[Ads-l] Dating Error for "Reefer Madness"

Shapiro, Fred 00001ac016895344-dmarc-request at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Thu Feb 26 23:20:02 UTC 2026


The OED's entry for the term "reefer madness" has a citation to the title of a film titled "Reefer Madness," dated by them 1936.  However, research reveals that the film was originally titled "Tell Your Children" in 1936, and the title was changed to "Reefer Madness."  Some sources date the new titling to 1938, some say 1939, some say 1940.  When I search newspaper and other databases, 1940 is the earliest year I see for the new title.

Fred Shapiro

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


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