Judge, 1928-09-15 · page 24 of 36
Judge — September 15, 1928 — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **contest advertisement**, not a political cartoon. Judge magazine is running a $1,000 prize competition challenging readers to create "Scotchograms"—condensed telegraph messages using clever or made-up words to convey full sentences at reduced cost. The sample shows how "JUSTICE MINUTE HEARD ATCHOO AVENUE BABY OVERTURE HOUSE CONGRATULATIONS" translates to "Just this minute heard that you have a new baby over at your house congratulations"—fifteen words compressed into nine. The contest reflects the era's fascination with **telegraph communication efficiency** and wordplay. Contestants must submit entries via Western Union wire only (emphasizing the technology), with judging by Judge's editors selecting the cleverest, most economical phrasings. This is essentially a **linguistic puzzle competition** for readers, not satire—though it showcases early-20th-century communication culture and Judge's role promoting clever wordcraft.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
IN PRIZES! SAMPLE ISED MUST BE $ 1 ’ 000.00 THIS IS A SCOMCH ALL WORDS © C SCOTCHO- WN AUTHEN. Contest Runs GRAM GRAMS of Nine More fF AOE XN" Weeks Jump in now JUSTICE MINUTE HEARD ATCHOO with your AVENUE BABY OVERTURE HOUSE Scotchograms! CONGRATULATIONS The idea of a Scotchogram is to send a wire with as few words as possible by the use of euphonious (or krazykrack) words as exem- plified on the right. In this Scotch- ogram (when translated) fifteen words have been sent for the price of nine. Can you make up one? JOHN DOE 36 Main St. Translation of above Scotchogram—Just this minute heard that you have a nev baby over at your house congratulations. Judge Will Pay $1,000.00 in Prizes for Clever Scotchograms FIRST PRIZE $500.00 SECOND PRIZE $200.00 THIRD PRIZE $100.00 FOURTH TO ELEVENTH PRIZES $25.00 EACH In addition JUDGE will pay $5.00 apiece for each Scotchogram printed during the course of the contest and these will also be eligible for prizes. In case two or more contestants submit the same prize winners, each will receive the prize. RULES OF CONTEST 1, This contest runs for sixteen weeks. It began Aug. 4th and will close midnight, Nov. 24th. 2. The shortest and cleverest Scotchograms that say the most in the fewest words will receive the prizes. The Editors of Jupce will be the Judges. 3. Each week, beginning August 4th, several of the best Scotchograms will be printed. $5 apiece will be paid for.these, and they will also be eligible for prizes the same as the ones not printed. 4. Contestants may submit as many Scotchograms as they wish. 5. ALL SCOTCHOGRAMS MUST BE SENT IN BY WESTERN UNION WIRE. 6. DO NOT SEND SCOTCHOGRAMS COL- LECT! THEY WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. 10. 7. Scotchograms can be sent by full rate Telegram, Day Letter, Night Message or Night Letter. Each wire must bear the name and address of the contestant. Foreign readers may send Scotcho- grams by cable. Address SCOTCHGRAM, N.Y. When sending more than one Scotchogram on the same blank separate them by the word “period.” 8 NO SCOTCHOGRAMS WILL BE RE- TURNED. 9. The winners will be announced in the December 22nd issue of Jupce and prize checks will be sent to the winners on that date. Wire all Scotchograms to SCOTCHOGRAM . EDITOR, Judge Publishing Co., Inc., 627 W. 43rd St., New York City. comicbooks.com