Judge, 1925-11-28 · page 11 of 36
Judge — November 28, 1925 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis: "The Etiquette of Seeing a Blush-worthy Show" This page satirizes the popularity of risqué theatrical productions ("sex plays") in the 1920s-1930s and the social hypocrisy surrounding them. The cartoon shows a woman scolding a man for appearing in public undressed, while the article mockingly offers "etiquette rules" for attending scandalous plays. The satire targets: 1. **Theater culture**: Sex plays were enormously popular ("that popular!"), yet socially controversial 2. **Social hypocrisy**: The article notes clergy condemning these shows while secretly attending them—hence the joke about greeting your pastor outside the theater with casual friendliness 3. **Audience behavior**: The "well-bred" audience members smirking and nudging neighbors, treating crude humor as sophisticated entertainment The bottom section on formal dinner knives is unrelated filler content. The overall message criticizes middle-class Americans' simultaneous moral posturing and appetite for adult entertainment.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Alonzo, go right back in the house and get some.clothes on! The idea!” The Etiquette of Seeing a Blush-worthy Show iE observance of a few simple rules of etiquette will render you and your moron neighbors’ evening at the uncensored play more per- feetly thrilling. It is proper to have tickets, and things being as they are, these should be purchased at least eight weeks in advance, from a scalper. Sex plays are that popular! One should arrive on time at the THE SMALLEST THE SECOND SILVER ONE IS SMALL ONE IS FoR BREAD For CHEESE, AND BUTTER, a Za performance because you never can tell, they might start on time by accident and you would miss some- thing good. Do not wink at the usher. It’s old stuff to him, the same as to a bus conductor. When you have been shown to your places, sit there quietly. Refrain, if possible, from uttering shrill yelps of anticipation. A cheer as the curtain rises on the bedroom scene will not be in poor taste. As the players put over the hot ones, the well-bred members of the THE GILT- THE-LARGEST BLADED ONE — SILVER KNIFE IS FoR FRUIT, IS FoR THE GAME COURSE AT FORMAL DINNERS audience will not fail to smirk and glance about to sce if their neighbors got them, too, A well-placed nudge at one’s seat neighbor will be re- ceived in good spirit, such is the air of cameraderie at these performances. If, as you are waiting for a cab, you should meet the horrified gaze of the pastor of your church who has preached two sermons condemning the play and who happens to be pass- ing the theater at the moment, the correct greeting is, “Hello, doc, how did you like it?” John C. Emery AND THE LARGE STEEL DAGGER IS FOR THE TOAST-MASTER. Perhaps you're wondered what the five Ienives are for? comicbooks.com