dinkelspiels year after year. To argue that he would. on the gi nd that one day he might discover among them a dramatic gem, is a pretty weak de- fense, for twenty years is certainly sufficient time to convince him that the chance of finding any merit in them is about ona par with the chai finding a pair of woolen underdrawers in the “Fou tips.” Having passed an eye on such things for a period of two decad he knows blamed well in advance exactly what to expect of them. He knows that there isn’t a Chinaman’s chance that a South Seas play will show him anything else but a brunette actress with a red silk sash around her middle and with a string of big t around her neck who will a more or less passionate duet with a blond rina white linen suit. And he knows equally Andrew Tombes and Low Holtz in “Tell Me More” excursion check you mewi—an exeur- “Tt goes there and comes back!” night to have a lot of fi at each other.” Willie Howard and Edward Douglas in “Sky High” Willie—My father is a big rubber man in the United States. “Indeed?” “Yes, he's a rubber ina turkish bath.” comicbooks.com