# Who said "You don't say"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 5, 2011, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-said-you-dont-say/598726 "2011-10-05T21:28:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2014, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-said-you-dont-say/598726/41 "2014-05-30T19:30:48Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > [Spike Jones’ rendition of “Chloe”.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KME5UuR9DZw) “Where are ya, ya old bat?!” ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-said-you-dont-say/598726/42 "2014-05-31T02:51:12Z")
Since it hasn’t been mentioned, when I saw the title, I immediately recalled a Cocoa Puffs commercial from the 80s where the Cuckoo takes a phone call and says “You don’t say! You don’t _say_! You don’t **say**.” When he hangs up, the kids ask him who it was and he says, “He didn’t say.” ---
**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:** [May 31, 2014, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-said-you-dont-say/598726/43 "2014-05-31T03:41:00Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > “You don’t say. …You don’t say! You don’t say? _You don’t say._” _hang up_ “Who was that?” “He didn’t say.” “You don’t say. …You don’t say! You don’t say? _You don’t say._” _hang up_ “Who was that?” “Same guy.” ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-said-you-dont-say/598726/44 "2014-05-31T03:46:17Z")
Sid Caesar? ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-said-you-dont-say/598726/45 "2014-05-31T03:50:51Z")
On a related note, “You don’t say” is also [a meme using an image of Nicholas Cage.](http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/you-dont-say) ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-said-you-dont-say/598726/46 "2014-05-31T09:46:03Z")
“Harpo Marx/Marcel Marceau/Teller/Silent Bob called.” “What did he want?” “He didn’t say.” ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-said-you-dont-say/598726/47 "2014-05-31T12:45:11Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > On a related note, “You don’t say” is also [a meme using an image of Nicholas Cage.](http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/you-dont-say) And ‘_Is that so ?_’ is the **[catchphrase](https://www.google.com/search?q=is+that+so+rumia&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.gnu.gnuzilla:en-US:unofficial&client=firefoxhttps://www.google.com/search?q=is+that+so+rumia&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.gnu.gnuzilla:en-US:unofficial&client=firefox)** of Rumia, the **[dear](http://en.touhouwiki.net/wiki/Rumia)** little gymslipped occasional cannibal from The Touhou Project. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-said-you-dont-say/598726/48 "2014-05-31T13:47:05Z")
> [@](#): > > **Who said “You don’t say”?** He didn’t say. ---
**Author:** ![Stealth\_Bragg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4bbf92/32.png) [@Stealth\_Bragg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stealth_Bragg)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-said-you-dont-say/598726/49 "2014-06-03T14:39:17Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > I’m not sure you’re going to get a definitive answer, because it’s a pretty old joke. > > “You don’t say. …You don’t say! You don’t say? _You don’t say._” _hang up_ “Who was that?” “He didn’t say.” > > The best answer I can find with a cursory search is Benny Hill. I’m sure it’s been done before him, though. I’ve seen it in a Laurel and Hardy 2-reeler also… ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-said-you-dont-say/598726/50 "2014-06-03T15:14:20Z")
Gotta be just one of those standard joke routines the early vaudevilleans all stole from each other. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-said-you-dont-say/598726/51 "2014-06-03T17:00:46Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Gotta be just one of those standard joke routines the early vaudevilleans all stole from each other. If so, I’m guessing the job probably originated shortly after the invention of the telephone in 1876. ---
**Author:** ![TheSeaOtter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ed655f/32.png) [@TheSeaOtter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheSeaOtter)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-said-you-dont-say/598726/52 "2014-06-03T17:06:46Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > It doesn’t sound so much like Groucho as Chico. In fact I can see the scene, with Chico on an old candlestick phone. > > You don’t say. > You don’t say!! > You don’t say!!! > > (Groucho) Who was that? > > He didn’t say. > > I hasten to point out that just because I can imagine the scene doesn’t mean it ever actually took place.😉 I’m absolutely certain I heard this joke in a Marx Brothers movie. I can’t remember which one, though. ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-said-you-dont-say/598726/53 "2014-06-03T17:27:38Z")
Frank Nelson for the win! ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-said-you-dont-say/598726/54 "2014-06-03T17:28:51Z")
Phone rings. Groucho answers. Groucho: you don’t say… you \*don’t \*say… you don’t _say_ Chico: Who was that? Groucho : That was Harpo. He didn’t say _anything_. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-said-you-dont-say/598726/55 "2014-06-03T17:36:35Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Gotta be just one of those standard joke routines the early vaudevilleans all stole from each other. I seem to remember Lou Costello doing this bit in something. ---
**Author:** ![TWGC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a6a055/32.png) [@TWGC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWGC)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2016, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-said-you-dont-say/598726/56 "2016-04-27T04:31:50Z")
The Phrase “You don’t saaay” or " Yeeeeesss" and “reeeeaaallly” was coined by TV and character Radio actor Frank Nelson. He played in a lot of old television shows like “I love Lucy”, “Jack Benny Show” and " Sanford and Son". He organized a radio union in the 1950’s. There is a site devoted to him and regularly visited by his daughter Bonnie. If never heard of him I’d recommend finding old clips of on “I Love Lucy”. Once you hear him you can’t help from repeating…lol [http://www.franknelson.net/](http://www.franknelson.net/) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2016, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-said-you-dont-say/598726/57 "2016-04-28T00:34:45Z")
Betcha $5 Satch said it in at least one _ **Bowery Boys** _ movie. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-said-you-dont-say/598726.md?page=2)