Who Originally Said “Pork Chops and Applesauce”? Uncovering the Origins of this Famous Catchphrase

“Pork chops and applesauce!” The mere mention of this phrase instantly transports many back to the 1970s and a beloved American TV classic. But well before Greg Brady hilarious uttered it on The Brady Bunch the saying had already secured its place in pop culture lore.

So who originally coined this quirky food-related phrase that became an enduring catchphrase? Let’s delve into the fascinating history behind “pork chops and applesauce” to find out where it really originated from

Pork Chops and Applesauce as a Classic Dish

While the saying took on a life of its own in pop culture, pork chops and applesauce first started simply as a traditional dinner dish. The meal pairing of cooked pork chops with sweet applesauce traces back to at least the late 1800s in America.

Applesauce proved an ideal complement to the savory chops The tangy sweetness balances the pork’s richness Pork chops could be fried, broiled or baked then served with a side of applesauce. The simple yet tasty combination became a beloved meal for families across America for generations.

Earliest Known Print References

The first known published references to pork chops and applesauce shed light on its early adoption as a dish.

• In 1890, the table setting book “The Table” by Alessandro Filippini mentioned “pork chops with applesauce” as a recommended dish.

• The 1893 “Good Housekeeping” magazine included a “pork chops and apple sauce” recipe.

• By the 1920s, the phrase was used in The New Yorker to casually refer to the dish.

These examples show how the pork chops and applesauce pairing had already become entrenched in the American food lexicon by the late 19th and early 20th century.

Link to President Lincoln’s Assassination

In one significant historical account, the phrase gained notoriety in a tragic light.

On April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated while watching a play at Ford’s Theatre in Washington D.C. The production was the comedy “Our American Cousin.”

In Act 3, Scene 2 of the play, the character Asa Trenchard utters the line:

“Don’t know the manners of good society, eh? Well, I guess I know enough to turn you inside out, old gal — you sockdologizing old man-trap!”

Following this, Asa famously states:

“Now I’ve no fortune, but I’m fillin’ over with affections which I’m ready to pour out all over you like apple sass over roast pork.”

This mention of apple sauce with pork occurred just minutes before John Wilkes Booth entered Lincoln’s theatre box to shoot the President.

While not a direct “pork chops and applesauce” utterance, it linked the dish with one of America’s most infamous events.

The Brady Bunch Brings it to Pop Culture Prominence

The saying was catapulted into pop culture icon status in 1971 with the airing of “The Personality Kid” episode of The Brady Bunch.

In the episode, middle son Peter Brady gets hypnotized into adopting various personas. One such persona has him channeling Humphrey Bogart and stammering “pork chops and applesauce”.

Peter’s recurring utterance of this phrase, said in a Bogart-like voice, became one of the episode’s most memorable gags.

The Brady Bunch was a massive hit at the time, reaching huge audiences. As a result, “pork chops and applesauce” became a popular catchphrase nationwide after the episode aired. Fans enjoyed reciting the line and imitating Peter Brady’s delivery of it.

Bogart Never Actually Said It

Here a common misconception arises. Many assume Humphrey Bogart uttered the saying in one of his classic films. However, there is no evidence Bogart actually said “pork chops and applesauce” on screen.

The Brady Bunch writers likely chose the phrase simply because it sounded fittingly old-timey and amusing in a Bogart voice. But the saying’s use pre-dated Bogart’s career.

Peter Brady’s imitation certainly cemented the link between Bogart and “pork chops and applesauce” in the public imagination. Yet the saying did not originate with the legendary actor himself.

Alternative Origins Theories

Beyond the known early printed references and usage on The Brady Bunch, some other theories give different takes on the phrase’s origin:

• One account speculates Italian immigrants commonly uttered it, which was picked up by wider American culture.

• Some claim antebellum South plantation owners coined the phrase when dining on pork chops and applesauce, which their slaves then spread into vernacular use.

However, these alternative origin stories lack strong evidence to support them as the source. But they do illustrate the saying’s long history and ubiquity in Americana.

Why This Saying Had Staying Power

Several factors help explain why “pork chops and applesauce” became so widely repeated and enjoyed:

• The amusing contrast – the pairing of a savory meat dish with a sweet fruit sauce creates an unexpected word combination. This incongruity gives the phrase humor and quirkiness.

• Distinctive rhythm and rhyme – the rhythmic pattern of stressed syllables make the saying pleasing to utter and hear. The internal rhyme of “chops” and “sauce” adds satisfying wordplay.

• Strong imagery – the words clearly paint a picture of a classic American meal in the mind. This makes the phrase easy to visualize and grasp.

• Nostalgia factor – the old-fashioned words and foods invoke nostalgic feelings of simpler vintage Americana and family dining. This gives the phrase a comforting, familiar appeal.

Thanks especially to The Brady Bunch amplifying its exposure, “pork chops and applesauce” secured its place as a unforgettably funny, quirky American catchphrase still fondly remembered today.

The Takeaway on this Famous Saying

Many may assume Humphrey Bogart spawned the saying “pork chops and applesauce” in some 1940s gangster flick. But the phrase’s history stretches back far before Bogie was uttering it on screen.

This food-related phrase can be traced back as far as late 19th century America as a classic dinner pairing. An infamous mention came during Lincoln’s assassination at Ford’s Theatre. But it took The Brady Bunch to cement “pork chops and applesauce” as an enduring pop culture catchphrase.

The saying captured the public’s imagination thanks to its humor, rhyme, evocative imagery, and nostalgic appeal. So next time you hear someone mimic this line, you can share its surprising origins and long, fascinating history in American culture.