Judge — July 31, 1926 — page 19: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a satirical commentary on the Ziegfeld Follies, the famous theatrical revue known for elaborate costumes and provocative staging. The page mocks the show's aesthetic through multiple costume sketches showing increasingly minimal clothing and elaborate headdresses. The editor's note explains that "No Foolin'" originally featured nudity on stage, prompting Judge to retitle it the "Ziegfeld Revue" for this article. The humor lies in the contrast between the show's claims of respectability and its actual content—the cartoon illustrates how the performers' costumes progressively reveal more while maintaining theatrical pretense through extravagant accessories and styling. The small vignettes (the woman with bottle, the knife-wielding scene) appear to show comedic stage moments. This reflects early-twentieth-century debates about theatrical morality and censorship.