ASK MR. KNOW-IT-ALL
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A: Jimmy Riddle Hoffa was last seen outside the Machus Red Fox Restaurant in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., on July 30, 1975. He was declared legally dead in 1982.
Q: In the 1930s, there was a radio comedy show called “Lum and Abner” that took place in the fictitious town of Pine Ridge, Ark. Well, this is according to my grandfather. He also said a town in Arkansas re-named itself in honor of the show. Is this true? — J.L.K., Carson City, Nev.
A: The show featured the daily exploits of Lum Edwards (Chester Lauck) and Abner Peabody (Norris Goff), co-owners of the Jot ‘Em Down Store in Pine Ridge, Ark. It aired for 24 years, second in longevity only to “Amos and Andy.” In 1936, to capitalize on the popularity of the show, Waters, Ark., officially changed its name to Pine Ridge. The show was based on a store owned by Goff’s father in Waters, and many of its characters were modeled after actual residents of the town.
Q: Christopher Columbus was captain of the Santa Maria in the exploration of the New World. Who were the captains of the companion ships, the Pinta and the Nina? — G.G., Hagerstown, Md.
A: Brothers Martin Alonzo Pinzon and Vincent Pinzon served as the captains of the Pinta and the Nina, respectively. A third brother, Francisco, served as the master aboard the Pinta. Juan de La Cosa, the owner of the Santa Maria, served as its master.
Q: Is there a fancy name for a rain gauge? — T.L., Waterville, Maine
A: There is: it’s called a pluviometer or udometer.
Q: In the 1968 movie “2001: A Space Odyssey,” who was the voice of the computer HAL 9000? — P.L., Victorville, Calif.
A: His name is Douglas Rain. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, in 1928, Rain studied acting in both Canada and England and is primarily a stage actor. He reprised the role of HAL for the 1984 sequel “2010.”
Q: “Baton rouge” is French for “red stick.” Why is this the name of the city in Louisiana? — W.A., Portland, Mich.
A: Native Americans used a red stick to mark the boundary between two tribes in the area near the Mississippi River. French explorers in 1699 were unable to pronounce the Indian name for the post, so they called it a baton rouge. An explorer later used the name as a reference on a map. The location has been known as Baton Rouge ever since.
Q: There was a nonsensical word used to describe a large chocolate candy bar in the movie “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.” It was the same word used in Dairy Queen TV commercials a number of years ago. Do you know the word? — U.L., Meridian, Miss.
A: Although they sound somewhat similar, they are two different words. In the 1971 movie, the candy was called a Scrumdidilyumptious Bar. In the 1970s’ Dairy Queen commercials, their ice cream treats were described as being “scrumpdillyishus.”
Q: When did the last episode of “Cheers” air? — S.T.R., Grand Island, Neb.
A: The last episode was broadcast on May 20, 1993, with bar owner Sam Malone (Ted Danson) speaking the final words, “Sorry, we’re closed.”
Q: Who was the first major league baseball player to hit two grand-slam home runs in one inning? — E.J., Lawton, Okla.
A: On April 23, 1999, wearing a St. Louis Cardinal uniform, Fernando Tatis accomplished this incredible feat in the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers. St. Louis scored 11 runs in that inning and went on to win the game, 12-5.
Q: A vegan is a vegetarian who eats no animal products. What do you call a person who eats dairy products, plus fish and chicken? — I.K., Elk City, Okla.
A: You would be a semi-vegetarian or part-vegetarian. Semi-vegetarians eat no red or white meat, but sometimes eat meat byproducts like fats, oils and gelatin, and also wear clothing made from animals.
Q: The University of Georgia has a bulldog mascot. Do you have any idea what his name is? — J.P., Apache Junction, Ariz.
A: His name is Uga. There have been six Ugas since the mascot first appeared on campus in 1956.