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Out of the 1,100 people who read this NineShift weblog each monthly, only my colleague Greg Marsello complains that there's not enough sports here.
Recently college football legendary announcer Keith Jackson retired after broadcasting college football games for 40 games. His trademark phrase was "Whoa Nellie!" For 5 points, what is the origin of this phrase and what does it mean?
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Dick Lane, actor and long time announcer, M.C., and host for pioneer KTLA TV from the '40s through the '70s used to used that term. It has been stated that Keith Jackson started using the term when he heard it ussed by Mr. Lane.
Posted by: Bob | December 18, 2011 at 06:36 AM
When I was a kid in the early 50's, we had a team of horses called Lightning and Nellie. We used to stop the team by pulling on the reins and yelling "Whoa, Lightning. Whoa, Nellie!" I was surprised that when I first came online in 1998 that "Whoa Nellie!" was almost universal.
Posted by: I. A. Spence | February 10, 2011 at 10:00 AM
I agree with the explanation of Frog Millhouse. I remember it from my childhood.
Posted by: Bob Smith | November 05, 2010 at 05:53 PM
The first ever female governor (WY-1924) was named Nellie. Whoa Nellie!
Posted by: RTC | November 03, 2010 at 09:17 AM
THIS ALL SOUNDS FAKE AND MORE LIKE MYTHS THAN FACT. BUT ONE DAY I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE TRUE ORIGINS OF THE PHRASE "WOAH NELLY!!" ONLY THEN WILL MY LIFE BE COMPLETE.
Posted by: ROB MARTINEC | May 18, 2009 at 07:09 PM
Sad that people keep perpetuating this incorrect piece of trivia!
"Whoa, Nellie" was a frequent cry given by Gene Autry's pal, Frog Millhouse (Smiley Burnette) as he tried to stay aboard his horse, Ring-eyed Nellie. This predates Roy Rogers by some years, since Gene Autry discovered Roy ...
Posted by: K. Crippen | March 05, 2009 at 12:21 PM
Whoa Nellie
is a part of
Whoa Nellie Belle. Roy Roger side kick "Pat" when driving the jeep on the Roy Rogers Show would yell Whoa Nellie Bell. Yes, the jeep was called Nellie Belle
Posted by: David J. Reilly | May 06, 2006 at 05:58 PM