What does southern gentlemen had nothing on johnny cade mean?

Answer 1

when johnny and ponyboy were held up in that church they read Gone with the Wind and johnny was talking about how brave those southern gentlemen were. ponyboy meant that when johnny saved those little kids he was much braver then them.

Answer 2

Johnny liked how the southern gentlemen acted in Gone with the Wind. He liked how gallant they were.

When Ponyboy says they had nothing on Johnny Cade, he was saying that Johnny was far more gallant then they were.

Answer 3

he says Johnny's better than southern gentlemen (Socs')

Answer 4

It means that in that moment, the Southern Gentlemen never felt as gallant or as proud as Johnny did of himself.