<<<==Previous==                 Philatelic Peanut Gallery                 ==Next==>>> Origins of the Peanut Gallery As an inexpensive snack, the peanut was a popular refreshment in Vaudeville theatres, especially amongst the occupants of the least expensive seats which came to be known as "the peanut gallery." The crowds would sometimes express their disappointment with poor entertainment by throwing the peanut shells at the performers. This gave rise to to expressions such as, "No comments from the peanut gallery," as a defence against anticipated criticism. Some have taken the expression "Peanut Gallery" as having racist connotations because, in the American South, it was frequently Black audiences who were relegated to the "cheap seats." Starting in 1943, the live audience on the American children's radio (and subsequently television) program was refered to as "the peanut gallery" and this is probably the reference that is most familiar to modern American audiences. The studio audience of The Howdy Doody Show (commemorated four souvenir sheets issued by Mongolia on April 1, 1999) was called "The Peanut Gallery." Sources Kreuz, Roger J. "The complicated origin of the expression 'peanut gallery'." The Conversation. 9 Nov. 2020.      Web. 23 Jun. 2022. https://theconversation.com/the-complicated-origin-of-the-expression-peanut-gallery-148897. "Peanut Gallery." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 21 Jun. 2022. Web.      23 Jun. 2022. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peanut_gallery. <<<==Previous==                                                                                                ==Next==>>> Return to the Philatelic Peanut Gallery Home Page.