Where, exactly, is Tobacco Road?
Andy Bechtel has a good post about the media's perpetuation of a cliche -- Tobacco Road.
Changing times aside, my main problem with "Tobacco Road" is that I have never heard it used in real life. In casual conversation, no one has ever asked me: "Did you see the game last night? That's how it goes on Tobacco Road." And believe me, the topic of "the game last night" comes up a lot.
I remember the first time I heard the reference, outside of the 1932 Erskine Caldwell novel. I was a reporter in Raleigh and an editor inserted it into the lead paragraph of an economy story I had written. Actually he rewrote the lead to refer to both Tobacco Road and King Cotton.
We can certainly grind a term into a cliche in no time.
I didn't save the clip.
Comments (3)
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Several years ago, while on a New England vacation, I had an opportunity to try and reach a friend from many years ago in the U. S. Coast Guard. His name was John Collins (there are many John Collins in Massachusetts) and after several phone attempts I gave up trying to find him. But on my last call for John Collins, the person on the other end had no difficulty picking up my southern accent. After telling me he was not the John Collins I was looking for he quipped, "how are things down south Johnny Reb?."
I guess names like Tobacco Road and Johhny Reb are fixed in the consiciences of certain parts of the country.
Posted on March 29, 2008 3:44 PM
To get to Tobacco Road, take a left at the light, then take the next right, right next to the Level Playing Field. You can't miss it.
If you're confused, ask Jesse.
Posted on March 31, 2008 11:32 AM
tobacco road is located in roaring river, nc
Posted on May 25, 2009 12:45 PM