What was the first ‘spin-off’ series in broadcasting history?

Time. Amazing how it moves in only one direction, isn’t it?

If you could go back in time, to any one event in your life, which one would you choose?

I was asked that question not long ago, and it made me think (and yes, I got a headache from it). After much cogitating, I realized I couldn’t pick just one event to revisit. If I’m going to revisit, let’s see ’em all.

One thing I’d never go back and change is my beginning this silly column since I’ve learned that it means as much to you as it does to me. So let’s cut out the foolishness and get to why you’re here … the trivia!

Enjoy, friends.

Did you know …

… the first long-lasting lipstick was created in the 1940s? Devised by chemist Hazel Bishop (1906-1998), the lipstick was the first “no-smear” formula designed to last for hours after application. Bishop used her success with that invention to form her own cosmetics company. Additional trivia note: Bishop was the first woman to appear alone in a photograph on the cover of Business Week magazine in 1951.

… diet soda floats in water, but regular soda doesn’t? The reason is the sugar in the drink. Sugar makes regular soda more dense than diet soda. (It also makes those who drink it more dense.)

… the state of Maine has an official treat? Since the 1920s, Maine has been the home of the Whoopie Pie – two cakelike cookies with frosting in the middle. It was declared the official state treat in 2011. (Whoopie!!!)

… the oldest tavern in the United States still in operation is in Rhode Island? The White Horse Tavern in the city of Newport opened in 1673 and has been open ever since. (Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name, after all.)

… one cannot see the Sun or the stars from the surface of Venus? The planet’s thick atmosphere has so many cloud levels that a person standing on the surface would never actually see the Sun, stars, or anything else except an orange haze. (Of course, if you’re standing on Venus – under all that atmospheric pressure and in all that heat – where the Sun is would be the least of your concerns.)

… the first true broadcasting “spin-off” series occurred in radio? From 1935 to 1959, one of the most popular programs on radio was Fibber McGee and Molly, starring the husband and wife team of Jim (1896-1988) and Marian Jordan (1898-1961). One of the characters on that show was a blowhard named Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve, played by Harold Peary (1908-1985). In 1941, Peary’s character was given his own series titled The Great Gildersleeve, making his show the first actual spin-off from an existing series. The Great Gildersleeve lasted until 1958, and both it and Fibber were made into short-lived television programs as well. Additional trivia note: Peary was talked into moving his series from NBC to CBS in 1950, but the sponsor, Kraft Foods, refused to allow the move – though the actor had already signed a contract. Peary was thus unable to continue legally in the role, so the part of Gildersleeve was recast with actor Willard Waterman (1914-1995), whose voice bore an uncanny resemblance to that of Peary. The two men were good friends, and as a mark of respect, Waterman refused to do the iconic just-this-side-of-nasty laugh of Peary’s Gildersleeve character on his version of the show.

… only one college in the New England colonies remained open throughout the U.S. Revolutionary War? Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, was the only one to keep its doors open during the war, which lasted from April 15, 1775 until September 3, 1783. (Offering degrees in revolution, I don’t doubt.)

… Darth Vader wasn’t always supposed to be the father of Luke Skywalker? Fans of the Star Wars series of movies were shocked when in episode 5, The Empire Strikes Back, it was revealed that the Dark Lord of the Sith was the father of the hero of the series. But in the early drafts of the movie, Vader wasn’t Luke’s daddy at all. In fact, an unnamed elder Skywalker was supposed to appear as a “Force ghost” while Luke was training with a Jedi named Minch, who eventually became Yoda. (Holy dramatic turn, Batman!)

… an element on the periodic table is named after the capital of Denmark? The silvery metal hafnium (Hf), element 72, was named for the city in which it was discovered: Copenhagen, Denmark. Its discovery in 1923 was achieved by scientists Dirk Coster (1889-1950) and George de Hevesy (1885-1966). Its existence was predicted by Dmitri Mendeleev (1834-1907) as he was formulating the periodic table of elements. It was the next-to-last stable element to be discovered. Why is it called hafnium, you wonder? In Latin, Copenhagen is called Hafnia.

… the Great Lakes feature a lake on an island in a lake on an island? Bear with me a moment. Lake Huron has numerous islands, one of which is Manitoulin Island. On this island, there is a lake called Lake Mindemoya. Inside that lake is a small island known as Treasure Island, also called “the largest island in a lake on an island in a lake in the world.” (I hope you followed all that. My head hurts.)

… the athlete who earned the most money in history lived in ancient Rome? Gaius Appuleius Diocles (104 AD-146 AD) was a charioteer in the days of the Roman Empire. He is cited as the highest-paid athlete of all time, having amassed in his career earnings that, in today’s money, would be around $15 billion, according to some sources. (And his agent would get ten percent of it.)

Now … you know!

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