saturday 9

Paper Doll

1) The song is about a fellow who is exasperated by men flirting with his girl. Do you have a jealous streak? no

2) He's blue after a quarrel with Sue. Did you exchange harsh words with anyone recently? no

3) "Paper Doll" was #1 for 12 weeks in 1943-44, sold 11 million copies and remains one of the best-selling singles of all time. Had you heard it before today? I had not

4) As kids, the Mills Brothers worked on their harmonies in front of their father's Piqua, OH, barbershop, much to the delight of passers by. Do you often encounter street musicians in your neighborhood? sadly, no

5) The Mills Brothers were a long way from that street corner when, in 1936, they became the first African Americans to perform for the British Royal Family. It's about 4,000 miles from Piqua to London. What's the farthest you've ever been from home? I think it's either southern California or The Netherlands--I always assumed they're the same distance from home

6) In the early 1930s, the Mills Brothers not only performed songs on radio, they sang jingles for Standard Oil and Crisco. What commercial can you recall having seen (or heard) lately? just the Dunkin' DunKings commercials which I think are hilarious

7) In 1943, when "Paper Doll" was popular, WWII was raging and the US Mint began producing steel pennies because copper was needed for ammunition. Do you have any pennies in your pocket or wallet right now?  I am cleaned out of pennies--the school sponsored a "Penny War" between the classes and the kids wiped me clean

8) Also in 1943, a bottle of Coke was a nickel. When did you most recently have a soft drink? What was it? I think it was Tuesday night--I had a diet Pepsi

9) Random question: Have you learned more from your successes, or your failures? I've learned more from my successes because they encourage me to take bigger chances professionally