Legitimate Businessmen's Social Club: Difference between revisions

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{{trope}}
{{trope}}
[[File:LBSC_4913.png|link=The Simpsons (Animation)|frame]]
[[File:LBSC_4913.png|link=The Simpsons (animation)|frame]]


{{quote|''[[Blatant Lies|Just a Souvenir Shop. Nothing Suspicious About It. No Need to be Alarmed.]]''|'''Sign in front of Team Rocket's base''', ''[[Pokémon Gold and Silver (Video Game)|Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver]]''}}
{{quote|''[[Blatant Lies|Just a Souvenir Shop. Nothing Suspicious About It. No Need to be Alarmed.]]''|'''Sign in front of Team Rocket's base''', ''[[Pokémon Gold and Silver|Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver]]''}}


Ah, [[The Mafia]]. Known for their subtlety and planning, they can orchestrate murder, drug dealing, prostitution, and [[Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking|the sale of illicit tomato sauce]] without anyone finding out. But their fronts lack the same subtlety, as can clearly be seen on the massive sign above their hideout that says "'''[[Paper-Thin Disguise|Legitimate Casino!]] [[Suspiciously Specific Denial|Not Mafia-owned!]]'''" Expect a great deal of [[Double-Speak]].
Ah, [[The Mafia]]. Known for their subtlety and planning, they can orchestrate murder, drug dealing, prostitution, and [[Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking|the sale of illicit tomato sauce]] without anyone finding out. But their fronts lack the same subtlety, as can clearly be seen on the massive sign above their hideout that says "'''[[Paper-Thin Disguise|Legitimate Casino!]] [[Suspiciously Specific Denial|Not Mafia-owned!]]'''" Expect a great deal of [[Double-Speak]].
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== Anime and Manga ==
== Anime and Manga ==


* ''[[Baccano (Light Novel)|Baccano]]'': The Martillo Family run a speakeasy in Prohibition-era New York City, with a shop selling honey as a front.
* ''[[Baccano]]'': The Martillo Family run a speakeasy in Prohibition-era New York City, with a shop selling honey as a front.
* ''[[Black Lagoon]]'': the Church of Violence is a [[Exactly What It Says On the Tin|christian church that sells weapons]].
* ''[[Black Lagoon]]'': the Church of Violence is a [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|christian church that sells weapons]].


== [[Comic Books]] ==
== [[Comic Books]] ==
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== Film ==
== Film ==


* In ''[[The Godfather (Film)|The Godfather]]'' films, Vito Corleone poses as an "Olive Oil Importer", and occasional references are made to "the Olive Oil business" when characters do not want to refer to what ''actually'' goes on. (Subverted in that he actually ''does'' have a legitimate business that imports olive oil; it just isn't where most of his money comes from.)
* In ''[[The Godfather]]'' films, Vito Corleone poses as an "Olive Oil Importer", and occasional references are made to "the Olive Oil business" when characters do not want to refer to what ''actually'' goes on. (Subverted in that he actually ''does'' have a legitimate business that imports olive oil; it just isn't where most of his money comes from.)
* ''[[Some Like It Hot]]'': The climax involves the Friends of Italian Opera.
* ''[[Some Like It Hot]]'': The climax involves the Friends of Italian Opera.


== Literature ==
== Literature ==


* ''The Serial Murders'' by Kim Newman: Lampshaded -- psychic investigator Richard Jeperson is introduced to some very obvious Legitimate Businessmen by the villain, who is auctioning his supernatural powers to be used for assassination. Upon being introduced to them, Jeperson guesses that they're 'olive oil salesmen', in reference to ''[[The Godfather (Film)|The Godfather]]'' example above. They appreciate the joke, but the villain -- who is both rather uncultured and a bit of an idiot -- is lost.
* ''The Serial Murders'' by Kim Newman: Lampshaded -- psychic investigator Richard Jeperson is introduced to some very obvious Legitimate Businessmen by the villain, who is auctioning his supernatural powers to be used for assassination. Upon being introduced to them, Jeperson guesses that they're 'olive oil salesmen', in reference to ''[[The Godfather]]'' example above. They appreciate the joke, but the villain -- who is both rather uncultured and a bit of an idiot -- is lost.
* Impro Fanfic ''Do Gooders'' had the "Tokyo Legitimate Businessmen's Club" -- probably in tribute to ''[[The Simpsons]]''. To their credit, neither the heroes nor the main villain realized their actual purpose until the shoot-out started. Then again, everyone else knows what they really do...
* Impro Fanfic ''Do Gooders'' had the "Tokyo Legitimate Businessmen's Club" -- probably in tribute to ''[[The Simpsons]]''. To their credit, neither the heroes nor the main villain realized their actual purpose until the shoot-out started. Then again, everyone else knows what they really do...


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{{quote| "N-O-M-A-F-I-A! Oh baby..."}}
{{quote| "N-O-M-A-F-I-A! Oh baby..."}}
* The Outstanding Citizen Warehouse Corporation from ''[[The Sims]] 3'', which is your sims' workplace if you choose the criminal career.
* The Outstanding Citizen Warehouse Corporation from ''[[The Sims]] 3'', which is your sims' workplace if you choose the criminal career.
* In ''[[The Godfather (Video Game)|The Godfather]]: The Game'', one suspects that the various families would conceal their businesses better if they didn't post guards around it who smack their fists into the other open palm every time they see you come near. Or outright open fire indiscriminately if your Vendetta with that family is high enough.
* In ''[[The Godfather (video game)|The Godfather]]: The Game'', one suspects that the various families would conceal their businesses better if they didn't post guards around it who smack their fists into the other open palm every time they see you come near. Or outright open fire indiscriminately if your Vendetta with that family is high enough.
* There was a small rumor about years ago that [[SNK]]'s first American offices were actually owned by the mafia as a means to launder their money and had minimal organized management, which is why their infamous localizations were the way they were.
* There was a small rumor about years ago that [[SNK]]'s first American offices were actually owned by the mafia as a means to launder their money and had minimal organized management, which is why their infamous localizations were the way they were.
* ''[[Pokémon Gold and Silver (Video Game)|Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver]]'': The Team Rocket Base has a sign proclaiming its innocence. It also has a [[Incredibly Obvious Bug|discolored tree with highly visible antennae sticking out of the top.]] And the shopkeeper keeps telling you that the breeze coming from that mysterious gigantic box in the middle of the shop is just your imagination, and is not coming from any hidden hideout anywhere. It doesn't help that he says it ''every single time you try to buy stuff from him''.
* ''[[Pokémon Gold and Silver|Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver]]'': The Team Rocket Base has a sign proclaiming its innocence. It also has a [[Incredibly Obvious Bug|discolored tree with highly visible antennae sticking out of the top.]] And the shopkeeper keeps telling you that the breeze coming from that mysterious gigantic box in the middle of the shop is just your imagination, and is not coming from any hidden hideout anywhere. It doesn't help that he says it ''every single time you try to buy stuff from him''.
** Parodied when Team Rocket is driven away and the legitimate owner comes back...and the whistling noise doesn't stop, because she's old and her dentures don't fit right.
** Parodied when Team Rocket is driven away and the legitimate owner comes back...and the whistling noise doesn't stop, because she's old and her dentures don't fit right.
{{quote| "Don't look behind the poster! There's no hidden switch behind it!"}}
{{quote| "Don't look behind the poster! There's no hidden switch behind it!"}}
* In ''Pizza Tycoon'', you can order sabotage devices/weapons from stores which claim to sell "joke articles" and "ice cream", respectively. But if you try to buy weapons openly, they'll tell the police, and prison ensues.
* In ''Pizza Tycoon'', you can order sabotage devices/weapons from stores which claim to sell "joke articles" and "ice cream", respectively. But if you try to buy weapons openly, they'll tell the police, and prison ensues.
* In ''[[Persona 2]]'', the Zodiac Club is run by the Masquerade, a cult with Zodiac-themed names for its members. In the sequel, the club falls under the ownership of the [[The Triads and The Tongs|Taiwanese mob]].
* In ''[[Persona 2]]'', the Zodiac Club is run by the Masquerade, a cult with Zodiac-themed names for its members. In the sequel, the club falls under the ownership of the [[The Triads and the Tongs|Taiwanese mob]].
* The NES game ''[[Nightshade (Video Game)|Nightshade]]'' has the Pyramid Club, reflecting the [[Big Bad]]'s fixation on ancient Egypt. There's also an all-girl ninja gang that runs the clothing boutique and a restaurant ("Chopsticks and Ninja Stars").
* The NES game ''[[Nightshade]]'' has the Pyramid Club, reflecting the [[Big Bad]]'s fixation on ancient Egypt. There's also an all-girl ninja gang that runs the clothing boutique and a restaurant ("Chopsticks and Ninja Stars").




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