It was popular graffiti among soldiers of the WWII era but the actual origin is debated. My favorite reference to this is in the cartoon Haredevil Hare, where Bugs Bunny becomes the first ‘person’ on the moon, only to find ‘Kilroy was here’ carved on a large rock.
On a another note, Styx recorded an album with that title back in the ’80s.
Back a while ago, I remember having to explain to some “Simpsons” fans what a “Kilroy” was, when they parodied it briefly with Skinner’s mother peering over a fence. Time passes, details fade…
I trust that the “Kilroy was here” carving was accompanied by the usual drawing. Wikipedia describes this as “a bald-headed man with a prominent nose peeking over a wall with his fingers clutching the wall.”
it was my uncle jimmy kilroy who started that when he was working on docks in MA during WW II, google him, and my grandma said their brother joe in england began doing it when he found out too, but don’t see that mentioned anywhere
“Kilroy was here” became a popular phrase and piece of graffiti during World War II, symbolizing the presence of American servicemen wherever it appeared. It is typically accompanied by an illustration of a bald-headed man with a prominent nose peering over a wall with his fingers clutching the wall.
Kilroy was an actual man. he was a quality checker at a munitions plant. he had a supervisor who hated him and accused him of not doing his job so he started writing ‘Kilroy was here’ in chalk on vehicles he did just to document his work. not all of them were marked off when shipped and others saw it and took up the words adding the face to it.
The sad thing is, most of us know little or nothing about our grandparents or anyone who came before them. They had lives, adventures, and did things that shouldn’t be forgotten, and we only seem to realize this after they are gone.
For those who missed the post-war era. Here’s Kilroy. .blogspot.Com/-5z6_taNmAZY/UV2ioEjQHyI/AAAAAAAAdwE/NYjJHyuAYSQ/s1600/KILROY+WAS+HERE+ It may have been the first real meme.
jagedlo about 1 year ago
special guest appearance by an uncredited kid…
knutdl about 1 year ago
Come dancing All her boyfriends used to come and callWhy not come dancing? It’s only natural (The Kinks).
HappyDog/ᵀʳʸ ᴮᵒᶻᵒ ⁴ ᵗʰᵉ ᶠᵘⁿ ᵒᶠ ᶦᵗ Premium Member about 1 year ago
Nobody knows who Kilroy was any more. I’m not sure if I know.
Izzy Moreno about 1 year ago
If she was the first, she was creative. Something doesn’t add up in Lucy’s story.
Methinks she might be exaggeratizing a tiny lil’ bit.
hariseldon59 about 1 year ago
It was popular graffiti among soldiers of the WWII era but the actual origin is debated. My favorite reference to this is in the cartoon Haredevil Hare, where Bugs Bunny becomes the first ‘person’ on the moon, only to find ‘Kilroy was here’ carved on a large rock.
On a another note, Styx recorded an album with that title back in the ’80s.
mccollunsky about 1 year ago
Grandma still sounds like fun though, even if she’s not creative.
constantine48 about 1 year ago
Better to have a grandmother who’s respectable, than one who is “a lot of fun”.
Robert Nowall Premium Member about 1 year ago
Back a while ago, I remember having to explain to some “Simpsons” fans what a “Kilroy” was, when they parodied it briefly with Skinner’s mother peering over a fence. Time passes, details fade…
SteveHL about 1 year ago
I trust that the “Kilroy was here” carving was accompanied by the usual drawing. Wikipedia describes this as “a bald-headed man with a prominent nose peeking over a wall with his fingers clutching the wall.”
Darryl Heine about 1 year ago
Lucy’s Grandmother loved to dance, maybe the jitterbug? ("Jitterbug…snap, snap…jitterbug…)
oakie817 about 1 year ago
it was my uncle jimmy kilroy who started that when he was working on docks in MA during WW II, google him, and my grandma said their brother joe in england began doing it when he found out too, but don’t see that mentioned anywhere
Strider Premium Member about 1 year ago
“Kilroy was here” became a popular phrase and piece of graffiti during World War II, symbolizing the presence of American servicemen wherever it appeared. It is typically accompanied by an illustration of a bald-headed man with a prominent nose peering over a wall with his fingers clutching the wall.
Decepticomic about 1 year ago
And her granddaughter turned out to be such a killjoy.
Ellis97 about 1 year ago
Sounds like Linus, Lucy and Rerun’s granny lived a full and exciting life.
Count Olaf Premium Member about 1 year ago
Kilroy was her grandmother? Who’d a thunk it.
Wizard of Ahz-no relation about 1 year ago
Kilroy was an actual man. he was a quality checker at a munitions plant. he had a supervisor who hated him and accused him of not doing his job so he started writing ‘Kilroy was here’ in chalk on vehicles he did just to document his work. not all of them were marked off when shipped and others saw it and took up the words adding the face to it.
Daltongang Premium Member about 1 year ago
Actually Lucy, Grandma was a vandal.
dflak about 1 year ago
Those of you who visit the World War II Memorial in D.C. Look at the back side.
uniquename about 1 year ago
It may not have had anything to do with creativity. Kilroy might actually have been there.
Angry Indeed Premium Member about 1 year ago
When Lucy grows up, she can carve “Kill joy was here”.
[Unnamed Reader - 14b4ce] about 1 year ago
Stage Door Canteen.
Can't Sleep about 1 year ago
The sad thing is, most of us know little or nothing about our grandparents or anyone who came before them. They had lives, adventures, and did things that shouldn’t be forgotten, and we only seem to realize this after they are gone.
raybarb44 about 1 year ago
Fun and creativity actually do go hand in hand. Though Kilroy may not of been her best work, it was trendy in her day….
BRICKPART Premium Member about 1 year ago
Catch-22: ‘when you look over the wall do not have your weapon’ violates the rule. (Who was Kilroy—the first looker.)
sallyseckman about 1 year ago
Kilroy might be the grandfather of memes
eddi-TBH about 1 year ago
For those who missed the post-war era. Here’s Kilroy. .blogspot.Com/-5z6_taNmAZY/UV2ioEjQHyI/AAAAAAAAdwE/NYjJHyuAYSQ/s1600/KILROY+WAS+HERE+ It may have been the first real meme.