Judge, 1928-06-30 · page 35 of 37
Judge — June 30, 1928 — page 35: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from Judge magazine contains a jail-themed joke cartoon and accompanying editorial commentary about the magazine's content strategy. **The Cartoon:** A visitor asks an imprisoned man ("Butter-fingered Joe") about exercise opportunities in jail. The joke plays on a double meaning: the lawyer is teaching him to "skip the rope"—both a literal exercise and a euphemism for escaping execution by hanging. **The Editorial Context:** Judge defends its focus on entertainment and humor rather than educational or reformatory content. The editors acknowledge that the magazine field increasingly prioritizes celebrity gossip ("Intimate Glimpses of Big People") over traditional literature. They position Judge as maintaining "old-fashioned" entertaining standards rather than pursuing social improvement. **The Satire:** Judge satirizes both modern magazine publishing trends (sensationalism over substance) and its own deliberate choice to remain entertainment-focused rather than educational—a somewhat self-aware, tongue-in-cheek defense of frivolity. The page concludes with a subscription coupon offering four months for two dollars.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
AS YOU WERE 1 SIFE IS BEHIND This EEN CHARGED MEG! “Do they allow you any form of exercise here, my good man?” inquired an old headache ma’am,” of one of the boys in the jail. “Yes, was Butter-fingered Joe’s response, “ my lawyer is showing me how to skip the rope!” In all fairness it is only right to admit that the above drawing has nothing to do with the follow- ing copy. As you might have understood, this issue of the nation’s oldest humorous magazine (and none of your insults, now) is devoted to old fashions. After months of patient research and vegetable diet our corps of efficiency experts inform us that the publication field has gone true story—that literature is a by-product and Intimate Glimpses P. S.-_BE SURE TO INDICATE YOUR SUMMER ADDRESS of Big People hold first place in the magazine field. Therefore, in the interests of magazine tion we have decided to stick to our w and continue an old-fashioned custom of publish- a magazine that is entertaining—not educa- tional or reformatory. We invite you to use the coupon to get a special vacation offer, if you are interested in our old- fashioned policy. ing Company, Inc. rd Street N.Y Gentlemen I will take four months of Judge for two dollars. Send it to Name Address City Stat comicbooks.com