[Ads-l] propeller beanie

[Ben Zimmer]

Coincidentally, Ben Yagoda has a Substack post today about beanies,
propeller and otherwise.

https://benyagoda.substack.com/p/beanie-baby

On Sat, Feb 7, 2026 at 1:52 PM Jonathan Lighter <
00001aad181a2549-dmarc-request at listserv.uga.edu> wrote:

> FWIW, this is one geezer who's never heard "helicopter beanie."
>
> 1948 _Jackson [Mich.] Citizen Patriot_ (May 20) 27 [GenealogyBank] : HEY
> KIDS ! GET YOUR DR. PEPPER HELICOPTER BEANIE AND 6 BOTTLES OF DR. PEPPER
> all for 67c
>
> JL
>
> On Sat, Feb 7, 2026 at 12:29 PM Jeff Prucher <
> 000000b93183dc86-dmarc-request at listserv.uga.edu> wrote:
>
> >  That Fancyclopedia article is quite a read -- I was not aware of the
> > direct relationship between fandom and "Beany and Cecil". The world is a
> > very strange place (thank goodness).
> > The earliest references I can find in the fanzines are for "helicopter
> > beanie", starting in 1950:
> > Summer 1950Rapp, ArthurTimewarp #6unp. (7th page, counting the
> > cover)Incidentally, I hear George Young is preparing a clockwork
> mechanism
> > so that his helicopter beanie will revolve even indoors at future cons.
> >
> https://www.fanac.org/fanzines/Time_Warp/timewarp_6_rapp_1950-su_saps_12.pdf
> > The earliest "propeller beanie" I can find is from 1953, which is well
> > after Jon's ad.
> > March 1953Science Fantasy Bulletin (v. 2, no. 1, #13)Calkins, Gregg
> > (letter)p. 41 With which I’ll quit, leaving you with only the
> philosophical
> > -- “Old faneds never die, theyjust propellor-beanie away.”
> > The two phrases seem to exist in somewhat free variation.
> > Jesse, these might be worth considering for HD/SF at some point.
> > Jeff
> >
> >     On Saturday, February 7, 2026 at 05:43:33 AM PST, Jesse Sheidlower <
> > jester at panix.com> wrote:
> >
> >  This is said to have been invented in 1947 among science-fiction fans:
> >
> > https://fancyclopedia.org/wiki/Propeller_Beanie
> >
> > Jesse Sheidlower
> >
> > On Sat, Feb 07, 2026 at 08:28:20AM -0500, Jonathan Lighter wrote:
> > > Not in OED.
> > >
> > > I always wanted one of these, but never got one. (Instead I had a
> beanie
> > > that blew bubbles. It was OK.) They came with one, two, or an excessive
> > > three propellers.  Beany on the TV show "Time for Beany" wore one.
> > >
> > > >From Newspapers.com:
> > >
> > > 1948 _Fremont [Neb.] Guide & Tribune_ (Apr. 27) 11: Join The Atomic
> > > Club...wear the atomic whirling propeller beanie hat for boys and
> girls.
> > > Just walk along and the propellers whirl...ready to take off at a
> moments
> > > [sic] notice! 49c.
> > >
> > > Etc., etc.
> > >
> > > 2025 _ Kearney (Neb.) Hub_ (Sept. 13) A8: Marvin was known for riding
> > > bicycles backward on the handlebars, wearing a propeller beanie to
> > > embarrass his kids, and attempting to teach every grandchild to do a
> > > handstand.
> > >
> > > Hey, kids !! Still Available Online !!!  But Not For 49c. !!!!
> > >
>

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