# Mattresses

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mattresses/2157>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 25, 1999, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mattresses/2157 "1999-07-25T07:56:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 1999, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mattresses/2157/1 "1999-07-25T07:56:00Z")

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Just what was the reasoning for a “California King” sized mattress ? [as opposed to regular “King size”].

Could be just a marketing scam, of course, but they still would’a come up with some rationale, no ? Californians are taller ? Bedrooms thinner ? Any ideas ?

* * *

“Proverbs for Paranoids, 1: You may never get to touch the Master, but you can tickle his creatures.”

- T.Pynchon, _Gravity’s Rainbow_.

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 1999, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mattresses/2157/2 "1999-07-25T16:49:00Z")

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My wife’s theory is that it refers to the kind of luxury expected by movie stars. That’s as good an explaination as any that I can think up.

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 1999, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mattresses/2157/3 "1999-07-25T20:13:00Z")

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Either that or they need larger mattresses for the orgy scenes in the XXX movies!

😉

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 1999, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mattresses/2157/4 "1999-07-26T06:58:00Z")

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Yeah, but it isn’t really larger; it’s longer but narrower. I suppose this still argues in favor of certain acts associated (at least in the 1950’s-era minds of Madison Avenue types) with Californicators. Barring a better explanation (any architects or design types, chime in), I imagine you’re both correct.