Judge, 1928-12-29 · page 35 of 37
Judge — December 29, 1928 — page 35: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **satirical advertisement** for Judge magazine's 1929 New Year subscription offer. The humor lies in absurd "premium gifts" designed to mock both useless products and the era's aggressive marketing tactics. The four items parodied are: 1. A paper weight depicting Wellington at Waterloo (historically irrelevant decoration) 2. A reading lamp attachment for street hydrants—sarcastically "helping" homeless alcoholics improve their minds while drunk 3. A Gothic toothbrush holder with gargoyles (needlessly ornate bathroom fixture) 4. Horse-shoes for a three-legged pony (functionally pointless) The joke is that these ridiculous items come "free" with magazine subscriptions—a common 1920s marketing gimmick. The fine print's plea "don't send the Paper Weight, the Drop-Light...or the Gothic Toothbrush Holder" reveals the satire: Judge is mocking both consumer culture and subscription-offer absurdity, suggesting readers only want the magazine itself, not worthless premiums.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Our Big New Year’s Offer Start the year 1929 by taking advantage of these start- ling premiums. Read the list and ORDER NOW! No. 2 Special Drop-Light Attachment for Hydrants You can't cure a man of sitting in gutters, But what you can do is help him improve his mind while he sits there! Fit out your husband with this reading lamp and a subscription to Jvvar, all for $382.98, Decorative and Inspirational This nobby little paper weight is of bronze will take a very high polish. It represents We at Waterloo, With 1 year’s subscription to Jvvar SOSS5.65. The Gothic Toothbrush Holder (Below) Complete with gargoyles, spires and stained glass window This will brighten up the bathroom no (Imported from Paris)—zwith 2 years’ subscription to Jepor $1,156.60, Something You’ve Always Wanted ! A complete set of horse-shoes for a three-legged 4 No. 4 pony. Handsomely mounted on red plush in a real & ood bor. With 21 weeks’ subscription to Juvar %, A 4 Judge Pub. Co., Inc., 627 W. 43rd St., New York. I wish to take advantage of startling offer No———. Please send me Junce for 21 weeks es ane wanes , $2.00 0 1 year isewsetevans wee 5.00 2 years : 3 . 7800 | But for the love of Mike don't send the Paper Weight, the Drop-Light, the Set of Horseshoes or the Gothic Toothbrush Holder. Name Address City comicbooks.com