In the song “It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie” (Somethin’ Smith version), Gravel Gertie from the Dick Tracy comic strip is used as a reference for sorta-ugliness. I’m learning the song, but fear a lot of folks nowadays don’t know who she is or what she looks like. I’m seeking ideas for a more current widely known reference. So far I’ve only thought of Broomhilda, who doesn’t quite seem to fill the bill.
Note that Gravel Gertie was not stop-a-clock ugly, but she did have a rode-hard-and-put-away-wet look that would not be mistaken for attractive. At the time the song came out, Dick Tracy (and its characters) were household-name familiar to most Americans. I’m hoping to find a symbol of equivalent unattractiveness with equivalent name recognition. Any ideas?
I favor Phyllis Diller so far – fairly universally known, about the right amount of sorta-ugly, scans nicely in the song, and since she’s a “character” no one’s feelings should be hurt.
I never realized all this time that when my dad was gently making fun of me for “looking like Gravel Gertie” that it was, like, a 30’s comic strip thing. What a hoot! (Let’s not discuss “you need you some new drawers?” or “Sara’s got her brogans on!”)
