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Why were so many companies called Acme?

In the original animated series and the Archie comics, companies with the name Acme was a recurring theme. Does anyone have any ideas why?

That name is used in Batman a lot too. It was a pretty common name back in the late 80's or early 90's for cartoons/comics.

I hated this so much, it would always take me out of the story if it wasn't used on something that isn't Looney Tunes.

The short answer:
Because phone books.

The longer answer...

Where Did the Looney Tunes “Acme Corporation” Come From?

Quote:

Acme isn’t a made-up word or a jokey acronym, but comes the Greek akme (the "highest point” or “peak,” and often used to mean the best of a category). Its heavy use in cartoons comes from its popularity as a name in the era when the Yellow Pages and other alphabetized phone directories became common.

We’ll turn it over to Chuck Jones, who worked as an animator, writer and director on Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons for some 30 years, to explain it a little more. He said in interviews for the 2009 short documentary, Chuck Jones: Memories of Childhood:

“Since we had to search out our own entertainment, we devised our own fairy stories. If you wanted a bow and arrow, you got a stick. If you wanted to conduct an orchestra, you got a stick. If you wanted a duel, you used a stick. You couldn't go and buy one. That’s where the term acme came from. Whenever we played a game where we had a grocery store or something, we called it the ACME corporation. Why? Because in the yellow pages if you looked, say, under drugstores, you'd find the first one would be Acme Drugs. Why? Because “ac” was about as high as you could go. It means the best, the superlative.”

It's a throwback to Looney Tunes, all their company names were Acme.

Always kind of wondered too, but maybe less so for just being used to it because... fun fact... a grocery store chain in my region (from DE and Maryland up through NYC and CT) is named, guess what... Acme. lol Have two of them nearby. (edit: That would be the Acme Markets in the other link.)

I've always wondered this as well. Never bothered me. Plus, the Looney Tunes were the first ones who came up with it. Any throwback to the Looney Tunes is welcome!

I always assume it's LT reference.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdp (Post 1745620)

I hated this so much, it would always take me out of the story if it wasn't used on something that isn't Looney Tunes.

I didn't watch much Looney Tunes, so I didn't understand.