Judge, 1928-01-21 · page 35 of 36
Judge — January 21, 1928 — page 35: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **self-promotional advertisement** from *Judge* magazine itself, not a political cartoon. The magazine is humorously advertising a fake "closing out sale" of its own inventory—jokes, puns, stories, and supplies—at supposedly half price. The satire is **self-directed**: *Judge* jokes about the low quality of its own product, calling jokes "never heard outside the factory" (implying they're rejected material), puns that merely "sound just like real foreign product," and stories "with or without titles." The reference to "Beau Brummel of Hell's Kitchen" appears to mock one of their own contributors. The humor lies in the exaggerated sales-pitch language typical of closing-out businesses, applied to creative content. The notice that "no jokes will be taken back once they leave the factory" is a final joke about the permanence of published mediocrity. The offer expires January 1, 1929—a self-aware deadline gag.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Closing Out Sale! PRE-INVENTORY BARGAINS!!! | LOST OUR STOCK GOING AT HALF PRICE! $e oe TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS SMASHING, CRASHING SALE AT HITHERTO UNHEARD OF PRICES The Whole Publishing World is Gasping at the Audacity of Our Cut Rates! Look Over These Bargains! 765 Brand-new Jokes, never heard outside the factory. 425 English Puns. Slightly handled. Sound just like real foreign product. 645 NoEnd Reminiscences by Judge Junior (the Beau Brummel of Hell’s Kitchen). 345 Funny Stories, with or without titles. 985 Pounds of Paper. 6 Quarts of Ink. NOTICE: All or any part of this stock sent to you in 52 weekly installments. Shipment guaranteed. (No jokes will be taken back once they leave the factory.) SEND US THE ORDER BLANK AT ONCE This Offer is Not Good After January 1, 1929 ORDER BLANK JUDGE FACTORY 627 W. 43rd St. New York City. Gentlemen: I want to take advantage of your inventory sale. Please send me Jupce $5.00 52: for which I enclose 2.00 for 21 7.80 104 I agree to accept any dusty or slightly used articles because of the startling price. Installments. Name.... Address... . comicbooks.com