1950's Slang and References
Page Number
Character
Word/Phrase
Definition/Explanation
Goon-face P.8 Bomber Thugish, beat-up, ugly
Ornery P. 8 Millie bad-tempered, combative, stubborn; aka, an asshole with no claim to family
"Lookit Mrs. Tar-zan!" P. 8 Bomber First Tarzan movie came out in 1918; 5-10 movies came out every decade since; latest Tarzan movie 1952 called “Tarzan’s Savage Fury”)
“I can send you!” P. 9 Bomber A way of saying, "I can turn you on…"
Dungarees, 1950s
“We go steady” P. 9 Madge A way of saying, "We're dating"
Tarzan, 1958
“Go peddle your papers” P. 9 Millie An actual phrase that means “get out of here and stop annoying me like an aggressive paper boy”
“Just loafin', ma'am” P. 10 Hal Loafing: to idel away time
Tramp P. 10 Flo A homeless person who wanders by foot
“Every Tom, Dick, and Harry” P. 10 Flo Popular saying during the 50s-basically means "any old guy, who knows what they're about, what they get up to" etc.
Dutch Oven P. 10 Flo large, heavy cooking pot with a lid
Espionage Department P.11 Madge May allude to tracking down Soviets; not an actual department in the government-equivalent of CIA?
Charge accounts P.12 Flo Introduced in 1946 by John Biggins – you go to the department store and say “charge it,” means you have some status and some money; customers could have a pre-established arrangement with the business; very popular in NYC in the 50’s
Dutch Oven
Shanty P.12 Flo Small, crudely built shack
“And if you don’t like it you know P.13 Millie "Go to hell"
what you can do!”
“Jumpin’ Jeeter” P.13 Millie A ‘Jeeter’ is a slovenly male – a country bumpkin, unkempt, careless, excessively casual; a nervous slob.
"Like fun I am” P.13 Millie "Like hell I am"
Shorthand P.13 Millie Rapid writing by means of abbreviations and symbols when taking diction
“A peck of fun” P.16 Rosemary A ‘peck’ is about two gallons, still used as a unit of measurement, meaning in general "a lot"- similar to saying “she’s a barrel of fun”
Typists, 1950
“Naked as an Indian” P.16 Rosemary Old saying; old stereotype that Indians were savage and thus unclothed…?
“Just for kicks” P.16 Millie "Just for fun"
Ponsella Three-Way Tissue Cream P.16 Rosemary
Beauty Clay P. 17 Rosemary Facials you get with the cucumbers and the gray stuff
“Hey, Delilah!” P.18 Alan https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges%2016 Referencing the Samson and Delilah bible story - Delilah was very beautiful and ultimately betrayed Samson.
“The Ballad of the Sad Café” P.19 Millie Weird short story. Read it:
Outboard motor P.21 Alan Propulsion system for boats
Foreign Legion P.22 Hal A unit of nation’s army consisting primarily of foreign volunteers, often tasked with fighting wars in colonies –probably referring to the French Foreign Legion (pretty famous)
“In a pig’s eye, I did!” P.24 Hal a derisive retort expressing emphatic disbelief
Pauper’s Row P.25 Hal A row in the back of the cemetery of unmarked graves -check out paragraph on pauper’s row from a 1904
archive
Teacher’s College P.27 Christine Emporia's State Universtiyy Teacher's College located in Emporia, Kansas
Stork Club P.28 Irma One of the most famous night clubs in NYC – owned and operated by Sherman Billingsley through the 60's first opened in 1929; a “nightspot” – big during Prohibition
Teacher's College, 1954 Postmark
Stork Club, 1951
Kansas City Star P.29 Mrs. Potts Big magazine/newspaper of Kansas City – still runs/prints today
“Shooting craps” P.32 Hal Gambling, rolling dice, casino craps/table craps, playing for money; Check out Guys and Dolls 2/21- 2/27
“Two and a half gainer” P.34 Millie
(see at 0:50)
“The Hi Ho” P.34 Millie A diner
Bridge P.36 Irma (or contract bridge) a trick taking game using a standard 52 deck; played with four players and two competing partnerships
Satin-back crepe P.36 Irma a polyester special occasion fabric used typically in prom dresses and wedding dresses
Shalimar P.37 Madge a woman’s fragrance created in 1921 by Jacques Guerlain
Jackknife P.40 Hal a dive in which the body is first bent at the waist and then straightened
"Think I’m snowin’ you under" P.41 Hal having so much work to do you are having trouble doing it all
Porter P.45 Rosemary a person employed to carry luggage and other loads, especially a railroad station, airport, or hotel
"Tanned me with a razor strap" P.47 Rosemary similar to getting hit with a belt
Rita Hayworth P.49 Millie American actress and dancer who achieved fame in the 1940s as one of the top stars of the time period
Snifters P.52 Howard a glass with a narrow rim, a wide bowl, and a short stem that is used especially for drinking brandy
Skidaddled P.53 Rosemary depart quickly or hurriedly
Thumbed by nose at them P.58 Rosemary a gesture of disrespect (typically with the thumb upon the tip of the nose, fingers spread, and wiggling one’s fingers
Rita Hayworth, 1947
Snifter
"I’m no Spring Chicken" P.59 Rosemary "I’m not a young person"
Penitentiary P.63 Flo a prison for people convicted of serious crimes