stolen property | Q&A about words

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#67348 - 04/25/02 11:38 PM Re: stolen property
Bingley Carpal Tunnel Registered: 04/09/00 Posts: 3065 Loc: Jakarta	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 _________________________ Bingley
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#67349 - 04/26/02 05:00 AM Re: stolen property
maverick Carpal Tunnel Registered: 09/15/00 Posts: 4757	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!
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#67350 - 04/26/02 05:08 AM Re: stolen property
maverick Carpal Tunnel Registered: 09/15/00 Posts: 4757	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!
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#67351 - 04/26/02 06:09 AM Re: stolen property
Faldage Carpal Tunnel Registered: 12/01/00 Posts: 13803	Hmm, same story with variations in the venue? Starting to sound almost like an urban legend. What!? Bartleby preserving an urban legend!? Never!!
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#67352 - 04/26/02 12:21 PM Re: stolen property
Bean old hand Registered: 01/18/01 Posts: 1156	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!
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#67353 - 04/26/02 01:56 PM Re: stolen property
GallantTed enthusiast Registered: 11/07/01 Posts: 273 Loc: Ireland	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
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#67354 - 04/27/02 02:16 AM Re: stolen property
Bingley Carpal Tunnel Registered: 04/09/00 Posts: 3065 Loc: Jakarta	I'm a feesher as well. Bingley _________________________ Bingley
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#67355 - 04/27/02 07:02 PM Re: stolen property
maverick Carpal Tunnel Registered: 09/15/00 Posts: 4757	Apparently the Mormons are feeshers of men
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