# Silly, weird, perhaps unanswerable questions about movies and TV **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 31, 2013, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401 "2013-03-31T03:09:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 18
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2024, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/341 "2024-04-25T03:00:50Z")
> [@teelabrown](#): > > Will Charlie and Rose from The African Queen really have a happy marriage? She’s a missionary and he’s a drunk mechanic. Once they get back to civilization, their options are pretty limited. He gave up drinking for her, but only because there was no gin left. I predict that as soon as they get to a town, he’s off to the gin mill. Personal experience: my sister is born again (it happened after the marriage started) and her husband was an alcoholic. She worked on him for years and years, and finally he went sober for the last 10 years or so of their marriage (before he died) and started going to church. (I don’t know how much was genuine and how much was just to get her to shut up, but I digress). Rosie was not the sort of woman to give up on this man. If he strayed, she would forgive him and fight to give him the strength and the desire to stay sober. If my sister could do it, I have complete faith in Rose Sayer. ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2024, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/342 "2024-04-25T12:10:37Z")
and Missouri was split, almost became a Confederate state (already a slave state) ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2024, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/343 "2024-04-25T12:36:53Z")
what was always funny to me is that what kid wanted to look like Popeye? weird arms, bowlegged, practically toothless, no hair ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2024, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/344 "2024-04-25T15:10:48Z")
Where exactly was the PA announcer at the 4077th located? The mike was in Radar/Klinger’s office. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2024, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/345 "2024-04-25T15:21:06Z")
The two actors who did most of the PA announcements were Sal Viscuso and Todd Susman. They both appeared in the show as other characters a few times as well. Presumably, there was another mike stations somewhere in camp. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2024, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/346 "2024-04-25T18:24:16Z")
I read an interesting article that claimed that Popeye was actually the first superhero. (Nine years before Superman) It occurred to me that if we assume that Popeye is his superhero name then we don’t even know what his real name is. BTW his father’s name was Poopdeck. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2024, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/347 "2024-04-25T20:56:42Z")
But when was the first time Popeye displayed super strength or invulnerability? IIRC it was well after he was introduced as just another character in Thimble Theater. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2024, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/348 "2024-04-25T20:58:02Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > I read an interesting article that claimed that Popeye was actually the first superhero. (Nine years before Superman) It occurred to me that if we assume that Popeye is his superhero name then we don’t even know what his real name is. > BTW his father’s name was Poopdeck. Yes, clearly “Popeye” is his nickname. > [@Lumpy](#): > > But when was the first time Popeye displayed super strength or invulnerability? 1. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2024, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/349 "2024-04-25T21:01:57Z")
In LOST, never mind all the other mysteries - why were there so many plastic tarps on board the plane? ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2024, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/350 "2024-04-25T23:12:17Z")
Popeye, obviously, was a mutant. You know how Sebastian Shaw can absorb kinetic energy and convert it into physical strength? Popeye can do the same thing, only with spinach. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2024, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/351 "2024-04-25T23:31:15Z")
Popeye must have some level of superhuman strength without the spinach because the depictions I have seen have him taking a beating and then **squeezing** a **metal can** of spinach until the spinach comes shooting out of it into his mouth. I have tried squeezing a can of vegetables like that and there is no way a normal-strengthed human could pull that feat. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2024, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/352 "2024-04-26T01:29:16Z")
How can people always have a bucket of ice at the ready for mixing drinks even if no one has been home all day? ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2024, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/353 "2024-04-26T01:31:38Z")
> [@](#): > > Is there some kind of unwritten law that fictional characters can never use the experiences of other fictional characters? I.E., no one on, say, “Bones,” would ever say, **I saw them do this on “Law & Order: SVU” the other night; let’s try it**. I loved that, when The Avengers were trying to figure out what would happen to the timeline when they went back in time, someone (Paul Rudd?) pointed out: “Wait, are we basing our whole understanding of time travel on **Back To The Future**?” Mark Ruffalo shrugs as if to admit that’s true… ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2024, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/354 "2024-04-26T01:42:15Z")
There was an episode of _ **St Elsewhere** _ in which the nurses decided to hire a male stripper for a colleague’s birthday. When one said “That’s a great idea!” the nurse who suggested it replied “I saw it on some cop show.” (_ **Hill Street Blues** _, a few weeks earlier. Both shows were produced by MTM.) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2024, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/355 "2024-04-26T02:34:25Z")
> [@dorvann](#): > > Popeye must have some level of superhuman strength without the spinach because the depictions I have seen have him taking a beating and then **squeezing** a **metal can** of spinach until the spinach comes shooting out of it into his mouth. Yep, he was very strong and a good fighter without the spinach. He became super after. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2024, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/356 "2024-04-26T05:04:38Z")
On the other hand, some of the King Features cartoons (the ones featuring “Brutus”) depicted Popeye helplessly getting thoroughly steamrolled at first and needing spinach just to be able to put up a fight. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2024, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/357 "2024-04-26T15:58:09Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > Who put Michigan J. Frog in the cornerstone originally? Where did he come from? And does he know any other songs? ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2024, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/358 "2024-04-26T16:01:15Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Yes, clearly “Popeye” is his nickname. [Real name: Frank “Rocky” Fiegel?](https://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/popeye-sailor-man-based-real-person/) ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2024, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/359 "2024-04-26T17:54:43Z")
In the Segar comic strip (the only real Popeye) Popeye asks his dad what their family name was, and Poopdeck said it was so long ago he couldn’t remember. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2024, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401/360 "2024-04-26T17:59:35Z")
[He had quite a repertoire.](https://repertoire) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401.md?page=19)