Posted on 09/29/2009 12:59:15 AM PDT by DGHoodini
I recently rewatched 'Angels in the Outfield', the original one, the *good* one, with Paul Muni. And the same question that comes to me each time I watch it, once agin came to mind, and I thought i'd asik here, to see if maybe someone knew the answer.
In the movie, there is at least one scene where the Manager(Munii) sits down to dinner, and puts Ketchup on it.... My question is...Was there a time where this was a common practice that some people did, or was this just a writers ploy to show how curmudgeonly the character was?
I have never before heard of anyone doing this, but thinking on it, it doesn't seem to be so bad an idea..I mean we put ketchup on burgers...but then it seems a waste to cover the flavor of a good steak up, with the overwhelming taste of ketchup...But it doesn't seem like it would taste *bad* per se...
Ooops! That was supposed to be: Puts ketchup on his steak.
It’s always been used for meatloaf and stuff.
That’s Paul Douglas. Paul Muni was a Jewish ethnic actor who did more stage than movies.
You need to get out more. Many people put ketchup on almost everything. A new fad now is putting Ranch dressing on everything.
Paul Muni? You sure you don’t mean Paul Douglas?
Or is Muni in it, too? Paul Douglas certainly is.
It was a very plebeian thing to do, even in 1947. That was the point—to show he was a mensch.
Yeah, by cracky, I remember, ohhhhh....way back before the turn of the century, back in 96. Put ketchup on Omlettes, Steak, Meatloaf, French Fries, Sweet and Sour Chicken, Green Beans, Mashed Potatoes, Baked Potatoes, Fried Rice, hell, even tried it on a burger once.
Yep, them were the good old days.....
I put ketchup, A-1 and Heinz 57 on my steaks (unless they’re very expensive/good) as I HATE dry food. My wife calls me the “Condiment King” and I grab extra packets of honey mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise, etc. at every store & restaurant. Put lots of butter on rice, potatoes, noodles, etc., too.
I like A-1 on my baked potato, along with salt, pepper, bacon, cheese and lots of butter.
As for the ketchup, as best I remember ketchup was like salt and pepper, you never set a table without it and someone always used it and yes Heinz was hellish hard to get out of the bottle, Mom switched to Del Monte but we always came back to Heinz, squeeze bottles ruined ketchup or catsup as some say.
You’re right. I was referring to Paul Douglas. :o\
My only excuse is that I also watched ‘Angel on My Shoulder’ recently too. I’ve been buying all sorts of old movie DVDs from the Half.com bargain bin for a couple of years now, and every once in a while I find a gem. But I think I paid full price for ‘..Outfield’.
The mystique of ketchup was getting it out of the bottle, Heinz had it right with their "Anticipation" series of commercials.
You’re right, of course. Muni was great in ‘..Shoulder’, with thowse black shining eyes of his...He really came off as a dark character. That was entertainment. Still is, in my DVD collection. just got it, this year, and watched it just a month or so ago. :o)
San Simeon was party central for Hollywood in the 1930s and Hearst insisted bottles of ketchup be placed on the huge main dining room table.
I’m not a big Ranch fan...it’s good for salads and veggie dip I suppose...But it really irks me when I order Buffalo Wings and they come with Ranch Dressing...It just ruins them for me.
Definately A-1 on the baked potato. When I order a good steak and ask for A-1, I am occasionally informed by the server that the steak is good enough without it. I always hate that. I like A-1 on my steak, but mostly it is for the baked potato. Great stuff, one of the few food items that actually has a lot of really bold flavor...JFK
You know, I may be weird on this, but I like to eat some of my meat plain, enjoy it without condiment, and eat the rest with it. I’ll eat a bite of plain steak or two, and I’ll eat the rest with A-1. Same with chicken fingers and hot mustard or barbeque sauce. I usually eat one of them plain. I like distinct flavors in my food, which is why I usually eat one item at a time. I don’t like mixing my corn and mashed potatoes or anything. Even when I mix condiments or spices, it’s to get a certain flavor. Everything I cook is by taste, too.
We switched from Heinz to Hunts during the 2004 election thanks to "Mother Tuh-Ray-Suh Heinz-Kerry." Won't use DelMonte due to San Fran Nan and her husband's connections.
Yeah, this was years ago, when you could eat food without worrying about political connections. I’m a mustard man now, hope the Chicago mob doesn’t own any mustard plants. Lol
Yeah, I am weird with it. Many times I choose my food by which condiment I want to eat. If I want Tabasco, its ham and eggs. A-1, steak w/a baker. And so on. My wife says I am totally weird and high maintenance. But I do tip well...JFK
The Japanese put ketchup on hot dogs ! ???
How to ruin a good steak?
Put ketchup on it....
I cringe when I see people put ketchup on Tenderloin or Ribeye in a restaurant. I think they are so used to eating London Broil at home with loads of Ketchup.
I’ll take my Ketchup rare.
I put ketchup on steak. I hate steak sauce. Well, actually, I’m not too fond of steak either. I know that’s un-American but it’s the truth.
Ketchup/Catsup is good on everything and makes everything better.
I love it when this p.o.s people...heh heh heh.
Love that movie because (1) it is about my hometown and (2) I lived the next block over from the apartment house that Paul Douglas “lived in” for the movie. Has some great shots of the old Forbes Field and is an enjoyable story, as well (unlike the remake).
This thread made me think of you!!!
However, you need to remember that when many people had steak in those days it was not the thick juicy steaks we have come to expect today. I recall my Mother whacking tough round steak with a mallet like meat tenderizer and frying these thin pieces. The resulting “steaks” were dry and still pretty tough and you definitely needed ketchup or some kind of steak sauce to make them edible. Even when thicker more tender steaks became available, they were generally fried and cooked well done ..again the need for ketchup.
“I HATE dry food” then don’t cook your steak so long(4 mins each side on a grill(charcoal)).
Only a barbarian would put ketchup on a steak. Refined people fill a tumbler with ketchup and sip as the evening wears on.
Anyone who puts ketchup on a steak I make gets thrown out of the house.
True story: In 1981 my husband’s classmates from Undergraduate Navigator Training went to a popular restaurant in the Sacramento area for dinner. One of the men, a man from Alabama, ordered steak with fries. He asked for ketchup (for his fries); the waiter brought the ketchup then stood on a chair near the table and announced loudly to the room that this man had asked for ketchup for his steak. Everyone in the room looked at our friend as if he had two heads.
To this day, I have no idea what was going through that waiter’s mind. Obviously some people feel very strongly about ketchup on steak!
I promise you would not need anything for my grilled Angus ribeye or filet. ...I prefer my steaks medium-rare.
Ketchup or Catsup is for hamburgers & fries. :)
Perhaps he took it as an insult to the quality of beef they serve or the skill of the cook in preparing it. Perhaps the coom took offense that his food needed to have it’s flavor covered up, and told the waiter to wtand on the chair. etc..
Cooks can get offended if people even want salt to add on their meals.
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