"A Good Time Was Had By All" (except the word researchers)

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Question

Subject: Phrases
Category: Miscellaneous
Asked by: sook-ga
List Price: $2.00   Posted: 24 Aug 2004 10:31 PDT
Expires: 23 Sep 2004 10:31 PDT
Question ID: 391922

Where did the phrase "a good time was had by all" come from, and whatkind of
statement is it?  I know it is used a lot in the military.

Answer

Subject: Re: Phrases
Answered By: justaskscott-ga on 24 Aug 2004 21:06 PDT
Rated:
Hello sook,The language expert Eric Partridge apparently stated in A
Dictionaryof Catch Phrases (London, 1977):

"In 1937, the late Miss Stevie Smith's book of verse, _A Good Time WasHad By
All_ appeared; and within five years in Britain and by 1950 atlatest in the
US, the words of the title had become a catch phrase....Perhaps six months
before Stevie Smith's death, I wrote to her andasked whether she had coined the
phrase or adopted and popularized it.Her explanation was startlingly      simple:
she took it from parishmagazines, where a church picnic...or other sociable
occasion, almostinevitably generated the comment, 'A good time was had by
all.'"

"Re: A good time was had by all", online posting (1996/10/08)<sci.lang> via
Google Groups
http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=53eof5%241ec%40scream.auckland.ac.nz

Nigel Rees reiterates Partridge's finding in Cassell Companion toQuotations
(London, 1997), p. 508.  (I have no online citation; Ifound it in the actual
book.)

So the phrase was floating around prior to 1937, perhaps for decadesas
suggested by tutuzdad's comment on the 1922 usage.  But StevieSmith, based on her
reading of parish magazines, popularized it.- justaskscott

Search terms used, in various combinations, on Google:
"good time was had"
phrase
partridge
stevie smith


(PROQUEST HISTORICAL NEWSPAPERS) (542 hits, continuous from 1889)
    1.  MANSFIELD CHAMPION; He Defends His Title of First Tennis Player of
the South. POST WINNER OF THE SINGLES Post and Prosser Take the First Prize in
the Doubles--An Exhibition of Tennis as it Ought to be Played--The Tournament
Proves a Great Success.
The Washington Post (1877. Sep 22, 1889. p. 2 (1 page):
During the evening the prizes were given the successful players and a good
time was had by all.

    2.  IN SOCIAL SPHERS; THE HALYCON CLUB SOCIAL. HOTEL LINCOLN PARTY. THE
FIFTEEN CLUB. SOLON MUSICALE. THE MORRISON PARTY. THE IRLAND PARTY. A SURPRISE
PARTY. AT UNION HALL. RIMPAN PARTY. NOTES AND PERSONALS.
The Los Angeles Times (1886-Current File). Feb 16, 1890. p. 12 (1 page) :
Excellent msuic was furnished by Mr. Arend's orchestra, and a good time was
enjoyed by all present.

    3.  City Briefs
The Los Angeles Times (1886-Current File). Oct 9, 1890. p. 8 (1 page)

    4.  Society; A SILVER WEDDING. A BANQUET. A BRASS BUTTON BALL. A PLEASANT
VISIT. THE PROGRESSIVE EUCHRE SOCIAL CLUB. THE EMERSON CLUB. THE
CHRYSANTHEMUM FAIR. THE OXFORD LEAGUE. DELTA GAMMA RECEPTIONS. ASSEMBLY BALLS. GOLDEN STAR
SOCIAL HOP. SLADDEN-GILBERT. NOTES AND PERSONALS.
The Los Angeles Times (1886-Current File). Oct 12, 1890. p. 12 (1 page)

    5.  SOCIETY; THE FEAST OF ROSES. ANNIVERSARY DINNER. A SCHOOL
ENTERTAINMENT. BIRTHDAY PARTY. P. S. CLUB. A TEA PARTY. SURPRISE PARTY.
HICKSON-SULLLIVAN. PARTY AT THE ROGERS HOUSE. A HIGH-SCHOOL PARTY. NOTES AND PERSONALS.
Los Angeles Times (1886-Current. Apr 26, 1891. p. 12 (1 page)

    6.  The Elks at Marshall Mall.
The Washington Post (1877-1954). Washington, D.C.: Jul 16, 1891. p. 2 (1
page)

    7.  SANTA BARBARA COUNTY.; Rates of Admission to the Flower Festival
Fixed--News Notes.
Los Angeles Times (1886-Current File). Los Angeles, Calif.: Apr 11, 1892. p.
7 (1 page)

    8.  Wanted for Embezzlement.
The Los Angeles Times (1886-Current File). Feb 9, 1893. p. 7 (1 page)

    9.  PHI SIGMA BANQUET.; ALPHA SAN CHAPTER HAS A JOLLY GOOD TIME.
Los Angeles Times (1886-Current File). Los Angeles, Calif.: Jun 28, 1900. p.
I7 (1 page)