Judge, 1928-03-17 · page 9 of 36
Judge — March 17, 1928 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Explanation for Modern Readers This page from *Judge* satirizes Prohibition-era speakeasy culture (1920s-1930s). The main article mocks the typical speakeasy experience through ironic contrast: it describes an imaginary speak-easy that *doesn't* have the usual suspicious entry procedures, watered-down alcohol, corrupt proprietors, or sketches covering the walls—in short, a place that operates openly and honestly, which is absurd because speakeasies by definition had to be secretive and deceptive. The satire criticizes both the establishments themselves (their low quality and profiteering) and the people who frequented them, who pretended not to notice obvious problems while engaging in elaborate social rituals. The two cartoons below are unrelated jokes: one about a man teaching an elephant manners, the other a dialogue about old sherry. The byline credits Jack Clertt.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Speak-casy Only With Thine Eyes all right brats ill tell youse a fairy tale about a speak-easy so spread) yourselves around "and prepare for a pip well once upon atime there was a and it wasnt in the cellar wasnt one flight up and it wasnt an old) private house and it wasnt disguised as a florist shop ora restaurant or a bird store or 1 saloon and you didnt have to a bell and wait outside while body peered at you through p hole and said what do vou want and who do you know and have you a card and once inside the iron gate the proprietor said dont feel that vou have to order drinks beeanse i make plenty of profit on my dollar dinner’ and besides i have no drag with the french authorities and my french wines are all fake and i take my gin in a bathtub and my whiskey is made right here in the kitchen and i put it up in attractive bot- tles with labels which cost me 50 cents and you pay me 12 dol- lars and he didnt make absinth cocktails with jist a dash of paragorie and nobody came over to the table and hummed = swon- derful) for a buek and_ th werent a couple of foreign Host—This is some sherry that’s been in the family since tlemen sitting in the corner - 1880- ing with their hands and sa zis at zat and the walls werent what do you think of it? “T think it’s rather small for its age.” covered with sketches that. so- and so had done specially and when somebody opened a bottle of bicarbonate of soda cham- pagne with a bang and the cork hit the ceiling nobody turned around with a horse laugh and said sounds like pre war days why i can remember when the stuff flowed like water and in leaving nobody said will you re- me next time i come d the proprietor didnt say ill right just mention mr jones name and nobody wise cracked with the pretty little coat room girl or tried to talk french with her and when they got out into the street nobody started to fumble around for a card to an- REVENGE other speak-easy and now chicks “Now, see here, animul! The nest time ya get fresh and bite uncle jack sees rings forming me, I’m goin’ to take aspirin and sober up. And then where in under tired Titel eyes so hon ‘ell will ya be?” newie —dack Civert comicbooks.com