dual personalities

The origin of today’s blogpost title is usually credited to the American author and newspaper editor Horace Greeley (1811-1872) whose birthday we celebrate today. The quote, of course, concerns America’s expansion westward. It was a rallying cry for those 19th century pioneers who hoped to find a better life through hard work in the West.

“Washington [D.C.] is not a place to live in. The rents are high, the food is bad, the dust is disgusting and the morals are deplorable. Go West, young man, go West and grow up with the country.” (New York Daily Tribune, July 13, 1865)

(Photo taken by Matthew Brady of Greeley between 1844 and 1860)

Much was made of this quote in American history…and in quite a few movies. Mae West made a movie, Go West Young Man (1936) with Gary Cooper, and here’s Groucho Marx in a scene from Copacabana (1947):

Mr Horace Greeley was no fool
I’m sure that you agree with me that Greeley was no fool
What he is getting at is that Mr Greeley was no fool
Boy The wisdom of the man can be denied by none
For he’s the one that said

Before you go to Buffalo to Baltimore or Borneo
To Eastern Pennsylvania or Japan
Go West! Young Man!

–Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby

Have a good weekend and go West!–at least with your movie-watching choices!