EddieDeezen.com

On this day in 1892

THE GREAT OLIVER HARDY OF THE IMMORTAL COMEDY TEAM OF LAUREL AND HARDY WAS BORN ON THIS DATE - JANUARY 18, 1892.

I LOVE OLLIE. I GUESS I'M IN THE MINORITY, BUT HE ALWAYS MADE ME LAUGH MORE THAN LAUREL.

THESE GUYS WERE SOOO BRILLIANT, SO FUNNY.

QUESTION OF THE DAY

 
MARILYN MONROE'S SIGNATURE SEXY WALK IS ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS WALKS IN THE HISTORY OF THE MOVIES.

HOW DID MARILYN PERFECT HER WORLD-FAMOUS WALK?

A NOTE ABOUT JEFF CONAWAY

 
I HAVE RECEIVED SEVERAL VERY NICE E-MAILS ASKING ABOUT JEFF CONAWAY AND EXPRESSING CONCERN - THANK YOU. MANY PEOPLE ARE PRAYING FOR JEFF, I'M SURE HE WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.

BARRY PEARL, WHO WAS ALSO IN GREASE, HAD BEEN KEEPING US ALL POSTED SINCE MONDAY, BUT AT THIS TIME, I HONESTLY DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING MORE ABOUT JEFF'S CONDITION THAN WHAT WE'VE ALL SEEN ON THE NEWS. JEFF IS A WONDERFUL GUY, A FRIEND, I HAVE KNOWN AND LOVED HIM FOR AROUND 33 YEARS NOW.

I THINK EVERY ONE OF US HAVE GONE THROUGH TOUGH PERIODS OF PHYSICAL AND/OR SPIRITUAL ANGUISH AT SOME POINT IN OUR LIVES. THEY ARE, OF COURSE, SYMBIOTIC, AND JEFF IS CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH BOTH. WE ARE ALL HOPING JEFF WILL PULL THROUGH THESE TOUGH TIMES AND MAKE A COMEBACK - ALL OF OUR THOUGHTS AND LOVE GO OUT TO HIM.

THANKS,

EDDIE

QUESTION OF THE DAY

THE UPCOMING ROYAL WEDDING OF PRINCE WILLIAM AND KATE MIDDLETON WILL TAKE PLACE ON APRIL 29TH. ONE GUEST WILL ATTEND THE WEDDING AND WILL ENTERTAIN AFTERWARD AT THE RECEPTION. THEN THE GUEST WILL IMMEDIATELY LEAVE, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE NO PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENT.

WHO IS THE GUEST AND WHY WILL THEY BE LEAVING EARLY?

THE GREAT SURVIVOR.......

WENSESLAO MOGUEL (c.1880 - ?) WAS ONE OF HISTORY'S GREATEST SURVIVORS.

ON MARCH 18, 1915, MOGUEL WAS CAPTURED WHILE FIGHTING IN THE MEXICAN REVOLUTION. HE WAS SENTENCED WITHOUT TRIAL TO BE EXECUTED BY A FIRING SQUAD.

MOGUEL WAS SHOT 9 TIMES. THE FINAL BULLET WAS FIRED AT CLOSE RANGE AT HIS HEAD. MOGUEL SOMEHOW SURVIVED. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT HE MANAGED TO ESCAPE.

HE WENT ON TO LIVE A FULL LIFE AFTER HIS "EXECUTION", AND WAS GIVEN THE NICKNAME "EL FUSILADO" (THE EXECUTED ONE).

MELANIE GRIFFITH?

FAMILY FEUD SURVEY QUESTION

(ASKED OF 100 MARRIED WOMEN)

NAME SOMETHING ANTONIO BANDERAS HAS YOU WISH YOUR HUSBAND HAD?

   1) HIS MONEY - 25

   2) HIS MUSCLES - 21

   3) HIS ACCENT - 15

   4) HIS GREAT BODY - 12

   5) HIS FACE/EYES - 12

   6) HIS SEX APPEAL- 11

MARLON BRANDO'S EATING HABITS

HE WAS THE MOST ADMIRED ACTOR IN THE HISTORY OF THE MOVIES.

MARILYN MONROE CALLED HIM THE SEXIEST MAN SHE HAD EVER SEEN.

AND IF YOU WATCH HIS EARLY, INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCES IN ON THE WATERFRONT (1954), A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (1951), THE WILD ONE (1953), THE MEN (1950),  AND MY FAVORITE BRANDO FILM - GUYS AND DOLLS (1955), YOU CAN SEE AN ALMOST PERFECTLY PROPORTIONED, SLEEK-LOOKING, BRILLIANT ACTOR.

BUT EVEN IN THESE VERY EARLY DAYS OF HIS MOVIE CAREER, THE GREAT MARLON BRANDO LIKED HIS CHOW.

RICHARD ERDMAN, A FELLOW ACTOR IN THE MEN (BRANDO'S FIRST FILM), SAYS MARLON'S DIET AT THE TIME CONSISTED OF:

JUNK FOOD, TAKE OUT AND "PEANUT BUTTER - WHICH HE CONSUMED BY THE JARFUL.

BY THE MID-FIFTIES, MARLON HAD BECOME RENOWNED FOR EATING BOXES OF MALLOMARS AND CINNAMON BUNS, WASHING HIS SWEET TREATS DOWN WITH A QUART OF MILK. CLOSE FRIEND, CARLO FIORE, SAID MARLON WOULD GO ON EXTREME CRASH DIETS IN THE FIFTIES AND SIXTIES, BUT THEN WOULD LOSE HIS WILLPOWER. HE WOULD SUBSEQUENTLY GORGE ON HUGE BREAKFASTS CONSISTING CORN FLAKES, SAUSAGES, EGGS, BANANAS AND CREAM, AND A HUGE STACK OF PANCAKES, DRENCHED IN MAPLE SYRUP. (INTERESTINGLY, ONE OF BRANDO'S NICKNAMES FOR HIMSELF WAS "BRANFLAKES").

FIORE WOULD BE DISPATCHED BY BRANDO'S DIRECTORS TO FETCH HIM OUT OF LOCAL COFFEE SHOPS. KARL MALDEN, A CLOSE FRIEND, SAID THAT DURING THE SHOOTING OF ONE-EYED JACKS (1961) BRANDO WOULD EAT "TWO STEAKS, POTATOES,  TWO APPLE PIES ALA MODE, AND A QUART OF MILK" FOR DINNER. THIS DIET NECESSITATED THE CONSTANT ALTERING OF HIS COSTUMES DURING FILMING. AT HIS BIRTHDAY PARTY, THE CREW GAVE MARLON A BELT AS HIS PRESENT, WITH THE CARD "HOPE IT FITS". HIS BIRTHDAY CAKE WAS LABELED "DON'T FEED THE DIRECTOR" (BRANDO WAS ALSO THE DIRECTOR OF THE FILM). MARLON REPORTEDLY ATE AT LEAST FOUR PIECES OF THE CAKE.

HIS SECOND WIFE, MOVITA, ACTUALLY PUT A LOCK ON THE HOUSE REFRIGERATOR. BUT WHEN SHE AWOKE ONE MORNING, THE LOCK WAS BROKEN AND MARLON'S TEETH MARKS WERE FOUND ON A ROUND OF CHEESE. THE HOUSE MAID TOLD MRS.BRANDO THAT MARLON MADE NIGHTTIME RAIDS ON THE ICEBOX ROUTINELY. BRANDO ALSO LOVED TO FREQUENT HOT DOG STANDS LATE AT NIGHT. HE LOVED GOING TO THE LEGENDARY L.A. HOT DOG JOINT PINK'S AT 3 AND 4 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING AND WOLFING DOWN SIX HOT DOGS AT A TIME.

THE COSTUMER ON MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY (1962) CLAIMED THAT BRANDO SPLIT 52 PAIRS OF PANTS DURING THE SHOOTING OF THE FILM. THIS NECESSITATED A STRETCH FABRIC BE USED ON HIS WARDROBE REPLACEMENT CLOTHES. HE SPLIT THESE PANTS TOO. MARLON WOULD TAKE A 5-GALLON TUB OF ICE CREAM, ROW HIMSELF OUT IN THE LAGOON AND INDULGE HIMSELF.

ON THE SET OF THE APALOOSA (1966)  MARLON'S DOUBLE HAD TO BE USED, IN LONG SHOTS,  AFTER MARLON HAD EATEN LUNCH, BECAUSE MARLON COULDN'T FIT INTO HIS COSTUMES. DICK LOVING, WHO MARRIED MARLON'S SISTER, FRANNIE, SAID MARLON WOULD EAT:

TWO CHICKENS AT A SITTING AND (GO) THROUGH PEPPERIDGE FARM COOKIES.

IN WHAT WAS POSSIBLY MARLON'S STRANGEST EATING EXPLOIT, IT WAS REPORTED THAT DURING THE FILMING OF MISSOURI BREAKS (1976), HE FISHED A FROG OUT OF A POND, TOOK A BITE OUT OF IT, AND PUT IT BACK IN THE DRINK (!!!!!!!!!) (????????)

LIVING ON THE ISLAND OF TETIOROVA, MARLON LIKED TO CREATE HIS OWN "REAL LIFE MOUNDS BARS", CRACKING OPEN A COCONUT, MELTING SOME CHOCOLATE IN THE SUN, THEN STIRRING IN THE COCONUT FOR A TASTY TREAT (SOUNDS PRETTY GOOD ACTUALLY!)

BEFORE FILIMING APOCALYPSE NOW (1979), MARLON PROMISED TO LOSE WEIGHT, BUT HE JUST COULDN'T DO IT. SUBSEQUENTLY, HIS CHARACTER IS SHOWN IN THE SHADOWS FOR MUCH OF THE FILM TO HIDE HIS BUDDHA-LIKE BELLY. A 6"5" DOUBLE WAS USED IN LONG SHOTS BY DIRECTOR FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA TO GIVE THE CHARACTER MORE STATURE.

BY THE 1980'S, IT WAS REPORTED THAT ONE OF BRANDO'S GIRLFRIENDS HAD LEFT HIM BECAUSE HE WOULDN'T KEEP HIS PROMISE TO LOSE WEIGHT. HE ALWAYS SEEMED TO BE DIETING, BUT UNKNOWN TO HER, HE HAD SOME OF HIS BUDDIES THROW BAGS OF WHOPPERS FROM BURGER KING OVER THE GATES OF HIS MULHOLLAND DRIVE ESTATE.

BY THE LATE 1980'S. MARLON WAS ROUTINELY SPOTTED AT A BEVERLY HILLS ICE CREAM PARLOR, BUYING FIVE GALLONS OF ICE CREAM- WHICH HE WOULD DOWN HIMSELF. DURING THESE YEARS, THE 5' 10" MARLON'S WEIGHT WOULD BALLOON UP TO AN INCREDIBLE 350 POUNDS. REPORTEDLY, ONE OF HIS LAST FAVORITE "SNACKS" WAS A FULL POUND OF COOKED BACON IN AN ENTIRE LOAF OF BREAD.

TOWARDS THE END OF HIS LIFE, WHEN HIS LIFE WAS OBVIOUSLY IN DANGER FROM HIS OVER-EATING, MARLON DID MAKE A LAST-DITCH ATTEMPT TO DROP SOME EXCESS WEIGHT BY GOING ON A BLAND DIET AND AT ONE POINT, HE DID DROP 70 POUNDS.

BUT HIS HEART AND HIS LIVER WERE ALREADY SEVERELY DAMAGED BY HIS OVER-EATING HABITS, AND HIS SUBSEQUENT CRASH DIETS. AT ONE POINT LATER IN HIS CAREER, MARLON WANTED TO DO A MOVIE OF HIMSELF STARRING IN THE LIFE OF PABLO PICASSO. HE KNEW HE HAD TO DROP SOME WEIGHT TO PLAY THE ROLE. HE TRIED ONE OF HIS ROUTINE ODD DIETS, THIS ONE A "BANANA DIET", BUT HE COULDN'T LOSE ENOUGH WEIGHT AND THE FASCINATING PROJECT WAS NEVER DONE.

POSSIBLY ONLY ELVIS PRESLEY AND ORSON WELLES, AMONG SHOW BIZ AND MOVIE LEGENDS, LIKED TO INDULGE IN OVER-EATING AS MUCH AS THE GREAT MARLON BRANDO AND RIGHT UP TO THE END - WHICH, SADLY, FINALLY CAME ON JULY 1, 2004, MARLON NEVER LOST HIS GREAT LOVE OF FOOD - ESPECIALLY HIS BELOVED ICE CREAM.

HAPPY PRESIDENTS DAY!

USA TODAY ASKED:

WHO DO YOU REGARD AS THE GREATEST U.S. PRESIDENT?

LINCOLN - 18%
REAGAN - 16%
JFK - 14%
CLINTON - 13%
FDR - 9%
WASHINGTON 7%
TRUMAN - 3%
TEDDY ROOSEVELT - 2%
G.W. BUSH - 2%
EISENHOWER - 2%
JEFFERSON - 2%
FORD - 1%
G.H.W. BUSH - 1%
OTHER - 1%
NONE - 5%
NO OPINION - 6%

WHAT ABOUT HARRY?

WHILE HE WAS PRESIDENT, THOMAS JEFFERSON HAD A VERY CLOSE FRIEND HE JUST LOVED NAMED DICK

WHO WAS DICK?

MORE FOOD FAVORITES

ADOLF HITLER'S FAVORITE DISH WAS TROUT COOKED IN BUTTER SAUCE.

HANK WILLIAMS JR'S FAVORITE FOOD IS SPAGHETTI.

BARBARA EDEN LOVES SNACKING AT DAIRY QUEEN.

GROUCHO MARX HATED MIXED VEGETABLES WITH HIS MEAL. HE CALLED THEM "TRICK VEGETABLES".

CARRIE UNDERWOOD WAS NAMED 2005'S "SEXIEST VEGETARIAN".

CLINT EASTWOOD ONCE AUDITIONED FOR ALFRED HITCHCOCK. HE SAID HITCH HAD THE SAME MEAL EVERY DAY- STEAK AND SLICED TOMATOES.

MUHAMMAD ALI ALWAYS ATE THE SAME MEAL ON THE DAY OF A FIGHT- A STEAK, A BAKED POTATO AND A LETTUCE & TOMATO SALAD.

ALTHOUGH JENNIFER ANISTON IS OF GREEK HERITAGE, SHE HATES GREEK FOOD. HER FAVORITE FOODS ARE MEXICAN AND ITALIAN. HER FAVORITE SNACK IS TORTILLA CHIPS.

BRAD PITT PHONE HOME

WHEN ANGELINA JOLIE WAS PREGNANT, SHE HAD A CRAVING FOR "REESE'S PIECES". SHE HAD THEM FLOWN IN TO HER DIRECTLY FROM HERSHEY, PA.

THEIR FAVORITE FOODS

MARTIN LUTHER KING'S FAVORITE FOOD WAS PECAN PIE.

GEORGE WASHINGTON AND JIMMY CARTER BOTH LOVED PEANUT SOUP. WASHINGTON ALSO LOVED CRAB SOUP.

JOHN HARVEY KELLOGG, THE FOUNDER OF KELLOGG'S CEREALS, WAS A VEGETARIAN. HE SET UP A CHAIN OF VEGETARIAN RESTAURANTS IN SKID ROW, WHERE THE POOR COULD GET A MEATLESS MEAL FOR A PENNY.

SARAH PALIN'S FAVORITE FOOD IS MOOSE STEW.

BRAD PITT'S FAVORITE TYPE OF FOOD IS INDIAN FOOD.

BARACK OBAMA'S FAVORITE FOOD TO COOK IS CHILI. HE LOVES GRITS AND SHRIMP.

GEORGE CLOONEY'S FAVORITE FOOD IS CHAYA STEAK. HE IS ALSO A BEER DRINKER. HE HAD A KEG OF GUINNESS INSTALLED IN HIS DRESSING ROOM DURING THE FILMING OF OCEAN'S ELEVEN.

COMEDIANS I WISH I'D MET

I NEVER HARDLY EVER READ ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE, UNLESS THEY HAVE BEATLES STUFF.

BUT THEY DO PUBLISH A COMEDY ISSUE EVERY FEW YEARS, AND I ALWAYS LOVE THAT ISSUE.

BELOW IS A QUESTION ASKED OF VARIOUS CURRENT TOP COMEDIANS AND COMICS:

WHICH COMEDIAN DO YOU WISH YOU'D MET?

ROBIN WILLIAMS: THE GREAT COMIC THAT I WOULD'VE MOST LOVED TO MEET IS GROUCHO MARX. JUST HANG OUT WITH HIM, WHETHER HE WAS ON ACID OR NOT. HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE VERY SWEET AND FUNNY.

ALBERT BROOKS: I'M NOT A DRINKER, BUT I'D LOVE TO HAVE SPENT A COUPLE OF NIGHTS WITH W.C. FIELDS.

DANE COOK: I WOULD SAY DON RICKLES AT ANY TIME IN THE 1960'S. LAS VEGAS, IT IT'S PEAK, GUNS BLAZING, CLOBBERING A ROOM. THAT WOULD BE IT.

CHRIS ROCK: I NEVER SAW RICHARD PRYOR IN HIS PRIME. I SAW HIM RIGHT BEFORE HE GOT SICK. I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE SEEN HIM WHEN HE WAS DOING "THAT N****R'S CRAZY" OR....."IS IT SOMETHING I SAID"?

TINA FEY: I'D LIKE TO SEE THE MARX BROTHERS A THOUSAND YEARS IN THE FUTURE. BECAUSE I THINK IT WOULD STILL BE FUNNY. AND IT WOULD MEAN I LIVED TO BE 1,038.

JIMMY FALLON: I WISH I'D MET THE LITTLE RASCALS WHEN THEY WERE YOUNG, BECAUSE THEY SEEM LIKE A LOT OF FUN. WE'D PUT ON A SHOW OR SOMETHING AND IMPRESS DARLA AND ALFALFA. I'D TOTALLY BE ALFALFA'S WINGMAN. HE WAS A TALENTED DUDE. SUCH A GOOD SINGER, AND A SHARP DRESSER, TOO.

BILLY CRYSTAL: LENNY BRUCE AT HIS HEIGHT, BEFORE THE COURT STUFF STARTED TO WEIGH HIM DOWN - IT WOULD'VE BEEN GREAT TO BE AT THE CARNEGIE HALL CONCERT.

AMY POEHLER: I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO SEE NICHOLS AND MAY LIVE. AND I WOULD LOVE TO TALK TO REDD FOXX IN A CORNER.

MARTIN SHORT: THE THREE STOOGES ONSTAGE. I BET THEY HAD AMAZING ENERGY. ALSO, ABBOTT AND COSTELLO OR BUSTER KEATON IN VAUDEVILLE. THOSE GUYS WOULD DO LITERALLY ANYHTHING, WITH NO CONCERN FOR THE RAMIFICATIONS- COMPLETE MAD COMMITTMENTS TO PHYSICAL COMEDY, COMMITTING TO THE DANGER OF IT.

ERIC IDLE: JACK BENNY - I NEVER SAW MUCH OF HIM. AND I'D LOVE TO SEE NICHOLS AND MAY - I WAS A BIG FAN OF THEIRS WHEN I WAS AT CAMBRIDGE.

STEVEN WRIGHT: WOODY ALLEN WHEN HE WAS DOING STAND-UP. BECAUSE THERE'S NOT MUCH FILM OF HIM IN THOSE DAYS, AND I ADMIRE HIS MIND.

PHYLISS DILLER: I'VE ALREADY MET CHARLIE CHAPLIN.

WHAT - NO DEEZEN?

2008 "Q" POLL RATINGS (THE "Q" POLL SCORES CELEBRITY POPULARITY AND APPEAL)

1) BILL COSBY - 71
2) TOM HANKS - 61
3) ROBIN WILLIAMS - 59
4) CLINT EASTWOOD - 55
5) MICHAEL J. FOX - 53

QUESTION OF THE DAY

WHO IS TIMMIE JEAN LINDSEY?

ORIGINS OF OLD WEST NICKNAMES

JAMES "WILD BILL" HICKOCK
AN OLD WEST LEGEND, HICKOCK HAD AN UNUSUAL APPEARANCE. JAMES HICKOCK HAD A LONG NOSE AND A PROTRUDING LIP. HE WAS ORIGINALLY NICKNAMED "DUCK BILL". THIS BECAME CHANGED TO "WILD BILL".

WILLIAM "BAT" MASTERSON
"BAT" MASTERSON WAS A FAMOUS SHERIFF OF FORD COUNTY, KANSAS. HE HIT MORE LAWBREAKERS OVER THE HEAD WITH HIS CANE THAN HE SHOT WITH HIS GUN. HENCE, "BAT" MASTERSON.

JOHN "DOC" HOLLIDAY
A LEGEND AS A CARD-SHARP AND AN OLD WEST GUNFIGHTER, JOHN HOLLIDAY WAS ORIGINALLY A DENTIST, HENCE "DOC". HOLLIDAY CAME TO THE WEST TO HELP HIS BOUTS WITH TUBERCULOSIS, AS THE WAS LOOKING FOR A DRIER CLIMATE. EVEN DURING THE HEIGHT OF HIS CRIMINAL CAREER, HE PRACTICED DENTISTRY. (DOC'S GIRLFRIEND WAS A PROSTITUTE NAMED "BIG NOSE" KATE ELDER).

WILLIAM "BILLY THE KID" BONNEY
HE LOOKED LIKE A KID.

WILLIAM "BUFFALO BILL" CODY
CODY GOT HIS NICKNAME AFTER HE UNDERTOOK A CONTRACT TO SUPPLY BUFFALO MEAT FOR KANSAS PACIFIC RAILROAD WORKERS. HE EARNED THE "BUFFALO BILL" NAME BY KILLING 4,280 BUFFALO IN 18 MONTHS (1867-1868).

ROBERT "BUTCH CASSIDY" PARKER
AS A TEENAGER, ROBERT BEFRIENDED A CRIMINAL MIND NAMED MIKE CASSIDY. HE EVENTUALLY ENDED UP USING HIS PAL'S LAST NAME. THE "BUTCH" CAME FROM A JOB HE HAD IN A BUTCHER SHOP IN ROCK SPRINGS, WYOMING.

HARRY "THE SUNDANCE KID" LONGABAUGH
AS A TEENAGER IN THE 1880'S, HARRY WAS ARRESTED FOR HORSE STEALING. HE SERVED 18 MONTHS IN SUNDANCE JAIL, IN WYOMING.

PATENTLY RIDICULOUS

THE FOLLOWING FAMOUS PEOPLE ALL HAD UNLIKELY BRAINSTORMS. THEY ALL HAVE REGISTERED U.S. PATENTS FOR THEIR IDEAS. SOME ARE QUITE INTERESTING, OTHERS MAYBE NOT SO GOOD.

MARLON BRANDO: BONGO-DRUMSKIN TIGHTENING DEVICE

GARY BURGHOFF: NOISEMAKING, CHUM-DISPENSING FISH ATTRACTOR

HARRY CONNICK, JR.: ELECTRONIC SHEET MUSIC DISPLAY

CHARLES FLEISCHER: STRETCHY SPIRAL TOY EGG

MICHAEL JACKSON: 45-DEGREE-LEANING "ANTIGRAVITY" ILLUSION

PENN JILLETTE: HOT TUB WITH NAUGHTILY ANGLED WATER JETS

DANNY KAYE: THREE-BLOWOUT PARTY NOISEMAKER HORN

HEDY LAMARR: UNJAMMABLE TORPEDO GUIDANCE SYSTEM

JAMIE LEE CURTIS: DIAPER WITH OUTER POCKET FOR "WIPES"

ZEPPO MARX: PULSE RATE MONITOR

JULIE NEWMAR: ULTRASNUG BUTT-FLATTERING PANTYHOSE

PRINCE: GUITARLIKE KEYBOARD INSTRUMENT DESIGN

EDDIE VAN HALEN: LEG-PLATE GUITAR SUPPORT

LAWRENCE WELK: ACCORDIAN-SHAPED ASHTRAY

PAUL WINCHELL: ARTIFICIAL HEART

NO WEAL SUPWISES

SURVEY FROM FAMILY FEUD
(ASKED OF 100 PEOPLE)

WHAT PERSON IN HISTORY WOULD WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO HAVE SEEN BARBARA WALTERS INTERVIEW?

1) JESUS CHRIST - 20
2) ABRAHAM LINCOLN - 15
3) GEORGE WASHINGTON - 9
4) BENJAMIN FRANKLIN - 7
5) MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. - 6
6) JOHN F. KENNEDY - 6

GIVE THAT (CHAIR)MAN A MINT!

CHINESE COMMUNIST LEADER CHAIRMAN MAO ZEDONG NEVER BRUSHED HIS TEETH OR TOOK BATHS. WHY? BECAUSE TIGERS NEVER BRUSHED THEIR TEETH. INSTEAD OF TAKING A BATH, HE HAD SEVEN YOUNG CONCUBINES RUB HIS BODY WITH HOT TOWELS.

GIMME SERVICE

BACKSTAGE FOOD REQUESTS OF MUSICIANS (THE FOLLOWING ARE ACTUAL CLAUSES IN THE CONTRACTS OF MUSICIANS)

THE ROLLING STONES: SMART, WELL-GROOMED HOSTESSES TO ASSIST IN SERVING FOOD

PRINCE: HERBAL TEA, HONEY, FOUR LEMONS

ELTON JOHN: ABSOLUTELY NO COLD CUTS

FRANK SINATRA: 24 CHILLED JUMBO SHRIMP

GUNS 'N ROSES: 1 ORDER OF FETTUCINI ALFREDO

TINA TURNER: 1 PINT CHOCOLATE MILK

THE BEACH BOYS: 1 SMALL BOWL OF WHITE (NO RED) PISTACHIO NUTS

ZZ TOP: 1 CAN SQUEEZED AMERICAN CHEESE

BRITNEY SPEARS: 1 BAG COOL RANCH DORITOS; 1 BOX ALTOIDS RED

KISS: 6 CARAMEL RICE CAKES

BURT BACHARACH: CREAMY PEANUT BUTTER

LYNYRD SKYNYRD: FRESH FRUIT IN SEASON WITH PLENTY OF WATERMELON

AEROSMITH: CORN ON THE COB, FRESH EARS, COOKED 3 MINUTES ONLY

THE WHO: SMALL VEGETABLE TRAY, LARGE FRUIT BOWL

BARENAKED LADIES: LARGE, ASSORTED FRUIT PLATE FOR 12 (BE CREATIVE PLEASE...)

GENES OF LINCOLN

WHEN STEVEN SPIELBERG ANNOUNCED HIS INTENTION TO MAKE A MOVIE ABOUT THE LIFE OF THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN, TOM HANKS WAS IMMEDIATELY TOUTED AS THE PERFECT PERSON TO TAKE THE LEAD ROLE. HOWEVER, TOM DECLINED THE ADVANCE - A STRANGE RESPONSE CONSIDERING THE TWO SHARE GENES- TOM'S BLOODLINE DIRECTLY LINKS HIM WITH NANCY HANKS (ABE'S MOTHER). HANKS IS CURIOUSLY RETICENT ABOUT ELABORATING ON HIS POSITION ON THIS PARTICULAR FAMILY TREE. WE KEEP THAT QUIET, SAYS TOM, BUT IT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

LUCKY

JACK "LUCKY" LOHRKE            

JACK LOHRKE ALWAYS HATED HIS NICKNAME: "LUCKY". BUT WHAT DID HE EXPECT?

HE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A VERY IMPRESSIVE CAREER AS A BASEBALL PLAYER. HE PLAYED FOR 7 SEASONS, APPEARING IN 354 GAMES- FROM 1947 TO 1953. HE PLAYED FOR THE NEW YORK GIANTS AND THE PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES.

HE HAD 914 AT-BATS, HIT 22 HOME RUNS, AND ENDED HIS CAREER WITH A .242 BATTING AVERAGE. HE PLAYED BRIEFLY IN THE 1951 WORLD SERIES.

A NOT-VERY-MEMORABLE BASEBALL CAREER. MAYBE SO - BUT A VERY EXTRAORDINARY LIFE.

DURING WORLD WAR II, HE WAS PART OF THE NORMANDY INVASION AND THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE.
FOUR TIMES, SOLDIERS ON BOTH SIDES OF HIM WERE KILLED. BUT LOHRKE CAME THROUGH UNSCATHED.

WHEN THE WAR ENDED, LOHRKE WAS SCHEDULED TO FLY HOME IN AN ARMY TRANSPORT PLANE. HE WAS BUMPED FROM THE FLIGHT AT THE LAST MINUTE.

THE PLANE CRASHED, KILLING EVERYONE ON BOARD. IN 1946, LOHRKE WAS PLAYING MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL FOR THE SPOKANE INDIANS. HE WAS TOLD TO REPORT TO SAN DIEGO TO JOIN THEIR TEAM.

HE GOT OFF THE TEAM BUS IN ELLENSBURG, WASHINGTON. 15 MINUTES LATER, THE BUS CRASHED IN A RAVINE IN THE CASCADE MOUNTAINS. 9 PLAYERS WERE KILLED. IT WAS THE WORST TRANSIT ACCIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL.

JACK "LUCKY" LOHRKE HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN INTENSELY PRIVATE MAN. AFTER HIS BASEBALL CAREER ENDED, HE WORKED 20 YEARS FOR LOCKHEED AND RETIRED. HIS HOBBIES ARE HUNTING, FISHING AND GOLF.

RECENTLY, A WRITER FOR THE SOCIETY OF BASEBALL RESEARCH ACTUALLY GOT HOLD OF LOHRKE'S HOME PHONE NUMBER AND TRIED TO INTERVIEW HIM. THE WRITER, JOHN PASTIER, INTRODUCED HIMSELF AND TOLD LOHRKE HE'D LIKE TO INTERVIEW HIM AND ASK SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS CHARMED LIFE. THE FOLLOWING IS "LUCKY" LOHRKE'S ENTIRE RESPONSE:

I'M TIRED OF TALKING ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU. BYE BYE. (CLICK!)

YES, TODAY, "LUCKY" LOHRKE IS STILL LIVING (ONE WONDERS WHAT KIND OF INCREDIBLE POWER IT WILL TAKE TO EVENTUALLY BRING THIS GUY DOWN??). HE RECENTLY CELEBRATED HIS 84TH BIRTHDAY AND IS LIVING HAPPILY IN SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, WITH HIS WIFE, MARY JO MARIE. HE HAS A SON, KURT, WHO PLAYED IN THE MINOR LEAGUES.

IS JACK LOHRKE A RELIGIOUS MAN? DOES HE BELIEVE IN DIVINE POWER? PROVIDENCE? OR DOES HE BELIEVE HE WAS JUST PLAIN "LUCKY"?

I WONDER. MAYBE WE'LL NEVER KNOW. JACK LOHRKE MAY HAVE HATED HIS NICKNAME, BUT SOME THINGS IN LIFE ARE JUST INEVITABLE.

THE DEATH OF HOUDINI

HARRY HOUDINI, BORN ERICH WEISS (1874-1926) IS, WITHOUT QUESTION, THE MOST FAMOUS AND ADMIRED MAGICIAN OF ALL-TIME.

HOUDINI BEGAN HIS CAREER AS A CARD EXPERT, DOING CARD TRICKS ON STAGE, BUT HE SOON EVOLVED INTO AN INCREDIBLE ESCAPE ARTIST. HIS LEGENDARY ESCAPES STILL BOGGLE AND AMAZE PEOPLE AND HOUDINI IS THE STANDARD TO WHICH EVERY OTHER MAGICIAN AROUND THE WORLD IS COMPARED.

IN THE AUTUMN OF 1926, HOUDINI WAS PERFORMING IN MONTREAL. ONE DAY, AFTER A PERFORMANCE, AS HE WAS RECLINING ON A COUCH IN HIS DRESSING ROOM, A JEALOUS YOUNG COLLEGE STUDENT NAMED JOCELYN GORDON WHITEHEAD SUCKER-PUNCHED HIM IN THE STOMACH.

PART OF HOUDINI'S ACT HAD BEEN TO BRACE HIS STOMACH AND LET MACHO YOUNG MEN COME UP AND PUNCH HIS BELLY AS HARD AS THEY COULD.

HOUDINI, WHEN HIS STOMACH MUSCLES WERE BRACED PROPERLY, WAS TOO STRONG AND HE WAS NEVER SERIOUSLY INJURED BY THE STUNT. BUT AFTER WHITEHEAD'S PUNCH, HOUDINI WINCED IN ANGUISH AND IMMEDIATELY KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG.

HIS APPENDIX WAS SEVERELY HARMED BY THE CHEAP SHOT. IT WAS SOON TOO SERIOUS FOR TREATMENT. FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS, HOUDINI, THE WORLD'S GREATEST ESCAPE ARTIST, COULD NOT ESCAPE HIS BED.

WITHIN A WEEK, HE WAS DEAD OF A GANGRENOUS APPENDIX. IRONICALLY AND APPROPRIATELY, THE WORLD'S GREATEST MAGICIAN DIED ON HALLOWEEN, OCTOBER 31, 1926, AT THE AGE OF 52.

HOUDINI, WHO DEEPLY LOVED HIS WIFE, BESS, HAD PROMISED HER HE WOULD TRY TO CONTACT HER ONE YEAR AFTER HIS DEATH. BESS HELD A SEANCE EVERY YEAR FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS, BUT THE "SIGN" HOUDINI HAD PROMISED NEVER APPEARED.

BESS HAD KEPT A CANDLE BURNING NEXT TO HOUDINI'S PICTURE FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS. FINALLY, SHE BLEW OUT THE CANDLE.

AND WHATEVER BECAME OF JOCELYN GORDON WHITEHEAD?

ALTHOUGH WHITEHEAD HAD ACHIEVED ADVANCED DEGREES FROM COLLEGE, HE BECAME A DERELICT AND DIED IN 1954 OF MALNUTRITION.

HE WORE A TIN STAR - OF DAVID?

WHY WYATT EARP IS BURIED IN A JEWISH CEMETERY

(THE INCREDIBLY HAPPY MARRIAGE OF WYATT EARP AND JOSIE MARCUS)

WYATT EARP A JEW? WELL, NO- BUT HE IS BURIED IN A JEWISH CEMETERY.

WHY? READ ON........

IN 1867, JOSEPHINE SARAH MARCUS MOVED IN WITH HER OBSERVANT, IMMIGRANT, GERMAN-JEWISH PARENTS FROM BROOKLYN, NEW YORK TO SAN FRANCISCO. SHE SAID HER PRAYERS EVERY DAY AND WAS TAUGHT A BY-THE-BOOKS GOOD JEWISH EDUCATION.

IN 1879, YOUNG JOSIE WAS EXPOSED TO THE ROMANCE OF THE SAN FRANCISCO GOLD RUSH ERA.
AFTER SEEING THE GILBERT AND SULLIVAN PLAY H.M.S. PINAFORE AT THE AGE OF 18, JOSIE CAUGHT THE SHOW BIZ BUG.  SHE RAN AWAY WITH A FRIEND AND JOINED THE COMPANY, TOURING THE U.S.

WHEN THE TROUPE PLAYED TOMBSTONE, ARIZONA, JOSIE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE CORRUPT CITY MARSHAL, JOHNNY BEHAN. IRONICALLY, IT WAS BEHAN WHO INTRODUCED JOSIE TO WYATT EARP.

JOSIE AND WYATT WERE TO SOON FALL DEEPLY IN LOVE AND BE MARRIED FOR SOME 50 YEARS. THE MARRIAGE WAS, BY ALL ACCOUNTS, A JOYOUS ONE. WHILE WE KNOW MUCH, FACTUALLY, OF JOSEPHINE MARCUS, WYATT EARP, WHILE A TRUE LEGEND, HAS A CHECKERED, DISPUTED AND MUCH-DEBATED LIFE HISTORY.

LAST MEALS OF THE RICH AND FAMOUS

THEY LIVED INCREDIBLE LIVES. THEY ACCOMPLISHED AMAZING THINGS IN THEIR AMAZING LIFETIMES. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE FINAL MEALS OF SOME OF THE MOST WELL-KNOWN PEOPLE IN HISTORY:

ELVIS PRESLEY

"THE KING" STAYED UP MOST OF THE NIGHT OF AUGUST 15, 1977. HE WAS RESTLESS. BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND 6:00am , HE WENT TO HIS DENTIST TO HAVE A CAVITY FILLED (HE DID THIS LATE AT NIGHT TO AVOID MOBS), THEN HE RETURNED TO GRACELAND AND PLAYED RAQUETBALL WITH FRIENDS, TALKED OVER MARRIAGE PLANS WITH HIS 20-YEAR-OLD FIANCEE, GINGER ALDEN, AND BELTED OUT SOME GOSPEL SONGS ON THE PIANO. AROUND SUNRISE GINGER WENT TO BED, BUT ELVIS, STILL UNABLE TO SLEEP, ATE ONE OF HIS USUAL EARLY-MORNING SNACKS: FOUR SCOOPS OF ICE CREAM AND SIX CHOCOLATE-CHIP COOKIES. AFTER THAT HE WENT TO BED, THEN GOT UP A FEW HOURS LATER TO GO TO THE BATHROOM, WHERE HE SUFFERED A HEART ATTACK AND DIED.

MAHATMA GHANDI

ON THE EVENING OF JANUARY 30, 1948, GHANDI ENJOYED ONE OF HIS STANDARD HEALTHY DINNERS OF GOAT'S MILK, COOKED VEGETABLES, ORANGES, AND A CONCOCTION OF GINGER, SOUR LEMONS, AND STRAINED BUTTER MIXED WITH ALOE JUICE. HE THEN TOOK HIS NIGHTLY WALK AT BIRLA BHAVAN IN NEW DELHI, WHERE FOLLOWERS OFTEN GREETED HIM. AMONG THE FOLLOWERS WAS AN ASSASSIN, WHO SHOT THE SPIRITUAL LEADER AT POINT-BLANK RANGE.

SADDAM HUSSEIN

THE FORMER IRAQI DICTATOR WAS ALLOWED TO EAT HIS FAVORITE MEAL BEFORE HE WAS EXECUTED - BOILED CHICKEN AND RICE, ALONG WITH SEVERAL CUPS OF HOT WATER LACED WITH HONEY.

JAMES DEAN

THE REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE STAR WAS KNOWN FOR LIVING LIFE ON THE EDGE. IT'S IRONIC, THEN, THAT THE LAST THING HE ATE AT A ROADSIDE DINER ON SEPTEMBER 30, 1955, A FEW HOURS BEFORE HE CRASHED HIS PORSCHE SPIDER, WAS A SLICE OF APPLE PIE AND A GLASS OF MILK.

ADOLF HITLER

THE GERMAN DICTATOR'S LAST MEAL CAME ON APRIL 30, 1945, THE DAY HE FINALLY REALIZED HE HAD LOST THE WAR. HOLED UP IN HIS BUNKER, HITLER, A VEGETARIAN, ATE SPAGHETTI WITH "LIGHT SAUCE" (ALTHOUGH SOME BIOGRAPHERS SAY HE HAD LASAGNA). EITHER WAY, HITLER WANTED A SIMPLE MEAL WITHOUT ANY MENTION OF THE FALL OF BERLIN, SO THE CONVERSATION CONSISTED OF DOG BREEDING METHODS AND "HOW LIPSTICK WAS MADE FROM SEWER GREASE". SHORTLY AFTER THE MEAL, HITLER AND EVA BRAUN, WHOM HE'D MARRIED LESS THAN 40 HOURS EARLIER, WENT INTO A PRIVATE ROOM AND TOOK THEIR OWN LIVES.

JOHN LENNON

SOMETIME DURING THE AFTERNOON OF DECEMBER 8, 1980, LENNON ATE A CORNED-BEEF SANDWICH BEFORE GOING TO A NEW YORK RECORDING STUDIO TO WORK ON ONE OF YOKO ONO'S NEW SINGLES. AT AROUND 10:30 P.M., HAVING JUST RECEIVED THE HAPPY NEWS THAT THEIR ALBUM DOUBLE FANTASY HAD GONE PLATINUM, THEY DECIDED TO QUIT WORKING FOR THE NIGHT. ONO SUGGESTED STOPPING FOR DINNER, BUT LENNON WANTED TO GO STRAIGHT BACK TO THEIR APARTMENT AT THE DAKOTA TO SEE THEIR FIVE-YEAR-OLD SON, SEAN. WHO KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF JOHN HAD GONE OUT TO EAT? INSTEAD, HE WENT HOME, WHERE A DERANGED FAN WAS WAITING FOR HIM.

ERNEST HEMINGWAY

BY THE TIME HE REACHED HIS 60'S, HEMINGWAY WAS SUFFERING FROM SEVERE DEPRESSION. SEVERAL ELECTROSHOCK THERAPY TREATMENTS HAD LEFT HIM IN A FRAZZLED CONDITION. AFTER A FAILED SUICIDE ATTEMPT IN THE SPRING OF 1961 AT HIS HOME IN IDAHO, HEMINGWAY TRIED AGAIN ON JULY 2 BY PUTTING A SHOTGUN TO HIS HEAD. BUT FIRST, HE ATE HIS FAVORITE MEAL: NEW YORK STRIP STEAK, BAKED POTATO, CAESAR SALAD, AND A GLASS OF BORDEAUX.

JOHN BELUSHI

THE RAINBOW BAR AND GRILL IN LA. WAS KNOWN FOR IT'S LENTIL SOUP. A VERY DRUNK BELUSHI STOPPED IN THERE ON THE NIGHT OF MARCH 5, 1982, AFTER BEING TOLD BY CONCERNED FRIENDS TO "GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER, OR AT LEAST EAT SOMETHING". BELUSHI SCARFED DOWN A BOWL OF THE LENTIL SOUP IN THE RAINBOW'S KITCHEN, THEN RETURNED TO HIS BUNGALOW AT THE CHATEAU MARMONT (ROBIN WILLIAMS AND ROBERT DENIRO WERE THERE TOO, BUT LEFT BECAUSE OF "EXTREMELY" HEAVY DRUG USE). BELUSHI'S GIRLFRIEND INJECTED THE 33-YEAR-OLD COMEDIAN WITH WHAT TURNED OUT TO BE A LETHAL DOSE OF HEROIN AND COCAINE. WHEN DOCTOR'S EXAMINED THE CONTENTS OF BELUSHI'S STOMACH THE NEXT DAY, THE ONLY FOOD WAS THE LENTIL SOUP.

PRINCESS DIANA

BY THE EVENING OF AUGUST 31, 1997, THE DAY OF HER FATAL CAR CRASH IN PARIS, DIANA AND HER BOYFRIEND, DODI AL FAYED, WERE SO FED UP WITH BEING HOUNDED BY PHOTOGRAPHERS THAT THEY DECIDED TO END THEIR VACATION EARLY AND RETURN TO ENGLAND THE NEXT DAY. THEIR PLAN: EAT DINNER AT ESPADON, A RESTAURANT IN THE RITZ HOTEL, AND THEN TAKE A HALF-HOUR DRIVE TO THE DUKE OF WINDSOR'S FORMER MANSION, WHERE THEY WOULD SPEND THE NIGHT. DIANA ATE A MUSHROOM-AND- ASPARAGUS OMELETTE, DOVER SOLE, AND VEGETABLE TEMPURA. AROUND MIDNIGHT, AFTER SENDING TWO DECOY CARS TO FOOL THE PAPARAZZI, DIANA AND FAYED CLIMBED INTO A BLACK MERCEDES S600, BUT THEY NEVER MADE IT TO THE MANSION.

JOHN F. KENNEDY

ON THE MORNING OF NOVEMBER 22, 1963, JFK ATE BREAKFAST IN HIS ROOM AT THE HOTEL TEXAS IN FORT WORTH. ACCORDING TO THE HOTEL'S EXECUTIVE CHEF, OTTO DRUHE, HE SERVED THE PRESIDENT "COFFEE, ORANGE JUICE, TWO BOILED (FIVE-MINUTE) EGGS, SOME TOAST, AND MARMALADE ON THE SIDE". THE PRESIDENT'S ENTOURAGE THEN LEFT FOR DOWNTOWN DALLAS, WHERE THEY WERE SCHEDULED FOR A 1:00 P.M. LUNCHEON DIRECTLY AFTER KENNEDY'S MOTORCADE MADE ITS WAY THROUGH TOWN. KENNEDY WAS SHOT AT 12:30 P.M.

Aaron - Eddie posts tidbits from all sorts of sources, including the fabulous Uncle John's Bathroom Reader, which you can buy at this Link, and which we plug regularly.

- Uncle Leo
  Hostmaster

THE FINAL DAYS OF JOHN WAYNE

HE WAS, QUITE PROBABLY, THE MOST POPULAR AND BELOVED MOVIE STAR OF THEM ALL. MORE THAN THAT, HE WAS AN AMERICAN ICON - RANKING WITH WASHINGTON, LINCOLN AND DAVY CROCKETT.

JOHN WAYNE'S LAST FILM WAS TO BE THE SHOOTIST. ACTUAL FIGURES VARY BECAUSE WAYNE DID SO MANY OBSCURE FILMS EARLY IN HIS CAREER, BUT IT WAS AROUND HIS 175TH FILM. CO-STARRING RON HOWARD AND LAUREN BACALL, THE DIRECTOR WAS DON SIEGEL.

WAYNE HAD HATED AND INSULTED SIEGEL BACK IN EARLIER DAYS, WHEN SOMEONE MISTAKENLY TOLD HIM SIEGEL WAS A COMMUNIST. JOHN WAS A VIRULENT ANTI-COMMIE, BUT HE FOUND OUT THAT THE RUMOR WAS UNTRUE. HE APPROACHED SIEGEL AND SAID, "KID, I OWE YOU AN APOLOGY." WAYNE HAD LIVED A VERY FULL LIFE (AN UNDERSTATEMENT!) AND HIS 70-YEAR-OLD BODY WAS QUICKLY BREAKING DOWN.

THE FILMING WAS VERY UNSTEADY, DUE TO THE DUKE'S BAD HEALTH. HE HAD TROUBLE BREATHING AND THERE WAS AN OXYGEN TANK ON THE SET FOR HIM TO TAKE BREATHS. THERE WERE BAD COUGHING SPELLS AND WAYNE MISSED SEVERAL DAYS SHOOTING, NECESSITATING THE USE OF A DOUBLE.

WAYNE, LIKE SO MANY PEOPLE IN GREAT PAIN, WAS MOODY, ANGRY AND OFTEN HOSTILE. ONE DAY HE BLEW UP AT THE CAMERAMAN, BAWLING HIM OUT FOR NOT FILMING RIGHT AND NOT PAYING ENOUGH ATTENTION TO "LIGHTING". SIEGEL THEN ANGRILY TOLD WAYNE TO LEAVE THE CAMERAMAN ALONE AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE DAILIES (THE PREVIOUS DAY'S FOOTAGE).

JOHN DID COME IN AND WATCH THE DAILIES AND HE WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED. "THAT'S THE BEST DAMN FILM OF ME I'VE EVER SEEN. I LOVE YOU AND I HOPE YOU'LL FORGIVE ME", HE SAID.

UNFORTUNATELY, "THE SHOOTIST" WAS A MASSIVE FLOP, GROSSING LESS THAN $6 MILLION DOMESTICALLY. WAYNE, NOT BROKE, BUT IN NEED OF MONEY, WAS NOW FORCED TO STAR IN TV COMMERCIALS- SOMETHING HE NEVER DID BEFORE. HE FILMED COMMERCIALS FOR "DATRIL" (AN ASPIRIN SUBSITUTE) AND "GREAT WESTERN SAVINGS & LOAN". THE DUKE HAD SAID, "TWO LOUSY, CROOKED BUSINESS MANAGERS DONE ME IN." WAYNE'S BAD INVESTMENTS HAD COST HIM A FORTUNE.

HE WAS SOMEWHAT BITTER, KNOWING THAT HE DESERVED TO BE MUCH MORE WELL-OFF AFTER ALL THE YEARS OF PERFORMING HE'D PUT IN. WORSE, WAYNE WAS HAVING SOME HEART TROUBLE.

AFTER A LIFETIME OF HEAVY SMOKING, DRINKING AND EATING RICH, HEAVY FOODS, WAYNE'S BODY WAS SUFFERING THE CONSEQUENCES.  HE UNDERWENT A HEART OPERATION AND ACTUALLY GOT A PIG'S VALVE PUT ON HIS HEART. "I CAN OINK WITH THE BEST OF THEM", THE DUKE JOKED.

BY THIS TIME, WAYNE HAD LOST A LOT OF WEIGHT. ONE OF HIS CLOSEST FRIENDS, MAUREEN O'HARA, CAME TO WAYNE'S HOUSE AND SPENT THREE DAYS WITH HIM. SHE MADE HIM LAUGH AS THEY SWAPPED STORIES AND REMINISCED (O'HARA HAD BEEN WAYNE'S LEADING LADY IN SEVERAL FILMS).

ANOTHER CLOSE ACTRESS FRIEND AND CO-STAR, CLAIRE TREVOR, VISITED, AND REMEMBERED "HE COULD BARELY WALK". WAYNE'S FINAL PUBLIC APPEARANCE WAS TO BE THE 1979 ACADEMY AWARDS. HE HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER, AND HAD ACTUALLY HAD RADIATION TREATMENTS THAT MORNING. HE WAS ALLOWED A SHORT REHEARSAL AND THEN HE TOOK A NAP, VERY SICK AND PRETTY TIRED. WAYNE APPEARED THAT NIGHT AND AWARDED THE "BEST PICTURE" OSCAR TO "COMING HOME" (IRONICALLY, THE DUKE HATED THE FILM FOR IT'S ANTI-VIET NAM WAR VIEWS).

AFTER WAYNE LEFT THE STAGE, HE WAS GREETED BY HIS OLD PAL, SAMMY DAVIS JR. , WHO GAVE HIM A BIG BEAR HUG. DAVIS LATER TOLD A FRIEND HE REGRETTED HUGGING WAYNE SO HARD IN HIS FRAGILE CONDITION. BUT SAMMY WAS TOLD, "DUKE WOULDN'T HAVE MISSED THAT HUG FOR ANYTHING" (THE IDEA OF 125-LB. SAMMY DAVIS JR. WORRYING ABOUT HUGGING JOHN WAYNE "TOO HARD" WAS A SAD COMMENTARY ON WAYNE'S FAILING HEALTH).

IN FACT, WAYNE WAS SO FRAIL-LOOKING, HE WORE A WET SUIT UNDER HIS TUXEDO TO BEEF UP HIS APPEARANCE A BIT. SOON AFTER THIS FINAL APPEARANCE, JOHN WAYNE COLLAPSED TO THE FLOOR IN ANGUISH.

THE CANCER SPREADING, HIS HEALTH RAPIDLY DETERIORATING, WAYNE WAS PUT IN THE HOSPITAL.
HE HATED IT THERE, AS HE WAS DENIED HIS BELOVED DRINKS. "HE LIKED TO DRINK. I ONCE SAW HIM DRINK A BOTTLE OF TEQUILA BEFORE A MEAL, AND A BOTTLE OF BRANDY AFTER A MEAL", HIS SON MICHAEL SAID.

ALSO, HE MISSED HIS MAN-SIZED MEALS- HE LOVED STEAKS AND ROAST BEEF. WAYNE ALSO MISSED EATING SOMETHING ELSE= HIS BELOVED "TOOTSIE ROLLS", HIS FAVORITE SWEET SNACK. HE WAS FADING FAST AND FAMILY AND FRIENDS CAME TO PAY THEIR RESPECTS.

WAYNE'S LAST FEW DAYS WERE SPENT IN A HOSPITAL BED, FADING FROM UNCONCIOUSNESS TO SEMI-CONCIOUSNESS. ON JUNE 11, 1979, WITH HIS FAMILY MEMBERS SURROUNDING HIM, THE DUKE TOOK HIS LAST BREATH.

"GOOD BYE, DAD", SAID HIS SON, PATRICK.

HIS DAUGHTER, AISSA, HELD HIS HAND.

BASEBALL PLAYER REFUSES A HIT

IN 1869, THE CINCINNATI RED STOCKINGS BECAME THE FIRST PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL TEAM. THE NATIONAL LEAGUE WAS FOUNDED IN 1876 AND THE AMERICAN LEAGUE STARTED IN 1901. FROM THESE DATES UNTIL NOW, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF BASEBALL GAMES HAVE BEEN PLAYED IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES, BUT ONLY ONCE DID A PLAYER ACTUALLY REFUSE A BASE HIT.

BUT HOW? WHY? WELL, READ ON......

PAUL WANER PLAYED BASEBALL IN THE BIG LEAGUES FOR 20 SEASONS, FROM 1926 TO 1945. THEY CALLED HIM "BIG POISON". WANER WAS A SMALL MAN, 5'8 1/2" IN HEIGHT AND NEVER WEIGHING MORE THAN 145 POUNDS, BUT PAUL WAS A SUPERB HITTER. ALONG WITH HIS BROTHER, LLOYD "LITTLE POISON" WANER, THE TWO COLLECTED A RECORD 5,611 HITS- THE MOST EVER BY TWO BROTHERS.

ANYWAY, LET'S GET BACK TO OUR ORIGINAL QUESTION - WHY WOULD ANYONE REFUSE A BASE HIT?

IT WAS JUNE 19, 1942.

AFTER PLAYING A MAJORITY OF HIS CAREER FOR THE PITTSBURGH PIRATES, WANER WAS IN THE TAIL END OF HIS CAREER, PLAYING FOR THE BOSTON BRAVES.

HE HAD ACCUMULATED 2,999 HITS UP TO THIS GAME AND WAS SHOOTING FOR NUMBER 3,000.

AT THIS POINT IN HISTORY, ONLY 5 PLAYERS HAD EVER GOTTEN 3,000 HITS- SO THIS WAS TO BE A HISTORIC OCCASION.

TRUETT "RIP" SEWELL WAS PITCHING FOR THE PIRATES AT FORBES FIELD IN PITTSBURGH. WANER CAME TO BAT AT HIT A LINE DRIVE THAT WAS KNOCKED DOWN BY THE PIRATES' SHORTSTOP, BUT THE SHORTSTOP COULDN'T MAKE THE PLAY, AND PAUL RAN HARD AND BEAT IT OUT.

THE OFFICIAL SCORERS, AFTER A FEW MINUTES, DECIDED TO AWARD WANER WITH A "HIT"- NUMBER 3,000.

THE CROWD, OF COURSE, CHEERED WILDLY.

BUT THEN, WANER DID SOMETHING NO BASEBALL PLAYER HAS EVER DONE- BEFORE OR SINCE.

HE WENT OVER TO THE SCORERS AND ASKED THEM TO TAKE BACK THE HIT.

"I WANT MY 3,000TH TO BE A CLEAN HIT", HE PROTESTED.

INCREDIBLY, THE SCORERS DID JUST AS HE ASKED - THEY ACTUALLY "TOOK BACK" THE CHEAP HIT, AND CALLED THE PLAY AN "ERROR".

SO, WITH THIS NEW RULING, PAUL STILL SAT AT 2,999 HITS.

LATER IN THE SAME GAME, WANER CAME UP TO BAT AND MADE A CLEAN HIT.

HE PROUDLY STOOD ON BASE AND LISTENED TO THE FANS GO CRAZY, WANER NOW HAD AN "OFFICIAL" AND CLEAN HIT FOR NUMBER 3,000.

PAUL WAS TO END HIS CAREER WITH 3,152 HITS.

YOU CAN FIND PAUL WANER- "THE ONLY BASEBALL PLAYER EVER TO REFUSE A HIT"- IN BASEBALL'S HALL OF FAME IN COOPERSTOWN, NEW YORK.

MORE LESSER KNOWN HISTORICAL FIGURES

JUDITH KAPLAN -- IN 1922, AT THE URGING OF HER FATHER, JUDITH BECAME THE FIRST JEWISH GIRL TO READ FROM THE TORAH, AT A PUBLIC BAS MITZVAH CEREMONY.

LESLIE LOMYN -- SHIPBUILDER, WHO IN 1918, LAUNCHED HIS PET PROJECT- THE FIRST EVER OCEANGOING SHIP MADE OF CONCRETE- THE S.S. FAITH. THE COST? $750,000.00.

WILLIAM BANTING -- IN 1862, BEGAN A FAD DIET THAT LOST HIM 50 POUNDS, AND AFTER HE PUBLISHED HIS PAMPHLET A LETTER ON CORPULENCE, HE BECOMES HISTORY'S FIRST WEIGHT-LOSS CELEBRITY. "BANTING" ACTUALLY BECOMES THE ENGLISH WORD FOR DIETING FOR A TIME, AND EVEN TODAY, DIETING IS CALLED "BANTING" IN SWEDEN.

SPIKE -- BELOVED BLACK-AND-WHITE PET DOG OF A YOUNG CARTOONIST NAMED CHARLES M. SCHULZ, WHO WAS LATER TO CREATE THE BELOVED COMIC STRIP PEANUTS. SCHULZ TO USE SPIKE AS THE INSPIRATION FOR THE MOST POPULAR DOG IN COMIC HISTORY, SNOOPY.

DIXIE LOCKE -- FIRST SERIOUS GIRLFRIEND OF A YOUNG ELVIS PRESLEY. WHEN ELVIS WAS DRAFTED AND WENT OFF TO SERVE IN GERMANY IN 1958, HE PLEDGED TO STAY LOYAL AND EVENTUALLY MARRY DIXIE. BUT, OF COURSE, IT WAS NOT TO BE. IN 1959, ELVIS WAS TO MEET A PRETTY, 14-YEAR-OLD NAMED PRISCILLA BEAULIEU, WHO WAS TO BECOME HIS ONLY WIFE.

GAVRILO PRINCIP -- ASSASSIN OF ARCHDUKE FERDINAND ON JUNE 28, 1914 - THE INCIDENT WHICH WAS TO BE THE CATALYST OF THE BEGINNING OF WORLD WAR I.

MORE LESSER KNOWNS

BAMA ROWELL -- BOSTON BRAVES BASEBALL PLAYER WHO HIT A HOME RUN OFF THE CLOCK IN EBBETS FIELD, SENDING OUT SPARKS FROM THE CLOCK. IT OCCURED IN BROOKLYN IN A GAME IN 1946. THIS MOMENT INSPIRED AN ASPIRING YOUNG NOVELIST NAMED BERNARD MALAMUD, WHO WAS SITTING IN THE STANDS THAT DAY, TO WRITE HIS CLASSIC NOVEL THE NATURAL.

SYLVIA TOWNSEND WARNER -- AUTHOR OF LOLLY WILLOWS (OR THE LOVING HUNTSMAN), WHICH WAS TO BE THE FIRST BOOK IN THE BOOK-OF-THE-MONTH CLUB.

RICHARD BRANSON -- BILLIONAIRE WHO PILOTED THE FIRST HOT AIR BALLOON TO CROSS THE ATLANTIC.

HISTORY'S "LESSER-KNOWN" FIGURES

LINA MEDINA -- IN 1933, SHE GAVE BIRTH TO A SON IN PERU AT THE AGE OF FIVE, BECOMING THE YOUNGEST MOTHER IN HISTORY.

TALMADGE HAYER -- THE MAN WHO ASSASSINATED MALCOLM X IN 1965.

JOHN RILEY -- GEORGE HARRISON'S DENTIST WHO, IN APRIL OF 1965, AT A SMALL DINNER PARTY, SLIPPED THE DRUG LSD INTO THE COFFEE OF BEATLES JOHN LENNON AND GEORGE HARRISON. THIS WAS THE BEATLES' FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH THE DRUG AND WAS TO BE A HUGE TURNING POINT IN THE BEATLES' MUSIC AND PERSONAL LIVES.

MUSCLES -- MICHAEL JACKSON'S PET BOA CONSTRICTOR.

ALBERT SASSE -- PHOTOGRAPHER WHO, IN 1951, TOOK THE FAMOUS ICONIC PHOTOGRAPH OF ALBERT EINSTEIN STICKING OUT HIS TONGUE.