For All of You Trivia Buffs (Part 1) - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

tv star collector · 08-03-2008, 06:51 PM

1. Why is "the life of Riley" so terrific?
The life of Riley is a life of easy days and carefree nights. It's an odd expression because the real Mr. Riley was anything but lazy. "Riley" was poet
James Whitcomb Riley, who wrote poems like "The Old Swimmin' Hole," which
glorified the fast-fading innocence of the 19th century and comforted those
who had already missed it. But it wasn't just the subject matter of his poems
that inspired the expression. It was the fact that Riley's writings made him
rich, the wealthiest American author of his day.

2. Why do so many cartoon characters have only four fingers?
It's a matter of time and economy. Before computers took over many of the
artistic chores, each frame of an animated cartoon had to be drawn by hand.
In the middle 1920s, Walt Disney, as well as other producers, realized that if
the animators had one less finger to draw on each hand, not only would
viewers probably not notice, but the artists would be able to spend a few
minutes less drawing each individual "cel." That would shave days off the
production of each short subject, and weeks on the production of each
feature!

3. Did anyone ever really "kick the bucket"?
Yes indeed, though the phrase originally described dying by suicide. In
medieval times, suicide victims usually did themselves in by tying a rope to
their neck, slinging it over a rafter, and then leaping off a water bucket or
milk pail. Most of the victims writhed and convulsed as they strangled--and,
more often than not, they kicked the bucket during their struggles.

4. Why is the South called "the land of Dixie"?
Believe it or not, it had nothing to do with Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon,
the 18th century surveyors whose Mason/Dixon line separated the North from
the South. Nor did it come from Mr. Dixie, a kindly slave owner. Early in the
19th century, a New Orleans bank issued 10 dollar bills that bore the word
dix, the French word for 10, on their face. The bills became known as
"dixies," and possessing them was a symbol of prosperity. Therefore, they
became synonymous with the South. What's surprising, though, is where the
theme song of the Confederacy came from. "Dixie" was actually composed by
a black Northerner, Daniel B. Emmett. It was first performed in a Broadway
show in 1860.

AB · 08-04-2008, 07:38 PM

I knew about #3 but not the others.

Tweety · 08-05-2008, 09:42 PM

Very nice stuff

I knew about the "four finger animation" and the SOS bit (but not the origin of "Mayday")

Thanks....Good job!

Furienna · 08-13-2008, 08:56 PM

I didn't know either one of those (even though I think I've heard number 4 once). Good job!

08-03-2008, 06:51 PM	#1
tv star collector I Love Susie Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 4,486	For All of You Trivia Buffs (Part 1) 1. Why is "the life of Riley" so terrific? The life of Riley is a life of easy days and carefree nights. It's an odd expression because the real Mr. Riley was anything but lazy. "Riley" was poet James Whitcomb Riley, who wrote poems like "The Old Swimmin' Hole," which glorified the fast-fading innocence of the 19th century and comforted those who had already missed it. But it wasn't just the subject matter of his poems that inspired the expression. It was the fact that Riley's writings made him rich, the wealthiest American author of his day. 2. Why do so many cartoon characters have only four fingers? It's a matter of time and economy. Before computers took over many of the artistic chores, each frame of an animated cartoon had to be drawn by hand. In the middle 1920s, Walt Disney, as well as other producers, realized that if the animators had one less finger to draw on each hand, not only would viewers probably not notice, but the artists would be able to spend a few minutes less drawing each individual "cel." That would shave days off the production of each short subject, and weeks on the production of each feature! 3. Did anyone ever really "kick the bucket"? Yes indeed, though the phrase originally described dying by suicide. In medieval times, suicide victims usually did themselves in by tying a rope to their neck, slinging it over a rafter, and then leaping off a water bucket or milk pail. Most of the victims writhed and convulsed as they strangled--and, more often than not, they kicked the bucket during their struggles. 4. Why is the South called "the land of Dixie"? Believe it or not, it had nothing to do with Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon, the 18th century surveyors whose Mason/Dixon line separated the North from the South. Nor did it come from Mr. Dixie, a kindly slave owner. Early in the 19th century, a New Orleans bank issued 10 dollar bills that bore the word dix, the French word for 10, on their face. The bills became known as "dixies," and possessing them was a symbol of prosperity. Therefore, they became synonymous with the South. What's surprising, though, is where the theme song of the Confederacy came from. "Dixie" was actually composed by a black Northerner, Daniel B. Emmett. It was first performed in a Broadway show in 1860.

08-04-2008, 07:38 PM	#2
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,429	I knew about #3 but not the others.

08-05-2008, 09:42 PM	#3
Tweety Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 18, 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 6,804	Very nice stuff I knew about the "four finger animation" and the SOS bit (but not the origin of "Mayday") Thanks....Good job!

08-13-2008, 08:56 PM	#4
Furienna Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Oct 22, 2006 Location: Örnsköldsvik, Sweden Posts: 6,277	I didn't know either one of those (even though I think I've heard number 4 once). Good job!