I did start writing that but got to 1904 thus far. The most notable change is Hugo Hercules lasting a lot longer rather than being cancelled early on, helping to cement his status in pop culture as the first Superhero. That and the averted suicide of the writer of Bugville Life.
Trying to Please Everyone: Or Converting multiple Pop Culture Utopias into a Timeline.
- Thread starter Marco Incognito
- Start date
What happens to Arnold Schwarzenegger ITTL? Does he still become involved in politics?
Schwarzenegger's Childhood is largely the same besides butterflying away his brother Meinhard's death in a car crash in 1971. ITTL Schwarzenegger's father died during the production of Pumping Iron and Schwarzenegger's coldness is recorded in the actual film as well as the man himself appearing in the film(Arnold has claimed he was so committed to bodybuilding that he didn't attend his father's funeral which was invented for the film based on another bodybuilder's story but Arnold has ran with it ever since). At 18 year olds he fought in Vietnam overseas, given him actual military experience before deciding to become a bodybuilder. Like OTL he met and was trained by his idol Ray Park before moving to LA.
Hercules in New York(1970) remains the same though Arnold is not dubbed over and keeps his true name in the credits. Pumping Iron(1977) still happens but Lou Ferrigno wins the competition and Arnold announces his retirement as he wanted to go into film anyway. Arnold then goes onto play the Incredible Hulk on TV in Lou Ferrigno's place( a popular but false rumor OTL. Arnold was asked but was busy with Conan and suggested Lou Ferrigno). ITTL the Incredible Hulk also features a crossover with the live action Spider-Man series and several others relating the 1970's Defenders made up of marvel 70's show characters(Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, Captain America, Hulk etc).
The series ends when he goes off to star in Oliver Stone's Conan The Barbarian(1982). However there is no sequels until a later one with an older Arnold showing how he became King. He still plays the Terminator in 1984 and its sequel. Red Sonja is a Bakshi film though Arnold voices Conan. He does not star in Commando as the role instead goes to Gene Simmons, its original choice. Predator(1987) remains the same. The Running Man instead stars Christopher Reeve and is directed by Andrew Davis(as a result it's a darker story more in line with the original rather than an action comedy about an innocent man suddenly being hunted at random. Red Heat(1988) still exists as does Twins(1988) with a sequel sometime later called Triplets adding Eddie Murphy as the triplet. Replacing Kindergarten Cop(1990). Total Recall was released earlier under David Cronenberg(he wrote the first 12 scripts for it OTL, hence the body horror elements of the film) and stars William Hurt. Terminator 2 in 1991. Last Action Hero(1993) with a somewhat different plot but same idea. Around 1994, Shwarzenegger becomes Doctor Octopus and Cameron's Spider-Man films. True Lies is delayed to the 2000s, and the following he doesn't do and therefore they are not made: Junior, Eraser, Jingle All the Way, End of Days. He also plays Dr.Manhattan in Watchmen sometime around this point in the early 80's mid 90's while Mr.Freeze is played by Patrick Stewart in a more serious film. There's also Paul Verhoeven's Crusade, and before that the titular role in Judge Dredd as TTL's Robocop, which is very different.
In the 2000s, True Lies 2 is released along with the final James Cameron directed Terminator 3. He still enters politics and does run for President, unsuccessfully. He still appears in The Expendables series. Playing Conan once again. He does not do Escape Plan which stars Bruce Willis instead. He then plays Hercules in the Marvel Movies based on the comic character, which is his last role before he retires and enters politics, becoming President of Germany.
I'm actually interested in how Arnold Schwarzenegger becomes the president of Germany ITTL.
1901-1903 in Comics
Since it was asked. I did start workshopping an Early Comic Page. I thought I'd share it here and maybe begin alternating between Anime and Comics.
1900-1903 in Comics
1900-1903 in Comics
Foxy Grandpa(1900-1918)
Carl E.Shultz debuts his character Foxy Grandpa. Shultz drew the strip under the name “Bunny”. It ran in the New York Herald. It features an elderly grandpa and his two mischievous grandsons Chub and Bunt, who repeatedly try to prank him only for the Grandpa to prank the boys. The strip proved popular enough that it was adapted into Broadway shows and early silent films due to telling its story largely visually[1].
"Hoist" refers to William Randolph Hearst.
Happy Hooligan(1900-1932)
Created by Frederick Burr Opper, already a famous Cartoonist as a Sunday strip for William Randolph Heart’s newspaper. It followed an optimistic Hobo who always remains positive. He had two brothers named Gloomy Gus and Snobby Monty. Monty wore a tattered suit and top hat and acted rich but was as poor as the others. Allegedly the character was inspired by vaudeville entertainer Fred Lowe, who began to bill himself as “The original Happy Hooligan” after the strip became popular. Like most Opper strips, Happy Hooligan had no set schedule and was released simply when the cartoonist was satisfied with the product. Though usually, if it missed a week, Opper would make up for it by releasing two Strips extra almost like an apology for being late. It is a rumor that Charlie Chaplin based his tramp character on Happy Hooligan though he denied this and says the character just came to him.
Bugville Life(1900-1904)
A Series by the then 21 year old Gus Dirks. The strip depicted the titular Bugville, a microscopic City in which many intelligent insects coexisted used as a satire of main elements of society. It ran until 1904, when William Wallace Denslow approached Dirks with an offer to illustrate an Oz Comic strip series which he accepted. Baum and Denslow realized that Dirks was emotionally troubled, though at the time, psychiatric help was in its infancy, they promised him at least financially stability from a share of the rights to the Oz stories[2].
Weatherbird(1901-)
In the Pages of the St.Louis Dispatch, Harry B.Martin created the Dickey-Bird, later renamed to the Weather Bird, a cartoon character which accompanied the Weather Report. Martin intended to only draw three versions depending on the weather(one for Snow, once for Rain, one for when it was hot and so on) but the readers asked for a new drawing each day and Martin relented. As time went on the Weatherbird would change artists, many of which would have him comment on current news at times and he would change styles from artist to artist.
Alphonse and Gaston(1901-1937)
Created by Frederick Burr Opper. The strip features two Frenchman who are too polite, never letting the other pass by always insisting the other person goes first. It ran in William Randolph Heart’s Newspaper, the New York Journal. It was adapted into short stage plays and early films. The strip usually featured cameos from other Opper characters including Happy Hooligan, who were casually used when certain characters were needed. The duo’s bit became popular including the catchphrase “After you, my Dear Gaston.” And the term Alphonse-Gaston Situation” because of the strip.
Lady Bountiful(1901)
By Gene Carr. An adaptation of the play the Beaux’s Stratagem, makes its debut as the first text balloon comic with a female protagonist.
Billy Bounce(1901-1906)
A series by William Wallace Denslow, known for illustrating the Oz Books by L.Frank Baum. Billy Bounce featured one of the first instances of a comic character with Superpowers. In this case a boy who could grow large and bounce or possibly fly. Like the later, Little Nemo, Billy Bounce would often be transported somehow to fantasy lands.
Buster Brown(1902-1923)
Comic Strip character Buster Brown makes his debut, created by Richard D.Outcault. Supporting characters include Mary Jane and Brown’s dog Tige. Based on Buster Keaton, then a child actor in Vaudeville. Keaton would later play the character in several shows. Mary Jane was based on Outcault’s own daughter. Outcault sold the rights to the characters to the Brown show company, which used him as their mascot beginning at the 1904 St.Louis World's Fair. The character of Buster Brown was then adapted into traveling shows, theatre and early films, using pairing a little person actor with a trained dog.
Hugo Hercules(1902-1930)
Wilhelm Heinrich Detlev Korner releases the comic strip Hugo Hercules, which depicts Hugo performing amazing feats with his strength, usually to help people or simply to amaze them. These included picking up an elephant, kicking a house like a football, using a cannon like a handgun and lifting a locomotive off its tracks and carrying its contents himself at the same speed. Korner eventually retired but in 1930 was convinced to revive the character by writer Phillip Wyle. Wyle wrote a backstory for the character and brought his story to the then present[3].
Naughty Toodles(1903-1933)
Created by female Cartoonist Grace Daytonm first appeared in Hearst syndicated strips. Follows a girl who usually runs into and causes mischief, being punished for it in some way, often being followed by a little boy and a puppy[4].
Mr.Jack(1903-1935)
A Comic Strip by Jimmy Swinnerton, which ran in William Randolph Heart’s newspaper. The series follows a philandering playboy tiger in what may be the first developed cartoon animal character.
A.Piker Clerk(1903-1907)
A comic strip by Clare Briggs syndicated in Hearst’s Chicago American. The strip centers on horse racing, giving readers a tip each day. The protagonist is the thin Mr.Clerk, who has a gambling problem. The strip then focused on whether he won or lost with his tally being posted, based on how the real life horse did. It inspired similar strips and avoided cancellation by Hearst on account of its popularity[5].
Notes
[1] For Spongebob Fans, yes the “Foxy Grandpa”hat in the episode "One Krabs" Trash was referencing this strip.
[2] Bugville Life was OTL renamed to Latest New from Bugville and was cut short when Gus Dirks committed Suicide in 1902. While it is difficult to ascertain why he chose to take his own life. ITTL as the first change to the Comic Book Landscape, he survives due to the job offer being offered.
[3] OTL Korner’s Hugo Hercules was not a success and he quit comic strips and became a painter. His most famous work being A Charge to Keep, a painting kept by George W.Bush in the White House. Hugo Hercules later received recognition as the first Superhero Comic retroactively. Phillip Wyle’s 1930 novel Gladiator, featured superhuman Hugo Danner. Here they are composited as Hugo Hercules originally had no origin. It also butterflies away that story's out of nowhere ending where a lightning bolt kills him.
[4] OTl Naughty Toodles underwent a name change to Dolly Dimples.
[5]OTL allegedly Hearst had it cancelled, considering it too vulgar.
Carl E.Shultz debuts his character Foxy Grandpa. Shultz drew the strip under the name “Bunny”. It ran in the New York Herald. It features an elderly grandpa and his two mischievous grandsons Chub and Bunt, who repeatedly try to prank him only for the Grandpa to prank the boys. The strip proved popular enough that it was adapted into Broadway shows and early silent films due to telling its story largely visually[1].
"Hoist" refers to William Randolph Hearst.
Happy Hooligan(1900-1932)
Created by Frederick Burr Opper, already a famous Cartoonist as a Sunday strip for William Randolph Heart’s newspaper. It followed an optimistic Hobo who always remains positive. He had two brothers named Gloomy Gus and Snobby Monty. Monty wore a tattered suit and top hat and acted rich but was as poor as the others. Allegedly the character was inspired by vaudeville entertainer Fred Lowe, who began to bill himself as “The original Happy Hooligan” after the strip became popular. Like most Opper strips, Happy Hooligan had no set schedule and was released simply when the cartoonist was satisfied with the product. Though usually, if it missed a week, Opper would make up for it by releasing two Strips extra almost like an apology for being late. It is a rumor that Charlie Chaplin based his tramp character on Happy Hooligan though he denied this and says the character just came to him.
Bugville Life(1900-1904)
A Series by the then 21 year old Gus Dirks. The strip depicted the titular Bugville, a microscopic City in which many intelligent insects coexisted used as a satire of main elements of society. It ran until 1904, when William Wallace Denslow approached Dirks with an offer to illustrate an Oz Comic strip series which he accepted. Baum and Denslow realized that Dirks was emotionally troubled, though at the time, psychiatric help was in its infancy, they promised him at least financially stability from a share of the rights to the Oz stories[2].
Weatherbird(1901-)
In the Pages of the St.Louis Dispatch, Harry B.Martin created the Dickey-Bird, later renamed to the Weather Bird, a cartoon character which accompanied the Weather Report. Martin intended to only draw three versions depending on the weather(one for Snow, once for Rain, one for when it was hot and so on) but the readers asked for a new drawing each day and Martin relented. As time went on the Weatherbird would change artists, many of which would have him comment on current news at times and he would change styles from artist to artist.
Alphonse and Gaston(1901-1937)
Created by Frederick Burr Opper. The strip features two Frenchman who are too polite, never letting the other pass by always insisting the other person goes first. It ran in William Randolph Heart’s Newspaper, the New York Journal. It was adapted into short stage plays and early films. The strip usually featured cameos from other Opper characters including Happy Hooligan, who were casually used when certain characters were needed. The duo’s bit became popular including the catchphrase “After you, my Dear Gaston.” And the term Alphonse-Gaston Situation” because of the strip.
Lady Bountiful(1901)
By Gene Carr. An adaptation of the play the Beaux’s Stratagem, makes its debut as the first text balloon comic with a female protagonist.
Billy Bounce(1901-1906)
A series by William Wallace Denslow, known for illustrating the Oz Books by L.Frank Baum. Billy Bounce featured one of the first instances of a comic character with Superpowers. In this case a boy who could grow large and bounce or possibly fly. Like the later, Little Nemo, Billy Bounce would often be transported somehow to fantasy lands.
Buster Brown(1902-1923)
Comic Strip character Buster Brown makes his debut, created by Richard D.Outcault. Supporting characters include Mary Jane and Brown’s dog Tige. Based on Buster Keaton, then a child actor in Vaudeville. Keaton would later play the character in several shows. Mary Jane was based on Outcault’s own daughter. Outcault sold the rights to the characters to the Brown show company, which used him as their mascot beginning at the 1904 St.Louis World's Fair. The character of Buster Brown was then adapted into traveling shows, theatre and early films, using pairing a little person actor with a trained dog.
Hugo Hercules(1902-1930)
Wilhelm Heinrich Detlev Korner releases the comic strip Hugo Hercules, which depicts Hugo performing amazing feats with his strength, usually to help people or simply to amaze them. These included picking up an elephant, kicking a house like a football, using a cannon like a handgun and lifting a locomotive off its tracks and carrying its contents himself at the same speed. Korner eventually retired but in 1930 was convinced to revive the character by writer Phillip Wyle. Wyle wrote a backstory for the character and brought his story to the then present[3].
Naughty Toodles(1903-1933)
Created by female Cartoonist Grace Daytonm first appeared in Hearst syndicated strips. Follows a girl who usually runs into and causes mischief, being punished for it in some way, often being followed by a little boy and a puppy[4].
Mr.Jack(1903-1935)
A Comic Strip by Jimmy Swinnerton, which ran in William Randolph Heart’s newspaper. The series follows a philandering playboy tiger in what may be the first developed cartoon animal character.
A.Piker Clerk(1903-1907)
A comic strip by Clare Briggs syndicated in Hearst’s Chicago American. The strip centers on horse racing, giving readers a tip each day. The protagonist is the thin Mr.Clerk, who has a gambling problem. The strip then focused on whether he won or lost with his tally being posted, based on how the real life horse did. It inspired similar strips and avoided cancellation by Hearst on account of its popularity[5].
Notes
[1] For Spongebob Fans, yes the “Foxy Grandpa”hat in the episode "One Krabs" Trash was referencing this strip.
[2] Bugville Life was OTL renamed to Latest New from Bugville and was cut short when Gus Dirks committed Suicide in 1902. While it is difficult to ascertain why he chose to take his own life. ITTL as the first change to the Comic Book Landscape, he survives due to the job offer being offered.
[3] OTL Korner’s Hugo Hercules was not a success and he quit comic strips and became a painter. His most famous work being A Charge to Keep, a painting kept by George W.Bush in the White House. Hugo Hercules later received recognition as the first Superhero Comic retroactively. Phillip Wyle’s 1930 novel Gladiator, featured superhuman Hugo Danner. Here they are composited as Hugo Hercules originally had no origin. It also butterflies away that story's out of nowhere ending where a lightning bolt kills him.
[4] OTl Naughty Toodles underwent a name change to Dolly Dimples.
[5]OTL allegedly Hearst had it cancelled, considering it too vulgar.
I don’t think so - in his own words, he left his native Austria because there was “socialism” there. And the funny thing is that in 1962-1970 the government was headed by the Austrian People's Party (conservatives). On the other hand, in Germany the presidential position is essentially secondary, so maybe there will be no harm from this.
Kind of why I chose President. As well as the inside Joke of President Schwarzenegger.
What happens to these films ITTL, bedsides that F. W. Murnau is able to get the rights to Dracula from Stoker’s widow ITTL?
Skipping Nosferatu, the Cabinet of Dr.Caligari is directed by Fritz Lang with Alfred Kubin designing, Ernst Deutsh as Cesare and Gilda Langer as Jane. It was adapted into sound in the 1930’s as was standard practice at the time. This version was directed by John Cocteau and essentially replaced German expressionist for French surrealist. It factored a bit into German propaganda of the time. There was a sequel, the Return of Caligari in the late 1940’s, turning Caligari into a Nazi War criminal. The 1962 film and therefore the 1989 sequel do not exist as the title was forced upon an unrelated film. Same with the Cabinet of Dr. Ramirez.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame was independently funded by Lon Chaney and directed by Alan Crosland(known OTL for the Jazz Singer). The film itself is different such as lacking Esmeralda kidnapped by gypsies in favor of a plot following Claude Frollo.
While scrolling through IMDB’s Top 250 Films of All Time list recently, that has gotten me thinking; IOTL there are only seven films that have a 9.0 out of 10 or higher on the site (those being The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather Parts 1 and 2, The Dark Knight, 12 Angry Men, Schindler’s List, and Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King), will there be any more films with such a high rating ITTL? Or just more films with higher critical ratings in general? If that can even be estimated or presumed.
At this point it can't be estimated though I will mention the ones you name droppedhere.
The Shawshank Redemption- Stars Tom Cruise as Andy and Harrison Ford as Red without any other real changes. It's up there but not as high up ITTL.
The Godfather Parts 1 and 2-Largely same as OTL though with more actors such as Brando making cameos in Part 2.
The Dark Knight-Does not exist ITTL. though a Darren Aronofsky helped Batman film takes its place, it would be a little lower.
12 Angry Men-Largely same as OTL.
Schindler’s List-Directed by Stanley Kubrick but with Spielberg as a direct hands on Producer, effectively a co-director, which likely elevates it a bit on the list.
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King-I imagine this film being largely the same as OTL with some different cast members, though personally I don't like it being this far up and would put the first film in its place.
The Shawshank Redemption- Stars Tom Cruise as Andy and Harrison Ford as Red without any other real changes. It's up there but not as high up ITTL.
The Godfather Parts 1 and 2-Largely same as OTL though with more actors such as Brando making cameos in Part 2.
The Dark Knight-Does not exist ITTL. though a Darren Aronofsky helped Batman film takes its place, it would be a little lower.
12 Angry Men-Largely same as OTL.
Schindler’s List-Directed by Stanley Kubrick but with Spielberg as a direct hands on Producer, effectively a co-director, which likely elevates it a bit on the list.
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King-I imagine this film being largely the same as OTL with some different cast members, though personally I don't like it being this far up and would put the first film in its place.
How about assuming a film that 8.0 or 9.0 (or in-between) get one point each (or some fraction of a point).
At least TTL might get a Schwarzenegger Presidential Library.
Oh, so the title of whoever gets elected in Germany gets changed ITTL, correct?