I rewatched The Gold Violin last night. In the Martinson Coffee presentation, Smitty says that the company was founded by Joe Martinson, and that the phrase “cup of Joe” comes from good ol’ Joe Martinson.
Later, Cooper tells Don that Jim Van Dyke of Martinson is so impressed that Don has now been invited to sit on the board of the Museum of Early American Folk Art. Cooper says it’s not open yet, but he’s seen the collection, and it’s a bunch of whirly stuff.
So fine, whatever, right? There is no Museum of Early American Folk Art in New York. However, there is an American Folk Art Museum. The board was put together in 1961, but doors did not open until 1963. One of the founding board members was Joseph B. Martinson. One of the earliest acquisitions of the museum was the Archangel Gabriel weathervane* (which, y’know, whirly).
So cool.
What about “cup of Joe”? Turns out that is a proposed etymology for the phrase, but it’s not correct. I’m sure, though, that the Martinson people either believed it or wanted to promulgate it.
This is the kind of research that makes my little heart flutter.
*Roberta says the link doesn’t work for her. I think it’s browser-dependent. Try this one, it brings you to the right part of the collection, then you have to click around for it.
10 Responses to “Cup o' Joe & Folk Art”
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And this is the kind of post that makes my little heart flutter.
No wonder MW likes to have a sitdown with you.
This is fascinating! Thank you so much for the details. I love that MM digs that deep. So many shows and movies assume "who's going to know." What's great is that so many of these people are anal enough to worry that someone will figure out they got it wrong.
OK, so they got a little part of it wrong, but I found this on wiktionary: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/cup_of_joe that offers a different version of the etymology.
Either way you cut it, it's a cool story line and that's what I care about.
By the by, the second link worked for me, but the first didn't. I'm on a Mac (with Safari) and that's probably why. Thanks!
I looked up the American Folk Art Museum as soon as they offered Don a board seat. For anyone who hasn't been there, it's across the street from the Museum of Modern Art. I thought it was a good starter board for him: a new institution, an emerging art form (Grandma Moses died in 1961 and her work wasn't really appreciated until after her death) and no legacy board members to have to battle. He can cut his teeth on that and then move up to the Met or Carnegie Hall.
catherine, there are many stories about where "cup of Joe" came from. We know that the Martinson story was around and that it wasn't true, but it's certainly plausible that everyone in that meeting believed it was true.
True and ironic, given that mad men should be the most resistant to a little mythologizing.
1) That's so cool – more reasons to heart Mr. Weiner
2) My friend Greg sang the Martinson Coffee jingle in that ep. Just had to share
Lara, that's awesome!
Lara, you told us when it aired, as I recall, yes? Still cool; worthy of continual mention.
OMG did I? What a geek! Oh well, it's my one and only degree of separation from my 2nd husband, John Hamm. Well, that and I'm going to see him judge a comedy game show at the end of the month – can't wait!
ah…but it is true…