[Ads-l] Antedating of "Geronimo"

[James Eric Lawson]

As for other US idioms, OEDO has failed us on "Geronimo!" The rumored
yell was rumored well in advance of the 501st's adoption and the 1939
movie, although the 1939 clip following may partly explain the 501st's
adoption:

1901  _The Intelligencer_ (Anderson, South Carolina) 30 Jan 7/3 "What a
death to die!" said Sieve to the major, and In reply, while Mike Grimes
and Steve stood with uncovered heads, the major lifted his face to the
stars and uttered Geronimo's yell.

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115659442/geronimo/

1927  _Arizona Republic_ (Phoenix) 23 Apr 4/3 At the conclusion of her
talk, Mrs. Greenway was greeted with the Camp Geronimo yell of the Scouts.

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115659946/geronimo/

1939  _Star Tribune_ (Minneapolis, Minnesota) 17 Dec 47/8 "Geronimo!"
she yelled.

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115660275/geronimo/

On 1/2/23 10:35, Jonathan Lighter wrote:
> I think I'm the first educator/ lexicographer to seek out _Geronimo!_
> (1939) [note exclamation point] to gain insight into the adoption of the
> Apache chief's name as the war cry of the 501st Parachute Battalion. Just
> by the way, it may be the only film in Hollywood history in which Andy
> Devine turns out tbe the real hero.
> 
> In any case, I was hoping I'd see somebody jump off a cliff, if not out of
> an airplane, shouting "Geronimo!"  Just as good would be 2,000 mounted
> Apache warriors yelling "Geronimo!" in unison as they attack the seemingly
> helpless patrol of 16 cavalrymen. (The official numbers mentioned in the
> script: guess who wins?)
> 
> But no. The only actual shouting of "Geronimo!" comes at the start when an
> anonymous horseman gallops into a settlement and cries "Geronimo!" to warn
> that the Apache is again on the warpath.
> 
> Since Fred's source reports that "Geronimo, Geromimo" was being shouted all
> over the 501st's area at Ft. Benning "a thousand times a day," it may not
> have been specifically jump-related at all. It may have started simply as
> an encouragement to any kind of urgent action.
> 
> JL
> 
> On Sun, Jan 1, 2023 at 10:36 AM Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> 
>> You're correct. I need stronger glasses.
>>
>> JL
>>
>> On Sun, Jan 1, 2023 at 10:34 AM ADSGarson O'Toole <
>> adsgarsonotoole at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Here is a link to the article which credits Private Aubrey Eberhardt
>>> with first using the term during a parachute jump.
>>>
>>> Article title: Paramount's 1939 western GERONIMO ... a forgotten movie
>>> with a giant legacy
>>> Author: Ed Howard
>>> https://www.b-westerns.com/geronimo.htm
>>>
>>> The above link was posted by Peter Reitan back in January 2017.
>>> https://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/ads-l/2017-January/146001.html
>>>
>>> Bill Mullins posted a citation dated April 29, 1941 for Geronimo back
>>> in October 2016. I cannot find a citation dated April 19, 1941 from
>>> Bill for Geronimo.
>>>
>>> https://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/ads-l/2016-October/144693.html
>>>
>>> Garson
>>>
>>> ------------------------------------------------------------
>>> 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."
>>
> 
> 

-- 
James Eric Lawson

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