Judge, 1927-04-16 · page 8 of 36
Judge — April 16, 1927 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "A Lot of Bologny Sandwich" — Judge Magazine This satirical story mocks pretentious restaurant culture and snobbish service. A customer simply requests a basic bologna sandwich on rye, but encounters escalating absurdity: a dismissive waitress, then a manager, then the company president—each treating the simple request as an affront to their "culinary dignity." They desperately try upselling him elaborate "Special" sandwiches with fancy ingredients (roast duck, venison, pheasant, etc.). The joke's punchline: after all this theatrical resistance and the customer's capitulation to their "Excello Peerless Special Sandwich," it turns out to be—just a bologna sandwich. The satire targets restaurant pretension and the American trend of disguising ordinary items with fancy names to justify higher prices. It reflects early 20th-century consumer frustration with unnecessary complexity and false sophistication in dining.
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JUDGE rat NEXT—— Reronrenr (to Channel Swimmer)—Are you a mother, Madam? Swinmer—Yes, and here come the husband and the kiddies. A Lot of Bologny Sandwich rye “T'd like a bologny sandwich on bread with plenty of tard,” I said to the girl behind the counter, “A bologny sandwich!” she ¢ claimed, giving me a withering look, Her cry coated manager, who hastened up and asked what I desired. “I want a bologny sandwich,” I answered. “But my dear sir,” he said, “I do not understand. cared to try our Spe Special, which is a combination of turke ing, swiss cheese, peanut butter and unders wich!” “T want a bologny sandwich on rye bread,” I persisted. In a few minutes the president of the company rushed can I do for you, si quired, bowing low, like Adolphe Menjou. When I wanted, he assumed an expression of quiet dignity mingled with out- mus- “A bol sandwich?” ENTRANCE bared Deno FFICE 4 tracted the frock- Now, if you jal tra , cold slaw, Russian dress- calf’s-foot jelly, I would and—but a bologny sand- He shuddered. “What he in- told him what I Tue New Persvaper Constructed to overcome hesi- tancy or retreat. raged professional pride and asked me to lower my _ voice. “Why not try our Superlativ« Supreme Special, whieh is a beau- tiful and inspired blend of roast duck, Canadian venison, wild hare, Long Island pheasant and Swiss gruyere cheese in three toasted decks, the whole smoth- ered in i asked me. “Because I want a_bologny sandwich on rye bread.” Then I knew I had spoken too hastily, for a tear welled up in the president’s right eye and that Russian dressing?” he culinary dignity was led away by his manager, sobbing. As they turned the corner of the store, they both looked back at me re- provingly. Well, I decided to make the best of it and learn to like these new-fangled dishes. I looked at the menu. “Give me your Excello Peerless Special Sandwich,” I said to the girl. A minute later my teeth sank into it and I uttered a shrill ery of delight— It was a bologny sandwich! —ALL.L. comicbooks.com