# 1920' style death ray **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 20, 2004, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920-style-death-ray/246226 "2004-05-20T18:44:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920-style-death-ray/246226/1 "2004-05-20T18:44:20Z")
What the original story behind the 1920’s style deat rays? I didn’t make a search because it would most probably have turned some thousands of posts not giving any explanation. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Zagna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@El\_Zagna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Zagna)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920-style-death-ray/246226/2 "2004-05-20T18:52:49Z")
I think the title of the thread was “Are scaler weapons fo real?” ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920-style-death-ray/246226/3 "2004-05-20T18:54:32Z")
Here’s a thread that deals with the origin, complete with links: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=254038&highlight=death+origin](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=254038&highlight=death+origin) ---
**Author:** ![RiverRunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/977dab/32.png) [@RiverRunner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RiverRunner)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920-style-death-ray/246226/4 "2004-05-20T19:34:44Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Here’s a thread that deals with the origin, complete with links: > > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=254038&highlight=death+origin](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=254038&highlight=death+origin) Yeah, that was a fun thread, although not the most productive in SDMB GQ history. RR ---
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920-style-death-ray/246226/5 "2004-05-20T19:43:32Z")
Though the OP has been answered already via a link to an explanatory thread, I’ll provide a direct link to the original thread. This phrase comes from **Dogface’s** accidental triple post in this [this inexplicably hilarious thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=202225), spawned this thread: [1920’s death ray DEBUNKED](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=209654); And this thread: [I have solved the death ray problem](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=209831); And this: [ENOUGH with the 1920’s death rays!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=209870) In my memory, this phrase spread the furthest and fastest of any. An uncontrolled wildfire of humor. ---
**Author:** ![Dignan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@Dignan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dignan)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920-style-death-ray/246226/6 "2004-05-20T19:51:43Z")
OH! A 1920’_s_ style death ray. I thought this thread would have a question about a 1,920 foot style of death ray. To my knowledge, no such thing exists. ---
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920-style-death-ray/246226/7 "2004-05-20T20:02:59Z")
> [@](#): > > Yeah, that was a fun thread, although not the most productive in SDMB GQ history. Not productive? You must be crazy. That thread gave rise to quite possibly the most popular, most used phrase in SDMB history! What the heck definition of productive do you use? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920-style-death-ray/246226/8 "2004-05-20T23:38:43Z")
Ah yes that brings back memories. I was proud to have made a few of those 1,000 plus posts. You know why the thread was closed don’t you? We were getting close … \*\*\*too close \* \*\* … to the answer. So, the Powers That Be (the Illuminatti, the Trilateral Commission, The New World Order, The Shadow Government, etc) had to swing into action and suppress the truth. I’d say more but I’m in fear of my life as it is. Oh and besides that , it time for my medication. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920-style-death-ray/246226/9 "2004-05-21T00:13:40Z")
Thanks for your answers. I didn’t read the 1018 posts of the original thread, though. I think I nevertheless got the general idea… ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920-style-death-ray/246226/10 "2004-05-21T01:43:49Z")
Ah, but you haven’t heard [Paul Harvey][The Rest of The Story](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=247475&highlight=deaf+rays)[PH]: ---
**Author:** ![RandomLetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8edcca/32.png) [@RandomLetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandomLetters)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920-style-death-ray/246226/11 "2004-05-21T10:44:55Z")
Ah, they’re 1920’s style “Death Rays.” ---
**Author:** ![smam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/46a35a/32.png) [@smam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smam)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920-style-death-ray/246226/12 "2004-05-21T11:01:10Z")
etc. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920-style-death-ray/246226/13 "2004-05-21T11:36:56Z")
And whatever you do - don’t use the phrase in an attempt to be humerous or you’ll be jumped on by some f\*\*king jerk who will chide you for using it, even though he/she has used it themselves. Can you tell I’m bitter? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920-style-death-ray/246226/14 "2004-05-21T13:01:26Z")
> [@furt](#): > > Ah, but you haven’t heard [Paul Harvey][The Rest of The Story](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=247475&highlight=deaf+rays)[PH]: I don’t know how I missed that thread **furt**. Kudos to you and **mangetout** ---
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920-style-death-ray/246226/15 "2004-05-21T13:07:00Z")
> [@BwanaBob](#): > > And whatever you do - don’t use the phrase in an attempt to be humerous or you’ll be jumped on by some f\*\*king jerk who will chide you for using it, even though he/she has used it themselves. > > Can you tell I’m bitter? 😉 I think the proper 1920s style warning would have been to say, “don’t use it if you know what’s good for you.” ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920-style-death-ray/246226/16 "2004-05-21T13:16:25Z")
Somehow I just know that this thread is going to be on the board all day… ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920-style-death-ray/246226/17 "2004-05-21T13:35:21Z")
The principle commercial usage of 1920’s Style Death Rays is to burn your dog. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![smam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/46a35a/32.png) [@smam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smam)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920-style-death-ray/246226/18 "2004-05-21T13:53:39Z")
Burnt dog can be kept fresh for up to 4 weeks inside a cooler of death. ---
**Author:** ![BJMoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@BJMoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BJMoose)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920-style-death-ray/246226/19 "2004-05-21T14:28:12Z")
From the _Official Death-Ray Operator’s Manual and Limerick Book_: “When operating a ray gun of fatalistic capabilities, especially one more than seventy-five years old, it is important that the enduser aforesaid wear a protective head device manufactured from virgin tin foil.” ---
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2004, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920-style-death-ray/246226/20 "2004-05-21T14:45:39Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > The principle commercial usage of 1920’s Style Death Rays is to burn your dog. 🙂 Heh, heh. For the inevitable query, here is the [I burning your dog](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=203185) thread. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1920-style-death-ray/246226.md?page=2)