More "old jazz" from Oakland

[Benjamin Zimmer]

Barry already found two early cites from the Oakland Tribune for "jazz":

http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0505B&L=ads-l&P=8437
>
>4 October 1913, Oakland Tribune, pg. 8?, col. 7:
>The sailor was never off his feet last night although Clabby handed him
>shots of the old 1/2-jazz which made the ex-sailor's knee sag many a
>time.
>
>10 January 1914, Oakland Tribune, pg. 12, col. 7:
>"Last time he boxed Azevedo "Frenchy" was a trifle stale and did not
>display his usual ginger, but I can positively guarantee he will be
>there with plenty of the old jazz Tuesday night."

Here are two more from a bit later on:

-----
1914 _Oakland Tribune_ 14 Oct. 12/1 They have the material and they
certainly are a steady and conscientious bunch of players, but that lets
them out, as the old term which they call the "jazz" was lacking.
-----
1915 _Oakland Tribune_ 24 Feb. 10/1 A little less alleged league class,
and a lot more fight will go a long ways making the national pastime more
popular in this neck of the woods, and here's hoping Cliff Blankenship and
his herd will show the fans a little of the old-time jazz.
-----

It's interesting how many of the 1913-1915 "jazz" cites followed Scoop
Gleeson's original formulation of "the old jazz".  "Jazz" was clearly in
the same family as "vigor", "vim", "dash", and "pep", all of which were
frequently preceded by "the old(-time)".



--Ben Zimmer