Gestures

[CharlieH.]

Today I recieved a very pleasing phone call, and amidst my joy, I impulsively made a very common gesture that made me feel a bit foolish - that very 90's thing where you pull back your elbow with your fist clenched whilst yelling "Allright!!".

This made left me pondering about what sort of gestures were commonplace during the golden era. What was done before the "High Five" existed? Which gestures from the time are still used? How did the younger folk shake hands? What sort of body language did people use when in a situation like the one above?

As far as I know, the so-called "air quotes" date back to the twenties, but as for the rest of (non-offensive) vintage body language, I'm in complete darkness. Could someone shed some light 'ere?

 

[Sefton]

How about the "soulfull" handshake? Fingers closed together person "A" with palm down and person "B" palm up. Slide both palms one over the other. Should only be attempted if you have first mastered advanced Jazz lingo 101,you dig?

 

[J.B.]

Billy! Did the man in that there car just flip yew off?

The subtle one-finger driver hi sign -- although claimed to be a Texas "thang" -- was ubiquitous on all of the lonely one-lane-in-each-direction hiways while motoring rural Arkansas, Missouri, and Kansas in the late 40's and early 50's...

I believe truckers still do this?!

 

[LizzieMaine]

Thumb and index finger curled into a circle, other fingers extended -- "Everything's A-OK!"

Index finger pointed at side of head, revolved quickly -- "That guy's screwy."

Thumb raised to nose, fingers extended -- "Ya bum ya!" Wiggling the fingers while thumbing the nose amplifies the effect of the gesture.

 

[John in Covina]

Gimme the high sign!

Back in ol' NY, the Italian contingent used many hand signs that ran the gamet of pleasurable to profane.

 

[scotrace]

The subtle one-finger driver hi sign -- although claimed to be a Texas "thang" -- was ubiquitous on all of the lonely one-lane-in-each-direction hiways while motoring rural Arkansas, Missouri, and Kansas in the late 40's and early 50's...

I believe truckers still do this?!

Pass any Nebraskan on a two-lane road and you'll get a one finger howdy.

 

[CharlieH.]

Thumb raised to nose, fingers extended -- "Ya bum ya!" Wiggling the fingers while thumbing the nose amplifies the effect of the gesture.

That reminds me.. isn't there a similar one where you pull your thumb from you upper teeth?

 

[Haversack]

CharlieH asked:
"That reminds me.. isn't there a similar one where you pull your thumb from you upper teeth?"

That one goes back quite a ways. There is the scene in Shakespeare's _Romeo and Juliet_ where Sampsom, Gregory, and Abram are discussing the disgrace of having the biting of a thumb directed towards one. " Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?"

Another gesture used and understood in the GA was "Thumbs Up". Of course the meaning of gestures can vary drastically. Both the "thumbs up" and "OK" gestures have meanings in other parts of the world to which we may only allude here on the Lounge.

Haversack.

 

[Twitch]

Yes the ubuiquitous OK sign is one I'm sure transcends the years and the forefinger drawn across the throat mimicking a cut is another.