# Share a bit of cultural trivia **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 30, 2004, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-a-bit-of-cultural-trivia/266868 "2004-09-30T16:44:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-a-bit-of-cultural-trivia/266868/61 "2004-10-04T19:16:46Z")
> [@Art Vandelay](#): > > 1. Hitchcock became so enamored of Tippi Hedren (his leading lady in “the Birds” and “Marnie”) that he propositioned her to be his mistress. She refused. Soon afterwords, Melanie Griffith (Hedren’s daughter, and a very young girl at the time) received an unusual birthday present from Hitch - a doll dressed up to resemble Hedren’s character in “the Birds”, in a tiny coffiin. The IMDb says “[Griffith’s] mother, Tippi Hedren, recently stated that the minature doll of Hedren given to her by Hitchcock was not intended to be a prank by the director. He merely wanted to give Melanie a beautiful doll from her mother’s image, but it happened that the doll was in a wooden box. So, when Melanie received the gift, she “freaked out” and became upset thinking that it was indeed meant to be her mother in a coffin.” ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2004, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-a-bit-of-cultural-trivia/266868/62 "2004-10-06T04:55:04Z")
Here’s an interesting tidbit I just learned: David McConnell (1858-1937) was a voracious reader as well as an entrepreneur of limited success. His favorite writer by far was Shakespeare and he named his company after him. Eventually he tried to weave his love of reading with his entrepreneurial endeavors and became a door to door book salesman, which didn’t work out terribly well. On his wife’s suggestion he “sweetened” the offer by giving five miniature bottles of his wife’s homemade perfume to ladies who purchased one of his deluxe editions. Very soon more women were asking for the perfume sets than for the books, so he sacrificed passion for pragmatism and became a door to door perfume salesman, later branching into other cosmetics and becoming so successful he owned a factory and had many salespeople working for him. The name of his company, of course, was _Avon_. (And that’s how the monkey got his kidneys.) ---
**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:** [October 6, 2004, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-a-bit-of-cultural-trivia/266868/63 "2004-10-06T05:24:16Z")
> [@Kizarvexius](#): > > While filming the infamous shower scene in _Psycho_, Alfred Hitchcock became frustrated when Janet Leigh, after numerous takes, failed to produce a facial expression that satisfied him. So he had the technicians turn off the hot water just as the curtain was pulled aside. That’s the take the ended up in the final film. And Janet Leigh (RIP) swore off of showers from that day forward. This is incorrect. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2004, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-a-bit-of-cultural-trivia/266868/64 "2004-10-06T05:26:46Z")
Some _Psycho_ trivia: Hitchcock (who used a ‘dummy’ apprentice to buy the rights to the book so that Bloch wouldnt’ know who he was dealing with and up the price) tried to buy every copy of the book then on the shelves so that people couldn’t read the twist ending before seeing the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2004, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-a-bit-of-cultural-trivia/266868/65 "2004-10-06T14:44:00Z")
> [@Ilsa\_Lund](#): > > This is incorrect. :smack: Which part of the story is incorrect? I recall having heard it retold in part by Janet Leigh. Was it all a fabrication (\*a la \* Judy Garland’s Munchkin myths) or did I just get some details wrong? Always seeking opportunities for enlightenment. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2004, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-a-bit-of-cultural-trivia/266868/66 "2004-10-06T20:35:23Z")
Speaking of Ilsa Lund, the movie _Casablanca_ was not big budget and was in danger of going overbudget, so to save money the plane in the famous ending was only built to half-scale while the extras surrounding it were midgets\*. \*I know that some consider that a PI term, but it sounds far less condescending than “Little People” to me. ---
**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:** [October 6, 2004, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-a-bit-of-cultural-trivia/266868/67 "2004-10-06T21:22:08Z")
> [@Kizarvexius](#): > > :smack: > > Which part of the story is incorrect? I recall having heard it retold in part by Janet Leigh. Was it all a fabrication (\*a la \* Judy Garland’s Munchkin myths) or did I just get some details wrong? > > Always seeking opportunities for enlightenment. And speaking of enlightenment, what was Judy Garland’s Munchkin myth? ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2004, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-a-bit-of-cultural-trivia/266868/68 "2004-10-06T21:22:37Z")
> [@Kizarvexius](#): > > :smack: > > Which part of the story is incorrect? I recall having heard it retold in part by Janet Leigh. Was it all a fabrication (\*a la \* Judy Garland’s Munchkin myths) or did I just get some details wrong? > > Always seeking opportunities for enlightenment. From [IMDB](http://imdb.com/title/tt0054215/trivia) > [@](#): > > Contrary to popular rumors, during the shooting of the shower scene, Hitchcock did not arrange for the water to suddenly go ice-cold when the attack started. Now, I’m not sure where they got this bit of info, but there you go. ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2004, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-a-bit-of-cultural-trivia/266868/69 "2004-10-07T01:00:53Z")
> [@Art Vandelay](#): > > And speaking of enlightenment, what was Judy Garland’s Munchkin myth? Garland liked to claim that the Munchkins engaged in riotous behavior off-camera. ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2004, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-a-bit-of-cultural-trivia/266868/70 "2004-10-07T08:00:09Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > _Bewitched_ probably set a record for the most gay cast members ( **Erin Murphy** Have you got some evidence for this? She was married and has four children; I can’t find anything suggesting that she’s gay. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that.) ---
**Author:** ![Kaspar\_Hauser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b3f665/32.png) [@Kaspar\_Hauser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaspar_Hauser)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2004, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-a-bit-of-cultural-trivia/266868/71 "2004-10-07T16:04:38Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > The television series _Roseanne_ at one time had three Oscar winners in regular or recurring roles: Estelle Parsons, Red Buttons & Shelley Winters. Plus two nominees: Ned Beatty and Michael O’Keefe. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-a-bit-of-cultural-trivia/266868/72 "2004-10-08T07:32:39Z")
> [@TeaElle](#): > > Have you got some evidence for this? She was married and has four children; I can’t find anything suggesting that she’s gay. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that.) Sorry about that- Erin Murphy is in fact straight. Her twin sister Diane, who also played Tabitha, [is a lesbian](http://members.aol.com/HeySparkle/diane.html). ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-a-bit-of-cultural-trivia/266868/73 "2004-10-08T07:37:52Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Sorry about that- Erin Murphy is in fact straight. Her twin sister Diane, who also played Tabitha, [is a lesbian](http://members.aol.com/HeySparkle/diane.html). “Hot lesbian witches!” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-a-bit-of-cultural-trivia/266868/74 "2004-10-08T07:48:52Z")
> [@Sternvogel](#): > > One of my great-grandfathers was playing in the band at the [Temple of Music](http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/exhibits/panam/music/temple/templetext.html) when President William McKinley was assassinated at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. You don’t know which one? ---
**Author:** ![Tentacle\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-a-bit-of-cultural-trivia/266868/75 "2004-10-08T08:12:29Z")
> [@Art Vandelay](#): > > Before achieving fame as a rock star, Frank Zappalorta (aka Frank Zappa) appeared on the Steve Allen show as a performance artist who “played” the ten-speed bike as an instrument. I’m sorry, but I can’t buy this. I’ve got a well-worn copy of _The Real Frank Zappa Book_; and Frank makes no mention of changing his name to Zappa from Zappalorta, being on the Steve Allen show, or ever playing a ten-speed bike as an instrument. He does mention that he’s not the son of anyone on Captain Kangaroo, and that he’s never taken a dump on stage. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-a-bit-of-cultural-trivia/266868/76 "2004-10-08T10:02:55Z")
> [@Tentacle Monster](#): > > I’m sorry, but I can’t buy this. I’ve got a well-worn copy of _The Real Frank Zappa Book_; and Frank makes no mention of changing his name to Zappa from Zappalorta, being on the Steve Allen show, or ever playing a ten-speed bike as an instrument. He does mention that he’s not the son of anyone on Captain Kangaroo, and that he’s never taken a dump on stage. I’ve heard the ‘played a bicycle concerto’ thing before, but I’ve never heard anyone say he changed his name. Sites that I would expect to have that kind of info, like IMDb, don’t mention it, and Snopes says FZ’s father was named Frank Vincent Zappa, Sr. That would most likely rule out the name-change. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-a-bit-of-cultural-trivia/266868/77 "2004-10-08T10:09:43Z")
I should clarify that by saying I have heard the bicycle thing before, but not from Zappa himself, which might trump some third-party thing. [However, this is detailed and seems pretty reputable.](http://www.jerryhopkins.com/stories/zappasbike.html) ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-a-bit-of-cultural-trivia/266868/78 "2004-10-08T21:22:08Z")
I’ve seen the Frank Zappa clip, probably on one of those bloopers programs that included early performances of celebrities. Here is a page with some stills: [http://globalia.net/donlope/fz/videography/Steve\_Allen\_Show.html](http://globalia.net/donlope/fz/videography/Steve_Allen_Show.html) The bicycles don’t appear to be 10-speeds, which were uncommon in 1963. The page also says it was aired several times on VH1. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-a-bit-of-cultural-trivia/266868/79 "2004-10-08T22:31:46Z")
If you watch the ultra-obscure film [Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush](http://imdb.com/title/tt0063063/) you can see the front door of the house I grew up in. ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2004, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-a-bit-of-cultural-trivia/266868/80 "2004-10-08T22:42:52Z")
> [@Tentacle Monster](#): > > I’m sorry, but I can’t buy this. I’ve got a well-worn copy of _The Real Frank Zappa Book_; and Frank makes no mention of changing his name to Zappa from Zappalorta, being on the Steve Allen show, or ever playing a ten-speed bike as an instrument. He does mention that he’s not the son of anyone on Captain Kangaroo, and that he’s never taken a dump on stage. ALong with a few others on here I also saw the clip on one of those “before they were famous” programs. Franks is dressed up in a suit and talsk to Steve Allen and explains he will play the bike, he proceeds to use drumsticks to play various parts of the reame, fenders and spinning rims to mke a sort of music. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-a-bit-of-cultural-trivia/266868.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-a-bit-of-cultural-trivia/266868.md?page=5)