Judge, 1927-09-24 · page 23 of 36
Judge — September 24, 1927 — page 23: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Judge* magazine collects humorous anecdotes and jokes organized around the theme of "Leaders"—people attempting to take charge in various situations, often with comic results. **Key content:** The "From the Back Seat" story satirizes incompetent drivers and backseat advice—a Ford driver causes a traffic accident, then a woman defends him, ironically blaming "drunken painters" (the fire truck). The humor lies in misplaced leadership and blame. Other jokes mock various authority figures: a traffic officer, an excitable father, a barber, a judge—all attempting to lead or make decisions with absurd outcomes. The cartoons feature simple line drawings depicting these scenarios. **Social context:** Early automotive-era humor frequently mocked inexperienced drivers. The jokes reflect 1920s-30s American sensibilities about social hierarchies, gender dynamics (the backseat woman), and everyday incompetence. The overall satire suggests that "leaders" are often ordinary people poorly suited to their roles—a gentle democratic critique.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LEADERS - aor“ QC From the Back Seat The driver of a Ford sedan. who was plainly out of his ele- ment in city traffic, attempted to turn around in the middle of a block, and was side-swiped and upset by a hook and ladder fire truck on its way to answer a call. Striding over to the overturned vehicle, a traffic officer poked his head through the broken window and demanded, “What do you mean by blockin’ traffic like this? C’mon outta there: pinched!” “You let him alone.” said a female voice from the back seat. “How did we know them drunken painters was going to run into —Toronto Gosutn you're Two farmers met on the road and pulled up. “Si, I've got a mule with dis- temper. What'd ye give that one o’ yours when he had it “Turpentine. Giddap.” later they met again. i, I gave my mule tur- and it killed him.” pentine “Killed mine, too. —Corcatr Giddap.” Banter ne ¥ ». “T never like to ea “Why's that.” “It spoils my appetite.” —MicuiGan Garcoyre Art—I'd like you to paint a portrait of my late uncle. Artist—Bring him in. Art—I said my late uncle. {rtist—Bring him in when he gets here, then, —Wasiixerox Dirce G8, 2s cert, He—IVho was that saw you with last nite? Haw—That was no that was Lon Chaney. Puppe lady I lady, —CARrNEGIF Excited father—Is it a boy or a girl? Nurse What ou wont ditference ten inyway. zho knox difference does it make, be able to tell the years from now —GetryspurG Cannon Baw Barber—Will you thing on finished ? Customer—Well, it seem likely. —Vassar VaGasonp your face when I'm doesn’t Axoro—Why have a rudder? Perirax—Stern necessity, I does a ship —Darrmovru Jack O'Lanxtersn “The dog ran into the house of Stephen Bellis in the village and bit his aunt, Miss Alice Skillman, in the foot.” —Somerville (N. J.) Journal. If a dog bites his aunt, that's news! —Toronxto Gortis Judge — Before being hung. have you a last request to make? Barber—Yes, your honor, Ud like to shave the prosecuting at torney just once. Stanvorp CiHaparran Tue Hera or Noxenara “Say, Buddy, can I have a ligh —Onro State Sun Diar comicbooks.com