[Ads-l] Antedating of "Geronimo"

[James Eric Lawson]

The movie promoted the shout. So (at least, pending better evidence):

[1939  _Arizona Daily Star_ (Tucson) Geronimo...the red savage whose
name was a battle-cry of vengeance...is headed this way! 24 Nov 12/6-7]

And the article doesn't say (although it might *seem* to imply) the
woman "shouted because she suddenly recognized the actor". The
ambivalence is nicely managed.

On 1/2/23 15:10, Jonathan Lighter wrote:
> 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
>>
> 
> 

-- 
James Eric Lawson

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