Judge, 1928-09-01 · page 13 of 36
Judge — September 1, 1928 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis This is a satirical letter to the editor addressing complaints about the St. Regis Hotel's rooftop venue in New York. The author (writing as "Judge" magazine's correspondent) corrects his own previous criticism of the establishment. **The satire's points:** 1. **The real problem isn't the hotel's fault**: Tables appear empty because people make reservations at 5 PM but don't arrive until 8-9 PM, creating the false impression of exclusivity or snobbishness. 2. **Misunderstandings about dress codes**: Evening dress wasn't strictly required for entry, only for dancing—but this wasn't clearly communicated, generating angry letters and bad press. 3. **Absurd "helpful" suggestions**: The author sarcastically proposes the hotel rent dress suits (like bathing beaches rent swimwear) and suggests someone open a "swimming pool night club" where patrons could dance in bathing suits and dive into pools between songs. The cartoon below illustrates this imagined aquatic nightclub venue with its various entertainments and swimming pool. The humor targets both the hotel's communication failures and the era's emerging leisure culture obsessions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
JUDGE IMIG An Open (and Shut) Letter to the Public Anent the St. Regis Roof Mr. John W. Public. Dear Sir: A couple of weeks ago in this jocund journal of judicious joco- sity I hurled a few nasty cracks at the St. Regis roof regarding the impossibility of getting a table therein, or thereon, 1 hy on bended knee. Since that time IT have learned the true story and its a mighty interesting one toc The St. Regis is the victim of too much popularity, be- lieve it or not! Nearly every day every table in the place is re- served by five o'clock. — People making these reservations seldom As a ables apolo, arrive until eight or nine, result a vast array of empt meets the eve of the visit tween six and eight and, if he is like I was, he will immediately jump to the conclusion that the headwaiter is just trying to hold him up when he telis him there be- are no tables. On the average of a hundred people a day have sus- pected the same thing and gone home to write a caustic letter to the hotel and their favorite news- paper. As a result Mr. St. Regis is sore beset and can you blame him? Another grievous error T made was in regard to ev being necessary to in admit- tance to the roof. Customers in mufti are welcome (if there’s a table) but they 1 not to dance. This gives me an idea which I will present gratis to Mr. St vhap it will up just a little for my un- ning dress are Regis and mi m: fair criticism! Why doesn’t the St. Regis follow the example of the bathing ches and rent out | dress suits to y attired customers ? could dance to their heart’s content. A bright colored St. R. might be embroidered on the lapels to. pre vent customers walking off with the clothes. While we're on the subject of bathhouses, why doesn't someone open a Swimming Pool n club? There's a hot idea! How many around midnight, Let's go swim- times, have you said, ming!" but there's never a pool open at that hour. Think of the fun of dancing in a bathing suit! Think of the fun, after dancing for half an hour, of swinging vour partner and yourself into the cool depths of the pool. What if she can't swim! There will be life guards there to haul her out! Imagine listening to a night club entertainer singing Henry's made a lady out of 1. (Continued on page ~ Wee r COFFEE 44e eV comicbooks.com ~