Judge, 1927-04-23 · page 4 of 36
Judge — April 23, 1927 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Judge Magazine Page This page contains two satirical pieces from Judge magazine, likely from the Prohibition era (based on "Since Prohibition" heading). **"The Bootleggers' Ball"** depicts an illegal drinking party. The cartoon mocks the absurdity of Prohibition enforcement: despite the law, people freely consumed various alcohols while bootleggers profited. References to "Two-Gun Pete" and the motto "Drink Tonight Till You Go Blotto" satirize the lawlessness and excess characterizing speakeasies. **"A Still"** uses word-play, describing a sequence of events following a silent still (illegal alcohol distillery): explosion, then chaos as firemen, cops, insurance agents, and repair workers descend. The joke critiques how Prohibition's enforcement created bureaucratic absurdity and collateral damage, with the "still" returning to calm afterward—implying the cycle repeats. Both pieces mock Prohibition's ineffectiveness and unintended consequences.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
JUDGE Stxce Proutpition “I never see Maggie alone.” A Still A calm, calm still . . . Then Bing, Bang, Bing, Explosion— Bing—Ganga-lang! Then Firemen, Revenooers, Cops, Cops & More Cops & Insurance Agents . . . Bills, Bills, Dollar Bills, Unmarked Dollar Bills & Repair Men & Moving Men, More Cops & More Dollar Bills... Then all again Is Still... . FAS First Stew—I'm afraid muh wifsh going to have her face lifted. Second Stew—Aw, nonsensh, old sport; don’ worry. Who'd ever want tuh steal a face like that! The Bootleggers’ Ball Liquor flowed and liquor trickled, Everyone was sweetly pickled, Former eyed folks got pie ’ Every face displayed a grin. Scotch and rye and ancient fine wines, Bourbon, beer and German Rhine wines Mixed and blended with a splendid Grade of new synthetic gin. Two-Gun Pete, famed for his stick-ups, Had an awful case of hiccups— Old Sam Hardy sold Bacardi To the folks within the hall. From the ceiling hung their motto: “Drink Tonight Till You Go Blotto”— ‘2 bootleggers’ ball! —Cyrano “Gee, that’s great! What's in it?” comicbooks.com