Judge, 1927-04-30 · page 35 of 36
Judge — April 30, 1927 — page 35: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical poem about Prohibition-era drinking culture. The song nostalgically recalls pre-Prohibition prices ("cocktails were two for a quarter") while mocking the current illegal drinking scene of the 1920s-30s. The humor targets: - **Prohibition's failure**: References to "bootleggers' wiles," illegal "speak-easies," and dangerous homemade "mixtures" that are poisoning drinkers ("landing everyone of us birds in a hearse") - **Self-aware bad poetry**: The author admits the rhymes don't work and the verse makes "no sense," creating intentional anti-humor - **Judge Junior's self-promotion**: The piece advertises a fake book called "Here's How!" with cocktail recipes, mocking both the author's mediocre talent and the public's continued appetite for drinking guides despite Prohibition The cartoons show drunken revelers and chaos, emphasizing how Prohibition created dangerous, unregulated alcohol consumption rather than eliminating drinking. The satire suggests Prohibition was counterproductive.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
DRINKING SONG * sm Same By JUDGE, Jr. (The Child Poet) 1. Remember the days, well you oughter! When cocktails were two for a quarter! Ca ase oughter and quarter don't But my real talent lies, rhyme. But don’t pick at flaws, sir, Just think of poor Chaucer! He sure had a pretty good time! I'm just telling you guys, In mixing concoctions déclassé. The drunkards wife Addicate touch net im eens alight in te Hespselight: ty Pi the poem. 5. To be on the safe side just carry, Your own and in bar-rooms don't tarry; Avoid low speak-casics, And, thus, hebee jeebies, ‘And of bootleggers’ wiles be wary: Nineteen or twenty cocktails, or what had you ? 3. In fact, there’s no sense to this verse, We're going from better to worse ; With the liquor they’re handing Out these days, it’s landing /awes Everyone of us birds in a hearse! Irouba, Heresa stunt to save time When drinking your cocktails, don't J ruin yer Mixtures, but send for Judge Junior ’S new book called ] “Here’s How!” Dear Junior: : It’s really a wow Your rhymes I can’t swaller, al Kea gone of oak But anyway here is a dollar; guests will’ be ¢ So send me your book, | I'll give it a look, And the recipes in it I'll foller. suin’ yer! When beer was a nickel a 5 They threw in a pickle, Don’t you think that last stanza 2. And fifteen for straight Gordon was classy, This poem we're sure is a crime— Water. As a poet I’m some demi-tasse; comicbooks.com