[Ads-l] Antedating of "Geronimo"

[Jonathan Lighter]

But the only individual actually uttering the name "Geronimo" in any of
these exx. seems to be the film-going lady mentioned on Dec. 17, 1939.

And she shouted because she suddenly recognized the actor "Chief
Thundercloud" (Victor Daniels), who played Geronimo, sitting in front of
her at a showing of that very film.

JL





On Mon, Jan 2, 2023 at 3:58 PM James Eric Lawson <jel at nventure.com> wrote:

> 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
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> 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."

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