The other day someone in Buzzy’s Country Store was telling a funny story about some trouble that befell him and his buddies when they were out and about partying. His punchline to the story was “So we got the hell outta Dodge; or maybe I should say, it was more like we got the hell outta Ridge.”
Later, as I reflected on my story teller saying “got the hell outta Dodge” I checked the ole Google machine to learn about the origins of that expression. Today being a Buzzyblog “Twofer Tuesday” then, here are two explanations that popped up:
This first explanation (click here) leans heavily on a book about Dodge City and how lawless it was in the 1870’s. Excerpt follows:
A second account that I landed on gave credit to the radio and T-V show Gunsmoke for Sheriff Matt Dillion originating the saying. Dillion was known for telling would-be bad-asses to “Get the hell outta Dodge.” For an explanation, go to the 3:15 mark in this video. (Note too that the rest of video is worth checking out if you either are or were a Gunsmoke fan.)
I also came upon this Gunsmoke video that caught my eye because of the country store sign appearing in the background .
As for the storeowner Wilbur Jonas, he was played by actor Dabbs Greer. I found this scene in the store where he, Matt and Miss Kitty have a run in with Crego who is played by Charles Bronson. Note how Matt (2:44) tells Crego to “get outta here” meaning the country store and not Dodge.
Music tune for you has a DC/Dodge City theme. Recorded by D.C.’s Chuck Brown back when Washington D.C. had the dubious honor of being known as the murder capital. In a more recent murder ranking, D.C. has dropped to number 17 with Birmingham, Alabama now Number 1. Our hometown Baltimore, who also at one time was known as the murder capital, comes in at Number 4 (click here.)
P.S. As I re-read this, I am thinking that perhaps I should have titled it “Too Many Twofers.” There was a Dodge/Ridge connection, two origins of the “get outta Dodge” phrase, Wyatt Earp/Bat Masterson, D.C./Dodge City, Kitty and Crego, Chuck Brown/Charles Bronson and Dodge/Jonas Country store. Whole lotta two’s in there!