Judge, 1931-06-13 · page 12 of 36
Judge — June 13, 1931 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Explanation for Modern Readers This Judge magazine page contains two satirical pieces: **"Talkie of Two Baseball Fans"** (left): Two working-class men at a baseball game complain endlessly about manager John McGraw, criticizing his player trades and decisions despite their limited knowledge. The humor lies in their hypocrisy—they mock "stand managers" (armchair critics) while being exactly that themselves. Stanley Fitzgerald's byline suggests this is social commentary on how ordinary fans confidently second-guess professional decisions. **"Social Register"** (right): A wealthy employer instructs his servant Robinson to parade the "Van Cliffs" and "Van Wickershams" (newly rich families) around New York's finest establishments to establish their social credentials. The joke is cynical: wealth and appearance alone can buy social acceptance if properly marketed—even Rex Deane's closing quip about the Van Wickershams being "the best soft collar that money can buy" suggests they're commodities, not genuinely refined people. Both pieces satirize American social climbing and pretension in the 1920s-30s era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Talkie of Two Baseball Fans that loud-mouthed “Le Nat guy rave. Tf there's anything makes me sore at a ball game it's these stand managers.” ah, a lot of these guys pay six bits for a seat and then try to tell McGraw how to run the 1 club.” “It makes me sick. guy that’s watehed maybe a hundred ball games tries to tell a guy that’s been in it all his life.” “That kind of a guy pain in the back. excuse for it, like McGraw.” “TM say things that guy di baseball forty: years “Can you imagine taking a swell third baseman like Lindstrom, and putting him in the outfield?” “Well, what can you expect of a dumb guy like McGraw. I never could figure how anybody could think he’s a Po manager.” orme. Look at all the good ball ers he's canned. I guess mayhe ouldn’t use Hornsby or Hack Wil- son or Red Lucas about now.” “And look at the handles his pitchers.” “Ye gives me a But if there's any it is with a manager » of the And him in dumb way he he's a lousy manager.” h, lousy.” —Srantey Firzcerarp Sirter- Fracroue This is ideal, I’m gonna spend the summer up here. 10 Social Register “Gor morning, Mr. Robinson.” “Good morning, sir.” “Sit down, Robinson, there are a couple of things [ want to take up with you before [leave for Newport. About those Van Cliffs now. don’t you think they have been ne up in Boston?” es sir, IT don't. We took them out of Cambridge and [ think all the better type of Harvard even liked them immensely. In fact they had a much better reception than the Van Carle tons I took up there last year.” “Well, that’ Lettingwell, Junio “Twas a little afraid of the Lef fingwells when [first saw them, they seemed so stiff, but last week [intro duced one of them toe a well known broker down in Wall Strect and every- thing is jake. Why, their clean-cut appearance has won them a host of friends already.” “Just one thing more then Mr. Robinson, | want you to take the V. Wickershams around New York and introduce them, Take them into the best stores and hotels and get them known in all the best clubs. It will cost money, but it’s worth it, for in the Van Wickershams I feel we have t best soft collar that money can buy —Rex Deane od news. How about comicbooks.com