A.C.M.E. What does it mean?
Mark Bowden
from A.C.M.E. What does this stand for?
Thanks,
-mark
(Inquisitus Posterum)
Ad absurdum per aspera
> from A.C.M.E. What does this stand for?
Annual Conference of Managing Editors. I've got an
invitation to this year's meeting (at Savannah River)
on my desk at this very moment.
Seriously, I never noticed that it was supposed to be
an acronym, just a regular word. "Acme" means sort of
the pinnacle, the best, etc., and presumably someone,
somewhere, once used it in the name of a company.
ObUL: There's a written continuity manual on what the Road
Runner and his friends and tormentors do, how they are to be
depicted, etc., and one of the points is that Wile E. Coyote
(Genius) always gets his widgets from Acme. A colleague who
does computer stuff for Warner New Media assures me that this
is so.
Joe "Sorry about posting facts to the sewer of ALT" Chew
Alan J Rosenthal
>Wile E. Coyote in the Road Runner cartoons always buys his contraptions
>from A.C.M.E. What does this stand for?
It's "ACME", not "A.C.M.E."! Sheesh! It's not an acronym.
Next thing you'll be saying that posh, tip, cop, fuck, hack, chad, and helium
are acronyms.
Alan "lighter than brain material" Rosenthal
Michael Moroney
>> Wile E. Coyote in the Road Runner cartoons always buys his contraptions
>> from A.C.M.E. What does this stand for?
I agree it's just ACME, not an acronym but the name of a company that supplies
items needed to capture/obliterate road runners, with heavy empasis on
explosives.
>ObUL: There's a written continuity manual on what the Road
>Runner and his friends and tormentors do, how they are to be
>depicted, etc., and one of the points is that Wile E. Coyote
>(Genius) always gets his widgets from Acme. A colleague who
>does computer stuff for Warner New Media assures me that this
>is so.
One thing I wondered, is the coyote that chases the road runner really
supposed to be the same as Wile E. Coyote (Genius)? I ask this, because
there is another creature that looks all the same as Wile E. Coyote
(Genius), but his name is Ralph Wolf. He's the one that punches the time
clock with the sheepdog, then tries to catch sheep until time to punch out,
at which time he and the sheepdog are buddies again.
Notice the coyote that chases the road runner *never* talks (well I think
I heard him yell *once*), but Wile E. Coyote (Genius) is very vocal in
his dealings with (usually) Bugs Bunny, or snickering to himself how much
of a genius he is. Both build very elaborate contraptions (supplied by
Acme) that never work as intended, though.
-Mike
Paul Monty Ashley
>I agree it's just ACME, not an acronym but the name of a company that supplies
>items needed to capture/obliterate road runners, with heavy empasis on
>explosives.
Chuck Jones (in his essential book, which I cannot find), says they
just liked the word "Acme". I think they read it on a doorbell label
for "The Acme Co." Or something.
>One thing I wondered, is the coyote that chases the road runner really
>supposed to be the same as Wile E. Coyote (Genius)? I ask this, because
>there is another creature that looks all the same as Wile E. Coyote
>(Genius), but his name is Ralph Wolf. He's the one that punches the time
Same Coyote. Ralph Wolf is different; his nose is a different color. But
Wile E. Coyote (Super-Genius) is the same ol' Famishus Famishus with the
Road-Runner. See Chuck's book. Which I can't find.
-Paul "Monty" "I _can_ find some less authoritative sources, if you
like." Ashley
Peter Stein
>One thing I wondered, is the coyote that chases the road runner really
>supposed to be the same as Wile E. Coyote (Genius)? I ask this, because
>there is another creature that looks all the same as Wile E. Coyote
>(Genius), but his name is Ralph Wolf. He's the one that punches the time
>clock with the sheepdog, then tries to catch sheep until time to punch out,
>at which time he and the sheepdog are buddies again.
>Notice the coyote that chases the road runner *never* talks (well I think
>I heard him yell *once*), but Wile E. Coyote (Genius) is very vocal in
>his dealings with (usually) Bugs Bunny, or snickering to himself how much
>of a genius he is. Both build very elaborate contraptions (supplied by
>Acme) that never work as intended, though.
I seem to remember one Road Runner cartoon where Wile E. puts on a female
roadrunner suit to try and lure the roadrunner to him. He steps out of his
cave and goes "BEEP-BEEP!" The next shot shows HUNDREDS of other coyotes
popping out behind the rocks, all of whom start chasing him. I think that
answers your question- they always had a whole bunch of coyotes; they just
use four or five for each 'toon... <shrug>
--
Pete Stein, AKA tv's wisecracking peter sch...@camelot.bradley.edu
"Dope will get you through times of no money better than money will get
you through times of no dope." -Freewheelin' Franklin
tom cikoski
The true story of Walt Acme and his beloved 'Toons is
fully detailed in the movie "Who Framed Roger Rabbit."
All 'Toons buy all of their 'Toon needs from the Acme
company.
t "except Nicktoons" c
--
( )_( ) __________ spli...@allink.com ____________
\. ./ :just another middle-aged mutant Zen rat:
__=.=__
"
Victor W. Wong
Actually, that's fairly simple to answer.
If you look in the dictionary, you'll see that "ACME" (yes, it's a
single word) means "the highest point." It comes from the Greek
word "akme."
In the 1930's and 1940's most small companies took the name "ACME"
as a way of getting prominence in the phone book (i.e. the front of
the directory). This trend led animator Chuck Jones to adopt the
ACME corporation as a universal supplier in the RoadRunner cartoons.
Victor Wong (who's a whiz at toon trivia)
vin...@micor.ocunix.on.ca
Matt Hucke
)One thing I wondered, is the coyote that chases the road runner really
)supposed to be the same as Wile E. Coyote (Genius)? I ask this, because
)there is another creature that looks all the same as Wile E. Coyote
)(Genius), but his name is Ralph Wolf. He's the one that punches the time
)clock with the sheepdog, then tries to catch sheep until time to punch out,
)at which time he and the sheepdog are buddies again.
It's hard to tell... they use the same actor for both parts.
--
A PC needs Windows like a fish needs a bicycle.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
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Alan J Rosenthal
"Acme Seafood". Great food. They have a picture of Wile E. on the wall.
Larry Gritz
>Chuck Jones (in his essential book, which I cannot find), says they
>just liked the word "Acme". I think they read it on a doorbell label
>for "The Acme Co." Or something.
If I remember the story correctly, "Acme" was the name of the company
that made the tables that Jones used to photograph the animations. Or
some other piece of animation equipment (maybe a camera or
something?).
-- lg
--
Larry Gritz, gr...@seas.gwu.edu Dept. of EE & CS
The George Washington University 801 22nd St. NW, Rm. T-624G
(202) 994-0460 (voice) -0227 (fax) Washington, DC 20052
a.B. Mayers
>In <CE3o0...@world.std.com> mor...@world.std.com (Michael Moroney) writes:
>>One thing I wondered, is the coyote that chases the road runner really
>>supposed to be the same as Wile E. Coyote (Genius)? I ask this, because
>>there is another creature that looks all the same as Wile E. Coyote
>>(Genius), but his name is Ralph Wolf. He's the one that punches the time
>>clock with the sheepdog, then tries to catch sheep until time to punch out,
>>at which time he and the sheepdog are buddies again.
>>Notice the coyote that chases the road runner *never* talks (well I think
>>I heard him yell *once*), but Wile E. Coyote (Genius) is very vocal in
>>his dealings with (usually) Bugs Bunny, or snickering to himself how much
>>of a genius he is. Both build very elaborate contraptions (supplied by
>>Acme) that never work as intended, though.
There was an episode where some kids (toons) were watching a Wil E. episode,
and one asks the other why he is so intent on catching the roadrunner. Wile
E. turns to the kid (on the kid's tv) and lectures on all the joys of Road-
runner delicacies. It was definitely Wile E. Coyote's voice. So we have
(sorta) proof that Wile chased the Roadrunner at least once....
-aB Mayers
--
Well, if you want to email me, my address is ab...@cornell.edu. Stylbjo"rn
If you want to flame me, my address is MAY...@CEMVAX.CEM.MSU.EDU Bill Moses
If you don't want to speak to me, don't. <no manual entry for> Bob Ivan OK C.B.
If you don't want anchovies, don't order them. <disclaimer> Jose aB JoBo Mayers
Teneyck Aric
: by Acme. I mentioned this to the guy who shares my office and he didn't
: believe me. I had to show him the ruler.
: I'm planning to use the ruler to kill road runners. In the absence of
: road runners, seagulls will do.
: Christopher "how do you get the seagull to swallow a 12 inch ruler?" Neufeld
Put Alka-Seltzer on the end of it...
Aric "That'd be cool" TenEyck
Charles Lasner
Alan J Rosenthal <fl...@dgp.toronto.edu> wrote:
>Next thing you'll be saying that posh, tip, cop, fuck, hack, chad, and helium
>are acronyms.
^^^^
I thought it referred to getting permission to post here:
Folklore Urban with Consent of Kibo
cj "Have Always Considered Kibo" l
Robert McMillin
> JTC...@lbl.gov (Ad absurdum per aspera) writes:
>>> Wile E. Coyote in the Road Runner cartoons always buys his contraptions
>>> from A.C.M.E. What does this stand for?
> I agree it's just ACME, not an acronym but the name of a company
> that supplies items needed to capture/obliterate road runners, with
> heavy empasis on explosives.
From the Chuck Jones book, {Chuck Amuck}:
The Acme Corporation stemmed from games the Jones tads played
in their juvenile dotage. My sister Dorothy fell in love with
the title Acme, finding that it was adopted by many struggling
and embryonic companies because it put them close to the top
of their chosen services in the Yellow Pages. Today, of
course, it is commonplace to see AAAAA Cleaners and Dyers or
AAABBBCCCDDD Drugs, which sounds like a Porky Big
establishment. But in those simple days such verbal chicanery
was unheard of -- Acme was a word; it was that simple.
On Wed, 29 Sep 1993 13:23:28 GMT, spli...@allink.com (tom cikoski) said:
> JTC...@lbl.gov (Ad absurdum per aspera) writes:
>>ObUL: There's a written continuity manual on what the Road Runner
>>and his friends and tormentors do, how they are to be depicted,
>>etc., and one of the points is that Wile E. Coyote (Genius) always
>>gets his widgets from Acme. A colleague who does computer stuff for
>>Warner New Media assures me that this is so.
Warner New Media largely doesn't exist anymore, making me wonder
whether your friend does. However, according to Chuck, there were
nine rules regarding the Road Runner's and the Coyote's behavior:
RULE 1. THE ROAD RUNNER CANNOT HARM THE COYOTE EXCEPT BY GOING
"BEEP-BEEP!"
RULE 2. NO OUTSIDE FORCE CAN HARM THE COYOTE -- ONLY HIS OWN
INEPTITUDE OR THE FAILURE OF THE ACME PRODUCTS.
RULE 3. THE COYOTE COULD STOP ANYTIME -- *IF* HE WERE NOT A
FANATIC. (REPEAT: "A FANATIC IS ONE WHO REDOUBLES HIS EFFORT
WHEN HE HAS FORGOTTEN HIS AIM." -- GEORGE SANTAYANA)
RULE 4. NO DIALOGE EVER, EXCEPT "BEEP-BEEP!"
RULE 5. THE ROAD RUNNER MUST STAY ON THE ROAD -- OTHERWISE,
LOGICALLY, HE WOULD NOT BE CALLED ROAD RUNNER.
RULE 6. ALL ACTION MUST BE CONFINED TO THE NATURAL
ENVIRONMENT OF THE TWO CHARACTERS -- THE SOUTHWEST AMERICAN
DESERT.
RULE 7. ALL MATERIALS, TOOLS, WEAPONS, OR MECHANICAL
CONVENIENCES MUST BE OBTAINED FROM THE ACME CORPORATION.
RULE 8. WHENEVER POSSIBLE, MAKE GRAVITY THE COYOTE'S GREATEST
ENEMY.
RULE 9. THE COYOTE IS ALWAYS MORE HUMILIATED THAN HARMED BY
HIS FAILURES.
So that's it.
--
Robert L. McMillin | r...@helen.surfcty.com (preferred) | r...@netcom.com
vox: 714-638-2459 | s-mail: 13442 Wilson St., Garden Grove, CA 92644
Where are Joel and the 'bots when you really need them?
Christopher Neufeld
Ad absurdum per aspera <JTC...@lbl.gov> wrote:
>> Wile E. Coyote in the Road Runner cartoons always buys his contraptions
>> from A.C.M.E. What does this stand for?
>
>an acronym, just a regular word. "Acme" means sort of
>the pinnacle, the best, etc., and presumably someone,
>somewhere, once used it in the name of a company.
>
by Acme. I mentioned this to the guy who shares my office and he didn't
believe me. I had to show him the ruler.
I'm planning to use the ruler to kill road runners. In the absence of
road runners, seagulls will do.
Christopher "how do you get the seagull to swallow a 12 inch ruler?" Neufeld
--
Christopher Neufeld....Just a graduate student | Famous Last Words #5:
neu...@helios.physics.utoronto.ca Ad astra | It's always sunny there
generic!cneu...@utzoo.utoronto.ca | this time of the year.
"Don't edit reality for the sake of simplicity" |
Daniel Howard Lee III
listed (although not in the same place) are correct. I would even quote
the gospel of _Chuck Amuck_, if I hadn't lent it to a friend.
1) ACME was indeed popular with fledling companies who wanted to get
ahead in the phonebook. Not only does "acme" refer to the best, but it
conveniently starts with the letters A and C, which put it near the
beginning of the phone book. Note that this was years ago, and Mr.
Jones even notes the more recent additions of AAA Dry Cleaning, etc, as
the most recent development of this trend.
2) I seem to remember that the tripod which suspended the camera over
the cels was also made by the ACME company (please note - ACME is not an
abbreviation in this case).
Also, as to the issue of Wile E. Coyote talking, he most certainly has.
Note 1952's "Operation: Rabbit" in which the Coyote says to Bugs Bunny:
(that's right; Bugs - not the Road Runner) "Allow me to introduce
myself: Wile E. Coyote-genius" (presents business card with same
inscribed) "I am more muscular, more cunning, faster, and larger than
you are - and I'm a genius, while you could hardly pass the entrance
examinations to kindergarten. So I'll give you the customary two
minutes to say your prayers." He speaks more throughout this feature.
Why did Wile stop speaking? Various theories abound. Some say that it
was a fall he took 1952's "Beep Beep" when he landed at the bottom of
the canyon incorrectly, and caused severe trauma to his larynx, losing
the ability to speak. Another theory is that Warner Bros., upset with
increasing budgets, decided that it wasn't necessary for the Wile to
talk. This eliminated a speaking role, and decreased costs with the
C.A.G. (Cartoon Actor's Guild)
Yet another theory is hinted at by Insiders, who claim that Wile and
R.R. (as he's called on the set) actually are not on speaking terms, and
Wile has it in his contract that he need not speak with the bird.
And yes, Ralph Wolf and Wile E. Coyote are indeed the same actor.
Again, as a cost cutting method, Warner Bros. execs cast the studio
coyote in the role of a wolf (with the brilliant logic that all one need
do is apply some red paint to the coyote's nose to make him a wolf).
The fact that 1953's "Don't Give Up the Sheep" was a success, is a
tribute to the coyote, who flourishes despite mis-casting.
In all seriousness, let me recommend _Chuck Amuck_ (Chuck Jones'
autobiography). It is a quick and fun read, and it provides great
insight into Mr. Jones, Warner Bros. studios, the 1940's-70's
entertainment industry, and various and sundry characters Mr. Jones has
known. It avoids the technical, ("We used dye 178-43278 for such and
such a character") but still provides insight into the artistic/creative
process.
So much for my input. BTW - if you wonder why I know so much about the
Coyote, its because I identify with him. Strive for the unattainable.
At worst, you pick yourself up, dust yourself off and try again. At
best, you might just "...have an old friend over for dinner".
Terry Lee
Dan Hartung
>mor...@world.std.com (Michael Moroney) writes:
>
>>I agree it's just ACME, not an acronym but the name of a company that supplies
>>items needed to capture/obliterate road runners, with heavy empasis on
>>explosives.
>
>Chuck Jones (in his essential book, which I cannot find), says they
>just liked the word "Acme". I think they read it on a doorbell label
>for "The Acme Co." Or something.
Still, at the time "Acme" was in fact a much more common word found
in company names, when the fashion was more toward "Acme Gumball
Machine Co.", "Quality Plumbing", "Best Boxes" etc. than the current
"BubbleGlobitech, Inc", "Saniton", "CardBordCubes". Then, it was
a topical joke.
--
The only variable that is really keeping down
health care costs is the number of DOAs.
Daniel A. Hartung -- dhar...@chinet.chinet.com -- Ask me about Rotaract
fri...@flying-disk.com
> So much for my input. BTW - if you wonder why I know so much about the
> Coyote, its because I identify with him. Strive for the unattainable.
> At worst, you pick yourself up, dust yourself off and try again. At
> best, you might just "...have an old friend over for dinner".
In Glendale, California (adjacent to N.E. Los Angeles), Baker's
Hardware (3925 San Fernando Road) uses the Coyote as a mascot/symbol.
He appears in a painting on the outside wall of the building and
in most of their advertisements. Just inside the door, near
the customer service desk, is a stuffed version about 5 feet high
(on roller skates the last time I looked). I wish I could find
a stuffed road runner to put in his hand, er paw.
BTW, I am within eyesight of Los Angeles City Hall, yet my wife
and I have both seen coyotes in our back yard and on surrounding
streets. Talk about hanging in there against all odds!
And yes, I did once see a roadrunner in the back yard.
-- Alan E. Frisbie Fri...@Flying-Disk.Com
-- Flying Disk Systems, Inc.
-- 4759 Round Top Drive (213) 256-2575 (voice)
-- Los Angeles, CA 90065 (213) 258-3585 (FAX)
Alan J Rosenthal
> RULE 9. THE COYOTE IS ALWAYS MORE HUMILIATED THAN HARMED BY
> HIS FAILURES.
This would not be my attitude were I blown up by a malfunctioning explosive.
Alan "I wouldn't even HAVE an attitude any more" Rosenthal
Ron Asbestos Dippold
>whether your friend does. However, according to Chuck, there were
>nine rules regarding the Road Runner's and the Coyote's behavior:
> RULE 4. NO DIALOGE EVER, EXCEPT "BEEP-BEEP!"
But the roadrunner says "Meep! Meep!"
> RULE 9. THE COYOTE IS ALWAYS MORE HUMILIATED THAN HARMED BY
> HIS FAILURES.
Then he must be one hell of a humiliated puppy, considering the damage he
takes. For some reason this brings to mind the Black Adder Red Baron
episode... "For a man uff your stachoor, the hu-MI-LI-A-SHUN will be
un-BEAR-a-ble."
--
The politician is the only person who asks you to help him then sends you the
bill for it.
R Clement
>Folklore Urban with Consent of Kibo
>
>cj "Have Always Considered Kibo" l
Why has everyone started to mention Kibo at several times the normal rate?
Since I believe in "if you can't beat them.....".
If "Rambo" is the Japanese word for "Violence", what is "Kibo" the Japanese
word for?
Ros "Will make obscure inter-lingual puns for food" s-c
James Kibo Parry
In article <1993Oct2.1...@gps.leeds.ac.uk>,
R Clement <ros...@scs.leeds.ac.uk> wrote:
> In article <28gd36$r...@apakabar.cc.columbia.edu> las...@watsun.cc.columbia.edu (Charles Lasner) writes:
> >Folklore Urban with Consent of Kibo
> >
> >cj "Have Always Considered Kibo" l
>
> Why has everyone started to mention Kibo at several times the normal rate?
Because it's October, you big silly.
> If "Rambo" is the Japanese word for "Violence", what is "Kibo" the Japanese
> word for?
Gee, I *HOPE* someone will drop a hint.
-- K.
Richard N Kitchen
In a previous article, las...@watsun.cc.columbia.edu (Charles Lasner) says:
>In article <1993Oct1....@flying-disk.com>,
> <fri...@flying-disk.com> wrote:
>
>>And yes, I did once see a roadrunner in the back yard.
>
>Isn't the California Roadrunner the state bird of Arizona?
>
>cj "So what state's bird is the Arizona Roadrunner?" l
>
>
Manitoba. Or one of those other Northern states.
Rick "Or maybe it was Queensland" Kitchen
--
Rick Kitchen da...@cleveland.freenet.edu
"I have a rule against clients sticking their tongues down my throat."
--Dave Brodsky, "Black Tie Affair"
Charles Lasner
>And yes, I did once see a roadrunner in the back yard.
Isn't the California Roadrunner the state bird of Arizona?
Rick Colombo
All Coyote's Must Eat
RC
Robert J. Repas, Jr.
In a previous article, col...@dcd00.fnal.gov (Rick Colombo) says:
> All Coyote's Must Eat
If you spell acme backwards and add an equals sign, you get:
e=mc^2
Don't your a's look like 2's?
--
-- "_I'M_ the silly green duck with an ego the size of Cleveland!" - P. Duck
-- Bob Repas from the Great North Coast cz...@cleveland.freenet.edu
-- "Dumber than advertised!" - Yakko Warner
--