References from musicals you may not know!
Have you ever wondered, what is that word?
When listening to the soundtrack, do you ask, what is a (x,y, or z)?
What does that phrase mean?
Here is the place where we sort that out for you. Doing the deep research of podcasting, we here at Talking Musical History explain the mysteries of the musicals.
West Side Story
Stool pigeon- from Lt. Schrank “Didn’t nobody tell you there’s a difference between bein’ a stool pigeon and cooperating with the law?”- person acting as a decoy or informer
Switchblade- an automatic knife that the blade comes out with a press of a button or a lever. Democratic Congressman James J. Delaney (NY) in 1954 authorized the first bill banning them.
Querida- Maria calls Anita this as she is pleading for the dress to be shorter- translates to honey in English
Te adoro - as the Tonight song is finishing- translates to “I adore you.”
Atomic ray gun- Baby John in reference to Superman, “He don’t even use a atomic ray gun.” Daisy made the first one “Buck Rogers Rocket Pistol” in 1934 as they became a staple of science fiction
Jail Bait- referenced by Anybodys towards Baby John. Jail Bait the movie came out in 1954 directed by Ed Wood, with Steve Reeves making his first film. The phase usually applies to girls who are under the legal age of consent, that would make men put in jail.
Bruja- spoke by Anita “That old bag of a bruja has gone!”- witch
20-20 hearing- spoke by Baby John to Krupke “We got 20-20 hearing.” Like vision does not mean you have perfect hearing but you can hear normal with unaided sound at 20 decibels in both ears. Perfect hearing is called Perfect Pitch or Absolute.
Old Man Rivers- spoke by Anybodys “What a bunch of Old Man Rivers: they don’t know nuthin’ and they don’t say nuthin’.” From Showboat with the song Ol Man River, written by Oscar Hammerstein II and Jerome Kern.
Tootsie Rolls- one of the candies in the scene with Riff and Tony outside of Doc’s store- invented in 1896 by Australian Leo Hirschfield who names the candy after a nickname for his daughter Clara and sells for a penny. In the 1950’s there were lots of commercials as sponsors for shows on TV.
Coke- Coca-Cola created on May 8, 1886 by John Stith Pemberton as a medicine but bought out by businessman Asa Griggs Candler
Five 5 Somes malted milk balls-predating Whoppers but around at the same time
Captain Marvel- From 1940 to 1953 Fawcett Comics published comics featuring their popular character Captain Marvel, and thus held the trademark to the name "Captain Marvel". Fawcett ceased publishing the comics in 1953 due to a 1951 copyright infringement suit from DC Comics, and their trademark ostensibly lapsed.