Rhyming Bingo Calls
In land based bingo there is a tradition of rhyming bingo calls shouted out by the host as the numbers are called. But why did this come about?
The significance of having rhyming calls is so that the bingo players have a better understanding of the call. When played with many people it can be noisy and hard to hear the number. But with the associated rhyme players are able to quickly know what number it is, even if they were unable to hear the call of the number. However, now with modern technology and large screens displaying the number we are not in need of the rhymes. However, you will find they are still called out of habit and a reminiscing fondness.
These calls mainly come from the UK bingo halls where hosts would rhyme for a bit of fun. Because of this quite a few of the calls come from Cockney rhyming slang. Some come from historical references and some, more famous ones, come from the shape of the number in reference. The historical and description calls are commonly used in the US but you will not tend to find them using the Cockney slang ones. This is due to the fact that in America they play the 75-ball bingo game rather than the 90-ball game, so less numbers are used, tending to exclude the numbers that have Cockney rhyming.
Some of the more well known rhymes are: Two Fat Ladies 88, Legs Eleven, 11, Ask for more 34 , Duck and dive 25 , Clean the floor 54, Jump and jive 35 and Rise and shine 29. This little ‘ditties’ really add a little life and sparkle to the game and have become what bingo is famous for.
Perhaps these rhymes are what give bingo such character and consequently make it really popular. The joy of learning the rhymes, calling them out with the host is great fun.
