"It seems that the recent loss of Professor Smith's wife has changed his view on the afterlife and the supernatural. Though I agree, while the presentation was spectacular as usual, the content was incomprehensible."
I lean over to speak quietly with Dingane, my African guide, and my guest for the evening's events. "It seems to me that Godfather Julian has gone quite mad. I told my father it wasn't proper for him to lock himself away in solitude after the death of his wife. Why, it has been years since anyone has seen or heard from him! After a reasonable mourning period I should have stepped in and seen to it he rejoined proper society. If only I weren't so far away. Now it seems his rationality is forever lost. And to make things worse he has embarassed himself and discredited his name all in one evening."
Turning back to the table I inquire, "Unfortunately, my guest and I arrived slightly tardy. While we were being seated there seemed to be a magician performing onstage. Is anyone familiar with this gentleman? His act was quite extraordinary."
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Moments Later
The overhead light spring to life. All of you find yourselves seated together with a gaggle of older English gentlemen and a few wives. One of the gentlemen glances about the table from side to side before speaking.
"I know Smith is suppose to be a master in his field but I did not understand one single word of that. He was almost as bad as that bloody American Anthropologist we had here in June. " He chuckles slightly as he puffs on his cigar. " Wouldn't you all agree?" The rather round woman squeezed into a green evening gown next to him laughs softly.
Before you can speak a auburn haired waitress and six servers appear with the first course of three melon balls with Katenrauchschinken. Each is placed in front of you quietly and quickly.
A rather large man that appears to be in his late sixties stabs on of the melonballs with his sterling silver fork. " You are so very right Neil. Although I did find his delievery to be very impressive. He held my attention even though I had no clue as to what he was going on about."
"I know Smith is suppose to be a master in his field but I did not understand one single word of that. He was almost as bad as that bloody American Anthropologist we had here in June. " He chuckles slightly as he puffs on his cigar. " Wouldn't you all agree?" The rather round woman squeezed into a green evening gown next to him laughs softly.
Before you can speak a auburn haired waitress and six servers appear with the first course of three melon balls with Katenrauchschinken. Each is placed in front of you quietly and quickly.
A rather large man that appears to be in his late sixties stabs on of the melonballs with his sterling silver fork. " You are so very right Neil. Although I did find his delievery to be very impressive. He held my attention even though I had no clue as to what he was going on about."
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
The Lecture
As you enter the large hall of the Upper East Gallery in the Imperial Institute you hear a round of applause filling the air and almost blocking out the smell of expensive cigars.
The Institute's security guide flashes you a quick smile as he vanishes before you enter through the door. The black tails of his tux ruffle behind as he rushes back to the first floor to bring more guest up to the conference.
As you glance up you notice a large stage illuminated at the end of a very dim room. You can make out numerous thin waitresses transversing the labyrinth of tables with older gentlemen giving them the occasional hoot of unwanted attention.
Another round of applause rings out as a young attractive woman dressed in a luxurious red crepe silk evening dress with a slit along the side that seems to go on forever, revealing the top of her stockings, floats about 6 inches above the ground. Her green eyes seem to sparkle in the light.
To her left is a slim middle aged man dressed in a multi-colored shimmering suit. His gloved fingers appear to be flexing as the woman slowly ascends higher and higher. As he moves to the other side of the stage he whips his black cape off in one fluid motion and hurls it at the woman. An instant before it touches her she vanishes.
You find yourself quickly seated at a half full table as a round of drinks are brought out to you. The waitress waits for a moment to see if you want anything else before she returns to her other tables. The show goes on for another fifteen minutes before the performers retire from the stage.
As you glance around you the lights come back on slowly and you see a older man step onto the stage. He smiles at the audience as he runs a hand over his incredibly large and bushy moustache.
"Ladies and gentleman, I am Prof. Julian Smith and I will be presenting some of my research this evening. Please save any questions until the end. As you know, I am a famed debunker of the mystics, pyshics and charlatans. I believe that money is not usually the motive for the misrepresentation of these impossible powers or events; more likely is the chance for individual notice or recognition of personal qualities, preservation or defense of spiritual belief or social benefit to the community."
"There proves to be however," and here his voice turns serious, "categories of repetitious phenomenon offering no simple elucidation. I refer to the "poltergeist," to the "traveler" who suddenly finds himself dozens or thousands of miles or years from where he stood moments before, and to the "haunting." My presentation tonight concerns the last."
"I say haunting" and not "ghost" or "spirit" because alone of such epiphenomena, the subject of a haunting can be buildings, lanterns, coaches-ana-fours, swords and so on, as well as men, women, dogs and even armies. World-Wide, the store of casual anecdote concerning haunters is enormous."
"And I say 'epiphenomena' because the haunters are not linked with specific observers, and the haunting presumably occurs with or without human witnesses, as we shall see. Thus perception of such an event is secondary to the event itself - epiphenomenical to it. "
"The essential characteristics of haunters are simple: the person or thing must have existed, must have disappeared in some sense, and then must reappear once or many times. The location of the phenomenon may stay the same, or may change; that which reappears may be partial and insubstantial, or be as solid and real-seeming as any member of tonight's illustrious gathering. No other conditions are needed."
"I have three hauntings that I wish to discuss in detail. A Breton fishing boat, a Norwegian woman, and a London hansom cab." Smith turns to his manservant and nodds. The man in his mid forties turns on the slide projector and a pale light illuminates the wall.
"Each case was studied and photograph simultaneously from at least three positions, allowing accurate scaling of the apparitions. The three apparitions do not coalesce from points, as most tales describe, but slowly emerge whole from invisible planes, as if passing through 'the curtain of perception'. "
"Each is also semi-transparent." Smith rubs his hand over his brushy mustache as walks up to the projection. He traces the clear passage of a wave through the fishing boat. Showing that the boat in the image causes no ripples and does not resist the water. In the other two images he points out the photographers can be seen through the other apparitions.
Also each image glows appreciably, as Smith demonstrates by isolating the reflection from nearby objects. Sampling attributes part of the glow to ionization, but not all of it. Carefull indexing of the reflections indicates that each level of ionization varies randomly during each event.
The rate at which these three apparitions manifested motion was in comparison to normal movement slowed by a consistent half in each case.
Smith points out a ripple passing across the sail of the fishing boat; when 16mm cinematograph film is sped appreciably, the ripple sees normal while the ocean waves become ridiculous. So does the staircase descent of the Norwegian woman seems less unusual when speeded up. The horse drawing the Hanson cab switches her tail casually, as if discouraging files , rather than making seemingly malevolent and mysterious gestures.
"Historically each of these three apparitions were held as having disappeared not being killed or destroyed. Comparatively very rarely have instances of solid apparitions occurred. But one could wait many lifetimes, I suspect."
"Such apparitions seem not to be uniformly preserved. The south of England has been settled by man for many thousands of years, yet the vast majority of haunting seem to have been produced in the past five or six centuries. Only a handful from Roman times."
"It is my belief that such hauntings represent clues concerning a natural universe much larger and much stranger than we imagine. The walls of what we perceive as normality have a subtle flexibility. Occasionally, and I greatly hope for understandable reasons, conditions allow inter-penetration. The spectral haunting I have discussed represent attempts - perhaps random, perhaps purposeful, certainly unsuccessful ones - to return to this time and space by elements of it somehow removed."
"If we are energetic , and not a little lucky in our observations, students of paraphysicality may one day be able to move up and down time, or to travel globally with minor effort, or to perceive that which at present lies completely beyond our senses. Whether that which waits beyond is light or darkness, or simply different, or evoked by our unstated desires remains the supreme question which, for the present, each must answer for himself."
The Institute's security guide flashes you a quick smile as he vanishes before you enter through the door. The black tails of his tux ruffle behind as he rushes back to the first floor to bring more guest up to the conference.
As you glance up you notice a large stage illuminated at the end of a very dim room. You can make out numerous thin waitresses transversing the labyrinth of tables with older gentlemen giving them the occasional hoot of unwanted attention.
Another round of applause rings out as a young attractive woman dressed in a luxurious red crepe silk evening dress with a slit along the side that seems to go on forever, revealing the top of her stockings, floats about 6 inches above the ground. Her green eyes seem to sparkle in the light.
To her left is a slim middle aged man dressed in a multi-colored shimmering suit. His gloved fingers appear to be flexing as the woman slowly ascends higher and higher. As he moves to the other side of the stage he whips his black cape off in one fluid motion and hurls it at the woman. An instant before it touches her she vanishes.
You find yourself quickly seated at a half full table as a round of drinks are brought out to you. The waitress waits for a moment to see if you want anything else before she returns to her other tables. The show goes on for another fifteen minutes before the performers retire from the stage.
As you glance around you the lights come back on slowly and you see a older man step onto the stage. He smiles at the audience as he runs a hand over his incredibly large and bushy moustache.
"Ladies and gentleman, I am Prof. Julian Smith and I will be presenting some of my research this evening. Please save any questions until the end. As you know, I am a famed debunker of the mystics, pyshics and charlatans. I believe that money is not usually the motive for the misrepresentation of these impossible powers or events; more likely is the chance for individual notice or recognition of personal qualities, preservation or defense of spiritual belief or social benefit to the community."
"There proves to be however," and here his voice turns serious, "categories of repetitious phenomenon offering no simple elucidation. I refer to the "poltergeist," to the "traveler" who suddenly finds himself dozens or thousands of miles or years from where he stood moments before, and to the "haunting." My presentation tonight concerns the last."
"I say haunting" and not "ghost" or "spirit" because alone of such epiphenomena, the subject of a haunting can be buildings, lanterns, coaches-ana-fours, swords and so on, as well as men, women, dogs and even armies. World-Wide, the store of casual anecdote concerning haunters is enormous."
"And I say 'epiphenomena' because the haunters are not linked with specific observers, and the haunting presumably occurs with or without human witnesses, as we shall see. Thus perception of such an event is secondary to the event itself - epiphenomenical to it. "
"The essential characteristics of haunters are simple: the person or thing must have existed, must have disappeared in some sense, and then must reappear once or many times. The location of the phenomenon may stay the same, or may change; that which reappears may be partial and insubstantial, or be as solid and real-seeming as any member of tonight's illustrious gathering. No other conditions are needed."
"I have three hauntings that I wish to discuss in detail. A Breton fishing boat, a Norwegian woman, and a London hansom cab." Smith turns to his manservant and nodds. The man in his mid forties turns on the slide projector and a pale light illuminates the wall.
"Each case was studied and photograph simultaneously from at least three positions, allowing accurate scaling of the apparitions. The three apparitions do not coalesce from points, as most tales describe, but slowly emerge whole from invisible planes, as if passing through 'the curtain of perception'. "
"Each is also semi-transparent." Smith rubs his hand over his brushy mustache as walks up to the projection. He traces the clear passage of a wave through the fishing boat. Showing that the boat in the image causes no ripples and does not resist the water. In the other two images he points out the photographers can be seen through the other apparitions.
Also each image glows appreciably, as Smith demonstrates by isolating the reflection from nearby objects. Sampling attributes part of the glow to ionization, but not all of it. Carefull indexing of the reflections indicates that each level of ionization varies randomly during each event.
The rate at which these three apparitions manifested motion was in comparison to normal movement slowed by a consistent half in each case.
Smith points out a ripple passing across the sail of the fishing boat; when 16mm cinematograph film is sped appreciably, the ripple sees normal while the ocean waves become ridiculous. So does the staircase descent of the Norwegian woman seems less unusual when speeded up. The horse drawing the Hanson cab switches her tail casually, as if discouraging files , rather than making seemingly malevolent and mysterious gestures.
"Historically each of these three apparitions were held as having disappeared not being killed or destroyed. Comparatively very rarely have instances of solid apparitions occurred. But one could wait many lifetimes, I suspect."
"Such apparitions seem not to be uniformly preserved. The south of England has been settled by man for many thousands of years, yet the vast majority of haunting seem to have been produced in the past five or six centuries. Only a handful from Roman times."
"It is my belief that such hauntings represent clues concerning a natural universe much larger and much stranger than we imagine. The walls of what we perceive as normality have a subtle flexibility. Occasionally, and I greatly hope for understandable reasons, conditions allow inter-penetration. The spectral haunting I have discussed represent attempts - perhaps random, perhaps purposeful, certainly unsuccessful ones - to return to this time and space by elements of it somehow removed."
"If we are energetic , and not a little lucky in our observations, students of paraphysicality may one day be able to move up and down time, or to travel globally with minor effort, or to perceive that which at present lies completely beyond our senses. Whether that which waits beyond is light or darkness, or simply different, or evoked by our unstated desires remains the supreme question which, for the present, each must answer for himself."
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Brig Alec Keogh Summerfield
My name is Brig Alec Keogh Summerfield of the 51st. I was born in the small english town of Cardiff, the oldest child of Sir Edward Kyle Summerfield. A knight in the queens service.
I grew up in the shadow of my father and his numerous successes. My father was exceptional at everything he did and expected no less from his children.
I was a good cricket player, not great, but how many people could do what father did? I went to the best schools and did well. I was in the top 10 of my class, mind you father was his classes Valadictorian.
The only positive I have to my story is that by being good and not great I was able to spare my siblings from the "love" of father.
After college father was determine that I make my mark in the business world as he did. But having lived long enough under his shadow and off of his money I made a choice. I joined the service were I served well and with honors.
I served in the Great War. I saw a lot of good men die. I was on my way to being a general. Yes, that would have shown father. But seeing my best friend and fiancé blown apart by a German bomb I lost my stomach for war and the military.....
I grew up in the shadow of my father and his numerous successes. My father was exceptional at everything he did and expected no less from his children.
I was a good cricket player, not great, but how many people could do what father did? I went to the best schools and did well. I was in the top 10 of my class, mind you father was his classes Valadictorian.
The only positive I have to my story is that by being good and not great I was able to spare my siblings from the "love" of father.
After college father was determine that I make my mark in the business world as he did. But having lived long enough under his shadow and off of his money I made a choice. I joined the service were I served well and with honors.
I served in the Great War. I saw a lot of good men die. I was on my way to being a general. Yes, that would have shown father. But seeing my best friend and fiancé blown apart by a German bomb I lost my stomach for war and the military.....
Friday, April 6, 2007
Mary Ann Smith
Mary Ann Smith was born as the youngest child of more siblings than she could count. Her mother cleans rich people's houses for hand-me-down's and table scraps. Her father lost his right hand in a factory accident when she was 8 years old, forcing him him to quit his job and making it virtually impossible for him to find steady work from then on.
While growing up, she quickly learned to make due with what little she had; Mary Ann is very resourceful, a "survivor," if you will. Her sense of pride led to to leave home at age 14, as she no longer wished to be a burden on her family. Her breasts had developed by then, so she turned to hooking in order to feed herself. The small amount of schooling she had managed to receive gave her a passion for reading...and she read constantly whatever newspaper, magazine, or book she could get her hands on, letting the words take her away to distant other worlds. She developed a great talent for remembering the details of whatever she read, storing useful information away safely for when she might need it later.
Now 17 years old, she recently caught the eye of a theatre owner, who asked her to become an assistant to a promising newcomer illusionist. Realizing that squeezing herself into hidden compartments of gimmicked "magickal" devices would likely be less uncomfortable than holding her ankles behind her head, she accepted the theatre owner's offer. She has only been performing with The Amazing Zombo for a few weeks now, but she's beginning to notice that he truly does possess some amazing talents.
While growing up, she quickly learned to make due with what little she had; Mary Ann is very resourceful, a "survivor," if you will. Her sense of pride led to to leave home at age 14, as she no longer wished to be a burden on her family. Her breasts had developed by then, so she turned to hooking in order to feed herself. The small amount of schooling she had managed to receive gave her a passion for reading...and she read constantly whatever newspaper, magazine, or book she could get her hands on, letting the words take her away to distant other worlds. She developed a great talent for remembering the details of whatever she read, storing useful information away safely for when she might need it later.
Now 17 years old, she recently caught the eye of a theatre owner, who asked her to become an assistant to a promising newcomer illusionist. Realizing that squeezing herself into hidden compartments of gimmicked "magickal" devices would likely be less uncomfortable than holding her ankles behind her head, she accepted the theatre owner's offer. She has only been performing with The Amazing Zombo for a few weeks now, but she's beginning to notice that he truly does possess some amazing talents.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Joseph Maximillian Dobson
Joseph Maximillian Dobson, known as Max to his friends was somewhat of an oddball at the Felcharny Courier, where he worked as a special delivery postman. Unlike most of his coworkers, Max could actually read. A gift imparted upon him from his uncle in New York, who insisted on educating him properly. However, jobs were few and far between, and when Joseph learned about Falcharny, he learned also about their literacy requirements. If you could do more than read a few common words here and there, you were not hired.
Apparently Felcharny clients wanted their packages delivered without the risk of the courier opening it. By chance if the courier did open it, the contents would mean little to them. Max never looked into the letters, as his interest was still focused on the smoked filled lounges and the loose women that worked there. With nothing suitable for him, the courier job was perfect. He traveled, listened and saw the world. It was the end of the decade, Christmas of 1919. The biggest courier job of Max’s career landed on his lap.
The owner, Mr. Felcharny informed him that he was to take the trains to California, hitch a ride on the merchant ship Orient Bound and dock in China. Max accepted and began his uneventful journey to China. By the time the Orient Bound arrived in dock, the Volstead Act had been ratified, utterly destroying one of Max’s hobbies. The trip to China was definitely a welcome turn of events at this point. Next thing you know, women would get the right to vote, and what a world that would be then. No drinking, and women trying to choose who would run the country.
The Orient Bound was a rickety old ship, but sailed the seas smoothly and without interference from international sea going vessels. What seems like an eternity later, the Banner of the Chinese Republic could be seen snapping in the wind as the ship anchored close to Bohai Bay, the rest of the way was by row boat. Sedimentation levels were too high to risk bringing in the Orient Bound.
China was magnificent, but Max had little time to immerse himself. His instructions were to travel southeast to Henan and meat up with an emissary of somebody named Zhu De. Shortly after arrival, Max met his contact and guide, Zhang Zhongjing. Zhang was heaven sent, as Max spoke no Chinese and his native guide slipped him through foreign checkpoints with ease. Zhang easily held conversations in languages not Chinese, and not any that Max had ever heard of either. Meanwhile, a history lesson of immense magnitude began during their travels and Zhang could have kept Max listening forever.
Before Max knew it, they were in Henan, making their way through alleyways and quietly moving towards the courier job. After a night of negotiations, Max was brought to a simple building and inside was a desk with a scroll on it. Behind the desk was a screen, and behind the screen the Felcharny client, whom Zhang had previously explained did not want to be seen by filthy foreigners. Max could care less, his job was to get the package and return to Germany, and deliver the package to Herr Schaltz.
After negotiations were finished and the appropriate paperwork was produced, signed and Max’s identity was confirmed, the scroll went into his side pack. When he turned to leave, Zhang stepped in front of him and put up a hand. He apologized for what was about to happen, and that’s when the pain set in. Blackness followed.
Max is now in London, England, the scroll is gone. But black marks streak across his torso and limbs. He remembers little about his journey back, nightmarish demons haunt his dreams and all he knows is that he has an overwhelming desire to find Jeffery Bellowes. Not only can Max not drink now that he’s back, but woman can now vote. Things could not get worse.
Apparently Felcharny clients wanted their packages delivered without the risk of the courier opening it. By chance if the courier did open it, the contents would mean little to them. Max never looked into the letters, as his interest was still focused on the smoked filled lounges and the loose women that worked there. With nothing suitable for him, the courier job was perfect. He traveled, listened and saw the world. It was the end of the decade, Christmas of 1919. The biggest courier job of Max’s career landed on his lap.
The owner, Mr. Felcharny informed him that he was to take the trains to California, hitch a ride on the merchant ship Orient Bound and dock in China. Max accepted and began his uneventful journey to China. By the time the Orient Bound arrived in dock, the Volstead Act had been ratified, utterly destroying one of Max’s hobbies. The trip to China was definitely a welcome turn of events at this point. Next thing you know, women would get the right to vote, and what a world that would be then. No drinking, and women trying to choose who would run the country.
The Orient Bound was a rickety old ship, but sailed the seas smoothly and without interference from international sea going vessels. What seems like an eternity later, the Banner of the Chinese Republic could be seen snapping in the wind as the ship anchored close to Bohai Bay, the rest of the way was by row boat. Sedimentation levels were too high to risk bringing in the Orient Bound.
China was magnificent, but Max had little time to immerse himself. His instructions were to travel southeast to Henan and meat up with an emissary of somebody named Zhu De. Shortly after arrival, Max met his contact and guide, Zhang Zhongjing. Zhang was heaven sent, as Max spoke no Chinese and his native guide slipped him through foreign checkpoints with ease. Zhang easily held conversations in languages not Chinese, and not any that Max had ever heard of either. Meanwhile, a history lesson of immense magnitude began during their travels and Zhang could have kept Max listening forever.
Before Max knew it, they were in Henan, making their way through alleyways and quietly moving towards the courier job. After a night of negotiations, Max was brought to a simple building and inside was a desk with a scroll on it. Behind the desk was a screen, and behind the screen the Felcharny client, whom Zhang had previously explained did not want to be seen by filthy foreigners. Max could care less, his job was to get the package and return to Germany, and deliver the package to Herr Schaltz.
After negotiations were finished and the appropriate paperwork was produced, signed and Max’s identity was confirmed, the scroll went into his side pack. When he turned to leave, Zhang stepped in front of him and put up a hand. He apologized for what was about to happen, and that’s when the pain set in. Blackness followed.
Max is now in London, England, the scroll is gone. But black marks streak across his torso and limbs. He remembers little about his journey back, nightmarish demons haunt his dreams and all he knows is that he has an overwhelming desire to find Jeffery Bellowes. Not only can Max not drink now that he’s back, but woman can now vote. Things could not get worse.
Gabrielle Parsons
Gabrielle Parsons is not what you'd call an average, dainty englishwoman. She has taken full advantage of her father's position in British Society to push the boundaries of acceptable feminine behavior. She was raised in Mayfair, London according to the proper fashion of the time. Schooled in language, literature and politics by her father, Viscount Parsons of Castle Shanbally, who spent Gabrielle's early years battling for a son only to have his wife die in childbirth when Gabrielle was only 6. After her mother's death Gabrielle travelled with her father during his business negotiations around the world, settling in France for several years after the signing of the Entente Cordiale agreement which opened the door for trade between France and Britain.
One day Lord Parsons took Gabrielle to a fox hunt held on his Irish estate. He thought she would be interested in the beautiful Irish territory and the diversity of the guests, but Gabrielle was entranced by the hunt. She couldn't understand how the dogs were able to track a single fox across miles of terrain. She begged her father to take her along to every fox hunt he attended and even though she wasn't allowed to participate in the hunt she began observing and recording the behavior of the dog packs.
When Gabrielle was old enough, Lord Parsons secured her admittance to Oxford University, his alma mater. She studied biology and anthropology until entering into a field research project with one of her professors. She has spent the last four years working in the Ngorongoro Crater in Africa studying the predatorial behavior of spotted hyenas. Her findings that hyenas live in complex family groups and hunt in an organized and methodical way was initially rejected by her colleagues who believed hyenas to be filthy scavengers of the African plain. She was criticized for being a woman, for living in isolated and barbaric conditions and for having an "offensively feminine" perspective on the way the real world operates. As more data was compiled and several other field researchers began making similar observations her research slowly began gaining acceptance.
And then Gabrielle experienced a personal coup! January 4, 1920 Oxford University began issuing degrees to its female students for the first time in history. Gabrielle was recalled from the field to attend a small ceremony in her honor. She travelled home with her personal assistant Jeeves (aka: the bodyguard her father forced her to take with her to Africa to defend her honor against the savages) and her local african guide Dingane. With her newly aquired PhD and her professional independance she is now in search of her own research grant to continue her work in Africa. Where the search for financial backing takes her is.... England. Sweet England.
One day Lord Parsons took Gabrielle to a fox hunt held on his Irish estate. He thought she would be interested in the beautiful Irish territory and the diversity of the guests, but Gabrielle was entranced by the hunt. She couldn't understand how the dogs were able to track a single fox across miles of terrain. She begged her father to take her along to every fox hunt he attended and even though she wasn't allowed to participate in the hunt she began observing and recording the behavior of the dog packs.
When Gabrielle was old enough, Lord Parsons secured her admittance to Oxford University, his alma mater. She studied biology and anthropology until entering into a field research project with one of her professors. She has spent the last four years working in the Ngorongoro Crater in Africa studying the predatorial behavior of spotted hyenas. Her findings that hyenas live in complex family groups and hunt in an organized and methodical way was initially rejected by her colleagues who believed hyenas to be filthy scavengers of the African plain. She was criticized for being a woman, for living in isolated and barbaric conditions and for having an "offensively feminine" perspective on the way the real world operates. As more data was compiled and several other field researchers began making similar observations her research slowly began gaining acceptance.
And then Gabrielle experienced a personal coup! January 4, 1920 Oxford University began issuing degrees to its female students for the first time in history. Gabrielle was recalled from the field to attend a small ceremony in her honor. She travelled home with her personal assistant Jeeves (aka: the bodyguard her father forced her to take with her to Africa to defend her honor against the savages) and her local african guide Dingane. With her newly aquired PhD and her professional independance she is now in search of her own research grant to continue her work in Africa. Where the search for financial backing takes her is.... England. Sweet England.
Some Slang for the 20s
Herein is contained an alphabetical listing of slang words used in the 1920's. The twenties were the first decade to emphasize youth culture over the older generations, and the flapper sub-culture had a tremendous influence on main stream America; many new words and phrases were coined by these liberated women. These are the most common words and phrases of the time, many of which we still use today!
Some entries were the exclusive domain of students (or rather, those of student age; only a very small percentage of the population attended college) or flappers and have been indicated as such with italicized monikers. Also, the words that emerged in a particular year are noted appropriately.
Note: the majority of the entries were gleaned from a great slang dictionary called Flappers 2 Rappers, written by Tom Dalzell (Merriam-Webster, 1996). This is the resource for those interested in slang from any decade of the 20th century. The reader will find more Jazz Age slang, along with literally hundreds of other words and selected etymologies. Details can be found at the Merriam-Webster site here.
Many entries have also been added from The Writer's Guide to Everyday Life from Prohibition through World War II, by Marc McCutcheon. This book is an indispensable guide to all those minutiae of life during one of the most story rich periods in history. A must have for those interested in the Twenties!
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
“-“
-ski, -avous: these are two suffixes (derived from Russian and French, respectively) used in flapper parlance to “dress up” normal words. The suffix could be added to any word. There was only one hard and fast rule: if you responded to a question containing a suffix, you had to use the same part of speech somehow. Example: “Would you like a drink-avous?” “No thanks, I’m on the wagon-avous.” “The sun-ski is so bright!” “Put on a hat-ski.”
A
ab-so-lute-ly: affirmative
all wet: incorrect
And how!: I strongly agree!
ankle: to walk, i.e.. "Let's ankle!"
apple sauce: flattery, nonsense, i.e.. "Aw, applesauce!"
Attaboy!: well done!; also, Attagirl!
B
baby: sweetheart. Also denotes something of high value or respect.
baby grand: heavily built man
baby vamp: an attractive or popular female, student.
balled up: confused, messed up.
baloney: Nonsense!
Bank's closed.: no kissing or making out ie. "Sorry, mac, bank's closed."
bearcat: a hot-blooded or fiery girl
beat it: scram, get lost.
beat one's gums: idle chatter
bee's knee's: terrific; a fad expression. Dozens of "animal anatomy" variations existed: elephant's eyebrows, gnat's whistle, eel's hips, etc.
beef: a complaint or to complain.
beeswax: business, i.e. "None of your beeswax." Student.
bell bottom: a sailor
bent: drunk
berries: (1) perfect (2) money
big cheese: important person
big six: a strong man; from auto advertising, for the new and powerful six cylinder engines.
bimbo: a tough guy
bird: general term for a man or woman, sometimes meaning "odd," i.e. "What a funny old bird."
blotto (1930 at the latest): drunk, especially to an extreme
blow: (1) a crazy party (2) to leave
bohunk: a derogatory name for an Eastern European immigrant. Out of use by 1930, except in certain anti-immigrant circles, like the KKK.
bootleg: illeagal liquor
breezer (1925): a convertable car
bubs: breasts
bug-eyed Betty (1927): an unattractive girl, student.
bull: (1) a policeman or law-enforcement official, including FBI. (2) nonesense, bullshit (3) to chat idly, to exaggerate
bump off: to kill
bum's rush, the: ejection by force from an establishment
bunny (1925): a term of endearment applied to the lost, confused, etc. Often coupled with "poor little."
bus: any old or worn out car.
bushwa: a euphemism for "bullshit"
Butt me.: I'll take a cigarette.
C
cake-eater: a lady's man
caper: a criminal act or robbery.
cat's meow: great, also "cat's pajamas" and "cat's whiskers"
cash: a kiss
Cash or check?: Do we kiss now or later?
cast a kitten: to have a fit. Used in both humorous and serious situations. i.e. "Stop tickling me or I'll cast a kitten!" Also, "have kittens."
chassis (1930): the female body
cheaters: eye glasses
check: Kiss me later.
chewing gum: double-speak, or ambiguous talk.
choice bit of calico: attractive female, student.
chopper: a Thompson Sub-Machine Gun, due to the damage its heavy .45 caliber rounds did to the human body.
chunk of lead: an unnattractive female, student.
ciggy: cigarette
clam: a dollar
coffin varnish: bootleg liquor, often poisonous.
copacetic: excellent
crasher: a person who attends a party uninvited
crush: infatuation
cuddler: one who likes to make out
D
daddy: a young woman's boyfriend or lover, especially if he's rich.
daddy-o: a term of address; strictly an African-American term.
dame: a female. Did not gain widespread use until the 1930's.
dapper: a Flapper's dad
darb: a great person or thing. "That movie was darb."
dead soldier: an empty beer bottle.
deb: a debutant.
dewdropper: a young man who sleeps all day and doesn't have a job
dick: a private investigator. Coined around 1900, the term finds major recognition in the 20's.
dinge: a derogatory term for an African-American. Out of use by 1930.
dogs: feet
doll: an attractive woman.
dolled up: dressed up
don't know from nothing: doesn't have any information
don't take any wooden nickels: don't do anything stupid.
dope: drugs, esp. cocaine or opium.
doublecross: to cheat, stab in the back.
dough: money
drugstore cowboy: A well-dressed man who loiters in public areas trying to pick up women.
dry up: shut up, get lost
ducky: very good
dumb Dora: an absolute idiot, a dumbbell, especially a woman; flapper.
E
earful: enough
edge: intoxication, a buzz. i.e. "I've got an edge."
egg: a person who lives the big life
Ethel: an effeminate male.
F
face stretcher: an old woman trying to look young
fag: a cigarette. Also, starting around 1920, a homosexual.
fella: fellow. As common in its day as "man," "dude," or "guy" is today. "That John sure is a swell fella."
fire extinguisher: a chaperone
fish: (1) a college freshman (2) a first timer in prison
flat tire: a bore
flivver: a Model T; after 1928, also could mean any broken down car.
floorflusher: an insatiable dancer
flour lover: a girl with too much face powder
fly boy: a glamorous term for an aviator
For crying out loud!: same usage as today
four-flusher: a person who feigns wealth while mooching off others.
fried: drunk
futz: a euphemism for "fuck." i.e. "Don't futz around."
G
gams (1930): legs
gatecrasher: see "crasher"
gay: happy or lively; no connection to homosexuality. See "fag."
Get Hot! Get Hot!: encouragement for a hot dancer doing her thing
get-up (1930): an outfit.
get a wiggle on: get a move on, get going
get in a lather: get worked up, angry
giggle water: booze
gigolo: dancing partner
gimp: cripple; one who walks with a limp. Gangster Dion O’Bannion was called Gimpy due to his noticeable limp.
gin mill: a seller of hard liquor; a cheap speakeasy
glad rags: "going out on the town" clothes
go chase yourself: get lost, scram.
gold-digger (1925): a woman who pursues men for their money.
goods, the: (1) the right material, or a person who has it (2) the facts, the truth, i.e. "Make sure the cops don't get the goods on you."
goof: (1) a stupid or bumbling person, (2) a boyfriend, flapper.
goofy: in love
grummy: depressed
grungy: envious
H
hair of the dog (1925): a shot of alcohol.
half seas over: drunk, also "half under."
handcuff: engagement ring
hard-boiled: tough, as in, a tough guy, ie: "he sure is hard-boiled!"
harp: an Irishman
hayburner: (1) a gas guzzling car (2) a horse one loses money on
heavy sugar (1929): a lot of money
heebie-jeebies (1926): "the shakes," named after a hit song.
heeler: a poor dancer
high hat: a snob.
hip to the jive: cool, trendy
hit on all sixes: to perform 100 per cent; as "hitting on all six cylinders"; perhaps a more common variation in these days of four cylinder engines was "hit on all fours". See "big six".
hooch: booze
hood (late 20s): hoodlum
hooey: bullshit, nonsense. Very popular from 1925 to 1930, used somewhat thereafter.
hop: (1) opiate or marijuana (2) a teen party or dance
hope chest: pack of cigarettes
hopped up: under the influence of drugs
Hot dawg!: Great!; also: "Hot socks!" Rarely spelled as shown outside of flapper circles until popularized by 1940s comic strips.
hot sketch: a card or cut-up
I
"I have to go see a man about a dog.": "I've got to leave now," often meaning to go buy whiskey.
icy mitt: rejection
insured: engaged
iron (1925): a motorcycle, among motorcycle enthusiasts
iron one’s shoelaces: to go to the restroom
ish kabibble (1925): a retort meaning "I should care." Was the name of a musician in the Kay Kayser Orchestra of the 1930s.
J
jack: money
Jake: great, ie. "Everything's Jake."
Jalopy: a dumpy old car
Jane: any female
java: coffee
jeepers creepers: "Jesus Christ!"
jerk soda: to dispense soda from a tap; thus, "soda jerk"
jigaboo: a derogatory term for an African-American
jitney: a car employed as a private bus. Fare was usually five-cents; also called a "nickel."
joe: coffee
Joe Brooks: a perfectly dressed person; student.
john: a toilet
joint: establishment
juice joint: a speakeasy
K
kale: money
keen: appealing
kike: a derogatory term for a Jewish person
killjoy: a solemn person
knock up: to make pregnant
know one's onions: to know one's business or what one is talking about
L
lay off: cut the crap
left holding the bag: (1) to be cheated out of one's fair share (2) to be blamed for something
let George do it: a work evading phrase
level with me: be honest
limey: a British soldier or citizen, from World War I
line: a false story, as in "to feed one a line."
live wire: a lively person
lollapalooza (1930): a humdinger
lollygagger: (1) a young man who enjoys making out (2) an idle person
M
manacle: wedding ring
mazuma: money
Mick: a derogatory term for Irishmen
milquetoast (1924): a very timid person; from the comic book character Casper Milquetoast, a hen-pecked male.
mind your potatoes: mind your own business.
mooch: to leave
moonshine: homemade whiskey
mop: a handkerchief
munitions: face powder
N
neck: to kiss passionately
necker: a girl who wraps her arms around her boyfriend's neck.
nifty: great, excellent
noodle juice: tea
nookie: sex
Not so good!: I personally disapprove.
"Now you're on the trolley!": Now you've got it, now you're right.
O
ofay: a commonly used Black expression for Whites
off one's nuts: crazy
Oh yeah!: I doubt it!
old boy: a male term of address, used in conversation with other males. Denoted acceptance in a social environment. Also "old man" "old fruit." "How's everything old boy?"
Oliver Twist: a skilled dancer
on a toot: a drinking binge
on the lam: fleeing from police
on the level: legitimate, honest
on the up and up: on the level
orchid: an expensive item
ossified: drunk
owl: a person who's out late
P
palooka: (1) a below-average or average boxer (2) a social outsider, from the comic strip character Joe Palooka, who came from humble ethnic roots
panic: to produce a big reaction from one's audience
panther sweat (1925): whiskey
percolate: (1) to boil over (2) As of 1925, to run smoothly; "perk"
pet: necking, only more; making out
petting pantry: movie theater
petting party: one or more couples making out in a room or auto
piffle: baloney
piker: (1) a cheapskate (2) a coward
pill: (1) a teacher (2) an unlikable person
pinch: to arrest. Pinched: to be arrested.
pinko: liberal
pipe down: stop talking
prom-trotter: a student who attends all school social functions
pos-i-lute-ly: affirmative, also "pos-i-tive-ly"
punch the bag: small talk
putting on the ritz: after the Ritz Hotel in Paris (and its namesake Caesar Ritz); doing something in high style. Also "ritzy."
Q
quiff: a slut or cheap prostitute
R
rag-a-muffin: a dirty or disheveled individual
rain pitchforks: a downpour
razz: to make fun of
Real McCoy: a genuine item
regular: normal, typical, average; "Regular fella."
Reuben: an unsophisticated country bumpkin. Also "rube"
Rhatz!: How disappointing!
rub: a student dance party
rubes: money or dollars
rummy: a drunken bum
S
sap: a fool, an idiot. Very common term in the 20s.
says you: a reaction of disbelief
scratch: money
screaming meemies: the shakes
screw: get lost, get out, etc. Occasionally, in pre 1930 talkies (such as The Broadway Melody) screw is used to tell a character to leave. One film features the line "Go on, go on -- screw!"
screwy: crazy; "You're screwy!"
sheba: one's girlfriend
sheik: one's boyfriend
shiv: a knife
simolean: a dollar
sinker: a doughnut
sitting pretty: in a prime position
skirt: an attractive female
smarty: a cute flapper
smoke-eater: a smoker
smudger: a close dancer
sockdollager: an action having a great impact
so's your old man: a reply of irritation
spade: yet another derogatory term for an African-American
speakeasy: a bar selling illeagal liquor
spill: to talk
splifficated: drunk
spoon: to neck, or at least talk of love
static: (1) empty talk (2) conflicting opinion
stilts: legs
struggle: modern dance
stuck on: in love, student.
sugar daddy: older boyfriend who showers girlfriend with gifts in exchange for sex
swanky: (1) good (2) elegant
swell: (1) good (2) a high class person
T
take someone for a ride: to take someone to a deserted location and murder them.
tasty: appealing
teenager: not a common term until 1930; before then, the term was "young adults."
tell it to Sweeney: tell it to someone who'll believe it.
tight: attractive
Tin Pan Alley: the music industry in New York, located between 48th and 52nd Streets
tomato: a "ripe" female
torpedo: a hired thug or hitman
U
unreal: special
upchuck: to vomit
upstage: snobby
V
vamp: (1) a seducer of men, an aggressive flirt (2) to seduce
voot: money
W
water-proof: a face that doesn't require make-up
wet blanket: see Killjoy
wife: dorm roomate, student.
What's eating you?: What's wrong?
whoopee: wild fun
Woof! Woof!: ridicule
X
Y
You slay me!: That's funny!
Z
zozzled: drunk
Some entries were the exclusive domain of students (or rather, those of student age; only a very small percentage of the population attended college) or flappers and have been indicated as such with italicized monikers. Also, the words that emerged in a particular year are noted appropriately.
Note: the majority of the entries were gleaned from a great slang dictionary called Flappers 2 Rappers, written by Tom Dalzell (Merriam-Webster, 1996). This is the resource for those interested in slang from any decade of the 20th century. The reader will find more Jazz Age slang, along with literally hundreds of other words and selected etymologies. Details can be found at the Merriam-Webster site here.
Many entries have also been added from The Writer's Guide to Everyday Life from Prohibition through World War II, by Marc McCutcheon. This book is an indispensable guide to all those minutiae of life during one of the most story rich periods in history. A must have for those interested in the Twenties!
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
“-“
-ski, -avous: these are two suffixes (derived from Russian and French, respectively) used in flapper parlance to “dress up” normal words. The suffix could be added to any word. There was only one hard and fast rule: if you responded to a question containing a suffix, you had to use the same part of speech somehow. Example: “Would you like a drink-avous?” “No thanks, I’m on the wagon-avous.” “The sun-ski is so bright!” “Put on a hat-ski.”
A
ab-so-lute-ly: affirmative
all wet: incorrect
And how!: I strongly agree!
ankle: to walk, i.e.. "Let's ankle!"
apple sauce: flattery, nonsense, i.e.. "Aw, applesauce!"
Attaboy!: well done!; also, Attagirl!
B
baby: sweetheart. Also denotes something of high value or respect.
baby grand: heavily built man
baby vamp: an attractive or popular female, student.
balled up: confused, messed up.
baloney: Nonsense!
Bank's closed.: no kissing or making out ie. "Sorry, mac, bank's closed."
bearcat: a hot-blooded or fiery girl
beat it: scram, get lost.
beat one's gums: idle chatter
bee's knee's: terrific; a fad expression. Dozens of "animal anatomy" variations existed: elephant's eyebrows, gnat's whistle, eel's hips, etc.
beef: a complaint or to complain.
beeswax: business, i.e. "None of your beeswax." Student.
bell bottom: a sailor
bent: drunk
berries: (1) perfect (2) money
big cheese: important person
big six: a strong man; from auto advertising, for the new and powerful six cylinder engines.
bimbo: a tough guy
bird: general term for a man or woman, sometimes meaning "odd," i.e. "What a funny old bird."
blotto (1930 at the latest): drunk, especially to an extreme
blow: (1) a crazy party (2) to leave
bohunk: a derogatory name for an Eastern European immigrant. Out of use by 1930, except in certain anti-immigrant circles, like the KKK.
bootleg: illeagal liquor
breezer (1925): a convertable car
bubs: breasts
bug-eyed Betty (1927): an unattractive girl, student.
bull: (1) a policeman or law-enforcement official, including FBI. (2) nonesense, bullshit (3) to chat idly, to exaggerate
bump off: to kill
bum's rush, the: ejection by force from an establishment
bunny (1925): a term of endearment applied to the lost, confused, etc. Often coupled with "poor little."
bus: any old or worn out car.
bushwa: a euphemism for "bullshit"
Butt me.: I'll take a cigarette.
C
cake-eater: a lady's man
caper: a criminal act or robbery.
cat's meow: great, also "cat's pajamas" and "cat's whiskers"
cash: a kiss
Cash or check?: Do we kiss now or later?
cast a kitten: to have a fit. Used in both humorous and serious situations. i.e. "Stop tickling me or I'll cast a kitten!" Also, "have kittens."
chassis (1930): the female body
cheaters: eye glasses
check: Kiss me later.
chewing gum: double-speak, or ambiguous talk.
choice bit of calico: attractive female, student.
chopper: a Thompson Sub-Machine Gun, due to the damage its heavy .45 caliber rounds did to the human body.
chunk of lead: an unnattractive female, student.
ciggy: cigarette
clam: a dollar
coffin varnish: bootleg liquor, often poisonous.
copacetic: excellent
crasher: a person who attends a party uninvited
crush: infatuation
cuddler: one who likes to make out
D
daddy: a young woman's boyfriend or lover, especially if he's rich.
daddy-o: a term of address; strictly an African-American term.
dame: a female. Did not gain widespread use until the 1930's.
dapper: a Flapper's dad
darb: a great person or thing. "That movie was darb."
dead soldier: an empty beer bottle.
deb: a debutant.
dewdropper: a young man who sleeps all day and doesn't have a job
dick: a private investigator. Coined around 1900, the term finds major recognition in the 20's.
dinge: a derogatory term for an African-American. Out of use by 1930.
dogs: feet
doll: an attractive woman.
dolled up: dressed up
don't know from nothing: doesn't have any information
don't take any wooden nickels: don't do anything stupid.
dope: drugs, esp. cocaine or opium.
doublecross: to cheat, stab in the back.
dough: money
drugstore cowboy: A well-dressed man who loiters in public areas trying to pick up women.
dry up: shut up, get lost
ducky: very good
dumb Dora: an absolute idiot, a dumbbell, especially a woman; flapper.
E
earful: enough
edge: intoxication, a buzz. i.e. "I've got an edge."
egg: a person who lives the big life
Ethel: an effeminate male.
F
face stretcher: an old woman trying to look young
fag: a cigarette. Also, starting around 1920, a homosexual.
fella: fellow. As common in its day as "man," "dude," or "guy" is today. "That John sure is a swell fella."
fire extinguisher: a chaperone
fish: (1) a college freshman (2) a first timer in prison
flat tire: a bore
flivver: a Model T; after 1928, also could mean any broken down car.
floorflusher: an insatiable dancer
flour lover: a girl with too much face powder
fly boy: a glamorous term for an aviator
For crying out loud!: same usage as today
four-flusher: a person who feigns wealth while mooching off others.
fried: drunk
futz: a euphemism for "fuck." i.e. "Don't futz around."
G
gams (1930): legs
gatecrasher: see "crasher"
gay: happy or lively; no connection to homosexuality. See "fag."
Get Hot! Get Hot!: encouragement for a hot dancer doing her thing
get-up (1930): an outfit.
get a wiggle on: get a move on, get going
get in a lather: get worked up, angry
giggle water: booze
gigolo: dancing partner
gimp: cripple; one who walks with a limp. Gangster Dion O’Bannion was called Gimpy due to his noticeable limp.
gin mill: a seller of hard liquor; a cheap speakeasy
glad rags: "going out on the town" clothes
go chase yourself: get lost, scram.
gold-digger (1925): a woman who pursues men for their money.
goods, the: (1) the right material, or a person who has it (2) the facts, the truth, i.e. "Make sure the cops don't get the goods on you."
goof: (1) a stupid or bumbling person, (2) a boyfriend, flapper.
goofy: in love
grummy: depressed
grungy: envious
H
hair of the dog (1925): a shot of alcohol.
half seas over: drunk, also "half under."
handcuff: engagement ring
hard-boiled: tough, as in, a tough guy, ie: "he sure is hard-boiled!"
harp: an Irishman
hayburner: (1) a gas guzzling car (2) a horse one loses money on
heavy sugar (1929): a lot of money
heebie-jeebies (1926): "the shakes," named after a hit song.
heeler: a poor dancer
high hat: a snob.
hip to the jive: cool, trendy
hit on all sixes: to perform 100 per cent; as "hitting on all six cylinders"; perhaps a more common variation in these days of four cylinder engines was "hit on all fours". See "big six".
hooch: booze
hood (late 20s): hoodlum
hooey: bullshit, nonsense. Very popular from 1925 to 1930, used somewhat thereafter.
hop: (1) opiate or marijuana (2) a teen party or dance
hope chest: pack of cigarettes
hopped up: under the influence of drugs
Hot dawg!: Great!; also: "Hot socks!" Rarely spelled as shown outside of flapper circles until popularized by 1940s comic strips.
hot sketch: a card or cut-up
I
"I have to go see a man about a dog.": "I've got to leave now," often meaning to go buy whiskey.
icy mitt: rejection
insured: engaged
iron (1925): a motorcycle, among motorcycle enthusiasts
iron one’s shoelaces: to go to the restroom
ish kabibble (1925): a retort meaning "I should care." Was the name of a musician in the Kay Kayser Orchestra of the 1930s.
J
jack: money
Jake: great, ie. "Everything's Jake."
Jalopy: a dumpy old car
Jane: any female
java: coffee
jeepers creepers: "Jesus Christ!"
jerk soda: to dispense soda from a tap; thus, "soda jerk"
jigaboo: a derogatory term for an African-American
jitney: a car employed as a private bus. Fare was usually five-cents; also called a "nickel."
joe: coffee
Joe Brooks: a perfectly dressed person; student.
john: a toilet
joint: establishment
juice joint: a speakeasy
K
kale: money
keen: appealing
kike: a derogatory term for a Jewish person
killjoy: a solemn person
knock up: to make pregnant
know one's onions: to know one's business or what one is talking about
L
lay off: cut the crap
left holding the bag: (1) to be cheated out of one's fair share (2) to be blamed for something
let George do it: a work evading phrase
level with me: be honest
limey: a British soldier or citizen, from World War I
line: a false story, as in "to feed one a line."
live wire: a lively person
lollapalooza (1930): a humdinger
lollygagger: (1) a young man who enjoys making out (2) an idle person
M
manacle: wedding ring
mazuma: money
Mick: a derogatory term for Irishmen
milquetoast (1924): a very timid person; from the comic book character Casper Milquetoast, a hen-pecked male.
mind your potatoes: mind your own business.
mooch: to leave
moonshine: homemade whiskey
mop: a handkerchief
munitions: face powder
N
neck: to kiss passionately
necker: a girl who wraps her arms around her boyfriend's neck.
nifty: great, excellent
noodle juice: tea
nookie: sex
Not so good!: I personally disapprove.
"Now you're on the trolley!": Now you've got it, now you're right.
O
ofay: a commonly used Black expression for Whites
off one's nuts: crazy
Oh yeah!: I doubt it!
old boy: a male term of address, used in conversation with other males. Denoted acceptance in a social environment. Also "old man" "old fruit." "How's everything old boy?"
Oliver Twist: a skilled dancer
on a toot: a drinking binge
on the lam: fleeing from police
on the level: legitimate, honest
on the up and up: on the level
orchid: an expensive item
ossified: drunk
owl: a person who's out late
P
palooka: (1) a below-average or average boxer (2) a social outsider, from the comic strip character Joe Palooka, who came from humble ethnic roots
panic: to produce a big reaction from one's audience
panther sweat (1925): whiskey
percolate: (1) to boil over (2) As of 1925, to run smoothly; "perk"
pet: necking, only more; making out
petting pantry: movie theater
petting party: one or more couples making out in a room or auto
piffle: baloney
piker: (1) a cheapskate (2) a coward
pill: (1) a teacher (2) an unlikable person
pinch: to arrest. Pinched: to be arrested.
pinko: liberal
pipe down: stop talking
prom-trotter: a student who attends all school social functions
pos-i-lute-ly: affirmative, also "pos-i-tive-ly"
punch the bag: small talk
putting on the ritz: after the Ritz Hotel in Paris (and its namesake Caesar Ritz); doing something in high style. Also "ritzy."
Q
quiff: a slut or cheap prostitute
R
rag-a-muffin: a dirty or disheveled individual
rain pitchforks: a downpour
razz: to make fun of
Real McCoy: a genuine item
regular: normal, typical, average; "Regular fella."
Reuben: an unsophisticated country bumpkin. Also "rube"
Rhatz!: How disappointing!
rub: a student dance party
rubes: money or dollars
rummy: a drunken bum
S
sap: a fool, an idiot. Very common term in the 20s.
says you: a reaction of disbelief
scratch: money
screaming meemies: the shakes
screw: get lost, get out, etc. Occasionally, in pre 1930 talkies (such as The Broadway Melody) screw is used to tell a character to leave. One film features the line "Go on, go on -- screw!"
screwy: crazy; "You're screwy!"
sheba: one's girlfriend
sheik: one's boyfriend
shiv: a knife
simolean: a dollar
sinker: a doughnut
sitting pretty: in a prime position
skirt: an attractive female
smarty: a cute flapper
smoke-eater: a smoker
smudger: a close dancer
sockdollager: an action having a great impact
so's your old man: a reply of irritation
spade: yet another derogatory term for an African-American
speakeasy: a bar selling illeagal liquor
spill: to talk
splifficated: drunk
spoon: to neck, or at least talk of love
static: (1) empty talk (2) conflicting opinion
stilts: legs
struggle: modern dance
stuck on: in love, student.
sugar daddy: older boyfriend who showers girlfriend with gifts in exchange for sex
swanky: (1) good (2) elegant
swell: (1) good (2) a high class person
T
take someone for a ride: to take someone to a deserted location and murder them.
tasty: appealing
teenager: not a common term until 1930; before then, the term was "young adults."
tell it to Sweeney: tell it to someone who'll believe it.
tight: attractive
Tin Pan Alley: the music industry in New York, located between 48th and 52nd Streets
tomato: a "ripe" female
torpedo: a hired thug or hitman
U
unreal: special
upchuck: to vomit
upstage: snobby
V
vamp: (1) a seducer of men, an aggressive flirt (2) to seduce
voot: money
W
water-proof: a face that doesn't require make-up
wet blanket: see Killjoy
wife: dorm roomate, student.
What's eating you?: What's wrong?
whoopee: wild fun
Woof! Woof!: ridicule
X
Y
You slay me!: That's funny!
Z
zozzled: drunk
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