Where does this expression come from? How is it that this phrase is so well known? If it was in a song, was the song in a play or movie, hence boosting its popularity? - Jinx
Pls see google
Thank you
Oh, c’mon. I don’t need to sort through screenfull after screenfull of every possible link which mentions “Buffalo”. I hate search engines. That’s why I am glad there’s the SDope which is an interactive way to share knowledge with other humans - not mindless databases! Otherwise, why do would we even need the Sdope Boards???
Happyheathen, if you have the answer, or a link…please don’t hold out on me! - Jinx
Well since no one wants to answer this question I’ll take the liberty of doing so. Shuffle off to Buffalo was an old western movie where the mother and family are “shuffled” to Buffalo, New York, thus the phrase came about. But why is it widely used? Good question. One: It’s a good movie, quite the eye-moister. Second: It’s pretty much true, when the Great Depression hit the U.S during the 1900’s it was a tough time for all (including the early-rising marketers) That’s also around the time when the stock market went the farthest down in that time period (and I believe this era as well)
Shuffle Off To Buffalo was a musical number from the movie 42nd Street. Third hit on the Google page for “shuffle off to buffalo”, Mr Lazy 
That’s unfortunate, considering that in the sticky thread at the top of this board, Arnold suggests “Judicious use of the following reference sites may answer a number of questions raised before posting to GQ:”.
Not at least attempting some kind of a search before you post tends to make people feel like they’re being used as a question service. What can help is searching, then listing reasons why you posted the question anyway (not trusting in the veracity of the discovered sources, finding contradictions, etc.).
Yes, the SDMB is a wonderful place, but posting questions without referring to a dictionary, encyclopedia, or even Google becomes reminiscent of the kid in your class who’d ask the teacher for everything, rather than go look it up at least once in a while. 
“Shuffle Off to Buffalo” was written by Harry Warren (music) and Al Dubin (lyrics) and was fairly salacious for its time. It was also a monster hit for the two of them and entered the language.
Dubin create the phrase. The song talks about getting married and taking the train to Niagara Falls (near Buffalo).
Harry Warren, of course, is the most criminally overlooked songwriter in American history. Everyone on this board knows the tune to at least one of his songs (mostly because of Bugs Bunny – Warren worked for Warner Brothers, and their cartoon unit could and did use his music for free). See http://www.harrywarren.org for a list.
Maybe it should be a Great Debate: Cecil vs. Google? But, deep down, I think there’s a reason why Cecil likes all the hits and publicity “his” website gets! Or, we could follow your lead… maybe we should all just simply desert Uncle Cecil for Uncle Google? :eek: Boy, some of you SDopers are brutal! - Jinx
Say, was I the first to post a question that couldn’t be answered via Google, Lycos, or Jeeves? Maybe I’m just such the rebel - out to upset the decorum of the Forum… 
- Jinx
No, it was answered quite easily on Google.
UncleBill, I think you misinterpreted my last post. It didn’t mean it literally COULDN’T be answered by a search engine. Perhaps, for clarity, it should have read: Was I the first to post a question that could not have been simply answered… Sorry for upsetting the apple cart here, but seriously…look at the diversity in responses within this thread. For those who have sworn their loyalty to Google over Cecil, I point out that Google would have given me only one answer (which seems to be have been presumed to be THE ONLY answer) whereas the beauty of Cecil’s Forums is gaining insight from the collective knowledge of the SDopers at large.
I ask you to think about this: Remember the question about “the whole nine yards”, as one example? Should I trust Google as THE authority? Or, should I be more open minded to listen to many feasible answers posted here? 
- Jinx
It’s kinda like a kid with a question, in a household where Mom and Pop have just shelved out for an encyclopaedia. And the kid still doesn’t crack the books.
Jinx, those “mindless databases” held the answer to your question. They’re more than just Google, although I use Google as the first stop in most of my hunts for info. As has been said, there’s a whole reference library online in the sticky right above this thread. Trying to come across with the argument that sounds very much like, “Huh! Well, using Google is very un-Teeming Millions!” won’t wash around here.
jinx You perhaps have a mistaken idea of where our knowlege originates(or Cecil’s for that matter)!
We don’t just know this stuff. We search Google, we read books, we do the “grunt” work. And, as every parent must have said in their lives, “look it up yourself.”
Not trying to be mean. Just trying to teach you to learn to fish, instead of putting the meal on the table for you.
There’s also an elaborate tap-dance step called the Shuffle Off to Buffalo, named after the song.
And the ending of the Shuffle routine was Jackie Gleason’s parody of it in–and awaaay we go.
Mentioned earlier in the thread the Bugs cartoon had him doing it in the standard Vaudeville garb of blazer and straw hat.He also did the Daughter of Rosie O grady in one.Another popular Vaudeville dance routine.