# Huh...Things I learned recently **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 1, 2008, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huh-things-i-learned-recently/443587 "2008-04-01T21:34:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![The\_Them](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/898d66/32.png) [@The\_Them](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Them)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huh-things-i-learned-recently/443587/81 "2008-04-03T02:16:58Z")
This had to be pointed out to me…in the background of _The Wall_ , when newly eyebrowless Bob Geldhof is ranting to his neo-Nazi crowd, in the choir in the background is…Annie Lennox. Not quite so recently, I had NO idea about Jimmy Stewart until the stamp came out. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huh-things-i-learned-recently/443587/82 "2008-04-03T02:53:01Z")
[QUOTE=NicePete] That would be [Thurl Ravenscroft.](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0712391/) [/QUOTE] He was also quite involved in [Disney theme park](http://legends.disney.go.com/legends/detail?key=Thurl%20Ravenscroft) attractions. He was the voice of the Disney(land/world) Railroad, had parts in the Haunted Mansion (including being one of the singing busts in the graveyard scene), was the voice of Fritz the Parrot and the Tiki God in the Tiki Room, was the voice of a pirate in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, was the voice of one of the bears in the Country Bear Jamboree, and did a few Disney shorts, such as _Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day_. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huh-things-i-learned-recently/443587/83 "2008-04-03T02:56:23Z")
[QUOTE=Morbo] And while I’m here, Ted Knight was the narrator from the old Superfriends cartoons. “Later…at…the Hall of Justice!” [/QUOTE] Along the same lines, William Conrad, who played Matt Dillon on the radio version of “Gunsmoke,” and detective Cannon on the TV show of the same name, and also starred in “Jake and the Fatman,” was the narrator for “Rocky and Bullwinkle.” ---
**Author:** ![Charger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df788c/32.png) [@Charger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charger)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huh-things-i-learned-recently/443587/84 "2008-04-03T03:17:41Z")
Janet Leigh, of _Psycho_, is the mother of Jamie Lee Curtis. A very young, but recognizable, Tobey Maguire got some screen time as an extra in _The Wizard_ (1989). ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huh-things-i-learned-recently/443587/85 "2008-04-03T03:20:40Z")
[QUOTE=Charger] Janet Leigh, of _Psycho_, is the mother of Jamie Lee Curtis. [/QUOTE] And Tony Curtis, of _Some Like It Hot_, _Operation Petticoat_ and _Spartacus_, is her father. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huh-things-i-learned-recently/443587/86 "2008-04-03T04:44:36Z")
[QUOTE=furryman] Walter Houston did the voice of Gandalf in “The Hobbit” cartoon. This is one of my picks for perfect casting in a movie. [/QUOTE] Agreed, except that it was John Huston, Walter’s son. Walter died in 1950. Joe ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huh-things-i-learned-recently/443587/87 "2008-04-03T12:08:08Z")
A very young Richard Dreyfuss can be seen and heard in _The Graduate_. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huh-things-i-learned-recently/443587/88 "2008-04-03T12:11:03Z")
[QUOTE=Love Rhombus] Who has been in Star Wars: A New Hope, the original Batman AND Raiders of the Lost Ark (as well as Death Machine, a personal favorite)? William Hootkins, better known as Porkins. I didn’t connect them all till recently. [/QUOTE] Which one are you referring to as the _original_ Batman? Either way, I love Porkins! ---
**Author:** ![AtomicDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@AtomicDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AtomicDog)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huh-things-i-learned-recently/443587/89 "2008-04-03T12:33:30Z")
[QUOTE=pinkfreud] Porn star Asia Carrera is a member of Mensa. [/QUOTE] I’ve always admired her mind. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huh-things-i-learned-recently/443587/90 "2008-04-03T12:46:32Z")
The two lead singers of indie rock darling (and just plain excellent band) Rilo Kiley were child actors. Singer Jenny Lewis was in _Troop Beverly Hills_ and _The Wizard_. Singer/guitarist Blake Sennett was on _Boy Meets World_ and _Salute Your Shorts_. ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huh-things-i-learned-recently/443587/91 "2008-04-03T13:09:53Z")
Rosie Perez is Click! the Camera! on Diego cartoons. Tim Conway does the voice of Barnacle Boy on Spongebob. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huh-things-i-learned-recently/443587/92 "2008-04-03T13:20:59Z")
> [@](#): > > Like “defriend”? I’ve just stolen this word. “She never calls me, so I’m going to defriend her.” > [@](#): > > Porn star Asia Carrera is a member of Mensa. So are Geena Davis, Alan Rachins and Glenn Headley. Contrary to rumor, Sharon Stone is not, nor has she ever been a member. She let that go on far too long before she finally confirmed that she never joined. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huh-things-i-learned-recently/443587/93 "2008-04-03T13:32:55Z")
[QUOTE=Earl Snake-Hips Tucker] Benet was involved in a girl-girl relationship with a minor (Tammy Bruce) at the time of her suicide. That was news. [/QUOTE] Tammy Bruce- the lesbian atheist respectful-to-religion libertarian-right commentator? Another Clancy Brown role- The Monster to Sting’s Dr. Frankenstein in THE BRIDE. ---
**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huh-things-i-learned-recently/443587/94 "2008-04-03T13:56:18Z")
[QUOTE=BMalion] Which one are you referring to as the _original_ Batman? Either way, I love Porkins! [/QUOTE] I’m pretty sure he was Eckhart, the crooked detective, in the 1989 Michael Keaton _Batman_. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huh-things-i-learned-recently/443587/95 "2008-04-03T13:57:30Z")
[QUOTE=FriarTed] Another Clancy Brown role- The Monster to Sting’s Dr. Frankenstein in THE BRIDE. [/QUOTE] And of course Captain Byron Hadley of **The Shawshank Redemption**. ---
**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huh-things-i-learned-recently/443587/96 "2008-04-03T14:05:52Z")
I believe Clancy Brown was also the bad guy in the Sidney Poitier/Tom Berenger movie _Shoot to Kill_. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huh-things-i-learned-recently/443587/97 "2008-04-03T14:09:41Z")
[QUOTE=FriarTed] Tammy Bruce- the lesbian atheist respectful-to-religion libertarian-right commentator? [/QUOTE] Yup! ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huh-things-i-learned-recently/443587/98 "2008-04-03T14:20:16Z")
I also just recently learned that the female narrator who introduced The Adventures of Letterman on the Electric Company was Joan Rivers, and that Letterman and his nemesis, Spell Binder were voiced by Gene Wilder and Zero Mostel respectively. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huh-things-i-learned-recently/443587/99 "2008-04-03T14:29:21Z")
[QUOTE=gwendee] I also just recently learned that the female narrator who introduced The Adventures of Letterman on the Electric Company was Joan Rivers, and that Letterman and his nemesis, Spell Binder were voiced by Gene Wilder and Zero Mostel respectively. [/QUOTE] Did you know that Skip Hinnant, the guy who played the nebbishy blonde guy (and Fargo North, Decoder and “Love of Chair” boy) was also the voice of Fritz the Cat? ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2008, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huh-things-i-learned-recently/443587/100 "2008-04-03T16:45:59Z")
[QUOTE=Sigmagirl] I’ve just stolen this word. “She never calls me, so I’m going to defriend her.” So are Geena Davis, Alan Rachins and Glenn Headley. Contrary to rumor, Sharon Stone is not, nor has she ever been a member. She let that go on far too long before she finally confirmed that she never joined. [/QUOTE] Mira Sorvino belongs to Mensa too, ironic considering her breakout role was playing a not-too-bright hooker in a Woody Allen movie. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huh-things-i-learned-recently/443587.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huh-things-i-learned-recently/443587.md?page=6)