Captain Billy's Whiz Bang, December 1924 · page 25 of 71
Captain Billy's Whiz Bang #67 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains five separate humorous vignettes rather than cartoons, showcasing early 20th-century American humor: 1. **"Yes, Indeed!"** — A child's joke about Alaska's largest town being "Nome," playing on the phonetic similarity to "no, ma'am." 2. **"Improving Omar"** — Parodies Omar Khayyam's famous hedonistic poetry, but replaces wine and companionship with a silent wife who tolerates smoking. 3. **"Things We Never Expect to See"** — References Leopold and Loeb (likely the notorious 1924 Chicago murderers), sarcastically suggesting they'd never engage in innocent Christmas activities. The Tinney/Wilson reference is unclear without additional context. 4. **"Speaking of Paradise"** — A parson unwittingly reveals lower-class gambling locations while teaching Sunday School morality—ironic social commentary on hypocrisy. 5. **Ship Radio joke** — A child confuses ventilation funnels with "loud speakers," demonstrating innocent ignorance about modern maritime technology. The humor targets social pretension, hypocrisy, outdated morality, and emerging technology confusion.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
[Farmyard Fun and Philosophy] Yes, Indeed! Teacher—"Can you tell me the name of the largest town in Alaska?" Reggie—"No'mm." Teacher—"Correct." * * * Improving Omar A cosy room, an open wood fire, A bottle, a book, and a good old briar, A little wife who does not mind the smoke, And doesn't talk—could heaven come nigher? * * * Things We Never Expect to See Frank Tinney and Imogene Wilson doing a brother and sister act in vaudeville. Messrs. Leopold and Loeb decorating Christmas trees for the kiddies. * * * Speaking of Paradice Parson at the climax of a Sunday School lesson: "Now, who knows where the men go who shoot craps on Sunday?" Little Will—"Under the railroad bridge." * * * Small Boy (watching ship come in)—"And do they have radio on ships, too, daddy?" Daddy—"Yes, of course." Small Boy (pointing to ventilation funnels)—"But why do they need so many loud speakers, daddy?" [23]