# Is Cecil dead and replaced? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [February 17, 2001, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-dead-and-replaced/54910 "2001-02-17T21:00:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2001, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-dead-and-replaced/54910/103 "2001-11-26T16:28:15Z")
Much can be learned by looking at Cecil’s posts on the SDMB. I submit that, given the brevity and drive-by-ness of the posts that Cecil Adams is none other than: handy. Be ascared, be very ascared. ---
**Author:** ![IzzyR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/2acd7d/32.png) [@IzzyR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IzzyR)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2001, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-dead-and-replaced/54910/104 "2001-11-26T16:32:04Z")
See [Is Cecil Adams a real person?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=75222) Pretty conclusive, IMHO. ---
**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:** [November 26, 2001, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-dead-and-replaced/54910/105 "2001-11-26T17:03:43Z")
Oh, fine - say hello to the little fanboy trolling for a hello, and ignore the **Gay Guy** entirely, even after he starts a thread, um, trolling for a hello _months_ ago. (OK, I’ll shut up now…) Hi, **Cecil**! Nice to know you’re still watching over us. Esprix ---
**Author:** ![omni-not](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8dc957/32.png) [@omni-not](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/omni-not)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2001, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-dead-and-replaced/54910/106 "2001-11-26T17:32:36Z")
It’s an art, **Esprix**. It’s an art. Obviously;), some have mastered it, and some are still working at it. ---
**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2001, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-dead-and-replaced/54910/107 "2001-11-26T22:54:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lynn Bodoni \* > **he doesn’t like cats** Then he’s NOT perfect. ---
**Author:** ![Seraphim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Seraphim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seraphim)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2001, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-dead-and-replaced/54910/108 "2001-11-27T00:24:01Z")
Feh, I can see why he doesn’t pop up more often. He makes his presence known, and the best ya’ll can offer is fawning verbiage? You should know by now–and he’s certainly made it clear over the years–that the only appropriate tribute is _cash_. Small bills preferred. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2001, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-dead-and-replaced/54910/109 "2001-11-28T22:47:16Z")
Just for the record, I certainly deny being Cecil. I have nowhere near the knowledge, talent, or wit. I am not Cecil. I am not Cecil. I am not Cecil. There, that’s thrice, and “what I tell you three times is true.” I am not Cary Grant, either. I just look a lot like him. ---
**Author:** ![l.l.krandall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@l.l.krandall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/l.l.krandall)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-dead-and-replaced/54910/110 "2003-09-25T21:11:16Z")
Your answer is on this thread: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=60371](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=60371) > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by handy \* > \*\*“Is Cecil dead and replaced?” > > Excellent assumption & true too. You must know more than almost anyone here. First of all, according to the US Patent & Trademark Office, the mark for “Cecil Adams” is DEAD. > > I don’t know if the supers here are covering up for this fact or not, however, as it’s a frequent subject & also public knowledge, being it can be found in the trademark database, but the registration of “Cecil Adams” is DEAD > & has been since March 29, 1989. > > Why people, especially the supers here continue to assume that the mark is ALIVE, is beyond me. The exact proof of this is located in the US Patent & TradeMark office & I do provide this information if you don’t believe me: > > Word Mark > CECIL ADAMS > Goods and Services > (ABANDONED) IC 016. US 038. G & S: NEWSPAPER COLUMN. FIRST USE: 19730202. > FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19730202 > Mark Drawing Code > (1) TYPED DRAWING > Serial Number > 73631921 > Filing Date > November 24, 1986 > Owner > (APPLICANT) CHICAGO READER, INCORPORATED CORPORATION ILLINOIS P.O. > BOX 11101, FORT DEARBORN STATION CHICAGO ILLINOIS 60611 > Attorney of Record > RICHARD H. COMPERE > Type of Mark > TRADEMARK > Register > PRINCIPAL-2(F) > Other Data > CECIL ADAMS DOES NOT IDENTIFY ANY PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL BUT WAS > DEVISED AS A FANCIFUL NAME > Live/Dead Indicator > DEAD > Abandonment Date > March 29, 1989 > As to how or where he was ‘resurrected’, Im sure Lynn would be happy to tell us 🙂 \*\* ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2003, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-dead-and-replaced/54910/111 "2003-09-26T02:42:02Z")
**I.I.krandall** said > [@](#): > > Your answer is on this thread: Actually, YOUR answer is in the thread to which you just resurrected and posted. If you scroll up about 8 post, you will read what **Jeff Olsen** contributed. Read it well. He knows about the subject. Just in case you don’t understand my post, I’ll quote **Jeff** here [QUOTE] US Patent & Trademark Office employee checking in Disclaimer: this is in no way “official” information. The USPTO frowns upon its employees passing along any official info in this manner. ## quote: ## Originally posted by handy It might be old to you; but you haven’t nor has anyone else explained about the mark registration. ## I have, at least once. quote: ## If you can answer why they dropped the mark in '89 & if they have a new one, I’d be most happy to read. ## Look at it this way. Are you familiar with the phrase “patent pending”? The tradmark equivalent of this is “™”, and is usually replaced with “®” if and when the application gets approved. The application for “Cecil Adams” that was submitted by the Chicago Reader was refused just over three months after it was received. I am unable to determine what the reason was. Over the next 30 months, the Reader’s attorneys tried to get the tradmark examiner to reverse his or her opinion but was unable. Once the attorneys exhausted their options, the file was abandoned and there were no further attempts at obtaining a registered tradmark. Even though the file was abandoned, the Reader can continue to use “Cecil Adams” for as long as they please. quote: Originally posted by Guinastasia In all seriousness, if Cecil’s name WAS a trademark, I think there’d be a little TM or something after his name when it appears on the books. And it doesn’t. Don’t believe me? Look at any new V.C. Andrews book, which are all ghostwritten. There is a TM after her name. * * * The difference here is the “Cecil Adams” file was abandoned and this wasn’t. In fact, the application was approved (registration #1729248) just over 9 years ago so there should be an ® instead. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_griffin-kentzel/32/14787_2.png) [@Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Griffin-Kentzel)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2003, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-dead-and-replaced/54910/112 "2003-09-26T21:47:30Z")
Please don’t resurrect two year old threads, **l.l.krandall**. * * * **Cajun Man** ~ SDMB Moderator [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-dead-and-replaced/54910.md?page=5)