Judge — May 23, 1925 — page 35: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page showcases **Judge's crossword puzzle contest** — a reader participation feature typical of 1920s-30s magazines. The publication invited readers to submit original crossword puzzles, paying $25 for those deemed "funny" enough to publish, with lower rates for others accepted. The header cartoon shows cartoon characters celebrating crosswords, reflecting their explosive popularity during this era—crosswords were a cultural phenomenon that swept America in the 1920s. The actual content is primarily **procedural**: submission details (Charles Tomordy's puzzle from North Tonawanda, N.Y.), rules (puzzles won't be returned without postage), and the answer grid to the previous week's puzzle (No. 29). The satire is gentle—the requirement that puzzles "must be funny" suggests Judge's effort to elevate the form beyond mere word games into humorous commentary. This represents how magazines positioned themselves as arbiters of taste while capitalizing on public enthusiasm.