Judge — January 30, 1926 — page 25: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page presents Contest No. 27 from *Judge* magazine, inviting readers to complete an unfinished comic strip for a $25 prize. The contest excludes professional artists to encourage amateur participation. The three visible comic panels depict what appears to be a theatrical or vaudeville scene: well-dressed men in formal attire (top panels) interact in increasingly chaotic situations with exaggerated gestures and expressions. The bottom panel, signed by Milt Gross, shows a figure with an axe near seated characters—suggesting slapstick violence typical of silent-film comedy. The satire targets early 20th-century entertainment culture, likely poking fun at theatrical melodrama or slapstick humor conventions. Readers were challenged to supply a humorous final panel resolving this absurd scenario. The contest reflects *Judge's* focus on visual humor and audience participation, while the cartooning style and formal dress suggest commentary on vaudeville or stage entertainment of that era.