MovieChat Forums > The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966) Discussion > Rotary joke in GMC

Rotary joke in GMC

posted 16 years ago by francis.r-2
22 replies | jump to latest

In the outdoor speech scene, a cop goes from person to person verifying they are a member of the COC (chamber of commerce I presume) when he comes up to a kind of bum sitting at the picnic table eating. The cop says, 'You're not a COC.' The bum says, 'No, but I'm Rotary, same thing.' The cop throws him out. I think I've got all that right.
I'm a Rotary member, but I certainly don't understand the joke. It may be that the Rotary was considered a lower-end version of the Chamber of Commerce at the time.
Can anyone explain?

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] racer25j 16 years ago

The clubs are similar but my guess is that the bum was a member of neither.

Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son.

[–] layton59 15 years ago

I think the joke would work if it were said either way. The bum was not in any club.

They could have just as easily written/said "... no but I'm a Mason, Elk, etc."

Today if they wrote that line they would probably have said "... no but I'm on facebook."

We have a big wooden billboard bench here on the fountain circle in Greenville, Ohio and it says ROTARY. I always joking say to my wife that line of "... no but I'm Rotary" whenever we drive past it.

You should be happy that Rotary got a mention in such a great film.

*************************************************
Ye Olde Sig Line:

[spoiler]Liberals kill with ABORTION.
Conservatives kill with the DEATH PENALTY.
I kill with THOSE and WORDS.{/spoiler]

[–] aerostonefloyd-1 15 years ago

I feel sorry for the poor bum, just trying to get a bite to eat but is thrown out even though he isn't hurting anybody. A nice example of a good Christian attitude at work. It almost seemed like a parody- everybody laughing it up as he is manhandled out of the picnic.

[–] wnewman106 15 years ago

Back in the 60s, at least in my hometown, the Rotary was manned by some of the more influential people in town. Not sure about the Rotary in Rachel, Kansas but it was pretty clear the bum wasn't the influential type which makes the joke funnier. And just how funny would it have been if Herkie had just said it was OK for him to stay? It worked just fine as it was played and one posters' snide remark about Un-Christian behaviour is out of line as the C of C was the group paying for the outing. Other Religious groups in other countries might have cut his hand off for stealing food. Would that have been funny to you?

[–] aerostonefloyd-1 15 years ago

It wasn't meant as a snide remark, and it wasn't "out of line". So the C of C was paying for it? I am presuming most of them were Christians or at least religious and this poor man was starving yet instead of letting him have a meal they throw him; out laughing as he is whisked away. Yeah, I get that the C of C was funding the little picnic but I'm sure there was enough food that one could begrudge an unfortunate soul some nourishment. And your whole "other religious groups in other countries" is completely irrelevant because we are discussing a scene in the movie where I would bet the majority of the people were devout Christians and in this country. Geez, where did you get your logic from?

[–] wnewman106 15 years ago

This movie is a "COMEDY". There are supposed to be FUNNY BITS in it and the bum was a FUNNY BIT. Geez, where did your sense of humor go? You sound like a Liberal Anti-Christian who wants to complain about every little thing in life. Let me guess. You have emphathy for the bum because YOU don't work and YOU are also a bum and have a computer and electricity given to you by the government (read Productive Taxpayers). Ha, I knew it.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] wnewman106 15 years ago

Think before I comment??? That's a good one, coming from you of all people. Well, no big deal. You'll have time to think the irony of that one over while you're pursuing your career in either the fast food or hotel laundry industries as do all other psychology majors. In the future let the adults handle any public comments.

[–] aerostonefloyd-1 15 years ago

Wow, you are really funny. Like to see the stats backing up that claim. And you an "adult", yeah one that gets into flame wars with inferiors evidently. Who is worse the fool or the fools that follows him? The joke is on you buddy.

[–] wnewman106 15 years ago

Your latest insipid post shows why you had a problem with TGAMC. You don't know what a joke is. When (or if) you graduate with a degree in Psychology and find out how little the world values you or your attainment, you'll find even less to laugh about. I'll agree with your assessment of yourself as an inferior if you insist.

[–] aerostonefloyd-1 15 years ago

No, I get what a joke is....your a shining example. I didn't say I was an inferior but due to the disrespectful, derogatory way in which you address people you don't really know I presumed you felt I was one. Yeah and by the way the world really values me so little that I am already accepted to graduate school and have an internship. You are simply astoundingly cheeky and frankly have an inferiority complex yourself. Or wait....is it all a joke?

[–] wnewman106 15 years ago

At the risk of being pedantic (look it up), I must point out that you probably meant "you're" instead of "your". Good luck on grad school as it will double your salary and you'll be able to make at least $20,000 a year. I already have a graduate degree, a very usable and marketable MBA, and you might possibly wash my car or do some such other menial task as you may be able to do. I will NOT be hiring you as a film critic or humor analyst. Now on one of your more sane days, if you have any, reread your original post or, better yet, delete it.

[–] aerostonefloyd-1 15 years ago

You really are a funny one. Such arrogance, it is almost self deprecating and bordering on parody. I'm so sorry to hear I won't be hired as a film critic or humor expert for you. Darn, now what am I going to do!? I'm done with this little flame war and despite it all, I wish you the best. And by the way great response times, do you live on the computer?

Edit: And to answer your question, No I don't have any sane days! I'm crazy enough to have my own opinion every day despite it being in contradiction with the one you hold! I know, how dare I!?

[–] wnewman106 15 years ago

I'm buying a building and proofing a Corporate Model while ALSO dealing with you. How can I do all that? I can MULTITASK.

[–] aerostonefloyd-1 15 years ago

Give the man a cookie! I'm honored to be so worthy of your precious time. You must really enjoy arguing or you would devote your precious energies to doing your job rather than engaging in flame wars online. Once again, pretty funny. Anyways, have a good life!

[–] wnewman106 15 years ago

Actually I had a good day at work especially as I got a chance to evict a few bums from a picnic, but I did it in a most Christian-like manner so all bystanders had a chuckle with some outright guffaws. Of course, none of them got worked up over a scene reminiscent of a certain 1966 comedy starring one of the greatest comedic talents of our time with help from some of the best known comedic character actors of their day written by comedy writer Everett Greenburg. Did I mention this movie was a comedy? Well, if I didn't, this was a comedy and shouldn't be taken seriously.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] suzycreamcheese1 14 years ago

a psych major? you're kidding, right?

RIP Heath Ledger 1979-2008

[–] atlantic1509 13 years ago

If it makes anyone feel better, it looks like he had cleaned his plate before being kicked out.

"......let me clarify"

[–] scamper67 9 years ago

Getting back on topic...

It was a town picnic, I don't think the old man was sent away hungry, he just wasn't allowed in that section.

[–] 9 years ago

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