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In the Laurel & Hardy silent short "Soup to Nuts" the hostess tells the hired help (Ollie) she wants the salad served without dressing. Ollie passes the word on to Stan-- by telling him to "serve the salad undressed."
The pretty girl domestic says "I always serve it that way." But Stan only goes as far as his long underwear. One of the guests gives him a funny look and Stan says, "Can you imagine my embarrassment?"
I have a hunch this was a catchphrase from advertising (newpaper/magazine?) for some personal or household product that would keep you from looking (or smelling?) bad in front of others. Anybody know?
Also, a later Charley Chase short was titled "Imagine My Embarrassment."
(From the early 1970s, I remember "Don't wait to be told you need Palmolive Gold" and "Ring around the collar!")

Just saw the movie "So Long, Letty" from 1929... when Charlotte Greenwood receives word she's needed at home-- while she's inside a sauna box up to her neck, and having a mudpack facial-- she says, "Could you imagine my embarrassment?"

There's a Charley Chase short from 1928 titled "Imagine My Embarrassment." I'll bet someone with patience and access to microfilm of late-20's magazines could find the source, and I'll bet it's an ad.

Brad from Georgia wrote:There's a Charley Chase short from 1928 titled "Imagine My Embarrassment." I'll bet someone with patience and access to microfilm of late-20's magazines could find the source, and I'll bet it's an ad.

Ask and ye shall... This is from the Florida Flambeau, Dec. 6, 1929.

Certain Phrases Are Popular
“Imagine My Embarrassment” is Frequently Heard on Campus
“Imagine my embarrassment” has become a popular saying on Florida state campus, since the stage hit, “Desert Song” first made its appearance. This is due, perhaps, to the many situations that arise in which nothing seems more appropriate than, “Imagine my embarrassment.”

The play opened on Broadway in 1926.

Yhtapmys

I've done some reading on "The Desert Song" and searching for the phrase alongside that title, but I still don't know where it comes into the play.