# Chippendales and Chip 'n' Dale's Rescue Rangers - any connection? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 18, 2003, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chippendales-and-chip-n-dales-rescue-rangers-any-connection/149530 "2003-01-18T20:36:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![knock\_knock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/22d042/32.png) [@knock\_knock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knock_knock)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chippendales-and-chip-n-dales-rescue-rangers-any-connection/149530/1 "2003-01-18T20:36:04Z")
There is a Disney cartoon called Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Rescue Rangers (or Chip ‘n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers) about chipmunks (led by Dale and Chip) who solve crimes & mysteries. There is a male exotic dancing group called Chippendales who do a striptease. This is an eery similarity. Is there any connection between the two? Which came first? I couldn’t decide which would be more disturbing, if a children’s cartoon was named after a group of male exotic dancers or if a group of male exotic dancers was named after a children’s cartoon. So, I’m hoping that there is no causal relationship between the names - that it’s all a coincidence. However, unless they were created at approximately the same time, it’s hard to believe that the creator of the later one had never heard of the earlier one. Is it possible that they were both named after something else? The names of the Rescue Rangers were not just chosen randomly - one fat chipmunk who liked cheese was named Monterey Jack. So, which is it? Cartoon named after dancers? Dancers named after cartoon? Both named after something else? Or just a disturbing coincidence? ---
**Author:** ![MadScientistMatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@MadScientistMatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadScientistMatt)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chippendales-and-chip-n-dales-rescue-rangers-any-connection/149530/2 "2003-01-18T20:42:21Z")
Well, the term “Chippendale” was originally an English last name. It them appeared as a term for a style of furniture that was associated with a carpenter named Thomas Chippendale in the 18th century. Precisely how it got applied to the cartoons and male strippers, I don’t know. But I think it’s safe to say they were both named after something else. ---
**Author:** ![Shiva](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@Shiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shiva)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chippendales-and-chip-n-dales-rescue-rangers-any-connection/149530/3 "2003-01-18T20:52:52Z")
From: [http://www.tvacres.com/squirrels.htm](http://www.tvacres.com/squirrels.htm) > [@](#): > > TRIVIA NOTE: The Chip ‘N’ Dale characters were named by assistant director Bea Selck for the eighteenth century furniture maker Thomas Chippendale. Strangely, the [Chippendales.com](http://Chippendales.com) website doesn’t have a “history” section… :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Forbin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5e9695/32.png) [@Forbin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Forbin)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chippendales-and-chip-n-dales-rescue-rangers-any-connection/149530/4 "2003-01-18T21:38:32Z")
Carpenter? What a slap in the face! _Cabinetmaker._ Thomas Chippendale was the ultimate cabinetmaker. Learn about him [here](http://www.harewood.org/chippendale/nonshocked_index.htm). ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chippendales-and-chip-n-dales-rescue-rangers-any-connection/149530/5 "2003-01-18T22:01:36Z")
They weren’t created simultaneously. The cartoon “Chip 'n Dale” were created in the 1940s. The dancers date from at least the late 70s. When the dancers were started, they would have known about the cartoon, but ultimately, they’re named after the cabinetmaker (as were the chipmunks). ---
**Author:** ![knock\_knock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/22d042/32.png) [@knock\_knock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knock_knock)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chippendales-and-chip-n-dales-rescue-rangers-any-connection/149530/6 "2003-01-18T23:13:41Z")
Thanks for the help, everyone. I looked for a source for **RealityChuck** ’s claim, and found [this](http://www.renotahoefun.com/news/entertainment/1037228754.php): “The Chippendales act was created in 1979 as a novel type of ladies’ entertainment with sexy male dancers performing cabaret-style shows one night a week at two Los Angeles nightclubs. The moniker “Chippendales” was borrowed from the 18th-century furniture-maker Thomas Chippendale, whose classy designs they sought to emulate. It became so popular that a nightclub, also named Chippendales, was acquired for the company to perform at nightly. And so, the Chippendales began as the first all-male dance revue catering to women.” So, it looks like we’ve gotten to the bottom of this. Apparently they’re both named after the talented 18th century furniture maker Thomas Chippendale. That’s not so disturbing, as far as associations between strippers & children’s cartoons go. ---
**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:** [January 18, 2003, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chippendales-and-chip-n-dales-rescue-rangers-any-connection/149530/7 "2003-01-18T23:52:50Z")
Note– The inventive, genius mouse on the series is named **Gadget Hackwrench** The inventive, genius puppet on Gerry Anderson’s _Thunderbirds_ is named **“Brains” Hackenbacher**. Coincidence? ---
**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:** [January 18, 2003, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chippendales-and-chip-n-dales-rescue-rangers-any-connection/149530/8 "2003-01-18T23:54:50Z")
Thunderbirds bio for Brains– [http://freespace.virgin.net/anthony.clark2/characte.htm](http://freespace.virgin.net/anthony.clark2/characte.htm) ---
**Author:** ![bonzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@bonzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bonzer)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chippendales-and-chip-n-dales-rescue-rangers-any-connection/149530/9 "2003-01-19T00:23:41Z")
> [@](#): > > Thomas Chippendale, whose classy designs they sought to emulate. Personally, I don’t think they quite succeeded … ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chippendales-and-chip-n-dales-rescue-rangers-any-connection/149530/10 "2003-01-19T00:37:42Z")
Also, Chip and Dale had names long before _Rescue Rangers_, as **RealityChuck** pointed out. ---
**Author:** ![Virgowitch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/9fc348/32.png) [@Virgowitch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Virgowitch)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chippendales-and-chip-n-dales-rescue-rangers-any-connection/149530/11 "2003-01-19T01:29:18Z")
I think the main difference lies in what they do with their nuts.:eek: 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chippendales-and-chip-n-dales-rescue-rangers-any-connection/149530/12 "2003-01-19T05:49:13Z")
I don’t know about that; seems both carry their nuts back and forth, back and forth… ---
**Author:** ![raygirvan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ac91a4/32.png) [@raygirvan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raygirvan)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chippendales-and-chip-n-dales-rescue-rangers-any-connection/149530/13 "2003-01-19T20:50:06Z")
It’s irritating that it’s come full circle, and now you find “Chip’n’Dale” or similar as a common misnomer for the furniture. For instance, [here](http://www.journalism.sfsu.edu/flux/goldCoast/octagon.html) ("_The newest piece of furniture in the house is an 1830 Queen Anne, Chip-and-Dale-style dressing table"_). ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chippendales-and-chip-n-dales-rescue-rangers-any-connection/149530/14 "2003-01-19T21:48:30Z")
> [@](#): > > (“The newest piece of furniture in the house is an 1830 Queen Anne, Chip-and-Dale-style dressing table”). Perhaps the table had been “gnawed” about the legs by rodents. That might make it fit the bill-of-particulars. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Forbin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5e9695/32.png) [@Forbin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Forbin)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chippendales-and-chip-n-dales-rescue-rangers-any-connection/149530/15 "2003-01-19T22:07:29Z")
> [@](#): > > an 1830 Queen Anne, Chip-and-Dale-style dressing table :rolleyes: Even if they had gotten the name right, that would still be idiotic. Chippendale is a Mid-Georgian style, not a Queen-Anne style. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chippendales-and-chip-n-dales-rescue-rangers-any-connection/149530/16 "2003-01-19T22:09:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Achernar \* > \*\*Also, Chip and Dale had names long before _Rescue Rangers_, as **RealityChuck** pointed out. \*\* That’s right. Their first appearance with names was in a 1947 cartoon called…_Chip ‘n’ Dale._ ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chippendales-and-chip-n-dales-rescue-rangers-any-connection/149530/17 "2003-01-22T18:24:07Z")
And how do you tell them apart? Chip has a black nose - like a chocolate chip! (Dale has a red nose.) Esprix, Disney Freak ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chippendales-and-chip-n-dales-rescue-rangers-any-connection/149530/18 "2003-01-22T18:56:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bonzer \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > Thomas Chippendale, whose classy designs they sought to emulate. > > Personally, I don’t think they quite succeeded … \*\* Possibly… but how else would you interpretively dance cabinetmaking? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chippendales-and-chip-n-dales-rescue-rangers-any-connection/149530/19 "2003-01-22T19:04:59Z")
And, as a double-bankshot non sequitur minor hijack, the man who did the voice for Chairface Chippendale in The Tick will be providing the voice of Shere Kahn in Jungle Book 2, a future Disney animated flick, which, as far as is known, will _not_ feature Chip and Dale. We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread. ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chippendales-and-chip-n-dales-rescue-rangers-any-connection/149530/20 "2003-01-22T19:13:17Z")
But it will star John Goodman as the voice of Baloo. Esprix [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chippendales-and-chip-n-dales-rescue-rangers-any-connection/149530.md?page=2)