# Mathers, Denver both alive **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [February 24, 2005, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mathers-denver-both-alive/291727 "2005-02-24T17:08:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![terrier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e19adc/32.png) [@terrier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terrier)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mathers-denver-both-alive/291727/1 "2005-02-24T17:08:04Z")
Since this column was quite some time ago, and I’m new here, it might already have been pointed out. Neither Jerry Mathers nor Bob Denver is deceased … [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_316](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_316) ---
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mathers-denver-both-alive/291727/2 "2005-02-24T17:16:57Z")
It was a joke. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mathers-denver-both-alive/291727/3 "2005-02-24T17:19:28Z")
> [@terrier](#): > > Neither Jerry Mathers nor Bob Denver is deceased … Sarcasm, however, apparently is. ---
**Author:** ![terrier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e19adc/32.png) [@terrier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terrier)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mathers-denver-both-alive/291727/4 "2005-02-24T17:23:04Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > Sarcasm, however, apparently is. It was lost on me … but since the tagline for this site (again, I’m brand new here, so I haven’t learned the nuances) is “fighting ignorance since 1973,” I made an erroneous assumption that responses would not include erroneous information. My bad, I guess … ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mathers-denver-both-alive/291727/5 "2005-02-24T17:29:35Z")
I think that’s a very fair complaint. I know that column in the context of all the other columns of that period, so I knew he was being a smartass. But for someone who isn’t a hardcore Cecilphile, the sarcasm is so subtle as to be nonexistent. I’m not much of a revisionist by nature, but I think this is valid. Even with the likes of Cecil and the Mikkelsons around, it’s hard enough to fight the good fight without easily misunderstood stuff like this. I’d like to call for an update to this one, even if it’s just a snarky “PS: Yes, everyone, I know.” ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mathers-denver-both-alive/291727/6 "2005-02-24T17:31:46Z")
And welcome, **terrier**. ---
**Author:** ![terrier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e19adc/32.png) [@terrier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terrier)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mathers-denver-both-alive/291727/7 "2005-02-24T17:37:53Z")
> [@andros](#): > > And welcome, **terrier**. Thanks, andros, for your comments and your welcome. I’m no neophyte when it comes to message boards, so I know all too well that each has its own personality (and personalities), and a newbie like me really should explore a lot more before commenting. I didn’t follow those “rules.” I just happened to stumble here and ended up in that thread … I’m very interested in urban legends, and am constantly sending those intent on forwarding bogus email stories to sites that debunk the stories. I have heard in the past such stories about celebrities and how they died … even those who are very much alive … so the comments stood out to me. Again, as a newbie, I’ll just sit back and watch a while and get a better feel before commenting … if I can. (Not my nature to not express myself.) ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mathers-denver-both-alive/291727/8 "2005-02-24T19:01:26Z")
Part of the problem, I think, is that Cecil and the Teeming Millions have been whupping on ULs for so long now that we sometimes forget that the most stupid and obvious legends are still believed by _someone_ out there. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mathers-denver-both-alive/291727/9 "2005-02-24T19:16:54Z")
> [@terrier](#): > > Neither Jerry Mathers nor Bob Denver is deceased … But Richard Berry and John Denver are. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mathers-denver-both-alive/291727/10 "2005-03-01T09:07:43Z")
> [@terrier](#): > > Neither Jerry Mathers nor Bob Denver is deceased … [Abe Vigoda is also not dead yet.](http://www.abevigoda.com/ffb.php) ---
**Author:** ![zuma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9c0ed/32.png) [@zuma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zuma)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mathers-denver-both-alive/291727/11 "2005-03-01T10:37:38Z")
My first reaction when seeing the thread title was "Huh, is there an ‘Eminem is dead’ rumor floating around, which was quickly followed by “John Denver faked his death?” ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mathers-denver-both-alive/291727/12 "2005-03-03T00:03:30Z")
Of all of Cecil’s little scarcastic asides, this one seems to cause the most trouble: [Myth?–Jerry Mathers killed in Vietnam](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=122840) [Has anyone noticed that Jerry Mathers is still alive?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=258853) [Bob Denver and Jerry Mathers aren’t dead](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=268188) [Cecil must have corrected this by now](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=286739) [Snopes](http://www.snopes2.com/radiotv/tv/beaver.htm) takes a stab at explaining the Mathers legend. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mathers-denver-both-alive/291727/13 "2005-03-03T12:22:18Z")
**Northern Piper** , thanks for pointing out how much this has been misinterpreted. I’ll see what can be done. ---
**Author:** ![Cecil\_Adams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cecil\_Adams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cecil_Adams)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mathers-denver-both-alive/291727/14 "2005-03-03T18:23:59Z")
Just when you think you’re making progress eradicating ignorance, you get something like this. Bob Denver, Jerry Mathers, etc., were the subjects of pop culture legends current at the time the column was written, and my references to them were intended as, duh, a joke. However–I know, I know-- I left off the \\ tags, which on specially equipped workstations issued to the humor-impaired trigger bells and smoke bombs and such lest one’s witticisms slip past unnoticed or, worse, be completely misconstrued. I’ll leave a note for Little Ed–you know what a miracle of efficiency he is; I’m sure he’ll gets things fixed up toot sweet. ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mathers-denver-both-alive/291727/15 "2005-03-03T19:35:31Z")
> [@Cecil Adams](#): > > Just when you think you’re making progress eradicating ignorance, you get something like this. Bob Denver, Jerry Mathers, etc., were the subjects of pop culture legends current at the time the column was written, and my references to them were intended as, duh, a joke. However–I know, I know-- I left off the \\ tags, which on specially equipped workstations issued to the humor-impaired trigger bells and smoke bombs and such lest one’s witticisms slip past unnoticed or, worse, be completely misconstrued. I’ll leave a note for Little Ed–you know what a miracle of efficiency he is; I’m sure he’ll gets things fixed up toot sweet. “Toot Sweet” is the name of a song in “Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang”, not a… Oh, never mind! ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mathers-denver-both-alive/291727/16 "2005-03-03T20:02:34Z")
> [@Cecil Adams](#): > > Just when you think you’re making progress eradicating ignorance, you get something like this. Bob Denver, Jerry Mathers, etc., were the subjects of pop culture legends current at the time the column was written, and my references to them were intended as, duh, a joke. However–I know, I know-- I left off the \\ tags, which on specially equipped workstations issued to the humor-impaired trigger bells and smoke bombs and such lest one’s witticisms slip past unnoticed or, worse, be completely misconstrued. I’ll leave a note for Little Ed–you know what a miracle of efficiency he is; I’m sure he’ll gets things fixed up toot sweet. OMG!!! I almost got to post at the same time as Cecil! I bow in humble awe before his magnificence! ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mathers-denver-both-alive/291727/17 "2005-03-03T21:51:44Z")
**Northern Piper** , you should be (quietly) proud. I brought your comments to the attentions of the Powers, and lo! you’ve got a response from Himself!! ---
**Author:** ![Keapon\_Laffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e274bd/32.png) [@Keapon\_Laffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keapon_Laffin)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mathers-denver-both-alive/291727/18 "2005-03-04T01:23:08Z")
> [@Cecil Adams](#): > > Just when you think you’re making progress eradicating ignorance, you get something like this. Bob Denver, Jerry Mathers, etc., were the subjects of pop culture legends current at the time the column was written, and my references to them were intended as, duh, a joke. However–I know, I know-- I left off the \\ tags, which on specially equipped workstations issued to the humor-impaired trigger bells and smoke bombs and such lest one’s witticisms slip past unnoticed or, worse, be completely misconstrued. I’ll leave a note for Little Ed–you know what a miracle of efficiency he is; I’m sure he’ll gets things fixed up toot sweet. Oooh, I don’t think its often that one gets to quote \*the \* **Cecil Adams**. But, uhh, Perfect Master?? Isn’t that overstating things a wee bit? 😃 Don’t BAN me! I was kidding, Cecil, I swear! ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mathers-denver-both-alive/291727/19 "2005-03-04T18:02:11Z")
I notice no one is saying anything about Paul McCartney. (See, if you hold the _Magical Mystery Tour_ album up to a mirror…) ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mathers-denver-both-alive/291727/20 "2005-03-06T06:24:54Z")
> [@C K Dexter Haven](#): > > **Northern Piper** , you should be (quietly) proud. I brought your comments to the attentions of the Powers, and lo! you’ve got a response from Himself!! I am, of course, duly humbled that my minor efforts at fighting ignorace have received the attention of the **Perfect Master** himself. However, I cannot resist pointing out that this is in fact the _second_ time that I have succeeded in dislodging **Cecil** from his normal zen-like state of abstraction and withdrawal, leading him into manifesting his presence amongst us. In this thread, [Belly Button Lint: Cecil Scooped: Aussie Wins Ig™Nobel Prize](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=149793), I had the temerity to suggest that \*\*Cecil \*\* had fluffed his researches into belly-button lint, thereby triggering this [response from Cecil](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?postid=2717781#post2717781): > [@](#): > > Excuse me. The gist of my answer, published in 1973: “Lint from your clothing, cottons especially, adheres to the wet area and remains after the moisture departs.” The Aussie guy’s finding seems to be that being older, hairier, male, and having an “innie” accelerates the transit of clothing lint into the belly button. In other words, he elaborated on my groundbreaking work. I’ve said this before - I’m a big picture guy. I leave it to the grad students to work out the details, win the prizes, etc. So I take modest pride in having had _two_ communications from the **Perfect Master.**