Judge — December 12, 1925 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This appears to be a satirical illustration from *Judge* magazine depicting King Solomon in his palace, commanding his court to practice the Charleston dance. The caption quotes Solomon ordering his "voices" (likely courtiers or musicians) to rehearse the Charleston "one at a time" so "they'll have the roof on my head!" The joke references the 1920s Charleston dance craze, which was wildly popular but also controversial—criticized by conservatives as scandalous and undignified. By placing King Solomon (a biblical figure symbolizing wisdom and authority) in a modern setting obsessed with this "frivolous" dance, the cartoonist mocks either: the dance's overwhelming popularity, or satirizes those who viewed it as undermining traditional values and decorum. The chaotic scene emphasizes the dance's wild, uncontrollable nature.