Popular Catch Phrases from the 1940′s3

And the research continues!  Another assignment we were given was listing popular catch phrases.  I researched the 1940′s and here’s what I found!

“HEY ABBOTT!!!!!!” –Costello (Abbott and Costello)

“Here’s looking at you, kid.”

“Louie, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”

“We’ll always have Paris.” -Rick (Bogart) in Casablanca, 1942

Don’t lose / Your head / To gain a minute / You need your head / Your brains are in it -Burma-Shave signs, 1947

Let’s make Hitler / And Hirohito / Feel as bad as / Old Benito / Buy War Bonds / Burma-Shave

Slap / The Jap / With / Iron / Scrap / Burma-Shave  -Burma Shave signs from the war years

“Slowly I turned, step by step…..” -Also known as the “Niagara Falls Sketch,” this skit is rooted in burlesque and vaudeville.  It appeared in many comedians’ routines and films in the forties including those of the Three Stooges and Abbott and Costello.

“The Shadow knows!  Hhm hmm hmm hmmm hmmmm!” from The Shadow radio show (1930-54)

“a little dab’ll do ya!” -Brylcreem commercial

“Who’s Yehudi?” -Jerry Colonna on the Bob Hope Radio Show

This phrase started in the thirties, but became more popular in the early forties and was referenced on the show quite often.  It became so big, that it was eventually referenced in other places, and a song was composed in 1940 by Bill Seckler and Matt Dennis.  Lane Truesdale sang it in ’42.

“Good night, Mrs. Calabash…wherever you are.” -Jimmy Durante (his sign-off on his radio show).

“What’s up doc?” -Bugs Bunny

“So Round, So Firm, So Fully packed.” -Lucky Strike commercial/ads, late forties

Merle Travis incorporated it into a song.

And here it is referenced in a Warner Brothers cartoon.

“I’m only three and a half years old.” -Matilda from the Abbott and Costello radio show

“Ain’t I a stinker!?” -Lou Costello and later, Bugs Bunny

“I dood it!’ -Red Skelton