Ask Mr. Know It All

By Gary Clothier

Q. Who was the first movie star? I’m sure you have to go back to the days of the silent movie.

H.L.N., Marion, Ala.

A. Most film historians agree that John Bunny was cinema’s first major comedian, and many crown him the first movie star. Bunny (1863-1915) was a New Yorker who stood 5 feet 4 inches and weighed nearly 300 pounds. He discovered the world of entertainment when he joined a small, touring minstrel show. He later became involved in the theater and musical comedies. By the time he decided to give “flickers” a try in 1910, he was making $150 a week, which is equivalent to about $3,600 today. He made more than 250 silent shorts for Vitagraph over five years and became the best-known face in the world. Sadly, only a handful of his films survived. Super Trivia: John Bunny was the first person to play Santa Claus in a movie.

Q. I recently read about underwear that blocks X-rays for airline travelers. I have a vague recollection of hearing about similar undergarments being made many years ago. Are you familiar with such items?

T.U., High Springs, Fla.

A. Shortly after Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen discovered X-rays in 1895 and demonstrated how they could penetrate the human body to varying degrees, rumors quickly spread in London that X-ray glasses would soon be on the market that would allow wearers to look through clothing and see the naked body. Just as quickly as the rumors spread, X-ray-proof undergarments were made available. According to the story, the clothing item made a small fortune for the developer and the retailer.

Q. I had my automobile oil changed in the first week of November. The mechanic said matter-of-factly that it was time to change to 5W-30. I agreed, not having the slightest idea of what he was saying. Can you explain?

E.V.A., Barre, Vt.

A. First, let me tell you that the “W” does not stand for weight, as most people believe, but for winter. The numbers represent the oil’s viscosity — the lower the number, the thicker the oil. The temperature range that oil is exposed to can vary greatly from the cold of winter to the heat of summer. This temperature range is too great for a single-weight oil, so a multiviscosity oil is created by adding polymer additives. This provides the base grade viscosity when the oil is cold and the viscosity of the second grade when it is hot.

Q. I’ve been around baseball all of my life, yet just recently I heard the term “walk-off home run.” What does it mean, and why is it so named?

W.K., Naples, Fla.

A. A walk-off home run is a home run that ends the game. The home run must come in the bottom of the final inning of the game, giving the home team the win. It is called a “walk-off” home run because both teams walk off the field immediately afterward, rather than finishing the inning.

DID YOU KNOW?

Britney Spears was considered for the role of Daisy Duke in the movie “The Dukes of Hazzard” (2005). The role eventually went to Jessica Simpson.

Send your questions to Mr. Know-It-All at AskMrKIA@gmail.com or c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

2011 Gary Clothier