LoC 65: Top 50 Urban Legends

[Johnny Unusual]

Up Next
Actually Craig Charles is also a precursor to great disaster as well.

Robot Wars?  I thought those were real!

[Compound]

# 24: Nain Rouge
 

25 Points (On 1 of 9 lists)
Highest Vote: (#1 by Tripe )

The Story:
Say what you want about Detroit, such as the fact that they can't win a freaking World Series. Now we have to suffer through cocky Giants fans until spring training.
 
Jerks.
 
Still, better them than the Braves or da Sox.
 
But you gotta give props to a town that has its own harbinger of doom.
 
Yes, Detroit certainly needs one.
 
See, the Nain Rouge is a small childlike creature with red boots (sometimes black) as well as blazing red eyes and rotten teeth. And it's appeared in Detroit before practically  every disaster since 1701. Detroit's been trying to banish the thing for the last few years, but obviously it keeps hanging around, right Tigers?
 
 
Well, Is It True?
Well of course it is. Detroit's obviously cursed and the Nain Rouge preceding all dire events certainly shows this. Heck, it was even at the Robocop 2 premiere. Not at Robocop 3 though. Even grim agents of disaster have their limits.
 
 
Random Notes
So, really. What does it look like? Well, here's the version from this year's parade.

 
And here's the same character on the Canadian TV show "Lost Girls."

 
Yeah, a bit different looking, I'd say.
 
BTW: Denver's grim specter of disaster?

 
Not quite the same.
 
Up Next
...really? Geez. He's my own personal demon. And Starman didn't even send in a list this time...

[Compound]

# 23: In the Air Tonight

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/4TbnXqhHJkk?version=3" target="_blank" class="new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/4TbnXqhHJkk?version=3</a>

25 Points (On 1 of 9 lists)
Highest Vote: (#1 by BBQ Platypus )

The Story:
Yeah, thanks for changing it off the pop station. If I have to hear Maroon 5 one more time, I won't be held responsible for my actions.

Oooh. Turn this one up.  I love this song. BUH-DUM-BUH-DOOM-BAHDOOM-BAHDAHDOOMDOOM.

You know the background for this song, right? Well, its a true story. See, Collins saw his friend drown one night. He was too far away to do anything about it. But near the shore, there was another person and they could have saved him. But he just stood and watched. So Collins wrote this song as a big FU to the guy who just stood there and he sings it at every concert in the hopes that he'll hear it.

...

Thing is, there's another story out there too. See, the guy who drowned? Collins knew him. In fact, he saw the guy rape and murder someone. Later he saw a stranger drowning and realized that it was the same guy. And so he just watched him die and didn't help. But afterwards, Collins was never quite sure if it was in fact the same guy or not. And so, he sings this song at every concert, accusing and berating himself.

...No, Taylor Swift isn't doing the same thing with "We're Never Getting Back Together."

Well, Is It True?
No.

Collins, when not winning unearned Oscars, has said many, many times that the songs on "Face Value" dealt with his bitterness and frustration over his divorce with his first wife and not with anything other than that.

Except for Sussudio though. That song's true meaning is quite demonic.

Random Notes
Even though it's not true, this is still a great story.

Up Next
We go back to the scary well. Well, scarier than a Phil Collins song, that is.

[Compound]

# 22: The Unkindest Cut

25 Points (On 1 of 9 lists)
Highest Vote: (#1 by Sicgirl )

The Story:
You're heading over to Riverside Mall? Not a good idea.

No, not because the Orange Julius moved out. You really haven't heard?

See, there's been a number of women who bought stuff and then headed out to their cars, all laden with packages and, well, there's someone hiding under their car. When they show up and fumble around trying to open the door, he takes a razor and slashes their ankles. They fall to the ground, and the guy grabs their stuff and car keys and drives off, while they're helpless and on the ground.

And I've heard that this is all part of a gang initiation too. In order to prove that the new gang member has done this, he has to come back with one of her fingers. Or her. So yeah, avoid the mall for now. Or wear some really awesome, razor-proof boots.

Well, Is It True?
No.

This rumor has been around since the 1950s, but there's never been an actual substantiated case of this occurring.

Random Notes
This legend falls into the general category of "Women are in danger everytime they walk into a parking lot." Which is generally not a bad piece of advice, but sometimes goes a bit overboard. Plus it'd probably be easier just to do the traditional "hit her over the head and then run" thing rather than hiding under a car for hours.

Up Next
Oh, Japan....

[Compound]

# 21: The Looove Machines

25 Points (On 1 of 9 lists)
Highest Vote: (#1 by CJones )

The Story:
Dude, Japan is a fucked up place.

Yes, I know you've seen Strike Witches, but I'm not talking about that.

See, Japan's got this thing about panties and...

Yes, I know you've seen Agent Aika too. Will you listen already?

Anyway, they've got this thing about panties and, well, they also have an obsession about vending machines too. Machines that give out bananas, balloons, fried fish, crepes, porn, dildos, eggs, neckties, boardgames, rhinoceros beetles, beer and yes, even Pokemon stuff.

See? I was able to work it in again.

But the weirdest thing? They've got vending machines that sell panties. No, not new ones. Ones that have been "soiled."

Ahem.

About 500 yen per pair too. That's about $6.50, I think.

Seriously, what the hell, Japan?

Yes, I know you've seen Ikki Tousen too. Seriously, I wonder about you too.

Well, Is It True?
Well, you'd think it wasn't but...

According to Snopes, it is.

Theoretically the practice was banned in 1993, but, some report that they're still around. There seems to be a great deal of debate on the subject though, with some saying "No, those are for new panties" and others disagreeing and stating that they've personally seen them.

I will note that there are a number of valid reports of a few stores that sell "used" panties. The existence of those places doesn't seem to be in doubt.

Random Notes
Here's a video from The Japan Channel showing the location of one such machine:
http://www.break.com/usercontent/2011/7/2/girls-panty-vending-machine-in-japan-2078673

Oh, and for those wondering, ebay very explicitly bans the sale of unwashed undergarments.  Sorry.

Up Next
No more ties! #20-11! Rockstars! More spiders! Treats! Insects! And more people being brutally killed!

[BBQ Platypus]

# 23: In the Air Tonight

See, in the version I'm most familiar with, Phil actually tracks the guy down, gives him a front row ticket to his next show, and sings it right to his face with the spotlight on him.  And then the guy commits suicide the next day.

Phil Collins?  Eh.  Phil Collins inducing a guy to commit suicide*?  Awesome.



* Directly, I mean.  Forcing someone to listen to No Jacket Required would more than do the job for a lot of people.

[MerryWanna]

# 30: The Scarlet Linkletter

Well, that reminds me of something I heard once. See, back in the 60s people started using LSD and, well, a lot of them didn't react too well to it. Well, okay, that one pitcher tossed a no hitter while using it, but he's the exception.

There were others. I mean, even besides myself.

GREAT title and picture, by the way.

[Smoky]

# 34: The Graveyard Wager

This is in fact an episode of The Twilight Zone called "The Grave."

I think the story goes back before the episode. In any case, it's still told as an urban legend.

[Compound]

# 34: The Graveyard Wager[/c]

This is in fact an episode of The Twilight Zone called "The Grave."

I think the story goes back before the episode. In any case, it's still told as an urban legend.
[/q]


You're both correct. Lee Marvin was in the Twilight Zone episode, but there are versions of the tale from the Middle Ages as well. The versions from prior to the mid-1900s tend to involve around a soldier heading to the graveyard, rather than the middle schoolers who tend to be in the tales today and quite often merely had the soldier cold and trapped on the grave, rather than the deaths in the current version.

[Compound]

# 20: Mothman
 

28 Points (On 2 of 9 lists)
Highest Vote: (#8 by Pak-Man )

The Story:
You ever been to Point Pleasant?
 
No, not the Fox show. Geez, how do you remember that thing? No, the one in West Virginia. See, there's this... thing that haunts the town and fortells bad news. It's a seven foot tall flying creature with burning red eyes. It terrorized the area for about a year before a bridge collapsed. Maybe it was trying to warn us.
 
No, I don't think it was just looking for a really big sweater.
 
Well, Is It True?
Probably not.
 
While there were indeed a number of reports of the creature, it probably doesn't actually exist. (Sorry, Mr. Gere.) There are reports that all the incidents were the result of local pranksters. However, to be fair, a pretty large number of people have claimed to be the prankster behind it and there's a good shot that a number of those folks are lying.
 
Others claim that UFOs are the case, but the current theory is that those responsible... are owls. Owls bear a resemblance to the early descriptions of the Mothman, plus they fly and have eyes that glow strongly in the dark. Current researchers surmise that either a barn owl or a previously unseen species of giant owl known as "Bighoot" was responsible for the initial panic and things just spiraled out from there.
 
Random Notes
Still, beware the hooters for the owls are not what they seem.
 
Up Next
Okay, who builds a sniper nest next to a train track?
 
 

[Tripe]

Dammit, that is the one I really should have included!

[Compound]

# 19: Won't You Be My Sniper?

32 Points (On 2 of 9 lists)
Highest Vote: (#9 by Sicgirl )

The Story:
Dude, are you still picking on that guy playing Pokemon? I'd lay off him if I were you. See, it's always the quiet ones that are the most dangerous.

Don't believe me? Remember Captain Kangaroo?

No?  What do you mean it went off the air before you were born? Exactly how old are you?

Twenty six? Geez that's scar...well, anyway. The guy ran a kid's show on TV for years, but dude, he and Lee Marvin fought side by side during Iwo Jima.

And Mr. Rogers? He was the scariest of them all. The dude was a sniper during Vietnam. He killed hundreds of people and then went on TV acting like he'd never seen a care in the world. Dude  had ice water in his veins. You know why he always wore those red sweaters? He had tattoos of each one of his kills up and down his arms. That might have scared the kiddies, so he wore the sweaters.

You never saw his show either? Ugh. I gotta start hanging around older people.

Well, Is It True?
Not a word of it.

Rogers never served in the military. He was born in 1928 and was too young to serve in World War II and by the time Vietnam started, he was 37 and too old to enlist. And in 1963 he was ordained as a minister (a Presbyterian, not of the Universal Church variety) and the military tends to not send priests into the service.

Sweaters? He wore those to establish himself as an authority figure to kids, not to cover up his many, many kills.

Oh, and the Lee Marvin and Captain Kangaroo stuff isn't true either. (Keeshan was too young to serve in WWII and Marvin was in the hospital during Iwo Jima.)

Random Notes
Henrietta Pussycat though? Mossad. She was part of the Entebbe raid. True story.

Up Next
Sadly, I couldn't fins a scarier picture here.

[Compound]

# 18:Daddy Longlegs

32 Points (On 2 of 9 lists)
Highest Vote: (#4 by CJones )

The Story:
Hey, you know what the most deadly animal in the world is?

No, not something Australian. You know, they just claim that everything in Oz is poisonous. It's just really the drop bears that have really deadly venom.

The real deadliest animal is the little daddy longlegs. Their venom will kill you in an instant. So, beware.

No, I'm not really sure what they look like either. Just look for something with long legs.

Well, Is It True?
Probably not.

See, we're not really sure how toxic they are to humans. Why? Well, there's no record of any of them ever biting a human.  Without records of that, it's kinda hard to tell. And we're not going to shoot a human up with the stuff, because of you know, ethical human standards. And scientists have never gotten around to testing the venom on mice either, so we have no idea of how deadly it is to just mammals either. No, there's no real reason to believe that it's the most dangerous thing ever.

Random Notes
For an actual spider to avoid, look out for the brown recluse spider. It is quite deadly. Also avoid box jellyfish, although those are not too likely to be lurking in a corner of the room.

Up Next
Billy Idol though was on the Banana Splits.

[Compound]

# 17: The Manson Years

32 Points (On 3 of 9 lists)
Highest Vote: (#3 by Tripe )

The Story:
Okay, young 'un. It's good to see you staying away from that Pokemon guy. In case my last lesson didn't sink in, here's another reason to stay away from him.

You ever see Family Ties? On Nick at Night? Sigh. Anyway, you know the little kid on that show that they added when the ratings started slipping? Yeah, the one that aged like 3-4 years over one summer. Have you seen that kid today? Yeah, he looks like he just walked off the set of Sons of Anarchy. Normally looking people will sometimes just flip out.

Want an even more extreme example? You ever watch The Wonder Years? Yeah, Winnie was hot, but that's not what we're talking about. You remember Kevin's dorky friend Paul? You know who that guy is today? Marilyn Manson. 

So, be advised the next time you taunt someone for trying to catch a Floofenall, they may end up hunting you down and wearing your skin. Just an FYI, you know.

Well, Is It True?
Not at all. (Well, except for the bit about Brian Bosnall. He's had a rough adulthood.)

Marilyn Manson's birth name is Brian Warner and he's seven years older than Josh Savino, who played Paul on the show. At the time when Wonder Years began airing, Manson was studying journalism at a college in Florida, not helping Kevin look moon-eyed at Winnie.

Savino is aware of the legend and finds it rather amusing. To quote, "I'd rather people think of me as a rock star rather than as a dorky little kid."  Savino, by the way, is the Senior Counsel of the Intellectual Property division of New York law firm Morrison Cohen. So, yeah, these days he's probably worth more than Manson is.

Random Notes
By the way, Manson's first TV appearance seems to be here, on TRL in 1992
http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/93782/before-they-were-famous-hangin-with-manson-1992.jhtml

Yeah, if you don't remember The Wonder Years, you'll probably draw a blank about TRL too.

Up Next
Totally a Futurama ref.

[Compound]

 

# 16: Bring Me the Head of Walt Disney

34 Points (On 3 of 9 lists)
Highest Vote: (#4 by Pak-Man )

The Story:
Some people just don't want to die.
 
Yeah, I know we've been trying to get rid of Carrottop for years, but I'm not talking about him. I'm talking about Walt.
 
See, in the latter years of his life, Walt Disney was getting more and more obsessed with dying. He wanted to see his dream continue. So he talked to his doctors to see if there was any experimental way that might keep him alive. And they came up with an idea- cryogenics.
 
See, at low temperatures, you can keep a body around for almost forever. And in the future, they figured that medical science will keep advancing and eventually, they'd be able to repair the damage from both the freezing and from the cancer that was killing Disney.
 
So they cut off his head and then stuck it in a supercooled chamber. Apparently it's underneath Futureland in Disney World. So the next time you buy a $6 soda at the park, remember, you're keeping Walt alive with that soda.
 
Well, Is It True?
Probably not.
 
The claims that Disney was frozen seem to come from  a pair of books, one of which seems to be basing their belief that it happened on the urban legend itself.
 
Disney's family, on the other hand, has repeatedly stated that Walt wanted to be cremated and his death certificate seems to indicate that occurred two days after his death.
So, no. It's probably not the case.
 
Besides, if his head was still around, it likely would have risen from its resting place during the Eisner years to wreak vengeance on Eisner.
 
 
Random Notes
No, Walt's not in a robot body being kept alive by being fed orphan children either. I'm not sure where that rumor came from either.
 
Up Next
Heh, heh, heh.