Tommy Contest Page 5
of the River Region
May 15, 2018 Published by PTK Corp.
The Neatest Little Paper Ever Read® To place an Ad, call: (334) 202-7285 TIDBITS® HAS THE FACTS ON
TV HOSTS by Kathy Wolfe We’ve invited these people into our living room for decades. This week, Tidbits invites you to examine the details on these television hosts. • Dick Clark first gained real fame as the host of “American Bandstand” from 1957 to 1987, where many famous artists, including Prince, Jackson 5, Sonny and Cher, and Aerosmith, got their start. Clark’s first job in the broadcasting industry was at age 16 when he started as a mail clerk at a Rome, New York, radio station owned by his uncle. It didn’t take long for him to move into the relief weatherman slot. During college, Clark worked at a country music station, and after graduation, nabbed his first television host job, that of “Cactus Dick and the Santa Fe Riders,” a country music program. In later years, Clark hosted the game show “Pyramid,” and broadcast “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” live from Times Square from 1973 to 2004, when he suffered a stroke. • “Dancing with the Stars” host Tom Bergeron started out as a disc jockey at a Haverhill, Massachusetts, radio station. After appearing as a regular guest host on “Good Morning, America,” he became the host of “Hollywood Squares” in 1998, and was nominated for five Emmys. He moved on to “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” a position he held for 14 years. He’s been doing the dancing gig since 2005. • Nearly everyone recognizes the face of Pat Sajak, “Wheel of Fortune” host since 1983. But Sajak has a long list of other accomplishments. Born Patrick Sajdak, he started as a radio newsman while still in college, along with working as a hotel desk clerk. At 22, he served in the Vietnam War as a disc jockey for the American Forces Vietnam Network. After a few gigs as a broadcaster and weatherman, Sajak took the helm at the “Wheel.” Sajak was a regular substitute host for “Larry King Live” and “Live with Regis and Kelly,” as well as hosting his own short-lived late-night talk show and a program on the Fox News Channel. He also had a stint on the daytime soap opera “Days of Our Lives.” Sajak keeps his radio roots close, hosting a syndicated radio sports talk show, (Continued next page)
Vol 7 Issue 20 paul@riverregiontidbits.com
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Tidbits® of the River Region (Front page continued)
1. In the Bible’s King James translation there are more than how many references to gems and precious stones? 100, 500, 1,700, 2,200 2. Which book recounts the story of the Israelites wandering in the desert for 40 years? Titus, Hebrews, James, Romans 3. From 2 Samuel 14, how many shekels did Absalom’s hair weigh after he cut it off? 2, 10, 50, 200 4. Where did Jesus attend a wedding where the wine was exhausted? Sardis, Antioch of Syria, Joppa, Cana of Galilee 5. In Mark 6:9, Jesus tells his disciples not to put on two ...? Sandals, Coats, Headdresses, Girdles Comments? More Trivia? Visit www.TriviaGuy.com (c) 2018 King Features Synd., Inc.
By Chris Richcreek 1. Name the last Detroit Tigers pitcher before Justin Verlander in 2017 to record 10 strikeouts on opening day. 2. Who was the first third baseman to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame? 3. When was the last time before 2014-16 that Alabama’s football team won three straight Iron Bowl games against rival Auburn? 4. Who is the only player in NBA history with 25,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, 5,000 assists, 1,500 steals and 1,500 blocked shots for his career? 5. When was the last time before the 2017-18 NHL season that the Colorado Avalanche won at least nine games in a row? 6. Name the first rookie to win the NASCAR midsummer All-Star race. 7. Who was the last tennis player before Roger Federer in 2017 to capture the men’s singles title at Wimbledon without losing a set in the tournament? (c) 2018 King Features Syndicate, Inc.
as well as owning a radio station in Maryland. • Before there was Pat Sajak, there was Chuck Woolery, who was the first host of “Wheel of Fortune,” beginning in 1975. It wasn’t Woolery’s intention to host TV shows. After a stint in the U.S. Navy and a job as a salesman for Pillsbury, he headed to Nashville to form the rock band Avant Garde. After a Top 40 hit in 1968, the band recorded five records that went nowhere and became “one-hit wonders.” Merv Griffin chose Woolery to host his new game show “Wheel of Fortune,” where Woolery remained for the next six years. When the show’s ratings skyrocketed, Woolery demanded a salary increase from $65,000 a year to $500,000. His contract was not renewed and Sajak replaced him. After a twoyear hiatus, Woolery began his 11 years of hosting “Love Connection,” while hosting “Scrabble” at the same time. Woolery claims that during the 2,000 episodes of “Love Connection,” 22,000 couples met, resulting in 29 marriages and 15 children. He moved on to “The Dating Game” in 1997 for three seasons, and “Lingo,” which aired from 2002 to 2007. • Canada-born Alex Trebek has been the face of “Jeopardy” since 1984. After obtaining a degree in philosophy from the University of Ottawa, Trebek set out on a career in broadcasting, starting out with the Canadian Broadcasting Company as a newscaster and sportscaster. In 1973, at age 33, he moved to America and became the host of a new game show “The Wizard of Odds.” He moved on to “High Rollers” and “Battlestars” before the revival of “Jeopardy.” Trebek took on the hosting job of “Classic Concentration” in 1987 and “To Tell the Truth” in 1991, making history as the first person to host three game shows at the same time. Trebek is a renowned philanthropist, having donated $2 million worth of land in north Hollywood to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and $7.5 million to the University of Ottawa. He also funds a Leadership Award at the University to those who demonstrate community leadership. Trebek has participated in 13 USO tours, visiting American troops on several overseas military bases. In 2014, Trebek overtook Bob Barker’s record of the most gameshow episodes hosted on the same program. At that time, Trebek had hosted 6,829 episodes of “Jeopardy.” • Although Alex Trebek has gained fame as the host of “Jeopardy,” he wasn’t the first host. That honor belonged to Arthur Fleming Fazzin, better known as Art Fleming, who hosted the show from 1964 until 1974, and again for five months in 1978. After starring on Cornell University’s football and water polo teams, Fleming served in World War II as the pilot of a bomber for 3 ½ years. He already had a successful television, commercial, and film career by the time he was noticed by Merv Griffin on a television ad for Trans World Airlines. • Before “Jeopardy,” Art Fleming had already had a run in ABC’s series “International Detective,” and an NBC Western “The Californians.” In addition to 5,000 episodes of television programs, Fleming appeared in 48 movies. During his entire run of “Jeopardy,” Fleming never missed a single taping • “You might be a redneck” if you know much about stand-up comedian and host Jeff Foxworthy. This Georgia-born TV personality started out with a degree in computer technology and a job at IBM. Making people laugh became more important than the job, and he turned in his resignation. His hosting duties have included “Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?”, “The American Bible Challenge,” and “The American Baking Competition.” He’s the largest-selling comedy recording artist in history as well as the author of 26 books. Yet he takes time out each week to lead a Bible study with homeless men, a group that started out with 15 members, and has grown to more than 100. • Can you name all six of the hosts of the game show “Family Feud”? The program debuted in 1976 with Richard Dawson at the helm, where he remained until 1985. After a three-year hiatus, Ray Combs stepped in as host in 1988, and remained until 1994. Dawson then came back for a single season. Tragically, Combs committed suicide in 1996, in the process of being treated for depression. After another pause in production, comedian Louie Anderson took over, hosting from 1999 until 2002, when “Home Improvement” star Richard Karn replaced Anderson. John O’Hurley was next in line when Karn departed in 2006. O’Hurley hosted until 2010 when current host Steve Harvey joined the show. Since Harvey took over, ratings have increased dramatically, moving the show into the top five most popular syndicated TV shows in America.
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by Samantha Weaver * It was influential American science-fiction author Philip K. Dick who made the following sage observation: “Sometimes the appropriate response to reality is to go insane.” * The skin of the African elephant, the largest living land animal in the world, weighs 2,000 pounds by itself, and there are more than 60,000 muscles in its trunk alone. * You’ve almost certainly heard of narcolepsy, a medical condition that causes sufferers to sleep excessively, sometimes up to 18 hours a day. You’re probably not familiar with philagrypnia, though. People with this condition -- I won’t call them “sufferers” -- require only three or four hours of sleep a day. What would you do with all that extra time? * If you’re like most people, the length of your footprint is approximately 15 percent of your height. * While at a Turkish bath in San Francisco, Samuel Clemens -- better known to us as Mark Twain -- got involved in a chat with a local fireman. This may not seem at all interesting until you learn the name of that long-ago firefighter: Tom Sawyer. The author liked the name so much that today, American schoolkids all know it. * There is a law on the books in Maine that prohibits having your shoes untied in public. I assume that this one is not much enforced. * Ever had to make a large claim to your insurance company? If you thought it was a pain to fill out all the paperwork and explain what happened, consider the plight of the poor soul who had to handle the claim in 2006 when a guard dog mauled a teddy bear that once belonged to Elvis Presley -- the stuffed animal was valued at $80,000. *** Thought for the Day: “What this country needs is more free speech worth listening to.” -- Hansell B. Duckett (c) 2018 King Features Synd., Inc.
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Tidbits® of the River Region
Robertson, Terrance Black/Male 5’8” 150 lbs Age: 26 Hair: Black Eyes: Brown * On May 18, 1861, an obscure California newspaper casts first lady Mary Todd Lincoln in an unflattering light, saying she took it upon herself to appoint a stranger -- Mr. W.S. Wood -- to any office he desired. The reporter suggested that she had been smitten with Mr. Wood’s handsome features, luxuriant whiskers and graceful carriage.
Outstanding Warrants: Domestic Violence 1st-Rape
* On May 14, 1916, a lead article in the Times of London proclaims that an insufficiency of munitions is leading to defeat for Britain on the battlefields of World War I. It sparked a crisis on the home front, forcing the government to create a Ministry of Munitions. * On May 19, 1935, T.E. Lawrence, known to the world as Lawrence of Arabia, dies as a retired Royal Air Force mechanic living in a simple cottage under an assumed name. The legendary war hero, author and archaeological scholar succumbed to injuries suffered in a recent motorcycle accident. * On May 15, 1942, Lt. Ronald Reagan, a cavalry officer, applies for reassignment to the Army Air Force. The actor and future president was assigned as a public-relations officer for the First Motion Picture Unit. * On May 20, 1956, the United States conducts the first airborne test of an improved hydrogen bomb, dropping it from a plane over the tiny island of Namu in the Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. * On May 16, 1964, Mary Wells gives Motown Records its first No. 1 hit with “My Guy.” It would go on to release 32 more No. 1 hits in the next 10 years. * On May 17, 1973, in Washington, D.C., a Senate committee begins televised hearings on the escalating Watergate scandal. Former White House legal counsel John Dean testified that President Richard Nixon had been aware of the cover-up of the Watergate break-in. (c) 2018 Hearst Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Outstanding Warrants:
Mckee, Devntay DOB: 05/10/1990 Black/Male 5’7” 160 lbs Hair: Black Eyes: Brown
Wanted for: Failure to Appear Arson 2nd
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“Be known before you’re needed” Advertise with Tidbits (334) 202-7285 MORE TV HOSTS
1. Who was born Robert Allen Zimmerman? Name the first single he wrote and released. 2. Led Zeppelin ran into a small snag when the band flew into Singapore to do a concert. What happened? 3. Name the singer-songwriter who had a hit with “Crying.” 4. Which group released “Do You Remember Rock ‘n’ Roll Radio?” 5. Name the album with these two songs: “Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!” and “Fixing a Hole.” 6. Name the song that contains this lyric: “I’m rolling thunder, pouring rain/ I’m coming on like a hurricane.” Answers 1. Zimmerman was Bob Dylan’s birth name. His first single, “Mixed-Up Confusion” backed with “Corrina, Corrina,” was released in 1962. 2. Singapore officials wouldn’t let them off the plane because of their long hair. The concert, in 1972, was canceled. 3. Roy Orbison, in 1961. His song ranks No. 69 in Rolling Stone magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. 4. The Ramones, in 1980. All members of the group took on “Ramone” as their last name, starting with Douglas Colvin, who became Dee Dee Ramone. 5. The Beatles album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” in 1967. 6. “Hell’s Bells,” by AC/DC in 1980. A 2,000-pound cast bronze bell rings 13 times at the start of the song. (c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.
• Who hasn’t heard of Bob Barker, long-time host of “The Price is Right”? When World War II broke out, Barker enlisted in the U.S. Navy and trained as a fighter pilot. Post-war, he received a degree in economics. Barker’s first game show gig came along on the last day of 1956, hosting “Truth or Consequences” until 1974. “The Price is Right” started up in 1972, where Barker remained until 2007, collecting 14 Emmy Awards for Outstanding Game Show Host. He also served as the host of the Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants for 20 years, the longest-serving host of those pageants. • Former Marine Corps reservist, bank teller, Denny’s waiter, and stand-up comic Drew Carey took the reins from Bob Barker. Carey had starred in his own comedy show for nine years, starting out with a salary of $60,000 per episode, which was later raised to $300,000, and culminating at $750,000 per episode in the program’s final season. • Between 1961 and 1980, Allen Ludden was the host of television’s “Password.” Ludden was well-equipped to deal with the word game, having received a Master of Arts in English from the University of Texas. Prior to his show biz career, he had achieved the rank of captain in the U.S. Army during World War II, and was awarded a Bronze Star. He met his wife, actress Betty White, on “Password,” and the pair enjoyed nearly 18 years of marriage before Allen succumbed to stomach cancer in 1981. Betty White has never remarried, and is quoted as saying, “Once you’ve had the best, who needs the rest?” • Johnny Carson was another World War II veteran-turned-TV host, having served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Pennsylvania in the Pacific. As an ensign, he also was quite the amateur boxer with a record of 10-0. Johnny was a born entertainer, having purchased a magician’s kit at age 12, as well becoming adept at card tricks. He made his debut as “The Great Carson” at the local Kiwanis Club at age 14, wearing a cape sewn by his mother. He continued his magic shows into college while he majored in speech and drama. After graduation, he began his career in radio and television at an Omaha, Nebraska station. Carson became the host of “The Tonight Show” in 1962 and held the position until 1992, earning six Emmys over the years. • Long before “Deal or No Deal,” Howie Mandel owned a successful carpet business in Toronto. In his spare time, he did stand-up comedy at a small local comedy club. In 1982, he landed the role of Dr. Wayne Fiscus on television’s Emmy Awardwinning medical drama “St. Elsewhere,” a sixyear-run. At a time when he was contemplating quitting show business in 2003, he was offered the job of hosting “Deal,” hosting both the U.S. and Canadian versions. This job was made especially difficult by his struggles with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and mysophobia, an irrational fear of germs. Mandel did not shake hands with any of the contestants unless he was wearing latex gloves, preferring to do a “fist bump” instead. He has written about his anxiety disorder in his autobiography, Here’s the Deal: Don’t Touch Me, a New York Times bestseller.
Madison Sanders Please call 334-202-7285 to claim your prize!
Tommy Count ______ This week’s winner receives a
$25 Dollar Gift Certificate from
Plantation House Restaurant Register to win by sending an email to entertommycontest@gmail.com or USPS to PTK Corp., PO Box 264, Wetumpka, AL 36092 with the following information: 1) Your name (first and last), and, 2) the number of times you find Tommy in the ads in the paper. From the correct entries a winner will be selected. You must be 18 years of age to qualify. The gift certificates will range in value from $25 to $100 each week. Entries must be received by midnight each Friday evening.
Last Week’s Ads where
Tommy was hiding:
1. River Region Vision Source, p.1 2. Camellia Gardens, p.4 3. Sports Wearhouse, p.6
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TidbitsÂŽ of the River Region
“Be known before you’re needed” Advertise with Tidbits (334) 202-7285 FOOD OF THE WEEK:
V8
BIBLE TRIVIA ANSWERS:
1) 1700 2) Hebrews 3) 200 4) Cana of Galilee 5) Coats
1. Mickey Lolich, in 1970. 2. Jimmy Collins, in 1945. 3. It was 1990-92. 4. Kevin Garnett, who played in the NBA for 21 seasons. 5. It was the 2000-01 season. 6. Dale Earnhardt Jr., in 2000. 7. Bjorn Borg, in 1976.
“Wow, I could have had a V8!” goes the familiar advertising slogan. This week, Tidbits has the details about this longstanding beverage. • Back in 1933, W.G. Peacock, the founder of the New England Products Company, was manufacturing individual vegetable juices, using the brand name of Vege-min. His sales were less-thandesirable, so Mr. Peacock began experimenting with blending various juices together into one. He combined eight different vegetable juices – beets, celery, carrots, lettuce, parsley, watercress, spinach, and tomato – and called his concoction Vege-min 8.” An Evanston, Illinois, grocer recommended that Peacock abbreviate it to the simpler V8. • Peacock started production of V8 in the mid1930s, catering primarily to the New England states. But by 1938, he just couldn’t keep up with the demand, manufacturing it all entirely on his own. He sold the recipe to an Indiana firm, the Loudon Packing Company, who took over the processing. • Another change came along in 1943, when Loudon sold out to Standard Brands for $3 million. Five years later, when gross annual sales were nearing $5 million, V8 was sold to the Campbell’s Soup Company, who still owns the V8 brand today. The recipe, which is 87% tomato juice, remains the same. Campbell’s has expanded the vegetable line to include spicy hot, lemon, picante, and roasted chicken. An 8-oz. serving contains 60 calories. Compare this to 112 calories for the same amount of orange juice or 110 calories in apple juice. • A study by the Centers for Disease Control reveals that only about 25% of Americans eat enough of the recommended allowance of vegetables – 2.5 cups daily. • V8 isn’t all about vegetables these days. The company has introduced three spin-offs – V8 Energy, V8 Splash, and V8 V-Fusion. The energy drinks add 80 mg. of caffeine from green tea to a fruit and vegetable blend. The V-Fusion line has added a few different vegetables – sweet potatoes, squash, yellow tomatoes, and purple carrots – to a variety of fruits juices, including acai berries. The acai is a one-inch-long purplish fruit from the acai palm tree, native to Central and South America, and richer in antioxidants than several other berries. • Another V8 ingredient, watercress, is a fastgrowing aquatic plant, one of the oldest-known leaf vegetables. It’s related to the mustard plant, radish, and wasabi. Watercress, a plant with hollow stems, is 95% water, and is exceptionally rich in Vitamin K, necessary for the body’s blood coagulation. • Although we think of parsley primarily as a garnish or decoration on the dinner plate, it’s actually a good source of folic acid, Vitamins A and C, and antioxidants lycopene and beta carotene. • W. G. Peacock probably didn’t know about all the health benefits of celery juice, including its strong anti-inflammatory properties. Its nutrients also seem to help lower high blood pressure, and well as a treatment for kidney stones. Its high levels of electrolytes also seem to contribute to increased relaxation and restful sleep. • There have been several well-known advertising slogans over the years. In the 1960s, the catchphrase was “Wow, it sure doesn’t taste like tomato juice!”, which was expanded in later decades to include “Drink V8 & Keep Your Diet Straight,” and “Drink it. Feel it.” The familiar “I could have had a V8” was introduced in the 1980s.
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‘Happy Mother’s Day’ Greetings in 3-D Increasingly, 3-D technology is a part of our everyday lives. If your family has ever watched a 3-D movie, you’ve seen objects seemingly float off the screen, and 3-D printers are now making body parts and car parts. Enjoy creative time together wishing mom, grandmother, a special aunt or friend a happy Mother’s Day on May 13 with this playful 3-D greeting. Adding the third dimension of depth to a usually “flat” craft project is a no-tech entrance for kids into the 3-D world using the simplest of household basics: corrugated cardboard from an empty box, scissors, paint and markers. The unique greeting uses a clever construction technique where the kids assemble two identical interlocking pieces they’ve designed themselves to give the creation an exciting added dimension. Get started by making a 3-D flower bloom or shrub in three easy steps. Use the same steps to make other objects, if you prefer. 1. On a piece of cardboard from a box approximately 7 inches by 10 inches, sketch a simple flower bloom, shrub or cactus shape growing out of a clay pot. (For extra fun in making the shrub/cactus design, have your child wear a mitten and place her hand on the cardboard. Trace around the mitten to create the shrub/cactus shape.) 2. Cut out the drawing. (An adult may have to help with this step.) 3. Trace the original cutout shape onto another piece of cardboard and cut out the second shape. Color with markers or paint both sides of each cutout, making them look as similar as possible. 4. Mark the center point on the surface of each cutout. On one piece, cut a 1/8-inch slit (or as wide as the thickness of the cardboard) starting at the top of the object and going down to that mark. On the other, cut a slit from the bottom of the flowerpot going up. Slide one piece onto the other. 5. Write a “Happy Mother’s Day” message directly on the 3-D greeting, such as “My love for you grows and grows.” Place on a “breakfast in bed” tray or at the table on her day. If your child is making and sending one in the mail to another family member or friend, add a little note telling the recipient to slide one piece into the other for the 3-D greeting. *** Donna Erickson’s award-winning series “Donna’s Day” is airing on public television nationwide. To find more of her creative family recipes and activities, visit www.donnasday.com and link to the NEW Donna’s Day Facebook fan page. Her latest book is “Donna Erickson’s Fabulous Funstuff for Families.” (c) 2018 Donna Erickson Distributed by King Features Synd.
Tidbits® of the River Region