Judge, 1925-08-08 · page 19 of 36
Judge — August 8, 1925 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical article by Don Herold mocks the growing trend of humorists' wives becoming a recognized social type—women married to men who write humor for magazines. Herold humorously complains that his wife inspires him "to nothing," then ironically announces he'll write about being a humorist's husband, despite claiming he's "no humorist" and that "no such animal" exists. The piece satirizes both the pretension of self-proclaimed humorists and the celebrity culture of the 1920s-30s. The accompanying "Newer Advertising Slant" section parodies modern endorsement ads by imagining celebrities (Nita Naldi, Jack Dempsey, William Jennings Bryan) promoting mundane products with absurdly casual signatures—mocking hollow celebrity advertising's irrelevance to actual product quality. The bottom cartoon shows a photographer unable to frame his subject, likely commenting on the difficulty of capturing modern life's chaos.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Fiction Writer—liction ideas come hard. Tis Wire—Then why not get on the band wagon and spill a Little of our personal dirt? HOW IT FEELS TO BE THE HUSBAND OF A WIFE OF A HUMORIST by Don Herold rs. Heroup and I had been M sitting in the reacting-room of our house reacting to each other for about an hour, the other evening. Finally I said: “Well, I think I have had about $500 worth of reactions, and if you will excuse me I will go write them down for one of the more brazen magazines.” “Somehow you inspire me to nothing this evening,” she said. “You humorists’ wives are getting to be quite a distinct class,” I told her. “I think I will write an article on how it feels to be the husband of one of you.” “Isn’t it a little bit out of character, a \little bit inconsistent with the naive notion of yourself you have labored so hard to establish, for you to admit you are a humorist? Don, Don, Don!” “Yes, but I have to start some- where. One has to be raucous to be read, these days. People are pasting three-sheet labels like that on them- selves now and getting away with it. This is no time for two-by-four apothecary stickers. Shucks, we all know here in the home circle that I am no humorist. We know there is no such animal in the first place. But you and Doris and Baby-Hilde- garde (announcement) have all sold (Continued on page 30) The Newer Advertising Slant HE latest in car card advertising is the following advice: “Tet- ley’s Teas, Please, yours truly, Tom Mix.” Here is a thought to conjure with. It is an entirely new idea in irrele- vancy. What may it not lead to? But that’s too large a question. Let us consider what it may lead to. For instance: Navy Cut Plug lathers up well, sincerely, Nita Naldi. Djer Kiss delights, with love, Jack Dempsey. O’Sullivan’s Heels stimulate, bless- edly yours, Barefoot Boy, care of James W. Riley. Scott’s Emulsion invigorates, hest regards, Bernarr MacFadden. Uneeda Biscuits nourish, truly yours. McSweeney ,ex-Lord Mayor of Dublin. Animal Crackers educate, right- cously, William J. Bryan. Carroll -™ Funny bones, America has been dried and fount wanting. “I’m so sorry to keep you waiting, George, but I don’t seem to be able to get you in the view-finder.” 2 comicbooks.com