Re: [DL] From Pinkertons to the Agency

[Ross Coburn <coburn@sympatico.ca>]

danield@flash.net wrote:

> No doubt this was covered during my absence from the list, but could
> someone tell me why the decision was made to change the Pinkertons to
> the Agency? I'm talking about the marketing rationale here; I know
> there's a reason for it within the context of the setting.
> 
> I ask because a friend of mine who gave me the scoop on the change
> suggested that it was done because some macho-minded,
> historically-illiterate silly people complained that "Pinkerton" is a
> sissified name. 
> 
> Please, PLEASE tell me that's not the reason. \:-)

Nothing official from my end of things, but I seem to recall that it had
something to do with said Pinkertons being awfully touchy about their name
bring taken in vain, and either threatening to take action, or PEG simply
not wanting to take the risk.

Which is kind of odd, since the Deadlands Pinkertons are pretty darn
amusing, and generally portrayed in a better light than they likely
deserved, historically, in terms of their intelligence-gathering acumen.



Ross Coburn
coburn@sympatico.ca