Captain Billy's Whiz Bang, May 1922 · page 57 of 68
Captain Billy's Whiz Bang #33 — page 57: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece mocks self-appointed moral reformers attempting to regulate dancing in New York State. The text ridicules a proposed bill banning "jazz dancing, hugging and cheek-to-cheek dancing" and other "suggestive" moves, replacing them with rigidly formal, distanced dancing where partners must keep "bodies or faces apart." The satire targets Prohibition-era moral panic and censorship movements. The absurdly specific regulations—banning dim lighting, requiring arm positions—are presented to highlight the absurdity of government micromanaging social behavior and personal expression. The second section shifts to mocking New York's film censorship board, suggesting these same moral crusaders are also "very, very active" in censoring cinema. The piece criticizes the paternalistic mindset of moralists imposing their values on the public, presenting their efforts as both laughably restrictive and dangerously intrusive into private life.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Captain Billy's Whiz Bang 55 Knickerbocker Spice THE business of eliminating vice from the human race goes merrily along in the hands of our self-appointed moralists. As this is being written, these folk are trying to jam a bill through the New York State Leg- islature to “regulate” dancing. The bill com- pletely bans jazz dancing, hugging and cheek- to-cheek dancing, neck-holds, camel walks and other “suggestive” dances. Dancing under soft, dim lights is specifically forbidden. The bill describes “proper dancing” as follows: “The man places his arm lightly about his partner’s waist, his hand resting gently on her back just above the waist line. The man’s partner should rest her left hand lightly on the man’s right shoulder and her right hand should remain lightly in his left hand. At no time should the dancers fail to keep their bodies or faces apart.” * * * THE only thing to divert the troubled minds of the cinemaese has been the activities of the New York board of cen- sors. The censors are very, very active and