Sayings on the show you don't hear anymore

[Maxwell]

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?

I can remember in the '50s and '60s where my dad worked, he had to call through the operator, and my mom had to go through the operator to call him. So he probably couldn't direct dial in reality.

[Jack Benny]

60 years ago this week, Don said,"Let's have a gay costume party!" and I laughed my head off!

[scottp]

Shorpy.com had a photo of an amusement park attraction (spinning floor sort of thing I think) and there was a sign, "GENTLEMEN WILL NOT GET GAY." So besides the "happy-carefree" gay (as Jack's line intended) there was also a "getting fresh/ taking liberties" gay.

[grittys457]

I was listening to a show from around 1939 last night and Phil said he just got his hair "did". Jack corrected him.
It's not an old saying but it's funny that 65-70 years later it became a slang that most kids now. Going to get my hair did.

[Jhammes]

"Grand" has been mentioned in this thread: the "grand slam" allows that word to live on, if only during Baseball season.

[Maxwell]

The Sirius/XM OTR channel is playing Jack's Christmas shopping show from 12/21/39, iirc. In the Jell-o commercial, Don uses both "gay" and "grand." Too bad I was driving and couldn't write down the exact quote.

[scottp]

Unfortunately it was as I was drifting off to sleep, so it's foggy in my memory-- but I just heard a You Bet Your Life from the early 1950s where Groucho asks a groom-to-be about his personality, and "gay" was one of the adjectives he proposed.
(I remember my grandmother circa 1980, telling people "I used to say I was born in 'The Gay 90s' but I don't anymore!")

[Maxwell Stroud]

I like that Jello recipe Brad. Funny! Some of the real concoctions are downright comical, but they were delivered by Don with utmost seriousness as a delectable dessert that you would be proud to serve your guests. It sure was a different time.

I've got the 1937 edition of Jack & Mary's Jello Recipe Book and believe you me brother (another archaic expression), there are some vile sounding suggestions:
Creamy Pimento Ring
1 pkg Lemon Jello
1 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 tsp vinegar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup milk
1/4 tsp paprika
1 tsp scraped onion
1/2 cup mayonaise
1/2 cup grated american cheese
1/2 cup chopped pimentos.

Now, doesn't that sound grand?