Judge, 1927-11-19 · page 13 of 36
Judge — November 19, 1927 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Judge* satirizes theater critics' apparent inability to enjoy entertainment with genuine enthusiasm. The author (via an open letter) challenges dramatic critics for their joyless, overly analytical approach to theater—contrasting their reserved demeanor with the natural enthusiasm people show at sports events or concerts. The specific target is Percy Hammond (a real theater critic of the era), who the letter claims praised "A Connecticut Yankee" as "a pretty fair show" but then complained extensively about minor puns. The author argues critics nitpick trivial flaws while missing genuine merit, and sarcastically proposes shooting all drama critics upon reaching age thirty to inject "young blood" into the profession. The cartoon below depicts chaotic street scenes with figures in top hats, likely representing these stiff, overly critical theater-world figures amid urban pandemonium—visually reinforcing the disconnect between critics' pretentious reserve and actual human experience.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
JUDGK ANOTHER OPEN LETTER TO THESE HERE NOW DRAMATIC CRITICS—Gen- tlemen: When you go to a foot- ball game, a prize fight, a horse s, a symphony con- u get any kick watch- ay of a_ perfectly Do you get at all over a battle between two real fighters? Does your heart thrill when a thoroughbred comes pounding down the home- stretch, after a wonderful race? Does the thrilling power of a perfectly conducted symphony move you at all? THEN, WHY IN HE OH DRAMATIC CRITICS, can’t you when a good show comes along! Haven't you the courage to up on your little heels and cheer? ’t you any ing the pl: drilled team? excited enthuse enthusiasm Is appreciation _consid- ered a faux pas in your profes- sion, or is it just bec etting old and r example, > you crochety? I Hammond admits, as do most of ‘the other critics, that “A Connecticut Yankee” is a pretty fair show, and then raves for half a column over the terribleness of some puns that were sprung during the course of the evening! Mo- hammond and the molehill! Migod, it’s a wonderful show! A great evening’s entertainment! Ma music, the lyrics I’ve heard (why didn’t Mohammond pick on those?), wonderful chorus work and great performances, espe- cially William Gaxton’s! The best show of the year, and Mo- hammond obj velous cleverest ever ected to the puns! And they weren't so bad, either! I’m going to present a bill to Congress which recommends that all dramatic critics be shot upon reaching the age of thirty! What the profession needs is Selah! Am I right, or am T right? op In my excitement I’ve almost overlooked our picce de résis- I thought everything that the young blood! tance this week... . I'd seen (Continued on page 26) { Ad Sus AM DAT Mi peel —=_” 11 comicbooks.com