Ask Mr. Know It All

By Gary Clothier

Q. I would like to know the dates of birth and death of the men who performed as the Three Stooges.

W.M.B., Media, Pa.

A. Moe Howard was born June 19, 1897, in Bensonhurst, N.Y.; he died May 4, 1975, at age 77. His real name was Moses Horwitz.

Larry Fine was born Louis Feinberg Oct. 5, 1902, on the south side of Philadelphia. He died Jan. 24, 1975, at age 72.

Curly Howard’s real name was Jerome Lester Horwitz. He was born Oct. 22, 1903, in Bath Beach, a summer resort in Brooklyn, N.Y. He died Jan. 18, 1952, at age 48 after a series of strokes.

Shemp Howard was born Samuel Horwitz in Brooklyn, N.Y., on March 17, 1895. Shemp’s nickname came from his mother’s pronunciation of the name Sam, which sounded like Shemp in her European accent. He died Nov. 23, 1955, at age 60.

Joe Besser was brought in to replace Shemp after his death in 1955. Besser was born Aug. 12, 1907, in St. Louis. He died March 1, 1988, at age 80.

The last Stooge, Curly Joe DeRita was born Joseph Wardell on July 12, 1909, in Philadelphia. He died July 3, 1993, at age 83.

DID YOU KNOW?

Early in his career, John Wayne made several films as a singing cowboy. A singer hidden off camera supplied the singing voice.

Q. My grandfather served in World War I. I used to ask him about the war, but he never wanted to talk about it any more than my dad did about his experiences in World War II. A few years ago I was elated to be given a box of letters my grandfather wrote to his parents during the war years. He was in the Navy and was stationed in South Carolina for a bit before going to Europe. He made several references to “Betsy.” Was there a ship by that name? Maybe he was referring to a girlfriend? I would love to know.

J.H., Summerville, S.C.

A. From what you told me, I suspect he is referring to the USS Miss Betsy (SP-151). She was a motorboat assigned to the 6th Naval District at Charleston, S.C., and served as a dispatch and mail delivery vessel from 1918 to 1919.

According to The Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, in 1916, Miss Betsy was built by E.S. Thibault in Jacksonville, Fla., as a civilian motorboat. The U.S. Navy acquired her on April 12, 1918, under a free lease from her owner, M.R. Ballantyne of South Montrose, Pa., for naval district use during World War I. She was commissioned Sept. 21, 1918. Miss Betsy was returned to her owner Jan. 17, 1919.

Q. What happened to Fred Savage from the TV series “The Wonder Years”?

W.A.S., Minocqua, Wis.

A. Fred Savage is best known for his role as Kevin Arnold in the incredibly popular series “The Wonder Years” (1988-1993).

Savage was born in Chicago in 1976. He started acting at age 9. At age 12, and already a veteran actor, he was cast in the lead role of Kevin Arnold. He has appeared in nearly 40 TV shows and movies. He is an accomplished voice actor, producer and director. In 2004, he married his childhood sweetheart, and they have two children.

Q. Many years ago, I heard a phrase that I can now only paraphrase: “I will live my life as if there was a God hoping that I’m right when I die.” Can you tell me the correct wording? Who originated the phrase?

K.M., Bixby, Okla.

A. There are several variations of the phrase, but this is my longtime favorite: “I would rather live my life as if there is a God and die to find out there isn’t, than live my life as if there isn’t and die to find out there is.”

Albert Camus (1913-1960), the French author and philosopher, is credited with writing the sentiment.

Q. Who is Elizabeth Griscom Ross Ashburn Claypoole?

J.E.M, Statesville, N.C.

A. Oh, a trick question. Elizabeth Griscom Ross Ashburn Claypoole is better known as Betsy Ross, the icon who sewed the first American flag.

Q. As a kid I had plans to own and fly a Piper airplane. I’m now retired and that dream never materialized, but the fond memory lingers. When and where was the company founded? Was there a person named Piper?

C.C., Newport, Ore.

A. The Taylor Brothers Aircraft Manufacturing Co. was founded in 1927 in Rochester, N.Y. In late 1930, the company filed for bankruptcy, and William T. Piper purchased the assets for $761. In November 1937, it was renamed Piper Aircraft Corp.

Q. Where were/are Elro tractors made?

J.B., Beulah, N.D.

A. I think the name you are looking for is Ebro. Ebro trucks and tractors were manufactured in Spain.

Q. This question is rife for comment, but I’m serious: When is it legal for a deceased person to vote?

F.R.G., Bangor, Maine

A. OK, I’ll be serious. It is legal for a dead person to vote only when the deceased submitted an absentee or early ballot before dying. In the Jan. 7, 2005, edition of The Seattle Times, deputy elections manager Pamela Floyd said, “The day they [the deceased] cast their ballot is Election Day for them.”

Q. During the Super Bowl, there was a Pepsi commercial with someone who looked like Elton John. Was it Sir Elton? Who was the woman who sang?

C.B., Lynn, Mass.

A. In the commercial, contestants of a medieval music showdown must perform for the king to win a can of Pepsi. Sir Elton John played the king. Melanie Amaro, who won “The X Factor USA,” was the singer with the big voice. Flavor Flav also made a cameo.

Q. Who, if anyone, was the first person verified to have circled the entire Earth on foot?

T.L., Yuma, Ariz.

A. Dave Kunst is the first person to fit your answer. He began his journey on June 20, 1970, and finished on Oct. 5, 1974. Kunst walked 14,450 miles around theEearth (not including the oceans). On his walk, Kunst and his brother, John, were attacked in Afghanistan, and John was killed. While in Australia, Kunst met Jenni Samuel. They later married and are still married today.

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