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'[[File:BarringPooh.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Rutland Barrington]], the original Pooh-Bah]] '''Grand Poobah''' is a term derived from the name of the haughty character Pooh-Bah in [[Gilbert and Sullivan]]'s ''[[The Mikado]]'' (1885).<ref>This character was based, in part, on [[James Planché]]'s Baron Factotum, the "Great-Grand-Lord-High-Everything" from ''The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood'' (1840). Williams (2010), p. 267</ref> In this [[comic opera]], Pooh-Bah holds numerous exalted offices, including "First Lord of the Treasury, Lord Chief Justice, Commander-in-Chief, Lord High Admiral ... Archbishop ... Lord Mayor" and "Lord High Everything Else". The name has come to be used as a mocking title for someone self-important or locally high-ranking and who either exhibits an inflated self-regard or who has limited authority while taking impressive titles.<ref name="mikado">[http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pooh-bah "Pooh-bah"], ''Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary'', accessed 14 June 2009</ref> ==In popular culture== * The term "Grand Poobah" was used recurringly on the television show ''[[The Flintstones]]'' as the name of a high-ranking elected position in a secret society, the Loyal Order of Water Buffaloes. The main characters, [[Fred Flintstone]] and [[Barney Rubble]], were members of the lodge. The lodge is a spoof of secret societies and men's clubs like the [[Freemasonry|Freemasons]], the [[Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine|Shriners]], the [[Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks|Elks Club]] and the [[Moose International|Moose Lodge]].<ref>[http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/fiction/fraternities/buffalo.html "Loyal Order of Water Buffalo"], Grand Lodge Freemasonry site, 8 April 2004, accessed 14 September 2009</ref> * The character Howard Cunningham on the TV series ''[[Happy Days]]'' was a Grand Poobah of Leopard Lodge No. 462 in Milwaukee.<ref>Holmes, Linda. [https://www.npr.org/sections/monkeysee/2010/10/19/130674925 "RIP Tom Bosley, One Of TV's Great Dads"], National Public Radio, 19 October 2010, accessed 6 March 2018. See, e.g. episode #150, "Burlesque", aired 6 November 1979</ref> * [[Grand Puba]] is an American [[rapper]] best known as a member of the group [[Brand Nubian]].<ref>Kellman, Andy. [http://www.allmusic.com/artist/grand-puba-mn0000740499/biography Grand Puba], Allmusic, accessed 20 June 2016</ref> <!-- Do not add merely passing references to this list. There must be a very significant use of the term Grand Poobah in the item, preferably a recurring use, and you must cite reliable sources that verify the item. See WP:IPCEXAMPLES --> {{Wiktionary|grand poobah|poobah}} * Bill Levin, founder of the [[First Church of Cannabis]] in Indiana, refers to himself as the Grand Poobah of the church.<ref>Borschel-Dan, Amanda. [http://www.timesofisrael.com/meet-the-jewish-grand-poobah-of-the-first-church-of-cannabis/ "Meet the Jewish grand poobah of the First Church of Cannabis"], ''Times of Israel'', 9 June 2015</ref> ==See also== * [[Dual mandate]] ==References== {{Reflist}} ==Sources== * {{cite book|last=Williams|first=Carolyn|year=2010|title=Gilbert and Sullivan: Gender, Genre, Parody|location=New York|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=0-231-14804-6}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}} [[Category:Fictional titles and ranks]] [[Category:Gilbert and Sullivan]] [[Category:The Flintstones]] {{theatre-stub}}'