War on Poverty (1955); The Way It Is; Fight Terms

[Bapopik at AOL.COM]

WAR ON POVERTY (continued)

   It's about a decade before LBJ.  "Great Society" is almost here as well!
   From the NEW YORK HERALD TRIBUNE, 29 November 1955, pg. 24, col. 1 (editorials):

   _"Waging War on Poverty"_
   It is a function of the good society to strive ceaselessly and imaginatively to improve the material condition of its members within a framework of freedom.  In that context, Governor Harriman's proposal for a bi-partisan commission to study ways of raising the earning capacity of New York State's lower-income groups is highly commendable.
(...) (Col. 2--ed.)
   It is rather unfortunate that Governor Harriman, in making his suggestions for government action, chose to characterize them as "waging a war on poverty."  It is a fine phrase, but the Governor's program is only a skirmish line, or a mopping-up action.

--------------------------------------------------------
THE WAY IT IS (continued)

   A cartoon caption (the Soviet Union is forcing Communism to its satellites) in the NYHT, 10 November 1955, pg. 26, col. 3:

"This Is the Way It Is and This Is the Way It's Going to Stay!"

--------------------------------------------------------
WASHINGTON:  FIRST IN WAR...

   I don't know what date Fred Shapiro has for this.
   From Red Smith's column in the NYHT, 1 November 1955, section 3, pg. 1, col. 1:

   "WASHINGTON--first in war, first in peace, and last in the American League."  If that witticism wasn't what killed vaudeville, it'll have to take the blame until somebody offers a more poisonous gag.  Chances are, however, that the line was convulsing audiences even before Griff got to the capital, for he didn't have the original copyright on terrible teams.

--------------------------------------------------------
THE LITTLE PICTURE

   The opposite of the "Big Picture," but not used as often.
   From the NYHT, 27 November 1955, section 2, pg. 5, col. 1:

_"The Little Picture" Throws_
_Light on School Problems_
   _Focus on a Small Town and Its People_
(...) (Col. 2--ed.)
   The way to get hold of the monster, the producers felt, was to "narrow the focus" and capture, in Mr. Murrow's terms, "the little picture."

--------------------------------------------------------
SOPHOMORE JINX

   Not in the OED.
   See the old ADS-L archives for "jinx" and "cover jinx," although I think they've been destroyed.
   From an interview with George Gobel in TV AND RADIO MAGAZINE, NYHT, 20 November 1955, pg. 6, col. 2:

   Q.  What does Gobel think of the old "Sophomore Jinx"?
   A.  The "Sophomore Jinx" is a phrase invented by the press, and since used in a number of articles discussing George's current season.  George is not too concerned about the "jinx" as such.  His job will remain to get the best possible material and to make the most of it on the show.  He feels that viewers will continue to buy entertainment regardless whether the show is in its second, third, fourth or fifth year.

--------------------------------------------------------
FIGHT TERMS

   From TV AND RADIO MAGAZINE, NYHT, 6 November 1955, pg. 23, col. 1:

_A GLOSSARY OF FIGHT TERMS for TV FANS_
_by Jack Gregson_
(...)
   Here are some of the salty expressions of the ring that properly translated into our everyday language gives the television boxing fan some more of the color of one of the world's oldest sports.
   Terms used in the ring during the heat of battle:
   1.  "Painter"--a light-fisted boxer whose skilled hands reach his opponents face rpeatedly, with telling effect.
   2.  "Stick and Run"--a tactical maneuver to jab and yet keep out of reach of a murderous puncher.
   3.  "Brick-layer"--a fighter with dynamite-laden fists.
   4.  "Powder-Puff"--a ringman whose punches are timid and non-effective.
   5.  "Timber"--a fighter who has been softened up by an avalanche of (Col. 2--ed.) blows and is ready to hit the canvas for the knockout.
   6.  "Bow-Wow"--term describing a fighter, short on courage.
   7.  "Foot-in-Bucket"--a handler who is awkward in the corner and generally is a greater hindrance than a help.
   Then there are fight terms that are used in the everyday give and take of the professional boxing business.
"Broker"--any boxing man who is down on his luck.
"We Wuz Robbed"--one of the expressions created by the late Joe Jacobs to describe a bad decision when his heavyweight Mex Schmeling lost to Jack Sharkey.
"Only a Baby"--the plaint of a boxing manager whose inexperienced fighter has been offered a match with a skilled veteran.
"_We_ Win"--the manager's proud boast, after his fighter has won a match.
"_He_ Fought Like a Bum"--the manager's statement when his fighter has lost (note the change from plural to singular).
"Cut up like Swiss Cheese"--allusion to a fighter who has more than two managers sharing his purse.
"Cutie"--a fighter knows every trick of the trade--good and bad--and uses them.
"Tomato Can"--an inferior fighter.  This reference is generally made by one manager describing another manager's fighter.