# notary sojac **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [April 3, 2001, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/notary-sojac/60654 "2001-04-03T16:54:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2001, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/notary-sojac/60654/1 "2001-04-03T16:54:51Z")
That phrase instantly rang a bell! As a kid visiting my grandparents I’d listen to their collection of old Spike Jones 78’s. The piece entitled “William Tell Overture” recounted a wacky horse race. At one point the announcer (the great Doodles Weaver) says: _Notary Sojac is fourth And in last place, I believe it is Yes it is…BEETLE BOMB!_ ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2001, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/notary-sojac/60654/2 "2001-04-03T23:32:13Z")
The link to the Staff Report in question is: [What is the origin of "notary sojac:](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/msojac.html) I thought the Spike Jones ref was to “Beitlebaum” but who knows. In any case, you needn’t pine for the old 78s, there are several CDs of “The Best of Spike Jones” and the like. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2001, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/notary-sojac/60654/3 "2001-04-05T12:47:52Z")
IIRC, the correct name 's “Feetlebaum.” I base this in part on the recollection that one of Doodles Weaver’s stock radio characters was a Dr. Feetlebaum, sort of a cross between the typical “Mad German Scientist” and Professor Irwin Corey. And he apparently liked to slip the name into other routines as well. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2001, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/notary-sojac/60654/4 "2001-04-05T13:13:29Z")
I’ll take your word for it, Otto, but sure sounds like a leading “B” to me. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2001, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/notary-sojac/60654/5 "2001-04-05T23:42:07Z")
**Dex** - growing up in the 50’s, I heard my share of Spike Jones stuff, and I always thought it was _Beetlebaum_ also. But **otto** is right after looking at many web site–The character was Dr. Feetlebaum. How we heard it as ‘beetlebaum’ is part of the mystery of misunderstood lyrics, perhaps. Unless later announcers who used it said ‘beetlebaum’. After all, they could have misunderstood also. ---
**Author:** ![slipster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@slipster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slipster)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2001, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/notary-sojac/60654/6 "2001-04-06T00:26:08Z")
“Foo” is probably not an entirely nonsensical term. It is apparently a play on “feu”, the French word for “fire”. Smokey and his crew were firmen, hence “foo fighters”, and Holman’s frequent use of the phrase “where there’s foo there’s fire”. I thought it was “Beetlebaum” too; eerily enough, I was discussing it in an e-mail to a friend on Monday. I run into George Rock’s daughter, Georgi, from time to time; for whatever it’s worth, I will ask her how she remembers the song. (George Rock was the singer with the Spike Jones band who recorded “All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth”). ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2001, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/notary-sojac/60654/7 "2001-04-06T14:18:03Z")
German “pfui” and its English descendant, “phooey”, probably had a part to play, as well.