Benny is a derogatory term used by residents of the northern Jersey Shore towns for tourists that visit each summer. The term is predominately used by locals from the beach and nearby towns. The term's use is widely found from Sandy Hook to Long Beach Island. In contrast, the term 'Shoobie' is used by residents of the southern NJ shore, predominately Long Beach Island to Cape May. In Maryland, the term is used as a pejorative slang term to describe anyone of apparent mental slowness, especially by children (derived from the character of the same name, played by Paul Henry in the soap opera Crossroads). In parts of England it is also used to describe a person in a fit of rage or having a tantrum as in "He's having a benny". Other slang uses of "Benny" include a nickname for the drug "Benzedrine", as well as a term referring to an overcoat. [1]
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History
Locals say that the term stands for the names of the cities along the New Jersey Transit - North Jersey Coast Line: Bayonne, Elizabeth, Newark, and New York, although this may be a backronym. A further theory to the origin of this word comes from an earlier time. In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s many of the resort areas around New York City were restricted. Jews (as well as other ethnic groups) were not allowed in these resort areas. Many Jewish families would vacation at the Jersey Shore. The town of Lakewood became a popular resort destination. The local population referred to these visitors as “Bennies” from the very common Jewish name of Benjamin. In later years the term has been used to describe anyone that visits the Jersey Shore. Another explanation relates to a supposed tourist ad campaign that recommended that visitors come to the lake to enjoy the "Beneficial Rays of the Sun", leading to the phrase "Catching the Bennies". Yet another possible explanation for the term "Bennies" comes from the tourist's supposed penchant for paying for many of their purchases with one hundred dollar bills. With the image of Benjamin Franklin on the bill, the term "Bennie" was coined.
Stereotypical Behavior
- Asking for directions back to the Parkway
- Asking for directions to the beach
- Wearing sneakers or socks with sandals on the beach
- Quickly acquiring a full-body sunburn
- Crowding the stores and restaurants and generally making life difficult for year-round residents.
- Asking for change for a dollar in quarters and dimes for use on the parkway tolls.
- Having a "farmer's tan" or "t-shirt tan"
- Getting in the way of surfers or body boarders in the ocean.
- Getting into arguments and sometimes even fights with locals
- Talking with a distinct New York or North Jersey accent
- Calling the beach "the shore"
- Are known to say, "I own this town."
- Arriving on Memorial Day and leaving on Labor Day.
- Asking where to find the beer in convenience stores (By law, beer is not sold in convenience stores in NJ, only in liquor stores).
There are a number of dog phrases around the shore, with the most popular one being "Benny Go Home!"[1]
There are two songs describing a stereotypical Benny one is titled "I'm A Benny" by Mike Mullane.[2] the other is "Seaside Tony" by 7minds [3]
Areas of Use
- Asbury Park
- Allenhurst
- Avon
- Barnegat
- Barnegat Light
- Bayhead
- Bayville
- Beach Haven
- Beachwood
- Belmar
- Berkley Township
- Bradley Beach
- Brick
- Bricktown
- Brielle
- Deal
- Chadwick Beach
- Chadwick Island
- Forked River
- Harvey Cedars
- Lacey Township
- Lavallette
- Little Silver
- Long Branch
- Manahawkin
- Manasquan
- Mantoloking
- Monmouth Beach
- Monterey Beach
- Normandy Beach
- Normandy Shores
- North Lavallette
- Ocean Beach 1
- Ocean Beach 2
- Ocean Beach 3
- Oceanport
- Ocean Township
- Ortley Beach
- Pelican Island
- Pine Beach
- Point Pleasant Beach
- Point Pleasant Borough
- Red Bank
- Sandy Hook
- Sea Bright
- Sea Girt
- Seaside Heights
- Seaside Park
- Ship Bottom
- Shrewsbury
- Silver Beach
- South Seaside Park
- South Toms River
- Spring Lake
- Surf City
- Toms River
- Waretown
- West Long Branch
- West Point Island
Sources
- Benny Go Home.com
- Benny (Bayonne, Elizabeth, Newark, New York acronym?)
- Click here to hear the song "I'm A Benny" by Mike Mullane and The Traveling Cunanans.
- NJ documentary - Benny segment
- ^ Burroughs, William; Oliver Harris (50 Anv edition (April 1, 2003)). Junky: The Definitive Text of Junk. New York: Penguin (Non-Classics), 129. ISBN 0-14-20.0316-6.
