Rag Rag : The Rag Rag Annual Magazine, 1931

University of Manchester Student Union

Rag Rag

<p style='text-align: justify;'><b>Content warning: As an historical item, some content in this magazine contains language and imagery that reflect the prejudices of the era, which are offensive, oppressive and may cause upset. This is not condoned by The University of Manchester, but we are committed to providing access to this material as evidence of the inequalities and attitudes of the time period.</b></p><p style='text-align: justify;'>The 1931 Rag Rag magazine was produced by students to raise money for the Manchester Royal Infirmary. It cost sixpence per copy, and extra donations were encouraged.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Features include ‘The Royal Tour of the Margarine’, a satirical report on the king’s royal visits abroad, and ‘The Curse of the Gorgonzola’, a parody of ancient Chinese myths. There are also jokes referencing naval disarmament, Manchester’s rough tram system, traffic congestion and the polluted state of the River Medlock. Cartoons show future world heavyweight boxing champion Primo Carnera, French singer Maurice Chevalier and a baby Al Capone. Some cartoons show racial stereotypes.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>There are comedic advertisements for Exide batteries, McVitie & Price digestive biscuits, the Co-operative Wholesale Society, Marks & Sons Ltd. department store, Atora beef suet, Manchester Corporation Trams, the Angus-Stewra Depot, the Ewbank wringer, Small & Parkes mechanics, Parkinsons’ chemists, the Co-operative Permanent Building Society, Ancoats Hospital, the Manchester Ship Canal and C. Nicholls & Co printing.</p>