Sayings on the show you don't hear anymore

[epeterd]

I heard an episode recently, not sure the date but was from 1939, where someone pronounces words with a soft G, like a J, instead of a hard G. I also heard on Fibber McGee once when they had a character impersonating a newsman I think who spoke like that. Does anyone know who that was an impersonation of?

peter

[Brad from Georgia]

I very rarely (like never) hear anyone approving something by calling it "swell" nowadays, but I just listened to a show where it was used at least four times.

[Moose Hatrack]

Never heard the term "due bill" until Jack got one for the Kronkite Rendezvous.

[epeterd]

I heard the phrase "no soap" on a show this morning. That's one you don't hear anymore.

peter

[epeterd]

This isn't necessarily a saying, but Mary mentioned gaining 12 pounds over the summer in the first episode of the '46 season. What woman would brag about that nowadays?


peter

[scottp]

This isn't necessarily a saying, but Mary mentioned gaining 12 pounds over the summer in the first episode of the '46 season. What woman would brag about that nowadays?
peter

What was the context? You could get butter again?

[AnneCr]

As a woman, I was astounded by Mary's saying happily that she had gained twelve pounds, too!

[epeterd]

Jack told her she looked good. Mary said she had laid around all summer and gained twelve pounds. And Jack just kept saying "wow" and stuff about how great she looked.

peter

[helloagain]

I would think that adding a few pounds would have improved Mary's appearance. She was built like a rake. But an attractive rake.

[Moose Hatrack]

...Toots

[Brad from Georgia]

Yesterday I was listening to a WWII-era show in which a PSA reminded people to get an adaptor for their blitz can. I had to look it up, but as I guessed, a blitz can was a gasoline container.

[scottp]

In model-building magazines, the tall-flat-rectangular five gallon gas cans seen on Jeeps, trucks, etc. are often called "jerry cans." Between "blitz" and "jerry" it would seem the Germans were consistently given credit for creating them?

[epeterd]

Here's another one that isn't actually a saying. Re: Jello ads, what company nowadays would be proud to say that their flavor was artificially enhanced? They'd lose a lot of sales, more than likely, with America on the natural foods kick it's on.

peter

[Brad from Georgia]

Not really a phrase, but more a quirk of pronunciation. I've noticed in the WWII shows, Jack frequently does PSA's for the Red Cross. I've always heard "Red Cross" pronounced everywhere else with equal stress on both words. Jack stresses "Red": "Folks, the Red Cross needs your help...." Don't know if that was a general thing back then or just Jack's idiosyncrasy.

[Radioman]

Like Red Cross, Jack pronounced Boy Scouts as Boy Scouts, emphasizing the Scouts, which I thought sounded weird.


How about how Jack had to call the switchboard if he wanted to make a call? I know that would introduce the Gladys and Mabel sketches, but still, Jack couldn't direct dial?