Never in six plus decades heard it uttered aloud in real life, except as a mock pretension of shock. Most recently used with any frequency in the “Back to the Future” movies. Traces back to at least the middle of the 19th century. Likeliest origin is the use of the expression by soldiers under the leadership so General Winfield Scott. Comics fans remember it as a common exclamation of Superman, along with Perry White’s “Great Caesars Ghost!”
Never in six plus decades heard it uttered aloud in real life, except as a mock pretension of shock. Most recently used with any frequency in the “Back to the Future” movies. Traces back to at least the middle of the 19th century. Likeliest origin is the use of the expression by soldiers under the leadership so General Winfield Scott. Comics fans remember it as a common exclamation of Superman, along with Perry White’s “Great Caesars Ghost!”