1. Originated in Oakland in the mid-70s.
2. Original pronunciation of "hella".
3. Was funny because it confused people.
4. First used in a movie:
E.T. (1982). Boy looks in fridge and
mumbles to himself, "nothin' but hella shit in here."
5. Kids began to say "heck of" to keep from getting in trouble w/ parents.
6. Phrase was never "
hell of a."