Judge, 1932-02-20 · page 10 of 36
Judge — February 20, 1932 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of This Judge Magazine Page This page satirizes Broadway and New York's theatrical district circa the 1920s-30s (Prohibition era, given references to "speakeasies"). The top cartoon shows a man being arrested with a woman and child present—captioned "Pap, d'ye know anythin' 'bout tyin' a necklace?"—likely mocking petty crime and domestic chaos on Broadway. The lower cartoon depicts men in what appears to be an underground setting, captioned "Did I hoit 'im?"—possibly referencing violence or criminal activity. The essay "All I Know Is What I Read" by Arthur Greenberg mocks Broadway's superficiality: celebrities, speakeasy barflies (failed theater producers), people willing to betray friends for money and fame. It ridicules the district's obsession with wealth, gossip, and appearance—noting that credit is impossible for shabby-looking people, and that luck rather than merit determines success. The final quips mock taxi drivers and report a Chinese army shoe order sarcastically as "running shoes"—likely an ethnic joke. The satire targets Broadway's moral decay and materialism.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ee ALL I KNOW IS WHAT I READ I roapway is indeed a street that Entirely distin guishable from other streets in’ the stands alone. land, all sorts of rare and peculiar happenings occur daily. Broadway differ from those in the hinterlands in that they care only for money, for fame, for luxuries; and that they will often cheat and betray their best friends to obtain these things. People on One has only to have thoughts while strolling along any of Manhattan's thoroughfares, and a long procession of assorted celebrities will unravel themselves before one’s very eyes. Easily discerned on a clear day Cornelius V Wilson Mizner, Maude Adams, Her- bert Hoover, Mickey Mouse, et « However, in misty weather one only see Courtney Ryley Coope Courtney Ryley Cooper, and possibly, Courtney Ryley Cooper. Broadway has lights which are un- doubtedly the brightest in the world —lights ‘that have been a source of undying inspiration tos and a countless number of columns. ng writers Four out of every five barflies in the speakeasies are former theatre im- presarios or ex-presidents of now high- ly prosperous railway systems. Their unfortunate plights are to be ex- JUDGE plained simply and) cloquently as just life. There is a chap named Smith whose daily adventures are invariably poign- ant and of O. Henryesque climaxes He cither comes home and finds his wife has eloped with the chauffeur, or “Did I hoit *im?” it suddenly dawns on him that. the lucky nickel he has been keeping in his vest pocket since 1892 would, if placed in a bank when he found it, ceamulated by compound inter- est a large enough sum to get his brother out on bail. And the brother has been arrested for mutilating a coin for good luck! Any impending birth or marriage is important and sensational news. To be in the know in ad is to pos sess advantages that ean be well used in planning your home, your vacation, or career n When a man is down on Broadway he is out. Credit on Broadway is ex- cerdingly difficult to secure, especially if a man presents a shabby exterior. Broadwayites are very imp: failures.” Everything so long ient with ‘oes on Broad- you get away with it. sare only interested nin so faras he has money. O rarc, exotic Strect! O Street of In comparable Chance and Bewildering Standards! —Artier Erexnenc A* American firm reports a big or 4% der for shoes for the Chinese army. Running shoes, we presume. We haven't anything against taxi drivers, but it does seem to us that most of them would rather change your face than a bill. comicbooks.com j | | ]