Captain Billy's Whiz Bang, August 1922 · page 20 of 67
Captain Billy's Whiz Bang #36 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is a **Q&A advice column** from an early 20th-century satirical magazine. The humor relies on contemporary cultural references now obscure to modern readers: **Key References:** - "Way Down East" and "Orphans of the Storm" are silent films; the joke assumes readers recognize dramatic plot phrases - "Arrow Collar man" refers to a famous advertising mascot/brand—the answer ironically equates Helen of Troy with a commercial icon - "B.V.D." (a underwear brand) is playfully redefined as "Before the Volstead Disaster"—mocking Prohibition (Volstead Act, 1920) - The optimist joke is pure slapstick absurdism: finding gratitude in physical imperfection **The Magazine's Appeal:** *Whiz Bang* targeted working-class readers with lowbrow humor, puns, and irreverent takes on popular culture. The column format allowed readers to submit questions, creating interactive engagement. The satire is gentle, not politically charged—mostly poking fun at advertising, Prohibition, and cultural pretensions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
18 Captain Billy's Whiz Bang with that city chap—he ain't done right by our Nell" is from Way Down East or Orphans of the Storm?—Miss Dolly Varden. The words were used by the District Attor- ney at Los Angeles in "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse." * * * Dear Captain Billy—Who was Helen of Troy?—College Lawss. We have answered this before. She is the wife of the Arrow Collar man. * * * Dear Captain Billy—What is your definition of an optimist?—E. N. Hayle. An optimist is a cross-eyed man who is thankful that he is not bow-legged, knock- kneed and hair-lipped. * * * Dear Captain Bill—I saw in a magazine the other day the expression "back in the year 1914 B. V. D." What does B. V. D. mean?—Sammy Unterweyer. Presumably it means "Before the Volstead Disaster." * * * _Dear Captain_—Could you publish the pic- tures of some rare birds I have stuffed and mounted in my travels?—Taxidermist. We do not publish photographs. * * * Dear Captain Billy—What do you think people would say if I took up amateur theatri-