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Ask Mr. Know-It-All By Gary Lee Clothier
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
Q: Who is the youngest person to climb Mount Everest? -- J.K., Salem, Ore.
A: On May 22, 2010, American climber Jordan David Romero reached the summit of the world's tallest mountain; he was 13 years, 10 months and 10 days old. With him were his father, Paul Romero; his father's girlfriend, Karen Lundgren; and three Sherpas. Later, Jordan and Katherine Blanc wrote a book titled "The Boy Who Conquered Everest: The Jordan Romero Story." The book is still available. By the way, Katsusuke Yanagisawa, a former schoolteacher from Japan, is the oldest person to climb Mount Everest. Yanagisawa was 71 when he scaled the mountain in 2007.
Q: In the early 1970s, I watched a funny Western movie with John Astin. Can you figure out the movie? Is it available on DVD? Have you ever seen it? -- R.I.W., Wrightsville, Pa.
A: The name of the TV movie is "Evil Roy Slade" with Mickey Rooney, Henry Gibson, Dom DeLuise, Edie Adams and Milton Berle. The movie is about the meanest villain in the West who falls for a pretty schoolmarm. She then tries to change his ways. The movie, which I have never seen, is available on DVD and VHS.
Q: Why wasn't a 1921 Lincoln wheatback penny minted? -- M.E.C., Whitman, Mass.
A: I don't understand your question. The Philadelphia Mint struck more than 39 million 1921 pennies, while the San Francisco Mint made more than 15 million.
Q: I saw a made-for-TV movie with Michael Landon, "Where Pigeons Go to Die." To my knowledge, it has never been made available on DVD. Why? -- A.S., Glendora, Calif.
A: Michael Landon (1936-1991) wrote and directed the 1990 film, which was based on the novel by R. Wright Campbell. The film starred Art Carney and was nominated for two Emmy awards. The movie is available on DVD.
Q: I heard Heather O'Rourke of "Poltergeist" fame died soon after the movie was released. Is this true? -- E.M., Brockton, Mass.
A: Heather O'Rourke (1975-1988) was a child actress who played Carol Anne Freeling in the "Poltergeist" film trilogy. She became ill in 1987 and was misdiagnosed with Crohn's disease when, in fact, she had an acute bowel obstruction. She died Feb. 1, 1988, during surgery.
After the release of "Poltergeist" in 1982, Heather secured several television and TV movie roles. She died four months before the release of "Poltergeist III," which was dedicated to her memory. Some say the death of O'Rourke and four other people associated with the series are part of a curse on the "Poltergeist" films. She is also said to haunt the sound stage where she filmed episodes of the TV comedy series "Happy Days."
Q: There was a comedy show on TV that guaranteed you would laugh or you would be given a dollar. What was the name of the show? -- G.T., Stowe, Vt.
A: "Minding the Store," a 2005 reality show starring Pauly Shore, did make such an offer. The show was based on Shore attempting to revitalize his acting career while running the family business, the Comedy Store. It is my understanding that the complainer had to enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope with the request and that only the first 250,000 requests would be honored. In reality, not enough people laughed and the series was canceled after a short run. By the way, the Comedy Store was opened in April 1972 by Sammy Shore, Pauly's father. It remains a family operation.
Q: Where is the oldest university in the world? --D.F., Miami Beach, Fla.
A: According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the oldest continuously operating institution of higher learning in the world is the University of Al-Karaouine, founded in 859 in Fes, Morocco. The mosque and university were founded by the daughter of a wealthy merchant who migrated from Tunisia in the early 9th century.
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© 2011, Gary Clothier DISTRIBUTED BY UNIVERSAL UCLICK
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Arnold Ahlert | ||||||||||||
