Did a famous comedy team do all of their own language work in foreign versions of their movies?

Another silly holiday has gone by!

This one’s President’s Day.  I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before, but President’s Day is a combination of Lincoln’s Birthday, Washington’s Birthday, and a nod to the other folk who’ve held the office.

Ask me who my favorite president is, and I’ll be glad to tell you:  Chester A. Arthur.  He’s about the only one who didn’t manage to screw up the country or the office one way or another.  He had some really cool sideburns, too.

Now that the February holidays are behind us, let’s look at the trivia that’s ahead!

Did you know …

… processed cheese was originally called something else?  Those who make cheese the old-fashioned way were worried that the production of “artificial” cheese products would put them out of business.  They felt so threatened that they tried to name the artificial product “Embalmed Cheese” in an effort to hurt its sales.  The U.S. government had to intervene, and the name of the artificial cheese became “processed” cheese – a term we still use today.  (A pretty cheesy thing to do.)

… the letter “x” has been used to represent a kiss in writing since the 18th Century?  The first recorded written use of “x” as a kiss (as in “xoxoxo” meaning kisses and hugs) was in 1763, in a letter written by English naturalist Gilbert White (1720-1793).  (Early shorthand, no doubt.)

… no one really knows how William Shakespeare’s last name is spelled?  And, apparently, neither did Shakespeare (1564-1616) himself.  There are numerous written instances where The Bard of Avon signed his name with several different spellings.  In fact, though “William Shakespeare” has become the accepted spelling, there is not one written piece of evidence that Shakespeare himself spelled his name that way.  (Hey, when you can compose eternal lines like “Wherefore art thou, Romeo?” who cares if you can’t spell your own name?)

… the Nazis considered Native Americans to be part of the Aryan race?  (Gee, thanks, Adolf.  Thanks a lot.  Sheesh.)

… eighty percent of the men in the Soviet Union who were born in 1923 did not survive World War II?  (War will do that to a nation.)

… female canaries cannot sing?  (Nor do they want to.)

… a famous movie comedy team did all of their own language work when their films were dubbed in other languages?  Normally, when a movie in English is released in a country where English is not the primary language, actors are hired to re-record the translated lines of the original script, and the soundtrack is then reproduced, a process called “dubbing.”  But Stan Laurel (1890-1965) and Oliver Hardy (1892-1957) did not want other actors saying their lines, regardless of the language used.  The comedy duo, who could not speak anything other than English, would film each of their scenes in their movies with the translated words printed out in phonetic English on chalkboards off-screen, and they would read their lines while re-filming each scene for the different languages needed.  Supporting character lines, however, were simply re-dubbed by native speakers of the other language, or in some cases re-filmed with native-speaking actors.  (Another fine mess you’ve gotten me into, Stanley!)

… in the history of Major League Baseball, only one player wore his date of birth on his uniform?  Carlos May (born 1948) played for three teams in the majors:  the Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees, and California Angels.  During his time with the White Sox, May wore number 17, and the team also placed player names on the uniforms.  May was born May 17, 1948, so the back of his uniform was also his birthday.  (Just in case he forgot.)

… a popular movie ogre was based on a real person?  Many are the fans of Shrek, an animated movie which came out in 2001 and was followed by at least four sequels.  But the character appearance of Shrek, a huge green ogre, is thought to have been actually based on a real person – Maurice Tillet (1903-1954), a French professional wrestler.  Tillet, who wrestled under the name The French Angel, was a leading draw in the pro wrestling world of the 1940s.  Tillet stood 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighed 269 pounds, and he suffered from acromegaly, a condition caused by a swelling of the pituitary gland.  In Tillet’s case, it caused enlargement of his feet, hands and head.  It is believed that the producers of Shrek saw a photo of Tillet and realized that, by changing the ears and some subtle alterations of his facial features, they could create a loveable ogre, and they did.

… Earth’s Moon is both the largest and fifth-largest in the Solar System?  Yes, I know it’s contradictory, but read on.  The Moon is fifth-largest is when it’s compared to all the other natural satellites of planets in the system.  Our Moon comes in behind Ganymede, Titan, Callisto and Io.  Largest?  To get that, you must compare the satellite with its planet.  In that regard, our Moon is the largest, as it is about one-fourth the size of Earth, a far greater percentage than any other satellite.  (Pluto’s moon Charon doesn’t count, as Pluto is a dwarf planet.)

… a popular brand of soap got its name from the Bible?  When Harley Procter (1847-1920) was marketing the soap made by his company, Procter and Gamble, he initially called it P&G White Soap.    But one day in church, Procter read the world “ivory” in the Bible and felt it fit the soap’s look – and its ability to float, which was caused by a mistake in the mixing of the formula.  Thus, Ivory Soap™ was born.

… all work and no play really does make Jack a dull boy?  Scientists have determined that a lack of play for children can – and does – lead to mental health problems.  (Are you paying attention, boss?)

Now … you know!