"Pie in the sky" origin?

We know that "pie in the sky" is something expected or promised that isn't going to actually materialize. This is pretty much the common meaning of the phrase.

But where does it come from? Is it from a story? (Sort of the positive complement to the negative "cry 'wolf'" folk story and phrase meaning?

- Patty

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  • "Pie in the sky" ESC 08/20/01