Monthly Archive: December 2011

Mary Tyler Moore Slideshow

In honor of her 75th birthday today, Styleist magazine has a slideshow of television star Mary Tyler Moore.

Dick Nixon Still Getting Kicked Around

A new book about President Richard Nixon claims he was wife-beating drunk who dabbled in Mafia man-love. But was he a good conservative?

Tarzan’s Cheetah Dies or Maybe Not

Cheetah, the chimpanzee co-star of 1930s Tarzan movies, has died at the age of 80.  Or maybe he was 82. And maybe he wasn’t really the same chimp from the movies. Still, he’s dead.

77 Years Later, Mr. Carol Channing is Dead

Harry Kullijian married Carol Channing nearly 70 years after they became childhood sweethearts. He passed away on Monday. Here’s their story.

Kim Jong-il, Super Jock

He bowled a 300 game, shot a 34 for 18 holes in his very first round of golf, and knocked out Muhammad Ali in a three-round exhibition bout. Which of these achievements did Kim Jong-il not claim?

When Is A Grant Not a Grant?

When his head is pasted onto another guy’s body (and horse), that’s when.

Happy Holidays from Who2!

Merry Christmas, and thanks for reading and supporting Who2 in 2011.  

It’s a Yuletide Stent for Prince Philip

The Prince was airlifted to Papworth Hospital after having chest pains at the Royal estate at Sandringham. Then came a visit from Stenta Claus.

The Biggest Christmas Day Movies

Many people like to go to the movies on Christmas Day. It doesn’t even matter if it’s a good movie. Here are the 10 highest-grossing movies that opened on December 25th.

Who is Kim Jong-un?

Kim Jong-un is Swiss-educated, a four-star general, and apparently the next ruler of North Korea. All this and he’s still under 30. (Maybe). What else do we know about Kim Jong-il’s favorite son?

Charlotte Brontë’s Expensive Little Book

A miniature book by Charlotte Brontë sold at auction this week for a sum that will make you think twice about throwing out your kid’s artwork.

Christopher Hitchens: Obituary First Lines

Troublemaker, charmer, provocateur, polemicist… that’s what the obituaries are calling Christopher Hitchens. He died yesterday in a Houston hospital at age 62. 

Fats Waller Is Clearly Planning to Misbehave

He may have written the song Ain’t Misbehavin’, but Fats Waller is obviously planning mischief in this photo from 1938.  God bless the collections of the Library of Congress.

The War In Iraq Is Officially Over

With 4,487 Americans dead and somewhere over 100,000 Iraqis dead (including Saddam Hussein), the American war in Iraq formally ended on Thursday.

Prince Albert Died 150 Years Ago

 Prince Albert, husband to Queen Victoria, died on this day 150 years ago. He was only 42 years old and left behind a widow with nine children.

Billy Graham and Woody Allen

This is how Billy Graham and Woody Allen look these days. They probably don’t see much of each other. But they once talked about religion on TV.

The LBJ Time Machine

It sounds more frightening than it is. The LBJ Time Machine is one example of how the U.S. National Archives are popularizing presidential history.

How the Grinch Stole the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

Here comes Hollywood’s unneeded, unwanted, and pointless remake of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. The hit novel was already made into a terrific movie, by Swedes, and it’s not going to get any better than Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth Salander.

And the Crowd Goes Wild

Indiana vs. Kentucky, buzzer-beaters, and students flooding the court: college basketball season is here.

Bob Hope Trivia

Bob Hope hurt his ankle in 1965, when someone “shoved him off the stage” in Thailand. Bob Hope used Brut 33 cologne and Gillette shaving cream. Quite by accident, I learned that and more this week.

Who Is Diego Rivera?

Diego Rivera is the subject of a Google Doodle today.  It’s his 125th birthday, Google tells us. But who is Diego Rivera?

Actor Harry Morgan Dies

Actor Harry Morgan, who played Colonel Sherman Potter on the TV series M*A*S*H, has died after a bout with pneumonia. He was 96.

The World’s Longest-Reigning Monarch

Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej turned 84 years old yesterday. He’s been the king since 1946 — that’s more than 65 years on the throne. Who’s the second longest-reigning monarch?

Who Designed the Oreo?

491 billion sold, and they still don’t know who designed the iconic Oreo cookie.

Sorry We Missed Your Birthday, Dude

Oscar winner Jeff Bridges turned 62, yesterday. And we missed it. So happy belated birthday, with a few photos.

This Week in Biography: From Mozart to Mitty

 From the death of the Salzburg Stallion to the birth of America’s greatest Secretary of Transportation, it all happened on this week in history.

Pappy Boyington Was Born 99 Years Ago

If he’d waited a few days he could have been born on December 7th, Pearl Harbor Day. Which would have been fitting. 

Cain Train: Pain Reigns

Presidential candidate Herman Cain says he will “suspend” his campaign. He says all the rumors about adultery cause too much pain for his wife and family, and he also says a bunch of other stuff.

Stalin’s Daughter’s Wild Ride

Joseph Stalin’s daughter, Svetlana Alliluyeva — also known as Lana Peters — died last week  in Wisconsin at the age of 85. Hers was quite a story.