Ask Mr. Know It All

By Gary Clothier

Q. Whatever happened to the three guys who made up the musical group Bros in the late ’80s? They were a huge success and then disappeared.

A.R., Hermosa Beach, Calif.

A. In 1986, in Surrey, England, twin brothers Matt and Luke Goss along with Craig Logan formed a band called Bros — which rhymes with “cross.” Before the band broke up in 1992, it became one of Britain’s biggest musical acts with hits like “When Will I Be Famous?” and “I Owe You Nothing.”

Matt Goss went on to have a successful solo career. Luke Goss moved to the U.S. and became a film actor. Craig Logan became involved in music management and established himself as a successful songwriter. In 2008, there was talk of the band re-forming, but that moment came and went.

Q. I grew up on the East Coast in the late ’50s. There was a weekly talent show called “The Ted Mack Amateur Hour.” Did any of the acts from that show ever make the big time? I guess it was a prelude to “American Idol” without all the fluff.

D.W., Manhattan Beach, Calif.

A. “The Original Amateur Hour” has its roots in radio. Major Edward Bowes created the program in 1934; Bowes also played the role of master of ceremonies. He left the show in 1945. Ted Mack, Bowes’ assistant, took over hosting duties in 1948. At the same time, the program made its debut on DuMont Television Network with Mack as host. When “The Original Amateur Hour” was canceled in September 1970, it had the distinction of being one of only a few TV shows to have appeared on all four television networks.

Some contestants did, in fact, become at least minor celebrities, but only a few became really big stars. In the early TV days, two of the greatest successes were Gladys Knight and Pat Boone. Success stores later in the show’s history include Ann-Margret and Irene Cara. During its radio days (which lasted until 1952), the biggest success was Frank Sinatra, who appeared as the front man for the Hoboken Four.

Q. Is John Russell (who starred in the Western “Lawman”) the husband of actress Jane Russell? And is he still living?

C.A.B., York, Pa.

A. John Lawrence Russell (1921-1991) was an American actor and World War II veteran. He is most noted for playing Marshal Dan Troop in the successful ABC television Western “Lawman” from 1958 to 1962. He was married twice; neither of his spouses was named Jane Russell.

Ernestine Jane Geraldine Russell (1921-2011) was an American film actress. She was one of Hollywood’s leading sex symbols in the 1940s and 1950s. Russell walked down the aisle three times, but with only one John — John Calvin Peoples.

Q. In baseball, an easy-to-catch high pop fly to the outfield is called a “can of corn.” Why?

D.D., Studio City, Calif.

A. As I often say, there are a lot of theories on this, but this one makes an awful lot of sense to me. Let’s take a look at the “easy catch” part. In the 19th century, a grocer’s method of getting canned goods down from high shelves was to use a stick with a hook on the end. The grocer would tip the canned item and let it fall into his open apron. Corn was often the most popular canned item in a store, so it was stocked on a lower shelf, making for an easy catch.

Another theory states that in the very early days of baseball, the outfield was called the “cornfield.” In early amateur baseball, especially in the Midwest, the outfield may have been a farm field. Think of the movie “Field of Dreams.”

Q. I keep hearing the U.S. Mint wants to discontinue making the penny. Why? Doesn’t it realize it will cost consumers a ton of money with retailers rounding up the price of each item on the shelf? What is its reason for wanting to discontinue the coin?

C.L.N., Plymouth, Mich.

A. First, this is not a Mint decision. The U.S. Mint executes policy, it does not create it. It is the U.S. Congress that establishes policy. According to the Numismatic News, it costs 2.41 cents to make a penny.

As for your concern about skyrocketing prices, it doesn’t have to be that way. Retailers could continue to price goods using the current system.

When you check out, the total bill would then be rounded off if paying with cash. If paying with plastic, the correct amount could be processed.

DID YOU KNOW?

Six years before the project was actually filmed, Julia Roberts was cast in the role of Viola in “Shakespeare in Love,” but the project was dropped. Gwyneth Paltrow won an Oscar for her portrayal of Viola in 1998.

Q. Is it true that Andrea Bocelli wanted to study law before becoming one of the world’s greatest opera singers? How long has he been blind?

W.M., Houston

A. Bocelli was born in September 1958 near Pisa, Italy. He was born with poor eyesight, which he lost completely at age 12 after a soccer accident. He graduated from the University of Pisa with a law degree, which he used for one year as a court-appointed lawyer before beginning his extraordinary career in opera.

Q. In the movie “War Horse,” where did they find Joey, and how many horses were used to play Joey? Where was the movie filmed?

S.T., East Peoria, Ill.

A. Fourteen horses were used as the main horse character, Joey. Eight of the horses portrayed Joey as an adult, four as a colt and two as foals. The chief horse trainer was Los Angeles-based Bobby Lovgren, who has trained horses for “Seabiscuit,” “Cowboys and Aliens” and “The Legend of Zorro.” The movie was filmed in various English locales, including south Devon.

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