QUESTION Did the Democratic Party hire a comedian to play pranks on Richard Nixon during his election campaigns?
This was Richard Gregory ‘Dick’ Tuck (1924-2018), a Democratic Party operative who made a career of political pranks, specializing in tormenting Richard Nixon.
The pair first crossed paths in 1950, when Tuck was a World War II veteran studying political science at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Tuck worked part time for Helen Gahagan Douglas, a Democrat running against Nixon for California’s Senate seat. Nixon had attempted to smear Douglas as a communist sympathizer.
The university, unaware of the affiliation, asked Tuck to arrange Nixon’s visit to the university. Tuck arranged for the unsuspecting candidate to speak in one of the largest auditoriums available and barely publicized the event.
He introduced Nixon with a long speech and then called the bewildered Nixon to the microphone, saying that the candidate would speak to the small audience on a topic that “interests all Californians: the International Monetary Fund.”
Richard Gregory ‘Dick’ Tuck (1924-2018), a Democratic Party operative who made a career out of political jokes
At the 1956 Republican convention, where Nixon was to be chosen as President Eisenhower’s vice presidential candidate, Tuck paid garbage trucks to drive by, carrying the slogan “Unload Nixon.”
Tuck made a career out of annoying Nixon. At the 1956 Republican convention, where Nixon was to be chosen as President Eisenhower’s vice presidential candidate, Tuck paid garbage trucks to drive by, carrying the slogan “Dump Nixon.”
He was also known for posing as a fire chief at Nixon appearances and giving reporters low estimates of crowd sizes. But Tuck never officially confirmed reports that he had donned a conductor’s uniform and flagged down a train to leave San Luis Obispo while Nixon was still speaking from behind.
Daniel Reed, Malvern, Worcs.
QUESTION How did Mike ‘the headless chicken’ survive 18 months without a head?
Headless Chicken Mike, also known as Miracle Mike, was a real chicken who achieved fame by living without a head for over a year.
In September 1945, a farmer named Lloyd Olsen was slaughtering chickens on his farm in Fruita, Colorado. When he decapitated a chicken, Mike, he missed its jugular vein.
To Olsen’s surprise, instead of dying like the other chickens, Mike stayed alive and even tried to peck for food. Realizing this, Olsen decided to take care of him. He gave Mike a mixture of milk and water, and even cereal, through a drip.
Remarkably, Mike survived and thrived, weighing nearly nine pounds for the rest of his life.
Scientists and veterinarians who examined Mike speculated that his brain stem, which controls rudimentary functions such as breathing and heart rate, was still partially intact, allowing him to maintain these functions and survive. However, since he lacked higher brain functions, he could not see, hear, or process information like a normal chicken would.
Headless Chicken Mike, also known as Miracle Mike, was a real chicken who achieved fame by living without a head for over a year.
Mike’s remarkable survival attracted widespread attention and he became a popular attraction at shows and carnivals.
Sadly, Mike eventually died of asphyxiation on his own mucus (the syringe Olsen used to help Mike clean it up had been left at a sideshow) in a motel room while on tour in Phoenix, Arizona, in the spring of 1947.
JG Ashley, helmet.
QUESTION What movies have had their endings changed because the original was too depressing?
Several films have had their endings altered due to concerns that the original endings were too depressing or bleak for audiences.
Some notable examples: Fatal Attraction (1987) initially ended with Alex Forrest (Glenn Close) committing suicide and framing Dan Gallagher (Michael Douglas) for his murder. However, test audiences hated this ending, so it was reshot to have Dan’s wife kill Alex, allowing for what was considered a more satisfying resolution.
The original script for Pretty Woman (1990) by JF Lawton was titled Three Thousand and had a much darker tone, focusing on the grim reality of prostitution. It ended when Edward (Richard Gere) left Vivian (Julia Roberts) after paying him for her services. However, this was changed to a more romantic and uplifting ending in which Edward rescues Vivian from her life as a prostitute and they ride off into the sunset together.
Fatal Attraction (1987) initially ended with Alex Forrest (Glenn Close) committing suicide and framing Dan Gallagher (Michael Douglas) for his murder.
Little Shop Of Horrors (1986) initially had the same ending as the off-Broadway musical on which the film was based. This saw Seymour (Rick Moranis) killed by the carnivorous plant Audrey II, and the plant took over the world. Again, test audiences did not like this ending, so it was reshot to give a happier conclusion with Seymour defeating Audrey II and thus saving humanity.
Ed Timpson, Cheltenham, Gloss.
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Write to: Charles Legge, Answers To Correspondents, Daily Mail, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY or email charles.legge@dailymail.co.uk