Published by PTK Corp. For Ad Rates call: (334) 202-7285 [email protected]May 22, 2012 OVER 4 MILLION Readers Weekly Nationwide! The Neatest Little Paper Ever Read Cinema in America has entertained us with over a century of movie magic. Yet, during the making of some movies, equally unbelievable stories unfolded before the films ever hit the big screen. •In Steven Spielberg’s terrifying 1975 classic, “Jaws,” you don’t see much of the actual shark until very late in the film. That wasn’t just an aesthetic choice. It was due to all of the problems Spielberg and the crew had with the mechanical sharks that were used during filming. •Three different mechanical sharks were employed during the filming of “Jaws.” All were nicknamed “Bruce” after Steven Spielberg’s attorney, Bruce Ramer. • All three mechanical versions of “Bruce” proved unreliable from the beginning of the shoot. The animatronics stalled the first time one was put in the water, and the sharks sank to the seafloor several times, leaving divers scrambling to recover them. • After completing the filming of “Jaws,” the studio had so little confidence in the film that the three Bruces were dumped on the Universal back lot. No efforts were made to preserve them, and none of the three original sharks remain. • A fourth “Bruce” was made from the same mold as those used in the film. Although it never had a place in the filming of “Jaws,” it was employed at the Universal Theme Park from 1975 to 1990. • In Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 horror Turn page for more! Vol 1 Issue 19 of the River Region TIDBITS® LOOKS BEHIND THE MAGIC by Blue Sullivan HOLLIS LASIK $595. 00 Per Eye • Over 115,000 Done • Financing Available • You Will NOT Be Charged More Expires 6/29/12 www.hollislasik.com (334) 826-8778 1100 S. College St. Ste. 108 • Auburn, AL
Transcript
Published by PTK Corp. For Ad Rates call: (334) 202-7285 [email protected]
Cinema in America has entertained us with over a century of movie magic. Yet, during the making of some movies, equally unbelievable stories unfolded before the films ever hit the big screen.
• In Steven Spielberg’s terrifying 1975 classic, “Jaws,” you don’t see much of the actual shark until very late in the film. That wasn’t just an aesthetic choice. It was due to all of the problems Spielberg and the crew had with the mechanical sharks that were used during filming.
• Three different mechanical sharks were employed during the filming of “Jaws.” All were nicknamed “Bruce” after Steven Spielberg’s attorney, Bruce Ramer.
• All three mechanical versions of “Bruce” proved unreliable from the beginning of the shoot. The animatronics stalled the first time one was put in the water, and the sharks sank to the seafloor several times, leaving divers scrambling to recover them.
• After completing the filming of “Jaws,” the studio had so little confidence in the film that the three Bruces were dumped on the Universal back lot. No efforts were made to preserve them, and none of the three original sharks remain.
• A fourth “Bruce” was made from the same mold as those used in the film. Although it never had a place in the filming of “Jaws,” it was employed at the Universal Theme Park from 1975 to 1990.
• In Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 horror Turn page for more!
Vol 1 Issue 19of the River Region
TIDBITS® LOOKS
BEHIND THE MAGICby Blue Sullivan
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classic “The Birds,” people in a California beach town are suddenly terrorized by swarms of birds. As outlandish as the premise sounds, it was inspired by an incident only two years before where birds in Monterey Bay suddenly began crashing into local houses.
• Many years later, the strange real-life occurrence that inspired “The Birds” was explained as the result of toxic algae in the birds’ water supply.
• In the 1976 suspense blockbuster “The Omen,” a couple (played by Gregory Peck and Lee Remick) takes on the care of an orphan who may literally be the devil’s spawn. The filming of this movie was so crazy it inspired the documentary “The Curse of the Omen.”
• Not one, not two, but three planes associated with “The Omen” were hit by lightning during the shoot. Among those onboard during these three separate incidents were star Gregory Peck, screenwriter David Seltzer and executive producer Mace Neufeld.
• Speaking of Mace Neufeld, his hotel during the “The Omen” shoot was the object of an IRA bombing. A restaurant frequented by the cast and crew was also bombed. Luckily, no one was hurt in either incident.
• The special effects coordinator of the film had the spookiest scrape. On Friday the 13th, 1976, he crashed his car in Holland. When he got out, he noticed the road sign. It read “Ommen, 66.6 km.”
• In terms of sheer danger, the film shoot for the 1925 epic “Ben-Hur” (the second of three cinematic adaptations of the novel of the same name) takes the cake. The chariot race in the film is still renowned for its realism, because the race was completely real.
• “Ben-Hur’s” director Fred Niblo wasn’t happy with the initial footage of the race, so he staged it again. The second time, he told the stunt drivers that the winner of the race would be given the equivalent of around $1,000. Drivers took the race so seriously that there was a huge pile-up of men and horses before the finish
line.• Another scene in “Ben-Hur,” a huge sea battle between two ships, proved equally dangerous. Italian extras were recruited and separated by political affiliation (pro- or anti-fascist), then put on the two boats, to give the on-boat clashes more “realism.”
• After separating the two sets of extras according to their violently opposed political affiliations, “Ben-Hur’s” director gave all the men prop swords that had actually been sharpened, again for “realism.”
• In Howard Hughes’ misbegotten 1956 epic “The Conqueror,” John Wayne played Genghis Khan. Filming was disastrous from the very start, when a flash flood nearly claimed the entire crew of the film.
• Later, “The Conqueror’s” lead actress, Susan Hayward, was attacked by a panther. Fortunately, she survived the attack and was able to carry on filming.
• Most of the filming of “The Conqueror” took place in St. George, Utah. Heat during filming regularly topped 120 degrees, and, unbeknownst to the performers, not far away in Yucca Flats, Nevada, were the military testing grounds for the atomic bomb.
• Eleven atomic bombs were tested in Yucca Flats during filming of “The Conqueror.” Not only were the actors and crew exposed to dusts blown over from the nuclear test site, filmmakers unknowingly shipped 60 tons of the radioactive dirt back to Los Angeles for reshoots.
• There aren’t many films more beloved than 1939’s “The Wizard of Oz,” starring Judy Garland. A little known fact is that she wasn’t the child actor the screenwriters had in mind for the part. Their choice for the part wasn’t a child actor at all: W.C. Fields!
• In “The Wizard of Oz,” actress Margaret Hamilton offered one of the best villains in film history — The Wicked Witch of the West. Her performance was so good, in fact, that many of her scenes were trimmed down or even removed because they were too frightening.
1. In 2009, Robinson Cano became the third New York Yankees 2nd baseman to get 100 runs and 200 hits in the same season. Name the first two to do it.2. Reliever John Franco pitched in 1,199 games during his 21-year major-
league career. In how many different seasons did he lead the N.L. in games pitched? 3. Who was the first football coach in Pac-10 history to win an outright conference title in his first season as head coach?4. Name the last NBA player to have a game of at least 30 points and 30 rebounds before Minnesota’s Kevin Love did it in (2010)?5. Who was the Buffalo Sabres’ first 50-goal scorer?6. When was the last time the U.S. won a gold medal in men’s individual archery at the Olympics?7. In 2011, Rory McIlroy became the third men’s golfer to break 70 for all four rounds of the U.S. Open. Who were the other two to do it?
Stop smoking with hypnosis is the most popu-lar session that hypnotherapist are requested to do. It has many unique advantages over cold turkey and nicotine replacement aids. The skill level and training of the therapist can vary as well as the number of sessions to quit. One to three weekly visits is the norm. There are no withdrawals or weight gain when the suggestions are accepted by the subconscious mind. Given that smoking is a subconscious habit, hypnosis can target the situational triggers such as smoking while driving, after meals or while watching tv.
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DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am 9 years old. I read what you said about dust mites. I am wondering if they can hurt me. Will they affect me in any way? Am I safe around them? One night I was snuggling my pillow pet, and my mom said, “Remember, it has dust mites.” She gave me your article. I couldn’t sleep that night, knowing that loads of dust mites were crawling around me. So tell me. Should I be afraid? What makes them go away? What will happen? -- T.M.C.
ANSWER: Have no fear, T.M.C. Dust mites have not done, are not doing and will not do anything harmful to you. I have them too. So does just about everyone. They’re all over the world. They’re less than one-hundredth of an inch, barely visible. They don’t bite you. They feed on dead skin that has fallen off the body. They don’t crawl in and out of your mouth, as the letter writer suggested.Dust mites don’t give you any illness, although some people are allergic to them and itch when exposed to them. In a very few people, they might trigger an asthma attack. None of this has happened to you or me. I don’t think it ever will.Dust mites need high humidity to survive, around 70 percent. You can cut down on their number if you keep your room humidity lower than that.Don’t try to get rid of them. They’re part of the biological diversity that exists in our world. I don’t know if they do us any good, but they don’t do us
Tiny Dust Mites Are Fact of Life
any harm, aside from the allergy thing. Sleep in peace. I apologize for ruining a night’s sleep for you.Please don’t ask me about bedbugs. They don’t make people ill either, but they give me the creeps.***DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My husband and I have started walking every evening. It’s our way of staying in shape. I like it. My husband actually listens to what I have to say when we walk. There is one thorn in my side, however. My husband insists that I don’t walk correctly, and he is constantly giving me ways to change my walking style. It’s extremely irritating. I have been walking the way I walk since I was an infant. Is there really a special way to do so? -- R.C.
ANSWER: Most people develop a walk natural for them, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Some general pointers about the proper walking style are worth incorporating into your walking pattern. Keep your head erect with eyes focused about 20 feet in front of you. Your arms should be bent at the elbow. When the right foot hits the ground, the left arm should be in front of your body, and vice versa when your left foot hits the ground. The heel of the foot should strike the ground first, and the liftoff should come from the toes.Older people tend to shorten their walking stride in an attempt to keep both feet always on the ground. This gives them more balance and stability. They should try to take a little longer stride and use their arms for balance and stability as I described above.***Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475.
(c) 2012 North America Synd., Inc.All Rights Reserved
Premeasuring Helps Overweight DogsBy Sam Mazzotta
DEAR PAW’S CORNER: A have a suggestion to help owners solve their dogs’ weight problems. People tend to overfeed their dogs because their “cup” tends to just be grabbed out of a dog food bag. So their 1/2 cup, etc. tends to be more like 3/4 cup or so. I took a soft-drink carton holding 24 cups. I sit down every two weeks and premeasure the amount I want to feed my dogs. This way I can just grab a cup at 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. and know it’s the right amount. And it is so easy this way! My dogs used to be overweight until I started this system. -- Dwayne O., via email
DEAR DAN: Great idea! While some breeds are a bit stocky and others are prone to obesity, owners can exert control over the amount of calories their dogs consume and the amount of exercise they get.
Keep in mind that the size of your dog -- small, medium, or large frame, for example -- is a con-sideration in exactly how much it should eat and how often. Talk to your veterinarian about the amount of food it should get, and stick to that diet. Be careful how often treats are given out, and of course, don’t feed your dog under the table or give it leftovers.Exercise is another important component of weight loss -- one that benefits both you and your dog. This can take the form of twice-daily walks, as well as play time and training time. Schedule at least an hour each day to turn off the TV and turn your attention 100 percent to your dog. You’ll both love it!
Send your questions or tips to [email protected], or write to Paw’s Corner, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. For more pet care-related advice and information, visit www.pawscorner.com.
(c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.
Page 5For Advertising Call (334) 202-7285
Do you read your Explanation of Benefits forms when they come in the mail? They could contain information that you need to know.The Explanation of Benefits gives the latest update on your Medicare payment status. Whenever a claim for services is filed, the information is sent to you. That’s your opportunity to verify whether the infor-mation is correct, especially the dollar amounts.Here are the things you need to note:Total Charges: These are the amounts the doctor (or hospital, if you were a patient) wants to charge.Approved Amount (which also could be called Medicare Approved or Allowed Amount): This is the dollar amount that Medicare allows your doctor to charge.Patient Responsibility: This is your portion of the bill that Medicare allows, based on your policy’s percentage.If the math is correct, so far so good, but there are
Don’t Trash This Mail
other places errors could be evident.Spelling of your name and patient ID number: Someone with the same name (but a different ID number) could end up on your account.Dates of service and the name of the doctors: Did you go to that doctor on that date? Did you have the test or procedure that’s listed?Prescriptions: Did you fill a prescription on that date? Look at the cost. If someone else’s drugs are listed on your account, it might send you to the “doughnut hole” too quickly. The doughnut hole is that gap in coverage where none of your drug costs are picked up until a certain large out-of-pocket amount is paid.Keep your Explanation of Benefits to compare from one month to the next. If anything looks wrong, call Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 to report it.
Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Write to her in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or send e-mail to [email protected].
(c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.
Register to win at www.riverregiontidbits.com and click on “Tommy Tidbits”. Fill out the registration information and tell us how many times Tommy ap-pears in ads in the paper for this week. From the cor-rect entries, a winner will be selected. You must be 18 years of age to qualify. The gift certificates will range in value from $25 to $50 each week. Entries must be received at the website by midnight each Saturday evening or at PTK Corp, PO Box 264, Wetumpka, AL 36092.
This week’s winner receives a $25.00 Gift Certificate from the Plantation House Restaurant 3240 Grandview Road, Mill-brook, AL 36054 334-285-1466.
Last Week’s Ads where Tommy was hiding:1. Cloverdale Service Center, p. 32. Allstate - Ben Pugh, p. 53. Forest Hills Garage, p. 5 4. Montgomery Zoo, p. 75. We Finance Cars, p. 86. Krispy Kreme, p. 87. R W Grah, p. 8
1. Is the book of Titus in the Old or New Testament or neither?2. From Isaiah 45, whom did God ask, “Shall the clay say to him that fashio-neth it”? Gideon, Peter, Cyrus, Elijah3. For how many days did Goliath take his stand for a man to fight him? 2, 6, 10, 404. From Acts 5 and 12, how many times was Peter delivered from prison by an angel? 2, 5, Dozen, 705. Which Psalm is a prayer of Moses, the man of God? 23, 90, 117, 1506. Who sold his birthright for a pottage of lentils? Cain, Jacob, Esau, Able
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1. Snuffy Stirnweiss (1944) and Alfonso Soriano (2002). 2. None. 3. Oregon’s Chip Kelly, in 2009.4. Moses Malone had 32 points and 38 rebounds in a game in 1982.5. Rick Martin had 52 goals in the 1973-74 season.6. It was 1996, when Justin Huish won gold.7. Lee Trevino (1968) and Lee Janzen (1993).
Joe Bennett, Vicki Mullino, Robin Ellison, Keith Nobles,
Sherry Thorne and Ann Gantt
1. MUSIC: Who wrote and performed the song “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard”?
2. THEATER: “My Fair Lady” is a modern musical adaptation of which play?3. GEOGRAPHY: The Palace of Versailles is located near what city?4. PHYSICS: What is the branch of physics that deals with light?5. LITERATURE: Who wrote “Doctor Zhivago”?6. LANGUAGE: What is the American term for the British perambulator?7. ROYALS: From what house did Great Britain’s King Edward VIII descend?8. PSYCHOLOGY: What does someone fear if he
or she has chronomentrophobia?9. SCIENCE: What is an ichnite?10. PRESIDENTS: Which U.S. president said, “The chief business of the American people is business”?
Answers1. Paul Simon2. “Pygmalion”3. Paris4. Optics5. Boris Pasternak6. Baby carriage7. The House of Windsor8. Clocks9. Fossil footprint10. Calvin Coolidge
