TEEN SLANG OF THE EARLY 1950S
a comprehensive investigation in eight panels

As long as there's been a socio-economic unit defined as the ages between 13 and 20, there have been teenagers. And as long as there have been teenagers, there's been teenage slang; those flipped-out, totally wack expressions used to mystify elders. Today we examine the slang of the late 1940s and early 1950s, as seen in two Marvel books FRANKIE and THE KELLYS.


From this cover we can see that not only was teen slang an already accepted form of communication, but that its confusing effect on parents was already a cliche. It's also our belief that when the "pash pit" was percieved to be "sizzling huggy", conditions were acceptable for a popular teen activity known as "necking" with one's "drag".


Why does Danny not have a "swing-ding"? Possible answers include "Danny is a lame Jughead ripoff" and/or "Danny follows the coach's advice and wears an athletic supporter when on the field." Both theories have their adherents.


"Pop a buffalo in the jukery?" Try that in the zoo sometime. If the buffalo doesn't kill you, security will boot your ass to the curb.


Here we see proof once again of the all-pervasive, corrupting influence of the Freemasons.


Let me get this straight. You'd arrive at your girlfriend's house in a STOVE TOP HEATING ELEMENT?


"You're a cad, but def!" Def what? Def jam? Mos Def? So-So Def? Don't leave me hanging here, obscure late 40s comic!!


Here we see teenagers being encouraged to go on romantic evenings with...um... gates. SOLID gates. Not those flimsy wire kinds, we're talking solid wood construction, heavy-duty hinges, probably one of those padlock eye things. Also note use of word "groovey", at least thirty years prior to its usage as a modifer to describe a certain kind of love.


Jackson is probably "knocking" because his twisters are unlatched! Didja ever think of that?? Huh?? Didja?

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