1940's Pet Peeve of the Day - "stink" is a dirty word

In the mid 1940's and before, it appears that the word "stink" was avoided as much as possible on the airwaves.

It wasn't "dirty" but it seems it was close.  It seems to be avoided at all costs on many shows, most notably on Fibber McGee and Molly.  The scripts often point to the word "stink" but instead of the word being used, usually nothing will be used in it's place, only an inference to the word.

Not censorship, mind you, but "stink" was a word to be avoided.

Walter Tetley used the word a few times on the Great Gildersleeve and when he used it, he was reprimanded in some way.

By the time the war was over, "stink" seems to become an acceptable word again.

Here's a saved search for the word "stink" in the magazines available on Google Books.  in 1940, the word, "stink" shows up just 6 times.

Am I the only one who has noticed this?

©Jimbo 2010/2011