The Great W.C. Fields and the City of Brotherly Snoozes: A Comedic Caper
W.C. Fields, the curmudgeonly comedian with a penchant for juggling juggling pins and muttering insults under his breath, might have had a love-hate relationship with his birthplace, Philadelphia. Or maybe it was just pure hate. We'll never truly know, but what we do know is that Fields left an indelible mark on the City of Brotherly Love – a mark that involves tombstones, wisecracks, and a healthy dose of comedic ambiguity.
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| What Did Wc Fields Say About Philadelphia |
The Epitaph that Never Was (But Should Have Been)
The legend (and a great pub trivia question) goes like this: W.C. Fields, upon contemplating his own mortality, declared that his tombstone would bear the inscription: "On the whole, I'd rather be in Philadelphia." Now, this is a stroke of comedic genius. Here we have a man, presumably griping about the afterlife, and expressing a slight preference for, well, Philadelphia. Is it a compliment? A backhanded insult? The beauty lies in the mystery.
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Did he actually say this? Historians scratch their heads. There's no concrete evidence the inscription ever made it to stone. But the idea itself, the concept of a grumpy W.C. Fields preferring the earthly realm, even if it meant being in Philly, is comedic gold.
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Beyond the Tombstone: Fields and the Quaker City
While the tombstone story might be apocryphal, there are hints of Fields' feelings towards Philadelphia scattered throughout his career. He did, after all, spend a good chunk of his life there. Here's what we can glean:
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- Philadelphia: The Place You Leave - There's a quote attributed to Fields: "I once spent a year in Philadelphia. I think it was 1884. But I don't remember much about it." This could be interpreted as a playful jab at the city's, ahem, less-than-thrilling nightlife.
- Philly as a Punchline? - Some humor historians believe Fields used Philadelphia as a comedic springboard. Imagine him onstage, deadpan delivery: "Had a lovely time in Cleveland last night. Much livelier than, ahem, Philadelphia."
Was he serious? Was it a bit? That's the beauty of W.C. Fields. The ambiguity fuels the funny.
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So, What Did W.C. Fields REALLY Think of Philadelphia?
Truthfully, we can't say for sure. But one thing's certain: W.C. Fields, the master of the grumpy one-liner, gave Philadelphia a gift – a place in comedic history, even if it was delivered with a raised eyebrow and a juggled bowling pin.
How To Philadelphia Like W.C. Fields (Probably Wouldn't Have Recommended It)
- How to Channel Your Inner Grump: Perfect your deadpan delivery and practice muttering insults under your breath.
- How to Juggle Like a Pro: Invest in some high-quality juggling pins and prepare for bruised shins. Bowling pins are optional (but hilarious).
- How to Find the Best Watering Holes: While Fields wasn't a huge fan of the city's nightlife, there are hidden gems to be found. Ask a local (but be prepared for a sarcastic response).
- How to Appreciate History: Philadelphia is steeped in American history. Maybe W.C. Fields just wasn't a history buff.
- How to Leave Philadelphia: Just kidding! Explore the city, find its charm, and maybe you'll have a different experience than the grumpy comedian.
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