“Trevor Dallen’s mention of Emile Mercier (C8) brought back memories of the books of his cartoons which my older sister collected,” writes Ann Clydsdale of Bathurst. “He had a way with street signs, breaking up words in unconventional ways. Hence, ‘Bus Stop’ became ‘Bust Op’, and ‘No Smoking’ became ‘Nosmo King’. There was also a little old man in a deer stalker hat and with a long beard depicted in most cartoons. Someone told me that it represented Mercer himself. Not sure if that was true or not, though.”
“Nosmo King is still around isn’t he?” inquires Peter Gibbs of Yass. “Signs everywhere. Very popular person.”
Suzanne Saunders of Wadeville has some unwelcome news for Nick Bencsik regarding jingle earworms (C8): “You can’t switch it off, Nick. Actually, you ought to be congratulated.”
“At 76 years, I have decided that my occasional memory loss is due to my hard drive being full, and I would like a way to shed unnecessary data,” says Alan Nicholas of Sandringham. “Like the full lyrics of Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini.”
Paul Fergus of Croydon sympathises with Gail Grogan (C8) over the recent “language abomination” that came in the form of “premise” (singular for a building instead of premises), but has a theory: “I wonder whether the Health official called to task by Gail was laying the foundations for an edifice.”
It makes sense for Eric Scott of Bondi Junction: “Two academics in adjacent apartment blocks used to argue across the gap between their balconies but could never agree because they were arguing from different premises.”
“Listening to a radio news report on the passing of actor Robert Duvall they mentioned one of his early roles was in How To Kill a Mockingbird,” notes Bret White of Sanctuary Point. “It left me wondering if the finches were spared.” Indeed, but it might explain why he agreed to star in Lonesome Dove.
Chris Wilmott of Austinmer says that “the ubiquitous American letter box with the little red flag solves Geoff Bartlett’s ‘do I or don’t I need to look’ problem (C8). No bells or whistles needed. I have been told some are being painted orange of late.” Greg King of Springwood says his parents had one in the 1960s for “their brand new triple-fronted red brick veneer house in Parramatta”, and describes it as “an analogue solution for the times”.
Column8@smh.com.au
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