# weird trivia **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 4, 2010, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-trivia/523603 "2010-01-04T10:07:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-trivia/523603/61 "2010-01-06T12:05:13Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > I just found out that the nerdy, grouchy nurse in “The Right Stuff” was actually [Jane Dornacker](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Dornacker), who, in a later career as a traffic reporter, would survive one helicopter crash, only to die in another. And she also co-wrote the song “Don’t Touch Me There” which was made semi-famous by The Tubes. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-trivia/523603/62 "2010-01-06T13:58:23Z")
> [@Eutychus](#): > > And she also co-wrote the song “Don’t Touch Me There” which was made semi-famous by The Tubes. And if she had hyphenated her full name it would be Jane Dornacker-Knickerbocker. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-trivia/523603/63 "2010-01-06T14:12:06Z")
According to [imdb,](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111280/trivia) Brent Spiner, who played Lt. Cmdr. Data in “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” hates cats. Data, of course, owned a cat named Spot. Spiner objected to his scene in “Star Trek: Generations” in which Data and Deanna find Spot in the Enterprise D’s wreckage, saying, Does he have to find the cat? Can’t he find, like, Geordi or something?" ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-trivia/523603/64 "2010-01-06T14:14:38Z")
Ima Hogg was a real person: [Ima Hogg - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ima_Hogg) Francis Gary Powers, who survived the Soviets shooting down his U-2 spyplane in 1960, later became a news helicopter pilot and died in a 1977 crash when his copter ran out of fuel, through no fault of his own: [Francis Gary Powers - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Gary_Powers#Death) ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-trivia/523603/65 "2010-01-06T14:54:28Z")
> [@HelloNinja](#): > > He actually died in the same room as Mama Cass Elliot, not Janis. Yep - in my race to put up a cool fact, I messed up the singer. It was Mama Cass. Still a weird fact. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-trivia/523603/66 "2010-01-06T15:12:59Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Data, of course, owned a cat named Spot. _Hong Kong Phooey_ also had a cat named Spot. I never could quite convince myself that TNG was homaging that, though. ---
**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:** [January 6, 2010, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-trivia/523603/67 "2010-01-06T15:31:56Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > Janis Joplin and Keith Moon died in the same hotel room, about 7 years apart. Here’s a weird trivia fact about Janis Joplin: she attended the University of Texas at the same times as conservative commentator William J. Bennett…and they actually once _went out on a date_. In later years, when asked about how it went, Bennett remarked that “Miss Joplin was a proper lady.” ---
**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:** [January 6, 2010, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-trivia/523603/68 "2010-01-06T15:36:16Z")
The little guy who held the Bible for JFK during his inauguration [James Browning](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_R._Browning) is 90 years old, and still a sitting judge! He can be clearly seen in the contemporary footage. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-trivia/523603/69 "2010-01-06T15:48:39Z")
Singer \*\*Minnie Ripperton’s \*\*popular song, “Lovin’ You” (is easy cuz you’re beautiful) is about her baby daughter - **Maya Ru** dolph. ---
**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:** [January 6, 2010, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-trivia/523603/70 "2010-01-06T15:51:11Z")
Tsutomu Yamaguchi died Monday at age 93. In 1945, he was visiting Hiroshima on a business trip when the atomic bomb was dropped. Surviving some severe burns, he left the ruined city to get shelter in his home town. Nagasaki. (Others have claimed this “distinction,” but Yamaguchi is the only one whose story was recognized by the Japanese government). ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-trivia/523603/71 "2010-01-06T15:54:43Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Tsutomu Yamaguchi died Monday at age 93. He is credited by no less august a source as [Cracked.com](http://Cracked.com) as [the most bizarrely unlucky person who ever lived](http://www.cracked.com/article_17416_p2.html). ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-trivia/523603/72 "2010-01-06T15:58:19Z")
> [@tattman40](#): > > Adam Savage from Mythbusters was the drowning kid in Billy Joel’s “You’re only Human” video. YOU just blew my mind! :eek: That song came out when I was in junior high and we all had to watch the video multiple times and discuss it as part of a suicide prevention program (in keeping with the purpose of the song). ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-trivia/523603/73 "2010-01-06T16:02:17Z")
> [@The New and Improved Superman](#): > > Here’s a weird trivia fact about Janis Joplin: she attended the University of Texas at the same times as conservative commentator William J. Bennett…and they actually once _went out on a date_. In later years, when asked about how it went, Bennett remarked that “Miss Joplin was a proper lady.” Also, in 1963 Janis was voted “Ugliest MAN on Campus” by a University of Texas fraternity. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-trivia/523603/74 "2010-01-06T16:07:14Z")
Speaking of voting, do you know who a 1975 Playboy readers opinion poll selected as “Best Rock Drummer”? It wasn’t John Bonham, Keith Moon, or Charlie Watts. It was Karen Carpenter! ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-trivia/523603/75 "2010-01-06T16:54:10Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > He is credited by no less august a source as [Cracked.com](http://Cracked.com) as [the most bizarrely unlucky person who ever lived](http://www.cracked.com/article_17416_p2.html). You didn’t want to get on a ship with Violet Jessop, either: [Violet Jessop - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violet_Jessop) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-trivia/523603/76 "2010-01-06T16:54:37Z")
Janis Joplin was also a high-school classmate, in Port Arthur, Texas, of future Dolphins and Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-trivia/523603/77 "2010-01-06T16:56:04Z")
Actress Lauren Bacall (who also, incidentally, was the one who gave the Rat Pack their name) is the first cousin of Israeli President Shimon Peres. Both were born with the surname Persky. ---
**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:** [January 6, 2010, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-trivia/523603/78 "2010-01-06T17:03:43Z")
In **The Treasure of Sierra Madre** , a boy tries to sell sell Fred C. Dobbs lottery tickets. That was film and TV star Robert Blake. Actually, he was a star long before the film, using his real name of Mickey Gubitosi in the later “Our Gang” movie shorts, but only after they moved to MGM. It’s the earlier, Hal Roach Studio, version of “Our Gang” that was packaged for TV as “The Little Rascals,” and this is what people remember. Blake changed his name about when he stopped appearing in “Our Gang.” ---
**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:** [January 6, 2010, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-trivia/523603/79 "2010-01-06T17:16:35Z")
> [@Lethal\_Babydoll](#): > > \*\*Isaac Asimov \*\*invented the handheld calculator in one of his early stories. > > Only the outside, though. He didn’t know what the inside would look like Robert Heinlein invented the waterbed. Supposedly one of the early manufacturers sent him one as a present. Arthur C. Clarke came up with the idea of a geosynchronous orbit, which is still known as a Clarke orbit today Max Von Sydow played both Jesus and Ming The Merciless. ---
**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:** [January 6, 2010, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-trivia/523603/80 "2010-01-06T18:51:54Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > [Robert Blake] was a star long before the film, using his real name of Mickey Gubitosi. . . . The story about how Blake’s “Our Gang” role was elevated (his first appearance or two, he was just an extra), was that one of the kids couldn’t say his lines, and Blake could. The kid who could not say his lines: Mel Jasgur, who never uttered a word during all his appearances, just appearing with his deadpan expression (his daughter said that’s what got him the role to begin with). Usually Mel was the tag-along younger brother of Leonard, who also didn’t say much, usually just “Phooey!” Mel died around the time of the release of the 1994 “Little Rascals” movie. He’s not a real familiar name, but a lot of people have heard of his uncle, [Max Yasgur](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Yasgur). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-trivia/523603.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-trivia/523603.md?page=5)