Captain Billy's Whiz Bang, July 1922 · page 56 of 67
Captain Billy's Whiz Bang #35 — page 56: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from the satirical magazine contains three Hollywood scandal items from circa 1921: **George Walsh vs. Tom Mix lawsuit**: Actor Walsh sues Western star Mix for $25,000 over possession of "Joe," a famous stunt horse. Walsh claims Mix promised temporary custody but refused to return the animal. **Mae Busch divorce**: The actress (known for "Foolish Wives") files for divorce from actor husband Francis McDonald. **The Hypocrisy Joke**: Reverend R.J. Whitcomb Brougher had publicly denounced Hollywood immorality, but his own son-in-law Norman Buist entered the film industry—upsetting the family. The satire mocks clergy hypocrisy regarding the "corrupt" film industry. The opening paragraph jokes about speakeasy culture (likely Prohibition-era Green Mill bar), where blind waiters facilitated covert drinking signals. These items ridicule both Hollywood excess and moral crusaders' double standards.
📄 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 knee a thud with a glass contained and asks you if you would like a nip. As you scan the room, you find that this undertable signal system is being followed by all Green Mill's patrons. A staff of marvel- ously talented blind waiters serve the patrons there, and although somebody's ginger ale may spill en passant and wet garcon's ankles, he never organizes a strike. * * * GEORGE WALSH has just filed suit for $25,000 against Tom Mix because, he asserts, the latter has taken possession of “Joe,” the famous equine cinema star. Joe won his laurels for his neck-breaking pursuits, always a feature of wild west pictures. Walsh says that when he departed for New York in May, 1921, Mix requested he be allowed to keep “Joe” until Walsh returned. Mix has continued to keep the beast! * * * MAE BUSCH, well known for her clever work in “Foolish Wives,” has filed suit for divorce from her actor husband, Francis McDonald. * * * R. J. WHITCOMB BROUGHER, with other Los Angeles gentlemen of the clergy, had things to say a short time ago about cleaning up the film folk. Now, his son-in-law, Norman Buist, has upset the family flower pot by going into pictures. He is play-