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Why Does Britt Continue to Refer to Lenore as 'Miss Cates'?

posted 14 years ago by Attillio
15 replies | jump to latest

In a usual office workplace environment, the boss/employer normally addresses his subordinates/employees by their given (or first) names.

I can't understand why Britt does not refer to Miss Cates as either Lenore or even "Casey," when she has probably been working as his secretary for some time at the newspaper.

Of course, when you also consider that Lenore Cates has been entrusted with the knowledge that her boss, Britt Reid, is the notorious Green Hornet, it makes even less sense that Britt would continue to refer to her as "Miss" Cates. I mean, even in private Britt calls her "Miss" Cates. What's the story with that bit of ongoing formality on Britt's part?

[–] Tom444 14 years ago

This was the 60's.

"Miss Case" would be an entirely appropriate way for a top level executive to refer to his secretary.

Also, I am sure that they do not want to appear too close - both for propriety and to protect her if anyone suspect Reid's double identity.

[–] PillowRock 14 years ago

In a usual office workplace environment, the boss/employer normally addresses his subordinates/employees by their given (or first) names.

You're describing the wrong time period.

Just as all men working in offices then always wore suits and ties to work, and don't any more; so, too, did everyone then routinely address each other as Mr. / Miss / Mrs. Surname. The workplace exceptions were only people who were *both* friends and professional peers (not across boss - employee lines in either direction).

[–] Attillio 14 years ago

Your point about the more formal relationships in the 1960s work environment is very well taken.

However, I still think that it's a bit strange and even awkward that Britt calls Lenore, "Miss Cates," when she's alone with him (and possibly Cato and the District Attorney) in Britt's own home.

[–] PillowRock 14 years ago

But when they were alone, and most especially when she had been called to his home for work related reasons, were precisely the times when it was most important to maintain the formalities of their employer - employee relationship.

Shifting to her first name when they were alone would tend to be viewed (in the social expectations of the times) as a move toward taking their relationship in an "inappropriate" direction; as being the beginning of what would now be called "sexual harassment".

Even if Miss Cates trusts him enough not to feel that threat, if others happened to overhear the boss calling her by her first name, it could very well irreparably damage her reputation around the office. The assumption would be that if she was allowing him to be uncommonly familiar in one way when they were alone, then she was almost certainly being overly familiar in other ways. The threat of that kind of gossip was very real.

[–] srb-3 14 years ago

First of all Casey's full name is Lenore Case, not Cates.

Second, PillowRock is correct about the time period and possible sexual harassment issues.

Third, while Lenore Case is Britt's secretary, and yes, she does know that he is the Green Hornet, Britt does not date her, so calling each other by their first names would have been inappropriate.

Britt uses womens' first names for women he dates like Elaine.

[–] Attillio 14 years ago

Yes, I suppose that it would have been a sort of "Scarlet Letter," for Lenore to have been regarded by her co-workers as being "too familiar" with her boss, Britt.

However, I wished we had found out how Britt was able to determine that he would be able to trust "Casey" and, for that matter, the district identity with his secret identity in the first place. In addition, it's too bad we never discovered just why the Green Hornet and Cato were originally listed in police records as criminals?

Finally, "Miss Cates" was far more attractive than any of the other women Britt dated on the show. Perhaps, when Britt and Cato were in the Black Beauty and systematically checking the Green Hornet stinger and and all of those other esoteric gizmos, Britt/the Green Hornet might have wanted to have had his own eyesight "checked out," for Christ's sake!

[–] tbrittreid 14 years ago

"Miss Case" not "Cates."

"Kato" not "Cato."

"For Christ's sake!" indeed.

The GREEN HORNET Strikes Again!

[–] Attillio 14 years ago

Hey, you'll be of a "certain age" at some point and you'll probably need cataract surgery as well, Jesus H. Christ! (Or as the Jesuits used to say in theology class, many moons ago: "Ladies and gentlemen, offer it up.")

PS Britt still needs to get his eyes checked even more than I do.

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] 14 years ago

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[–] srb-3 13 years ago

No, Lenore Case is single.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] srb-3 13 years ago

I thought you hadn't watched the television series which this is a board of. Besides that quote isn't from any episode as it's already established the characters have known each other for a while.

GHINO doesn't count.

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] srb-3 13 years ago

That's you and that doesn't change the fact your reference is of topic and off board and moot because GHINO is a BOMB.