Green’s Dictionary of Slang

sentimental, melodramatic, nonsensical.

1915		Eve. public Ledger (Phila., PA) 13 Feb. 4/4: Al Jolson’s ‘Hokum’ Stuff. ‘Believe me, many a two-dollar show has been saved by “hokum stuff”,’ said Al Jolson.
1926		J. Tully Jarnegan (1928) 238: I’ve never directed a decent picture yet – but I know hokum drama.
1935		O.O. McIntyre New York Day by Day 13 June [synd. col.] The play was one of those hokum oddities called ‘Three Men on a Horse.’.
1952		W. Winchell On Broadway 30 Sept. [synd. col.] Eddie Condon’s pet capsule critique of a hokumy meller-drama: ‘Foul Play!’.
1984		W. Diehl Hooligans (2003) 35: I traced every hokum lead, every sour tip.