Judge, 1928-10-06 · page 9 of 36
Judge — October 6, 1928 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "It Macks Her Sore" - Judge Satire Analysis This domestic comedy sketch satirizes the archetypical bored, unresponsive husband. Mr. Mack embodies the stereotypical indifferent spouse who ignores his wife's attempts at conversation, repeatedly tells tired jokes about white horses, and shows no appreciation for her efforts—whether embroidering a motorboat cover or baking cake. Mrs. Mack represents the exasperated housewife, driven to literal violence (beating him with a hammer) by years of emotional neglect and tedious repetition. The satire mocks both the husband's emotional obliviousness and the wife's desperate measures for attention. The accompanying cartoon shows a motorist oblivious to a lighthouse beacon while buying a boat—visual parallel to Mr. Mack's willful blindness to his wife's needs. The dentist/patient vignette (bottom) offers unrelated slapstick humor typical of Judge's variety format. The piece critiques early-20th-century gender dynamics and marital indifference with dark comedic violence as the punchline.
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“IT MACKS HER SORE” 1 mere wisp of a domestic play the other half lives) let revealing how Scene Li home of Mr, and Mrs. Charles Mack. Mrs. Mack is embroider- ing a cover for a motor-boat en- gine. Enter Mr. Mack Mrs. Mack—Wello, Charlie. Mr. Mack—Uh huh. Mrs. Mack—Wow'd — every- thing go today, Charlie? Mr. Mack—1 wouldn't: know sbout that, Mrs. Mack—Charlic, please, vou know what L think of that udience : t your laughs? Mr. Mack—Wha’'s yo’ point in bringin’ that up? Mrs, Mack—Oh, Charli « heart, you're not work Mr. Mack—I'd rather not hear iny mo’ . Mrs. Mack—Charlie! Please please . . . (desperately) ing room in’ the line. How was the have now. Listen, the vacuum cleaner sales- man was here this afternoon pes- tering me for a demonstration ind E couldn't get rid of him. Mr. Mack—When we lived on t rid of “em. Mrs. Mack—(unsuspectingly ) How? Mr. Mack—Oh, we knew how, Mrs. Mack—Charlie, honest, if I hear that again I'l scream! Mr, Mack—Did I ever tell you sbout the white horses that mo’ than the black horses? Mrs. Mack—Yes, ves, a mil lion times! — Ple. for God's sake, you're breaking my heart! .. Here, try this cake I baked this afternoon, 1 farm we always Mr, Mack (after a moment )— Boy, even if that was good I wouldn't like it. Mrs, Mack—Charlie, this has one far enough, (She goes down into the cellar and reap pears with a hammer.) Mr. Mack—Wha's the purpose of that? Mrs. Mack (smacking him over the head several times )—That’s for the years I've spent listen to vour gag lines! And here's another one for good Mr. Mack ( yo" point in bri Curtain —Prneiwas JUDGE Mortons? (who just bought a boat) ever going to switch that red light! Patient—Trying to drink out of a flask while stairs. ain't that cop comicbooks.com