Horace de Vere Cole, The Sultan of Pranks

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Several viewers have pointed out that the name "Chomondelay" is pronounced "Chumley."

[@CallieMasters5000]

The British have a long and colorful history of bastardizing foreign word pronunciations. How names are written often has little to do with how they're pronounced, or they're so altered over time it's hard to imagine what was the original name. Lots of fun!

[@annoloki]

"Bunga bunga", IIRC, was denied being said by the gang, but appeared in newspapers reporting on the prank. It became popular as a faux-African sound (like the "bar-bar" of how early Germanic languages sounded to Greeks, resulting in the name "barbarian" they used for the Germanic tribes) so it became used, often with somewhat racist connotations, to "impersonate" the sound of black people speaking. The Italian PM had dancers at his wild parties who would do an African/tribal style dance, so in the same derisive way, he would call it a bunga-bunga dance, but as the term had otherwise mostly been forgotten, it once again hit the newspapers who labelled the parties themselves as "so called bunga-bunga parties", imagining "bunga-bunga" was a sex reference, rather than understanding it as a racial derision of "primitive" African culture.

[@JohnP538]

Forgotten history - Jasper Maskelyne. He pranked the Nazis.

[@homefront3162]

annoloki lies

[@sbmartinsb]

Bunga bunga history Guy. I just wanted to thank you for your videos. I’m an Australian who has retired in Bali, Indonesia. I’m not much of a TV watcher, especially here. So watching KZbin videos is one of my pass times. I’m working my way through your videos and just wanted you to know how much I appreciate them.

[@TheWhoshoyu]

A friend saw my KZbin feed, which prominently featured The History Guy. He ask if I was “some kind of history buff.” I said “no...” “I just like good stories...and The History Guy has the BEST stories.” 🙇‍♂️🙇‍♂️🙇‍♂️

[@danstotland6386]

Superb video. The bald guy gag was repeated by Humphrey Bogart and fellow drunks, in the 1940's, by sending telegrams to various tenants of a high rise building opposite their hotel room. Some were instructed to turn off their lights and others to leave their lights shining as a test by Con Edison. Needless to say, the pattern made out a swear word that he and his friends, (co-conspirators), had a great laugh that evening.

[@Milen983]

Why is that funny to make people do things putting them in a position that makes them look foolish? Is that the power to control others that is funny? Because I don’t think if the opposite happened to the initiators of those “jokes”, they would be as amused. I don’t think anybody making pranks on others is worthy to make a history out of.

[@madgeordie4469]

Spelling out a rude word from an audience of bald heads! That's beyond good, it's inspired!!!

[@262marcus]

I agree, absolutely inspired!

[@karlcross9112]

I busted out laughing at that one.... Man this guy was great.

[@wisconsinfarmer4742]

I would have proudly participated with my dome.

[@TheTowerMacMaolain]

@@wisconsinfarmer4742 count me in

[@LazyIRanch]

Anyone know what the "rude word" was? Inquiring (and filthy) minds want to know!

[@edmain1137]

For a great book on the history of college pranks, read 'When at all possible involve a cow.' And in the 70s in Hollywood a prank was played at a famous restaurant. The rumor got out that an Arab sultan was buying a major movie studio, he was in town having dinner that night this establishment. Everybody who could be there wanted to have dinner that night to see this fabulously wealthy man. He arrived in his robes with an entourage surrounding him. On his belt was a bag of jewels. All eyes were on him as everyone saw him pull out of his bag a stone to loudly award to every server at his table. Getting up to leave his bag ripped as he stood up and all the precious stones rolled around the floor. His servants began to gather them up and hand them back to the potentate. He slapped their hands sending the jewels all over the floor saying, "We do not grovel as peasants." Then he strode out leading his party. As soon as he left Hollywood's finest, oscar winners, famous faces all drove for the floor fighting for the stones as children for candy from a pinata. Of course the next day they all learned the stones were all cheap costume jewelry, and there was no such sultan. I heard this tale as I worked in Hollywood, and it was in a book by James Bacon. Pranksters are alive and well. Enjoy your site.

[@pattidrier9593]

I really enjoyed your post. Thank you!!!

[@SynReaper9mm]

You left out that Abyssinia was a land locked country, and the excuse to see the HMS Dreadnought was for their navy. Still love your work :)

[@timothybolshaw]

Modern day Ethiopia is on the Red Sea and has many ports, notably Aseb and Mitsiwa. Some were already active during the era of the princes in Abyssinia.

[@IchabodvanTassel98]

​@@timothybolshawActually that was in Eritrea!

[@DoomerONE]

Okay simply brilliant, had to bring the kids in for this one and now I have a house full of kids repeating Bunge Bunga……….gee thanks :) Great video sir, definitely needed a laugh for this week thank you.

[@mikemcnamara1986]

Bunga, bunga!!!!!

[@sunnyjim1355]

This reminded me of an old joke from the 1970's UK in which the consequence of a certain choice was 'death by Bunga Bunga'...I never realised that it had historic relevance. Awesome. And good see that great memes live on. :D

[@VoIcanoman]

@@sunnyjim1355 Apparently, that was one of Berlusconi's favorite jokes...he himself called his sex parties "bunga bunga" parties in honor of the joke. The media leapt upon the term once the affairs became public knowledge. And bunga bunga lives on!

[@Blessedone333AZ]

So basically you're affirming that your kids are watching garbage? Yeah most people would be afraid of that! I don't think you would find it quite so funny if he was playing a prank against you! And you basically just showed your kids a shining example of what a fool looks like because he wasted all of his money and time on doing pranks while he died a pauper! You seriously are poor parent

[@DawnOldham]

Cameron seriously! Of the two commenters, I’d much rather parent like the one with a sense of humor. It’s always easy to use funny stories as a learning tool- by pointing out that an excess of pranking can lead to a mislead life. “Blessedone” sounds like the worst kind of parent: judgmental and harsh!

[@syedikramshah1590]

You're one 'Bunga Bunga' history guy! Thank you :)

[@nunyabidness117]

Considering all the tragedy and sadness in Virginia Woolf's life I'm glad she had some levity by participating in such an epic prank.

[@Sunokanse]

This one made me laugh. Thank you for sharing, because it does indeed deserved to be remembered.

[@culbered]

Thanks! I needed those laughs.

[@MisterMitchMM]

"Udderly" Hilarious. Thank you. All the best. Mitch

[@spazboy8962]

I haven't laughed that hard in awhile. I salute you good sir.

[@bigblue6917]

I knew about the Dreadnought hoax but I was only vaguely aware of the earlier one. You have to admire anyone who had the nerve to pull something like that off.

[@sunnyjim1355]

Dem fecking Irish, anything for the craic. :D

[@Blessedone333AZ]

Why do I have to admire it? He basically used identity theft to manipulate people! He created a vulgar word in bald heads! He spent all of his time wasted on pranks and lost money in business because he was an idiot! This guy is no one to admire

[@burnsmybritches5857]

@@Blessedone333AZ

[@billd.iniowa2263]

I wonder if it's from the ranks of such people that spies are recruited?

[@WendyLouPollock]

Thanks! Enjoyed very much

[@jimhailey5481]

Never commented before but never had a better reason. Don’t know why your channel doesn’t get more hits, I have liked it more than any other I have ever viewed on the Internet. Keep up the very good work, it is greatly appreciated here.

[@moniks2849]

Bunga bunga or death

[@valsblackcatsrule8740]

Oh, how I roared with laughter! I needed this chuckle today! Thank you for sharing a part of your day with us!

[@aehamilton7]

What a great rousing yarn that was thank you for bringing it to us. You always bring us such great stories. Keep up the good work.

[@TheAureliac]

Fry and Laurie's series about Jeeves and Wooster had an episode in which Bertie tried to pull off the Abyssinian gag. I never knew it was stolen before. Thanks.

[@jmeyer3rn]

This is the best. Thank you for a needed chuckle.

[@jimsvideos7201]

The string bit is utterly sublime.

[@sunnyjim1355]

But if you think about it, it sounds BS... couldn't be done.. and also how could the prankster slip away without both seeing him? Yeah, total BS.

[@chollocks]

Neville Chamberlain was involved in one of the pranks, digging up a busy London street. It is referred to in an episode of (fictional) Downton Abbey, where the Dowager Duchess uses her knowledge of the event to extort a favour from Neville

[@thejazzninja]

It is a miracle. KZbin recommended a channel/video that I actually enjoyed. Subscribed!

[@2LV2]

By far one of my favorites. This deserves to go viral. Shared!

[@trishthehomesteader9873]

Shared with my son who has that kind of wit.

[@BrendenParker]

I bet Neville Chamberlain had a laugh or two with his brother in law. He certainly could have used one in 1938. Bunga Bunga! All hail the merry prankster.

[@keithandrews7696]

New subscriber wishing the History Guy a very hearty BUNGA BUNGA!

[@gojumpintothelake]

It’s like your dad talking to you. This guy makes you fell good

[@amberbranks4209]

Bravo! 👏 Excellent video. Thank you for all this work! I appreciate your _love_ of History!

[@erictroxell2298]

this is so AWESOME. im going to say "bunga bunga " at work now!!! when they ask, i ll tell them to go here and watch . great job and wonderful presentation as usual.

[@geraldcarron9525]

Bunga Bunga History Guy! We are never disappointed watching any of your snippets of history that has either been missed or forgotten over time.

[@billpostscratcher2025]

"Death by Bunga Bunga" showed up as a one liner of sorts in a Weissmuller Tarzan film. I use the term "Death by Bunga Bunga" when ever I roll up a destructive attack in a wargame. "Death by Schnoo Schnoo" from Futurama is probably a related term.

[@dr.ofdubiouswisdom4189]

...One of my favorite jokes..."Bunga-Bunga or death!" "FU Chief, I'll take Death!" "Ok..... Death...Death BY Bunga-Bunga! ...and Zapp Brannigan himself should award you a medal for the 'Snu-Snu' reference. Classic.

[@bradleyweiss1089]

I’m pretty sure the bunga bunga phrase is used in the Gilligan’s Island show where the native family arrives looking for a husband for the plump daughter. The father says it in conversation with some castaways. Very clever Me Schwartz. “Mmm bunga bunga” he states.

[@BaldurtheImpious]

I love this story! I was waiting for you to report on this one, thanks so much!

[@SgtMjr]

How you could relate this tale maintaining a straight face the whole time astounds me. Bunga-Bunga to Sir!

[@jeffbangkok]

Thank you, almost rolled out of my chair laughing

[@thatsnodildo1974]

The Mad Lads. One of my favorite episodes to date simply because of how humorous it is. You produce great videos on history amd a lot of times we see more sorrow than humor but this episode was mostly up beat and had me laughing. Glad to know even back then people had a good sense of humor.

[@nikstone2420]

This is so refreshing, thank you.

[@dobypilgrim6160]

So obscure and yet such a very cool story. Thanks.

[@stephenbowman1888]

My favorite so far. Thank you!

[@mariemckeever828]

Awesome channel! I watch a few episodes a day! Great job!

[@OlivierSuire]

Touching, funny, informative. Great job history guy !

[@mikeb.5039]

I fell out of my chair watching this, thank you for making my day.

[@SteveG-pf9mq]

Maybe the best History Guy episode yet. Of course it starts with a good story. Bunga Bunga!

[@dr.ofdubiouswisdom4189]

" DELTA HOUSE !!! ...I'm immediately placing you ALL on double-secret probation !"

[@RENALCOP]

Dr. of Dubious Wisdom Hahahaha

[@constancemiller3753]

😎

[@v.e.7236]

As kids growing up in rural Michigan, we would say Bunga, Bunga before doing something we thought was crazy scary or just being rambunctious, in general. Thanks for the history behind the childhood.

[@jeffreyrobinson3555]

Read several of his exploits before, Still makes me chuckle, I think he smiles from heaven.

[@smithwilliamson3584]

That was outstanding. Thank you. In today's world, I dare say he probably would have been arrest for his pranks which is sad.

[@charlesdorval394]

Hats up to that guy, honestly, I've got a new hero lol Great videos, those snippets of history are just priceless

[@mikldude9376]

That was so good , can see these characters watching the ceremonial cannons firing chanting bunga bunga ...... tears rolling down my face :) .

[@Buck1954]

BUNGA BUNGA!! lol

[@tenhirankei]

Cowabunga!

[@huziehiro5436]

Bunga means flowers

[@absinth9288]

i am amazed that Silvio B. knows history so well. or he is older than he says he is....

[@constancemiller3753]

Bunga bunga!🥳🥳🥳👳‍♂️👳‍♀️🃏

[@LazyIRanch]

This is so friggin great! Truth is funnier than fiction. Very sad that he died in poverty, though. He inspired future pranksters to achieve greatness. If TV had been around, no doubt he would have created something like "Candid Camera". I love you, "History Guy"! Thanks for another fascinating glimpse of neglected history.

[@billhunt2605]

Bunga Bunga!! Well done sir. Had me laughing the entire time!! Right up my alley, as i am a very immature 50+ year old man that enjoys a good laugh, usually at the expense of someone else😂😂. Keep up the great work!! Love your channel.

[@Blessedone333AZ]

You are the perfect example of the low IQ KZbin troll

[@goosiechild]

@@Blessedone333AZ i know your are, but what is he?

[@pyrodoll2422]

Absolutely marvellous!

[@marbleman52]

This was fun...!! I love satire, especially when directed to the 'elitist' class who seem to be oh so stuffy and 'too big for their britches', and almost always without any sense of self deprecating humor. When we get to where we can't laugh at ourselves, then it's a sad day for us all.

[@warrenny]

Wow. Criticizing a whole class of people, that takes a lot of courage and intellectual perspective. Discriminate much?

[@mikemcnamara1986]

Just got off the phone with my youngest son. Bought both sons Bunga Bunga T-shirts for Christmas. We both gasped laughing with how cool the Bunga Bunga story is, and the outstanding way you present it. So how about an episode on how Churchill disliked ending a sentence with a preposition? My sons both love history.

[@terryhill6935]

Great story and storyteller..nonfiction can be the most unbelievable, and all so true.

[@harrisonvc9175]

I chuckled at the beginning..... tears started forming @4:43..... my dog is staring at me panicking now lol

[@larryriedinger8528]

What a wondrously hilarious story! Thanks much!

[@pferris3591]

Just found this one, and heartily enjoyed it! Very interesting tale indeed. ☺

[@joachimguderian4048]

Horace was an obvious master at his craft. It’s very sad how his life ended up. Penniless but now not forgotten.

[@bullettube9863]

Not just a story about pranks, but about connections! He had a friend on HMS Hawke? The same ship that collided with the liner Olympia, Titanic's sister ship? I mean WOW!

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Bullettube yes, the same HMS Hawke. De Vere Cole did come from the strata of society where he would be well connected.

[@horrorationeilsen7332]

HMS Hawke in turn was sunk Oct. 14, '14 by the famous U-9 KptLt. Otto Weddigen, who just 3 weeks before would forever cement the submarine as a war winning weapon sinking 3 British armored cruisers with a loss of some 1400 lives. Weddigen himself would ironically be crushed under foot of HMS Dreadnaught commanding another more modern U-boat. Talk abt. "the six degrees of seperation" !!!

[@michaelbirch8666]

Yup, Cholmondeley = "Chum-Lee"... see the Wikipedia entry on Cholmondeley Castle. BTW I loathed history at school; apart from the fact that I'm older than you, why couldn't you have been my history teacher?!

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Yes, sorry, there was no pronunciation guide for Cholmondeley. It is fitting that De Vere Cole chose that name.

[@richardsteele6776]

This was pure fun. I can’t imagine the shock it caused when he cut that utter off.

[@kristenheuer5676]

I watch this video when ever I need a good laugh. Thanks HG

[@sameyers2670]

Thank you I enjoyed this video. Bunga Bunga

[@hortondlfn1994]

This had me in stitches!

[@normanboyes4983]

Enjoyed that 👍

[@johnnedward1083]

How is this not a movie' this guy was awesome.

[@benjaminbrewer2569]

My favorite KZbin prank video.

[@seanworkman431]

I don't know where you find this stuff but that was an hilarious story. Bunga Bunga. Great work H.G.

[@shobhanadhage6600]

This aspect of Virginia Woolf came as a surprise. I have enjoyed all that I have watched. My day is incomplete without the history guy.

[@robertaller4776]

Delightful light-hearted stuff! Definitely history to be remembered Bunga bunga!

[@DGKED-td7mf]

Bunga bunga! OMG why was this never made a movie laughing with tears!

[@garyevans3421]

This guy was born 50 or 60 years too soon. He would’ve been a legend filming his pranks for a BBC show!

[@samueldamewood5273]

Thanks History Guy, I needed a good laugh to start the day.

[@Rif_Leman]

The cow utter prank made my sides hurt! OMG that was funny!

[@troynewly]

Loved this Chomondelay fellow - I laughed heartily throughout this episode. What a character! Sad he died as he did, yet he obviously enjoyed life, honoring the value of comedy throughout.

[@OldSchool1947]

WONDERFUL! Thank you!

[@weeniedogwrangler7096]

To quote Bugs Bunny in the 1950 cartoon "Bushy Hare", Unga bunga bunga, inga binga binga bunn-ga.

[@tonyk438]

I didn't scroll down far enough. I remembered it from growing up in US Midwest in 1960s. Found same Bugs Bunny you did.

[@dugroz]

here is that clip! - kzbin.info/www/bejne/qX_cioCjqr9_npI

[@johndifrancisco3642]

@@dugroz, Thanks for the link! I thought the title was Nature Boy. I had a "supervisor" who came out of his office screaming a LOT of mornings like a madman. I gave him the Unga Bunga line in response one morning and we got along a lot better after that :)

[@mikemcnamara1986]

Cowabunga!

[@Tmrfe0962]

Ya beat me to it...

[@theanomalous1401]

That was a very funny and well told story sir. Well done! But, at the end when the connection to Chamberlain was revealed, it was like feeling the sting of a thousand honeybees.

[@scotto9591]

All of this seems like something that Sacha Baron Cohen would do. creativity like this is wonderful and humorous

[@reh3ddoes]

I laughed pretty hard at some of those pranks. Well worth remembering. TY.

[@SilasCochran-zq5de]

I had to listen to it again I love this guy

[@tolfan4438]

We need to revive bunga-bunga and we need to make this Vans birthday a national holiday in England and America

[@randelbrooks]

sounds like something straight out of PG Wodehouse! One of the best shows you’ve ever done I’ve only just found it and it is now September 2022. I hope the old boy didn’t die too badly off considering his brother-in-law was Neville Chamberlain and he obviously had many other great connections.

[@trishthehomesteader9873]

I literally laughed out loud! 😂 So did my 94 y.o. mom. 😁

[@skippingstones2023]

Before introducing two people to each other my dad would, beforehand, tell each person to yell because the other was hard of hearing. Amongst the noise, dad would be cracking up.

[@Rorkazak]

That was excellent !

[@michaelmcarthy7045]

Love history love your Snippets. I am the last of the American hippie Rainbow Warrior of the 1960s. We enjoyed Pranksters, making pranks, being known as the merry Pranksters. Our endeavors with LSD in public opinion certainly Changed History!

[@nulife022]

That was terrific. Monty Python of the turn of the century. Bunga bunga!

[@ernesttravers7517]

That was a classic Incredible Keep em comin

[@lunasea2541]

My favorite by far!

[@Phoenix-ej2sh]

bunga bunga

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Dawn Alderman Bunga Bunga!

[@mkendallpk4321]

@@TheHistoryGuyChannel 🤣 😂 🤣

[@167curly]

What refreshing humour played on stuffy old admirals. Absolutely hilarous! Bunga Bunga

[@PhantomLover007]

A rousing good tale. Thank you THG. I could not stop laughing at all the antics. It is sad that he passed away during a very crucial time when the world needed laughter the most. Bunga Bunga

[@leifcrenshaw3425]

He kind of sound's like the Victorian Victorian era of Tyler Durden from Fight Club. I wonder if they'll ever make a movie about him. Anyway thank's for sharing BUNGA, BUNGA!!

[@murphy13295]

This reminded me of the old joke punch line , " But first , Bunga Bunga "

[@randallfabian6640]

Bloody Brilliant!

[@joshgeiger9090]

Honestly amazing.

[@lauriesmith3443]

The cow udder story is just hilarious. Although I will not be telling my sons about it LOL! Bunga bunga!

[@mickeymet6973]

LOL, I'm almost caught up with watching all your video's. . . I've seen "Bunga bunga" a number of times in the comments along the way. . . Now I know. . . Yup. . . Now I know! You certainly do make History fun to Remember! Merry Christmas to you and yours! Bunga Bunga!