top of page

72. Origins of "He Doesn't Know S--T (Feces) from Shinola"

Writer's picture: AuthorAuthor

Updated: Apr 2, 2022


Since I was a little boy, I have always heard and perhaps used the above term to describe someone's lack of knowledge about a particular topic! Yet, most people have no idea where this Americana phrase came from. But, as it turned out "Shinola" is a brand of shoe polish that began production in 1877 and was sold specifically in the United States. And, since it was only produced in America, then obviously no one outside this country had ever heard of it, thus the above phrase. And both subjects of the phrase also shared the same color and texture, which adds further credence to "someone not knowing the difference!"


Early 20th Century advertisement of the American product "Shinola"


A 1936 Shinola advertisement


Original can of Shinola brown shoe polish


15 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin

©2018 by Unique History of Pensacola. Proudly created with Wix.com

bottom of page