Show box aex xex term jitney traced to louisiana negroes the word jitney y which has haa been u used sed intermittently and in various sections of the united states for many years and which suddenly sprang into general use at the time the 5 cent busses and flivvers were ere str sarling lIng to settle tile the local traffic problems of many cities had a curious origin A minstrel troupe was playing in baton rouge la to in a theater where the highest gallery was reserved tor for negroes no gallery tickets were sold a member of the troupe being placed at the door to take cash the door was in a poorly lighted space and ami later the collector discovered two score of plain metal disks the size of a 5 cent piece that had been passed as nickels DIC kels one of the minstrels showed the disks to a negro who explained derns demb jitneys jit they were jentons the metal disks as markers in a gambling house negro attendant had find stolen the jet tons and was passing them as in money ill Z the rhe minstrel troupe seized upon t the word and thereafter a 5 cent piece was aas a jitney and the word spread until it came caine into common we use liberty |