# Obvious things about a creative work you realize after the millionth time (OPEN SPOILERS POSSIBLE) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 24, 2009, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117 "2009-07-24T13:20:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 162
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3222 "2019-02-19T01:29:18Z")
Why didn’t anyone ever point out that there are two "f"s in Georgia O’Keeffe’s name? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3223 "2019-02-19T02:17:34Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > At the start of the Season 8 \*\*\*Seinfeld \*\*\*episode “The Little Jerry,” Jerry and Elaine are waiting for George in front of a Chinese restaurant called “Madame Chang’s.” This is probably a callback to the Season 6 episode “The Chinese Woman” with “Donna Chang” (who wasn’t Chinese). Well, there was [Madame Chiang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soong_Mei-ling#Madame_Chiang). ---
**Author:** ![BrianDime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ad7895/32.png) [@BrianDime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrianDime)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3224 "2019-02-19T18:24:36Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > [Don’t believe everything you hear](http://german.about.com/library/blgermyth02.htm) I always thought there was a Catherine The Great-esq reference going on there that implied she was carnally involved with the horses. Perhaps I have a dirty mind. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3225 "2019-02-19T20:58:07Z")
This one’s obscure to people who are not familiar with Sacramento, CA and is only arguably related to a creative work so I apologize in advance. Just northeast of Sacramento outside the city limits the major arterials are named Howe Ave., Bell St., Fulton Ave., Morse Ave., Watt Ave., Edison Ave., Pope Ave., and Marconi Ave. [https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6253692,-121.3989217,15.01z?hl=en](https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6253692,-121.3989217,15.01z?hl=en) My family and I lived in the Sacramento area for seven years. It wasn’t until years after I left that I got there was a famous-inventor theme to the streets in that part of the county. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3226 "2019-02-19T21:52:42Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > This one’s obscure to people who are not familiar with Sacramento, CA and is only arguably related to a creative work so I apologize in advance. > > Just northeast of Sacramento outside the city limits the major arterials are named Howe Ave., Bell St., Fulton Ave., Morse Ave., Watt Ave., Edison Ave., Pope Ave., and Marconi Ave. [https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6253692,-121.3989217,15.01z?hl=en](https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6253692,-121.3989217,15.01z?hl=en) > > My family and I lived in the Sacramento area for seven years. It wasn’t until years after I left that I got there was a famous-inventor theme to the streets in that part of the county. My favorite part of those streets is that the intersection of Howe Ave. and Arden Way is a shopping district called Howe About Arden. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3227 "2019-02-19T22:29:25Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > My favorite part of those streets is that the intersection of Howe Ave. and Arden Way is a shopping district called Howe About Arden. I forgot to mention Wright Street in my list. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2019, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3228 "2019-02-19T23:30:24Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > Ah, but “Back in the U.S.S.R.” is done in a style much more like the Beach Boys than Chuck Berry. It actually has two separate stylistic sections. One is decidedly a satire of “California Girls”. The other style is a bit more straight R&R. I once saw a web site that did a very technical breakdown how the two styles called back to their inspirations, but can’t figure out how to google for that now. I’ve also heard that all of the “White Album” songs are deliberately styled after different genres of music. Not sure how that all plays out. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3229 "2019-02-20T00:16:23Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > My favorite part of those streets is that the intersection of Howe Ave. and Arden Way is a shopping district called Howe About Arden. Now I want to build shops at the intersection commemorating James Watt and Robert Fulton and name it **Watt About Bob** … ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3230 "2019-02-20T00:28:19Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Now I want to build shops at the intersection commemorating James Watt and Robert Fulton and name it **Watt About Bob** … Can’t do it. Those two N-S streets run parallel to one another. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3231 "2019-02-20T05:02:34Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > Can’t do it. Those two N-S streets run parallel to one another. Darn, I \*knew \*there’d be a minor problem like this. Well, on the bright side, you just saved me a couple million dollars in real estate costs… ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3232 "2019-02-20T06:15:37Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > **Godfather** fans! > > How many times have you seen this movie and missed the Oscar statuette on [Jack Woltz’s nightstand](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSjBiYLVwKU&t=0m17s)? I’ve watched the movie at least a dozen times, might not have noticed the Oscar until the second viewing. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3233 "2019-02-20T19:08:00Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > This one’s obscure to people who are not familiar with Sacramento, CA and is only arguably related to a creative work so I apologize in advance. > > Just northeast of Sacramento outside the city limits the major arterials are named Howe Ave., Bell St., Fulton Ave., Morse Ave., Watt Ave., Edison Ave., Pope Ave., and Marconi Ave. [https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6253692,-121.3989217,15.01z?hl=en](https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6253692,-121.3989217,15.01z?hl=en) > > My family and I lived in the Sacramento area for seven years. It wasn’t until years after I left that I got there was a famous-inventor theme to the streets in that part of the county. Not too far from me is Middlesex Rd. I knew there was a fictional town called Middlesex but I never really made the connection until I started thinking about the name of the next street down: Dunwich Rd. Near the place I used to live was a Lois Lane and a Margo Lane a joke I got even back when I was a kid. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3234 "2019-02-20T19:28:34Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > I’ve watched the movie at least a dozen times, might not have noticed the Oscar until the second viewing. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2019, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3235 "2019-02-21T04:42:14Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > Near the place I used to live was a Lois Lane and a Margo Lane a joke I got even back when I was a kid. Were there Margaret Ct. and Della St., too? ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2019, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3236 "2019-02-21T20:57:37Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Were there Margaret Ct. and Della St., too? There was a story awhile back that someplace had officially named an alley Kristie Alley. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2019, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3237 "2019-02-21T21:12:02Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > There was a story awhile back that someplace had officially named an alley Kristie Alley. I suspect [Kirstie Alley](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000263/?ref_=nv_sr_1) was not amused. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2019, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3238 "2019-03-04T21:06:36Z")
Just the other day it occurred to me that in the Monty Python sketch about Johann Gambolputty de von Ausfern- schplenden- schlitter- crasscrenbon- fried- digger- dingle- dangle- dongle- dungle- burstein- von- knacker- thrasher- apple- banger- horowitz- ticolensic- grander- knotty- spelltinkle- grandlich- grumblemeyer- spelterwasser- kurstlich- himbleeisen- bahnwagen- gutenabend- bitte- ein- nürnburger- bratwustle- gerspurten- mitz- weimache- luber- hundsfut- gumberaber- shönedanker- kalbsfleisch- mittler- aucher von Hautkopft of Ulm, one of the more subtle gags is that the “of Ulm” part must be there to differentiate him from all the other people named Johann Gambolputty de von Ausfern- schplenden- schlitter- crasscrenbon- fried- digger- dingle- dangle- dongle- dungle- burstein- von- knacker- thrasher- apple- banger- horowitz- ticolensic- grander- knotty- spelltinkle- grandlich- grumblemeyer- spelterwasser- kurstlich- himbleeisen- bahnwagen- gutenabend- bitte- ein- nürnburger- bratwustle- gerspurten- mitz- weimache- luber- hundsfut- gumberaber- shönedanker- kalbsfleisch- mittler- aucher von Hautkopft out there who lived in \*other \*cities. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3239 "2019-03-06T18:30:35Z")
Does learning, today, that R. Kelly (instead of Seal) sang “I Believe I Can Fly” count as an obvious thing about an artists work (I) realized after the millionth time? ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3240 "2019-03-08T17:26:41Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Does learning, today, that R. Kelly (instead of Seal) sang “I Believe I Can Fly” count as an obvious thing about an artists work (I) realized after the millionth time? It sure does, because I watched “Surviving R. Kelly” this week and experienced the exact same revelation. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/3241 "2019-03-08T17:28:53Z")
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