How 'Kilroy Was Here' Was the First Meme Ever

From the hulls of ships to the sides of trucks to the walls of bathroom stalls across the world - and even engraved into national monuments - one iconic phrase has appeared in seemingly every place across the globe: "Kilroy was here." Along with a cartoon of a bald man with a big nose peering over a wall, the famous declaration took root during WWII and remained popular among soldiers through the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and up to today.
#KilroyWasHere #Meme #WeirdHistory

[@CantoniaCustoms]

So Kilroy’s full name was Chad “Foo” Kilroy

[@nothanks8840]

And he was a super soldier.

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

And the first meme.

[@gtb81.]

oh wow, i like that, kindof adds to the lore

[@3-DtimeCosmology]

You are a genius.

[@punbug4721]

69th like lmao

[@kingmangomotion1956]

All fun and games until the phrase changes from "Kilroy was here" to "KILROY IS HERE"

[@MichelleIbarraMHAEdD]

🤣 should start a new trend

Dude...😂

[@Michaelkaydee]

😄

[@josuebartley7272]

I was going to like but ... 69 likes, the true original meme

[@alancarnell2747]

What if Kilroy never left?

[@boshikagebira4753]

“Yes! We’re the first people at the top of mountain Everest!” *kilroy was already there on a sign* “OH SON OF A-“

[@thomaskendrick6766]

So who put up the sign?

[@joshjames582]

@@thomaskendrick6766 Kilroy, obviously.

[@spehhhsssmarineer8961]

yo! 🅱️ira 🅱️oshikage

[@thctitan5041]

wrong ive heard kilroy himself is at the top of everest

[@beezyb42011]

Lol

[@towvalee2297]

My grandfather would draw kilroy on every birthday card and Christmas card he sent me.

[@ModMax69]

I wanna be that kinda Grandpa 😏

[@skleem4871]

Meme family

[@kyliemaysa3240]

ohh so it was that kind of thing back then

[@Starless2012]

That's Mr. Chad to you

[@giginathanmore1749]

My dad still does it, he calls it a chad though

[@dkerkowoutdoors4623]

“Ü” Kilroy was here

[@julijansidneypicej4701]

Mad man

[@NautilusSSN571]

-"Ü"-

[@Top_Hat_Man]

___( • • )___ U Kilroy Was Here

[@aidanpetancic6615]

Wot, no Kilroy

[@cgndnm]

Germans: *Ah Scheiße-*

[@matthewnabb4482]

"Wot, no petrol!" Is an amazing shitpost, and if I was shown the image without knowing the origins, I would believe that someone made is today

[@gavinisdie]

Probably Also Inspired the More Recent Meme "UWotM8?"

[@elfascisto6549]

@@gavinisdie only that that meme is shit

[@pontidiaz1781]

This is boomer humor

[@gavinisdie]

@@pontidiaz1781 it's OLDER than Boomer Humor

[@owena9391]

Megamind memes

[@verenasankari3980]

I don't know about you guys, but I think it's time to bring back Kilroy.

[@maze-nc1ut]

No they will end up making him racist lol

[@dguy0386]

he never left, he's been here all along

[@KilyanAustin]

He never left, I actually drew it a while ago but didnt know what it was back then.

[@lianawang4219]

Kilroy has always been here.

[@imafuturecorpse2443]

We don’t do Kilroy. We write about Wagner and how he likes the C.O.C (“chain of command”)

[@rahaothman2231]

Hitler and stalin: "I fear no man but that thing...." *kilroy was here* Hitler and stalin:"it scare me"

[@boomislav9936]

*kilroy doing balisong tricks*

[@rishusrivastava-Seeketh]

"Ü" Kilroy was here!

[@mistercreeper3029]

You made a meme of the first meme. AMAZING

[@andyvassileff6592]

YEEES TF2 REFERENCE

[@JS-pk8gv]

*it scares us

[@jpaulgettyproductions]

Everybody gangster till you see “Killroy is here” in a dark alley.

[@Scary_Snail129]

༼ ºلº ༽ Look behind you

[@dogo7543]

-''' Ü '''-

[@TroubleNparadise]

"’ Ü “‘

[@kyleehyo4797]

"" Ü ""

[@waluigi1711]

when you live alone and you see it in your house

[@Wet_Sandwich]

*Kilroy was here German Soldier: *laughs Russian Soldiers: *laughs Stalin and Hitler: *SCREAMS IN DICTATOR

[@MIersetting335]

Take my lime!

[@kakyoindonut3213]

hitler: "THE DOODLE WAS A SPY!!"

[@cdretro8108]

@@kakyoindonut3213 THE DOODLE IS A JEW

[@sauceyeti4381]

"People are dying! Why the fuck are you laughing?" *"It's just a meme bro"*

[@plarteey1316]

What a chad

[@logankimmet3465]

The Germans: "This destroyed building will make a fine campsite for the night." *Sees killroy was here on the walls "ITS BEEN COMPROMISED"

[@Abominable_Intelligences]

*Iz Veen Kumframyzt!*

[@MatthiasDrinksH20]

@@Abominable_Intelligences huh?

[@colethepwner5243]

@@MatthiasDrinksH20 it might be its been compromised in german

[@residentflamingo115]

@@colethepwner5243 it is

[@abds1310]

@logankimmet I laughed so hard at this comment! 😂 Perfection.

[@saggypants5688]

Everyone’s asking “who is Kilroy” but nobody is asking “how is Kilroy”

[@socksfan1203]

😔 fr

[@elfascisto6549]

Stolen

[@ORIONVIIXI]

@@elfascisto6549 shut your stolen butt up it's funny

[@mr.shepherdspie7958]

* sad kilroy noises *

[@ccxynUmaru]

@@elfascisto6549 what are you a cop?

[@missymotors]

There’s a bar in my hometown called Kilroy’s and that little guy is their logo 👀

[@Bruh4.]

@@nameistanya in his hometown duh

[@pietrochiacchio8420]

@@Bruh4. and Where da fukk Is his town

[@Bruh4.]

@@pietrochiacchio8420 at his old home

[@Wendigo441]

@Martin Casinillo in his home town

[@Wendigo441]

@Martin Casinillo the commenters home town where his old home is

[@Funnygenderman]

I love how much this illustrates how much human humor hasn’t really changed, and humans as beings haven’t really either. Super neat

[@cerridianempire1653]

the Boomers downplayed human humor though

[@Funnygenderman]

@@cerridianempire1653 it flopped for a bit before coming back. Comedy recession.

[@Dongzzzzzz]

started with kilroy then went downhill with boomers. Slowly came back to what it is now.

[@exudeku]

The Silent Generation of WWI and WWII will laugh at the same memes as us Gen.Z because of the same randomized and chaotic comedy

[@cerridianempire1653]

@@exudeku imagine if sweden wasn't neutral in WW2

[@Toasteeei]

Kilroy is just a Minecraft villager, he wants your emeralds

[@ur_favorite_reference]

LMAO

[@Murduhz]

:0

[@Murduhz]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@Rc-Adventurers]

That was actually interesting. We always drew him in school but would write “I Was Here” or “I See You” under it.

[@canadachandler7521]

I drew them too... small world.

[@Saudyization]

Right...mein

[@urban_gse_]

I saw one next to a dollar saying "shame on you"

[@Tully_23_32]

I've never heard of Kilroy or seen the drawing but we used to write "'I waz ere" or " Sally was ere" "Billy was ere" etc, so i find this actually fascinating

[@zac2780]

No you didn't

[@mats7492]

Trolling Hitler and Stalin... that’s quite something

[@MartinKelly-bx6ft]

I drink to that

[@the_original_Bilb_Ono]

I cant type their name. KZbin automatically deletes my comment if i type their name anywhere in my comment. Im not joking. I have tried a million variations, thats crazy how the rules dont apply evenly huh.. i can literally just type "X was very evil" and it will be deleted. But this comment will not.

[@makutas-v261]

Cut Hitler some slack, he was German (Austrian I know but the joke needs to work)

[@MartinKelly-bx6ft]

@@makutas-v261 But he wasn't a German he was an Austrian so stop calling him German

[@MartinKelly-bx6ft]

@@the_original_Bilb_Ono That's KZbin double standards for you

[@graveyardshift2100]

We need an scp entry with Killroy, but he's not actually real and they just think he's alive and watching us.

[@MIersetting335]

That wouldn't work as an SCP. We need a power for them to be a SCP

[@gnarly.bulblax]

@@MIersetting335 that’s what would make him unique. He doesn’t actually exist and doesn’t actually have any powers but a J class. That doesn’t actually have a number. Nor is he actually an SCP. He’s just a joke among guards

[@bean5157]

He could just be a presence, always there, always watching

[@user-ib1dx4dh3n]

@@bean5157 like some sort of f*cked up god

[@myhlosic]

@@MIersetting335 We don't need a power, just an anomalous effect

[@kevin6293]

Roy was a kind hearted man, and ain’t done nothing to nobody.

[@philtanics1082]

I dunno man, he peeks in on a lot of people in bathrooms.

[@royfr8136]

I AGREE

[@TheHarrip]

Oh my god they killed Roy... ... The bastards 😂

[@edgarbanuelos6472]

I'm gonna miss that son of a bitch

[@JBfromKY]

He took a toy of mine when I was a child.

[@dld6959]

Sabaton should make a song about Hitler trying to find the elusive spy "Kilroy".

[@RuskiWaffle]

Hahahaha yes

[@RuskiWaffle]

Hahahaha

[@artificialintelligence4684]

Agreed

[@creepyfurrguy4956]

Omg yes

[@grapelys]

They should

[@tylerbryanhead]

The more well learned soldiers still pull this. I've seen him in the engine bay of a Bradley, the concrete on the roof of Korean sky scrapers and in the Korean countryside on fence post, latrines, under bar tables, even hiked off trail on leave and found an old carving on a rock in the whitetank mountains

[@Alizudo]

It's the end of the universe. The stars are all dead, and the black holes are decaying. In a few more minutes, all the energy in existence will have dissipated, and nothing will ever happen again. In these final moments, there is a single brick floating in the void. Kilroy was here.

[@smritipai793]

@@Alizudo dude you'd be great writing a story

[@deusboi8113]

Some Soldier in WW1: Dude look at this guy I drew Another Soldier: Lmao

[@MarloSoBalJr]

"And that kids, is how I met your meme"

[@cj16423]

@@MarloSoBalJr *Milked

[@cortex8239]

@@cj16423 Shut up

[@basadobasado]

@@sander7165 *ww1 Foo was here is the original

[@jerrymartin7019]

Yet Another Soldier: Now draw it with tits.

[@kingbolivar4913]

*Kilroy was here on a wall* Hitler/Stalin:*nervous sweating*

[@thedoomslayer8475]

---"Ü"--- Kilroy was here.

[@GranddukeofWales]

Hello fellow slayer

[@th3radlad_727]

-“-Ü-”- Kilroy Was Here

[@doomguy8445]

𝘀𝗼... 𝘄𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻...

[@varrelalfaridzh2425]

"Ü" Hi

[@Combes_]

==== O o O /##0\ *Mechanic was here*

[@margarettburns7544]

I believe Kilroy was the basis for the character of Wilson, neighbor behind the fence.

[@Gr3nadgr3gory]

That would make a LOT of sense. Wilson has been more places than Killroy. Home Improvement was a great show, or as many remember it: Tool Time.

[@jeffthemercenary]

What wilson?

[@margarettburns7544]

@@jeffthemercenary From the Home Improvement show. He always stood behind the fence and all you could see was his eyes.

[@Set2Wumbo]

This is like that pointy "S" we all used to draw in the 90s

[@forest3945]

And so on

[@fatrooster4632]

The pointy S has been found in an art school manual from the 1890s I'm pretty sure

[@joshjames582]

@@fatrooster4632 It's also on some old grease dispenser from the seventies where I work.

[@queballaus]

youtube "the universal s" theres a great video about it.

[@queballaus]

@@fatrooster4632 a similar S was found but no way to know if its where it started. earliest photo of the S was early 70's / late 60's.

[@ceriuslawliet8766]

Kilroy: exists Hitler: I want every spy we have, to hunt down that man.

[@CoJoGrizzlo]

But what about the elusive “S” symbol scrawled on everyone’s notebooks in school?

[@MikeyBats]

@Gaz Coleman you got a link..?

[@classicminer191]

@@MikeyBats kzbin.info/www/bejne/iILHqXufacSDrMU

[@mistyrains939]

@Gaz Coleman bruh I came to reply with that exact suggestion 😂

[@cowbatboots282]

@Gaz Coleman this is the 2nd time I've heard of that channel since yesterday. The first time was on reddit. I'll take this as a sign and watch the video you linked.

[@thedeadliest4380]

@Gaz Coleman love lemmino wish they were still uploading

[@-NateTheGreat]

Meme's are so influencal they even pissed off Hitler.

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

Best way to to piss of tyrants. Just like whinnie the Pooh.

[@vjs4539]

@@Gadget-Walkmen and all lefties

[@MartinKelly-bx6ft]

Let's make it mean then that pisses off all the tyrants

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

@@vjs4539 They're not even close to being the same thing. Stop with this nonsense.

[@nedludd7622]

@@vjs4539 Wingnuts are snowflakes.

[@andewfusthe3rd]

The Trend is still going, and I can tell you for certain it lives on in the military. I worked with a Vietnam vet who drew Kilroy, and sometimes it would say "Kilroy was here" but other times he'd call me out directly by saying "Hi *name*" and have Kilroy waving. The guys in the shop made a game out of misdirecting me, because I kept trying to figure out who was leaving these drawings everywhere, and they'd all keep their stories consistent, but everybody was pointing the finger at someone else. This was all as recently as 2014, Good times.

[@vesimateva5449]

Plot twist Kilroy was one of Squidward‘s self-portraits

[@beegyoshiboi7320]

O

[@loloshua]

Uhhhh

[@johnbailey8103]

From Bold and Brash to Shy and Sly

[@thelordofforeheads2839]

Maybe Squidward was inspired by Kilroy.

[@pouncelygrin6699]

:0

[@JamesThomas-gg6il]

I got here and found out that kilroy was already here.

[@Yyodajedimaster]

Me: Mom, can we have Squidward? Mom: We have Squidward at home. Squidward at home:

[@gavinisdie]

🅱️illroy was here First

[@orlaithwatts1151]

Squidroy was here

[@ORIONVIIXI]

SpongeRoy me boy

[@trickshot646]

---v-"()"-v---

[@gavinisdie]

@@trickshot646 🅱️Ill

[@dld6959]

This is surprisingly like a modern meme.

[@killerkraut9179]

Some argue Knight vs snail was earlier . depends on the definition .

[@dld6959]

@@killerkraut9179 Those medieval illuminated manuscripts had some funny things in the margin. (I don't know if margin is the right term btw but I think you know what I mean.)

[@LlibertarianGalt]

Stalin: WHO IS KILROY The allies: Yes

[@Gr3nadgr3gory]

Hes that guy behind you...

[@punbug4721]

"When Kilroy is drawn on the wall, Who signs his name?" "That's right."

[@bigmanz9842]

Grandpa: “You kids these days waste all your free time making memes, if my father saw me do this, he would ve very dissapoonted.” Grandpa’s Father:

[@burntchickennugget8142]

Lol

[@fritzangeloa.gerong7315]

oh hey there.... big lion

[@alleyeproductions18]

Great-Grandpa: SHUT UP GO DRAW KILROY

[@PyroFloe]

Memes then: *based on electronic diagrams* Memes now: 𝑬

[@nomadictanker8100]

E

[@theassassin9640]

F

[@bonelessbones2934]

ℑ

[@grunt655]

𝔢

[@wilhelmus1939]

*_E_*

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

Supreme Leader was here

[@Tannyboydegen]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5LReoZopbCAj7c

[@jasonarmstrong5750]

I would’ve preferred Just some Bigfoot with internet access but you’ll do

[@drakoslayd]

Hush fatty

[@yrbelite8450]

How tf do you have 29k subs???

[@funytomato]

@@yrbelite8450 he spends most of his life on KZbin commenting about North Korea trying to get the most likes

[@iamwindextor1]

I cannot believe I used to draw him back when I was a kid. The first time I saw Kilroy was in a McDonalds play area. I was in one of the highest tubes and there he was. No name, just the picture. I named him peeping Tom but now I know his real name! This is insane!

[@Mickocarbomb]

I'm gonna start drawing him on random objects in my house until someone's found them all.

[@captainnoglas1047]

“Who is Kilroy?” “Me” “you!?” “I’m Kilroy to” “no he’s Kilroy!” “I’m also Kilroy” “HOW MANY KILROY’S ARE HERE” “yes”

[@cookg4]

There's just one. Me. 😎

[@jackkilroy5054]

There's more. :)

[@daze8410]

We are all John Malkovich

[@BeautifulStrangeMyst]

I am kilroy and so is my wife.

[@MrBluntz]

I’ll do you one over, WHY is Kilroy?

[@d.esanchez3351]

I can imagine a posible scenario when a KGB agent whent to the bathroom and inmediatly sent a nation wide red code after seeing a "Kilroy was here" doodle.

[@A_P]

“Kilroy was here” - Brothers in arms hells highway

[@MinecraftMusicTracks]

Killroy is also in after effects, he's the "shy" or hide layers button.

[@alfiansetya]

i knew it !

[@jayzeldietermiguel6430]

Alternate title "Kilroy was here" the first ever real life easter egg

[@killerkraut9179]

i doubt it

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

@@killerkraut9179 he literally was and IS.

[@killerkraut9179]

@@Gadget-Walkmen I think the Knights fihting snail meme is older !

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

@@killerkraut9179 oh yeah that’s true. Your comment tho was just unclear. That’s all.

[@AmericanActionReport]

I used to draw the meme when I was in high school during the 1960s. Now that I'm laying the groundwork for a comedy about an American avoiding Japanese soldiers on a Pacific island, I think I'll have him stumble across a "Kilroy was Here" meme. Thanks for giving me the idea.

[@poggers217]

lol

[@michaelpopup]

Liar

[@osobaosobowa8497]

@@michaelpopup no u

[@poggers217]

@@michaelpopup no u

[@AmericanActionReport]

@@lopanreturns7085 Slowly, but it's improving as I go.

[@zobblewobble1770]

“Kilroy may have been the world’s first meme” Medieval Snail Fighting knights: Excuse me, W H A T ?

[@eyeballpapercut4400]

This needs more likes and comments. The amount of ignorance in other comments are outrageous and are unfair.

[@zobblewobble1770]

@@eyeballpapercut4400 Just doing my part to pay homage to the Christian monks who represented the memelords of old.

[@killerkraut9179]

i have this thought as well .

[@NOT_an_egg_cultist]

My dad's gaming accounts always have been named "Kilroy betta"

[@danakilroyjr3722]

My last name is Kilroy I remember my dad telling me story's about how my grandfather made Kilroy was here.

[@user00flaco]

Kilroy's granddaughter is here

[@Jack-ln1lw]

A descendant of the first meme lord.

[@adenperkins9719]

That’s incredibly cool!

[@farfreez6367]

Sometimes I strip myself naked and go into the shower

[@GoTouchSumGrass.]

It is my honor meet someone of such royal blood. I never thought I would see the day that I meet a descendant of the original Memelord.

[@WAVE0025]

In this digital age, kilroy is still everywhere and now takes the form of "some guy without a mustache"

[@twohandedswordsman852]

He was so furious and lonely that he reincarnated as a weeb and commenter.

[@ethanhunt2777]

In the Middle Ages, there was a meme where artists drew knights fighting snaild

[@FuzzballSupreme]

KILROY SLAYED 1001 SNAILS HERE

[@Illitha]

Kilroy was there

[@JedediahCyrus]

I think somewhere it's written that the snails are actually a derogative interpretation of a certain culture? But I completely forget. Basically, they're insulting somebody by calling them and drawing them like snails

[@chunkychew6995]

@@JedediahCyrus I think it's the Lombards but I could be wrong

[@g-krish7388]

“WHO IS KILROY AND WHY IS HE HERE?”

[@Cushla-np4pt]

“TELL ME WHY HE WAS ON YOUR CAR”

[@mimic5495]

______"Ü"______ Kilroy was here

[@ashertheprophet9601]

Everyone asks who is kilroy But never how is kilroy

[@nyxlieyt4541]

@@ashertheprophet9601 Lmao

[@zthehuman7051]

@@ashertheprophet9601 how is Kilroy ;( *probably dead according to this vid tbh*

[@molrk]

Missed the opportunity to write “Watt, no electrons?”

[@captainwaa7274]

Kilroy was known as Foo at a time Foo Fighters: (cracks nuckles)

[@MsUltrafox]

Kilroy was even in the song Mr. Robotic by Styx.

[@Gr3nadgr3gory]

Domo arigato.

[@Therealhtrinity]

Roboto, “Mr. Roboto” 😉

[@OriginalGrasshopper]

The album that song comes from is “Kilroy Was Here”.

[@kdrapertrucker]

@@OriginalGrasshopper awesome album.

[@lawrencefeldman7744]

The Move,( who,after personnel changes became ELO,) cut " Kilroy Was Here" in 1968. The song was humorous and asked why the name appears but the track itself doesn't rock as does the vast majority of their work. Glad to see this cuz I really didn't know the origin of the phrase. Mr. Chad? Hysterical given the times now!

[@vernsmart1835]

My Dad introduced Me to Kilroy in the Mid 60s when He talked about WWII, with My Uncles.

[@TwiliPaladin]

“Killroy.” Now that’s a name I’ve not heard in a long time.

[@kilroy7888]

Kilroy was here (still here!)

[@RaspoutinesGhost]

There is an episode of the 60's/70's TV show Hogan's Heroes, where they reference Kilroy, and use it as a plot point, though as an American agent.

[@nicobambino191]

The first memes were those knights fighting snails in medieval tomes

[@deannasutterfield5950]

Don't forget the butt trumpet lol

[@ruthbennett7563]

Don’t phorget about all the (happy?) phalluses scribbled all over the Greco-Roman world...

[@confused4971]

Dont forget the glorious SATOR square

[@renz1013]

nah it was those thing carved into egyptian walls

[@80krauser]

@@ruthbennett7563 SECUNDUS

[@some_Russian_dude]

Kilroy was a time traveler and is laughing about It now in his timeline

[@confused4971]

Stalin: *Who is Kilroy, and why is he watching me poo in the bathroom?*

[@susanpowe5813]

Fondly remember Australia’s “Foo was here” which children were still drawing in the 1960s.

[@covenantor663]

Same here - first saw it in 67!

[@borediideath6526]

I want one that said “Squidward Was Here”.

[@LegendarySquoth]

I've been wondering about this for a while and I'm so glad to finally understand it. When my grandad died I inherited a box full of old photographs that he took during his tour of duty during WW2. One of them was a picture of him peeking over the top of some sort of concrete structure with his hands on the wall either side of his head and someone had chalked the words 'Wot, No Water?' on the wall. I had no idea what this bizarre image meant and I no longer had the chance to ask my grandad. Thank you for posting this video.

[@kingofalltime9208]

Maybe who the true Kilroy was the friends we made along the way

[@mo-s-]

Imagine landing on Mars and then you see "Kilroy was here"

[@tallgirlhappyme]

*🔴It just dawned on me, Kilroy later became "Tim the Toolman Taylor's" hidey-ho neighbor, Wilson!* 🤣

[@Cowgirlcadet]

Lol, how does this not have more likes?

[@TommyP365]

In 2008 I went through a phase of photoshopping this into the background structures of my vacation photos.

[@iqbalmuzzamil8061]

Millenials humor : I hate my life Gen Z humor : *I maybe stupid but at least i'm soup* Boomer humor :

[@JSA-Studios]

They are older then boomers

[@comradekenobi6908]

Hmm what do you call people born on 1920?

[@JSA-Studios]

@@comradekenobi6908 I think they are the greatest generation

[@alleyeproductions18]

Silents humor: BANANAS ARE BONELESS

[@JS-ue2si]

Jerry had a "Kilroy was here" hanger on his fridge in the first episode of Seinfeld.

[@jerryhamer]

This is the first im hearing about Kilroy. Guess i need to get out more.

[@iluvpittys242]

Wow, I remember back in the 70's Kilroy was here, was a big thing when I was a kid. My step mom did ceramics and she would let us pick n paint and Kilroy was one that I painted, and I had him sitting anywhere I wanted hanging off the edge of something. Interesting history, I thought it was just a 70's icon.

[@CANControlGRAFFITI]

When I was born I saw it tattooed on my moms inner thigh..

[@arliesam948]

Your not alone I didn't either

[@blazefairchild465]

In the 70s this was in public restrooms ,we traveled from California to Boston & I think it was in just about every dinner & rest stop along the way. Dad was 20 year retired military so he had explained the meaning of it to us. I haven't seen Kilroy in years ,but avoid public restroom s as much as possible.

[@AnyoneCanSee]

Until I saw this video I had not thought about it in years but as the other guy said by the 1970s when I was also a kid, it was literally everywhere in the UK as well. I doubt there is anyone from that time that didn't at least doodle it somewhere. Pretty much every bathroom. But like modern memes it eventually became so overused that no one did it any more. I didn't know the history, although I knew that it had something to do with the war. Pre-internet a meme clearly lasted decades rather than weeks.

[@unitempt7975]

dancing baby animation: you took everything from me kilroy: i dont even know who you are

[@kwhite749]

The electricity diagram should have been "Watt, no electrons?"

[@heyquitstealingmymoves6538]

Hitler with his lack of humor, so consistent & Never disappoints us......... Stalin was just as bad.....

[@cerridianempire1653]

lmao his lack of humor is what makes this funnier

[@konstantinkastin5708]

For all german speaking people orund here there is a real nice "hear book" from a Swiss radio show just search killroy was here Hörspiel enjoy it

[@hooligansway]

Quincy shipyard they did the final gun battle scene in "the departed" there.....kept me up all night.

[@raggedyanarchist]

I pity the Foo who gets ripped off by Kilroy.

[@davidjordan930]

Funny

[@raggedyanarchist]

@@lopanreturns7085 there's this guy called Mr T, and his catchphrase is "I pity the fool who (insert regrettable action)", but he doesn't really pronounce the L in "fool", hence "I pity the foo".

[@raggedyanarchist]

@@lopanreturns7085 Hahaha... I pity the foo' who doesn't get 25 year old pop culture references.

[@jorg3023]

People in 80 years will study memes like this

[@unity__3829]

We are studying memes like this

[@unity__3829]

I mean technically it was 80 years ago, so yeah

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

Felix should definitely invite Weird History to host Meme Review

[@thebronywiking]

@DaGe PaPo Felix "PewDiePie" Arvid Ulf Kjellberg

[@lordoaf]

I remember Hawkeye writing Kilroy on the bus with BJ making the pose in the MASH episode “the bus” and I never understood why

[@chairger]

Stalin and Hitler asking who Kilroy is is the same energy as someone asking who Joe is

[@Birb728]

Knock Knock "Who's there" "Kilroy" "Kilroy who" "Kill ro mama"

[@midnightcrazy9185]

I had seen Kilroy on old shows like M.A.S.H and wondered how old it was.

[@morgan6207]

Imagine in 100 years there’s things like this about our memes

[@scottcantdance804]

I can't imagine how advanced memes will be in 100 years.

[@bubwal23xifan]

Don't forget how it worked into music as well. Styx had a song 'Mr. Roboto'. At the end Dennis Deyoung claimed that he was Kilroy. Hawkeye also wrote 'Kilroy' on the window of the Bus under BJs fingers and face sticking up over the glass on an episode of MASH

[@ten7371]

I legit just seen this thing infront of a gamestop

[@jlshel42]

You should offer them $3 in store credit for it

[@corettaha7855]

Yeah Kilroy is BACK!

[@citizenVader]

I clap my hands and jump for joy Cuz I was here before kilroy

[@arliesam948]

Best comment

[@Serpentrose]

Kilroy was here first, I think, But he just ran out of ink.

[@clydeparker7423]

I recall my Dad quoting the “I got here before Kilroy” line.

[@kdrapertrucker]

No, you weren't. "Kilroy was here" is posted on the opposite side of this comment screen.

[@cadet5831]

Fun fact: kilroy was here can be found in the ardennes forest map of cod ww2

[@SamSchott1]

I thought the first meme was the hand-turkey on the pre-historic cave walls...

[@johnbarber4549]

Sabre toothed turkey.

[@SamSchott1]

John Barber Right!!! WKRPopteryx

[@Larissa-sd8uk]

My grandpa made wooden kill Roy’s that hang over his fence gate one of them is a robot LOL

[@Cosmic_Ray_]

Kilroy will never die, because he can't die. Kilroy isn't a person, it an idea. Anyone can be Kilroy; you, me, your grandfather, etc. Kilroy will live on forever.

[@BadWebDiver]

"I'm Spartacus."

[@chestaadabi9123]

What about the legendary S? You guys know the one right? That "S" symbol that we drew but didnt know where does it came from

[@misterkami2]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iILHqXufacSDrMU

[@ryanstapleford4407]

This kid in 5th grade told me he invented the S, I totally believed him. He also told me that Captain Morgan was his grandfather so I guess I'm a sucker

[@randallmokjialung3592]

LEMMiNO did a vid on it called the universal S

[@dafttool]

The Ancient Romans had a meme that was a box of letters/words reading the same up, down, forwards, backwards

[@crystaltheo8494]

More like an emoji

[@ruthbennett7563]

Yes. The “SATOR” square. It’s said to be an early Christian, or perhaps a mystical Jewish or Mithraic graffito. The square is made by stacking the interlocking words of SATOR AREPO TENET OPERA ROTAS There’s a really interesting rabbit-hole of mystery to explore involved in its history, but I’m really leery of anyone who claims to know it with certainty.

[@theundercook_spaghetti3198]

This is literally the first time I’ve ever heard of “Kilroy”

[@shnpio]

I’ve seen it thrown up around my area

[@bigblue6917]

I knew bout both Chad and Kilroy but it was interesting to be reminded of it. Thanks.

[@CoreyIsTheName]

Wow, so brave. How very impressive of you. You and tens of millions of others.

[@ReynaSingh]

Kilroy was here

[@aronklein8835]

Love your videos Reyna

[@camrendavis6650]

I thought the first meme ever was the snail drawings in medieval manuscripts and literature.

[@GeorgeVCohea-dw7ou]

9:39 kzbin.info/www/bejne/eouqYZ-Ljc-rnLs

[@kjaco4206]

I've been drawing that since I was a kid but never knew his name was Kilroy or it's history. You learn something new everyday.

[@0livecat798]

Wow Kilroy was everywhere! He must have had a really fun time exploring the whole world!

[@chayden153]

he was Where's Waldo before it was a thing

[@pamelamays4186]

My favorite meme is the "One does not simply....." Kilroy pops up in the end lyrics of the song Mr. Roboto, by the rock band Styx: "I'm Kilroy. I'm Kilroy." My personal fan theory: The character Wilson on the sitcom Home Improvement just may have been the show's own version of Kilroy. Wilson was usually seen peering over a fence, with just his eyes and nose visible.

[@donHooligan]

i have an old 4" statuette of a pregnant teen with "Kilroy Was Here" on the base.