In a library book I just checked out there is a story about the formula for Coca-cola. Supposed to be locked in a bank vault in Atlanta Ga. The entrance to this vault is said to be flooded each evening, and filled with snapping turtles. The writer states that he was the caretaker of the turtles, and was approached by the KGB in the '80s to sell the Coke formula.
This sounds like a Urban Legend, but I could not find any other reference to it. Any truth here?
The book is “American Greats” 1999 Robert Wilson. Article writer is Christopher Buckley. All of the other articles in the book appear to be factual historical pieces.
And I quote: “Adding to the mystery is the fact that the company refuses to say whats in the formula and they keep it under guard at the Sun Trust bank in Atlanta. At night the vault is partially flooded and filled with giant snapping turtles.”
Sound amazing. If it is true. Oh yeah, for me it’s 1. RC Cola 2. Pepsi 3. Coke. SG
The formula for Coca Cola. Heh, you can find anything on the net. The turtle thing is probably a legend. Check with Snopes.
There is an author, Christopher Buckley, who is a humorist, although I cannot be sure that he is your author.
Rather than an Urban Legend, I would wonder whether the tale was included, deliberately, as a spoof amid the other historical anecdotes.
Snappers would not make good guards. There are too many ways to keep them from being aggressive (beyond the utter improbability of the story).
Well, however secret the formula for Coca-Cola is, it can’t be that secret. I mean, it’s not like they’d have the company President and CEO sneaking down to the bottling plant themselves to add Secret Ingredient X into the soda vats.
I saw this in a “Here’s Lucy” program about Jack Benny. Down in Mr. Benny’s vault where he kept all his money, he had snapping turtles–but not to guard it. They floated in the water and served as stepping stones to get to the vault. (Hey, it’s just a TV show.)
Hell, Chivas use to use geese to protect the warehouses in Scotland when I was there last.
In a similar vein, American rebels during the Revolutionary War used to place various barnyard fowls outside the buildings where they were holding their secret meetings. The thought was that having the birds wandering around was a commonplace enough sight that it wouldn’t raise the suspicion of any loyalist wandering by, and at the same time the birds would make a huge ruckus anytime somebody did wander by, thereby alerting the rebels.
On numerous occasions, the squawking of the guard birds enabled the rebels to quickly leap outside and nab the loyalist before he could report the clandestine meeting to the Recoats stationed in the city. After the war’s successful conclucion, the local population eventually created a new dish to honor the efforts of these brave barnyard fowl.
Perhaps you’ve heard of it? The spelling has changed a bit over time, but it was originally spelled “Chicken Catch a Tory”.
Regards,
Barry
I’m not going to get banned for that one, am I?
As Tom notes, Christopher Buckley is a satirist (and the son of conservative pundit William F. Buckley)- if it’s the same Christopher Buckley, the story is probably a joke, rather than an urban legend.
Also, as has been pointed out before, the concept of “secret recipes” is largely marketing. The recipe for Coca-Cola would have little value to someone starting up a new cola; even if your soda was based on the formula, people would still buy Coke because its Coke. It’s the name that’s valuable, not the specific recipe. Also, the recipe has been analyzed countless times, and its pretty well known what it consists of, anyway. Elaborate stories (“Only two guys know the recipe, and they are forbidden to travel in the same car in case there’s a wreck!”, etc) just heighten the mystique.
I guess that is why New Coke from Coca Cola did so well.
I heard that Harlan Sanders had the list of Kentucky Fried Chicken’s secret “Eleven Herbs and Spices” tatooed onto the belly of a copperhead snake. The only people who have seen it were bitten by the copperhead and died within hours.
The Colonel himself was killed by the snake bite.
Or so the legend goes…
No. But you are going to Hell for it. Sorry.