Odorama never passed the smell test
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A: You went to see ‘Polyester,’ which used the gimmicky Odorama. The film was written, produced and directed by John Waters, who described the movie as ‘Father Knows Best’ gone berserk.’ The film featured transvestite Divine, who played a suburban housewife, and teenage heartthrob Tab Hunter.
Q: President Andrew Jackson named his home near Nashville, Tenn., the Hermitage. Why? ‘ C.L.P., Hattiesburg, Miss.
A: In 1804, Jackson bought a 600-plus acre farm from Nathaniel Hays and his wife, Elizabeth. Jackson sold his Hunter’s Hill plantation and began preparation for his new home, which he named ‘Rural Retreat’ but quickly changed to ‘The Hermitage.’ Why? No one knows. The Hermitage is open to the public.
Q: What was the Lone Ranger’s mask made of? ‘ F.R.T., Keene, N.H.
A: According to the storyline, it was the fabric from the vest of the Lone Ranger’s brother, Dan Reid, killed in an ambush along with other Rangers. In real life, according to Clayton Moore in his autobiography, it was made of plaster with a felt covering. During the days of black-and-white production, the mask used a purple felt. After the show went to color photography, black felt covered the mask.
Q: Who, in Major League Baseball, was known as ‘The Spaceman’? ‘ B.R.T., Steubenville, Ohio
A: Born Dec. 28, 1946, in Burbank, Calif., Bill Francis Lee was a star pitcher at USC. He played for the Boston Red Sox (1969-1979) and the Montreal Expos (1980-82). Lee was intelligent, well-spoken and outspoken, with a lot of opinions on many subjects. His views often put him at odds with Boston team management, but Red Sox fans loved him. Lee is the author of three books: ‘The Wrong Stuff,’ ‘Have Glove, Will Travel: Adventures of a Baseball Vagabond’ and ‘The Little Red (Sox) Book: A Revisionist Red Sox History.’
Q: On the reverse side of a dollar bill is the Great Seal of the United States, a pyramid with an eye in the top section. Above the pyramid is the Latin phrase ‘annuit coeptis.’ What does it mean? ‘ B.B., Tampa, Fla.
A: I came across several translations, so I turned to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing for help. According to the BEP, ‘annuit coeptis’ means ‘He (God) has favored our undertakings.’
Q: The winner of the University of Illinois and Northwestern University football game receives a special trophy. What is it? ‘ P.L., Carson City, Nev.
A: The winner receives the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk. The trophy goes back to 1945 and was originally won by Northwestern. Since the institution of the Tomahawk, Illinois leads the series 32-27-2.
Q: Was Christopher Columbus the first aboard his ship to actually see land in the New World? ‘ E.L.B., Reading, Pa.
A: No. On Oct. 12, 1492, while in the crow’s nest of the ship Pinta, Spanish sailor Rodrigo de Triana was the first to sight land in the New World.
Q: I was looking at an auction list of dolls. Some were marked NRFB, and they seemed to have a much higher starting price than those without the designation. What does NRFB mean? ‘ L.H., Mount Penn, Pa.
A: Never Removed From Box. And yes, they can bring a lot more money than those dolls that have been played with.
Send your questions to Mr. Know-It-All at [email protected] or c/o United Feature Syndicate, 200 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016.