Judge — February 5, 1927 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Gold Digger" - Judge Magazine, February 5, 1927 This cartoon depicts two urchins or street children examining a gum machine labeled "GOODY GUM 1¢". One child points at the machine while gesturing to his companion, suggesting they're plotting to extract money from it—hence "The Gold Digger" title. The satire likely plays on the contemporary slang term "gold digger," referring to women who pursued men for money. By applying this label to children attempting petty theft from a vending machine, the cartoon creates dark humor by equating childhood mischief with opportunistic fortune-hunting. The illustration's working-class aesthetic and focus on urban street children reflects 1920s concerns about poverty and juvenile delinquency in American cities.