History Main / KilroyWasHere

* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'': At the end of ''WesternAnimation/ChannelChasers'', Vicky's sister Tootie gives [[AdultsAreUseless Timmy's parents]] pictures of all the damage Vicky has caused over her time as babysitter. One such picture displays her scratching "Vicky Was Here" on the side of the parents' care, which they had blamed Timmy for.

* In ''Fanfic/MiraculousThePhoenixRises'', Morgan writes her name all over her desk, stating that the [[ExactWords the board said to write their name on their desks.]].

* During the Potsdam Conference, UsefulNotes/HarryTruman allegedly had some fun at UsefulNotes/JosephStalin's expense by sneaking into his private bathroom and writing this on the wall. Stalin, in characteristic fashion, had the KGB on high alert looking for this mysterious "Kilroy".

So you're somewhere--on vacation, at war, time traveling, teleporter accident, whatever--and you want something that'll stick around longer than just a FunTShirt. That's easy, just vandalize a handy surface![[note]]Vandalism is illegal in most places, so DontTryThisAtHome. (Or anywhere else, really.)[[/note]]

* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'': The memetically infamous "Gary was here! Ash is a loser!"
** Or in one abridged version: "Gary was here. Ash lost the game."
--->'''Ash:''' GARY MOTHER[BLEEP]ING OAK!

* In the famous medieval painting [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnolfini_Portrait "The Arnolfini Portrait,"]] the painter added the legend ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnolfini_Portrait#mediaviewer/File:The_Arnolfini_Portrait,_d%C3%A9tail_(6).jpg Johannes de eyck fuit hic 1434]]'' ("Jan van Eyck was here 1434")"

* In one of the ''ComicBook/{{Asterix}}'' books, a centurion is shouting at an Egyptian for carving his name on a Roman temple, asking how he'd like it if they did that to his temples. This is likely a HistoricalInJoke to Italian archaeologist Giovanni Belzoni (see RealLife).

* In one ''ComicStrip/FootrotFlats'' strip, Wal makes a moving speech about how insignificant it makes one feel knowing that an ancient tree will still be standing centuries after he's dead. He then carves "Wal Footrot Was Here" into the trunk.

* In the ''Manga/GunslingerGirl'' fanfic [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10596850/1/Heaven-s-Conscripts "Heaven's Conscripts,"]] Rico finds the names of soldiers that had been carved in the rocks a hundred years ago when the Dolomites were a battleground between Italian and Austrian forces in UsefulNotes/WorldWarI. After killing three terrorists, she carves their names in the rock as well.

* "Kilroy Was Here" can be seen written in a tunnel in the Hammer film version of ''[[Franchise/{{Quatermass}} Quatermass and the Pit]]''.
* In ''Film/CastAway'', Chuck Noland does this before sailing away from the island he was marooned on, presumably to leave a record in case he dies at sea.
* ''Film/TheKillingRoom'' (2009). Several people are locked in a room and forced to take part in a lethal MindControl experiment. One finds HELP ME and a list of names has been scratched into the wall. Then they find names are scratched over ''all'' the walls. The anonymous researcher secretly watching the experiment then brags, "It used to take six to eight hours to reach this point, but leaving those names [[NothingIsScarier really sped up the process]]."

* In ''Film/{{Gallipoli}}'', the Diggers are shown carving their names into the stones of the Pyramids. Very much TruthInTelevision.
* In the end of ''Film/KellysHeroes'' the American Captain, always one step behind the heroes, finds the bank looted and the gold gone with the message painted on the wall.
* In ''Film/JumanjiWelcomeToTheJungle'', while taking shelter in a treehouse, the heroes find "Alan Parrish was here" etched on a branch, Alan being the protagonist of the original ''Film/{{Jumanji}}''. None of them have any idea who that is, but they figure that it was another person who got sucked into the game just like they were.

* In ''Literature/TheNeverendingStory'', there is a mountain that is only conquered for the first time - that is, you are always "the first person to ever climb it"; it is impossible to get on the top as long as there is any memory of anyone doing it before. So leaving a tag at the top blocks everyone else from it until the tag is worn out by the elements.
* In ''Literature/TheShawshankRedemption'', inmate Brooks, unable to fit into society after so many years in prison, carves "Brooks was here" into a ceiling beam from which he then hangs himself. [[spoiler:At the end of the film, Red carves "So was Red" before leaving to join Andy in Mexico.]]
* Creator/IsaacAsimov's "Literature/TheMessage": The protagonist, a time traveler from the 30th century, visits northern Africa during UsefulNotes/WorldWarII (20th century). Time travellers are [[TheWatcher forbidden from interfering with the past]], but he carves a message on the wall of the hut he was in, telling people George Kilroy was here. Supposedly [[HistoricalInJoke the first time anyone left the tag]], creating a MemeticMutation. [[invoked]]
* ''Literature/TheYiddishPolicemensUnion''. Detective Landsman is thrown into a cell by the villains, and chillingly finds a snarky comment written by his dead sister carved on the wall, written ''after'' the date she [[MakeItLookLikeAnAccident supposedly died in a plane crash]].
* In the Franchise/StarWars novel ''[[Literature/JediAcademyTrilogy I, Jedi]]'', Luke Skywalker reveals that he, Wedge, and Biggs carved their names and a slogan ("TheEmpire or us -- [[HeroicSacrifice there is no compromise]]") on the night before attacking the Death Star as a cross between this and a [[TheDeadHaveNames preemptive memorial in case their side lost]].

* In ''Series/MyNameIsEarl'', Randy had regularly done graffiti like this, and after the episode where he goes back to school, he sends Earl to correct it since he [Randy] realizes that his spelling was wrong.
* Two Kilroy faces appear in the opening credits of ''Series/{{Community}}'', with the noses forming the l's in "Joel [=McHale=]".
* In the ''Series/DoctorWho'' serials [[Recap/DoctorWhoS6E3TheInvasion "The Invasion"]] and [[Recap/DoctorWhoS18E5WarriorsGate "Warrior's Gate"]], "Kilroy Was Here" is seen; first written on a lift shaft, later spray painted onto a wall inside a spaceship.
** Legend has it that the former, at least, was in tribute to the "Kilroy was here" marked on the lift shaft of the studio in which ''Doctor Who'' was taped during the Troughton years, Lime Grove studio D, which was on an upper floor reached by a large (but not very large) freight elevator.
* ''Series/TheFlash2014'': In "The Trial of the Flash", Barry Allen is framed for murder and sent to prison. He finds "Henry Allen was here" scratched on his cell's wall, indicating it was the same cell his father had previously been incarcerated in. Later, he scratches "So was Barry".
* On ''Main/{{MASH}}'', the name 'Kilroy' was written on the dirty window of one of the Army buses.

* The cover of Music/IronMaiden's ''Powerslave'' album. The wall of the Egyptian tomb has "Indiana Jones Was Here" written on it. It's easier to see on the vinyl release.

* In the radio program ''Radio/TheBlackMuseum'' (based on real cases of Scotland Yard and real objects in their 'Black Museum'), episode 'The Notes', police find notes actually saying 'Kilroy Was Here." [[spoiler:The police eventually realize the killer is actually telling them his name is Kilroy!]]

* The OGL ''TabletopGame/D20Modern'' setting "Weird Wars" uses "Kilroy" as a kind of spirit that has allied itself with the Allies. It possesses random soldiers and leads them to perform suicidally effective charges against Axis positions. When its host is killed, it discorporates, always leaving the graffiti "Kilroy woz 'ere" imprinted on a nearby surface.

* In general, any video game that lets you leave behind some kind of message (text or graphical) can result in this trope.
** This, and bragging rights, is the whole point of high score lists.

* In ''VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire'', outside Lilycove City's Pokémon Fan Club building, it is noted that a number of Trainers have scribbled their names all over its sign. There is also a small island in the waters by Seaside Cycling Road that Team Aqua (or Magma) have tagged ("Team Aqua Was Here!").
* In ''VideoGame/EarthBound'', checking a certain sign in Summers shows a message from Porky insulting Ness.
* Edna, the main character of ''VideoGame/EdnaAndHarveyTheBreakout'', can write "Edna was here" and some variations on many surfaces throughout the game, at one point even on the moon.
* In ''VideoGame/Planet404'', some unseen character named Buff scrawled his attendance in several different places, such as a secret pirate base and an imperial jail cell.

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* There is a gag in ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0017.html when Elan shows that his rapier is actually useful]] by carving "The Order of the Stick was here!" into the dungeon wall.
* "[[Webcomic/OzyAndMillie Millie]] was here and she probably still is"

[[folder:Web Original]]
* ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'': "Rad, rad Robotank!"
[[/folder]]

* In the ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' short "WesternAnimation/HaredevilHare", WesternAnimation/BugsBunny lands on the moon (in 1948) and mentions that he's the first living creature to do so. He then passes a rock with "Kilroy was here" written on it.

* A similar gag happened in Creator/TexAvery's ''WesternAnimation/KingSizeCanary'', where a cat opens a sardine box, only for him to find nothing but a small sign reading "Kilroy was here!"

** In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS6E24LemonOfTroy Lemon of Troy]]", Bart writes his name in wet concrete, with an ImagineSpot of the future, where archaeologists speculate on what he might be like.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheBoondocks'', Riley graffio-tags his name in big bold letters, "Riley Wuz Here", then wonders how he got caught.
* In the ''[[WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones Flintstones]]'' episode "Adobe Dick", Fred and Barney are swallowed by a whale. Inside, they spot a graffito that reads "Jonah was here".
* At the end of the ''[[WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents Fairly OddParents]]'' [[{{Pun}} TV Movie]] ''WesternAnimation/ChannelChasers'', Vicky's sister Tootie gives [[AdultsAreUseless Timmy's Parents]] pictures of all the damage Vicky has caused over her time as babysitter. One such picture displays just this.
--> '''Timmy's Dad:''' Vicky was key-scratching "Vicky Was Here" on my car! I punished ''Timmy'' for key-scratching "Vicky Was Here" on my car!
* Used by Robin in the episode "Sidekick" of ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitansGo'' where he graffitis the words "The Joker was here" on the side of the ruined Batmobile to blame him for the damages.
* On ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'', Stewie claims to have scratched [[Film/TheShawshankRedemption "Brooks was here"]] on the wall of Lois' uterus while he was being born. He admits that he did it "[[ItAmusedMe just to be a jerk]]."
** In "[[Recap/FamilyGuyS2E1PeterPeterCaviarEater Peter, Peter, Caviar Eater]]", one of Peter's attempt to pass Cherrywood Manor as a historical place consists on scratching "Jesus was here" and giving the scratch a ''[[BlatantLies before Christ]]'' date. When asked how Jesus could have written anything at all before his own birth, Peter [[HandWave handwaves]] that Jesus could do anything.
* In the WesternAnimation/CodeLyoko episode "Ultimatum," the phrase is graffitied on the back wall of an abandoned meatpacking facility where Odd and Yumi are held captive by a XANA-fied Delmas.
* ''WesternAnimation/RobotChicken'': In "Jedi In Chief", where UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush becomes a Jedi, at one point he vandalizes the Lincoln Memorial by using his lightsaber to carve a message. Since ''Robot Chicken'' portrays Bush as dimwitted, he writes, "W Wuz Hear".

* As mentioned above, "Kilroy was here". However it originated (Wiki/TheOtherWiki has [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilroy_was_here a few theories]]), American soldiers began leaving Kilroy everywhere.

* During the Potsdam Conference UsefulNotes/HarryTruman allegedly had some fun at UsefulNotes/JosephStalin's expense by sneaking into his private bathroom and writing this on the wall. Stalin, in characteristic fashion, had the KGB on high alert looking for this mysterious "Kilroy".

* Two Roman dudes carved this message on a wall in Pompeii: “We two dear men, friends forever, were here. If you want to know our names, they are Gaius and Aulus.“

* Edna, the main character of ''EdnaAndHarveyTheBreakout'', can write "Edna was here" and some variations on many surfaces throughout the game, at one point even on the moon.

* In the famous medieval painting [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnolfini_Portrait "The Arnolfini Portrait,"]] the painter draw the legend ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnolfini_Portrait#mediaviewer/File:The_Arnolfini_Portrait,_d%C3%A9tail_(6).jpg Johannes de eyck fuit hic 1434]]'' ("Jan van Eyck was here 1434")"

* ''Literature/TheBoyOnTheBridge'': When [=McQueen=] and Phillips get the atsmosphere samples from the last cache, on the Cairngorm Plateau, Phillips pauses to leave his dogtags behind as a memento for anyone else who ever finds the place.
* ''Literature/JourneyToTheWest'': Sun Wukong makes a bet with the Buddha that he can leap out of Buddah's grasp. He goes an extreme distance away and finds a set of pillars. Thinking that he'd won, he leaves the words "Son Wukong Was Here" on the middle pillar and urinates on it for good measure. [[spoiler:Turns out the "pillars" were Buddha's fingers. Oops!]]

* In ''Series/MyNameIsEarl'', Randy had made several graffiti like this, and after the episode where he goes back to school, he sets Earl to correct them since he [Randy] has realised that those graffiti had bad spelling.

* The cover of Music/IronMaiden's ''Powerslave'' album. The wall of the Egyptain tomb has "Indiana Jones Was Here" written on it. It's easier to see on the vinyl release.

* One Viking trader scratched "Halfdan was here" in his native language into the wall of the Hagia Sophia when he visited Istanbul. Similar tags have been found in several places in the Mediterranian, as well as in the complex at Skara Brae in Orkney.

* Creator/IsaacAsimov's short story ''The Message'' is about a time traveler from the 30th century to WWII North Africa who, forbidden to interfere (he can only observe,) resorts to writing a message on the wall of the hut he was in. His name is [[JustSoStory George Kilroy]].

* ''Film/TheShawshankRedemption''. Before hanging himself because he doesn't fit into the world outside prison, Brooke carves [[TearJerker BROOKS WAS HERE]]. Later, Red occupies the same room and scratched, "So was Red", but he didn't intend to follow Brooks' lead.

* ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8149634/1/Showdown-No-holding-back Showdown No Holding Back]]'': District 7 Tribute Yolo Underbrush finds a spot on the wall in his bedroom where two other past tributes wrote their names and what Hunger Games they were about to be sent into, and adds his own next to them.

* ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8149634/1/Showdown-No-holding-back]]'': District 7 Tribute Yolo Underbrush finds a spot on the wall in his bedroom where two other past tributes wrote their names and what Hunger Games they were about to be sent into, and adds his own next to them.

* ''Film/TheShawshankRedemption'': [[TearJerker BROOKS WAS HERE]].
** Later, Red occupied the same room and scratched, "So was Red," he didn't intend to follow Brooks' lead.

* In the end of "Kelly's Heroes" the American Captain, always one step behind the heroes, finds the bank looted and the gold gone with the message painted on the wall.

* ''Film/TheKillingRoom'' (2009). Several people are locked in a room and forced to take part in a lethal MindControl experiment. One finds HELP ME and a list of names has been scratched into the wall. Then they find names are scratched all over the walls. The anonymous researcher secretly watching the experiment then brags, "It used to take six to eight hours to reach this point, but leaving those names really sped up the process."

* ''Literature/THeBoyOnTheBridge'': When McQueen and Phillips get the atsmosphere samples from the last cache, on the Cairngorm Plateau, Phillips pauses to leave his dogtags behind as a memento for anyone else who ever finds the place.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheBoondocks'', Riley graffio-tags his name in big bold letters, then wonders how he got caught.

* On ''Main/MASH'', the name 'Kilroy' was written on the dirty windows of one of the Army buses.

* ''Film/TheShawshankRedemption'': [[TearJerker BROOKS WAS HERE]]

* In the ''Series/DoctorWho'' serials [[DoctorWhoS6E3TheInvasion "The Invasion"]] and [[DoctorWhoS18E5WarriorsGate "Warrior's Gate"]], "Kilroy Was Here" is seen; first written on a lift shaft, later spray painted onto a wall inside a spaceship.

* The cover of Iron Maiden's ''Powerslave'' album. The wall of the Egyptain tomb has "Indiana Jones Was Here" written on it. It's easier to see on the vinyl release.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' short "Haredevil Hare", WesternAnimation/BugsBunny lands on the moon (in 1948) and mentions that he's the first living creature to do so. He then passes a rock with "Kilroy was here" written on it.
** "Rebel Rabbit" has Bugs paint the Washington Monument to look like a barber pole, then signs it "Bugs Bunny Was Here". He then rewires the signs in Times Square to read "Bugs Bunny Wuz Here".

** In another episode, Bart writes his name in wet concrete, with an ImagineSpot of the future, where archaeologists speculate on what he might be like.

** In the episode "Peter, Peter, Caviar Eater", one of Peter's attempt to pass Cherrywood Manor as a historical place consists on scratching "Jesus was here" and giving the scratch a ''[[BlatantLies before Christ]]'' date. When asked how Jesus could have written anything at all before his own birth, Peter [[HandWave handwaves]] that Jesus could do anything.

* On ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'', Stewie claims to have scratched [[Film/TheShawshankRedemption "Brooks was here"]] on the wall of Louis's uterus while he was being born. He admits that he did it "[[ItAmusedMe just to be a jerk]]."