# Nazi coathanger in Raiders of the Lost Ark **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 28, 2007, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nazi-coathanger-in-raiders-of-the-lost-ark/424358 "2007-10-28T18:57:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Garula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ea666f/32.png) [@Garula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garula)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2007, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nazi-coathanger-in-raiders-of-the-lost-ark/424358/1 "2007-10-28T18:57:01Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![waits](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df788c/32.png) [@waits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waits)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2007, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nazi-coathanger-in-raiders-of-the-lost-ark/424358/2 "2007-10-28T19:10:18Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2007, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nazi-coathanger-in-raiders-of-the-lost-ark/424358/3 "2007-10-28T19:11:10Z")
[Here](http://www.indyprops.com/pp-tohthanger.htm) is a replica that an Indy fan built. The closest modern equivalent that I’ve seen is [this](http://www.merlinsbox.com/Aluminum-Folding-Travel-Hanger-p/11-02155.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2007, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nazi-coathanger-in-raiders-of-the-lost-ark/424358/4 "2007-10-28T19:13:27Z")
Throw me idol, I’ll throw you the whip. > **[MerlinsBox.com is for sale | HugeDomains](https://www.hugedomains.com/domain_profile.cfm?d=merlinsbox.com)** > > Providing a surprisingly human shopping experience. Trusted and secure. Millions of domains to choose from. EDIT: Dammit **pinkfreud** , you’ll slip up sooner or later! ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2007, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nazi-coathanger-in-raiders-of-the-lost-ark/424358/5 "2007-10-28T19:52:24Z")
I always thought that scene was one of the funniest scenes ever. ---
**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:** [October 28, 2007, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nazi-coathanger-in-raiders-of-the-lost-ark/424358/6 "2007-10-28T23:15:55Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2007, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nazi-coathanger-in-raiders-of-the-lost-ark/424358/7 "2007-10-28T23:47:17Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] 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. [/QUOTE] It belongs in a museum! ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nazi-coathanger-in-raiders-of-the-lost-ark/424358/8 "2007-10-29T01:30:06Z")
[QUOTE=msmith537] It belongs in a museum! [/QUOTE] We have top men working on it now. Top…men. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Rhosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nazi-coathanger-in-raiders-of-the-lost-ark/424358/9 "2007-10-29T01:50:10Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nazi-coathanger-in-raiders-of-the-lost-ark/424358/10 "2007-10-29T08:37:36Z")
[QUOTE=kunilou] We have top men working on it now. Top…men. [/QUOTE] Who? ---
**Author:** ![Scuba\_Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nazi-coathanger-in-raiders-of-the-lost-ark/424358/11 "2007-10-29T13:46:21Z")
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.) ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nazi-coathanger-in-raiders-of-the-lost-ark/424358/12 "2007-10-29T14:12:22Z")
[QUOTE=Scuba\_Ben] 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.) [/QUOTE] Yup, it does look like one of [these](http://flyingeagleacademy.com/samjitgwun.html), but Ninja Nazi’s? The world isn’t ready yet. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nazi-coathanger-in-raiders-of-the-lost-ark/424358/13 "2007-10-29T14:19:35Z")
[QUOTE=Tuckerfan] Who? [/QUOTE] Top. Men. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nazi-coathanger-in-raiders-of-the-lost-ark/424358/14 "2007-10-29T14:20:43Z")
[QUOTE=Cluricaun] Ninja Nazi’s? The world isn’t ready yet. [/QUOTE] Sez you! That’s the name of my new screenplay, which I just decided to start writing. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nazi-coathanger-in-raiders-of-the-lost-ark/424358/15 "2007-10-29T15:52:12Z")
When I worked for Paramount I insisted that we make these as a promotional item and they didn’t listen. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2007, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nazi-coathanger-in-raiders-of-the-lost-ark/424358/16 "2007-10-29T15:57:44Z")
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”!