Banana peel trope: where does it come from?

Banana peel trope: where does it come from? - Top view of tasty ripe bananas with blots on peel composed in row on yellow background

I read on TV Tropes that:

The use of a banana peel as an injurious prop is actually alarmingly realistic and a reference to its ubiquity on the streets of American cities in the early part of the 20th Century. Refrigeration and shipping speed had combined to make bananas the most popular fruit in the country, and in that age before anti-littering laws, people would just eat the fruit and discard the peels wherever they were. As they rotted, the peels would become quite slippery and thus dangerous to tread upon.

(btw, is that true?), but I wonder: who used it first in a gag?



Best Answer

IMDB has a own keyword "Slipping On A Banana Peel" Titles and it mention as first film The Flirt (1917). You can check the sketch at Youtube.

But the list is uncomplete, e.g. one of the best banana scenes The Battle of the Century (1927) is missing.

So I'm sure there are older films with at least a short banana scene.




Pictures about "Banana peel trope: where does it come from?"

Banana peel trope: where does it come from? - Top view backdrop of tasty whole banana with blots on yellow peel and curved stalk
Banana peel trope: where does it come from? - Delicious cut fresh banana on yellow background
Banana peel trope: where does it come from? - Ripe bananas on green surface



What does banana peel symbolize?

From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English ba\u02c8nana \u02ccpeel noun [countable] American English an embarrassing mistake made by someone in a public position, especially a politician or someone in a government SYN banana skin British EnglishExamples from the Corpusbanana peel\u2022 Then a guy slips on a banana peel. Quizzes.

Why do cartoons use banana peels?

Banana peels are often seen as a slip hazard, but they can also be used for humor. These 25 cartoons show the funny side of banana peels. From monkeys slipping on banana peels, to people slipping in all sorts of situations, these cartoons will make you laugh.

Where is banana skin from?

A banana peel, called banana skin in British English, is the outer covering of the banana fruit. Banana peels are used as food for animals, an ingredient in cooking, in water purification, for manufacturing of several biochemical products as well as for jokes and comical situations.

Who was the first person to slip on a banana peel?

The first known person to use the banana peel as a physical comedy instrument was \u201cSliding\u201d Billy Watson. Famous for his sliding entrances from the wings of the stage, Bill Watson was one of the most successful and rich vaudeville performers of his day.



You will never throw away banana peels after watching this




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