[Ads-l] FW: Antedating of "zowie"

MULLINS, WILLIAM D (Bill) CIV USARMY RDECOM AMRDEC (US) william.d.mullins18.civ at MAIL.MIL
Mon Nov 7 16:02:32 UTC 2016


Sorry, this went initially only to Robin and should have gone to the whole list.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: MULLINS, WILLIAM D (Bill) CIV USARMY RDECOM AMRDEC (US)
> Sent: Monday, November 07, 2016 10:02 AM
> To: 'Robin Hamilton' <robin.hamilton3 at virginmedia.com>
> Subject: Re: Antedating of "zowie"
> 
> Chicago _Inter Ocean_ 20 May 1900 p 33 col 5 "The leading bill at the Lyric is announced as "a cross between a burlesque and a farce
> comedy," called "Zowie's Dion," which is so amply suggestive in title as to need no further explanation."
> 
> _New York Clipper_ May 26, 1900 p 289 col 1
> ""Zowie's Dion," a burlesque written by two Chicago newspaper men, is the principal attraction here this week.  Dr. Dowie, "Zion's
> overseer," who has figured extensively in the local press, is the butt of the production. Marjorie Maxwell takes the chief role and Phideas M.
> Page is her chief assistant. In addition to "Zowie's Dion," a one act play, entitled "Lethe." "
> 
> 
> Per wikipedia, John Alexander Dowie was a turn of the century evangelist (and possibly a cult leader) and founder of Zion, IL.  He owned
> Zion publishing, through which he spread his message in a newsletter called "Leaves of Healing."
> So perhaps "Zowie" comes from a combination of Dowie and Zion?
> 
> 
> >
> > Antedated to 1902 in GDoS:
> >
> > (orig. US) an excl. used to describe a sudden impact, or fig. amazement.
> >
> > 1902 [US] T.A. Dorgan in Zwilling TAD Lex. (1993) 90: Zowie!!
> > 1909 [US] Pacific Commercial Advertisier (Honolulu, HI) 25 Dec. 3/5:
> > This [baseball] game will not take place if it rains. If the weather is fine, all right; if not, then zooey for the fans.
> >
> > Hugo's cite provides a nice interdating/confirmation of early use.
> >
> > Robin
> >
> > >
> > >     On 07 November 2016 at 07:17 Hugo <hugovk at GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >     OED: c1913
> > >
> > >
> > >     1908 July 17, Rice, Thomas S., “Nationals Swat at Lively Clip Until
> > >     New Orleans Steps Into Breach.”, in The Washington Times[1],
> > >     Washington D.C., page 10:
> > >
> > >     ---
> > >     Zowie, what a walloping those Browns got in New York yesterday! A few
> > >     more like that and the blow-up in Washington, then watch the anvil
> > >     chorus in St. Louis.
> > >     ---
> > >

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