Mr. and Mrs. America
“Mr. and Mrs. America” is another way of saying the average American (or the heads of the average American family). “Mr. and Mrs, America” has been cited in print since at least 1913, but became popular during World War II. New York-based newspaper columnist Walter Winchell (1897-1972) began his radio broadcasts with “Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. America from border to border and coast to coast and all the ships at sea. Let’s go to press.”
Similar names for the average American include Joe Bag of Donuts, Joe Citizen/John Citizen/Jane Citizen, Joe Sixpack/Jane Sixpack, Joe Taxpayer/John Taxpayer/Jane Taxpayer, Joe Voter/John Voter/Jane Voter, John Q. Public/Jane Q. Public and Sally Soccer-mom.
Wikipedia: Walter Winchell
Walter Winchell (April 7, 1897 – February 20, 1972) was an American newspaper and radio gossip commentator.
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Winchell opened his radio broadcasts by pressing randomly on a telegraph key, a sound that created a sense of urgency and importance and the catchphrase “Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. America from border to border and coast to coast and all the ships at sea. Let’s go to press.”
13 July 1913, Lexington (KY) Herald, “Women Successful and Ingenious as Smugglers,” sec. 4, pg. 3, col. 6:
The Paris dealer sees Mr. and Mrs. America coming along.
5 November 1916, Trenton (NJ) Sunday Times-Advertiser, “Clear Election Day for Middle States,” pg. 12, col. 4:
WASHINGTON, Nov. 4.—An even chance for fair weather when Mr. and Mrs. America go out to settle the fate of the nation Tuesday was predicted by the Weather Bureau tonight, evenness of the chance depending on where Mr. and Mrs. America live.
25 May 1917, The Jersey Journal (Jersey City, NJ), pg. 3, col. 5:
“BUSINESS AS
USUAL, BUT NO
WASTE,” SLOGAN
Mr. and Mrs. America Have
Recovered from First Flurry
of False Economy.
OCLC WorldCat record
The editor and publishers of the Party book invite Mr. and Mrs. America and family to sing, play and be happy, with this collection of songs, stunts and games,
Author: Kenneth S Clark
Publisher: New York, Paull-Pioneer Music Corp. ©1935.
Edition/Format: Book : English
23 October 1935, New York (NY) Times, “City Officials ‘Loot’ Art Display Sent by Japan as Good-Will Token”:
The gifts were sent back to New York from Japan with two life-sized dolls named Mr. and Mrs. America which were sent to Japan last May on a good-will tour.
OCLC WorldCat record
Mr. and Mrs. America
Author: Dick Powell; Paul Francis Webster; Johnny Mercer; Harry Sosnik; Ray Henderson; All authors
Publisher: United States : Decca, [1939]
Edition/Format: Music : 78 rpm : Popular music : English
OCLC WorldCat record
Mr. and Mrs. America, a bright and timely comedy in three acts,
Author: Wilbur Braun
Publisher: New York, N.Y., Los Angeles, Calif., S. French; [etc., etc.] ©1942.
Edition/Format: Book : English
OCLC WorldCat record
Jeanne Crain and Ethel Waters urge people to buy war savings bonds, circa 1949, Los Angeles
Author: Twentieth Century-Fox
Publisher: University of Southern California. Libraries
Edition/Format: Downloadable visual material : GraphicView all editions and formats
Summary:
Studio photograph of actresses Jeanne Crain, left, and Ethel Waters on a movie set during a break from filming. Waters looks at an oversize reproduction of a $100 war savings bond purchased by “Mr. And Mrs. America” of “Everywhere, U.S.A.” Waters holds a sign with the words “Sign up for bonds through payroll savings.” Crain holds a hammer to help Waters hang the sign. The two actresses appeared together in the movie, “Pinky,” and are wearing costumes worn in the film. “Pinky” was released in 1949, so the photograph had to be taken either before or during that year. The back of the photograph is rubber-stamped with the words “Jeanne Crain, 20th Century-Fox Player.”
OCLC WorldCat record
Mr. and Mrs. America : the all union family.
Author: AFL-CIO. Industrial Union Dept.
Publisher: Washington, D.C. : Industrial Union Dept., AFL-CIO, [1956]
Edition/Format: Book : English
OCLC WorldCat record
Good evening Mr. & Mrs. America, and all the ships at sea : a novel
Author: Richard Bausch
Publisher: New York : HarperCollins Publishers, ©1996.
Edition/Format: Book : Fiction : English : 1st edView all editions and formats
Summary:
A witty coming-of-age story featuring Walter Marshall of Washington, a 19-year-old idealist, politically naive and sexually pure, born into an America which is quite the opposite. The time is the 1960s.