Literary Mileage
Judy, Judy, Judy. . .

I wish I had a dollar for every time somebody has met me and said, “Judy, Judy, Judy,” mimicking (they believe) Cary Grant in Only Angels Have Wings (1939). 

Well, on behalf of all my namesakes, I am here to topple this urban legend! Cary Grant never said “Judy, Judy, Judy” as a scripted line. He did say the name “Judy” many times to his costar Rita Hayworth, who was playing a character named Judith McPherson. Words like, “Hello, Judy” – but never repeated in rapid succession.

The entertainment industry has perpetuated the legend. The phrase was spoken by Tony Curtis doing a Grant impression for the character of the millionaire in the movie Some Like it Hot. Curtis heard it when he saw Larry Storch do a stand-up comic routine in New York. Storch said “Judy, Judy, Judy…” when Judy Garland walked into the club. Cary Grant did later say it on camera, though he did not originate it.

The Andy Griffith Show even riffed on it in one episode:

Gomer Pyle: Me and Goober are goin’ down to see that Cary Grant movie. Goober never misses a Cary Grant movie. He studies him. You want to hear him take off on Cary Grant? C’mon, Goober; do Cary Grant.

Goober Pyle: Well, I don’t know…

Andy Taylor: Well, Gom, if he doesn’t want to…

Goober Pyle: I’ll do it! Judy, Judy, Judy!

Gomer Pyle: [laughing hysterically] Ain’t that great, Andy? How do you do it? Let me try; Judy, Judy, I can’t do it. Andy, couldn’t you just swear it was Cary Grant standin’ right before you in this room?

Andy Taylor: Uh, yeah, Gomer; that was real good, Goober.

(Goober and Gomer were cousins, and the original Dumb and Dumber duo…)

This news flash was brought to you, compliments of my good friend, Jan Shea, who looked it up in Wikipedia for me. Thanks, Jan!