# RE: What's up with the "Acme Company"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [September 30, 2005, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-up-with-the-acme-company/324194 "2005-09-30T13:59:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TasCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TasCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TasCat)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-up-with-the-acme-company/324194/1 "2005-09-30T13:59:16Z")
In the answer to the Acme company, reference was made to why Didn’t the coyote ever catch the roadrunner, there were rules listed as to why he didn’t, but in fact, in one episode the coyote DID catch the road runner, however they were running through a pipe that gradually got smaller, they both came out small, they returned though the pipe, The Roadrunner regained his regular size, However, Wile did not 🙂 He held the Roadrunner’s leg and held up a sign close to “Well, now what do I do?” More like wrapped his arms around a giant tree trunk of a leg 🙂 :smack: ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-up-with-the-acme-company/324194/2 "2005-09-30T14:33:22Z")
Welcome to the Straight Dope Message Board, **TasCat** , we’re glad to have you with us. The Staff Report you mention can be found at: [“What’s up with the Acme Company?”](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/macme.html) … and will be officially posted on Tuesday Oct 4. When you start a thread, it’s helpful to other readers if you provide a link to the Staff Report. Saves search time, and helps keep us all on the same page. No biggie, I’ve provided the link for you, and you’ll know for next time. And, as I say, welcome! ---
**Author:** ![lem888](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@lem888](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lem888)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-up-with-the-acme-company/324194/3 "2005-09-30T15:04:02Z")
Cecil’s overworked staff needs to learn to read an annual report. Acme is owned by Albertson’s, not vice versa. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Crandolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Crandolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crandolph)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-up-with-the-acme-company/324194/4 "2005-09-30T15:30:47Z")
Acme - the Albertson’s one - is a major supermarket chain here in this metro region where it began (looks as if with branches in 38 states it’s virtually national), and where for reasons that are well beyond me most natives pronounce it “Ac-a-me.” I’d love the Straight Dope on where the extra syllable came from… ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-up-with-the-acme-company/324194/5 "2005-09-30T15:54:59Z")
On a different tangent, it’s always been my impression that the Acme products Wile E. Coyote bought and used in his attempts to catch the Roadrunner, failed not mostly due to their poor quality, but more often because Wile E. Coyote used them incompetently. Some research this weekend is definitely in order. ---
**Author:** ![zelie\_zelerton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/59ef9b/32.png) [@zelie\_zelerton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zelie_zelerton)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-up-with-the-acme-company/324194/6 "2005-09-30T16:47:30Z")
Does anyone know if there is a real Acme Co? Is the name owned by whoever made the Wily Coyote cartoons? i always wanted to set me up an Acme Co. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-up-with-the-acme-company/324194/7 "2005-09-30T16:53:10Z")
That’s some nice fanon youv’e got there, but I feel that the coyote HAS in fact followed instructions correctly, only to have the device not work until the roadrunner steps of the trigering device, upon which it injures the coyote. Perhaps the triggering mechanism was damaged in transit, due to their ultra-fast delivery methods? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-up-with-the-acme-company/324194/8 "2005-09-30T17:30:51Z")
> [@Scott Plaid](#): > > That’s some nice fanon youv’e got there, but I feel that the coyote HAS in fact followed instructions correctly, only to have the device not work until the roadrunner steps of the trigering device, upon which it injures the coyote. > > Perhaps the triggering mechanism was damaged in transit, due to their ultra-fast delivery methods? 😃 Could be. Like I said, some weekend “research” is in order. My recollections of the 'toon may be faulty due to smoking too much MaryJane while watching the Saturday cartoons in my college years. The girlfriend has a Looney Tunes DVD I’ll look at. I think there’s a whole disc dedicated to the interminable Wile E./Roadrunner battles. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-up-with-the-acme-company/324194/9 "2005-09-30T19:04:45Z")
[ACME catalog](http://home.nc.rr.com/tuco/looney/acme/acme.html) ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-up-with-the-acme-company/324194/10 "2005-09-30T19:41:50Z")
Haw! Nice link, Pat. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-up-with-the-acme-company/324194/11 "2005-09-30T19:47:16Z")
Haw! Nice link, Pat. ---
**Author:** ![TasCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TasCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TasCat)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-up-with-the-acme-company/324194/12 "2005-09-30T21:46:51Z")
Well, I guess I’m thoroughly spanked, I did read the faq and apparently misread it. So I don’t know if I’m resurrecting an old argument when bringing up Wile and The Roadrunner that was included in the link about acme: [http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/macme.html](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/macme.html) and my answer in the link: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=337609](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=337609) My apologies. However as a Wile and Roadrunner junkie (warner bros cartoons) as well as Marvin the Martian, Speedy Gonzales…who has been removed from the cartoon network for racial reasons…but as a Native American, they won’t change the name of the redskins (which is a racial slur as bad a the N word to us) but that’s a whole different issue for a whole different site. The Coyote indeed did catch the Roadrunner once…in the situation I mentioned, he was chasing the Roadrunner from left to right into a pipe the got smaller and smaller, when they emerged, they were so tiny the grass was like trees (don’t get too involved in your research with the mj and read something into that :P) they spun around, you could hear them running through the pipe (again don’t read into that) from right to left from where they had come from, the Roadrunner regained his original size, the chagrined Coyote didn’t, he gave a look towards the viewers and held up the sign (which he was prone to use) to the effect “now what?” It’s been a while since I have seen it, I have seen it more than once, maybe it could have been in a special show, like a christmas show if they had one…could explain why so many don’t recall it. I seem to also remember a elephant type “beep beep” as the Roadrunner looked down at the tiny Coyote. ---
**Author:** ![TasCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TasCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TasCat)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-up-with-the-acme-company/324194/13 "2005-09-30T21:48:24Z")
Well, I guess I’m thoroughly spanked, I did read the faq and apparently misread it. So I don’t know if I’m resurrecting an old argument when bringing up Wile and The Roadrunner that was included in the link about acme: [http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/macme.html](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/macme.html) and my answer in the link: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=337609](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=337609) My apologies. However as a Wile and Roadrunner junkie (warner bros cartoons) as well as Marvin the Martian, Speedy Gonzales…who has been removed from the cartoon network for racial reasons…but as a Native American, they won’t change the name of the redskins (which is a racial slur as bad a the N word to us) but that’s a whole different issue for a whole different site. The Coyote indeed did catch the Roadrunner once…in the situation I mentioned, he was chasing the Roadrunner from left to right into a pipe the got smaller and smaller, when they emerged, they were so tiny the grass was like trees (don’t get too involved in your research with the mj and read something into that :P) they spun around, you could hear them running through the pipe (again don’t read into that) from right to left from where they had come from, the Roadrunner regained his original size, the chagrined Coyote didn’t, he gave a look towards the viewers and held up the sign (which he was prone to use) to the effect “now what?” It’s been a while since I have seen it, I have seen it more than once, maybe it could have been in a special show, like a christmas show if they had one…could explain why so many don’t recall it. I seem to also remember a elephant type “beep beep” as the Roadrunner looked down at the tiny Coyote. Oh, and sorry if inappropriate spot again…as I am disabled, this is a quick look, then back to my looking through the window mode. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-up-with-the-acme-company/324194/14 "2005-09-30T23:55:34Z")
> [@lem888](#): > > Cecil’s overworked staff needs to learn to read an annual report. Acme is owned by Albertson’s, not vice versa. :smack: True. [Albertson’s: NYSE symbol ABS](http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=ABS). [Acme Markets, a division of Albertson’s](https://www.acmemarkets.com) [Assorted publically traded stocks with the name Acme](http://finance.yahoo.com/l?s=acme&t=S&m=US) [A longer list of (mostly private) companies with the name Acme](http://www.hoovers.com/free/search/simple/xmillion/index.xhtml?which=company&page=1&hoovcountry=us&query_string=acme&x=31&y=7) ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-up-with-the-acme-company/324194/15 "2005-09-30T23:59:36Z")
The Master Speaks: [Did Wile E. Coyote ever catch the Road Runner?](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/010330.html) ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-up-with-the-acme-company/324194/16 "2005-10-01T00:55:08Z")
> [@Crandolph](#): > > Acme - the Albertson’s one - is a major supermarket chain here in this metro region where it began (looks as if with branches in 38 states it’s virtually national), and where for reasons that are well beyond me most natives pronounce it “Ac-a-me.” > > I’d love the Straight Dope on where the extra syllable came from… The oldest supermarket chain in Akron Ohio is also the Acme. Started here in about 1898. Not related to the CA. Acme. As to the “Ac-a-me” pronunciation, I posted an answer in a previous thread…[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=318599&highlight=epenthesis](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=318599&highlight=epenthesis) The word to Google on is “epenthesis.” ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-up-with-the-acme-company/324194/17 "2005-10-01T16:58:56Z")
Eventually Wile E. Coyote, disgusted with the shoddy malfunctioning nature of ACME’s products, took them to [court](http://www.jamesfuqua.com/lawyers/jokes/coyote-acme.shtml) ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-up-with-the-acme-company/324194/18 "2005-10-01T18:31:32Z")
Here’s a short history of the [[http://www.raymondsnest.com/flick/archives/000416.html](http://www.raymondsnest.com/flick/archives/000416.html)]Acme Camera Company, whose equipment was the standard of the animation industry, used at Warners, Disney and other studios. Acme first appeared in a Warners cartoon in 1935, long before Wile E. and the Roadrunner. They were also well known for the Acme-Dunn optical printer, co-invented with Linwood Dunn, one of the legends of SFX photography. My dad was privileged to host Mr. Dunn for a lecture engagement at Iowa State in the 80s. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-up-with-the-acme-company/324194/19 "2005-10-01T18:32:37Z")
[Acme Camera Company](http://www.raymondsnest.com/flick/archives/000416.html) ---
**Author:** ![davidcottis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d78d45/32.png) [@davidcottis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidcottis)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-up-with-the-acme-company/324194/20 "2005-10-02T11:55:42Z")
According to an television interview with Chuck Jones that I saw once, the reason so many firms are called ‘Acme’ in real life is that it allows them to be at the start of the telephone book. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-up-with-the-acme-company/324194.md?page=2)