Why does Eddie call Wally Sam, Clyde and Gladys? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Jack Gomez · 09-03-2021, 02:18 PM

What is the meaning behind these names? I mean I know it's kind of an insuIt or nickname towards your friend but why those names in particular? I think I've heard this done in other shows and movies too from the 50s and 60s, but it disappeared in culture in the following decades.

GentlemanJim · 09-03-2021, 03:29 PM

They are condescending terms of affection. Going back to the "beat" culture,.. "Clyde" was a sobriquet for a male who was "not hip". Such as a bland outcast trying to fit in with the "in crowd".

Sam in that period was a nick for "common man", someone who does not stand out in any particular way. It's a way of marginalizing a person as "insignificant"

Not sure about "Gladys"....

In his seminal book, Tom Wolfe's "The Electric Kool Aid Acid Test" (1968) provides an excellent insight to how the Beat subculture of the 1950's evolved into the Hippy Counterculture of the 1960's. (the book's main protagonist, Ken Kesey, considered himself to be a foundation stone in both cultures).

Together with Hunter S. Thompson's "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas", (1971) they provide a frank crash course into the fringe of what I think was one of the most interesting periods in US History. I highly recommend them both, although I am sure that Ward Cleaver would NOT approve.

Jack Gomez · 09-03-2021, 04:48 PM

Thanks for the info! I appreciate it. The definitions for Sam and Clyde now make a whole lot of sense coming from Eddie. The Gladys one is from the episode Eddie The Businessman in the 6th season. I'm sure it must mean something similar, although Gladys is a female name so it is kind of a head scratcher. Maybe Eddie made that one up himself. Lol

vitoscotti · 09-03-2021, 05:17 PM

What % of the time did Eddie call his male friends & Beaver by their real first name? 25?

Cx · 09-03-2021, 05:30 PM

I remember he called Wally "Ellwood" once. He was showing off his new Italian patent leather shoes and how expensive they were. Eddie says "These aint a pair of sneakers Elwood".

Jack Gomez · 09-03-2021, 10:19 PM

I tried googling the name Gladys and on Wikipedia it means princess, small sword and in Welsh it means lame. So I can see Eddie using it to call him princess or lame.

All I can find on Ellwood is from the urban dictionary. I'll leave out the f word at the beginning but the rest is "an idiot who needs to mind his own business or bozo." I'm not sure if that is just the modern definition and not what Eddie meant back in the 50s and 60s. Sounds like him though. Lol

vitoscotti · 09-04-2021, 03:59 AM

If Eddie referred to Wally & Lumpy as Elwood & Joliet Jake we'd really have a story.

stevea · 09-04-2021, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vitoscotti

What % of the time did Eddie call his male friends & Beaver by their real first name? 25?

I could count on one hand the number of times Eddie called Beaver, Beaver. Most other times it was "squirt."

Howard · 09-06-2021, 06:43 PM

He used those names to be a jerk and ridiculous and thought that was the cool way to talk from 1957-63.

CanICallYouDad · 10-12-2021, 11:26 AM

Does not mean anything

GentlemanJim · 11-02-2021, 09:05 AM

Perhaps worth noting, in today's episode "Lumpy's Car Trouble", Wally gets in the act when he tells Eddie "Get in the car, Fabian"...wondered if that was a way of labeling Eddie as vain?

ThisLittlePiggy · 11-11-2021, 11:37 AM

Eddie called Wally "Sam Benedict" once, I guess in reference to Benedict Arnold?

stevea · 11-11-2021, 05:22 PM

This was in another thread a few years ago. Sam Benedict was a TV show of that time.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Benedict

vitoscotti · 11-11-2021, 07:04 PM

Didn't Fred Rutherford refer to Beaver as "Gopher" one time.

GentlemanJim · 11-12-2021, 11:26 AM

I don't believe the practice was all that unusual. I can recall references to people who attempted to figure out someone else's problems (usually unwelcomed) as "Dick Tracy". Or a person who figured out a daunting puzzle as "Sherlock". Or a person who sorted out details that were a puzzle only to them as (sarcastically) "Einstein".

I think that Eddie just managed to abuse the privilege in excess.

09-03-2021, 02:18 PM	#1
Jack Gomez Felipe's son Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 18, 2003 Posts: 614	Why does Eddie call Wally Sam, Clyde and Gladys? What is the meaning behind these names? I mean I know it's kind of an insuIt or nickname towards your friend but why those names in particular? I think I've heard this done in other shows and movies too from the 50s and 60s, but it disappeared in culture in the following decades.

09-03-2021, 03:29 PM	#2
GentlemanJim Concerns, Support, & Feedback Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 26, 2019 Location: The back country Posts: 5,443	They are condescending terms of affection. Going back to the "beat" culture,.. "Clyde" was a sobriquet for a male who was "not hip". Such as a bland outcast trying to fit in with the "in crowd". Sam in that period was a nick for "common man", someone who does not stand out in any particular way. It's a way of marginalizing a person as "insignificant" Not sure about "Gladys".... In his seminal book, Tom Wolfe's "The Electric Kool Aid Acid Test" (1968) provides an excellent insight to how the Beat subculture of the 1950's evolved into the Hippy Counterculture of the 1960's. (the book's main protagonist, Ken Kesey, considered himself to be a foundation stone in both cultures). Together with Hunter S. Thompson's "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas", (1971) they provide a frank crash course into the fringe of what I think was one of the most interesting periods in US History. I highly recommend them both, although I am sure that Ward Cleaver would NOT approve.
	__________________ On my word as a gentleman!

10-12-2021, 11:26 AM	#10
CanICallYouDad Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 12, 2013 Location: Meeechigan Posts: 233	Does not mean anything
	__________________ We got 4 channels. 2, 4, 7 and 9. Loved turning that dial as fast as I could.

09-03-2021, 04:48 PM	#3
Jack Gomez Felipe's son Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 18, 2003 Posts: 614	Thanks for the info! I appreciate it. The definitions for Sam and Clyde now make a whole lot of sense coming from Eddie. The Gladys one is from the episode Eddie The Businessman in the 6th season. I'm sure it must mean something similar, although Gladys is a female name so it is kind of a head scratcher. Maybe Eddie made that one up himself. Lol

09-03-2021, 05:17 PM	#4
vitoscotti Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 14, 2017 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,084	What % of the time did Eddie call his male friends & Beaver by their real first name? 25?

09-03-2021, 05:30 PM	#5
Cx Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 01, 2020 Posts: 209	I remember he called Wally "Ellwood" once. He was showing off his new Italian patent leather shoes and how expensive they were. Eddie says "These aint a pair of sneakers Elwood".

09-03-2021, 10:19 PM	#6
Jack Gomez Felipe's son Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 18, 2003 Posts: 614	I tried googling the name Gladys and on Wikipedia it means princess, small sword and in Welsh it means lame. So I can see Eddie using it to call him princess or lame. All I can find on Ellwood is from the urban dictionary. I'll leave out the f word at the beginning but the rest is "an idiot who needs to mind his own business or bozo." I'm not sure if that is just the modern definition and not what Eddie meant back in the 50s and 60s. Sounds like him though. Lol

09-04-2021, 03:59 AM	#7
vitoscotti Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 14, 2017 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,084	If Eddie referred to Wally & Lumpy as Elwood & Joliet Jake we'd really have a story.

09-06-2021, 06:43 PM	#9
Howard Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 23, 2003 Posts: 255	He used those names to be a jerk and ridiculous and thought that was the cool way to talk from 1957-63.

11-02-2021, 09:05 AM	#11
GentlemanJim Concerns, Support, & Feedback Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 26, 2019 Location: The back country Posts: 5,443	Perhaps worth noting, in today's episode "Lumpy's Car Trouble", Wally gets in the act when he tells Eddie "Get in the car, Fabian"...wondered if that was a way of labeling Eddie as vain?

11-11-2021, 11:37 AM	#12
ThisLittlePiggy Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Nov 02, 2013 Posts: 85,171	Eddie called Wally "Sam Benedict" once, I guess in reference to Benedict Arnold?

11-11-2021, 05:22 PM	#13
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,930	This was in another thread a few years ago. Sam Benedict was a TV show of that time. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Benedict

11-11-2021, 07:04 PM	#14
vitoscotti Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 14, 2017 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,084	Didn't Fred Rutherford refer to Beaver as "Gopher" one time.

11-12-2021, 11:26 AM	#15
GentlemanJim Concerns, Support, & Feedback Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 26, 2019 Location: The back country Posts: 5,443	I don't believe the practice was all that unusual. I can recall references to people who attempted to figure out someone else's problems (usually unwelcomed) as "Dick Tracy". Or a person who figured out a daunting puzzle as "Sherlock". Or a person who sorted out details that were a puzzle only to them as (sarcastically) "Einstein". I think that Eddie just managed to abuse the privilege in excess.