# Allan Sherman Reference **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 27, 2011, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allan-sherman-reference/607500 "2011-12-27T08:20:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WaltP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecccb3/32.png) [@WaltP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WaltP)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allan-sherman-reference/607500/1 "2011-12-27T08:20:15Z")
I’ve been wondering this for a while now. Maybe the TMs can shed some light on this. In Allan Sherman’s medley Schticks and Stones (My Son the Folk Singer album) he sings to the tune of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen: God bless you, Jerry Mandelbaum Let nothing you dismay This May you had a rotten month So what is there to say Let’s hope next May is better And good things will come your way And you won’t have a feeling of dismay Next May Who was this Jerry/Gerald/Jerome Mandlebaum/Mendlebaum character? I can’t find any reference anywhere about him. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allan-sherman-reference/607500/2 "2011-12-27T12:44:03Z")
I don’t think it’s anyone – Sherman often used made-up names that sounded Jewish and fit the meter (“Jerry Mandelbaum” scans as “Merry Gentlemen”). He sometimes did use real names of people with a satiric point, but there are plenty of examples of him simply using made-up names just so the lines would scan. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allan-sherman-reference/607500/3 "2011-12-27T14:10:51Z")
Yep, it’s just a play on words: “Merry Gentlemen/Jerry Mendelbaum.” I always wondered why he didn’t use “Jerry Mendleman,” would have sounded closer. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allan-sherman-reference/607500/4 "2011-12-27T14:38:20Z")
He was a cousin of Sarah Jackman. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allan-sherman-reference/607500/5 "2011-12-27T15:46:05Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > He was a cousin of Sarah Jackman. He’s nice, too. He’s nice, too. ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allan-sherman-reference/607500/6 "2011-12-27T16:31:34Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > He’s nice, too. He’s nice, too. 😃 Forget Jerry, who are Harvey and Sheila? ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allan-sherman-reference/607500/7 "2011-12-27T17:41:41Z")
> [@ducati](#): > > Forget Jerry, who are Harvey and Sheila? Sheila’s a girl I know at BBD&O–she works the PBX, and makes out the checks. ---
**Author:** ![Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shinna_Minna_Ma)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allan-sherman-reference/607500/8 "2011-12-27T17:44:36Z")
> [@ducati](#): > > 😃 > Forget Jerry, who are Harvey and Sheila? I heard after they got married they joined the GOP. ---
**Author:** ![SanibelMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@SanibelMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanibelMan)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allan-sherman-reference/607500/9 "2011-12-27T17:49:46Z")
But on Election Day, they worked for JFK. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allan-sherman-reference/607500/10 "2011-12-27T17:56:28Z")
> [@Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](#): > > I heard after they got married they joined the GOP. I went to camp with one of their sons. Had a crush on his older twin sisters, but never made anything of it—I got ptomaine poisoning and had to leave early. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allan-sherman-reference/607500/11 "2011-12-27T18:00:11Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > He was a cousin of Sarah Jackman. Wasn’t he was Zelda’s brother? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allan-sherman-reference/607500/12 "2011-12-27T18:35:13Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > I went to camp with one of their sons. Had a crush on his older twin sisters, but never made anything of it—I got ptomaine poisoning and had to leave early. I remember you! You’re the guy who bent the plug on the headphone cord for my radio. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allan-sherman-reference/607500/13 "2011-12-27T19:01:40Z")
Don’t forget the righteous Sir Greenbaum. Many dragons had felt the might of the smite of the righteous Sir Greenbaum! ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allan-sherman-reference/607500/14 "2011-12-27T20:25:03Z")
there’s also the ballad of Harry Lewis, who worked in the clothing business with Irving Roth. (if you don’t get the joke, sing along please: "Glory, Glory, Harry Lewis…Glory, glory Harry Lewis… For he hath trampled thru the warehouse where the drapes of Roth are stored… " ) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allan-sherman-reference/607500/15 "2011-12-27T20:47:15Z")
Let’s move this over to Cafe Society. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allan-sherman-reference/607500/16 "2011-12-28T00:10:24Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Don’t forget the righteous Sir Greenbaum. > > Many dragons had felt the might of the smite of the righteous Sir Greenbaum! Poor fellow - he had to give up smoting for good. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allan-sherman-reference/607500/17 "2011-12-28T00:19:58Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I remember you! You’re the guy who bent the plug on the headphone cord for my radio. Yeah. And it had to be the one they discontinued. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allan-sherman-reference/607500/18 "2011-12-28T00:37:20Z")
I didn’t mind the cherry that had no stone I didn’t mind the chicken that had no bone But when you give a baby there’s just one thing You oughtta give at least an engagement ring. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allan-sherman-reference/607500/19 "2011-12-28T00:43:22Z")
I have a friend, his name is Lang, and he has a neon sign. Mr. Lang is mighty old so they call it “Old Lang’s Sign”. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allan-sherman-reference/607500/20 "2011-12-28T01:13:47Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > I went to camp with one of their sons. Had a crush on his older twin sisters, but never made anything of it—I got ptomaine poisoning and had to leave early. That’s because you didn’t heed the warning to not buy the liverwurst - which had been there since October first, and today is the 23rd of May. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allan-sherman-reference/607500.md?page=2)