The Butter Rum Cartoon

ab-so-lute-ly - affirmative.

all wet - describes an erroneous idea or individual, as in, "He's all wet."

and how - I strongly agree!

applesauce - an expletive same as horsefeathers, as in, "Ah applesauce!"

attaboy - well done!; also attagirl!

baby - sweetheart. Also denotes something of high value or respect.

balled up - confused, messed up.

baloney - nonsense!

bank's closed - no kissing or making out, e.g., "Sorry, Mac, the bank's closed."

bearcat - a hot-blooded or fiery girl.

beat it - scram or get lost.

beat one's gums - idle chatter.

bee's knees - an extraordinary person, thing, idea; the ultimate.

beef - a complaint or to complain.

beeswax - business, e.g., "None of your beeswax."

bell bottom - a sailor.

berries - that which is attractive or pleasing; similar to bee's knees, as in, "It's the berries."

Bible Belt - area in the South and Midwest where Fundamentalism flourishes.

big cheese - the most important or influential person; boss. Same as big shot.

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," e.g., "What a funny old bird."

blind date - going out with someone you do not know.

bluenose - an excessively puritanical person, a prude.

bootleg - illegal liquor.

breezer - a convertible car.

Bronx cheer - a loud spluttering noise, used to indicate disapproval. Same as raspberry.

bull - (1) a policeman or law-enforcement officer including FBI, (2) nonsense, (3) to chat idly, to exaggerate.

bull session - male talkfest, gossip, stories of sexual exploits.

bum's rush - ejection by force from an establishment.

bump off - to murder, to kill.

butt me - I'll take a cigarette.

butter rum cartoon - (1) something that makes little or no sense yet its profundity impresses or inspires people, (2) something profound and life-changing yet its nonsense delights people.

caper - a criminal act or robbery.

carry a torch - to have a crush on someone.

cash - a kiss.

cash or check? - do you kiss now or later?

cat's meow - something splendid or stylish; similar to bee's knees; the best or greatest, wonderful.

cat's pajamas - same as cat's meow.

chassis - the female body.

cheaters - eyeglasses.

check - kiss me later.

ciggy - a cigarette.

clam - a dollar.

copacetic - wonderful, fine, all right.

crush - an infatuation.

daddy - a young woman's boyfriend or lover, especially if he's rich.

dame - a female.

dapper - a flapper's dad.

darb - an excellent person or thing; a person with money who can be relied on to pay the check.

dead soldier - an empty beer bottle.

deb - a debutant.

dick - a private investigator.

dogs - feet.

doll - an attractive woman.

dolled-up - dressed up.

don't know from nothing - don't have any information.

don't take any wooden nickels - don't do anything stupid.

double-cross - to cheat, stab in the back.

dough - money.

drugstore cowboy - a guy that hangs around on a street corner trying to pick up girls.

dry up - shut up, get lost.

ducky - very good.

dumb Dora - a stupid female.

earful - enough.

edge - intoxication, a buzz, e.g., "I've got an edge."

egg - a person who lives the big life.

fall guy - victim of a frame.

fire extinguisher - a chaperone.

fish - (1) a college freshman, (2) a first timer in prison.

flat tire - a dull witted, insipid, disappointing date. Same as pill, pickle, drag, rag, oilcan.

flivver - a Model T; after 1928, could mean any old broken down car.

flapper - a stylish, brash, hedonistic young woman with short skirts and shorter hair.

fly boy - a glamorous term for an aviator.

frame - to give false evidence, to set up someone.

gams - a woman's legs.

get a wiggle on - get a move on, get going.

giggle water - an intoxicating beverage; alcohol.

gin mill - an establishment where hard liquor is sold; bar.

glad rags - "going out on the town" clothes.

gold digger - a woman who associates with or marries a man for his wealth.

goofy - in love.

hair of the dog - a shot of alcohol.

handcuff - an engagement ring.

hard boiled - a tough, strong guy.

hayburner - (1) a gas-guzzling car, (2) a horse one loses money on.

heebie-jeebies - the jitters.

high-hat - to snub.

hit on all sixes - to perform 100 percent; as "hitting on all six cylinders."

hooch - bootleg liquor

hood - hoodlum.

hoofer - dancer.

horsefeathers - an expletive; same usage as applesauce.

hotsy-totsy - pleasing.

it - sex appeal.

iron - a motorcycle

jack - money

jake - OK, as in, "Everything is jake."

jalopy - old car.

Jane - any female.

java - coffee.

jitney - a car employed as a private bus.

joe - coffee.

john - a toilet.

joint - a club, usually selling alcohol.

keen - attractive or appealing kisser.

left holding the bag - (1) to be cheated out of one's fair share, (2) to be blamed for something.

level with me - be honest.

line - insincere flattery.

live wire - a lively person.

middle aisle - to marry.

Mrs. Grundy - a priggish or extremely tight-laced person.

moll - a gangster's girl.

neck - kissing with passion.

nifty - great, excellent.

"Now you're on the trolley!" - now you've got it, now you're right!

nobody home - describes someone who is dumb.

on the lam - fleeing from police.

on the level - legitimate, honest.

on the up and up - on the level.

orchid - an expensive item.

ossified - a drunk person.

owl - a person who's out late.

palooka - (1) a below-average or average boxer, (2) a social outsider; from the comic strip character Joe Palooka.

pet - same as neck, but more so.

piker - (1) a cheapskate, (2) a coward.

pill - (1) a teacher, (2) an unlikable person.

pinch - to arrest.

pipe down - stop talking.

pushover - a person easily convinced or seduced.

putting on the ritz - doing something in high style.

rag-a-muffin - a dirty or disheveled individual.

razz - to make fun of.

real McCoy - the genuine article.

ritzy - elegant.

rubes - money or dollars.

sap - a fool.

says you - a reaction of disbelief.

scram - ask someone to leave immediately.

sheba - a woman with sex appeal.

sheik - a man with sex appeal.

shiv - a knife.

sinker - a doughnut.

speakeasy - an illicit bar selling bootleg liquor.

spiffllicated - drunk. The same as canned, corked, tanked, primed, scrooched, jazzed, zozzled, plastered, owled, embalmed, lit, potted, ossified, or fried to the hat.

spiffy - an elegant appearance.

spoon - to neck, or at least talk of love.

struggle buggy - the backseat of a car.

stuck on - having a crush on.

swanky - ritzy.

swell - wonderful.

take for a ride - to drive off with someone in order to bump them off.

Tin Pan Alley - the music industry in New York, located between 48th and 52nd street.

tomato - a female.

torpedo - a hired gun.

upchuck - to vomit when one has drunk too much.

wet blanket - a solemn person, a killjoy.

what's eating you? - what's wrong?

whoopee - to have a good time.

you slay me - that's funny.

Complete Contents of the Butter Rum Cartoon

Because my friend David Franciskato and his wife Lisa were extras in this film, Micki and I were invited to the premier showing of "Baldknobber" here in Branson. The large theater was packed.

The movie was filmed on location, right here in our Taney County, Missouri. It was very well done, and it's a true story of the Ozark vigilantes, the Baldknobbers, just after the Civil War, when "real" law enforcement was non-existent or, at best, inadequate.

I had learned about them by reading Lucile Morris Upton's book, Bald Knobbers, which had been highly recommended by Douglas Mahnkey as the truest account. (Less accurate books about the Baldknobbers have been published and are unfortunately more popular.) Mr. Mahnkey (now deceased) brought about my love for the Ozarks through his wonderful books, Bright Glowed My Hills and Hill and Holler Stories. When he was in his nineties and still working as a Taney County lawyer, Micki and I visited him in his office and he autographed his books for us. His mother, Mary Elizabeth Mahnkey, was the poet laureate of the Ozarks, and we have her book, Marigold Gold, as well as a biography by Ellen Gray Massey, A Candle Within Her Soul: Mary Elizabeth Mahnkey and Her Ozarks.

Back to the movie, my friend David didn't appear in the film, doggone it, but Lisa did, in a courtroom scene. My favorite character in the movie, Ben Johnson, who stood against the Baldknobbers, was played by Eddie "Rattlesnake" Wood, a skilled leatherworker in Branson. Here are some shots of him in the movie, and one of him and me afterwards. He passed away three years after the picture with me was taken.