I don?t know how embarrassing this is to admit, but I?m going to, because it so surprised

me.

I always thought Walter Mitty was a real person. Had no idea at all it was a fictional character. I don?t know where I?ve got this from, but I always thought the ?real? original Walter Mitty was associated with Al Capone, got arrested by the old bill, sang like a bird about all his big time connections with Capone?s mob, but eventually just turned out to be a small time crook with massive fantasies of being connected to Capone and influential. And I thought that was where the term ?a Walter Mitty character? came from.

Dunno, I guess I once saw a documentary about Capone when I was young, where a small-time fantasist crook tried to play Big Time Crook, got found out and referred to as ?a Walter Mitty?, and not knowing who Walter Mitty was, I misunderstood and thought this guy *was* Walter Mitty, and that was the origin of it.

So, I just looked him up. Turns out he?s from a book. Every day is a school day.

Thicky.

Posted By: Arizona Bay on November 21st 2013 at 11:35:39

Message Thread

I don?t know how embarrassing this is to admit, but I?m going to, because it so surprised (General Chat) - Arizona Bay, Nov 21, 11:35:39
- I think you were thinking of Frank the enforcer Nitti,he didn't sing though,he killed (General Chat) - protheroe fitzgibbon, Nov 21, 13:48:17
  - Cough... (General Chat) - yellowman, Nov 21, 14:02:29
    - ah,i didn't look down far enough. (n/m) (General Chat) - protheroe fitzgibbon, Nov 21, 15:55:48
- I used to think (n/m) (General Chat) - duke of york, Nov 21, 13:02:09
- I used to think my mates dog was called Porky because it told fibs. (General Chat) - CB41, Nov 21, 12:44:48
- Oh dear (General Chat) - Old Git, Nov 21, 12:37:48
  - Perfectly happy to admit that I haven't read all of the books. (n/m) (General Chat) - Arizona Bay, Nov 21, 14:35:11
- Used to think Arson was a real person (General Chat) - Surrey Yella, Nov 21, 12:25:43
  - He defintely seems to get the blame for a lot of fires (n/m) (General Chat) - pants, Nov 21, 12:29:02
  - Manages arsenal now (n/m) (General Chat) - yellowman, Nov 21, 12:28:04
- Despite what many Merkins think, Mickey Mouse isn't real either. (General Chat) - CB41, Nov 21, 12:21:54
  - Yes he is (General Chat) - emmaroyds, Nov 21, 12:26:18
    - he made my daughter cry... or rather oone of the (General Chat) - Pixelman, Nov 21, 12:55:47
- When calling a premium rate number on the TV (General Chat) - Trent_Canary, Nov 21, 12:17:02
- I told the little 'un not to tell fibs.... (General Chat) - yellowman, Nov 21, 12:13:36
- When I was a kid I thought that Jim, our next-door, was Jimmy Neighbour (n/m) (General Chat) - Adster, Nov 21, 12:10:35
  - When I was a child I thought God?s name was Peter (General Chat) - KentonCanary, Nov 21, 12:13:35
- I always thought a Cleveland Steamer was some kind of express train. (n/m) (General Chat) - tudders, Nov 21, 12:09:46
  - arf! (n/m) (General Chat) - Karnivore, Nov 21, 12:42:09
  - There goes BWOD's lunchtime wrothplay (n/m) (General Chat) - Pixelman, Nov 21, 12:24:33
  - Haha... (General Chat) - yellowman, Nov 21, 12:23:45
  - FFS, you utter, utter bastard. I just googled that and now my PC is filthed up!!!! (n/m) (General Chat) - CB41, Nov 21, 12:20:38
- When I was a kid I thought Freddy Star and Fred Astaire were the same person (General Chat) - Trent_Canary, Nov 21, 12:08:49
- Frank nitti.... (General Chat) - yellowman, Nov 21, 12:05:01
- so did I (General Chat) - emmaroyds, Nov 21, 11:48:06
- He is real. Larry has had him over for fondue. (n/m) (General Chat) - Pixelman, Nov 21, 11:42:56
- a bit (General Chat) - Tricky Hawes, Nov 21, 11:37:19
  - Clearly I hadn't when whatever made that Capone connection in my head happened. (General Chat) - Arizona Bay, Nov 21, 11:44:42

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