where does "the fat lady" myth come from?

[Sputnik]

A question to the history of hockey: Where does the saying "it ain't over until the fat lady sings" come from? who invented that saying, where is it derivated from (the opera, yes, I know), but where did it originally pop up? in hockey? any other sports? would be great if someone had some information on that for me. Thanks!

 

[Systemfel]

Wikipedia article

 

[Sputnik]

wow, thanks! perfect!

 

[Crosbyfan]

Wikipedia article

This cannot be correct. It was around before 1977. I thought Yogi Berra said it "back in the day" whenever that was.

 

[toastman344*]

I also thought that the saying originated in Baseball...

 

[reckoning]

I always thought it was a reference to Kate Smith, who would sing "God Bless America" before Flyer games in the 70s. She was somewhat...uhh...full-figured.

 

[Heavy Fuel]

I always thought it was a reference to Kate Smith, who would sing "God Bless America" before Flyer games in the 70s. She was somewhat...uhh...full-figured.

Kate was a lot of woman, but the game was just starting after she sang the anthem...not over.

 

[Jumptheshark]

"it aint over till the fat ladies sings" was an expression from the mid to late 1800's, one version I was told in uni was that an american took news paper reporter to see an opera or musical in Vienna and he asked him after awhile cause the show was long --when it would be over. HE responded "it aint over till the fat lady sin

another version has it starting in NY when two buddies went to see a musical in around 1920 and one guy asked the other guy "when is it over"

I have seen movies made in the 50's with that expression, so it predates the articles statement

wiexpedia information is sometime dead wrong due to the fact the general public can change information on it

here are some other sites

http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/36/messages/297.html

but it came into more commen use when Cook used in the 70's at a certain moment