Wait, that's real?

[Nobody]

Mods, I hope this is the right forum. Sorry if it’s not.

What things have you heard, seen, or read, that you thought was made up for the book, song, TV show, movie, whatever, that you later found out was real?

If that question’s a little confusing, I’ll give some examples, and I promise you I wasn’t born and raised in a cave or under a rock.

Although I never heard the whole song, for years I heard the part of “Let’s call the whole thing off” that goes
You like po-tay-to and I like po-tah-to,
You like to-may-to and I like to-mah-to
Even though I had heard plenty of British people speak, it was only a few years ago that I found out that to-mah-to is the British pronunciation and wasn’t just made up for the song. :smack:

In the Simpsons episode “'Round Springfield” I didn’t realize that Jazzman was an actual song. I thought it was made up for the show. :o

And finally, one time after walking home from high-school I saw a sticker on the back of a truck that said, “How’s my driving? Call 1-800-Eat-Shit”. I had a good laugh and didn’t think much more about it. Then, years later, maybe even a decade or so, I saw a sticker on the back of a vehicle that gave a legitimate number and I realized that the joke I saw was actually based on something real and not just made up.

But enough of me looking like an idiot. Now it’s your turn.

[Sticks_and_Scones]

Bimbo Bread. Pronounced, of course as Beem-bow.

Actually, I know it’s real, but, really? Wow.

[saje]

I grew up saying to-mah-to and I’m from CT, originally.

[Rilchiam]

There really was an Ethelred the Unready.

[davidm]

@Sticks_and_Scones

Bimbo Bread. Pronounced, of course as Beem-bow.

Actually, I know it’s real, but, really? Wow.

I pass one of their plants every day on the way to work. It gave me a chuckle the first few times.

[Lucretia]

@saje

I grew up saying to-mah-to and I’m from CT, originally.

I’m from CT, and I did that, too. I also pronounce ‘aunt’ with that sound, instead of like the insect. I have a tendency to pronounce a lot of my mid-word A’s that way, actually, and am usually roundly made fun of for it. It took me months of mocking to finally start saying Nev-aaa-da instead of Ne-vahhh-da after I moved here.

[CalMeacham]

I was surprised to learn that there really was a Sultan of Swat* It wasn’t just made up as a title for Babe Ruth. Swat is a state in Pakistan.

Swat (princely state)

*actually, it was originally given as Akhwand of Swat, but Sultan of Swat was more alliterative. Before Babe Ruth “Akhwand of Swat” appears to have been a title viewed by Americans as humorous, and used in humorous cir5cumstances. No doubt because of the sound.

[Tamex]

I thought my mother made up Loudon Wainwright III’s “Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road”.

[Little_Nemo]

When I first read Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, I wasn’t aware that many of the poems were parodies of existing poems that were well-known in Carroll’s day.

[Sunspace]

@Little_Nemo

When I first read Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, I wasn’t aware that many of the poems were parodies of existing poems that were well-known in Carroll’s day.

I did not know this. Time to read the Annotated edition, I guess…

[Farmer_Jane]

Not very nice of me to say, but I never thought black people named their kids Laquesha and Fanesha and stuff until I moved out to Colorado. All the black folk in Iowa had European 'Merkin names (unless they were immigrants from Africa, of course).

[Little_Nemo]

@Sunspace

I did not know this. Time to read the Annotated edition, I guess…

These are public domain, so I assume this is okay.

“Against Idleness and Mischief” by Isaac Watts

How doth the little busy bee
Improve each shining hour
And gather honey all the day
From every opening flower!

How skillfully she builds her cell!
How neat she spreads the wax!
And labours hard to store it well
With the sweet food she makes.

In works of labour or of skill,
I would be busy too;
For Satan finds some mischief still
For idle hands to do.

In books, or work, or healthful play,
Let my first years be passed,
That I may give for every day
Some good account at last.

“How Doth the Little Crocodile” by Lewis Carroll

How doth the little crocodile
Improve his shining tail,
And pour the waters of the Nile
On every golden scale!

How cheerfully he seems to grin,
How neatly spreads his claws,
And welcomes little fishes in
With gently smiling jaws!

“The Old Man’s Comforts and How He Gained Them” by Robert Southey

“You are old, father William,” the young man cried,
“The few locks which are left you are grey;
You are hale, father William, a hearty old man;
Now tell me the reason, I pray.”

“In the days of my youth,” father William replied,
“I remember’d that youth would fly fast,
And abus’d not my health and my vigour at first,
That I never might need them at last.”

“You are old, father William,” the young man cried,
“And pleasures with youth pass away.
And yet you lament not the days that are gone;
Now tell me the reason, I pray.”

“In the days of my youth,” father William replied,
“I rememberd that youth could not last;
I thought of the future, whatever I did,
That I never might grieve for the past.”

“You are old, father William,” the young man cried,
“And life must be hast’ning away;
You are cheerful and love to converse upon death;
Now tell me the reason, I pray.”

“I am cheerful, young man,” father William replied,
“Let the cause thy attention engage;
In the days of my youth I remember’d my God!
And He hath not forgotten my age.”

“You Are Old, Father William” by Lewis Carroll

“You are old, Father William,” the young man said,
“And your hair has become very white;
And yet you incessantly stand on your head—
Do you think, at your age, it is right?”

“In my youth,” Father William replied to his son,
“I feared it might injure the brain;
But now that I’m perfectly sure I have none,
Why, I do it again and again.”

“You are old,” said the youth, “As I mentioned before,
And have grown most uncommonly fat;
Yet you turned a back-somersault in at the door—
Pray, what is the reason of that?”

“In my youth,” said the sage, as he shook his grey locks,
“I kept all my limbs very supple
By the use of this ointment—one shilling the box—
Allow me to sell you a couple?”

“You are old,” said the youth, “And your jaws are too weak
For anything tougher than suet;
Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak—
Pray, how did you manage to do it?”

“In my youth,” said his father, “I took to the law,
And argued each case with my wife;
And the muscular strength which it gave to my jaw,
Has lasted the rest of my life.”

“You are old,” said the youth, “one would hardly suppose
That your eye was as steady as ever;
Yet you balanced an eel on the end of your nose—
What made you so awfully clever?”

“I have answered three questions, and that is enough,”
Said his father; “don’t give yourself airs!
Do you think I can listen all day to such stuff?
Be off, or I’ll kick you down stairs!”

“The Star” by Jane Taylor

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.

When the blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.

Then the traveller in the dark,
Thanks you for your tiny spark,
He could not see which way to go,
If you did not twinkle so.

In the dark blue sky you keep,
And often through my curtains peep,
For you never shut your eye,
Till the sun is in the sky.

As your bright and tiny spark,
Lights the traveller in the dark.
Though I know not what you are,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.

Twinkle, twinkle, little star.
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.

Twinkle, twinkle, little star.
How I wonder what you are.
How I wonder what you are.

“Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Bat” by Lewis Carroll

Twinkle, twinkle, little bat!
How I wonder what you’re at!
Up above the world you fly,
Like a tea tray in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little bat!
How I wonder what you’re at!

“The Sluggard” by Isaac Watts

'Tis the voice of the sluggard; I heard him complain,
“You have waked me too soon, I must slumber again.”
As the door on its hinges, so he on his bed,
Turns his sides and his shoulders and his heavy head.

“A little more sleep, and a little more slumber;”
Thus he wastes half his days, and his hours without number,
And when he gets up, he sits folding his hands,
Or walks about sauntering, or trifling he stands.

I pass’d by his garden, and saw the wild brier,
The thorn and the thistle grow broader and higher;
The clothes that hang on him are turning to rags;
And his money still wastes till he starves or he begs.

I made him a visit, still hoping to find
That he took better care for improving his mind:
He told me his dreams, talked of eating and drinking;
But scarce reads his Bible, and never loves thinking.

Said I then to my heart, “Here’s a lesson for me,”
This man’s but a picture of what I might be:
But thanks to my friends for their care in my breeding,
Who taught me betimes to love working and reading.

“Tis the Voice of the Lobster” by Lewis Carroll

'Tis the voice of the Lobster: I heard him declare
“You have baked me too brown, I must sugar my hair.”
As a duck with its eyelids, so he with his nose
Trims his belt and his buttons, and turns out his toes.

When the sands are all dry, he is gay as a lark,
And will talk in contemptuous tones of the Shark;
But, when the tide rises and sharks are around,
His voice has a timid and tremulous sound.

I passed by his garden, and marked, with one eye,
How the Owl and the Panther were sharing a pie:
The Panther took pie-crust, and gravy, and meat,
While the Owl had the dish as its share of the treat.

When the pie was all finished, the Owl, as a boon,
Was kindly permitted to pocket the spoon;
While the Panther received knife and fork with a growl,
And concluded the banquet by (eating the Owl)

“Speak Gently” by David Bates

Speak gently! – It is better far
To rule by love, than fear –
Speak gently – let not harsh words mar
The good we might do here!

Speak gently! – Love doth whisper low
The vows that true hearts bind;
And gently Friendship’s accents flow;
Affection’s voice is kind.

Speak gently to the little child!
Its love be sure to gain;
Teach it in accents soft and mild: –
It may not long remain.

Speak gently to the young, for they
Will have enough to bear –
Pass through this life as best they may,
'T is full of anxious care!

Speak gently to the aged one,
Grieve not the care-worn heart;
The sands of life are nearly run,
Let such in peace depart!

Speak gently, kindly, to the poor;
Let no harsh tone be heard;
They have enough they must endure,
Without an unkind word!

Speak gently to the erring – know,
They may have toiled in vain;
Perchance unkindness made them so;
Oh, win them back again!

Speak gently! – He who gave his life
To bend man’s stubborn will,
When elements were in fierce strife,
Said to them, ‘Peace, be still.’

Speak gently! – 't is a little thing
Dropped in the heart’s deep well;
The good, the joy, which it may bring,
Eternity shall tell.

“Speak Roughly to Your Little Boy” by Lewis Carroll

“Speak roughly to your little boy,
And beat him when he sneezes;
He only does it to annoy,
Because he knows it teases.”

“I speak severely to my boy,
I beat him when he sneezes;
For he can thoroughly enjoy
The pepper when he pleases!”

“The Spider and the Fly” by Mary Howitt

“Will you step into my parlor?” said the spider to the fly;
“’Tis the prettiest little parlor that ever you did spy.
The way into my parlor is up a winding stair,
And I have many pretty things to show when you are there.”
“O no, no,” said the little fly, “to ask me is in vain,
For who goes up your winding stair can ne’er come down again.”

“I’m sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high;
Will you rest upon my little bed?” said the spider to the fly.
“There are pretty curtains drawn around, the sheets are fine and thin,
And if you like to rest awhile, I’ll snugly tuck you in.”
“O no, no,” said the little fly, “for I’ve often heard it said,
They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed.”

Said the cunning spider to the fly, “Dear friend, what shall I do,
To prove the warm affection I’ve always felt for you?
I have within my pantry good store of all that’s nice;
I’m sure you’re very welcome; will you please to take a slice?”
“O no, no,” said the little fly, “kind sir, that cannot be;
I’ve heard what’s in your pantry, and I do not wish to see.”

“Sweet creature!” said the spider, “You’re witty and you’re wise!
How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!
I have a little looking-glass upon my parlor shelf,
If you’ll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself.”
“I thank you, gentle sir,” she said, “for what you’re pleased to say,
And bidding you good-morning now, I’ll call another day.”

The spider turned him round about, and went into his den,
For well he knew the silly fly would soon be back again:
So he wove a subtle web, in a little corner sly,
And set his table ready to dine upon the fly.
Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing
“Come hither, hither, pretty fly, with the pearl and silver wing:
Your robes are green and purple; there’s a crest upon your head;
Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead.”

Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little fly,
Hearing his wily flattering words, came slowly flitting by.
With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew
Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue;
Thinking only of her crested head — poor foolish thing! At last,
Up jumped the cunning spider, and fiercely held her fast.
He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den,
Within his little parlor; but she ne’er came out again!

And now, dear little children, who may this story read,
To idle, silly, flattering words, I pray you ne’er give heed;
Unto an evil counselor close heart, and ear, and eye,
And take a lesson from this tale of the Spider and the Fly.

“The Lobster Quadrille” by Lewis Carroll

“Will you walk a little faster?” said a whiting to a snail,
"There’s a porpoise close behind us, and he’s treading on my tail.
See how eagerly the lobsters and the turtles all advance!
They are waiting on the shingle – will you come and join the dance?
Will you, won’t you, will you, won’t you, will you join the dance?
Will you, won’t you, will you, won’t you, won’t you join the dance?

“You can really have no notion how delightful it will be
When they take us up and throw us, with the lobsters, out to sea!”
But the snail replied “Too far, too far!” and gave a look askance –
Said he thanked the whiting kindly, but he would not join the dance.
Would not, could not, would not, could not, would not join the dance.
Would not, could not, would not, could not, could not join the dance.

“What matters it how far we go?” his scaly friend replied.
"There is another shore, you know, upon the other side.
The further off from England the nearer is to France –
Then turn not pale, beloved snail, but come and join the dance.
Will you, won’t you, will you, won’t you, will you join the dance?
Will you, won’t you, will you, won’t you, won’t you join the dance?

[cmyk]

Amy Poehler’s character who wrote a book in an episode in this season of Parks and Recreation, Pawnee: The Greatest Town in America by Leslie Knope.

It’s funny, if you’re a fan of the show.

[Crowbar_of_Irony_3]

Wilky Wonka Chocolate, though later did I realize that it was produced to capitalize on the movies.

[Ellen_Cherry]

Moving to Cafe Society, from IMHO.

[DeweyDecibel]

There was an episode of 30 Rock in which Tina Fey dated a guy who wanted to see a really terrible sounding movie - Hot Tub Time Machine. I thought that title was so ridiculous that it was an obvious parody of bad films; even a bit over the top as a parody.

Real movie, with John Cusack.

[jjimm]

I knew the Father William poem was a parody but had never read the original. The Lewis Carroll one is now even more awesome.

[cmkeller]

In the James Bond movie “The Man with the Golden Gun”, James visits an MI-6 office based in a ship half-sunken in Hong Kong harbor. I assumed it was just made up for the movie, but apparently the Queen Elizabeth is a real sunken ship there. Also, there’s a bar in that movie called the “Bottoms Up” club which I also thought was a movie invention, but is real.

[campp]

I thought the Edmond Fitzgerarald was just a story Gordon Lightfoot dreamed up.

[Pine_Fresh_Scent]

I didn’t know Alfred Molina’s character in *Boogie Nights *was based on real-life gangster Eddie Nash until I watched Val Kilmer as John Holmes in Wonderland.

Wonderland ends with Gordon Lightfoot’s song “If You Could Read My Mind”, which led me to buy his greatest hits CD which contains “The Edmund Fitzgerald”.

And thus, the circle of life is complete.