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#67348 04/26/02 03:38 AM
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I forget the exact details, but I believe the expression dates from the 18th century and a period of rivalry between two London theatre impresarios, where one had built up expectation in the public breast regarding special sound effects to be featured in the opening night of a new opera, only to have his rival use them first after dastardly subornation of the sound effects artist.

Bingley


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#67349 04/26/02 09:00 AM
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I think it was a production of King Lear that had stolen the thunder, but a lot earlier than that... hmm, can't recall the details, think it was James Dennis who came up with the phrase - loudly protesting in the middle of the show!


#67350 04/26/02 09:08 AM
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Oops, got your name wrong, sorry John! But he wasn’t a very memorable guy.

http://homepage.mac.com/roberthuber/3humhist.html

It was a bit earlier, but not as much as I was remembering: http://www.bartleby.com/100/202.html

I like that quote:

A man who could make so vile a pun would not scruple to pick a pocket. hi, TEd!



#67351 04/26/02 10:09 AM
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Hmm, same story with variations in the venue? Starting to sound almost like an urban legend. What!? Bartleby preserving an urban legend!? Never!!


#67352 04/26/02 04:21 PM
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microfiche...."You mean like Uncle Jim's baby guppies?"

See, I wouldn't have thought of that, because we say "micro-feesh" not "micro-fish". What are others' preferences? I wonder if this has to do with the presence of French in everyday life here in Canada. I suspect that whether you understand French or not it ends up affecting some things, like pronunciation!


#67353 04/26/02 05:56 PM
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Howye fokes

Accorden ta me trusty Tedasaurus this is exactly what happened:
As Maverick pinted out there was once a playwrite and critic be the name of John Dennis (1567 - 1734). Anyways, he invented a new method of stimulaten thunder claps on the stage. He used this new method in his play "Appius and Virgina" (who, btw, was nick-named Virgin fer short - but not fer long).

Well, ta cut a long story short - wasn't the play a bit of a flop. A while later when Mr Dennis was looken at a perforemince of "Macbeth" didn't he notice that they had used an improved version of his thunder effects.

With a fierce thunderous look flashen across his furious face he says, "Dam them! They will not let me play run, but they steal me thunder."

Be seein ya


GallantTed


#67354 04/27/02 06:16 AM
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I'm a feesher as well.

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#67355 04/27/02 11:02 PM
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Apparently the Mormons are feeshers of men


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