Are you curious about the hidden side of everything that I have the podcast for you?

I'm Steven Dubner, host of Freakonomics Radio. Every week we hear from some of the world's

most fascinating scholars and thinkers as we tackle a variety of topics like why the best employees

can make the worst bosses, why the banana is the most interesting fruit in the world,

and why we dread air travel even though it's a miracle. Go ahead, listen to Freakonomics Radio

wherever you get your podcasts. If you watch any movie from Hollywood's Golden Age today,

you'll notice something distinctive about the way many actors speak.

Oh, we're going to talk about me, are we good?

Catherine Hepburn in Philadelphia Story. Orson Wells in Citizen Kane.

You're right, Mr. Thatcher. I did lose a million dollars last year. I expect to lose a million

dollars this year. I expect to lose a million dollars next year. You know, Mr. Thatcher,

the rate of a million dollars a year, I'll have to close this place in 60 years.

Or Betty Davis as Margot Channing in All About Eve.

I'm nice to be cheap, but I wouldn't worry too much about your heart. You can always put that

award where your heart ought to be. I've always been fascinated by this old tiny accent,

whether in black and white movies or in the TV commercials of my youth.

You see, High Point has a special way of capturing flavor. Deep, brewed flavor.

You see High Point has a special way of capturing flavor.

Better. Yes. Deep, brewed flavor. Deep, brewed flavor. Nice.

Who knew Lauren McCall was such a coffee connoisseur.

But just where did this peculiar accent come from?

It was a real accent. It was a really dominant sound in the northeastern part of America.

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