# 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:** 290
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2024, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5787 "2024-03-15T13:29:43Z")
“Oh, we’re the boys in chorus. We hope you like our show. We know you’re rootin’ for us, But now we have to go-ooooo!” As a kid, having no familiarity with Broadway musicals, I had no idea what that scene was all about. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5788 "2024-03-17T17:46:35Z")
Not Broadway musicals but vaudeville/variety theatre - basically, shows with lots of acts. Being a member of the chorus was as low as you could be on the totem pole - you got no billing at all. The dream was to be the headliner everyone specifically came to see. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5789 "2024-03-17T18:03:04Z")
Being Elmer Fudd’s straight man wasn’t much of an improvement; Bugs had to travel in the baggage car. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2024, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5790 "2024-03-18T16:11:45Z")
Okay, another **Chicken Run** one. Julia Sawalha, who voices _Ginger_, is also known for her role on **AbFab** : _Saffron_. Could be coincidence, but still, can’t believe I never made the connection before. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2024, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5791 "2024-03-31T17:06:05Z")
This isn’t an obvious one but Woody from _Toy Story_ is an anachronism. He’s a doll who talks when his string is pulled. But it’s established that _Woody’s Roundup_ ran from 1949 to 1957. It was cancelled due to the Sputnik launch in 1957. There were no talking dolls in that time period. The first talking doll was Chatty Cathy (who had a pull string like Woody) which went on the market in 1960. This historical inaccuracy totally destroys the credibility of a movie series about living toys. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2024, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5792 "2024-03-31T18:12:26Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > There were no talking dolls in that time period. The first talking doll was Chatty Cathy (who had a pull string like Woody) which went on the market in 1960. Not true. Talking dolls date back to 1890. Edison installed a min-phonograph in a doll. There were “Mama” dolls in the 1920s and 1930s. But “Chatty Cathy” apparently WAS the first “pull the string” talking doll. > **[Tech Trek: The Evolution of Talking Dolls - Rookie](https://www.rookiemag.com/2015/12/tech-trek-talking-dolls/)** > > Plus: A review of a time-travel movie masterpiece. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2024, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5793 "2024-03-31T19:00:00Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > But it’s established that _Woody’s Roundup_ ran from 1949 to 1957. It was cancelled due to the Sputnik launch in 1957. I didn’t know (or remember) this backstory. But is it established that Woody the doll was necessarily manufactured during the original run of the TV show? Maybe a pull-string talking Woody doll came out when a new generation of kids was watching _Woody’s Roundup_ reruns in the ‘60s. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2024, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5794 "2024-04-01T00:22:22Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > But is it established that Woody the doll was necessarily manufactured during the original run of the TV show? I’ll admit I can’t recall a particular cite. But I feel it was strongly implied Woody was made when the show was on the air. When he saw the show, he seemed to regard it as his history. And he felt that his popularity had gone into decline when Sputnik was launched (a parallel to when he first met Buzz) and the show was cancelled, which would imply there was no later revival of the show. And Al stole Woody because he valued him as an original collectible not as a later remake. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2024, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5795 "2024-04-01T00:45:02Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > There were no talking dolls in that time period. The first talking doll was Chatty Cathy (who had a pull string like Woody) which went on the market in 1960. Remember Talkie Tina??? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2024, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5796 "2024-04-01T00:57:36Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > Remember Talkie Tina??? The episode of _The Twilight Zone_ was broadcast in 1963. It was probably inspired by the popularity of Chatty Cathy. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2024, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5797 "2024-04-01T01:04:47Z")
Oh, I know. Telly Savalas was the evil stepdad. Really scared me when I was a kid. Sorry, didn’t mean to imply it was an earlier version of the doll. The name was obviously a play on Chatty Cathy. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2024, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5798 "2024-04-01T11:56:06Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > And Al stole Woody because he valued him as an original collectible not as a later remake. He couldn’t be _that_ valuable if he was taken out of the original box and played with. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2024, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5799 "2024-04-01T16:03:44Z")
That didn’t help Stinky Pete. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2024, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5800 "2024-04-01T16:41:19Z")
Although I’ve read elsewhere that in reality the main character from a TV show is always the biggest seller in its original run, and therefore the _easiest_ to find. Which would make Woody the _least_ valuable toy of the bunch. As the least popular character, Stinky Pete would be the hardest to find, which ironically would make him the one that’s a rare, valuable collectible today. Especially for a collector trying to put together a complete set like in the movie. ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2024, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5801 "2024-04-01T16:49:32Z")
Howdy Doody (part of the inspiration for Woody) ran from 1947-1960, but you can find 1970’s and 1990’s era collectibles online, including some pull string talking models from the 70’s. Somebody needs to alert the authorities to this fraud, since @Little_Nemo has proven “beyond the shadow of a doubt and with geometric logic” that collectible dolls are never produced after the shows run! The idea that the Toy Story (1995) Woody could be collectible in the 90’s because of a 1970’s revival of interest and the production of new dolls, is absurd and beyond the realm of logic. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5802 "2024-04-02T01:33:15Z")
I’m not saying copies of toys don’t get re-issued after a show goes off the air. But I’m saying you don’t send a 1970’s re-issue off to a Japanese toy museum and tell them it’s part of the original 1950’s set. Do you want yakuza? Because that’s how you get yakuza. ---
**Author:** ![caligulathegod](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caligulathegod/32/9685_2.png) [@caligulathegod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligulathegod)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5803 "2024-04-02T03:24:01Z")
> [@peccavi](#): > > Howdy Doody (part of the inspiration for Woody) ran from 1947-1960, but you can find 1970’s and 1990’s era collectibles online, including some pull string talking models from the 70’s. There was a revival series in 1976, so it might have inspired some of that. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5804 "2024-04-02T14:34:55Z")
True; collectibles generally become collectible because most of them got thrown out. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5805 "2024-04-02T14:59:03Z")
Which is also why anything sold as “collectible”, isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/5806 "2024-04-02T15:16:11Z")
Or is, because technically, you can collect anything you damn well please. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117.md?page=289) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117.md?page=291)