What kind of a car was the title character in “My Mother the Car” (NBC, 1965-66)?
The title character in the TV series “My Mother the Car” was a 1928 Porter with Ann Sothern’s voice. The “Porter” is a fictitious make.
How much has the U.S. National Debt increased over the nation’s history?
In 1800, the national debt was $83 million. In 1988, it was $2.6 trillion.
In The Iliad (ninth century B.C.), what god is Helen’s father?
In The Iliad (ninth century B.C.), Zeus is Helen’s father?
Who introduced assembly-line production?
Henry Ford did not invent assembly-line production. Ransom E. Olds, father of the Oldsmobile, introduced the assembly-line technique to the United States in 1901. In doing so, he increased automobile production from 425 vehicles in 1901 to over 2,500 in 1902. Ford contributed modifications, including the conveyor belt system, which reduced the time it took … Read more
What do they observe in China on December 25?
In the Republic of China, Taiwan, they observe Constitution Day, a national holiday on December 25.
Who was the first American-born child of English settlers?
Virginia Dare, born in 1587 to English settlers of the “lost colony” of Roanoke Island. The entire colony disappeared; Dare’s death date is unknown.
How was the inch developed?
What we now know as the inch (from Latin uncia, or “12th part”) was defined as 112 foot by the Romans. It was roughly a thumb’s breadth, while a foot was roughly the length of a human foot. The Romans introduced the inch to Britain, where it was incorporated into the English system of weights … Read more
Was there a Mr Guinness behind the Guinness Book of World Records?
Yes. Guinness was head of the company that published the book when it was created by Sir Hugh Beaver, Norris McWhirter, and Ross McWhirter in September 1954. The first Guinness was published in August 1955.
Why did ancient Greek sailors like Nereids?
Nereids were 50 nymphs of the sea, daughters of the sea-god Nereus, often came to the aid of sailors in trouble.
How old is The Epic of Gilgamesh?
The Babylonian epic The Epic of Gilgamesh dates back to about 2000 B.c. It concerns the adventures of the hero Gilgamesh and the “wild man” Enkidu, and Gilgamesh’s grief over Enkidu’s death.
How many minks does it take to produce the average mink coat?
It takes 35 to 65 minks to produce the average mink coat. The numbers for other types of fur coats are: Beaver. 15 Fox. 15 to 25 Ermine. 150 Chinchilla. 60 to 100
In what TV series did Playboy centerfold Barbi Benton star?
Playboy centerfold Barbi Benton was Maxx, part of a rock group called Sugar, on the 1977-78 ABC TV series, “Sugar Time!”
How many of Bob Hope’s movies have the word favorite in the title?
Three of Bob Hope’s movies have the word favorite in the title: My Favorite Blonde (1942), My Favorite Brunette (1947), and My Favorite Spy (1951).
Who is the unhappy Werther’s beloved in Goethe’s novel The Sorrows of Young Werther (1774)?
The unhappy Werther’s beloved in Goethe’s novel The Sorrows of Young Werther is Lotte.
What were the scores of the sets between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs during their “Battle of the Sexes”?
In the 1973 match between the former Wimbledon men’s champion and the then-current Wimbledon women’s champion, the 30-year old King defeated the 55-year old Riggs in three straight sets-6-4, 6-3, 6-3. Riggs had challenged King to a “Battle of the Sexes,” claiming that despite their age difference he could beat King because she was a … Read more
How fast can birds fly?
Spine-tailed swifts have been clocked at speeds of up to 220 miles per hour. Peregrine falcons have reached 217 miles per hour; racing pigeons, 100; migrating ducks, 60; and small birds, 30.
How many Model Ts were sold in America?
About 15 million Model Ts were sold when the iconic car was being produced.
Where is Mecca and why do Muslims visit it every year?
Mecca, the birthplace of Muhammad lies 45 miles inland from the Red Sea in southwestern Saudi Arabia. Its 300,000 inhabitants are all Muslims; non-Muslims are prohibited. Over 2 million Muslims annually make the pilgrimage to the city.
Who played these famous doctors in movies?
Dr. Pasteur in The Story of Louis Pasteur (1936)—Paul Muni Dr. Ehrlich in Dr. Ehrlich’ s Magic Bullet (1940)—Edward G. Robinson Dr. Newman, U.S. Navy, in Captain Newman (1963)—Gregory Peck Dr. Strangelove in Dr. Strangelove (1963)—Peter Sellers
What is the purpose of a skunk’s scent?
The skunk uses his special body oil to defeat enemies that are larger, faster, and stronger than he is. The oil burns an attacker’s eyes, nose, and mouth, causing temporary blindness and vomiting. This fluid accumulates in the skunk’s scent glands, which contain enough for six shots from distances of 8 to 10 feet.
Who came up with the phrase survival of the fittest?
Charles Darwin did not come up with the phrase survival of the fittest. The British philosopher and scientist Herbert Spencer introduced the phrase in Principles of Biology (1864-1867) as a way of describing Darwin’s theory of natural selection.
What was Divine’s real name?
Divine’s real name was Harris Glenn Milstead. He was born in Baltimore in 1946 and was a high school friend of John Waters, with whom he made several films. Divine died in 1989. His last film with Waters was Hairspray (1988), in which Divine played a housewife and mother.
When did Alexander Calder make his first mobile?
Alexander Calder made his first unpowered mobiles in 1934. They were pieces of tin suspended on thin wires or cords, and responding to the faintest air currents. But before then, beginning in 1931, he had made constructions activated by hand or by motor power. These became known as mobiles, while Calder’s non-moving constructions became known … Read more
What was Robert Duvall’s film debut?
Robert Duvall’s film debut was Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962).
When was the “Top Cat” series on prime-time TV?
In the 1961-62 season, the “Top Cat” series was on Wednesday nights from 8:30 to 9:00 P.M., on ABC.
What was the first sound film about the life of Christ?
The French Golgotha (1937), directed by Julien Duvivier was the first sound film about the life of Christ. It starred Robert Le Vigan as Jesus, and Jean Gabin as Pontius Pilate.
How many U.S. presidents have registered patents?
Just one U.S. president has registered patents Abraham Lincoln. He secured patent 6469 for a plan to buoy steamboats over shoals.
Why did President Woodrow Wilson keep sheep at the White House?
The sheep at the White House were part of the war effort. In 1917, during World War I, President Wilson arranged for a small flock of sheep to graze on the White House lawn, thus freeing up the regular gardeners for military service. Although the sheep began eating more of the White House grounds than … Read more
When did the passenger pigeon become extinct in the U.S.?
Once common in U.S. skies and hunted widely as cheap food, the last known passenger pigeon died in the Cincinnati Zoo on September 1, 1914.
What is the origin of the term Witch Hazel?
The term witch hazel is the common name for the Hamamelis plant. The witch of the plant’s name comes from wice, an Anglo-Saxon word for a plant with flexible branches. It is unclear who first used the leaves and bark of witch hazel in toiletries and tonics. Some believe it was the Anglo-Saxons; others think … Read more
Whom did Maud Gonne (1866-1953) marry?
Maud Gonne did not marry William Butler Yeats, the poet who made the actress famous through his poems of unrequited love. In 1903, after knowing Yeats for fourteen years, Gonne married Major John MacBride, an Irish revolutionary characterized by Yeats as a “drunken, vainglorious lout.” MacBride was executed for his role in the Easter Rebellion … Read more
Who wrote the foreword to the first edition of Hall-well’s Filmgoer’s Companion (1965)?
Alfred Hitchcock wrote the foreword to the first edition of Hall-well’s Filmgoer’s Companion (1965). Leslie Halliwell, pioneer film encyclopedist, died in January, 1989.
What was Cecil B. DeMille’s last picture?
Cecil B. DeMille’s last picture was The Ten Commandments (1956).
Who was the first U.S. president to visit the Soviet capital of Moscow while in office?
Richard Nixon was the first U.S. president to visit the Soviet capital of Moscow while in office in 1972.
What was Jack Nicklaus’s first major golf tournament win?
Jack Nicklaus’s first major golf tournament win was the 1962 U.S. Open, where he beat the popular champion Arnold Palmer. It was Nicklaus’s second year as a pro. He went on to win 71 tour victories and 20 major championships over the next two decades.
How does one go about joining the French Foreign Legion?
A first step to joining the French Foreign Legion would be to write to them. The address is: Legion Etrangere, Quartier Vienot, 13400 Aubagne, France.
What is narratology?
Popularized in the 1960s by Roland Barthes and others, narratology is the study of narrative, linguistic or otherwise: myths, legends, novels, comic strips, stained-glass windows, psychological case studies. It employs methods drawn from structuralism, the study of the relations and functions of the internal elements of cultural phenomena.
When did Jacqueline Kennedy lead a nationally televised tour of the White House?
Jacqueline Kennedy lead a nationally televised tour of the White House in 1962.
When was Longinus’s critical treatise On the Sublime published in Europe?
Longinus’s critical treatise On the Sublime was not published in Europe until 1554. The first-century essay was then translated into several languages and gained wide prominence, eventually influencing the poets of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
When did President Nixon introduce the term the “Silent Majority”?
President Nixon first mentioned the term the “Silent Majority” in a speech about the Vietnam War in November 1969. He used the term to refer to Americans who quietly supported his policies and practices in contrast to his vocal opposition.
Who were the artists who founded United Artists?
Charlie Chaplin, D. W. Griffith, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks were the artists who founded United Artists. They founded this producing, releasing, and distributing company in 1919.
Who took the famous photograph of the marines raising the American flag at Iwo Jima?
Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal took the picture of marines raising the flag on Mount Suribachi at Iwo Jima. The island of Iwo Jima spanned only eight square miles, but was strategically important for its closeness to Japan and hence its value as an air base. About 6,800 marines were killed and more than 18,200 … Read more
What are the names of the seven original astronauts in the American space program?
The seven original astronauts in the American space program were: M. Scott Carpenter, L. Gordon Cooper, Jr., John H. Glenn, Jr., Virgil I. Grissom, Walter M. Schirra, Jr., Alan B. Shepard, Jr., and Donald K. Slayton.
How many Wilhelm Meister novels did Goethe write?
The young man Goethe is the protagonist of two novels, Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship (1795-96) and Wilhelm Meister’s Travels, or The Renunciants (1829).
Who played Robin Hood’s sidekick Little John in The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)?
Alan Hale played Robin Hood’s sidekick Little John, alongside Errol Flynn as Robin. Nicol Williamson played the part in Robin and Marian (1976), alongside Sean Connery. Nick Brimble played Robin Hood’s sidekick Little John, alongside Kevin Costner in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991).
Is typhoid fever the same thing as typhus?
No, typhoid fever is not the same thing as typhus. Typhus is caused by microbes called rickettsiae and is carried by fleas, mites, and ticks, which in turn are carried by rats and other rodents. Typhoid (also called typhoid fever or enteric fever) resembles typhus in its symptoms but is caused by a different microbe, … Read more
Who are Captain Ahab’s mates in Melville’s MobyDick (1851)?
Captain Ahab’s first mate in Melville’s MobyDick is Starbuck, the second is Stubb, the third is Flask.
What is the earliest use of flashback in Western literature?
The earliest use of flashback in Western literature was in Homer’s Odyssey. Most of Odysseus’s adventures are recounted in a flashback set within a larger narrative frame. Odysseus tells his story at the court of the Phaeacians.
Where does the phrase “gone with the wind” come from?
The title of Margaret Mitchell’s 1936 novel “gone with the wind”comes from a poem by Ernest Dowson, a poet of the 1890s, called “Non Sum Qualis Eram,” or “Cynara.”
Did Pythagoras discover the Pythagorean theorem?
Since the ancient Greek mathematician and philosopher (fifth century B.C.) left no writings behind, it is hard to tell if Pythagoras discovered the Pythagorean theorem. His disciples in the Pythagorean school credited him with the theorem concerning the relative lengths of the sides of a right triangle. But it was probably developed later, when mathematical … Read more
Who was Simon Legree and where did he come from?
The archetypal villain Simon Legree first appeared in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852) as the brutal degenerate who flogs Tom to death.
Where did the part of the throat known as the Adam’s apple get its name?
The Adam’s apple refers to a legend that claims a piece of the forbidden fruit stuck in Adam’s throat. This part of the throat is actually a projection of the thyroid cartilage of the larynx.
Who was the first president born after the United States declared its independence?
The eighth president, Martin Van Buren (1836-1844), was born on December 5, 1782, after the United States declared its independence.
Was there a real Robinson Crusoe?
Daniel Defoe based The Life and Strange Adventures of Robinson Crusoe (1719-20) on the real-life story of Alexander Selkirk (1676-1721), a Scottish sailor who survived for more than four years on the desert island of Juan Fernandez off the Chilean coast. He became a celebrity after his rescue and homecoming in 1709.
What U.S. president was nicknamed “Old Hickory”?
Andrew Jackson, president from 1829 to 1837 was nicknamed “Old Hickory”. He received the nickname during the War of 1812 because of his tough physical and personal character. Andrew Jackson was called the ‘farmer from Tennessee” because he made his home there and had helped frame its state constitution. However, his birthplace was not in … Read more
How did Catherine Beecher divide up the housewife’s week in her manual for housewives?
In her popular manual for housewives, The American Woman’s Home, published with her sister Harriet Beecher Stowe in 1869, Beecher encouraged a systematic and orderly approach to the noble duties of housework. She suggested this schedule: Monday—prepare for the week Tuesday—wash Wednesday—iron Thursday—iron, mend, fold and put away clothes Friday—sweep and clean the house Saturday—arrange … Read more
What does the word Mafia mean and what does the word Cosa Nostra mean?
In Italian, Mafia means “beauty, excellence, bravery”. Cosa Nostra means “our thing.”
Which Jackson siblings appeared on the variety series “The Jacksons” (CBS, 1976-77)?
Jackie, Marlon, Tito, and Michael Jackson of the original Jackson Five, along with brother Randy and sisters Maureen (Rebie), La Toya, and Janet appeared on the variety series “The Jacksons” (CBS, 1976-77). Jermaine, the fifth member of The Jackson Five, did not appear. The Jackson Five provided voices for the cartoon series “The Jackson Five” … Read more
How did the kingdom of Oz get its name?
Although some biographers believe the story of Oz’s naming to be as fanciful as the tales themselves, author L. Frank Baum claimed that he was inspired by a file cabinet marked O–Z. Other suggested derivations include: a variation on Uz, Job’s house; a variation of children’s oh’s and ah’s; and a variation of Boz, the … Read more
What type of tennis stroke did Chris Evert popularize?
Chris Evert popularized the two-fisted backhand, which she began using out of necessity when she was six years old. Beginning her professional career in 1972, Evert has won close to 150 women’s singles titles and more than 1,000 career matches.
Is the moon ever actually blue?
The moon does occasionally appear blue because of dust conditions in the atmosphere. The most famous widely observed blue moon of recent times occurred on September 26, 1950, owing to dust raised by Canadian forest fires.
From what law school did Clarence Darrow graduate?
Clarence Darrow did not graduate from law school. Darrow (1857-1938), famed for his defense in the Scopes trial of 1925, briefly attended the University of Michigan law school but did not get a degree. He studied on his own and got most of his legal education in a law office in Youngstown, Ohio.
How much time passed between Amy Fisher’s shooting of Mary Jo Buttafuoco and the premiere of the TV-movies on the subject?
Less than eight months had gone by when the three network television movies on the “Long Island Lolita” shooting aired. The teenaged Fisher shot Buttafuoco, wife of her alleged lover Joey, on May 19, 1992, in Massapequa, Long Island. The NBC, CBS, and ABC TV-movies aired in the week from December 28, 1992, to January … Read more
When did Labor Day become a national holiday in the U.S.?
In 1894, a U.S. congressional resolution made Labor Day a legal holiday in the U.S. Promoted by the Knights of Labor since 1887, the holiday had already been celebrated in several states.
What was the biggest pig in recorded history?
The biggest pig in recorded history was Big Boy of Black Mountain, North Carolina, weighing 1,904 pounds in 1939.
What movies teamed Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis?
Married in 1987 and separated in 1990, the two actors Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis met on the set of Transylvania 6-5000 (1985). Their other collaborations were The Fly (1986) and Earth Girls Are Easy (1989).
Who were the parents of the family on the TV series “An American Family” (PBS, 1973)?
William (Bill) Loud and Pat Loud were the parents of the family on the TV series “An American Family” (PBS, 1973). Their five children included Lance, their twenty-year-old son. They lived in Santa Barbara, California. The twelve-hour TV series first aired in February 1973.
Was there an original Goody Two-Shoes?
As the subject of the first children’s book of the same name, the character Goody Two-Shoes helped to usher in the children’s book industry. Goody Two-Shoes was a poor girl, who, when given a pair of shoes, became so happy that she told everyone she met about them. The tale was written by Oliver Goldsmith … Read more
What ever happened to Fraser Heston?
Fraser Clarke Heston went on to write the screenplay for The Mountain Men (1980), a film starring his father. He also wrote and produced Mother Lode (1982), again starring his father. Charlton Heston also codirected the latter film, with Joe Canutt, son of Western actor Yakima Canutt.
Who was the first U.S. president to hold a press conference?
Woodrow Wilson was the first president to hold a press conference, in 1913.
How many U.S. presidents have been assassinated?
Four presidents have been assassinated. Abraham Lincoln in 1865, James A. Garfield in 1881, William McKinley in 1901, and John F. Kennedy in 1963.
What were the names of the three civil rights workers murdered by the Ku Klux Klan in 1964?
James Chaney, 21, Andrew Goodman, 21, and Michael Schwerner, 25, were the names of the three civil rights workers murdered by the Ku Klux Klan in 1964. Goodman and Schwemer were white students from New York who had come to Mississippi to help in the “Freedom Summer” voter registration project. Chaney was a black Mississippian. … Read more
What were the fates of the four main characters in American Graffiti (1973)?
As noted at the end of the film, John Milner (Paul LeMat) was killed by a drunken driver in December, 1964; Terry Fields (Charlie Martin Smith) was reported missing in action near An Loc in December, 1965; Steve Bolander (Ronny Howard) is an insurance agent in Modesto, California; Curt Henderson (Richard Dreyfuss) is a writer … Read more
Who was known as the “Sage of Baltimore”?
Editor and writer H. L. Mencken (1880-1956), who lived his entire life in Baltimore and wrote for the Baltimore Sun for 40 years, was the “Sage of Baltimore”. His works include Prejudices (1919-27) and The American Language (1919).
In Gone With the Wind (1939), were the Atlanta Civil War scenes shot on location?
No, the Atlanta Civil War scenes were not shot on location. Atlanta was built on the MGM studio back lot. Many of the burning buildings were recycled from movies like King Kong (1933), Little Lord Fauntleroy (1936), and The Garden of Allah (1936).
How old is the song “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad”?
No one knows exactly how old is the song “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad” is. It seems to have begun as “The Levee Song” among African-American workers building levees on the Mississippi River in Louisiana in the 1830s-40s. It was later adapted to railroad building and associated with Irish work gangs in the West. … Read more
Who or what was “Udolpho” in Ann Radcliffe’s Gothic novel The Mysteries of Udolpho (1794)?
“Udolpho” in Ann Radcliffe’s Gothic novel The Mysteries of Udolpho was the castle of the evil Montoni in the Italian Apennines, and site of many scary events.
What did the battle cry “fifty-four forty or fight” mean?
The battle cry “fifty-four forty or fight” mean was the slogan of U.S. expansionists who wanted to fix the boundary of the Oregon country (the Pacific Northwest) at latitude 54° 40′ N., in the middle of what is now British Columbia in Canada. The belligerent slogan was associated with the presidential campaign of James K. … Read more
What film was the basis for No Way Out (1987)?
The Big Clock (1948) was the basis for No Way Out (1987), set in the world of magazine publishing instead of at the Pentagon. Ray Milland played the role later taken by Kevin Costner and Charles Laughton played the Gene Hackman role.
Why is Persia now called Iran?
The people of the country Persia in southwestern Asia always called their homeland Iran, or “Land of the Aryans.” But Westerners started calling it Persia in the sixth century B.C., taking the name from Persis, or Parsa (modern Fars), a region of southern Iran. In 1935, the country’s government officially requested that the nation be … Read more
What was Annette Funicello’s and Frankie Avalon’s first movie together?
Beach Party (1963) was Annette Funicello’s and Frankie Avalon’s first movie together. Their arch-nemesis in that film was Eric Von Zipper, the would-be tough biker, played by Harvey Lembeck.
Who played “Alias Smith and Jones” (ABC, 1971-73)?
Peter Deuel (aka Duel) played Hannibal Heyes (alias Joshua Smith) and Ben Murphy played Jed “Kid” Curry (alias Thaddeus Jones) on “Alias Smith and Jones”. After Deuel died of an apparent suicide, Roger Davis took over the role of Smith.
How many dogs and cats are there in the United States?
In 1988, the United States was home to 49.4 million dogs and 57.8 million cats. The percentage of American households owning dogs was 37.2; the percentage owning cats was 30.
In the Old English poem Beowulf (eighth cent.), what nation did Beowulf come from?
In the Old English poem Beowulf (eighth cent.), Beowulf came from The Geats, a Scandinavian people.
In how many movies did Elvis die?
Elvis died in one, his first, Love Me Tender (1956). It was also the only one in which Elvis did not receive top billing. Its original title was The Reno Brothers, but the title was changed when a song from the movie, “Love Me Tender,” became a hit.
What was the first American TV game show hosted by Alex Trebek?
“The Wizard of Odds” (NBC, 1973-74) was the first American game show hosted by Alex Trebek. The Canadian-born Trebek is now host of “Jeopardy!” (syndicated, 1984).
Is it permissible to split infinitives?
It depends on whom you ask. Some editors will still change “to boldly go where no man has gone before” to “to go boldly . . .” But other pundits now consider the taboo against split infinitives all but passé. The taboo was introduced by eighteenth and nineteenth-century grammarians for unknown reasons.
What college has generated the most winners of the Heisman Trophy?
Notre Dame holds the honor of the most winners of the Heisman Trophy, with seven Heisman Trophy winners: 1943—Angelo Bertelli, quarterback 1947—John Lujack, quarterback 1949—Leon Hart, end 1953—John Lattner, halfback 1956—Paul Hornung, quarterback 1964—John Huarte, quarterback 1987—Tim Brown, wide receiver
How tall is the average American?
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the average American male is 5 feet 9.1 inches tall. The average American female is 5 feet 3.7 inches tall.