# "Woochie" prosthetic effects: where did this term originate? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 13, 2012, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woochie-prosthetic-effects-where-did-this-term-originate/634552 "2012-09-13T00:07:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woochie-prosthetic-effects-where-did-this-term-originate/634552/1 "2012-09-13T00:07:48Z")
At Halloween costume stores, many of the monster makeup kits include “woochie” effects. As near as I can tell, this term refers to inexpensive one-size-fits-all latex prosthetics such as fake noses, scars, etc. But why “woochie?” ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woochie-prosthetic-effects-where-did-this-term-originate/634552/2 "2012-09-13T00:31:54Z")
I hope someone with real knowledge of this subject will show up to give you a better answer, but a quick Google suggests to me that “Woochie” is the name of a particular line of products from the Cinema Secrets cosmetics company. I don’t know where that name comes from, but it doesn’t look to me like it’s a generic term, it seems to be just what Cinema Secrets chose to call them. ---
**Author:** ![DannyJCinema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f475e1/32.png) [@DannyJCinema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DannyJCinema)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woochie-prosthetic-effects-where-did-this-term-originate/634552/3 "2012-09-13T23:38:10Z")
Hi and Thank you for your interest in where the name Woochie came from. We - Cinema Secrets - purchased a small Halloween FX line to add to our growing Halloween lines as it was very similar. We then were able to build the Woochie name to really become the first Brand Name in Halloween where as mentioned people will use it as a generic term. As to how the original company came up with the name “Woochie” that is another story and unfortunately a little Boring! If anyone has any further questions about our Woochie line please do not hesitate to ask and also make sure when you go to a Halloween store this year and ask for Woochie - you are not shown one of the knock lines!!! Thank you Hope this helps clear things up a bit. Danny Stein CFO/Co Owner Cinema Secrets, inc. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woochie-prosthetic-effects-where-did-this-term-originate/634552/4 "2012-09-14T00:22:34Z")
> [@DannyJCinema](#): > > As to how the original company came up with the name “Woochie” that is another story and unfortunately a little Boring! I’m actually kind of interested now. ---
**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:** [September 14, 2012, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woochie-prosthetic-effects-where-did-this-term-originate/634552/5 "2012-09-14T02:18:36Z")
WTF? The legendary **Terrifel** goes away for a year and a half, comes back to post in GQ about a very obscure company’s\* product line, and 24 hours later a representative of that company shows up with a response\*\*? Seriously, WTF?\*\*\* \*No offense, Mr. Stein. \*\*Of course, with all due respect, it wasn’t really much of a response. Please, do go on with your “Boring” story. We’re kind of an – eclectic bunch here, and I’m sure _someone_ will find it fascinating. The legendary **Terrifel** , for instance. \*\*\*Thrilled to see you back, **Terrifel**. Stick around. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woochie-prosthetic-effects-where-did-this-term-originate/634552/6 "2012-09-14T03:26:20Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > WTF? The legendary **Terrifel** goes away for a year and a half, comes back to post in GQ about a very obscure company’s\* product line, and 24 hours later a representative of that company shows up with a response\*\*? Perhaps I should be posting “I hope someone with real knowledge of this subject will show up to give you a better answer” in more threads. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woochie-prosthetic-effects-where-did-this-term-originate/634552/7 "2012-09-14T03:34:03Z")
I suspect “Woochie” is a unique enough term that they search for it periodically for marketing opportunities/outreach. 🙂 Their stuff is pretty decent, by the way. Used some of 'em on my kid one year when he was Spike for Halloween. I’m not particularly skilled with the prosthetics, and it looked great. The edges are nice and thin and easy to blend with makeup, unlike some of the knock offs I’ve tried. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woochie-prosthetic-effects-where-did-this-term-originate/634552/8 "2012-09-14T12:16:04Z")
> [@DannyJCinema](#): > > As to how the original company came up with the name “Woochie” that is another story and unfortunately a little Boring! > > * * * > > Hope this helps clear things up a bit. > . Uh? Kinda bad form to not only not answer the question, but to cock tease like that.😛 ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2012, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woochie-prosthetic-effects-where-did-this-term-originate/634552/9 "2012-09-15T03:15:51Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > WTF? The legendary **Terrifel** goes away for a year and a half, comes back to post in GQ about a very obscure company’s\* product line, and 24 hours later a representative of that company shows up with a response\*\*? > > Seriously, WTF?\*\*\* Hmph. “Legendary,” indeed! I assure you, I am completely mythical. Don’t try to fence me in with your bourgeois standards of historical falsifiability. Cinema Secrets CFO Danny Stein, on the other hand, is a well-known urban legend; which explains how I was able to summon him merely by standing in front of a mirror and saying his name three times. > [@](#): > > \*No offense, Mr. Stein. No offense?! After he shows up to share his resume, exploit my well-intentioned and entirely sincere question as an opportunity for grossly mercantile product placement, and basically tell us everything about his precious company _except for the specific thing I asked about, because it’s “too boring?”_ Seriously, what the hell?! Get back here and dish, Stein. How could the origin of the name “Woochie” be too boring to tell? It’s dirty, isn’t it? It’s a reference to some incredibly filthy practice, probably involving latex rubber. Don’t force us to start guessing, here. Online speculation could get rapidly out of hand without timely damage control. > [@](#): > > \*\*Of course, with all due respect, it wasn’t really much of a response. Please, do go on with your “Boring” story. We’re kind of an – eclectic bunch here, and I’m sure _someone_ will find it fascinating. The legendary **Terrifel** , for instance. I’m also a freelance culture hero, in case anyone’s interested. Frankly, it’s been a while between gigs, what with the recession and all. > [@](#): > > \*\*\*Thrilled to see you back, **Terrifel**. Stick around. Oh I assure you, my “Woochie” is as sticky as ever, if you know what I mean. ---
**Author:** ![cinemasecrets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@cinemasecrets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cinemasecrets)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woochie-prosthetic-effects-where-did-this-term-originate/634552/10 "2012-09-17T19:46:24Z")
> [@Terrifel](#): > > At Halloween costume stores, many of the monster makeup kits include “woochie” effects. As near as I can tell, this term refers to inexpensive one-size-fits-all latex prosthetics such as fake noses, scars, etc. But why “woochie?” It’s not that interesting a story. Cinema Secrets purchased the Woochie brand many years ago and we make off the shelf appliances for Halloween and Special FX out of both latex and foam. “Woochie” was a nickname the original creator had for his son, and decided to name the line after him! ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woochie-prosthetic-effects-where-did-this-term-originate/634552/11 "2012-09-18T20:11:02Z")
> [@cinemasecrets](#): > > It’s not that interesting a story. Cinema Secrets purchased the Woochie brand many years ago and we make off the shelf appliances for Halloween and Special FX out of both latex and foam. > > “Woochie” was a nickname the original creator had for his son, and decided to name the line after him! Nonsense, it’s a perfectly interesting and heartwarming story, and many thanks for clearing up the mystery. I can also rest easy that I’m not using a product named after an obscure ethnic slur or illegal sex act. Unless of course the creator’s son was also nicknamed after one, which would also be interesting! Also, now if anyone else happens to ask about the name “Woochie” at the Halloween store, I can brandish my newfound tidbit of insider knowledge like a silver dagger of occult wisdom. Such opportunities are the spice to an otherwise bland and colorless life, let me tell you. Sorry about the confusion, but in several places it seemed like the term “Woochie” was being used generically, so it was not entirely clear to me that it was a brand name. Again, thanks muchly for satisfying my curiosity! Now I can celebrate Halloween with pride, Woochie held high. I’m **Terrifel** , and this has been another exciting episode of “Cinema Secrets: Extreme Woochie Edition.” ---
**Author:** ![DannyJCinema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f475e1/32.png) [@DannyJCinema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DannyJCinema)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woochie-prosthetic-effects-where-did-this-term-originate/634552/12 "2012-09-18T23:07:40Z")
Well, I am sure glad we have cleared it up for all of you - all thanks to Google alerts! Now for that Shameless plug - you should all go out and Demand only Official WOOCHIE products this Halloween!!! Oh, and we may be using this as a question on our FB wall in October so stay tuned! And if any of you are ever in the Burbank/Toluca Lake area (CA) - please stop by Cinema Secrets. Thank you Danny Stein ---
**Author:** ![Lazlo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lazlo/32/9678_2.png) [@Lazlo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lazlo)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woochie-prosthetic-effects-where-did-this-term-originate/634552/13 "2012-09-19T01:28:52Z")
Didn’t something similar happen with Bacon Salt before they exploded onto the market? ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woochie-prosthetic-effects-where-did-this-term-originate/634552/14 "2012-09-19T03:10:11Z")
Threads like this are what make the Internet great.