# Share true trivia you find interesting about famous people of your choosing **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 10, 2008, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-true-trivia-you-find-interesting-about-famous-people-of-your-choosing/455959 "2008-07-10T08:34:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2008, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-true-trivia-you-find-interesting-about-famous-people-of-your-choosing/455959/121 "2008-07-19T14:17:15Z")
C.S. Lewis and Aldous Huxley continued receiving mail and speaking offers (and probably solicitations for articles and the like) for years after their deaths as both had many ardent fans who did not even realize when the two men died. This was because both died on November 22, 1963, and the assassination of JFK (followed by Oswald’s) caused the Lewis & Huxley obits to get sent to the back in some magazines/papers and left out altogether of others. There is a play about the three men in the anteroom of the afterlife entitled _Between Heaven and Hell_ by Peter Kreeft. (I’ve never read it or seen it but it seems to get a lot of “excellent premise/terrible execution” [no pun intended] reviews.) ETA: Turns out [you can judge its merits for yourself](http://books.google.com/books?id=AVsioWi57BoC&pg=PA29&lpg=PA29&dq=huxley+kennedy+lewis+play+kreeft&source=web&ots=o_idu1utLA&sig=5sXbzidNY1kuFac2Io6m-Y4rY6Y&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=3&ct=result#PPA1,M1) online. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2008, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-true-trivia-you-find-interesting-about-famous-people-of-your-choosing/455959/122 "2008-07-19T14:44:25Z")
The British rock group, Scaffold, had a minor hit in the US with “Thank U Very Much” and a fairly successful career in the UK. The group was fronted by Mike McGear, who was Paul McCartney’s brother (he used the stage name “McGear” to avoid charges that he only succeeded because of his brother). It’s also the only rock group whose lyrics appeared in _The Norton Anthology of Modern and Contemporary Poetry_. Roger McGough, a member of the group, but also a very successful poet on his own, used his poem “[Goodbat Nighman](http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/goodbat-nightman/)” (which appeared in the anthology) as song lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2008, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-true-trivia-you-find-interesting-about-famous-people-of-your-choosing/455959/123 "2008-07-19T18:01:49Z")
Speaking of McCartney, I seem to remember that his song _Mull of Kintyre_ (one of my favorites) was his biggest solo hit ever [up to that point] in the UK, and his biggest flop ever to be released as a single in the U.S… ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2008, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-true-trivia-you-find-interesting-about-famous-people-of-your-choosing/455959/124 "2008-07-19T18:27:36Z")
[QUOTE=Sampiro] :smack: Cherie is the descendant of J.B.B.'s brother (although, I’ve never seen her and Connie _together_…). [/QUOTE] Is that not her to Connie’s left?? I know some Britischer’s gon’ want to smack me. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2008, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-true-trivia-you-find-interesting-about-famous-people-of-your-choosing/455959/125 "2008-07-19T21:17:41Z")
Composer John Williams’s father, also named John, played drums for the Raymond Scott Quintette. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2008, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-true-trivia-you-find-interesting-about-famous-people-of-your-choosing/455959/126 "2008-07-20T00:43:04Z")
Something extremely trivial I found interesting nonetheless: there’s a practical reason why the GEICO gecko has a British accent: it’s a scab- sort of. He was originally to be voiced by Kelsey Grammer, but the SAG went on strike when the ads were to be dubbed. The CGI however was finished and could be used regardless of the actors strike, and an English voice over actor named John Wood (a resident of London and thus not a member of SAG) did a voice over dubbed onto the commercial. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2008, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-true-trivia-you-find-interesting-about-famous-people-of-your-choosing/455959/127 "2008-07-20T02:09:01Z")
[QUOTE=Nawth Chucka] Is that not her to Connie’s left?? I know some Britischer’s gon’ want to smack me. [/QUOTE] Would have made more sense if I’d included the [link](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/graphics/2006/10/01/svpalin01a.jpg)… :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2008, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-true-trivia-you-find-interesting-about-famous-people-of-your-choosing/455959/128 "2008-07-20T19:02:43Z")
I don’t know if there are any other _Clean House_ fans on here (the home makeover show hosted by Niecy Nash), but if so- -the studly [Matt](http://www.dejavucomedy.com/images/comedians/matt%20iseman.jpg) who assists with the makeover and yard sales had an odd career path. He was a licensed physician who quit practicing medicine in his early 30s to become a standup comedian. Imagine trying to tell that decision to your mom and dad (his dad’s also a Dr.). I’m guessing a variation on the Claire Huxtable to Sondra “I WANT MY MONEY!” scene ensued. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2008, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-true-trivia-you-find-interesting-about-famous-people-of-your-choosing/455959/129 "2008-07-20T20:49:58Z")
[QUOTE=Sampiro] Something extremely trivial I found interesting nonetheless: there’s a practical reason why the GEICO gecko has a British accent: it’s a scab- sort of. He was originally to be voiced by Kelsey Grammer, but the SAG went on strike when the ads were to be dubbed. [/QUOTE] Bleh- that lizard has been annoying me for **eight years**? Jeez, how the time flies… in a bad way. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2008, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-true-trivia-you-find-interesting-about-famous-people-of-your-choosing/455959/130 "2008-07-21T13:44:09Z")
Mike Rowe, of Dirty Jobs, was previously an opera singer with the Baltimore Opera. ---
**Author:** ![NajaNivea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NajaNivea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NajaNivea)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2008, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-true-trivia-you-find-interesting-about-famous-people-of-your-choosing/455959/131 "2008-07-21T15:46:35Z")
[QUOTE=Sampiro] This [Surprise but Huge Netflix hit video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ak3z2Pm7Iwg) is from an 80s Claymation movie and is based on Twain’s Mysterious Stranger and its various postings have cumulatively received millions of hits and generated a lot more discussion about Twain’s “other works”. [/QUOTE] :eek: I have a copy of this on VHS. My brother and sister and I used to watch it when I was a kid, over and over–we were totally weirded out by some elements and I was never really sure what to make of it, though I loved Twain’s books. I haven’t thought about this movie for probably ten years. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2008, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-true-trivia-you-find-interesting-about-famous-people-of-your-choosing/455959/132 "2008-07-21T23:41:08Z")
[QUOTE=Sampiro] (I wonder what other U.S. military bases are named for Confederates.) [/QUOTE] Fort A.P. Hill Fort Bragg Fort Hood Fort Lee Fort Polk ---
**Author:** ![cbawlmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cbawlmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbawlmer)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2008, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-true-trivia-you-find-interesting-about-famous-people-of-your-choosing/455959/133 "2008-07-22T20:03:27Z")
[QUOTE=Sampiro] Speaking of McCartney, I seem to remember that his song _Mull of Kintyre_ (one of my favorites) was his biggest solo hit ever [up to that point] in the UK, and his biggest flop ever to be released as a single in the U.S.. [/QUOTE] I once read that the record company did some kind of promotion where the one-millionth single pressed contained a certificate to meet Paul McCartney. As luck would have it, the person who purchased that copy of the single was actor Dan Ackroyd. ---
**Author:** ![Yumblie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/76d3ee/32.png) [@Yumblie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yumblie)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2008, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-true-trivia-you-find-interesting-about-famous-people-of-your-choosing/455959/134 "2008-07-23T07:40:13Z")
Albert Einstein, after his second wife died and well into his 50s, began a relationship with a Russian woman. Around this time (right after WWII) he was under fire from the FBI for allegedly being a communist sympathizer, despite having been consistently outspoken against fascist Russia. However, unbeknownst to both him and the FBI, his Russian girlfriend was actually a soviet spy and was constantly trying to get him to travel to Moscow. Once he emigrated to the US in the 1930s though, he never left the country for the rest of his life. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2008, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-true-trivia-you-find-interesting-about-famous-people-of-your-choosing/455959/135 "2008-07-23T19:48:02Z")
[QUOTE=Yumblie] Albert Einstein, after his second wife died and well into his 50s, began a relationship with a Russian woman. Around this time (right after WWII) he was under fire from the FBI for allegedly being a communist sympathizer, despite having been consistently outspoken against fascist Russia. However, unbeknownst to both him and the FBI, his Russian girlfriend was actually a soviet spy and was constantly trying to get him to travel to Moscow. Once he emigrated to the US in the 1930s though, he never left the country for the rest of his life. [/QUOTE] Do you have a cite on this? It sounds interesting, and I’d like to read more about it. ---
**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:** [July 23, 2008, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-true-trivia-you-find-interesting-about-famous-people-of-your-choosing/455959/136 "2008-07-23T22:25:03Z")
[QUOTE=Yumblie] Around this time (right after WWII) he was under fire from the FBI for allegedly being a communist sympathizer, despite having been consistently outspoken against fascist Russia. [/QUOTE] Definitely not consistently. Do you have quotes from him that criticize the USSR in strong terms? Because on the other side, there’s this [http://www.csicop.org/si/2007-03/einstein.html:](http://www.csicop.org/si/2007-03/einstein.html:) > [@](#): > > Interestingly, Einstein refused to join or endorse an international commission headed by John Dewey to investigate the Moscow Show Trials (a consistent skeptic would seek both confirmatory and discrediting evidence) and would subsequently write to Max Born that “there are increasing signs the Russian trials are not faked, but that there is a plot among those who look upon Stalin as a stupid reactionary who has betrayed the ideas of the revolution” (quoted in Born 1971, p. 130). Born would later comment that most people in the West at the time believed the trials “to be the arbitrary acts of a cruel dictator.” Einstein, however, relied upon information from people he described as “those who know Russia best.” > > \ > > According to Einstein in 1948, “I am not blind to the serious weaknesses of the Russian system of government and I would not like to live under such government. But it has, on the other side, great merits and it is difficult to decide whether it would have been possible for the Russians to survive by following softer methods” (Einstein quoted in Hook 1987, p. 471). > > \ > > However, other writings by Einstein indicate that he believed, for the Russian people, “a painful temporary renunciation of his personal independence” was necessary and that Einstein himself would have “deemed it my duty to make this temporary sacrifice” (Einstein quoted in Hook, 1987, p. 476). ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-true-trivia-you-find-interesting-about-famous-people-of-your-choosing/455959/137 "2008-07-24T00:42:16Z")
Remember the 1960’s TV series Lost in Space? Bill Mumy played the part of whiz kid Will Robinson. He was always taking apart the robot. Bill Mumy later became a member of the musical duo _Barnes and Barnes_. Their most famous song was **Fish Heads**. _Fish heads, fish heads, rolly polly fish heads. Fish heads, fish heads, eat them up Yumm!_ ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-true-trivia-you-find-interesting-about-famous-people-of-your-choosing/455959/138 "2008-07-24T00:45:44Z")
[QUOTE=Crafter\_Man] Remember the 1960’s TV series Lost in Space? Bill Mumy played the part of whiz kid Will Robinson. He was always taking apart the robot. Bill Mumy later became a member of the musical duo _Barnes and Barnes_. Their most famous song was **Fish Heads**. _Fish heads, fish heads, rolly polly fish heads. Fish heads, fish heads, eat them up Yumm!_ [/QUOTE] :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: I’d always wondered why people were making such a big deal about Bill Mumy playing Lennier on B5. He seemed a decent enough actor, and did well with the role, but it wasn’t a role with all that much meat on it that I recall. And so I never understood the excitement people had for his presence. :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-true-trivia-you-find-interesting-about-famous-people-of-your-choosing/455959/139 "2008-07-24T00:52:20Z")
I think he was also on an episode of _Star Trek DS9._ ---
**Author:** ![phil417](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6bbea6/32.png) [@phil417](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phil417)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-true-trivia-you-find-interesting-about-famous-people-of-your-choosing/455959/140 "2008-07-24T06:18:17Z")
from **t\_bonham** who quoted me that I had read a book in the early '70’s that stated “Gene Roddenberry had studied history & was appreciative of the role the Scots had had in naval history (ship development, etc), & so wanted a Scottish engineer. (This is where “Scotty” came from).” Quote **t\_bonham** : I don’t think this is accurate. I remember reading a biography by either Scotty or Bones that talked about this, and said that the original idea had been a Germanic engineer (based on the stereotype of Germans as good engineers & strict disciplinarians). It was only changed to a Scottish character rather late in the process. (I don’t remember what reason was given for the change.) I can only cite as my source one of those “quick-this-subject-is-hot-publish-a-paperback-with-lots-of-pictures” books; in this case, the subject was _Star Trek_. I agree with **t-\_bonham** that the source of Montgomery Scott was not Gene Roddenberry’s imagination, but please consider this source: [http://youtube.com/watch?v=a2uyIKCV3PM](http://youtube.com/watch?v=a2uyIKCV3PM) This is a segment of the _Tomorrow Show w/ Tom Snyder_. His guest stars are DeForest Kelley, Walter Koenig, & James Doohan. During this episode, James Doohan (about 4 min 43 sec into it) describes why his character is Scottish & why the character’s an engineer. _Inner\_Stickler_, I’ve been an office worker since the early 1970’s. Mrs Nesmith’s product will ever make us love her & allow us to overlook her son’s mistakes (not the least of which is _Elephant Parts_. Love, Phil [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-true-trivia-you-find-interesting-about-famous-people-of-your-choosing/455959.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-true-trivia-you-find-interesting-about-famous-people-of-your-choosing/455959.md?page=8)