Alpo
Member
I have a question about "Nightlife of the Gods".
Anybody besides me read Thorne Smith?
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Haven't read him in quite a while, but somewhere on my bookshelf I have a copy of Night Life of the Gods.
OP
Alpo
Member
My copy was downloaded from the net. I think there might be a transcription error, as what it says makes no sense.
I was hoping someone had a paper copy, so I could ask them what it actually says.
In Chapter 10 - An Epidemic of Escapes, they are in the speakeasy. They get the bill, and it is too large for them to pay. Mr. Hawk and Cy turn to stone. The manager is called for by the waiter.
>“I hope everything has been satisfactory,” he said, with one of his Ittest smiles, virily showing his white teeth.
“No, it hasn’t,” snapped Daffy. “This place is altogether too rough for a woman of any refinement. I’ve been greatly perturbed by the conduct of some of these lousy bums.” She waved her hand at the room and attempted to look indignant.
The manager opened his eyes wide, then blinked rapidly. The lady’s miscellaneous selection of words made it difficult to place her exact position in the social scale. He tried again.
“Sorry,” he said, running a hand through his boyish bob, a gesture he had always found effective when dealing with women. “Are the gentlemen quite well? If you’ll excuse me for saying it, there seems to be something wrong with them.”
“Nonsense,” replied Daffy. “They’re as hard as a rock – as hard as a couple of rocks. We want some drinks here. What’s happened to the waiter?”
“Stop scratching your head in public,” put in Meg, “and get down to brass tacks.”
The manager nervously handled the check. Evidently these two women were not of the impressionable type. So many women nowadays considered themselves lucky to be singled out by managers of roadhouses, leaders of orchestras and other, for the most part, God-fearing and hard-working members of a restaurant’s staff. He gave up all attempts to It the ladies and came to the point. <
You notice the pieces I bolded. It makes no sense. He gave them his Ittest smile. He quit attempting to It the ladies.
So I hoped someone had a paper copy and could tell me what it actually said.
I was hoping someone had a paper copy, so I could ask them what it actually says.
In Chapter 10 - An Epidemic of Escapes, they are in the speakeasy. They get the bill, and it is too large for them to pay. Mr. Hawk and Cy turn to stone. The manager is called for by the waiter.
>“I hope everything has been satisfactory,” he said, with one of his Ittest smiles, virily showing his white teeth.
“No, it hasn’t,” snapped Daffy. “This place is altogether too rough for a woman of any refinement. I’ve been greatly perturbed by the conduct of some of these lousy bums.” She waved her hand at the room and attempted to look indignant.
The manager opened his eyes wide, then blinked rapidly. The lady’s miscellaneous selection of words made it difficult to place her exact position in the social scale. He tried again.
“Sorry,” he said, running a hand through his boyish bob, a gesture he had always found effective when dealing with women. “Are the gentlemen quite well? If you’ll excuse me for saying it, there seems to be something wrong with them.”
“Nonsense,” replied Daffy. “They’re as hard as a rock – as hard as a couple of rocks. We want some drinks here. What’s happened to the waiter?”
“Stop scratching your head in public,” put in Meg, “and get down to brass tacks.”
The manager nervously handled the check. Evidently these two women were not of the impressionable type. So many women nowadays considered themselves lucky to be singled out by managers of roadhouses, leaders of orchestras and other, for the most part, God-fearing and hard-working members of a restaurant’s staff. He gave up all attempts to It the ladies and came to the point. <
You notice the pieces I bolded. It makes no sense. He gave them his Ittest smile. He quit attempting to It the ladies.
So I hoped someone had a paper copy and could tell me what it actually said.
OP
Alpo
Member
I don't know why some of that is in a smaller font. I certainly didn't type it that way.
I think that is just wordplay. Smith is well aware of the "It" quality of seductive charm that Clara Bow manifested in the 1927 movie of the same name, and he is just appropriating the noun for use as an adjective a couple of times and a verb once.
OP
Alpo
Member
That is quite possible. Clara was "The IT Girl", and that is the right time-frame.
But you have (this was a British copy) English spellings, you have people making minor typos when transcribing, and last but certainly not least, you have the furshlugginer "auto-correct".
That's why I was looking for a paper copy to be checked against.
But you have (this was a British copy) English spellings, you have people making minor typos when transcribing, and last but certainly not least, you have the furshlugginer "auto-correct".
That's why I was looking for a paper copy to be checked against.
Texas Star
US Veteran
The Net is capricious. Get the book when you can, not a download.
You'll probably have to guess at the wording, unless Cyrano gets out his real book and checks for you.
You can carry real books around with you and read them easily. This week, my SIL and I were waiting in a hospital and he tried to read one of my fan fics on his 'phone thing.
He couldn't even access the normal format for the site, and we had to go to a second site that has the same fic. Even then, he had to keep fooling with his fingers, trying to get text large enough to read, yet not go off the page. He took about ten miniutes to manage a few paragraphs.
Fortunately, on the regular home computer, the stories look normal size and are easily read. But I really prefer books.
As for the ladies in the excerpt that you posted, mixing language styles /social class will blow one's cover pretty quickly. I had a scene in a London bar, where the Countess of Avebury was trying to get an old acquaintance from her criminal past to sell her a Mauser .32 and put her in touch with a friend in low places to sell him some Aztec artifacts.
The man was unaware that Marguerite Krux had come from a higher social background than he knew and had since married into the peerage, her husband being the Earl of Avebury. She avoided upscale speech, as did her friend, Finn, who in any event learned English from Americans.
Finn flirted a little with the barman and joked that her "mother" didn't like her to drink more than ginger ale in public, lest she do wild things. She got her chicken sandwich and ginger ale on the house, the owner being amused by her blonde good looks and droll humor. He had no idea from her performance that she was the wife of a famous and wealthy scientist, or that both women had hidden wedding rings worth a fortune in their purses...
It was a fun scene to write, but got me to wondering just how often hot chicks do get drinks, etc. on the house.
In the book you cited, what happened? What became of the bill, and are the protagonists female, or what? That seems to apply to two of them. I agree with David Wilson that if the book is of an age to have readers be aware of Clara Bow's "It" factor (sex appeal and trendy style?) that the word was slang for that time. But I'd spell it "It-est" to make that more clear. The author probably had no idea that you'd be reading his book so many years after he wrote it to reflect slang of the day. When was it first published?
You'll probably have to guess at the wording, unless Cyrano gets out his real book and checks for you.
You can carry real books around with you and read them easily. This week, my SIL and I were waiting in a hospital and he tried to read one of my fan fics on his 'phone thing.
He couldn't even access the normal format for the site, and we had to go to a second site that has the same fic. Even then, he had to keep fooling with his fingers, trying to get text large enough to read, yet not go off the page. He took about ten miniutes to manage a few paragraphs.
Fortunately, on the regular home computer, the stories look normal size and are easily read. But I really prefer books.
As for the ladies in the excerpt that you posted, mixing language styles /social class will blow one's cover pretty quickly. I had a scene in a London bar, where the Countess of Avebury was trying to get an old acquaintance from her criminal past to sell her a Mauser .32 and put her in touch with a friend in low places to sell him some Aztec artifacts.
The man was unaware that Marguerite Krux had come from a higher social background than he knew and had since married into the peerage, her husband being the Earl of Avebury. She avoided upscale speech, as did her friend, Finn, who in any event learned English from Americans.
Finn flirted a little with the barman and joked that her "mother" didn't like her to drink more than ginger ale in public, lest she do wild things. She got her chicken sandwich and ginger ale on the house, the owner being amused by her blonde good looks and droll humor. He had no idea from her performance that she was the wife of a famous and wealthy scientist, or that both women had hidden wedding rings worth a fortune in their purses...
It was a fun scene to write, but got me to wondering just how often hot chicks do get drinks, etc. on the house.
In the book you cited, what happened? What became of the bill, and are the protagonists female, or what? That seems to apply to two of them. I agree with David Wilson that if the book is of an age to have readers be aware of Clara Bow's "It" factor (sex appeal and trendy style?) that the word was slang for that time. But I'd spell it "It-est" to make that more clear. The author probably had no idea that you'd be reading his book so many years after he wrote it to reflect slang of the day. When was it first published?
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OP
Alpo
Member
I also prefer a book. In the late 60s a copy of The Thorn Smith Three-Decker appeared at my Mama's house. I suppose it was Grandpa's, since that's about the time he died. I think it was printed in the 40s. I read it several times, but when I grew up and moved out, it stayed there. No idea what happened to it.
I found a copy of The Thorn Smith Triplets, another 3-book omnibus, at the public library. And in the early 80s I found paperback copies of Topper and Topper Takes a Trip.
Nothing since then. They be out of print. Copyright expired.
If you can find one in a used book store, it's either going to be in sad shape, and cost a hundred bucks, or in good shape and cost 500. So I was quite happy to find them on line.
To answer your question, Meg (who is, apparently a Leprechaun, although much larger than one normally thinks they are) allowed her eye to be caught, by the fat gentleman that had been attempting to catch it for an hour or so. When she came back from dancing with him, Daffy commented that her left boob was bigger than the right one. Meg said it was because the new, tight fashions, did not give you any place to stash your loot. She then pulled out the fat guy's wallet (which allowed the left to again match the right in size), counted the money, found there was 150 bucks in it, and they paid the bill. Then stashing the rest of the money here and there about her person, she kinda casually tossed the wallet back out on the dance floor.
I found a copy of The Thorn Smith Triplets, another 3-book omnibus, at the public library. And in the early 80s I found paperback copies of Topper and Topper Takes a Trip.
Nothing since then. They be out of print. Copyright expired.
If you can find one in a used book store, it's either going to be in sad shape, and cost a hundred bucks, or in good shape and cost 500. So I was quite happy to find them on line.
To answer your question, Meg (who is, apparently a Leprechaun, although much larger than one normally thinks they are) allowed her eye to be caught, by the fat gentleman that had been attempting to catch it for an hour or so. When she came back from dancing with him, Daffy commented that her left boob was bigger than the right one. Meg said it was because the new, tight fashions, did not give you any place to stash your loot. She then pulled out the fat guy's wallet (which allowed the left to again match the right in size), counted the money, found there was 150 bucks in it, and they paid the bill. Then stashing the rest of the money here and there about her person, she kinda casually tossed the wallet back out on the dance floor.
I did a quick check of Abe Books (www.abebooks.com); they have 161 copies of 'Night Life of the Gods' ranging from about $1.50 for a paperback copy to $150 for a signed 1st edition. When I get a chance, I'll check on that quote for you.
Texas Star
US Veteran
WOW! That's a REALLY good summary!
And a more explicit book than I'd have expected for that time.It seems as if those young ladies had some moral lapses...
Tsk, tsk, a Leprechaun who's a pickpocket!
BTW, does Abe Books take postal money orders? I'm sort of looking for a couple of Peter Capstick paperbacks that I may or may not find at B&N. But Amazon wanted only plastic last time I checked, and I don't like doing that for small purchases, esp. by mail.
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OP
Alpo
Member
Meg's family steals for a living. Apparently Leprechauns are racially unable to work, and over the centuries their magic has gotten weaker. She's one of them people with no sense of right and wrong. If I see it and I want it, even if I don't really need it, I'll take it, 'cause I might need one later.
Later in the book they bring a bunch of statues of the Greek gods to life, and they wander around New York with Mercury and Apollo and Venus and Diana and a few others. Mercury, among his other talents, is a REAL good thief, and he and Meg are constantly trying to outdo each other.
It's a good book. I did not like the ending, though. Usually his books have a happy ending, and this one, to me, did not seem so.
Later in the book they bring a bunch of statues of the Greek gods to life, and they wander around New York with Mercury and Apollo and Venus and Diana and a few others. Mercury, among his other talents, is a REAL good thief, and he and Meg are constantly trying to outdo each other.
It's a good book. I did not like the ending, though. Usually his books have a happy ending, and this one, to me, did not seem so.
Texas Star
US Veteran
Hmmm... reminds me of a Star Trek sort of script, or some such. But I can see how it might prove amusing, I guess, although it almost has to end badly for someone.
Hey! You mentioned Topper. Was that the old formal guy who was once in a TV show by that name?
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RightArm
Member
Boycott Amazon. I had a fun part time job at Borders and Amazon helped us go under. I had to go and find a real job. I'm somewhat of a book collector/ afficinado and I do just fine without Amazon. This is not a political statement, just stating a grudge.
My copy is from the Sun Dial Press, copyrighted in 1931. It reads exactly as the OP.
I think DC Wilson has it right: Smith is using 'IT' as in the 1920-30s connotation, as exemplified by Clara Bow. Sometimes it's hard to understand earlier writings, as we don't understand the culture; an example is Kipling's book about a boy's prep school: 'Stalky and Company'. It takes considerable knowledge of the period and that social class to underatand the implications of what's going on.
I read considerable of Thorne Smith in the 1950s; it was racy stuff then. I think The Night Life of the Gods is his best work, as it isn't straight comedy but has elements of tragedy also, considering the ending. They made a movie of Topper, but never of Nigh Life of the Gods. Considering the more relaxed standards of today, it would be a natural for romantic comedy, possibly rivaling 'Pretty Womam'.
I think DC Wilson has it right: Smith is using 'IT' as in the 1920-30s connotation, as exemplified by Clara Bow. Sometimes it's hard to understand earlier writings, as we don't understand the culture; an example is Kipling's book about a boy's prep school: 'Stalky and Company'. It takes considerable knowledge of the period and that social class to underatand the implications of what's going on.
I read considerable of Thorne Smith in the 1950s; it was racy stuff then. I think The Night Life of the Gods is his best work, as it isn't straight comedy but has elements of tragedy also, considering the ending. They made a movie of Topper, but never of Nigh Life of the Gods. Considering the more relaxed standards of today, it would be a natural for romantic comedy, possibly rivaling 'Pretty Womam'.
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Wow - it has the same words all over the net!
Here is the actual book: The Night Life of the Gods - Thorne Smith.pdf (BOOK)
Here are other links with the book displayed in text:
Here is the actual book: The Night Life of the Gods - Thorne Smith.pdf (BOOK)
Here are other links with the book displayed in text:
OP
Alpo
Member
Texas, Topper was a banker. George and Miriam were a couple of rich lushes (remember, this is Prohibition) and good old Cosmo Topper handled their money. They ended up dead in a car wreck, while driving drunk (I think just about the only time any of Smith's people had a drunk-driving wreck), and their ghosts hung around to haunt Cosmo, and get him to loosen up some. Have some fun, have a drink, pinch a pretty girl. That kind of thing.
They made three movies about him. First one, Cary Grant played George. Second one, George was gone but Miriam was still there, working on Cosmo. Third one, Miriam still around, but a different actress playing Miriam this time. Same Cosmo Topper in al three. Same Mrs. Topper (Billie Burke, the Good Witch of the North in Wizard of Oz).
I vaguely remember there being a TV show about Topper, but either we did not get that channel or it was not very good, 'cause I don't recall anything about the show.
VPNavy, thank you.
I've recently discovered P.G. Wodehouse, who was about 20 years earlier than Smith. Lots of his books take place in English boarding schools, and I find many terms that are confusing. Google has been quite helpful, along with another board I'm on that has three or four Englishmen.
Google couldn't help with "It" though.
They made three movies about him. First one, Cary Grant played George. Second one, George was gone but Miriam was still there, working on Cosmo. Third one, Miriam still around, but a different actress playing Miriam this time. Same Cosmo Topper in al three. Same Mrs. Topper (Billie Burke, the Good Witch of the North in Wizard of Oz).
I vaguely remember there being a TV show about Topper, but either we did not get that channel or it was not very good, 'cause I don't recall anything about the show.
VPNavy, thank you.
I've recently discovered P.G. Wodehouse, who was about 20 years earlier than Smith. Lots of his books take place in English boarding schools, and I find many terms that are confusing. Google has been quite helpful, along with another board I'm on that has three or four Englishmen.
Google couldn't help with "It" though.
Texas Star
US Veteran
Alpo-
Thanks. Those were also the Topper characters of the B&W TV show. But I don't recall the actors. I was too young, I guess.
Thanks. Those were also the Topper characters of the B&W TV show. But I don't recall the actors. I was too young, I guess.
Another Thorne Smith fan
Fun to find this thread about Thorne Smith, one of my all-time favorite writers.
I think Mr. Wilson was on the mark with the "It" factor regarding Night Life of the Gods.
For the record, they did make a movie out of it in 1935 but it's not available in any home video format. But you can catch a short snippet of it here (if this forum allows links):
Night Life of the Gods movie
As for the Topper TV series in the 1950's, the stars of that were Leo G. Carroll as Topper and Robert Sterling & Anne Jeffreys as George & Marion Kerby (the ghosts).
Hope that helps!
Michael
Fun to find this thread about Thorne Smith, one of my all-time favorite writers.
I think Mr. Wilson was on the mark with the "It" factor regarding Night Life of the Gods.
For the record, they did make a movie out of it in 1935 but it's not available in any home video format. But you can catch a short snippet of it here (if this forum allows links):
Night Life of the Gods movie
As for the Topper TV series in the 1950's, the stars of that were Leo G. Carroll as Topper and Robert Sterling & Anne Jeffreys as George & Marion Kerby (the ghosts).
Hope that helps!
Michael
