Judge, 1929-05-18 · page 10 of 36
Judge — May 18, 1929 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Judge Magazine Page This is a satirical piece by S.J. Perelman (later famous as a humorist) mocking New York's entertainment and publishing elite by casting them as "Indian Nations" threatening the city. The joke conflates real Broadway/vaudeville performers (Three Star Hennessey, Borrah Minnevitch and his Harmonica Rascals, magician Howard Thurston) with Native American tribes. The satire targets these entertainers' self-importance and their dependence on Knopf publishing contracts—"as much part of their regalia as buckskin bloomers." The humor plays on the absurd juxtaposition: dignified performers reduced to stereotypical "savages," their status anxiety about appearing publicly without their Knopf books, and the trivial complaint that tribes want back "the bottle of liquor" included in the original Manhattan land sale. The accompanying cartoons show slapstick violence and physical comedy, reinforcing the satirical mockery of these public figures and contemporary entertainment culture.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Indian Nations Arm for Attack ! New Yorkers Swarm to Defend City Walls! By S. J. Perelman War Correspondent of “Judge” New York, May 16.—Whilst grim-jawed settlers cleaned their rusty fowling-pieces at the Harlem stockades and prepared to resist the red man’s on- slaught, barbaric sachems of the Six Indian N met today in council at Reuben’s to discuss plans for attack. The Indian Nations are composed of the following tribes: Three r Hennessey. Hays Five Fruits, the Fabric Group, Borrah | Minnevitch and his fat J Rascals, the Mound N lk ‘ity Blue Blowers and ' a on P. Schwartz X ¢ r Som nsternation ions was evident the chieftains, two whom had appeared in public without their Knopf book. They ota were frightfully em , harrassed, for a Knopf book is as much part amo. of their regalia as their buckskin bloom ers. One chief abse: mindedly did forget to \.) bring his buckskin bloomers, but several of the squaws heroi- | cally tore strips from — their petticoats and \ quickly built him tem- ay porary breeks so that the council could con- ~~) vene. The Indian upris ing traces its cause to J asic the desire of the red { JUDGE The Scotch cupid cuts down on his arrow expense. skins to get back the bottle of liquor which they included with Manhattan Island when they traded this parcel to our forefathers, This repor out Howard Thurston, head of the Thre: nessey tribe, for a statement, The nob was shavi in his three-room tent without bath when I lifted the flap of the tepce. “TL already have a complete set of the works of O. Henry," he said as 1 greeted him. 1 explained that I was now working for Jepax and desired an interview. er sought r Hen re they still paying you in wampum?” queried Chief Thurston. [admitted that I often took clam- shells or rock salt instead of money, but simply because I had no need of the latter, being a 2 favorite of a wealthy 4 aunt who paid me to stay away from her ow, what is your name, Mr. Thurston I asked, pencil in hana. “Howard Thurs- ton,” ne the sur- nswer. | prising | “That is a name to 5: mented I. “Are you ; sure that) you aren't \ zu the great magician / IK\\ | ind that this isn’t a {__ fa\ hoax 2" . J) & Nw “A hoax? A hoax?” i | inquired the bewil- dered savage. “You mean those. things that grow from little KS (il hacorns?” As he - ib | seemed on the verge NS *) of tears, I ehanged 4 the subject. \ fo) “Tell me, Howard,” NG 81 1 said, changing the subject, * J+ New York part of ave you comicbooks.com