Judge, 1928-01-07 · page 2 of 36
Judge — January 7, 1928 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of "The Financial Outlook for the Year Nineteen Twenty Eight" This 1928 *Judge* magazine page satirizes rosy economic predictions preceding the Great Depression. The main cartoon depicts wealthy businessmen in top hats celebrating with champagne and cigars amid rain (suggesting money falling from sky), embodying unfounded optimism about the economy. The text, attributed to "Judge, Jr.," mocks breathless boosterism about wheat crops, industrial production, and retail optimism. The repeated asides ("pardon me") and exclamatory tone ("Whoopee!") parody how businessmen justified unlimited confidence despite warning signs. The irony is devastating in hindsight—this celebratory forecast was published just months before the 1929 stock market crash. The included reader-response box suggests *Judge* was selling reprints of a "Here's How!" prosperity guide, further satirizing get-rich-quick mania of the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Financial Outlook for the Year Nineteen Twenty Eight A Specially Prepared Report for Business Men by Judge, Jr. 1928 Is Going to Be a Big Year, Men! HE wheat crop alone shows indications of a fine fiscal period and there is a general trend of optimism throughout the business world. (Pardon me while I snatch a drink.) ‘The market remains firm while nearly all of our great industrial plants (pardon me, just a sip) are running full blast. The Retail Merchants Association (pardon me) of Yonkers reports a marked increase (pardon me) in shales and Traveling Shalesmen report stopping at a farmer’s house and (pardon me) take the working man! Yesh, take the work- ing man! In this great, glorious country of ours (pardon me). The working man! Yay, Friends, Romans, Countrymen! The working man! Down with the trusts!) Time and a time for over half! ’Sh a crying shame, thas whatis! We want the full dinner pail! Give us Liberty or give us death! Take the other side of the question! Have you read the new Nineteen-Twenty-Eight “Here’s How"? ’S a great l’i'l’ book, if I say so myself! An’ I oughta know, because I’ve been tryin’ it all day! Whoopee! JUDGE, Jr., 627 West 43rd St. New York City. Dear Junior: | Your report staggers me. Here's a dollar. Send a copy of “Here's How!” quickly | to this poor working man. comicbooks.com