Catherine O'Leary - Cultural References

Cultural References

The story of Mrs. O'Leary's Cow has garnered the attention and imagination of generations as the cause of the fire. Popular culture, such as Gary Larson's cartoon The Far Side, Brian Wilson's song "Mrs. O'Leary's Cow", the song "The Chicken or the Egg" from The Easter Bunny Is Comin' To Town, and Rita Hayworth's song "Put the Blame on Mame" from the movie Gilda and even Quentin Tarantino's debut film Reservoir Dogs have referred to the story with the expectation that the populace will understand the reference.

Popular 1930s character actress Alice Brady won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance as Mrs. O'Leary in the film In Old Chicago, in which she is portrayed as a heroic figure. The film dramatizes a variant of the traditional story. She is helping her cow to suckle a new calf, but accidentally leaves the lantern behind when she departs in a hurry, after being told that one of her sons has been injured in a fight.

"Madam O'Leary" is a song by Chicago indie rock band, Welcome To Ashley. It appears on their 2007 EP, entitled The Catbird Seat.

Years later, people would sing a parody to the minstrel song There'll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight:

Late one night, when we were all in bed,

Old Mother Leary left a lantern in the shed;

And when the cow kicked it over, she winked her eye and said,

"There'll be a hot time in the old town, tonight."

Chicago Fire Soccer Club's supporters Section 8 are known to sing this parody during a game.