Ask Mr. Know It All

By Gary Clothier

Q. What is the origin of the phrase “dog days of summer”?

T.E., Redondo Beach, Calif.

A. Today we recognize the dog days of summer as the hottest days of the year — days in which dogs find shade and pant the day away. According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, the traditional dog days are the 40 days beginning July 3 and ending Aug. 11, coinciding with the rising of Sirius. The term has been around for a long time — at least as far back as 70 B.C. Romans believed that the Dog Star, which is the brightest star in the sky, worked in combination with the sun to produce the hot days of summer.

Q. How often is the Eiffel Tower in Paris painted? How long does it take?

R.B., Stuart, Fla.

A. The Eiffel Tower was constructed in 1889 and has been painted every seven years since. It takes 25 painters roughly 18 months to apply more than 60 tons of paint. Each repainting campaign uses 5,000 sanding disks, 1,500 sets of work clothes and 1,500 brushes. The painters are not allowed to use rollers or paint sprayers. The tower has three sections, and each is painted a slightly different tone. The darkest paint is used at the bottom and the lightest shade at the top. ù

Q. Richard Beymer starred in the movie “West Side Story” with Natalie Wood. What became of him after that film?

E.S.J., San Juan, Puerto Rico

A. George Richard Beymer Jr. was born in Avoca, Iowa, in 1938. He was only 12 when he appeared in a Los Angeles children’s show. At 14, he was in his first movie. He was in several more films before landing the role of Tony in the 1961 film “West Side Story.” In 1963, he enrolled in New York’s Actor’s Studio but dropped out to participate in a civil-rights-movement rally in Mississippi. He was involved in an award-winning documentary of that struggle. Fans of “Twin Peaks” will remember Beymer as the villain, Benjamin Horne.

He resides in Fairfield, Iowa, where he makes movies, writes, paints and has developed a passion for photography. ù

DID YOU KNOW?

Richard Beymer played the love interest of both Natalie Wood and her sister Lana Wood in two separate films: He was the Tony to Natalie’s Maria in “West Side Story” (1961) and Dean opposite Lana’s role as Karen in “Scream Free!” (1969).

Q. In the late ’90s, there was a frozen breakfast on the market that was scrambled eggs and cheese (and sometimes meat) in a tube. You put it in the microwave and pushed the contents out of the tube as you ate. My friends think I’m making this up — which I have a tendency to do — but this time I’m not! They’ll believe you.

J.H., Great Neck, N.Y.

A. Breakaway Foods of Columbus, Ohio, created IncrEdibles. Eggs weren’t the only things you could eat out of the tube: Macaroni and cheese (with and without broccoli) and chili mac were available. According to the company, its line of convenience food needed no forks, spoons or plates and created no mess. What could possibly go wrong?

Well, the tube was unable to contain the molten-hot cheese, causing the mixture to spill everywhere and burn the eater. The food in the center of the tube remained cold, while the outer portion was searing hot. All this for under $2. IncrEdibles did not last long before being labeled as a “good idea, but ...”

Q. What became of Claudine Longet, the former wife of Andy Williams? She was involved in the murder of her boyfriend, an Olympic skier.

G.H.G., Naples, Fla.

A. Claudine Georgette Longet was born in Paris in 1942. During the 1960s and ’70s, she was a popular recording artist, dancer and actress. She and singer Andy Williams met in Las Vegas in 1960, and they married in 1961. They had three children. The couple divorced in 1975.

Longet was convicted of misdemeanor negligent homicide in connection with the shooting death in 1976 of her boyfriend, former Olympic skier Vladimir “Spider” Sabich in Aspen, Colo. She was sentenced to pay a small fine and spend 30 days in jail. She maintains a low profile with her husband, her former defense attorney, in Aspen. She and Williams remain close friends.

Q. I live in Nebraska; a lot of family and friends call the boxelder bug “democrat bugs.” Why?

R.I., Grafton, Neb.

A. Besides democrat bug, boxelder bugs are known as maple bugs, politician bugs and populist bugs. Democrat bug is a popular nickname in the Midwest, especially Kansas and Nebraska. Why the political name? From the several explanations I read, I can say honestly that no one knows. So, I’m asking readers for their input — I’ll pass along possible explanations in a later column.

Q. My husband is a big Duke Blue Devils fan. How in the world did they get that name?

B.F., Pikeville, N.C.

A. In 1920, Trinity College began playing intercollegiate competition. (The school would not be known as Duke until 1924.) During the first years, the teams were known as the Trinity Eleven, the Blue and White or the Methodists. A movement to find a catchy name began, and there were numerous nominations, including Catamounts, Grizzlies, Badgers, Dreadnaughts and Captains. Campus newspaper editors wanted to emphasize the school colors of dark blue and white. They suggested the names Blue Titans, Blue Eagles, Polar Bears, Blue Devils, Royal Blazes and Blue Warriors. Only the Blue Devils caught on.

The nickname Blue Devils was well known at the time. During World War I, an elite French alpine fighting unit, Chasseurs Alpins, was nicknamed “les Diables Bleus.” When the United States entered the war, units of the French Blue Devils toured the country in an effort to raise money. Their distinctive blue uniform, with flowing cape and jaunty beret, captured public imagination and the student body of Trinity.

Q. My wife and I enjoy reruns of “Leave It to Beaver.” What did Jerry Mathers do after the show ended?

R.W., Columbiana, Ohio

A. Jerry Mathers, 63, who will be known forever as Beaver Cleaver, has been busy since the show ended in 1963. His acting career landed him in many TV series and stage productions. In 2007, he made his Broadway debut in the musical “Hairspray,” which boosted the show’s attendance to 110 percent — standing room only.

Mathers has been the spokesman for several diabetes organizations. He received his B.A. in philosophy from the University of California, Berkeley, and he served in the military during the Vietnam War. He has played in a rock band, worked as a banker and real-estate developer and owned and operated a catering business. He has been married twice and has three children. He was born in 1948. You could say he’s been a busy Beaver!

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

2012 Gary Clothier