No trivia quiz can go long without resorting to that ancient standby of the factoid: the fascinating lives of America's celebrities. Today the Wombat File offers its own People-magazine-ready bit of quizliness:
He was born in Richmond, Virginia, in 1878. He first performed in beer gardens, and then on the stage. He appeared in fourteen films, most frequently opposite one of the biggest film stars of the day, and in a celebrated adaptation of a Gilbert & Sullivan operatta at the 1939 World's Fair . At his death in 1949, his body lay "in state" in New York City, where late in life he was particularly honored.
By what nickname was this famous man widely known?
First correct answer posted to coments wins an Indian Lake ashtray that Theresa insists I get rid of. No Googling or hiring a crack team of round-the-clock researchers. One guess per comment, but comment as often as you like.
Lou Catron
Posted by: teenidol on January 16, 2004 10:57 AMRudolf Valentino
(as played by Lou Catron)
Posted by: teenidol on January 16, 2004 11:00 AMJim Crow
Posted by: Scott on January 16, 2004 11:03 AMI think we're ignoring the obvious here. Before his career really took off after the lying in state thing, this was all done by Robert Hope, nickname "Bob."
Posted by: Jonathan on January 16, 2004 11:13 AMOr maybe another sad throwback to America's shameful past -- "Corey Feldman"
Posted by: Scott on January 16, 2004 11:14 AMAl Jolson
Posted by: teenidol on January 16, 2004 11:22 AMNothin' yet...
Posted by: BT on January 16, 2004 11:33 AM"The Wombat"
Posted by: Scott on January 16, 2004 11:35 AMJohn Barrymore
Posted by: teenidol on January 16, 2004 11:39 AM(Drew's great[?]-grandfather)
Posted by: teenidol on January 16, 2004 11:40 AMBojangles.
W.C. Fields
Posted by: Jonathan on January 16, 2004 12:00 PMTiny Tim
Posted by: terry on January 16, 2004 12:02 PMPopeye
Posted by: teenidol on January 16, 2004 12:03 PMHackly takes it -- Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, tap-dance innovator, co-star with Shirley Temple, and honorary mayor of Harlem is the man we're looking for. That minor in Dance History is finally coming in handy!
So...sure is cold outside...
Posted by: BT on January 16, 2004 12:08 PMActually, I was thinking that living in Richmond for nearly a decade has finally paid off -- in ashtrays!
Posted by: hackly_fracture on January 16, 2004 01:06 PMDamn, and my next guess was Mark Bunster.
You can see I was getting closer and closer...
Posted by: teenidol on January 16, 2004 01:09 PMCorey Haim
Posted by: Scott on January 16, 2004 01:42 PMJust noticed over on MeFi and so bloody, bloody cool I had to make sure you all saw it too:
http://www.dream-dollars.com/
Posted by: BT on January 16, 2004 02:13 PMMy guess was going to be Bunster too--until I remembered I'm only 36.
(Hi gang!)
Posted by: torridjoe on January 29, 2004 04:30 PM