Nazi coathanger in Raiders of the Lost Ark

Cafe Society
1

Recently I was watching Raiders of the Lost Ark. At one point during the film, the evil, creepy, Nazi officer guy pulls out a device that at first looks to be some kind of torture implement. It is basically three long, thing pieces of metal, joined by a chain. However, it turns out to be a portable coat hanger. What is this thing called and where can one be purchased?

2

You’ll have to ask Steven Spielberg. He used the same joke in his earlier movie, 1941. When Raiders came out, he gave an interview where he said that he was going to keep using that joke until people laughed. I guess it worked since I don’t remember him using it since.

3

Here is a replica that an Indy fan built. The closest modern equivalent that I’ve seen is this.

4

Throw me idol, I’ll throw you the whip.

EDIT: Dammit pinkfreud, you’ll slip up sooner or later!

5

I always thought that scene was one of the funniest scenes ever.

6

I saw some in the late 60’s/early 70’s, in rummage sales, or in tiny, old-fashioned clothing stores in Chicago & Wisconsin.

Once popular with travelers.

When I saw them, they were considered an “old guy” product, mostly for longtime customers.

7

It belongs in a museum!

8

We have top men working on it now. Top…men.

9

In a “Starlog” interview after the film came out, Lawrence Kasdan didn’t seem to think it was all that funny. Think he said it was basically just a little too over the top. Of course, as mentioned above, it was Spielberg’s doing, and didn’t appear in Kasdan’s script.

Sir Rhosis

10

Who?

11

I seem to recall that the portable coat hanger looks like a scaled down version of a three-sectional staff. (For when a two-section nunchaku isn’t enough, I presume.)

12

Yup, it does look like one of these, but Ninja Nazi’s? The world isn’t ready yet.

13

Top. Men.

14

Sez you! That’s the name of my new screenplay, which I just decided to start writing.

15

When I worked for Paramount I insisted that we make these as a promotional item and they didn’t listen.

16

How bizarre. This morning, I was thinking of looking for one of those to add to my gym bag so I could hang up my dress clothes when working out at lunch time.

Is there a term to describe when a message board posts directly coincides with an obscure reference or thought you JUST had?

If not, I recommend “dorkendipity”!