The Cute One has a brother
Q: The first time I heard a song by The Beatles, I became a fan. As a matter of fact, I remain one to this day. I recently saw a news item about Paul McCartney and his divorce issues. It dawned on me that he has a brother. What ever became of him? ‘ H.E., Marietta, Ga.
A: Paul was born June 18, 1942, while his brother, Michael, entered the world Jan. 7, 1944; both were born at the Walton General Hospital in Liverpool, England. Mike belonged to a comedy-poetry-music group called The Scaffold, which released several albums and singles. Not wanting to capitalize on the family name, he took the stage moniker Mike McGear. In the mid-1970s, the two brothers collaborated on an album titled ‘McGear.’ In the 1980s, Mike retired from music and started to use his family name again. Since the early 1960s, Mike has been an avid photographer; he was always taking backstage pictures of The Beatles, which later resulted in several books. Today, he continues his career as a professional photographer.
Q: What role did Russell Crowe play in the 2000 movie ‘Gladiator’? ‘ P.C.L., St. Louis, Mo.
A: Crowe won an Oscar for his portrayal of Maximus Decimus Meridius.
Q: There was a time when game-show host Wink Martindale was a common fixture on television. I haven’t seen him in several years. What’s he up to? What was his birth name? When and where was he born? ‘ D.O.L., Bennington, Vt.
A: Winston Conrad Martindale was born in Jackson, Tenn., on Dec. 4, 1934. He says a neighborhood friend supplied the nickname ‘Wink.’ He started his radio career while still a teenager. In the mid-1960s, he took a job in television, becoming a game-show host. All told, he hosted 19 TV game shows ‘ more than anyone except Bill Cullen (23). In 1959, he recorded a hit record, ‘Deck of Cards.’ He has appeared in many TV commercials and even had a daily syndicated radio show, heard on 200 stations. In June 2006, he was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He also published his autobiography, ‘Winking at Life.’ Currently, he’s a spokesman for Orbitz travel. He lives with his wife and dogs in Calabasas, Calif.
Q: When was TV Guide first published? Who was featured on the cover? ‘ D.R., Trenton, N.J.
A: TV Guide was first published on April 3, 1953, with a small picture of Lucille Ball in the upper right corner; the cover was dominated by a picture of newborn Desi Arnaz Jr. The cost of the magazine: 15 cents.
Q: In the animated TV series ‘The Flintstones,’ what was Betty Rubble’s maiden name? ‘ G.L.K., Ames, Iowa
A: McBricker.
Q: When I was a youngster, my folks watched the detective series ‘Dragnet,’ starring Jack Webb. I can’t say that I really enjoyed the program, but I loved the ending when a hand would hold a stamp and another would hammer the stamp, revealing ‘VII’ and the words ‘Mark’ and ‘Limited’ flashed onto the screen. What did the production logo mean? Here’s a super-trivia question for you: Whose hands were used? ‘ O.V., Port Huron, Mich.
A: From 1951 to 1979, Mark VII Limited was the production company of actor, producer and director Jack Webb. I discovered several explanations of the logo; none seem satisfactory, though. The hands were those of Jack Webb.
Q: I came across the following in an old school notebook: ‘May I have a large container of coffee’? I’m sure it’s a mnemonic, but I haven’t the slightest idea for what. Do you have any ideas? ‘ N.B., Hurricane, Utah
A: You are right: It’s a mnemonic to learn the first eight digits of pi (3.1415926), based on the lengths of the words in the sentence.
(Send your questions to Mr. Know-It-All at [email protected] or c/o United Feature Syndicate, 200 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016)