"pickle-puss"

[Benjamin Zimmer]

On Mon, 4 Jul 2005 22:13:25 -0400, Sam Clements <SClements at NEO.RR.COM> wrote:

>> -----
>> 1936 _Washington Post_ 12 Mar. 16/8 Pickle-Pussed Jock [sc. boxer Jock
>> McAvoy] will be a slight favorite in the betting.
>> -----
>>
>> The jocular name in the Mar. '35 _Post_ also appears in a boxing
>> article, though not by the same writer ('35 is Bill McCormick, '36 is
>> Jack Miley).
>
>So, the writers of boxing article listened to Fred Allen on the Radio.
>He had been on the air for about 4-5 years at this point.

Looks like Fred Allen had a number of "-puss" nicknames...

-----
Los Angeles Times, Feb 23, 1936, p. C10/2
It is Walter's [sc. child actor Walter Tetley] dulcet voice you hear
mouthing such things as "Listen, Puzzle-Puss," when speaking to Mr. Fred
Allen, a radio comedian of some merit.
-----
Los Angeles Times, Oct 15, 1937, p. 14/2
Fred Allen, sometimes called Long Puss, is able banjoist, plays for own
amazement mostly, did vaudeville and film short sketches.
-----


--Ben Zimmer