[Ads-l] Antedating of "Whodunit"

[Ben Zimmer]

I see Bonnie Taylor-Blake clipped this one already:

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Chicago Tribune, Apr. 8, 1926, p. III1, col. 6, "Theater"
"The Last Warning," a who-done-it piece shown three years ago in the
Blackstone, is to be restored to view Sunday night in the Central.
https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-who-done-it-4826/152397336/
---

--bgz


On Tue, Aug 4, 2026 at 7:18 PM Shapiro, Fred <
00001ac016895344-dmarc-request at listserv.uga.edu> wrote:

> whodunit (OED 1930)
>
> 1929 Illinois State Journal 17 Oct. 11/3 (Newspapers.com)
>
> "The Unholy Night," proceeds first and fascinatingly to a smashing climax,
> dealing out laughter and goose-flesh as it moves on its mysterious way.
> You'll agree with me, I'm sure, in thinking it one of the best "whodunit"
> films ever produced.
>
> Fred Shapiro
>
>

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