Judge, 1925-07-18 · page 18 of 37
Judge — July 18, 1925 — page 18: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains satirical humor typical of 1920s entertainment criticism. The "Monkeyshines" cartoons mock domestic life and social pretension through visual gags. The "Keith's" cartoon plays on a malapropism: the wife becomes "historical" (dredging up past grievances) rather than "hysterical." This targets henpecked-husband humor common to the era. The George White's "Scandals" dialogue satirizes parental naïveté about Broadway shows—the daughter must be a "good girl" in Philadelphia but goes to the morally questionable revue in New York, highlighting contemporary anxieties about urban vice and young women's independence. The main article by George Jean Nathan reviews a Neighborhood Playhouse production, harshly criticizing its orchestra as incompetent ("piano poisoners and fiddle garroters"), suggesting even murder would improve it. Nathan compares the poor musicianship unfavorably to Stravinsky. The piece exemplifies period theatrical criticism's caustic wit while referencing the ukulele's popularity replacing classical music.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Keith's” drunk.” “You mean hysterical.” . past. CEN A der FELIS ! “My wife gets historical when I come home “No, I mean historical; she digs up the ese George White's “‘Scandals” “Daughter, where did yor “In Philadelphia!” “My child, are you a goog girl?” get tha “You've got to be goodfito get delphia!” CARTE DU JOUR by George Jean Nathan I things I'd do would be to give the folks down at the Neighborhood Playhouse enough of it to hire a good orchestra, for if they had one ‘their new version of the “Grand Street Follies” would come pretty near being about as diverting a revue as we have seen hereabouts since the ukulele succeeded Beethoven. The orchestra that is presently blowing and sawing an accom- paniment to the show is so indecent that some- thing ought to be done about it at once, prefer- ably murder. If what it plays is music, Stokow- ski is a plumber. Aside from this combination of piano poisoners and fiddle garroters, the evening uncovers some very appetizing humor. There is, incidentally, I I nap Otto Kahn's money, one of the first Y YY Yj fe; 5 HY Ney a be U oh ge ; “Spooks” “If I ever git out « house you'll sce}the bot! my feet so often/you wil T’m lyin’ down. nent comicbooks.com