Hang a Louie/Roscoe, etc. (1966)

[Benjamin Zimmer]

(OED and HDAS have 1967 for "hang a Louie". "Hang a Roscoe" was mentioned
here in an Oct. 2002 thread.)

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Coshocton Tribune (Ohio), Mar. 15, 1966, p. 4, col. 4-5
"Helen Help Us!" by Helen Bottel

Dear Helen:
I thought you might like to hear one of the slang-things we read in your
column has made it big at our school, but in a different way.
You said "Hang a Roscoe" or "Hang a Louie" was "turn to the right" or
"left" while you're driving, as in "Hang a Roscoe at the clash"
(intersection).
Well, whenever anyone does a good thing around here he or she "hangs a
Roscoe," like "turns to the right." If he goofs it up, he "hangs a Louie."
(We used to call a goof-up, "frumpin.")
Sometimes our parents have a cow about our slang, but heck, life would be
flaky without it. Don't you think? —HANG TEN

Dear Hang:
Slang is like eating chicken with your fingers — real "whompin'" at the
right time and place, but you'd better know when the right time — isn't,
and how to talk without it.
Wanta to hear some new ones?
Resto-fritcher: neat person. (Don't ask me why.)
Lennonist: smart operator, one who can talk his way out of trouble.
Tcshup [sic]: German slang for "so long," like the Italian "Caio," [sic]
which I bet most of you spell "Chow." —H.
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--Ben Zimmer