Once upon a time, in 1882, when knickerbockers were all the rage, a bunch of ragtag beatniks began telling people in bars that a man named Tom Collins was walking around the city, telling falsehoods about them. As a result of this very boring gag (you must remember, television hadn't been invented yet and entertainment beyond guzzling moonshine and betting on plagued rat fights was scarce) that many began to go from one bar to another, in search of the slanderer. Ever the opportunists, bartenders were inspired to invent a cocktail called the Tom Collins to serve to those who entered the room searching for the good-for-nothin figure.