Sister Mary Elephant
Encyclopedia
Sister Mary Elephant is a comedy skit
by Cheech and Chong
. The recording was released as a single
in 1973 and climbed to #24 on the Billboard Hot 100
in early 1974. It was also included on Cheech and Chong's second album, Big Bambu
, released in 1972.
nun
substitute
teacher
(voiced by Cheech) teaching in a parochial school
("Our Lady of 115th Street") classroom
of exceedingly irreverent, noisy teenage
boy
s (voiced by Cheech and Chong through overdubbing). She attempts to teach the class, but the boys totally ignore her. She then tries to get the boys' attention by speaking increasingly loudly, to no avail, and then finally screams, "SHUDD-UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUP!" at the top of her lungs, in startling contrast to her usually placid manner. She follows this with a once again prissy "Thank you". This becomes a running joke throughout the skit.
Sister Mary Elephant announces that she is the substitute for their regular teacher, Sister Rosetta Stone
, who has sent her love and the artwork she is making: fingerpaint
ings and dustcloths, indicating that she has likely been institutionalized. After introducing herself, the class erupts in laughter
upon hearing the substitute's name, prompting a repetition of the above routine. Sister Mary Elephant then asks a student to give her his knife
. He complies, but not quite the way she had in mind (we hear it come flying and stick in the wall with a twang). She responds with another prissy "Thank you". She continues to try to teach the class, during which the boys continue talking, necessitating further repetitions of the screaming bit.
Sister Mary Elephant tells the class that they will read their previously assigned essay
s on "How I Spent My Summer Vacation
". She chooses one boy (Chong), who stands up and reads in a monotone voice how on the first day he woke up, went downtown to look for a job
, then hung out
in front of the drugstore
. He repeatedly describes this same daily routine verbatim for each day of his vacation as well. Sister Mary tries to get the student to stop reading, but he ignores her and continues, finally noting that on the fourth day he got a job keeping people from hanging out in front of the drugstore. Sister Mary beseeches the boy to "SHUT UP!" before he can continue any further.
Sister Mary Elephant then reads from a book of excessively flowery poetry
. The class responds with their usual razzing
but fall silent except for scattered snoring
after a few verses. Once again she goes into her "Class...claaaass...CLAAAAAAASS...", but this time it's, "WAKE UUUUUUUPPPPPPP!" The sketch ends here with Chong declaring "I still gotta go to the can, Man."
LP
. The nun introduces the titular narcotics officer (voiced by Chong) as a guest speaker. Her rowdy classroom immediately falls silent at the mention of Stadenko's profession
. Later one student (voiced by Cheech) rats out
another student, Billy (voiced by Chong) to Stadenko for selling him oregano
packaged as marijuana. The students begin fighting
and Sister Mary beseeches Stadenko to intervene. Stadenko sheepishly informs her that he will call the police
.
The two skits are segue
d together on Cheech & Chong's Greatest Hit
.
Sketch comedy
A sketch comedy consists of a series of short comedy scenes or vignettes, called "sketches," commonly between one and ten minutes long. Such sketches are performed by a group of comic actors or comedians, either on stage or through an audio and/or visual medium such as broadcasting...
by Cheech and Chong
Cheech and Chong
Cheech & Chong are a comedy duo consisting of Richard "Cheech" Marin and Tommy Chong, who found a wide audience in the 1970s and 1980s for their films and stand-up routines, which were based on the hippie and free love era, and especially drug culture movements, most notably their love for...
. The recording was released as a single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
in 1973 and climbed to #24 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in early 1974. It was also included on Cheech and Chong's second album, Big Bambu
Big Bambu
Big Bambú is the second album by Cheech & Chong, released in 1972. The name Big Bambu is a reference to a type of rolling paper made by the Bambu company; the original LP sleeve was designed by Ernie Cefalu and manufactured to look like a giant rolling paper package, and originally contained a...
, released in 1972.
Synopsis
The title character is an exceedingly prissy, monotoneMonotone
Monotone refers to a sound, for example speech or music, that has a single unvaried tone.Monotone or monotonicity may also refer to:*Monotone , an open source revision control system*Monotone class theorem, in measure theory...
nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
substitute
Substitute teacher
A substitute teacher is a person who teaches a school class when the regular teacher is unavailable; e.g., because of illness, personal leave, or other reasons. "Substitute teacher" is the most commonly used phrase in the United States, Canada and Ireland, while supply teacher is the most commonly...
teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
(voiced by Cheech) teaching in a parochial school
Parochial school
A parochial school is a school that provides religious education in addition to conventional education. In a narrower sense, a parochial school is a Christian grammar school or high school which is part of, and run by, a parish.-United Kingdom:...
("Our Lady of 115th Street") classroom
Classroom
A classroom is a room in which teaching or learning activities can take place. Classrooms are found in educational institutions of all kinds, including public and private schools, corporations, and religious and humanitarian organizations...
of exceedingly irreverent, noisy teenage
Adolescence
Adolescence is a transitional stage of physical and mental human development generally occurring between puberty and legal adulthood , but largely characterized as beginning and ending with the teenage stage...
boy
Boy
A boy is a young male human , as contrasted to its female counterpart, girl, or an adult male, a man.The term "boy" is primarily used to indicate biological sex distinctions, cultural gender role distinctions or both...
s (voiced by Cheech and Chong through overdubbing). She attempts to teach the class, but the boys totally ignore her. She then tries to get the boys' attention by speaking increasingly loudly, to no avail, and then finally screams, "SHUDD-UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUP!" at the top of her lungs, in startling contrast to her usually placid manner. She follows this with a once again prissy "Thank you". This becomes a running joke throughout the skit.
Sister Mary Elephant announces that she is the substitute for their regular teacher, Sister Rosetta Stone
Rosetta Stone
The Rosetta Stone is an ancient Egyptian granodiorite stele inscribed with a decree issued at Memphis in 196 BC on behalf of King Ptolemy V. The decree appears in three scripts: the upper text is Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, the middle portion Demotic script, and the lowest Ancient Greek...
, who has sent her love and the artwork she is making: fingerpaint
Fingerpaint
Fingerpaint is a kind of paint intended to be applied with the fingers; it typically comes in pots and is used by small children, though it has occasionally been used by adults either to teach art to children, or for their own use....
ings and dustcloths, indicating that she has likely been institutionalized. After introducing herself, the class erupts in laughter
Laughter
Laughing is a reaction to certain stimuli, fundamentally stress, which serves as an emotional balancing mechanism. Traditionally, it is considered a visual expression of happiness, or an inward feeling of joy. It may ensue from hearing a joke, being tickled, or other stimuli...
upon hearing the substitute's name, prompting a repetition of the above routine. Sister Mary Elephant then asks a student to give her his knife
Knife
A knife is a cutting tool with an exposed cutting edge or blade, hand-held or otherwise, with or without a handle. Knives were used at least two-and-a-half million years ago, as evidenced by the Oldowan tools...
. He complies, but not quite the way she had in mind (we hear it come flying and stick in the wall with a twang). She responds with another prissy "Thank you". She continues to try to teach the class, during which the boys continue talking, necessitating further repetitions of the screaming bit.
Sister Mary Elephant tells the class that they will read their previously assigned essay
Essay
An essay is a piece of writing which is often written from an author's personal point of view. Essays can consist of a number of elements, including: literary criticism, political manifestos, learned arguments, observations of daily life, recollections, and reflections of the author. The definition...
s on "How I Spent My Summer Vacation
Summer vacation
Summer vacation is a vacation in the summertime between school years in which students and instructors are off school typically between 6 and 12 weeks, depending on the country and district.-Students:In some countries, students participate in programs such as organized sports, summer camps, and...
". She chooses one boy (Chong), who stands up and reads in a monotone voice how on the first day he woke up, went downtown to look for a job
Employment
Employment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. An employee may be defined as:- Employee :...
, then hung out
Loitering
Loitering is the act of remaining in a particular public place for a protracted time. Under certain circumstances, it is illegal in various jurisdictions.-Prohibition and history:Loitering may be prohibited by local governments in several countries...
in front of the drugstore
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
. He repeatedly describes this same daily routine verbatim for each day of his vacation as well. Sister Mary tries to get the student to stop reading, but he ignores her and continues, finally noting that on the fourth day he got a job keeping people from hanging out in front of the drugstore. Sister Mary beseeches the boy to "SHUT UP!" before he can continue any further.
Sister Mary Elephant then reads from a book of excessively flowery poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
. The class responds with their usual razzing
Insult
An insult is an expression, statement which is considered degrading and offensive. Insults may be intentional or accidental...
but fall silent except for scattered snoring
Snoring
Snoring is the vibration of respiratory structures and the resulting sound, due to obstructed air movement during breathing while sleeping. In some cases the sound may be soft, but in other cases, it can be loud and unpleasant...
after a few verses. Once again she goes into her "Class...claaaass...CLAAAAAAASS...", but this time it's, "WAKE UUUUUUUPPPPPPP!" The sketch ends here with Chong declaring "I still gotta go to the can, Man."
Sergeant Stadanko
The character of Sister Mary Elephant reappeared in a later Cheech and Chong skit Sergeant Stadanko, on their Los CochinosLos Cochinos
Los Cochinos is a 1973 comedy album recorded by Cheech & Chong. The Spanish term cochino is a derogatory way of referring to a pig, as it also means "dirty", in contrast to cerdo, a more neutral word for a pig as an animal...
LP
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
. The nun introduces the titular narcotics officer (voiced by Chong) as a guest speaker. Her rowdy classroom immediately falls silent at the mention of Stadenko's profession
Profession
A profession is a vocation founded upon specialized educational training, the purpose of which is to supply disinterested counsel and service to others, for a direct and definite compensation, wholly apart from expectation of other business gain....
. Later one student (voiced by Cheech) rats out
Informant
An informant is a person who provides privileged information about a person or organization to an agency. The term is usually used within the law enforcement world, where they are officially known as confidential or criminal informants , and can often refer pejoratively to the supply of information...
another student, Billy (voiced by Chong) to Stadenko for selling him oregano
Oregano
Oregano – scientifically named Origanum vulgare by Carolus Linnaeus – is a common species of Origanum, a genus of the mint family . It is native to warm-temperate western and southwestern Eurasia and the Mediterranean region.Oregano is a perennial herb, growing from 20–80 cm tall,...
packaged as marijuana. The students begin fighting
Combat
Combat, or fighting, is a purposeful violent conflict meant to establish dominance over the opposition, or to terminate the opposition forever, or drive the opposition away from a location where it is not wanted or needed....
and Sister Mary beseeches Stadenko to intervene. Stadenko sheepishly informs her that he will call the police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
.
The two skits are segue
Segue
A segue is a smooth transition from one topic or section to the next.-In music:In music, segue is a direction to the performer. It means continue without a pause. It comes from the Italian "it follows". The term attacca is also used in classical music.For written music it implies a transition...
d together on Cheech & Chong's Greatest Hit
Cheech & Chong's Greatest Hit
Cheech & Chong's Greatest Hit is a comedy album by Cheech & Chong. The album is a "greatest hits" compilation, featuring some of their best known comedy bits. Much to some fans disliking, some tracks were edited for this release. Oddly, the 1:34 track "Dave" is broken into two separate tracks,...
.