Ask Mr. Know It All

By Gary Clothier

Q. Can you identify the baby on all of the Gerber baby food products?

B.G., Arcadia, Calif.

A. According to the company, in 1928 Gerber held a contest to find a face to represent a baby food ad campaign. Artist Dorothy Hope Smith entered her simple charcoal sketch of a darling baby with bright eyes and endearingly pursed lips. Smith noted that she would finish the sketch if she won. When it was chosen as the winner, the judges insisted that it remain a sketch. Smith’s image became the face that launched a brand, a face recognized and loved across the globe. It wasn’t until 1978 that the identity of the baby was revealed: The Gerber Baby is mystery novelist and retired English teacher Ann Turner Cook, who posed for neighbor Dorothy Hope Smith.

DID YOU KNOW?

“Meg Ryan” is an anagram of “Germany.”

Q. I watch reruns of “In the Heat of the Night,” and I am curious what happened to Alan Autry, David Hart, Geoffrey Thorne and Anne-Marie Johnson.

E.R.R., Etowah, Tenn.

A. After the show was canceled in 1995, Alan Autry continued to act. In November 2000, he was elected mayor of Fresno, Calif., serving for two four-year terms. Autry has hosted a radio news talk show in Fresno since September 2008.

David Hart continues acting on the stage. Geoffrey Thorne turned his talents to writing, most recently for “Ben 10: Ultimate Alien” and “Leverage.” Anne-Marie Johnson continues acting, appearing in more than 70 movies and TV shows.

DID YOU KNOW?

Tennessee Williams wanted Meryl Streep for a film version of “A Streetcar Named Desire.” Streep was unavailable, so the project was refashioned for television and the role of Blanche was given to Ann-Margret. The program aired in 1984.

Q. There has been a Citibank TV commercial airing for a while featuring a young woman named L. Williams (on her credit card) who has gotten engaged. She and her fiance decide to go rock climbing instead of buying a ring. She climbs a, tall rock formation with a casual demeanor as the camera circles around her. Is this a real climb?

P.W., Naples, Fla.

A. The climber is Katie Brown. Katie is a real-life rock climber. As a matter of fact, she is ranked as one of the top climbers in the world. In 2008, she wrote a book, “Girl on the Rocks: A Woman’s Guide to Climbing With Strength, Grace and Courage.”

As for the other particulars about the commercial, I asked Citibank. Here is its response: “We’ve received a lot of feedback on the commercial, starting with the question: Was that a real climb? Indeed it was. It took place on a rock formation called ‘Ancient Art,’ part of the larger geological area known as Fisher Towers, roughly 20 miles northeast of Moab, Utah. In fact, as far as experienced rock climbing goes, the climb featured in the commercial is not thought to be particularly difficult. What did add to the challenge was the nearby helicopter that filmed it. The noise and rotor wash introduced obstacles not exactly typical for a climb. Even under those conditions, our fearless climbers made it look easy.”

The song is “Into the Wild” by LP.

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