Scrantonicity… “Murder”
Trying to find Scranton references in this latest Office episode is like searching for clues in a murder mystery! The one obvious but oblique reference is the “Lackawanna Trolley Museum.” The actual name is the “Electric City Trolley Museum.” Before I even had a chance to research this, alert LITO reader Dave alerted me all about it! Thanks again, alert LITO reader Dave!
Scranton had the first all-electric trolley system in the US of A, which is where the nickname “The Electric City” came from. I was born and raised on “Electric Street” in nearby Dunmore. You could say Electric Street was my “ohm sweet ohm.” (…Ahem… A little “electricity” humor there) The initial run of the new-fangled all-electric trolley was in Green Ridge, a section of Scranton right next to where I lived. The streetcar ran right past our house, before I was born. I’ll have to visit the museum, and see if I recognize any of the historical pictures, like perhaps an old sepia-toned photograph of the original Dunder-Mifflin office.
While we’re on the subject, Seattle (my home now) has a new streetcar called the South Lake Union Trolley, or as it is affectionately known by its acronym: the S.L.U.T. But that’s a story for a column called “Seattle-icity.”
There are other Scranton references to discuss. The Dunder-Mifflin singing group “Subtle Sexuality” has its own website. On this bogus site, they include a link to the “Subtle Sexuality” world tour schedule. The “world tour” premieres at the Idle Hour Bowling Lanes on good ol ‘Route 6 in Dickson City! “Idle Hour” is where Ryan was working when he was “recruited” for the Michael Scott Paper Company. One of the first dates I went on with my wife was at that bowling alley, and it is amazing to think that now a famous band that doesn’t exist will be playing there! Other stops on the “Subtle Sexuality” world tour will include “Tailgater’s Sports Bar” in nearby Throop, and “Lab’s Frosted Mug,” a bar that is about, oh… six blocks from the house I was born in! It feels very pseudo-special to have these monumental “make-believe” events taking place in my real hometown.
We here at LITO are anxiously awaiting eye-witness accounts of the Subtle Sexuality concerts. So, we would love to hear from any regulars of Tailgater’s, Lab’s Frosted Mug, Finn McCool’s or the Bog in Scranton… let us know if Kelly and Erin are really singing, or if they are “lip-syncing” to pre-recorded tracks. The only thing worse than a band that doesn’t exist would be if they were faking their music! 
~Bob
November 17th, 2009 07:50
Wow. So it can be very dangerous for any Seattle area husband to tell his wife that he was “riding the S.L.U.T.”, huh?
I hadn’t looked at the “Subtle Sexuality” World Tour locations. I definitely would wonder if they were real places (and of course they are). That’s very funny. And I, too, would be very disappointed if those two were lip-synching. What a gip.
November 17th, 2009 08:07
Sassy Seattle entrepreneurs are making money selling “I rode the SLUT” t-shirts. Public transit officials are falling all over themselves trying to change the name to the South Lake Union STREETCAR, which would be the more nonsensical acronym “SLUS.” KG, this seems like a good idea for an Office C/O plot, doesn’t it? Michael Scott proposes a Dunder-Mifflin promotion with an unfortunate acronym; and hilarity (as always) ensues.
November 17th, 2009 10:46
Hysterical Scrantonicity Bob! Loved your “Ohm” joke and your “SLUT” reference, even though the South Lake Union Trolley is not in Scranton its right in tune with the trolley topic, so therefore “fare” (get it?) game for this blog!
And thanks for putting in the Murder-Mystery link that I never got to. You ROCK!
November 17th, 2009 14:45
Thanks, Donna! I almost edited the “ohm” joke out because it was so corny. But then I said to myself: “Would Michael Scott use that line in improv class?” And he WOULD, so I did.
Speaking of “corny,” I laughed out loud at the “fare game” gag!
November 20th, 2009 10:10
It’s what I do Bob. Queen of Corny Jokes!
May 5th, 2010 20:07
Is the Green Ridge section of Scranton where all of the large old homes are? If so, I remember fondly driving around picture my future self restoring one and living in it like a castle (they’re VERY big old old mostly victorian ish type houses) any fond memories of admiring these houses (if it’s what I’m thinking of?)