Judge, 1928-05-26 · page 35 of 36
Judge — May 26, 1928 — page 35: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **Texaco gasoline advertisement** disguised as satirical commentary, not a political cartoon. The "joke" references the Queensboro Bridge's notorious traffic congestion. The ad claims that on a single summer day, 33,710 cars crossed the bridge, but only 30,598 returned safely—implying 3,112 cars were lost or stranded in Long Island's "fenny fastnesses" (swampy areas). The camel illustration (Texaco's mascot) appears to mock this traffic chaos humorously. **The sales pitch:** Texaco's "new and better" gasoline allegedly solves this problem by providing superior power and acceleration, allowing drivers to "shoot ahead" and avoid getting trapped in traffic or lost. For modern readers, this reflects 1920s-30s automobile culture anxiety—bridges, traffic jams, and suburban travel were novel phenomena. The ad exploits humorous exaggeration about traffic problems to promote fuel quality as the solution, conflating gasoline performance with traffic management in ways that seem absurd today.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A sara es <A Se Queensboro Bridge, the gateway from Manhattan to Long Bland, New York Were you one of the 3,112? All on a single summer's day . . . 33,710 cars fought the Battle of Queensboro Bridge, penetrated the needle’s eye . . . and disappeared into the fenny fastnesses of Long Island. By actual Department of Plant and Structures count only 30,598 cars made safe return. What became of the 3,112? Many came back weeks later. Others, doubtless fearing to face the return en- gagement... gave up, and are still aim- lessly touring Long Island. Change to the new and better Texaco. That's the answer to Queensboro Bridge traffic... to all traffic. For the new and better Texaco is an improved gasoline. It forms a dry gas and gives you the power plus to shoot ahead . . . to take advantage of every traffic opportunity. Sold wherever you see the sign of the Texaco Red Star and Green T. The NEW and BETTER TEXACO Gasoline comicbooks.com