Judge, 1927-08-13 · page 8 of 36
Judge — August 13, 1927 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Judging the Stars: "Song of a Sucker" This article by Mauro Gonzalez is a theatrical review satirizing a gullible audience member ("sucker") attending a Broadway show. The subject is "La Guinan"—likely **Texas Guinan**, a famous 1920s nightclub hostess and entertainer known for her brash, comedic stage presence. The satire mocks the narrator's naïve infatuation with the performer. He describes her unflattering appearance (straggly blonde hair), absurd on-stage antics (throwing snowballs, melodramatic tears), and endless self-promotion in her dressing room. The joke is that despite the obviously artificial, over-the-top performance, the "sucker" remains enchanted—the title refers to audience members easily duped by theatrical spectacle and a star's charm. The reference to "Barney Google's Spark Plug" anchors this to 1920s popular culture, while "Padlocks of 1927" suggests a real or fictional Broadway revue.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
JUDGE NIDGING Ge STARE by Masuro Gonzalez SONG OF A “SUCKER” One hour before show time. ... “La Guinan” in the star’s dressing-room. ... “Hello, JupGe!” she says. We shake hands. ... Blonde hair at this moment is as straggly sea weeds in disorder. . . . Now in the audience I sit with my fair one. We are guests of the cow-girl. This is her show, “Padlocks of 1927.” Texas mounted on Bue phala enters.... I snicke Forgive m ...Just thought of Bucephalus, legendary wild steed of Alexander the Great. . .. Making analogies I think of Barney Google’s Spark Plug first. s in songs, Texas in skits. Texas in solilloquies—and now her quartet. ‘Texas in monologue—flashing big teeth—hoar she shouts, “Give ’er a hand!” Boisterous laughter —she throws her snowballs—I'm hit in the eye! But hold! Pinch me, my fair one—Texas in agedy? No!—Yes!—Now she’s in_ tears! This is too much! Down drops the curtain— end of the play. * * * * Again in her dressing-room Guinan talks. I listen to a thousand’ biographical words about herself. She repeats, “If it wasn’t for Pro- (Continued on page 28) comicbooks.com