h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I think you are right Feisor.

Ah, it would seem that this is the night of quickly answered questions. Perhaps the question should have asked for the character's name rather than just the title of the book, but as it stand, yes Feisor, I was referring to the Cyclops in The Odyssey. As you didn't give me his name, you receive no brownie points, but as per the rules, you now get to set the next question.

I remember the cyclop' names were Arges, Steropes and Brontes
Does that mean that I get 3 brownie points??

Here's one for the epistemophiliacs

Question: Bud Collyer took his place in history Feb 12, 1940 - what did he do?

He acted the role of Superman on the radio.

Arges, Steropes and Brontes? Actually, I don't remember those Cyclops...I was looking for Polyphemus, but what the hell? Brownie points for everyone!

*wanders in blowing his runny nose, sneezing and coughing*

Ah geeeeez, I've missed three questions already.

*sniffle, a-choo, etc*

Excuse me for a moment....

*wanders off to make hot toddy and pass out*

Well I declare (OK, OK, I know - I've been - But I'm better now - )....

The Winner is...

Drum Roll....
..
,..


...

176645

As they were the first with the correct answer with an explanation (it was right - although Mycroft, I think it was, fleshed out the details - so if I was giving points I'd give 176645 1 point and Mycroft (I think) 0.5 points)

No backing out now jwf - you were the one who wanted them to come thick and fast in the first place!

Hmmm Superman looks right to me too....

No ... sorry
There is a Superman connection - but he did NOT play the role of Superman

According to loads of articles on the net, he did play the voice of superman. For example,

"1940 - Mutual Radio presented the first broadcast of the comic-strip hero, "Superman". The identity of the man from planet Krypton was unknown to listeners for six years. The secret eventually leaked out that Superman’s voice was actually that of Bud Collyer, who would later host the hit television program, "To Tell the Truth" on CBS."

Feisor, I think you're trying to say he was the voice of Clark Kent, but he actually did both voices.

*aside to TC: point taken
..maybe what we need is another thread with a 'no search engines' rule ..then people old enough to remember 1940's radio ( no not me, honest!) could exercise their memory bones. Could call it the 'Font of Knowledge' thread...

But then we'd miss out on all these interesting 'search results'.
Tis a quandry indeed. But I'm kinda happy with things the way they are going for now. There seems to be a few people following the thread for now anyway..*


peace
jwf

I notice Feisor gives the exact date of 12 February.

Everyone seems to agree that Bud Collyer did play Superman on the radio in 1940 but where was he on 12 February?

Perhaps he was home writing the line that was used to signify flying on the radio but had not a appeared in the comics -UP UP and Awaaaaaaaaaaaaaay

176645

I, too, thought that the date may be important, but after doing a search (What? You got a problem with that?), it seems that February 12 was the date that the first Superman radio show aired. Perhaps Bud Collyer "took his place in history" twice in the same day?

Yes, I'm sure that's it: he probably stopped off at the diner on his way to work and set the world record for waffle-eating while studying his script.

That would explain why Superman kept cursing, "Damn sticky syrup, damn!" I always thought that Stickysyrup was just one of the lesser known supervillains.

Well my sources list Mr Collyer as the first man to utter the immortal words "Look, up in the sky, it's a bird, it's a plane, it's Superman!" Date: Feb 12, 1940.

He may well have played the part of Superman as well

I pass the baton to Gnomon

Oh great, now we'll get a question on some obscure Irish folklore. Or at least something to chew on.
BTW - y'all know that the creator of Superman comics was a Canadian. Well now you do.
peace
jwf

For jwf, here's something to chew on... a piece of moose jerky. For the rest of you, here's an easy musical question:

How many tons of coffee are there in Brazil?