# Fictional things that became real **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 21, 2012, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-things-that-became-real/613499 "2012-02-21T04:36:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-things-that-became-real/613499/41 "2012-02-22T01:35:50Z")
Donald Duck discovered [methylene](http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/01/25/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-87/) > [@](#): > > “The Spin States of Carbenes,” a technical article soon to be published by P.P. Gaspar and G.S. Hammond (in Carbene Chemistry, edited by Wolfgang Kirmse, New York: Academic Press, 1964). “Despite the recent extensive interest in methylene chemistry,” read the article’s last paragraph, “much additional study is required…. Among experiments which have not, to our knowledge, been carried out as yet is one of a most intriguing nature suggested in the literature of no less than 19 years ago (91).” Footnote 91, in turn, directed readers to issue 44 of Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories. It seems Donald’s reference to CH2 in panel 2.1 was years ahead of its time: the existence of this elusive chemical intermediate had not been proven in 1944. ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-things-that-became-real/613499/42 "2012-02-22T01:57:04Z")
Probably the most disgusting movie tie-in in history, it started as a joke, but then… [The Tauntaun Sleeping Bag.](http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/plush/bb2e/?itm=taun_taun_sleeping_bag&rkgid=274551073&cpg=ogty1&source=google_toys&gclid=CKXEn5W9sK4CFccFRQodiCEpPw) I honestly don’t know whether to laugh or be grossed out of existence. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-things-that-became-real/613499/43 "2012-02-25T00:23:26Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Rick Castle and Jessica Fletcher are fictional mystery writers who were characters in TV shows. Both of them “wrote” books that were published in the real world. Similarly, there was a book published in the real world that was “written” by the guy who was sucked into the plane engine in the pilot of Lost. In one episode Sawyer is reading a manuscript of it. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-things-that-became-real/613499/44 "2012-02-25T00:26:32Z")
Did the soft drink Tantrum (“How I Met Your Mother”) ever get defictionalized? ---
**Author:** ![AnalogSignal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/analogsignal/32/1085_2.png) [@AnalogSignal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnalogSignal)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-things-that-became-real/613499/45 "2012-02-25T00:30:49Z")
The movie **Clockwork Orange** showed a fictional album by **Heaven 17**. The real band was formed around 1980. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-things-that-became-real/613499/46 "2012-02-25T01:42:56Z")
Otis Day and the Knights [http://otisdayandtheknights.com/](http://otisdayandtheknights.com/) > **[Otis Day and the Knights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otis_Day_and_the_Knights)** > > Otis Day and the Knights was created as a fictional R&B band to perform in the 1978 movie National Lampoon's Animal House. > They are best known for their R&B/ black rock version of "Shout" and "Shama Lama Ding Dong". Both songs were sung by Lloyd Williams (singer), and lip synched by DeWayne Jessie in the film. Backing vocals were provided by Melvin Britt and Sidney Justin. Gospel style "Shout" was written by the Isley Brothers. Otis Day was played by Jessie, brother of Young Jessie of The Coaste... ---
**Author:** ![cmosdes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cmosdes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmosdes)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-things-that-became-real/613499/47 "2012-02-25T02:01:32Z")
Does the Klingon language count? ---
**Author:** ![Toxgoddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Toxgoddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxgoddess)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-things-that-became-real/613499/48 "2012-02-25T03:01:55Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > Dean Koontz used to reference a non-existent book called **The Book of Counted Sorrows** in his other novels. Then he went ahead and [wrote it](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Book_of_Counted_Sorrows). The Harry Potter series also has several of these: _Quidditch Through the Ages, Fantastical Beasts and Where to Find Them, Tales of Beadle the Bard._ ---
**Author:** ![Toucanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Toucanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toucanna)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-things-that-became-real/613499/49 "2012-02-25T23:29:20Z")
“Duff Beer”, from _The Simpsons_, is brewed in both [Europe](http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/duff-beer/86056/) and [South America](http://m.neatorama.com/2011/05/29/duff-beer-yes-it-does-exist/). ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-things-that-became-real/613499/50 "2012-02-26T01:05:52Z")
Jules Verne wrote about huge submarines, television, trips to the moon and what not. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-things-that-became-real/613499/51 "2012-02-26T01:17:03Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > The guy who played the Soup Nazi now runs a chain of soup restaurants, but he apparently had one long before he was on **Seinfeld**. I don’t think this one’s true. The Original Soupman chain is run by the real life guy the character is based on. I can’t find anything online about the actor (Larry Thomas) having his own restaurants. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-things-that-became-real/613499/52 "2012-02-26T01:40:13Z")
> [@gonzoron](#): > > I don’t think this one’s true. The Original Soupman chain is run by the real life guy the character is based on. I can’t find anything online about the actor (Larry Thomas) having his own restaurants. You are correct. The Soup Nazi was based on a guy in NYC that Seifeld and David would get soup from. They loved his soup and found his customer service techniques…interesting. The guy hated being called a Nazi but has tried to profit on his fame as the Soupman. The actor who played him remains an actor. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-things-that-became-real/613499/53 "2012-02-26T02:19:49Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > You are correct. The Soup Nazi was based on a guy in NYC that Seifeld and David would get soup from. They loved his soup and found his customer service techniques…interesting. The guy hated being called a Nazi but has tried to profit on his fame as the Soupman. The actor who played him remains an actor. The real guy is Ali Yeganeh. He still hates being called a Nazi. In his defense, most of us wouldn’t like being called a Nazi. Yeganeh had a chain of restaurants called The Original Soupman. It’s not clear how he is currently connected with the company. He announced at one point that he had sold his ownership interest but he still works with the company and is listed as a “Special Advisor”. ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-things-that-became-real/613499/54 "2012-02-26T03:25:46Z")
The Killers were named after The Killers, a fictional band in the music video for the New Order song “Crystal”. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-things-that-became-real/613499/55 "2012-02-26T05:34:37Z")
[Dunder Mifflin copy paper](http://www.quill.com/quill-brand-copy-paper/cbs/245730.html). ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-things-that-became-real/613499/56 "2012-02-26T07:43:03Z")
Similar thread from 2009: > **[Fictional references that became true](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=536842)** > > Sometimes somebody comes up with a fake name, or idea for a book, and briefly describes it in a work of fiction. Then later somebody else comes along and decides to make it real. How often does that happen? For starters: Toad the Wet Sprocket is... ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-things-that-became-real/613499/57 "2012-02-26T07:59:02Z")
H.G. Wells invented [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Brain). Sort of. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-things-that-became-real/613499/58 "2012-02-26T23:24:39Z")
> [@Mr\_Downtown](#): > > [Dunder Mifflin copy paper](http://www.quill.com/quill-brand-copy-paper/cbs/245730.html). I don’t know if that counts as on the show they don’t sell “Dunder Mifflin” brand paper, they sell paper from actual manufacturers, there’s even a joke about it when Michael is trying to explain what they do to kids, and the kids aren’t too into the way DM basically acts as a middle man, not actually making their own paper. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-things-that-became-real/613499.md?page=2)