This is topic Abbott & Costello Question in forum 16mm Forum at 8mm Forum.
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Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on November 01, 2019, 06:44 AM:
Just been showing the Castle release #833 "Gobs In A Mess", excerpt from Universal's 1941 "In The Navy" with Abbott & Costello.
But what are Gobs? I believe it may be a slang term for a sailor, but why?
Posted by Joe Caruso (Member # 11) on November 01, 2019, 04:11 PM:
This usually applied to the theory that sailors either gobbled their food and to "gob" is to spit (likely chewin' tobacco) - Other terms for sailors are 'jack' - Think also of L&H and "Two Tars" - This was because sailors used a tarpaulin for sail material, and the word was reduced - Imagine if the film was called "TARS IN A MESS" and the L&H was titled "TWO GOBS" - Either way, smooth sailin' - Cheers, Shorty
Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on November 02, 2019, 03:35 AM:
It's a horrible word. Perhaps more acceptable in America than in the UK. I don't think Castle should have used it on a title.
Posted by Melvin England (Member # 5270) on November 02, 2019, 08:16 AM:
…….not forgetting the other term for Gob meaning Mouth....
as in "Shut Your Gob!"
Posted by Panayotis A. Carayannis (Member # 1220) on November 03, 2019, 03:21 AM:
There are many more comedies with "Gobs" their titles,but I can't recall any other "Tars"!
Posted by Panayotis A. Carayannis (Member # 1220) on November 05, 2019, 01:45 AM:
Oh yes,I remember one,CALLING ALL TARS,the Bob Hope Vitaphone short!
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