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Question 1:
Back in the mid 1960`s was a music and dance show called Where The Action Is. This Dick Clark production featured rock groups such as The Robbs, Paul Revere & The Raiders, and The Knickerbockers. The show also had a dance troupe called The Action Kids. One of the Action Kids was Joy Ciro, who married singer Bobby Hatfield. My question is: What ever happened to Joy Ciro?
Answer :
Dear Yearning for Joy,
It turns out that Joy Ciro is one mysterious lady. A quick google search reveals that many an Action Kid fan is asking the same question to no avail. QB, Private Eye, wasn’t able to find much, but there are a few details that will hopefully be somewhat useful in your continued quest for the lowdown on Ms. Ciro.
As can be imagined, most of the small tidbits of information out there about Joy Ciro are in connection to her famous former husband, Bobby Hatfield, of the Righteous Brothers. So QB reviewed your case with a bit of a backwards approach…first find out Bobby Hatfield’s timeline, and then try to discover where Ms. Ciro fits into the picture. QB relied on newspapers, biographies and obituaries, as these accounts tend to best sum up major events and relationships in a person’s life.
According to newspapers like The Independent and the Orange County Register, Bobby Hatfield died in 2003. Further, it was stated in his obituary that he was married for 24 years to a second wife, Linda. Basic math led QB to the conclusion that Linda and Bobby were married in or around 1979. Further, TV.com stated that he married Joy Ciro in 1966. So one known fact finally emerges: Joy and Bobby lost that lovin’ feeling and divorced sometime between 1966 and 1979. An obituary for Bobby also reveals that he had two children from a previous marriage named Bobby Jr. and Kalin. Since he only had one previous marriage, it is safe to assume that Joy Ciro was most likely the mother of the two children (though not confirmed). Two other fun facts QB ran across in the Orange County Register about Joy Ciro’s life are that she also danced for a production called “The T.A.M.I. Show” as well as with Chuck Berry and Teri Garr on stage during said show.
Unfortunately this is all of the action that this kid was unable to unearth about Joy Ciro without direct access to public records that might shed light on her life or name variations (such as marriage records, birth certificates, etc.), but QB hopes that these clues can start you in the right direction as you sleuth for more answers to this mystery.
*Disclaimer: QB was unable to confirm if Joy Ciro was a birth or stage name. Name variations searched include Joy Ciro, Joy Hatfield, and Joy Ciro-Hatfield. It is possible she remarried and took a new name as well and may be considerations you’ll want to take into account in further research.
May Joy Find You,
QB
Sources :
(1) The Orange County Register
(2) The Independent
(3) TV.com
(4) IMDB
(5) History, Philosophy, & Newspaper Library
(6) Biography Resource Center
Call Number :
Location :
Date Answered :
3/30/2011
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Question 2:
What are some catchy songs to play in a band that consists of drums, bass, piano, trumpets, sax, tenor sax and guitar?
Answer :
Dear Song Seeker,
As a life-long lover of all things "the arts", QB is always happy to help pave the way for emerging fellow artists. And yet, while your question certainly brought music to QB’s ears (in particular Jeopardy’s “Think Music”), QB is hesitant to suggest specific songs. For, what is it that makes a song “catchy”? Certainly “catchy” songs are the ones that get stuck in our heads, but “catchiness” also implies a certain subjectivity. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, something that is “catchy” is “adapted to catch the attention or fancy; attractive, ‘taking.’” While there may be some similarities between your tastes and QB’s, QB imagines that our fancies do not always overlap.
Still, QB was intent upon helping you and your (rather large) band move forward in your quest to play catchy music. But, a quick Google search for “catchy songs” only complicated the matter, with suggestions ranging from “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” by Marilyn Monroe to “Achy Breaky Heart” by Miley Cyrus’s dad. Not one to give up easily, QB turned to the Music Library here at the University of Illinois. As librarian Kirstin Dougan noted, your band’s instrumentation is not standard for big bands or pop, so it’s hard to determine what era or type of music you’d like. She encourages you to contact the Music Library, where they will be glad to help you identify and find the music for catchy tunes your band can play. But, before you do, check out www.allmusic.com and select a couple of bands or songs that reflect the kind of catchiness you’re going for -- this will greatly assist the librarians in identifying other music your band will love.
Perhaps this is unsatisfying and you really did understand the subjectivity of catchiness and just wanted to benefit from QB’s exquisite taste. QB understands. Why not check out Stevie Wonder’s early work? For who wouldn’t want to rock out to “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” with 8 of their closest friends?
QB would also like to recommend the following book, should you ever be interested in creating catchy tunes of your own:
The Billboard Guide to Writing and Publishing Songs that Sell: How to Create Hits in Today’s Music Industry by Eric Beall
http://vufind.carli.illinois.edu/vf-uiu/Record/uiu_5760713
You also might find inspiration browsing the library’s online Sheet Music Collection, available here:
http://www.library.illinois.edu/mux/about/collections/specialcollections/muxcat.html
Yours,
QB
Sources :
Oxford English Dictionary
Call Number :
Location :
Date Answered :
3/30/2011
Question 3:
In your opinion, what is the best Lady Gaga song? There are so many out there it is hard to choose. Signed, Gaga for Gaga
Answer :
Dear Gaga for Gaga,
Let it be known that QB is writing this while wearing lobster shoes, a hair telephone and a meat dress, for nothing like Lady Gaga gets QB off the wall and onto the floor to “Just Dance.”
QB would like to answer your query in two ways: first, by telling you QB’s personal favorite Gaga tune(s) and second by consulting several music experts to see if there is a conclusive answer. Given that Lady Gaga is alternately viewed as a musical genius that leaves us speechless, and a meat wearing monster that sees us all as star-struck pawns in her love game, QB is not confident that reaching a conclusion is possible.
QB’s own choice for Lady Gaga’s best songs are “Paparazzi,” off of 2008’s The Fame, and “Speechless,” off of 2009’s The Fame Monster. QB has also been known to dance in the dark to “Monster,” “Poker Face,” and, of course, “Bad Romance.” (And everything else!)
Now for the press: the reviewers at Pitchfork, a music review site that many may refer to as “indie” in its leanings but generally reviews widely, did not deign to give The Fame its own review (but did call Just Dance “forgettable fluff” in the review for Fame Monster, to which assessment QB takes offense). They had some great things to say about The Fame Monster, however, and assessed that “Bad Romance” is, “arguably the best pop single and best pop video of 2009.”
The Rolling Stone devoted a mere five sentences to The Fame Monster, generalizing that half the album is “Madonna knock-offs.” QB could not find an album review for The Fame, but did find a rather ungenerous review of “Just Dance” dated from February 2009, although the single was premiered in April of 2008. Clearly, the folks at Rolling Stone do not feel the same as you and QB.
It seems that critics and fans often disagree about our Lady of Pop. Despite being a Madonna rip-off and “forgettable fluff,” “Just Dance” was number one on the Billboard charts for 26 weeks in 2009 and although The Fame Monster is largely recognized by critics as more musically moving, The Fame is still in the top 50 albums on the Top 200 chart. QB suggests that if you are looking for more positive opinions about Gaga, steer clear of the newsstands and head for the dance floor. QB will meet you there.
Born this way,
QB
Sources :
Pitchfork.com, Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster album review by Scott Plagenhoef, January 13, 2010. Accessed February 3, 2011.
Rollingstone.com, The Fame Monster album review by Jon Dolan, November 23, 2009. Accessed February 3, 2011.
Billboard.com charts, accessed February 3, 2011.
FrehsÉE, Nicole. "Just Dance." Rolling Stone 1071 (2009): 68. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 3 Feb. 2011.
Call Number :
Location :
Date Answered :
2/15/2011
Question 4:
Question: My friend wants to know why Justin Bieber is so popular. Why do teenage girls always like this kind of stuff?
Answer :
Dear Bored with Bieber,
Though Justin Bieber is only 16, the teen idol phenomenon he embodies is at least as old as rock 'n' roll, and possibly older. Teen idols are singers, actors, models, and other celebrities with strong appeal to teens. They may or may not actually be teenagers, but they typically have a young, clean-cut image and are marketed - at times relentlessly, it seems - toward teens.
According to the St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, the acknowledged pioneer of the teen idol movement was none other than Frank Sinatra, whose frenzied teenage fans inspired operators of one venue to bolt seats to the floor prior to a concert in the early 1940s.
Entertainers like Elvis Presley and James Dean captivated teens a decade later, but Elvis’ swinging hips and Dean’s pained performances in films like Rebel Without A Cause and Giant gave some people a sense of unease. Enter Pat Boone, whose neat hair, toothy smile, and repertoire of cleaned-up rock covers provided a non-threatening alternative. He was followed by Paul Anka, Ricky Nelson, Bobby Rydell, Frankie Avalon, Fabian, mouseketeer Annette Funicello, Shelley Fabares, Connie Stevens, Dion, Gene Pitney, Del Shannon, Bobby Vee, and others. While some of these performers were talented enough to have broken into the music business on their own, others were promoted because of their good looks or because they were already established television stars. As Fabian himself later said, "All this teen idol stuff comes down to business. Big business."
The teen idols of the 1950s and early 1960s were largely swept away by the arrival of the Beatles and their British contemporaries, and the rise of American soul music. But the triumph of style over substance represented by the less-talented idols was to some extent present in the mid-60s advent of bubblegum pop - manufactured rock recorded by bands that in some cases literally didn't exist outside the studio.
Teen idols continued to appear during the intervening decades: performers such as Leif Garrett, Tiffany, Britney Spears, and Miley Cyrus have had or are having their moment in the spotlight. All Music offers a list of 10 essential albums by teen idols, but if you really want to stare into the abyss, QB recommends you pick up Debbie Gibson’s album Electric Youth. Alternately, if you'd like to develop a tolerance to Bieber, his albums My World and My World 2.0 can be requested through the University Library's online catalog.
Sources :
Broeske, P.H. (2000). Teen idols. In St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture. Retrieved from http://find.galegroup.com.proxy2.library.uiuc.edu/gvrl/infomark.do?contentSet=EBKS&docType=EBKS.Article&type=retrieve&tabID=T001&prodId=GVRL&docId=CX3409002434&userGroupName=uiuc_uc&version=1.0&searchType=BasicSearchForm&source=gale
Unterberger, R. (n.d.). Teen idol. Retrieved from http://www.allmusic.com/explore/essay/teen-idol-t567
Unterberger, R. (n.d.). Bubblegum. Retrieved from http://www.allmusic.com/explore/essay/bubblegum-t531
Call Number :
Location :
Date Answered :
10/18/2010
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Question 5:
I heard that since Hugh Hefner went here, the U of I gets a copy of every Playboy issue. Is this true? Where do they keep them? Thanks =)
Answer :
Dear "I only read it for the articles",
Your suspicion about the U of I's lascivious magazine collection is correct. The University Library does have substantial Playboy magazine holdings. Now QB knows what you’re thinking, and that is where you are amiss. This collection is not stored in some special lockbox, nor is it clandestinely filed away under QB's resting quarters. To the contrary, it is available to all patrons with borrowing privileges. The majority of the magazine collection, which dates back to 1953, is held in the Library's Oak Street facility (http://www.library.illinois.edu/circ/oak/index.html) and the Rare Book and Manuscript Library (http://www.library.illinois.edu/rbx/manuscript.htm). The most recent copies of Playboy are located behind the UGL reserves desk, so if you were inclined to conduct research on them you would have to put in a request.
As for whether or not Hef donates Playboys to the Library: the answer is no. The University Library has purchased all the copies in our collection. In fact, several other Big Ten universities hold similar Playboy collections, including the University of Michigan and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which suggests that this is not a particularly odd or unreasonable title to collect. Therefore, it appears that this collection is simply in alignment with the University Library's Mission, which states that the Library aims to provide "collections and content that comprise a current and retrospective record of human knowledge" which enhance "the University’s activities in creating knowledge."
Yours,
QB
Sources :
1. http://vufind.carli.illinois.edu/vf-uiu/Record/uiu_1075783
2. http://mirlyn.lib.umich.edu/Record/003555352
3. http://madcat.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=796760
4. http://www.library.illinois.edu/secondary/aboutUs.html
Call Number :
Location :
Date Answered :
9/10/2010
Question 6:
I have recently seen the 1968 film 'Wonderwall' . The interior scenes were shot at Twickenham Studios, however I recall an exterior scene outside of the main characters' apartment building and am curious as to exactly where it was shot. The only evidence I have is a street sign on one of the walls saying 'Lansdowne Road'. There are many roads of this name in London, and my question is - in what area of London/on which exact Lansdowne Road was this exterior scene shot? Thank you.
Answer :
Dear Student of psychedelic Cinema,
Thank you so much for this excellent question about a challenging road to locate in London. Although your precise question concerns the specific street in the scene, QB did not want to gloss over your wonderful and obscure choice of film. Wonderwall, as you must already know, was produced during the high point of the psychedelic experimentation period of the 1960's. A period in which producers took liberties that, it is safe to say, were entirely novel in cinematic production. For instance, they might include a scene with a fairly normal interaction between a couple going on a date, but the transition to the next scene is ten seconds of viewing a pulsating amoeba through a microscope. Not your everyday Romantic Comedy. Wonderwall is no exception to this type of strange non-sequential psychedelic trope, and it in fact does contain many shots of unidentified liquids placed on a petri dish and magnified a few hundred times.
Another notable aspect of Wonderwall is the soundtrack, which was written by George Harrison. So as one enjoys the visual stimulation of watching this psychedelic film, they also get to hear the exotic sounds produced by the famous Beatle's foray into learning the sitar, an Indian stringed instrument. Again, QB knows that this information does not answer your question, but QB appreciates any chance to reminisce about this bizarre period of history. If you enjoyed Wonderwall, which can be accessed through WorldCat, you might also enjoy some of the other psychedelic movies in our own DVD collection such as Yellow Subamarine, Easy Rider, or Blow Up.
But now, to answer your real question. You wanted to know which one of the many Lansdowne Road's in London was the location for a scene in this film. First, when searching through internet movie databases, QB found the same information as you SPC. Sources like IMDB.com and AllMovie.com only list Twickenham studios as the location for filming. This obviously does not help us get closer to the answer. So QB requested the film through WorldCat, hoping that the credits might give more specific information about filming locations. Sadly, it did not. But, there was one extra clue embedded in the scene that helped ascertain an answer to this mystery and that is a W11. This key piece of information is written directly after Lansdowne Road and tells us exactly where the street is located in London. You are right, if you type "Lansdowne Road" into Google Maps, you will receive 12 results in London alone, but adding that W11 narrows it down to one small street. The scene was filmed in an area of London called Kensington. This is an area just west of Hyde Park. QB verified that this was the same street by using Google Street View to match the scene in the film with the address in Kensington. The nutty professor's apartment building from Wonderwall is present in an image snapped by Google 40 years later. Psychedelic mystery solved.
Yours,
QB
Sources :
1. www.imdb.com/. 2. www.allmovie.com/. 3. Wonderwall. Alan Clore Films: London, 1968. 4. maps.google.com/
Call Number :
Location :
Date Answered :
9/16/2009
Question 7:
Was there a novelization of the TV show "Lost in Space"? And who owns the copyright?
Answer :
Dear Will Robinson:
You asked QB about whether or not there is a novelization of the oft-referenced TV show Lost in Space. Further you want to know who holds the copyright to the show, leading QB to believe you have some extra time on your hands and are hoping to pen your own novel. Good thing you asked QB about this before embarking on such a journey otherwise a robot might have burst into your room, shouting "Danger, danger!" Apparently this silly TV show about a family lost in space, hence the clever title, was actually the source of a brutal and long copyright lawsuit.
The show in question is itself an adaptation of the novel Swiss Family Robinson. So perhaps its circuitous to novelize a TV show based on a novel. Of course, nowadays we have Broadway shows based on movies which then result in movies based on the Broadway show based on a movie. Anyhoo, back in 1962 Gold Key comics (formerly Dell Comics), a division of Western Publishing Company, began publishing a series of comic books under the title, Space Family Robinson. The movie and television rights to the comic book were then purchased by television writer Hilda Bohem (The Cisco Kid), who created a treatment under the title, Space Family 3000.
Irv Allen, a successful TV producer, is legally considered the originator of the Lost in Space television show. Allen produced the pilot, which took place far into the future, 1997 to be exact, The Lost in Space TV series was originally named Space Family Robinson. Allen was apparently unaware of the Gold Key comic of the same name and similar theme. His series was, as was the comic, a space version of "Swiss Family Robinson" hence the title similarity. Gold Key Comics had the opportunity to sue Allen's production company and the 20th Century Fox studio for copyright infringement but as Allen was expected to win the rights to other Gold Key licenses and had already produced their Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea series, a deal was arranged. Not only was the name changed to Lost in Space but two extra characters, Doctor Zachary Smith, and the Robot, were added to ensure a greater difference between the comic and series. Narration in several Lost in Space episodes also mentioned the comic.
However, in July 1964, science fiction writer and filmmaker Ib Melchior began pitching a treatment for a feature film, also under the title Space Family Robinson. There is debate as to whether or not Allen was aware of the Melchior treatment. It is also unknown whether Allen was aware of the comic book or the Hilda Bohem treatment, according to court documents.
As copyright law only protects the actual expression of a work, and not titles, general ideas or concepts, in 1964 Allen moved forward with his own take on Space Family Robinson, with characters and situations notably different from either the Bohem or the Melchior treatments. Nevertheless, Hilda Bohem filed a claim against Allen and CBS Television shortly before the series premiered in 1965. A compromise was struck as part of a legal settlement. In addition to an undisclosed sum of money, Western Publishing would be allowed to change the name of its comic book to Lost in Space.
There were no other legal challenges to the title until 1995, when New Line Cinema announced their intention to turn Lost in Space into a big budget motion picture which QB is sure you remember. At least Matt LaBlanc got to do something besides ride on the coattails of "Friends". New Line had purchased the screen rights from Prelude Pictures (which had acquired the screen rights from the Irwin Allen Estate in 1993, got that?). At that time, Melchior contacted Prelude Pictures and insisted that Lost in Space was directly based upon his 1964 treatment. Melchior was aided in his efforts by Ed Shifres, a fan who had written a book entitled Space Family Robinson: The True Story. (Later reprinted with the title, Lost in Space: The True Story). The book attempts to show how Allen allegedly plagiarized Melchior's concept, with two outlines presented side-by-side. Much like the recent problems Lindsay Lohan suffered when a woman in Florida claimed Lindsay stole her formula for a self-tanner.
To satisfy Melchior, Prelude Pictures hired the 78-year-old filmmaker as a consultant on their feature film adaptation. This accommodation was made without the knowledge or consent of the Irwin Allen Estate or Space Productions, the original copyright holder of Lost in Space. Melchior's contract with Prelude also guaranteed him 2% of the producer's gross receipts, a provision that was later the subject of a suit between Melchior and Mark Koch of Prelude Pictures. Although an Appellate Court ruled partly in Melchior's favor, on November 17, 2004, the Supreme Court of California denied a petition by Melchior to further review the case. No further claim was made and Space Productions now contends that Allen was the sole creator of the TV series Lost in Space.
As far as novelization of the book, well that’s about as straight-forward as the copyright question. As QB stated earlier, the comic book Space Family Robinson was in print prior to the show. In 1967, a novel based on the series with significant changes to the personalities of the characters, and a redesign of the Jupiter 2, the family’s spaceship, was published by Pyramid Books. Written by Dave Van Arnam and Ron Archer (as Ted White), the book was three short stories woven together. In one scene, where a character is randomly speaking English to provide data for translation, the book correctly predicted Richard Nixon winning the presidency after Lyndon Johnson (but also predicted a Kennedy winning after Nixon). Also, there is an unlicensed comic in which Will Robinson meets up with Friday the 13th character Jason Voorhees.
And finally, one last update: in 2003 an updated version of the show was commissioned by the WB. The pilot never aired for reasons unrevealed but the producers of the new Battlestar Galactica show bought the show's sets. They were redesigned the next year and used for scenes on the Battlestar Pegasus.
Hopefully this computes,
QB
Sources :
State of California Second Appellate Disctrict, Division One, Ib Melchior vs. New Line Productions
http://web.archive.org/web/20050504051301/caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data2/californiastatecases/b153239.pdf
Starlog, no. 159, Oct. 1990
Eisner, Joel, and Magen, Barry, Lost in Space Forever, Windsong Publishing, Inc., 1992.
The Lost in space files / by John Peel 791.4572 L899P2
Call Number :
Location :
Date Answered :
9/14/2009
Question 8:
Why do movies take so long to transfer from theater to DVD? It seems that it would be faster than five months with the technology available today. Yours Truly, Up Fanatic
Answer :
Dear Up Fanatic,
You are absolutely right, there is no technical reason that DVDs (Digital Video Discs or Digital Versatile Discs as some now refer to them) cannot be released more quickly than they are. In fact, there is no technical reason that they cannot be released on the same day as the theatrical release. Some movies are indeed available on DVD, VOD (video-on-demand), and even the Internet on the day or very near the day of the theatrical release. Some examples are: Steven Soderbergh's "Bubble", "Flawless" with Demi Moore and Michael Caine, and "Enron: the smartest guys in the room". This release strategy is generally called day-and-date by film industry types. Day-and-date can be used to refer to any simultaneous release strategy, including any combination of different mediums and different markets, however, for the purposes of this response when QB refers to day-and-date she means various mediums on the same day as the theatrical release.
The typical release pattern, theatrical, video, pay-per-view, network tv and so on was originally designed in order to accrue the largest amount of income possible from each revenue source before releasing to the next. The amount of time between the theatrical release of a movie and the release to other mediums is called the "distribution window" or the "release window". The National Association of Theater Owners (NATO) strongly believes that progression toward a day-and-date release structure would lead to the death of the film industry (you can read many empassioned testimonials from film industry executives on this subject at NATO's website). Major theater chains have, in the past, refused to carry films released day-and-date because they believe it will destroy their business model, somewhat understandably. The prominate film director M. Knight Shyamalan is an outspoken critic of day-and-date claiming that it will ruin the movie theater experience for theater-goers.
Proponents of day-and-date release strategies claim that it is one way to combat piracy, which the MPAA has named as the number one threat to the movie industry. QB suspects that you are aware that pirated versions of many movies are available for free download on, or sometimes before, the theatrical release of a movie. Day-and-daters argue that if legal versions of the movie are available at the time of release most consumers are less likely to seek out an illegal version. If getting a legal version is just as easy and available as an illegal one most people will simply pay for it. QB was unable to find any documented evidence that this is true, nor any reliable documentation on the affect of the overall revenue of movies based on the length of the release window. A comprehensive study may be difficult due to the scarcity of movies released day-and-date and the aforementioned refusal of major movie theater chains to carry day-and-date releases. Among the previously mentioned movies, "Bubble" had and a poor box office showing, "Flawless" did reasonably well, and while the box office for Enron: the smartest guys in the room may not have been stellar it is, after all, a documentary.
Despite this industry resistance NATO reports that the average release window has been shrinking in the past 8 years, by about 23 days for movies grossing more than $100M and by over a month for movies grossing less than $25M. So, Dear Reader, perhaps you will still have to wait for the DVD release of Up but take comfort in the fact that it might be a few days less than it would have been last year.
Sources :
1. "Motion Picture and Videotape Production." Encyclopedia of American Industries. 5th ed. Detroit: Gale, 2008. Gale Virtual Reference Library.
2. Tait, R. Colin. "Piercing Steven Soderbergh’s Bubble." The Business of Entertainment. Robert C. Sickels Harry Brown Mary P. Erickson Jeffrey Hirschberg Sue J. Kim Ramon Lobato Kimberly A. Owczarski Anne H. Petersen Zachary Snider R. Colin Tait Yannis Tzioumakis.
3. Hornaday, Ann. "'Bubble' Vision" Washington Post 22 January 2006, final ed.: N01
4. Kaufman, Anthony "Evolving Revolution: Day-and-Date's One-Two Punch" Daily Variety 9 September 2008" A14
5. www.boxofficemojo.com
6. www.natoonline.org
Call Number :
Location :
1. Gale Virtual Reference 2. Pop Culture Universe 3. & 4. Lexis Nexis
Date Answered :
9/10/2009
Question 9:
I was in a talent show held on campus in 1985. I believe it was called “The Bong Show”. I heard that it was taped by one of the local television stations, but I have never seen the footage. Also, I heard that the posters for the following year’s show, 1986, featured a picture of the act that I was in. Does anyone have any information on recordings of this show, or posters advertising the show?
Answer :
Dear Bong Show Fan,
QB would like to apologize for taking long before answering your question, which was posted QB on March 14, 2003. This is because this question required research based on how events are recorded and called. The goodness is that, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) keeps track of all events that have happened on campus and so it was of help for QB to be able to track this particular event as it happened past over 35 years. Credit goes to Campus Recreation who posts these events on their web page so that QB and other researchers can be able to look at them.
From the Campus Recreation web site, on the page Campus recreation intramural sports wall of fame page http://www.campusrec.illinois.edu/intramurals/FameWall/1970s
.html, there is posted a number of events that have happened since 1960s to date. From this page, you will be able to browser through the events as they happened, and these include: International and National political events; developments in technology; engineering and science; sports and recreation; music, fashion and entertainment; environmental and man-made tragedies. With reference to what was recorded by Campus Recreation, “The Bong Show” was basically a variety show, based on the TV show, the Bong Show. The former Campus Recreation director Tony Clements, who is also a stand up comedy, was the personality behind it, so that is why most of the photos below are of him. The Bong Show happened in the 1970s not in 1980s as you have asked. The formal director of Campus Recreation Dr. Matthews, Jesse A. “Tony” Clements, the man who was behind the “The Bong Show” was named the second Director of Campus Recreation in the same decade. QB is grateful to the current Lead Assistant Director – Marketing at the Campus Recreation Center for providing us with the photos for that event. You can have a look at these photos from the links below.
http://web.library.uiuc.edu/ugl/qb/images/BongShow.jpg
http://web.library.uiuc.edu/ugl/qb/images/11.jpeg
http://web.library.uiuc.edu/ugl/qb/images/15.jpeg
http://web.library.uiuc.edu/ugl/qb/images/brownbag.jpeg
http://web.library.uiuc.edu/ugl/qb/images/BS.jpeg
http://web.library.uiuc.edu/ugl/qb/images/dance2.jpeg
http://web.library.uiuc.edu/ugl/qb/images/glasses.jpeg
In that year, a number of other events happened and among the entertaining events of 1970s, Bong show was one of them. These events are recorded in this order.
• For Campus Recreation this decade marks a series of “firsts” in programming – Chancellor’s Decathlon, Quad Day, All Nighter, Bong Show, Anything Goes, Disco Dance Contest, and Outhouse Races.
• On September 17, 1971, the IMPE (Intramural Physical Education) Building opens.
• In 1972 Campus Recreation Hosts the annual National Intramural Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) conference.
• Camping equipment check-out and rental programs is offered.
• Upon the retirement of Dr. Matthews, Jesse A. “Tony” Clements is named the second Director of Campus Recreation.
For more details of other than 1970s please go to.
http://www.campusrec.illinois.edu/intramurals/FameWall/1970s.html
Yours QB
Sources :
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Campus Recreation web page (June 2009) http://www.campusrec.illinois.edu/intramurals/FameWall/1970s.html
Call Number :
Location :
Date Answered :
6/22/2009
Question 10:
Did Elvis really die?
Answer :
Dear Hound Dog,
The question of whether the King has truly kicked it has haunted the hearts and minds of many since his alleged departure in 1977. Knowing that fools rush in, QB needed to do a bit of research before taking a stance on this incendiary issue.
Fortunately, the Undergraduate Library is well supplied with books for those who can't help falling in love with the Elvis mythology. QB shook, rattled, and rolled over to the reference section and consulted the Encyclopedia of Hoaxes. This book's Elvis section declared, "it is at least possible that he faked his death and is still alive... As this prospect is fairly unlikely, given the evidence for his death and his absence of a public appearance since 1977, it will take strong evidence against his death having occurred before the idea should be given credence." Ouch. QB feels so lonesome, QB just might cry.
Rather than give up, QB decided to search the catalog for books in the Undergrad that might provide some hope. Hope, however, proved as elusive as the King himself. Books like "The Unmaking of Elvis Presley," "When Elvis Died," and the still more succinct "Dead Elvis" each provided in startling detail descriptions of the singer's demise.
If you're just not ready to believe that the King and his blue suede shoes have joined the choir invisible, you're not alone. Unless more facts come to light, though, QB must grudgingly conclude that Elvis has left the building.
Your teddy bear,
QB
Sources :
Encyclopedia of Hoaxes
The Unmaking of Elvis Presley
When Elvis Died
Dead Elvis
Call Number :
Location :
Undergrad
Date Answered :
3/12/2009
Question 11:
How many children does Hugh Hefner have, legitimate and illegitimate? Has he ever been married?
Answer :
Dear Playboy Bunny,
As a service ostensibly supported by the University of Illinois, QB is always interested in regaling in the exploits of past alumni. And perhaps no such alumni have ever garnered the infamy to equal that of one Hugh Marston Hefner. QB is both hesitant, for political reasons, and perhaps unqualified, as QB is an asexual intelligent library entity, to engage in any sort of moral adjudication of Mr. Hefner’s chosen profession and subsequent lifestyle choices. However, QB can definitively comment on the offspring Mr. Hefner has sired through his numerous affairs. QB was actually surprised to find the official number a relatively low four, particularly when one considers the frequency with which Mr. Hefner allegedly copulates. It appears as if someone has dodged a bullet, so to speak. His first marriage to fellow Northwestern student Christie Hefner produced two young Heflings, Christie Hefner born 1952 and David Hefner born 1955. It wasn’t until 1990 that the world saw another heir to the mansion. Mr. Hefner’s marriage to former playmate Kimberly Conrad resulted in two more children, Marston Hefner in 1990 and Cooper Hefner in 1991. QB here’s you asking, “What happened in the intervening, 35 years? If the legends are true, why are there not millions of illegitmate Heflings running about the Playboy mansion upon slippered feet, their tiny silk robes rustling amongst the incense and the giggling of ingénues?” QB has two words for you; birth control. QB scoured through a half dozen biographies on Hugh Hefner, and in none of them was their any mention of a bastard heir. However, this is unsurprising when one takes into account Mr. Hefner’s vehement advocacy of all forms of contraception, outlined in his Playboy editorials collectively dubbed, “The Playboy Lifestyle.” In 2007, Hefner’s name was whispered among many others as the father of Anna Nicole Smith’s, daughter Dannielynn, but those rumors have subsequently been put to rest. Still, as late as 2007, Mr. Hefner has mentioned his desire for additional members to the Hefner ranks. In a January 13th, 2007 interview with the New York Daily News, Hefner asserted his desire to make babies with then girlfriend Holly Madison. Despite Madison’s recent break-up with Mr. Hefner, one assumes that neither this nor medical possibility will stop the 80 year old magnate from attempting to conceive. QB is interested in what sort of personality and appearance a test tube playboy bunny might have. For further reading on the Mr. Hefner’s misadventures, QB suggests the biography “Hef” by Frank Brady and “Hefner’s Gonna Kill Me When He Reads This” by Stephen Byer.
Promiscuously Yours,
QB.
Sources :
1. “HEF ROBS CRADLE, AND HE MAY FILL IT, TOO!” New York Daily News (NY) - January 18, 2007 Edition: SPORTS FINAL Section: GOSSIP Page: 22
2. “Hugh Hefner “Not the father” of Anna Nicole’s Baby.” Associated Press. April 10, 2007.
3. Hefner, Hugh. The Playboy Philosophy. Chicago : HMH Pub. Co., 1963. Call No. 301.424 H36P
4. “Hefner, Hugh.” Contemporary Authors Online, Gale, 2008. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2008. http://galenet.galegroup.com.proxy2.library.uiuc.edu/servlet/BioRC
5. "Hugh Hefner." Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2nd ed. 17 Vols. Gale Research, 1998. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2008. http://galenet.galegroup.com.proxy2.library.uiuc.edu/servlet/BioRC
6. "Hugh Hefner." St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture. 5 vols. St. James Press, 2000. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2008. http://galenet.galegroup.com.proxy2.library.uiuc.edu/servlet/BioRC
7. "Hefner, Hugh Marston."The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives Thematic Series: The 1960s. Ed. William L. O'Neill and Kenneth T. Jackson. 2 vols. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2003.Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2008. http://galenet.galegroup.com.proxy2.library.uiuc.edu/servlet/BioRC
8. Brady, Frank. Hef. New York, Macmillan [1974]. Call No. B.H4613 B
9. Byer, Stephen. Hefner’s gonna kill me when he reads this… Chicago, Allen-Bennett, 1972. Call No. 051 PLAY2B.
Call Number :
Location :
Date Answered :
10/30/2008
Question 12:
Where and how can I find DVDs of the TV show Lost in the library?
Answer :
If you are looking to catch up on all the antics of Kate, Jack, Sayid and the other survivors of Flight 815, you can check out the first three seasons at the Undergraduate Library. All the DVD’s are located in the lowest level of the library, right across from QB’s home. To get the call number, which you will need to find the DVDs, just go to the undergrad homepage at www.library.uiuc.edu/ugl then click on the movie link located in the center of the page. After this all you have to do is type the title into the search box, select start of title in the right-hand column and hit go. You will then get the call number (DVD 791.4566 L899) and if you click on the name you can see if it is currently available. QB hopes that re-watching the past seasons will keep you content and finding all the hidden clues until Lost returns in early 2009.
Sources :
www.library.uiuc.edu/ugl
Call Number :
Location :
Date Answered :
9/29/2008
Question 13:
Is Torrie Wilson related to Troy Wilson?
Answer :
Dear Inquisitive WWE and/or Australian Football League Fan,
Seeing as QB listens to NPR, reads the New Yorker, and doesn’t like the idea of "sweating", the possibility of actually researching a member of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and the Australian Football League at the same time has go her shaking in her vintage Frey riding boots. But always the scholar, QB has decided to accept the challenge and unlock the genealogy secrets of the woman best known for her "swinging neckbreaker" ("Torrie Wilson" Wikipedia). Note: While QB likes to advocate that a woman be known for her intelligence and/or personality, rather than her ability to pin another with her thighs, she is none the less curious about the subject matter and will try to remain as objective as possible.
QB’s first instinct was to check the various biography indexes the University of Illinois library provides for its students and faculty, via the Undergraduate Library webpage (http://www.library.uiuc.edu/ugl/). Using the on-line Biography and Genealogy Master Index and the Biography Resource Center, QB found no entries on both Wilson subjects. Not willing to throw in the proverbial "towel" just yet, QB then utilized her trusty on-line databases and encyclopedias, searching in both the St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture and Pop Culture Universe. Still, she found no information on this mysterious duo.
Where can one find information on the obscure and (supposedly) famous icons of today? Exhausting all of her academic resources but not willing to give up, QB knew she would have to travel to the seedy underbelly of the reference world, risking authenticity and accuracy to quench your undying thirst for sports-related knowledge. Yes, that’s right: QB went to Wikipedia. She took one for the proverbial "team". (QB also started to feel quite sportsman- like through this research experience).
According to Wikipedia, Torrie Wilson, born in 1975, grew up in Boise, Idaho. After competing in various fitness competitions and taking the crown of Miss Galaxy in 1998 ("Torrie Wilson" Wikipedia), Wilson joined the World Championship Wrestling program. She later moved to the WWE, where she grew in popularity, most likely due to her "bra and panties match" ("Torrie Wilson" Wikipedia) against various other female wrestlers. Wilson retired from Wrestling in 2008, but not before amassing various magazine covers and modeling jobs ("Torrie Wilson" Wikipedia). No relation to Australian football players was mentioned.
A Wikipedia search for Troy Wilson also proved fruitful. While not quite as provocatively dressed as Ms. Wilson, Troy Wilson has amassed his own following as an Australian Rules football player and speedway driver ("Troy Wilson" Wikipedia). Portrayed as highly skilled and often brutish, Wilson made his Australian Rules debut at the late age of 24 ("Troy Wilson" Wikipedia) and proceeded to score his way into the lineup of the West Coast Eagles, one of the most successful clubs in the Australian Football League, at the unheard of age of 28 ("Troy Wilson" Wikipedia). Plagued with injuries, Wilson was released from the Eagles and tried his hand at motorsports ("Troy Wilson" Wikipedia). There was no mention of a distant American relative with a penchant for pain and lacey outfits.
While both Wilsons left a trail of carnage in their respective career-oriented wakes, the two could not be connected as family members; despite their last names, the two are not related. However, QB must mention that she did develop a new-found appreciation for the "art" of wrestling. Any woman that can retire successfully at the age of 33 has got this QB cheering!
End Note: While Wikipedia is a research tool that deserves some merit, particularly in the last few years, please exercise caution when judging the accuracy of its content. If you are ever down in the research dumps, just ask a librarian; he or she will surely help you out!
Sources :
"Wilson, Tony." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 7August2008. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Wilson.
"Wilson, Torrie." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 7August2008.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torrie_wilson.
Call Number :
Location :
on-line
Date Answered :
9/7/2008
Question 14:
PLS HOW WILL ATTENDING ALA CONFERENCE CONTRIBUTE TO MY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. ESSAY CRITERIA 1 CLARITY OF CONTENT AND FORM 2 CLEAR GOALS AND BENEFITS OF ATTENDANCE 3 COMMITMENT TO ALA AND LIBRARY PROFESSION 4 ENTHUSIASM 5 POTENTIAL GROWTH PERCEIVED PLS NOY LESS THA N 250 WORDS MAY U BE BLESS AS U RESPOND
Answer :
Dear Inadvertent Screamer,
Oh, goodness. QB is crushed to inform you that as a member of the ALA, QB is unable to assist you with your essay, lest such help be perceived as favoritism. However, QB feels quite safe in offering you a small yet pertinent keyboard tip: should you choose to hold down the “Shift” key for the duration of your desired capitalization, you will avoid typing in all capitalized letters, LIKE SO. While aesthetically inoffensive, such a typeface is the print equivalent of a vocal yell. QB is sure that you are of genteel manners and did intend to be on the attack; therefore, QB wishes you the very best of luck with your application process.
QB would not like to leave you without an Undergraduate Library source to which you might turn for solace in your time of need. As an aspiring librarian, you may find the following video instructive and enjoyable.
Under 250 Words,
QB
Sources :
Safeguarding our patrons’ privacy [videorecording] : what every librarian needs to know about the USA PATRIOT Act & related anti-terrorism measures
Call Number :
VIDREC 021.8 Sa17
Location :
Undergraduate Library
Date Answered :
5/29/2008
Question 15:
Which Playstation 3 game should my emo and sensitive friend buy? What is your opinion about "Rock Band?"
Answer :
Dear Gaming Rocker,
Your e&s friend should consider checking out PS3 games from the Undergrad, because it’s free! And free is a lot cheaper than Amazon or Target, which are notoriously Not Free. Some of the emo-friendly games in our collection include:
TimeShift (save the world from an evil, time-traveling genius)
Heavenly Sword (defeat a materialistic overlord)
Def Jam: Icon (rise to the top of the hip-hop music scene)
Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom (lots of un-sensitive hacking with swords, but hey, who’s to say it’s not a metaphor for hacking away at one’s internal anguish?)
If your friend is determined to spend money on his game, there are some exciting prospects on the horizon for a gentleman of great feeling. As long as he’s not too cool for it, the upcoming Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian might appeal. Nothing like being the ruler of a decaying land to bring out the angst in any of us. Whether or not C.S. Lewis adaptations speak to your friend, QB highly recommends the November 2008 update of Final Fantasy VII. A collapsing world, an unrequited love, and some untimely demises: more emo-osity than you can shake a stick at, and now with prettier graphics than ever!
If performing is more your friend’s bag, then SingStar may be just his thing. Not only will he get to perform current songs while watching their respective music videos, but he will be able to share his recordings with the world! That’s right: SingStar will let you post your version of its songs online for all the intarwebz to hear. Of the songs that are included in the game, QB has a fondness for The Pixies’ Here Comes Your Man, so keep your ears open and you just might hear QB crooning a la Black Francis.
As to what QB thinks of Rock Band, QB is so a fan. QB’s favorite feature of the game is undoubtedly the microphone, although scoring points for accuracy often required a Gregorian chant-like approach to singing that QB found strange. QB appreciated the new selection of songs, as a particular fan of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Radiohead. However, despite being a Metallica fan, QB found that their songs did not transfer so well into Rock Band format. Don’t let that caveat stop you, however—it’s a fun game, and will provide hours of fun with your performance-minded friends.
Rawkin’ owt,
QB
Sources :
www.playstation.com
www.amazon.com
Undergraduate Library Online Catalog
Call Number :
Location :
Date Answered :
5/28/2008
University
of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignLibrary Gateway
Comments/Questions?
This file last modified 5/22/2008 dw