In a episode from MASH, Potter says "What starches my socks is that only Uncle Sam's got the Spirit of 86.".
Anyone knows what he means by that? What is the Spirit of 86 considering the episodes where made in the 70's?
2006-07-22 16:46:25 · 4 answers · asked by Mary7 3 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Television
86 proof. Booze typically comes in 86 and 100 proof. Hard liquor is often refered to as "spirits". I'm sure you seen a "WINE and SPIRITS" shop. You might have heard the expression for tossing someone out of a bar "I got 86'd from Murphy's last night" or "86 that guy..he's tanked".
In the old days when someone was drinking whiskey and they started to get housed..the owner might say to the barkeep.."86 Fred..he's getting soused". In those days it meant to stop serving 100 proof and shift to 86 proof. Ahhhh..the good old days.
Potter was making a reference to the only indiginous booze available in Korea was lousy beer and sake'.
The dude above is refering to the 'Spirit of 76"..NOT 86. It's a famous painting http://teachpol.tcnj.edu/amer_pol_hist/thumbnail42.html
The Haymarket Tragedy in 1886 Chicago has never had a "Spirit of '86" tag attached to it.
http://www.chipublib.org/004chicago/disasters/haymarket.html
I give credit to the guy above though. He almost had me buying his line. MASH was, by design, VERY apolitical. All Trapper John, Hawkeye, Potter, Blake, et al talked about was booze and babes. They left political talk and innuendo to others.
2006-07-22 16:59:57 · answer #1 · answered by mark c 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Potter is referring to the Haymarket tragedy, one of the more tragic examples of unionization in the US. The "Spirit of 86" was a way to remember those who gave their life for a belief. Potter refers to the fact that Uncle Sam stepped into the Korean war on teh beliefs of 'Freedom' and to stop oppression.
Read about the Haymarket Tragedy here:
http://www.chipublib.org/004chicago/disasters/haymarket.html
2006-07-22 16:56:48 · answer #2 · answered by Marvinator 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"WHAT PISSES ME OFF...." DON'T KNOW ABOUT 86... AND THE WAR WAS IN THE 1950'S. COULD BE SPIRIT OF 1786.
2006-07-22 16:52:31 · answer #3 · answered by X 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
maybe 1886... isnt that when the statue of liberty was put in new york?
2006-07-22 16:52:09 · answer #4 · answered by Dont get Infected 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋