[Ads-l] "Who was Kilroy?" June 26, 1945 (in-print antedating?)

Thu Apr 1 16:07:43 UTC 2021

Replying to a reader's letter concerning "Mr. Chad" as a British figure,
LIFE (Apr. 8, 1946), p. 6, notes that

"Other LIFE readers insisted that Mr. Chad was an imposter really named
Smoe, Kilroy, Luke the Spook, The Womp, Finortin, Fanutin, Phenortin, The
Pookie, Garvey, Alice the Goon, Oogots, Snoopie, Curley, Joe Electron."

Alice the Goon, of course, was from Popeye, and "The Pookie" may
conceivably be from "pooka."

JL

On Thu, Apr 1, 2021 at 11:30 AM Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com>
wrote:

> FWIW, I find no other newspaper or book refs. to "Nate the Fox" or
> "Che-Chee."
>
> JL
>
> On Thu, Apr 1, 2021 at 10:01 AM Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Smoe and mo':
>>
>> Pittsburgh Post Gazette (Dec. 31, 1945), p. 9:
>>
>> He's Here, He's There, Smoe Is Watching, So  Look Out!
>> And He Has Some Friends and Helpers, You Can Rest Assured
>> Nate the Fox, Kilroy, Che-Chee Are on Job, Too
>>
>> By Constance Humphrey, Post-Gazette Staff Writer
>>
>> Remember the little men who run up and down the counterpane the morning
>> after? The ones who bong you on the bean with their little hammers?
>>
>> Well, they're here to stay.
>>
>> No longer will the little men confine their visits to New Year's Day at 9
>> a. m. or the morning after your twenty-fifth wedding anniversary
>> celebration. The little critters have not only-taken on substance they now
>> have the nerve to scrawl their names and draw their pictures in the most
>> amazing places.
>>
>> Have you met "Smoe"? No? You will.
>>
>> He's Everywhere
>> You're likely to find Smoe's countenance scrawled on a piece of paper in
>> your coat pocket his lone and bulbous nose draped over  the edge of a
>> horizontal line. His half-shut eyes will peer accusingly at you. His motto,
>> "Smoe Is Watching" will send a shiver up vour spine.
>>
>> Some folks say Smoe came into being in the foxholes or Europe. Some
>> declare he originated in war- weary minds in the South Pacific. It's even
>> rumored that ne was born in the bottom of a beer mug, but lots of people
>> have tagged him a visible sign of "conscience."
>>
>> Smoe has an uncanny way of catching his victims red-handed just as they
>> snitch the remains of a leg of lamb out of the ice-box at midnight Or as
>> they sneak down to the nether regions of the furnace room for a quickie
>> when the little woman isn't looking.
>>
>> Just as you grab for the forbidden fruit the words "Smoe is Watching" are
>> apt to appear, his visage leering above them.
>>
>> Has Helpers, Too
>> About all you'll ever see of Smoe is Smoe's nose. And those eyes and
>> ears. The ears sometimes take on the character of some of your closest
>> friends: Pointed like a wolf's ears or strangely resembling a porker's.
>> Smoe has friends and helpers. too. There's "Nate the Fox," who sticks his
>> nose, eyes and ears around corners just like Smoe. The sight of Nate is
>> enough to make you swear off for life.
>>
>> Other friends of Smoe are the now-famous Kilroy whose name appeared
>> everywhere in advance of United States troops during the war. "Kilroy was
>> here," his legend reads, and don't be surprised if you find it scrawled on
>> the mirror as you shave tomorrow.
>>
>> Another crony of Smoe is the mysterious "Che-Chee" who keeps trainmen
>> busy scrubbing his name off baggage cars.
>>
>> All in all, with New Year's Eve just around the corner it seems rather
>> futile to sign the pledge. You're bound to see Smoe, Nate, Kilroy or
>> Che-Chee just the same. Smoe and his friends are nuisances all right. But
>> aren't they fun?
>>
>> JL
>>
>> On Thu, Apr 1, 2021 at 8:17 AM ADSGarson O'Toole <
>> adsgarsonotoole at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Fred discovered that the phrase "Who is Kilroy?" appeared in the April
>>> 21, 1945 issue of the Texacts newspaper of the Sheppard Field Army (as
>>> mentioned previously on this thread).
>>>
>>> The early citations for Kilroy signs and graffiti do not mention any
>>> pictures of the character.
>>>
>>> I wondered: When did a Kilroy-like picture first appear? What name was
>>> first assigned to the Kilroy-like picture?
>>>
>>> JL helpfully pointed out that a picture of Kilroy (together with the
>>> name Kilroy) appeared on a button which is being sold on eBay. The
>>> year 1943 appeared on the edge of the button, but it is not clear when
>>> the button was actually created.
>>>
>>> JL also pointed to a picture of Kilroy (together with the name Kilroy)
>>> that appeared on a plane; however, it is not clear when the image was
>>> painted.
>>>
>>> Dave Wilton has posted a wonderful piece of evidence on his Word
>>> Origins website. A "Useless Eustace" cartoon by artist Jack Greenall
>>> published in London’s "Daily Mirror" on December 11, 1937 included a
>>> Kilroy-like image on the wall behind a bank teller. No name was
>>> specified for the image.
>>>
>>> The 1937 artwork by Jack Greenall displayed two question marks above
>>> the figure. They probably signaled an interrogative mental state for
>>> the unnamed 1937 figure. (The later Mr. Chad figure sometimes has a
>>> strand of hair shaped like a question mark.) I double-checked this
>>> citation, and it is accurate. The cartoon is accessible via
>>> britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk
>>>
>>> Website: Word Origins
>>> Title: Kilroy was here / Mr. Chad
>>> Author: Dave Wilton
>>> Date: 22 March 2021
>>> https://www.wordorigins.org/big-list-entries/kilroy-was-here
>>>
>>> The name "Mr. Chad" was attached to the figure in a "Daily Mirror"
>>> article dated September 10, 1945. The article included several
>>> illustrations of Mr. Chad. Some illustrations of Mr. Chad depicted a
>>> single strand of hair shaped like a question mark.
>>>
>>> The following questions accompanied the Mr. Chad figure according to
>>> the "Daily Mirror".
>>> "What, no dialling tone?"
>>> "What, no cigarettes?"
>>> "What, no more doodle-bugs?"
>>> Later newspapers employed "Wot" instead of "What".
>>>
>>> Date: September 10, 1945
>>> Newspaper: Daily Mirror
>>> Newspaper Location: London, England
>>> Article: How Mr. CHAD was born
>>> Quote Page 7, Column 2
>>> Database: Newspapers.com
>>> Database: British Newspaper Archive
>>>
>>> The name "Smoe" was specified for a Kilroy-like image in a Tucson,
>>> Arizona newspaper on October 21, 1945. The article did not include a
>>> picture, but the journalist did describe the image.
>>>
>>> Date: October 21, 1945
>>> Newspaper: The Arizona Daily Star
>>> Newspaper Location: Tucson, Arizona
>>> Article: Tucson In Particular
>>> Author: Nancy Lunsford
>>> Section 2, Quote Page 3, Column 1
>>> Database: Newspapers.com
>>>
>>> https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74587960/smoe-and-kilroy/
>>>
>>> [Begin excerpt]
>>> This week the front of the Post contains a small article entitled "Who
>>> is Kilroy?" Seems he is the little man who has just been there and who
>>> haunts the ferry command all around the world. I heard the other day
>>> about a character named "Smoe," who invaded England along with the
>>> Yanks and brought along his sister Lena. Smoe is just about as
>>> mythical and as ever-present as the ferry command Kilroy, only Smoe
>>> leaves his picture wherever he goes--his nose, his eyes, and a pair of
>>> hands, peeking over a wall. Smoe is a sterling character, who does
>>> everything right--he may appear beside a door saying "Smoe closes the
>>> door, why don't you?"
>>> [End excerpt]
>>>
>>> Garson
>>>
>>> On Sat, Mar 27, 2021 at 11:31 AM ADSGarson O'Toole
>>> <adsgarsonotoole at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> >
>>> > Here are three letters from Newsweek. Sorry, I cannot share the
>>> > accompanying illustration. Smoe looks like a more detailed version of
>>> > Kilroy with a spit-curl. The Newsweek illustration was made by someone
>>> > who clearly enjoyed making cartoons; hence, the image of Smoe was more
>>> > sophisticated than the basic Kilroy image.
>>> >
>>> > Date: December 17, 1945
>>> > Periodical : Newsweek
>>> > Section: Letters
>>> > Title: Smoe Was There, Too
>>> > Quote Page 18
>>> > Publisher: Newsweek Publishing, New York
>>> > Database: ProQuest
>>> >
>>> > [Begin excerpt - check for typos]
>>> > Smoe Was There, Too
>>> >
>>> > In your issue of Dec. 3 you mention the fabulous Kilroy as the most
>>> > famous man in the Army Air Forces. I dispute Kilroy’s right to this
>>> > title and think that thousands of men in the Fifth, Eighth, Ninth,
>>> > Fifteenth, Twentieth, and Continental Air Forces will back me in
>>> > nominating “Smoe” to the office. Smoe has been publicized on the walls
>>> > of barracks, mess halls, and latrines all over the world. The last I
>>> > heard of Smoe he was seeking a discharge at Sioux Falls Army Air Field
>>> > in South Dakota.
>>> > JOSEPH F. DIEMER
>>> > Leonia, N. J.
>>> >
>>> > NEWSWEEK wired Sioux Falls Army Air Field about Smoe and received the
>>> > following telegram in reply:
>>> >
>>> > KILROY IS A PIKER. SMOE ORIGINATED IN RADIO SCHOOL HERE IN 1943 FROM A
>>> > MEANINGLESS LETTER SCRAMBLE USED IN CODE PRACTICE, AND SPREAD OVER
>>> > EARTH AS AAF MEN SHIPPED ABROAD. SMOE IS SNIDE CHARACTER GIVEN TO
>>> > SCRIBBLING NAME ON BARS, DUSTY WINDOWS, BARE WALLS, TOMBSTONES. A
>>> > PORTRAIT USUALLY ACCOMPANIES HIS SIGNATURE CONSISTING OF HANDS, A
>>> > NOSE, AND SPIT CURL PEEPING OVER A FENCE.
>>> >
>>> > THE RUMOR THAT SMOE DISCHARGING IS VILE CANARD. SMOE  RE-ENLISTED.
>>> > SUGGEST YOU CHECK REPORT THAT EXPLORERS OPENED TUTANKHAMEN TOMB TO
>>> > FIND THE LEGEND "SMOE WAS HERE."
>>> >
>>> > CAPT. G.M. ZITER
>>> > PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
>>> > ARMY AIR FIELD
>>> > SIOUX FALLS, S.D.
>>> >
>>> > I used to be stationed at Sioux Falls Army Air Base, where the Smoe
>>> > myth got its start, and did quite a bit of cartooning while I was
>>> > there. I thought you might be interested in these two versions of
>>> > Smoe. The one showing him as a gunner is more popular with
>>> > radio-operator gunners than the spit-curl version.
>>> > SGT. ROBERT Z. SIMMONS
>>> > New York, N.Y.
>>> > [End excerpt]
>>> >
>>> > On Sat, Mar 27, 2021 at 10:54 AM ADSGarson O'Toole
>>> > <adsgarsonotoole at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> > >
>>> > > The December 17, 1945 issue of Newsweek has a picture of Smoe that is
>>> > > a closer match to Kilroy. Smoe is peering over a fence. Smoe has a
>>> > > Kilroy-like nose and hands. The Newsweek Smoe is more elaborate than
>>> > > the simple Kilroy figure because the Newsweek illustration is by a
>>> > > skilled artist. I will follow this message with a post containing the
>>> > > text of two accompanying letters about Smoe.
>>> > >
>>> > > Garson
>>> > >
>>> > > On Sat, Mar 27, 2021 at 10:18 AM ADSGarson O'Toole
>>> > > <adsgarsonotoole at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> > > >
>>> > > > I meant to say: "Smoe" does not have hands, but he does have a
>>> > > > Kilroy-like nose.
>>> > > >
>>> > > > My word processing software repeatedly changed "smoe" to "some".
>>> > > > Garson
>>> > > >
>>> > > > On Sat, Mar 27, 2021 at 10:14 AM ADSGarson O'Toole
>>> > > > <adsgarsonotoole at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> > > > >
>>> > > > > What is the earliest solid citation for a picture of Kilroy?
>>> Here is a
>>> > > > > December 1945 citation that includes a picture of the character
>>> "Smoe"
>>> > > > > which is similar to Kilroy. Follow the link to see a clipping
>>> with
>>> > > > > illustrations.
>>> > > > >
>>> > > > > "Some" does not have hands, but he does have a Kilroy-like nose
>>> > > > >
>>> > > > > Date: December 31, 1945
>>> > > > > Newspaper: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
>>> > > > > Newspaper Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
>>> > > > > Article: Smoe Is Watching, So Look Out!
>>> > > > > Author: Constance Humphrey (Post-Gazette Staff Writer)
>>> > > > > Quote Page 9, Column 2 to 4
>>> > > > > Clipped by: sslunsford6 on 29 Jun 2019
>>> > > > > Database: Newspapers.com
>>> > > > >
>>> > > > >
>>> https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33355395/smoe-is-watching-so-look-out/
>>> > > > >
>>> > > > > [Begin excerpt]
>>> > > > > You're likely to find Smoe's countenance scrawled on a piece of
>>> paper
>>> > > > > in your coat pocket, his long and bulbous nose draped over the
>>> edge of
>>> > > > > a horizontal line. His half-shut eyes will peer accusingly at
>>> you. His
>>> > > > > motto, "Smoe Is Watching" will send 'a shiver up your spine.
>>> > > > > . . .
>>> > > > > Smoe has friends and helpers, too. There's "Nate the Fox," who
>>> sticks
>>> > > > > his nose, eyes and ears around corners just like Smoe. The sight
>>> of
>>> > > > > Nate is enough to make you swear off for life.
>>> > > > >
>>> > > > > Other friends of Smoe are the now-famous Kilroy whose name
>>> appeared
>>> > > > > everywhere in advance of United States troops during the war.
>>> "Kilroy
>>> > > > > was here," his legend reads, and don't be surprised if you find
>>> it
>>> > > > > scrawled on the mirror as you shave tomorrow.
>>> > > > > [End excerpt]
>>> > > > >
>>> > > > > Garson
>>> > > > >
>>> > > > > On Sat, Mar 27, 2021 at 9:32 AM <dave at wilton.net> wrote:
>>> > > > > >
>>> > > > > > While I have no problem believing a 1943 or 1944 date for
>>> "Kilroy," the restored aircraft is not good evidence. For one thing, it has
>>> invasion stripes, but the aircraft in question was manufactured in 1945,
>>> some nine months after D-Day, and never left the United States, used for
>>> training. Clearly the restorers took some liberties and produced a
>>> "representative" paint scheme rather than an accurate one.
>>> > > > > >
>>> > > > > > Similarly, the buttons aren't great evidence. All sorts of
>>> after-the-fact memorabilia are produced for sale (sometimes honestly sold
>>> as replicas, sometimes not). Or, they could genuinely be WWII-era, but the
>>> exact date an estimate. Without documentation of provenance, I wouldn't
>>> trust it.
>>> > > > > >
>>> > > > > > From my own experience recently researching Kilroy for my
>>> site, I had to give up finding a WWII-era photo to illustrate the entry.
>>> The only genuine ones I could find were a couple of poor-quality scans from
>>> newspaper archives—all from 1945. Virtually all those on the web are
>>> photoshopped or stills from WWII video games that look good at low
>>> resolution but are obviously CGI when examined closely. (My fave was a
>>> Sherman tank in Normandy that bore the words "Kilroy was here" and directly
>>> below that "Epstein was murdered.")
>>> > > > > >
>>>
>>> ------------------------------------------------------------
>>> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the
>> truth."
>>
>
>
> --
> "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."
>

-- 
"If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org