Who was the voice of Mr. Ed?

Rocky Lane, a cowboy movie hero whose films included: King of the Mounties, Red Gulch Renegades, and Silver City Kid. On at least one occasion, George Burns also supplied Mr. Ed’s voice.

Where do we get angora wool?

Angora wool does not come from sheep. Angora is harvested from a domesticated rabbit of the same name. The wool is white, black, blue, or fawn. The rabbits are sheared every three months; each one yields about 12 ounces of wool annually. These rabbits first appeared in the eighteenth century in France.

How old is Hanukkah and what does it mean?

Hanukkah was first celebrated in 165 B.C. The word Hanukkah means Rededication. It refers to the cleansing and rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem by the Maccabees after defeating their Syrian-Greek oppressors.

When was Bloody Sunday and when did it happen?

when was bloody sunday and when did it happen

The Russian Bloody Sunday was January 9, 1905, when a workers’ march on the czar’s Winter Palace was cut down by cossacks. About a thousand people were killed or wounded; the event sparked the Revolution of 1905. The Irish Bloody Sunday took place on January 30, 1972, when British soldiers shot and killed 13 Catholics … Read more

When did people first drink tea?

when did people first drink tea

The beverage we know as tea was originated in China around 2700 B.C. It became popular in England, Holland, and America by the early eighteenth century A.D. The British custom of afternoon tea was introduced about 1840 by the Duchess of Bedford. Iced tea was first introduced at the 1904 world’s fair, called the Louisiana … Read more

How many film versions of Batman have there been?

how many film versions of batman have there been

There were four film versions of Batman in 1989. There was Batman, a 15-chapter Columbia serial in 1943, with Lewis Wilson in the title role. Then came Batman and Robin, another Columbia serial in 1949, starring Robert Lowery. In 1966, 20th Century-Fox released a feature film called Batman based on the television series and starring … Read more

How did Bugs Bunny get his name?

how did bugs bunny get his name

The character Bugs Bunny was created in 1936 by a group of artists at Warner Bros., including Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng. The original sketches, however, were submitted by a Warner story man Ben (“Bugs”) Hardaway. He marked the drawings “Bugs Bunny.” The rest is history.

What were the four humors in medieval times?

what were the four humors in medieval times

The medieval term the four humors refers to what were thought to be the primary bodily fluids: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. These represented a human’s four basic temperaments: sanguine, phlegmatic, choleric, and melancholic. The idea remained popular into the Elizabethan Age.

Is Mount Rushmore the largest sculpture in the world?

is mount rushmore the largest sculpture in the world

No, Mount Rushmore is not the largest sculpture in the world. The prize goes to the sculpture of Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, and Thomas (“Stonewall”) Jackson that covers 1.33 acres on the face of Stone Mountain near Atlanta, Georgia. It was created between September 12, 1963, and March 3, 1972.

What were the earlier names for the Beatles?

what were the earlier names for the beatles

The Beatles had several names. In the late 1950s, John Lennon and Paul McCartney formed a band to play “skiffle” music in local Liverpool clubs. They first called themselves the Quarrymen, then tried several other names: Johnny and the Moondogs, the Moonshiners, Long John and the Silver Beatles. By 1960, however, they settled on the … Read more

Do Gargoyles on medieval cathedrals have a practical function?

do gargoyles on medieval cathedrals have a practical function

Gargoyles, the grotesque statues that decorate medieval cathedrals, and the medieval-influenced architecture of some universities, are not merely decorative. A gargoyle is technically a waterspout that projects from a roof gutter to throw rainwater clear of a building. The term is applied more loosely to any grotesquely carved figure.

When did the Tango originate?

when did the tango originate

The modern ballroom tango appeared about 1880 in Argentina. It combined the old tango of Spain, a light-spirited variety of flamenco, with the milonga, a fast, hot Argentine dance. At first considered low-class, the new tango was all the rage in fashionable circles by 1915.

How did Catherine the Great die?

how did catherine the great die

Catherine the Great was alone on the morning of November 17, 1796, when she collapsed with a stroke. Earlier that morning, she had bid farewell to a lover, a twenty-seven-year old man. No horses were involved.

Where does the word vaudeville come from?

where does the word vaudeville come from

The word vaudeville originally referred to a type of light, comedic song that originated in Vau-de-Vire in Normandy, France. It came to mean the whole program of songs, dances, comedy, and other acts once popular in theaters across America. Vaudeville was introduced to the United States in 1865 with the opening of the Opera House, … Read more

What is a Bolero and what does Ravel have to do with it?

what is a bolero and what does ravel have to do with it

A bolero is a lively Spanish dance in 3/4 time with a strongly marked rhythm. The dancers perform intricate steps while keeping time with castanets. Maurice Ravel published a well-known orchestral version of the dance, Bolero, in 1928. A bolero is also a short jacket, perhaps first worn during performances of the dance.

What are the real names of these actors?

what are the real names of these actors

Fred Astaire. Frederick Austerlitz Bing Crosby. Harry Lillis Crosby Marlene Dietrich. Maria Magdalene von Losch W. C. Fields. William Claude Dukenfield Greta Garbo. Greta Gustafsson Judy Garland. Frances Gumm Cary Grant. Archibald Alexander Leach Boris Karloff William Henry Pratt John Wayne. Marion Michael Morrison

What is the most famous auto-destructive work of art?

what is the most famous auto destructive work of art

The most famous auto-destructive work of art was probably Swiss sculptor Jean Tinguely’s Homage to New York, which blew itself up at the Museum of Modern Art in 1960. The work was meant to satirize modern technological civilization. Constructed of an old piano and other junk, the piece failed to operate as planned and caused … Read more

What are Superman’s superpowers?

what are supermans superpowers

Superman is virtually invulnerable (with Kryptonite being his major weakness; its rays are fatal to him); he is superstrong, superfast, and supersmart; he can fly; he has heat vision, X-ray vision, telescopic vision, and microscopic vision; he has quick-freezing, gale-force breath; he has super sensitive hearing; and he can hold his breath for long periods.

What was the Nouvelle Vague in film?

what was the nouvelle vague in film

Nouvelle Vague was the French New Wave of filmmakers who changed the face of French film in the late 1950s. The group included: Claude Chabrol, Francois Truffaut, Jean-Luc Godard, Eric Rohmer, and Jacques Rivette. They pioneered a freer, more personal cinematic style that rebelled against standard industry practices. Truffaut’s 400 Blows (1959) and Godard’s Breathless … Read more

Who started Mother’s Day?

who started mothers day

Julia Ward Howe, women’s suffrage leader and author of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” made the first known suggestion for Mother’s Day in 1872. She saw it as a day dedicated to peace, to be celebrated on June 2. But it was Anna Jarvis of Grafton, West Virginia, who, in 1907, began campaigning for … Read more

How did El Greco sign his paintings?

how did el greco sign his paintings

El Greco signed his paintings as Domenikos Theotokopoulos, his real name. The artist (c. 1541-1614) wrote the name in Greek characters, sometimes followed by Kres for “Cretan”, his national origin.

What is the 12-tone theory in music?

what is the 12 tone theory in music

The 12-tone theory is music based on the serial ordering of all 12 pitches on the chromatic scale. the scale that includes both the black and white keys on the piano. (The diatonic scale of seven pitches includes only the white keys.) In the 12-tone system, developed by Austro-Hungarian composer Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951) in the … Read more

Where was Tin Pan Alley?

where was tin pan alley

The birthplace of much of twentieth-century popular music was Tin Pan Alley. It was where songwriters plied their trade, actually had two locations, both in New York City. The first Tin Pan Alley section sprang up around Fourteenth Street; the second was in the Times Square area.

What do Gypsies call themselves?

what do gypsies call themselves

Gypsies call themselves Rom, or “man.” Not knowing the origin of Rom, the English called them Gypsies (derived from Egyptians); the French, Bohemians; the Spanish, Flemish; and the Swedes, Tatars.

What significance does February 2 have for Christians?

what significance does february 2 have for christians

February 2 is more than Groundhog Day for Christians, it is Candlemas, which commemorates the presentation of Jesus in the Temple. Candles are blessed and carried in a procession. In England, the feast is associated with Groundhog Day. If the weather is sunny on Candlemas, winter will remain; if cloudy, spring will come.

Why do boys wear blue and why do girls wear pink?

why do boys wear blue and why do girls wear pink

From ancient times, the color blue was considered a precaution against evil spirits, since blue was the color of the heavenly sky. Dressing a baby boy in blue protected him from the evil spirits who wanted to cause him harm. Since girls were considered inferior, it was assumed that evil spirits would not bother with … Read more

Are geishas prostitutes?

are geishas prostitutes

Geishas are not necessarily prostitutes. A geisha is a member of a professional class of Japanese women who provide entertaining company for men, particularly businessmen. Some geishas sing, dance, or play instruments; most are skilled only at conversation.

Why do men button from the right and women from the left?

why do men button from the right and women from the left

Part of the reason for the orientation of buttons on clothing is custom. Men usually dressed themselves, and because most men are right-handed, buttoning from the right made sense. Women were more often dressed by maids, and maids found it easier to work from their right, the wearer’s left.

Who were the first coffee drinkers?

who were the first coffee drinkers

Arabian philosopher and physician Avicenna introduced coffee as a beverage about A.D. 1000. He called the drink bunc; he believed it to be useful as a medicinal tonic. Not until about the sixteenth century did coffee become accepted as a social beverage in Arabia and Persia.

Were red M&M’s ever made with a carcinogenic dye?

were red mms ever made with a carcinogenic dye

No, red M&M’s were never made with a carcinogenic dye. In 1976, M&M/Mars responded to publicity about the carcinogenic effects of red dye number 2 by taking red M&M’s off the market. However, red M&M’s were not made with red dye number 2: The company acted because people wrongly believed that the dye was being … Read more

Who was the first movie star?

who was the first movie star

While early American filmmakers refused to reveal the names of their players, fearing the actors would request more money, German filmgoers created celebrities. The first celebrity actress was Henny Porten, who first appeared in the movie Lohengrin (1907), directed by Oskar Messter. She was known only as the Messter Girl until 1909, when she played … Read more

What is the blue note?

what is the blue note

The blue note is a musical note, usually a flatted third or seventh, that gives a blues feeling to a song. The Blue Note is also the name of a popular nightclub in New York’s Greenwich Village.

Where did the Gypsies originate?

where did the gypsies originate

The gypsies probably came from India. Romany, the Gypsy language, is Indic; but it is not known when or why the Gypsies left India. Living as aliens in every country, they reached Persia by A.D. 1000 and northwest Europe by the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.

What did Fatty Arbuckle do that ruined his career?

what did fatty arbuckle do that ruined his career

In 1921, the 320-pound silent comedy star and former Keystone Kop allegedly caused the death of a young starlet, Virginia Rappe, fiancee of the director of some of Arbuckle’s films. At a wild party in San Francisco, Rappe went into convulsions, supposedly the result of a sexual assault by Arbuckle. She died a few days … Read more

What is the name of Santa’s brother?

what is the name of santas brother

According to Pennsylvania Dutch and French tradition, Santa’s brother’s name is Bells Nichols. He visits every home on New Year’s Eve after the children are asleep, and if plates are set out for him, he fills them with cakes and cookies.

Where did Art Deco get its name?

where did art deco get its name

Art Deco got its name from the Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris in 1925. It became the dominant style of architecture and interior design in the 1920s and 1930s.

When did Christmas Trees become part of Christmas celebrations?

when did christmas trees become part of christmas celebrations

Evergreen trees and wreaths have been used as symbols of eternal life since the ancient times of the Egyptians, Chinese, and Hebrews. After the coming of Christianity, evergreens were still used in Scandinavia, to scare away the devil. In the Middle Ages, the Christmas tree, decorated with candles and wafers (symbols of Christ and the … Read more

What countries are members of OPEC?

what countries are members of opec

In 1960, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries was founded to unify the members’ petroleum policies and regulate prices. The founding members were: Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela. Since then, the following nations have also become members: Algeria, Ecuador, Gabon, Indonesia, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

What does kosher pareve mean?

what does kosher pareve mean

Kosher pareve means food that is neutral. That is, fruits, vegetables, and eggs, and can be eaten with either meat or dairy products. The two other main categories of kosher food are mikhig (dairy) and fleishig (meat).

Why is the word Christmas abbreviated as Xmas?

why is the word christmas abbreviated as xmas

Christmas is abbreviated as Xmas because the Greek letter x is the first letter of the Greek word for Christ, Xristos. The word Xmas, meaning “Christ’s Mass,” was commonly used in Europe by the sixteenth century. It was not an attempt to take Christ out of Christmas.

When was the Hays Code, which regulated moviemaking instituted?

when was the hays code which regulated moviemaking instituted

The Motion Picture Production Code, devised by the Motion Picture Association of America. It was nicknamed the Hays Code for the MPAA’s first director, Will H. Hays, and was adopted in 1930. The lengthy document, which was written to forestall government censorship of movies, was not dissolved by the MPAA until 1968.