# Spot the fictional trivia - No Googling! **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [January 28, 2015, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-fictional-trivia-no-googling/711137 "2015-01-28T19:57:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-fictional-trivia-no-googling/711137/21 "2015-01-31T09:19:29Z")
Pretty sure number two is the one that is false. That is, I know 3 and 4 are true, and that all of the elements necessary to make a fax machine predated the telephone. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-fictional-trivia-no-googling/711137/22 "2015-01-31T10:32:40Z")
I don’t see why #2 _mightn’t_ be true, #3 sounds too boring to be a fakeout, and I’m sure I’ve heard #4 before (and it’s perfectly sensible - you can open a tin can with a knife, or the old "sardine key"method) So, #1 ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-fictional-trivia-no-googling/711137/23 "2015-01-31T13:49:15Z")
I know #3 is true. I think #1 and #4 are true, so, I’m guessing #2 is false. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-fictional-trivia-no-googling/711137/24 "2015-01-31T14:17:47Z")
I know as a fact #1 is true (Alexander Bain) and #4 is true (they used chisels). Based on previous answers I’ll go with #2 but I would probably would have gone with that one anyways - #3 seems too mundane to be false. ---
**Author:** ![luvtinayothers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@luvtinayothers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/luvtinayothers)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-fictional-trivia-no-googling/711137/25 "2015-01-31T18:53:48Z")
Well either you guys are really good or I’m terrible at coming up with fake answers, but yes, #2 is the invented trivia. Ok, someone else’s turn to come up with a quiz! ---
**Author:** ![luvtinayothers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@luvtinayothers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/luvtinayothers)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-fictional-trivia-no-googling/711137/26 "2015-02-01T17:31:03Z")
Ok. Nobody’s coming up with a new one so I’ll do another one. Fast food theme this time. Three are true. One I invented out of whole cloth. 1. Jack In The Box was not named after the children’s toy, but after founder “Jack” Aaronstam who escaped Nazi Germany’ after his parents hid him in a box and put him on a ship 2. Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas created the iconic KFC chicken bucket when he worked for Colonel Sanders 3. Tv show weatherman Willard Scott created and was the first to play the Ronald McDonald character 4. Almost all In-N-Out Burger locations have a couple of crossed palm trees located on their property because founder Harry Snyder’s favorite movie “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” featured Palm trees in the shape of an X in the movie’s climactic scene ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-fictional-trivia-no-googling/711137/27 "2015-02-01T19:51:04Z")
Please spoiler your answers! I couldn’t vote in the last one because I started reading the responses first. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-fictional-trivia-no-googling/711137/28 "2015-02-01T19:56:18Z")
I believe that: Number 2 is incorrect. I don’t think Dave worked for Harland. ---
**Author:** ![luvtinayothers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@luvtinayothers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/luvtinayothers)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-fictional-trivia-no-googling/711137/29 "2015-02-01T20:00:39Z")
Yes! I agree. But sometimes the answers people are giving are not necessarily correct so you can ignore them. But if you know for a fact that you know the answer and you provide proof for it please use a spoiler. If you’re just guessing and saying, “I think maybe number 3 is true” then you don’t need to use a spoiler but if you’re giving factual information about an answer please don’t ruin it for everyone else. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-fictional-trivia-no-googling/711137/30 "2015-02-01T22:22:24Z")
I think, but do not know, that #1 is incorrect. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-fictional-trivia-no-googling/711137/31 "2015-02-02T15:28:57Z")
I’ll intrude with my own list. The theme is famous ex-jocks. 1. Yippie leader Abbie Hoffman was a tennis star at Brandeis, where his coach was famed TV sportscaster Bud Collins. 2. Physicist Werner Heisenberg was an avid boxer in college, and gave up the sport only after being knocked out by Max Schmeling. 3. Beatnik author Jack Kerouac was a high school football star who was offered a scholarship to be a running back at Notre Dame. 4. Dwight Eisenhower was a star defensive back at the US Military Academy at West Point, but his playing career was ended when he was flattened and severely injured during a game, while trying to tackle the legendary Jim Thorpe. ---
**Author:** ![luvtinayothers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@luvtinayothers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/luvtinayothers)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-fictional-trivia-no-googling/711137/32 "2015-02-02T19:51:29Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > I’ll intrude with my own list. The theme is famous ex-jocks. > > 1. Yippie leader Abbie Hoffman was a tennis star at Brandeis, where his coach was famed TV sportscaster Bud Collins. > > 2. Physicist Werner Heisenberg was an avid boxer in college, and gave up the sport only after being knocked out by Max Schmeling. > > 3. Beatnik author Jack Kerouac was a high school football star who was offered a scholarship to be a running back at Notre Dame. > > 4. Dwight Eisenhower was a star defensive back at the US Military Academy at West Point, but his playing career was ended when he was flattened and severely injured during a game, while trying to tackle the legendary Jim Thorpe. I’m completely guessing, but something about #2 seems off. I think that’s the fiction. ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2015, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-fictional-trivia-no-googling/711137/33 "2015-02-03T04:06:47Z")
> [@luvtinayothers](#): > > I’m completely guessing, but something about #2 seems off. I think that’s the fiction. My thought as well. ---
**Author:** ![luvtinayothers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@luvtinayothers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/luvtinayothers)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2015, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-fictional-trivia-no-googling/711137/34 "2015-02-03T06:07:12Z")
And btw in my last quiz this was the fiction: - 1. Jack In The Box was not named after the children’s toy, but after founder “Jack” Aaronstam who escaped Nazi Germany’ after his parents hid him in a box and put him on a ship - ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2015, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-fictional-trivia-no-googling/711137/35 "2015-02-03T14:34:48Z")
I’ll also agree that Heisenberg’s the fake one. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2015, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-fictional-trivia-no-googling/711137/36 "2015-02-03T15:09:35Z")
Dang- I have to come up with better fake answers. Everybody guessed (rightly) that Heisenberg was no boxer. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2015, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-fictional-trivia-no-googling/711137/37 "2015-02-04T04:51:00Z")
I’ll try it. One of the following four is a fake. But which one? 1. Oscar the Grouch was orange during the first season of _Sesame Street_. 2. Mattel once had a “Growing-Up Skipper” doll whose breasts grew when you raised her arm. 3. A very early ad campaign for Kellogg’s Corn Flakes offered a free box of cereal to any woman who would wink at her grocer. 4. Kool-Aid was originally marketed as “Sweet Smack”. ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2015, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-fictional-trivia-no-googling/711137/38 "2015-02-04T06:06:28Z")
I know which one is definitely true so I’ll spoiler that and my guess: [spoiler]Oscar was indeed Orange. As far as the fake one, I’m torn between 2 and 4. I think I’ll choose 4.[/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![luvtinayothers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@luvtinayothers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/luvtinayothers)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2015, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-fictional-trivia-no-googling/711137/39 "2015-02-04T06:23:39Z")
I’m pretty sure that I know three of them to be true, so I’m guessing number four because it’s the only one I hadn’t heard before. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2015, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-fictional-trivia-no-googling/711137/40 "2015-02-04T16:30:51Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > I’ll try it. One of the following four is a fake. But which one? > > 1. Oscar the Grouch was orange during the first season of _Sesame Street_. > 2. Mattel once had a “Growing-Up Skipper” doll whose breasts grew when you raised her arm. > 3. A very early ad campaign for Kellogg’s Corn Flakes offered a free box of cereal to any woman who would wink at her grocer. > 4. Kool-Aid was originally marketed as “Sweet Smack”. I’ll vote for #1, only because I’m old enough to have seen early episodes, and don’t remember Oscar being orange. (Of course, we only had a black and white set in those days!) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-fictional-trivia-no-googling/711137.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spot-the-fictional-trivia-no-googling/711137.md?page=3)