"pickle-puss"

[Sam Clements]

Hey!  You mean I might be right, here?  :)

sam
----- Original Message -----
From: "Benjamin Zimmer" <bgzimmer at RCI.RUTGERS.EDU>
To: <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Sent: Monday, July 04, 2005 10:33 PM
Subject: Re: "pickle-puss"


> 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
>