[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by JugglingReferee

Padgett should be jealous of this post! How does the beginning go?:

Schamezzel, Schamozzel, Bkhksdhfsdkhfsdkhfds Incorporated. We're going to do it..... (because there's nothing wrong with that?)

Answer

Subject: Re: Question about "laverne and shirley" Answered By: denco-ga on 23 Feb 2006 20:41 PST Rated:

Howdy dho1115-ga,The Wikipedia entry for the "Laverne & Shirley" show provides theopening phrase for us.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laverne_and_Shirley"In the beginning, the girls are skipping down the street, arm inarm, reciting a hopscotch chant : 'One, two, three, four, five, six,seven, eight! Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer Incorporated!'"Schlemiel and schlimazel are Yiddish words, defined by the onlineFree Dictionary as follows.Schlemiel.http://www.thefreedictionary.com/schlemiel"A habitual bungler; a dolt"Schlimazel.http://www.thefreedictionary.com/schlimazel"An extremely unlucky or inept person; a habitual failure."This "Word for the Weak" archive entry points out that the two areusually linked together.http://jonzer.com/blog/archives/2005_08.html"A schlimazel can be concisely described as a born loser. No discussionof schlimazel could be complete without mentioning his counterpart:schlemiel, a habitual bungler. They go together:A schlemiel is one who always spills his soup, schlimazel is the one onwhom it always lands.A schlimazel's toast always falls butter-side down. A schlemiel alwaysbutters his toast on both sides."As for hasenpfeffer, that is a German word.http://www.thefreedictionary.com/hasenpfeffer"A highly seasoned stew of marinated rabbit meat"The phrase was just the introduction to the theme song "Making ourDreams Come True" as written by Norman Gimbel and Charles Fox. Therest of the lyrics can be found on the Blackcatter's "World of TVTheme Song Lyrics" website.http://www.cfhf.net/lyrics/laverne.htm"In 1976 the theme song was popular on the radio and charted ashigh as #25 in the Top 40. This was [Cyndi] Grecco's [the womanwho sang the song] only hit."Even though the openng phrase is a typical nonsensical hopscotch orjump rope chant, the description of a schlemiel and a schlimazel doescapture a certain aspect of the characters of "Laverne & Shirley."According to this Associated Press article by Beth Harris titled "TheMilwaukee girls are back in 'Laverne & Shirley' special," the phrasemight have been originated by Penny "Laverne" Marshall.http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/entertainment/s_69963.html"As a young girl, Penny Marshall hoofed it to school in the Bronx.Along the way, nonsensical phrases floated through her head."'One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight,' she'd chant outloud. 'Schlemiel, schlimazel, Hasenpfeffer Incorporated.'"If you need any clarification, please feel free to ask.Search strategy:Google search on: "Laverne & Shirley" schlemiel://www.google.com/search?q=%22Laverne+%26+Shirley%22+schlemielGoogle search on: schlemiel schlimazel "Norman Gimbel" "Charles Fox"://www.google.com/search?q=schlemiel+schlimazel+%22Norman+Gimbel%22+ %22Charles+Fox%22Free Dictionary searches as outlined above.Looking Forward, denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher