23 Skidoo

In this special episode of Secretly Incredibly Fascinating, host Alex Schmidt welcomes guests Ben Harrison and Adam Pranica to explore the surprisingly rich history behind the old-timey slang phrase '23 Skidoo.' The episode dives into the phrase's origins, examining two major theories: one linking it to the wind patterns around New York City's Flatiron Building and the spectacle of women's dresses blowing up in the early 1900s, and another connecting it to Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities, where the 23rd victim of the guillotine is counted aloud, imbuing the number with a sense of urgency and escape. The hosts also trace the phrase's cultural revival through pop culture, from Kung Fu Panda's 'Skadoosh' to The Simpsons and John Prine's song, while drawing parallels to modern internet brain rot like the '6-7' meme. The episode concludes with a fascinating look at real-world places named Skidoo—both a ghost town in California and a village in Ireland—showcasing how slang can outlive its moment and become part of geography and memory. The episode is framed by a heartfelt message from Alex about the importance of listener-supported media and the upcoming MaxFunDrive, emphasizing the show's worker-owned, community-driven model. Key takeaways include: 1) '23 Skidoo' originated as a slang phrase meaning 'get out quickly,' with roots in both urban spectacle and literary drama; 2) The phrase gained national popularity in the early 1900s due to mass media and the blending of the number 23 with the word 'skidoo'; 3) Modern internet culture continues the tradition of ephemeral, meaning-less phrases like '6-7,' proving that 'brain rot' is not new but a recurring feature of youth language; 4) Real places named Skidoo in California and Ireland preserve the slang’s legacy; and 5) The episode underscores the power of listener-funded media to sustain creative, community-driven content. The tone is playful, curious, and deeply appreciative of linguistic quirks and cultural continuity.