Judge — June 25, 1927 — page 22: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This appears to be a satirical comic from Judge magazine mocking stage magicians and their tricks. The top panel shows an elegantly dressed woman (likely representing wealthy patrons or society) questioning a magician about where to obtain more illusions and money. The subsequent panels feature dialogue about a magician's income ("earn $1,200 a week in vaudeville") and references to magic tricks that involve deception—specifically mentioning hiding things under silk hats. The character "The Spider" appears to be a magician figure. The satire likely critiques **professional magicians as con artists** who profit through sleight-of-hand deception, playing on contemporary concerns about theatrical fraud or charlatans. The repeated questions about obtaining "more" money suggest mockery of greed and the gullibility of wealthy audiences willing to pay for illusions. The cartoonist's style and subject matter suggest this targets early 20th-century vaudeville culture and public skepticism toward stage performers.