A complete issue · 32 pages · 1917
Judge — January 6, 1917
# Judge Magazine - January 6, 1917 This cover features an illustration credited to James Montgomery Flagg depicting a woman in an elaborate, expensive fur coat and feathered hat—the height of luxury fashion. The title "A Limousine Body" is a pun: it refers both to the woman's fashionable "body" (outfit) and to automobile limousine bodies, fitting the issue's "Automobile Number" theme. The satire likely mocks wealthy women's extravagant spending on fashion during World War I, when resources were increasingly rationed. The opulent clothing and accessories represent conspicuous consumption at a time when such excess was becoming socially controversial. The limousine reference adds commentary on class privilege and automobile culture among the wealthy elite.
# Johnnie Walker Red Label Advertisement This is primarily a **whisky advertisement** rather than political satire. It features three caricatured gentlemen in top hats—a common advertising format of the era—illustrating the slogan "A man is as old as he feels" versus "Johnnie Walker Red Label is as old as it tastes." The joke centers on the product's quality: Johnnie Walker's non-refillable bottle design prevents tampering, ensuring consistent taste. The advertisement claims that even 10-year-old Red Label maintains its quality throughout distribution worldwide. The "Born 1820—still going strong" notation in the upper right references the whisky brand's founding date, suggesting timeless reliability. This is commercial messaging, not social or political commentary.
# "In Everyman's Garage" This cartoon satirizes common automobile mishaps and the diverse characters who encounter them. The central panel shows a car being driven slowly, with various vignettes depicting typical garage and roadside incidents: a man complaining about a dent in his fender, someone attempting to fix a mechanical issue, a chauffeur working on the vehicle, and others dealing with flat tires and repairs. The satire targets the universal frustrations of early automobile ownership—breakdowns, damage, and the need for repairs—affecting drivers across social classes, from wealthy owners to working-class mechanics. The title "In Everyman's Garage" emphasizes that car troubles are democratic: everyone experiences them. The humor derives from the relatable, everyday nature of these automotive problems in an era when automobiles were still relatively new and unreliable.
