Peanut gallery

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Howdy Doody peanut gallery c. late 1940s to the 1950s

A peanut gallery was, in the days of vaudeville, a nickname for the cheapest and ostensibly rowdiest seats in the theater, the occupants of which were often known to heckle the performers.[1] The least expensive snack served at the theatre would often be peanuts, which the patrons would sometimes throw at the performers on stage to convey their disapproval. Phrases such as "no comments from the peanut gallery" or "quiet in the peanut gallery" are extensions of the name.[1]

Background[]

According to Stuart Berg Flexner, the term owes its origin to the United States' segregated South as a synonym with the back seats or upper balcony mostly reserved for Black people, as stated in his book Listening to America: An Illustrated History of Words and Phrases From Our Lively and Splendid Past:[2]

Peanut gallery was in use in the 1880s, as a synonym for n----- gallery (1840s) or n----- heaven (1870s), the upper balcony where blacks sat, as in segregated theaters.

In recent times, the term has taken on new meanings with the advent of social networks and online chat rooms. "Peanut gallery" may also refer to the stream of open comments visible on certain types of blogs.[3]

"Peanut gallery" may have been the source[4] of the name for Charles Schulz's comic strip, Peanuts: a name Schulz bitterly resented and never understood.[5] Schulz had wanted to keep the strip's original name, Li'l Folks. However, United Features Syndicate pointed out that that name had been used before.[6] Thus, Peanuts was chosen.

In popular culture[]

In 1943 the Howdy Doody children's radio show adopted the name for its live audience of children.[7] Howdy Doody is most remembered for its later transition to television, which continued the Peanut Gallery audience, now on camera.

A similar term was introduced to Brazilian football by coach Luiz Felipe Scolari. He called Palmeiras' complaining audience that sat in the closest seats "Turma do Amendoim" ("peanut gang").[8]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Rowland, Ian (April 1999). "What's the origin of the expression 'peanut gallery'?". The Straight Dope. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  2. ^ "Here are some commonly used terms that actually have racist origins". ABC News. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  3. ^ "Bacteriophages". BIO230 (Web log). Word press. Fall 2010. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  4. ^ Michaelis, David (2007). Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography. New York: HarperCollins. p. 219. ISBN 978-0-06-621393-4.
  5. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions: The Peanuts Comic Strip". Charles M. Schulz Museum. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  6. ^ Inge, M. Thomas (2000). Charles M. Schulz: Conversations. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi. p. 146. ISBN 1-57806-304-3.
  7. ^ Smith, Andrew F. (2002). Peanuts: The Illustrious History of the Goober Pea. University of Illinois Press. p. 129. ISBN 978-0-252-02553-2.
  8. ^ "Felipão criou o apelido "Turma do Amendoim" no Palmeiras; leia trecho" [Felipão created the ‘Peanut gang’ nickname: read passage]. Folha de S. Paulo (in Portuguese). Folha da manhã. Folha Online. November 9, 2009. Retrieved March 28, 2013.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""