23 Skidoo and NYC
There are expressions that might be in books or movies that have gone out of fashion. What about "23 Skidoo", have you heard of it? (This expression was used in one of my favorite books that I read as a child, "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn".) Have you ever been to New York City and seen the FlatIron Building? It is on 23rd Street and Madison Square. In the early 1900's, groups of men liked to stand around there and try to catch glimpses of the women's ankles as the wind would blow up the ladies' skirts. The policemen would tell them to disburse by saying "23 Skidoo". (Perhaps "skidoo" comes from skedaddle?) There are other theories, much like the use of the word "okay", which is very American, but no one knows the origin of that either, not for certain. Even the people who used this at the time knew exactly what they meant, but not where it came from. During the Titanic Inquiry, the following shows how much this was in the vocabulary of the times:
- Then was it that watertight door, which you see on the plan is in the alleyway, which is in front of your room?
- - I am not sure, but I think it is No. 23 door.
- I do not know their numbers, but was it the one just forward of your room?
- - Yes, in the alleyway.
- And you actually saw them doing that?
- - Yes, they were working on it.
- . You are quite right; it is No. 23 door?
- - We used to call it the skidoo door, on account of the number. That is how I remember the number.
- (The Commissioner.) I do not understand that?
- - It is an American joke.
- Will you explain it?
- - I could not explain it, my Lord.
- New York City was on my mind this week because of the remembrance of September 11, 2001. I hope that they will always read those names out of those who died that day. There is a wonderful post by a woman named Charmain at www.agirlandherneedle.blogspot.com and if you can, please go and read her post from Sept. 11th. Charmain was in New York City during the attacks in 2001 and she wrote very movingly of her experience.
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Interesting factoids about "23 skidoo" . . . and of course, the first name here in Canada for a snowmobile was "skidoo" -- a play on that old phrase, I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteThat is a good name for a snowmobile too. Being from Georgia, I have never seen one!
DeleteI wrote a song called Twin Towers the day after. We looked upon the event in horror here in New Zealand. Tragic loss of lives!
ReplyDeleteIt was a horrible thing. Do you know the song "Where Were You You When The World Stopped Turning" by Alan Jackson? He is a country music artist and a fellow Georgian and he wrote that song after 9/11/01 and he sung it in November of that year at a country music award show. Incredible how songs can convey so much of what people are going through.
DeleteThanks, Paul, for your comment.
I went to Charmain's link (as I suspect a number of your readers will) and you may like to read my (their) comments there. Thanks, Kay.
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking the time to look at that post. It was such a moving account of that day from someone who was actually there on Sept. 11, 2001.
DeleteStudying word and expression origins is so interesting.
ReplyDeleteThat day was awful, and i have a hard time reading about it even now.
Thanks, Mimi. It amused me to read the origin of that expression and it just sounded like something that could come from NYC. I have a real fondness for New York City and New Yorkers. I always think about New York City during the week of Sept. 11th. And I know we had the attacks in Washington, D.C. too, my brother-in-law's brother was there and was driving, and felt the earth move under his car, and that was the plane hitting the Pentagon. He was okay, but he realized later what it was.
DeleteI was so moved when I visited NY and saw ground zero. I can't imagine being there during that time. Like most life changing events I will never forget that day and how it impacted my life. The lives lost was horrific..the loss of security and the idea we are safe here in the US was a shock to many. Thanks for reminding us and for the word definitions...it is interesting how we got the phrases we take for granted each day!
ReplyDeleteI remember New York City before 2001. I can only imagine what it would have been like to have seen what they called Ground Zero. It left such a huge impact that I find it very difficult to even talk about it.
DeleteThis little expression was just something that I found out about, something that sounds like something funny from NYC!
That "23 Skidoo" info is very interesting, Kay. I always enjoy learning all kinds of tidbits of information --- but you know that already from my blog. I've only been in New York once for my cousin's wedding, but that was back in the 80s, way before that tragic period. I hope to visit one day.
ReplyDeleteLIke you, my memories are from before 2001, namely from the late 80's and early 90's. I loved New York City and would love to go back one day. I can always recognize the Battery, where you can look out and see The Statue of Liberty? When it is in a movie, I am excited to know what it is!
DeleteI've never heard of 23 Skidoo - but I like it!
ReplyDeleteI think we need to bring back some of these expressions that have gone out of style. That's the ticket!
DeleteI've heard the expression, but had no idea where it came from.
ReplyDeleteFunny isn't it, you might know something, but have no idea where it comes from. I love having the internet and being able to research absolutely anything!
DeleteI always wondered where that came from! I love the internet!
ReplyDeleteAnd it is American too, so I say we bring that expression back.
DeleteThanks for sharing about my Sept 11 experience. It is still very sobering to me to think how different the outcome could have been. Since then I've heard stories of others that were supposed to be in the towers that day, but for some reason found themselves changing plans, delayed, or doing something completely out of the ordinary for them. I'm glad to be counted among them!
ReplyDeleteDear Charmain,
DeleteI am thankful along with you that you were spared. Like everyone else, I wish so much we could have saved everyone!
After I typed this post, I realized as I put my head on my pillow, I wanted to be more serious, so I wrote another post last night. And even then, I forgot to mention your name and blog again, and had to add it this now! (Sorry, I am so forgetful).
Very grateful for you! xx