I didn’t grow up
in the United States, so much of my retro-knowledge, when it comes to popular culture,
was acquired retroactively. Re-runs and YouTube contributed greatly to making
me relate to the shared memories of Americans, including those from times that
preceded my time on this earth.
I’m a fan of This Day in History. Goodness, we now
see that Google has made a fetish of it with their daily tributes to such on
their logo. So I’m not apologizing, but sounding the drum roll for this. Ready?
On this day, in 1947, YOU BET YOUR LIFE radio program premiered
with Groucho Marx.
Ta-Da!
If you don’t
know who he was, it’s not too late. Google and search YouTube, and you can
thank me later. But just for today, October the 27th, I will wet
your appetite with some awesome quotations, some specifically from that
program. These will dispel any notion that popular culture has little value.
“A black cat crossing your path signifies that the animal is going
somewhere.”
“Age is not a particularly interesting subject. Anyone can get
old. All you have to do is live long enough.”
“Chicolini here may talk like an idiot and look like an idiot, but
don't let that fool you. He really is an idiot.”
“I have nothing but confidence in you, and very little of that.”
“I sent the club a wire stating, PLEASE ACCEPT MY RESIGNATION. I DON'T WANT TO BELONG TO ANY CLUB THAT WILL ACCEPT ME AS A MEMBER.”
“Before I speak, I have something important to say.”
“I intend to live forever, or die trying.”
Groucho died thirty years later. But his perverse take lives
on. These nuggets of not-much contain more insight to the machinations of the
human psyche than many philosophy books taught at great universities.
