Alternately called galoshes… to avoid unfortunate misunderstandings. As a kid on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, I never heard them called anything but galoshes.
In much of the UK, “rubber” once meant (does it still?) “eraser,” as in the item used to remove pencil marks. Ted Koppel’s family emigrated from the UK to the USA when he was an elementary school kid. The first time (and last time) he asked classmates if anyone had a rubber he could borrow… well, hilarity ensued.
We had “rubbers” as kids. Red ones that you would pull over your shoes. But I don’t even remember wearing them once we began to go to school. It was just something else to lose. We stood at the bus stop in rain slickers and/or with an umbrella and hoped for the best. Here in Florida, our rain comes down fast and furiously….but stops in 10 minutes. People rarely even use umbrellas. After all, the rain is warm and welcomed.
I remember as a young parent putting cardboard inside my tennis shoes when holes wore through. I cut them in the shape of the insole and inserted them. Who could afford new shoes with mouths to feed?
All the comments on the double entendre use of “rubbers” remind me of something that occurred several years ago. My son saw a reference on Facebook to a 1951 Batman comic, in which the Joker messes up one of his crimes, and the newspapers make fun of his boner. So he decides to get Batman to commit an even bigger boner. My son thought the whole thing was hilarious, for obvious reasons. Actually, I did too, but I put on my serious and wise dad hat and explained to him that "boner” is just a synonym for “mistake.”
The expression “to pull a boner” comes from the old American minstrel shows. There was a man in these shows who was called Mr. Bones because he carried two small sticks of bone that he used as an instrument. He was asked questions by one of the other men in the show, just to get stupid but funny answers. This became known as “pulling boners.” But in time, the expression, “to pull a boner,” meant something more than getting an answer to make you laugh. It meant a bad blunder a mistake that was costly. And a man who pulled such boners was often described as a “bonehead.”
Huh… when I was Charlie’s age, I didn’t have such a fancy rain outfit… I had the bright yellow, long “slicker,” and the “hood-type” rain hat with the visor… I looked like a demented duck, walking upright!
awgiedawgie Premium Member about 4 years ago
I’ve got three pairs in a plastic tote out in the barn. I haven’t worn them in years. They’re still like new.
Templo S.U.D. about 4 years ago
amusing
Major Matt Mason Premium Member about 4 years ago
(incredibly filthy joke removed in the interests of good taste)
Algolei I about 4 years ago
When I was a kid, I got hand-me-downs from my two older brothers and two older sisters. The rubber boots had bicycle tire patches on them.
iggyman about 4 years ago
As a kid we had them, I have not even seen a pair in ages!
jimmjonzz Premium Member about 4 years ago
Alternately called galoshes… to avoid unfortunate misunderstandings. As a kid on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, I never heard them called anything but galoshes.
In much of the UK, “rubber” once meant (does it still?) “eraser,” as in the item used to remove pencil marks. Ted Koppel’s family emigrated from the UK to the USA when he was an elementary school kid. The first time (and last time) he asked classmates if anyone had a rubber he could borrow… well, hilarity ensued.
dlkrueger33 about 4 years ago
We had “rubbers” as kids. Red ones that you would pull over your shoes. But I don’t even remember wearing them once we began to go to school. It was just something else to lose. We stood at the bus stop in rain slickers and/or with an umbrella and hoped for the best. Here in Florida, our rain comes down fast and furiously….but stops in 10 minutes. People rarely even use umbrellas. After all, the rain is warm and welcomed.
Troglodyte about 4 years ago
I wouldn’t want to be in CB’s shoes! :D
txmystic about 4 years ago
check out C.B. in the Mack. Stylin’.
julianhoward about 4 years ago
That visual of Charlie Brown in the 2nd panel may be my favorite of all time. What a classy looking guy!
sdjamieson Premium Member about 4 years ago
So Charlie Brown used to dress like Dick Tracy?
donwestonmysteries about 4 years ago
I remember as a young parent putting cardboard inside my tennis shoes when holes wore through. I cut them in the shape of the insole and inserted them. Who could afford new shoes with mouths to feed?
paullp Premium Member about 4 years ago
All the comments on the double entendre use of “rubbers” remind me of something that occurred several years ago. My son saw a reference on Facebook to a 1951 Batman comic, in which the Joker messes up one of his crimes, and the newspapers make fun of his boner. So he decides to get Batman to commit an even bigger boner. My son thought the whole thing was hilarious, for obvious reasons. Actually, I did too, but I put on my serious and wise dad hat and explained to him that "boner” is just a synonym for “mistake.”
https://www.dialbforblog.com/archives/136/
JD'Huntsville'AL about 4 years ago
From eigozai.com:
The expression “to pull a boner” comes from the old American minstrel shows. There was a man in these shows who was called Mr. Bones because he carried two small sticks of bone that he used as an instrument. He was asked questions by one of the other men in the show, just to get stupid but funny answers. This became known as “pulling boners.” But in time, the expression, “to pull a boner,” meant something more than getting an answer to make you laugh. It meant a bad blunder a mistake that was costly. And a man who pulled such boners was often described as a “bonehead.”
Example: https://youtu.be/LrEfB35a5vU?t=60
tinstar about 4 years ago
Huh… when I was Charlie’s age, I didn’t have such a fancy rain outfit… I had the bright yellow, long “slicker,” and the “hood-type” rain hat with the visor… I looked like a demented duck, walking upright!
g.iangoodson about 4 years ago
Nice one. Good catch.
g.iangoodson about 4 years ago
Wellies, as in “Wellington Boots”.