The Straight Dope 08/06/2004

The Straight Dope -- By Cecil Adams
http://www.straightdope.com

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THE STRAIGHT DOPE 08/06/2004

Dear Cecil:

Give us the real scoop. Did the Venona Project establish beyond a doubt
that Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who were executed as spies in 1953 but
proclaimed their innocence, were Soviet agents? --Jim D., Medford,
Massachusetts

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Cecil replies:

Of the many revelations since the fall of the iron curtain, one of the
least expected was that all that McCarthy-era Red-scare-mongering wasn't
pure paranoia. Case in point: the Rosenbergs, long considered victims of
a frame-up. Based on secret Soviet cables decrypted as part of the
Venona Project as well as other evidence, the verdict of history (for
now) is that they didn't deserve the chair, and Julius Rosenberg was way
guiltier than his wife, Ethel, but . . .

For more, see:
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/040806.html

STAFF REPORT

Dear Straight Dope:

In Ricky Nelson's song "Garden Party," there is mention of a Mr. Hughes
who "hid in Dylan's shoes." Who the heck is this guy? I've searched and
searched but I have no idea. -- Josh 

Guest contributor Rico replies:

Ah yes, one of my favorite songs from the 70s. I used to listen for the
point about two-thirds of the way through when, instead of going to a
1-4 chord change, Nelson went to a 1-4m9 change--rather dramatic for a
musician. But I digress. You're not talking about the music, you're
talking about the lyrics.

Symbolism abounds in this song. 

For more, see: 
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mgardenparty.html

STRAIGHT DOPE CLASSIC - 07/25/1986

Dear Cecil: 

I heard a cute tale about how Groucho Marx supposedly got the hook while
hosting a live broadcast of his famous TV quiz show, You Bet Your Life.
As this micro-legend has it, Groucho was small-talking with a female
contestant when the following exchange took place:  

Groucho:  So, you got any kids? 
Female Contestant:  Yes, Groucho, I have eleven children.
Groucho:  Eleven?! Did you say eleven kids? 
Female Contestant:  Well, I love my husband. 
Groucho:  Lady, I love my cigar but I take it out of my mouth once in a 
while.  

Supposedly, the program's censors immediately stopped the broadcast
and never let Mr. Marx do the show again.  I'll admit the story does sound
a little contrived. Still, as a hunter of truth in the forest of deceit, do 
you find any droppings of plausibility? More important, can I get it
on VHS?-- William S., Arlington, Virginia 

Dear William:  

I've had to strangle so many show-biz myths in their cradles, it's a pleasure 
to report on one that actually has some basis in fact. Groucho Marx, who 
regularly did for airwaves what Cecil humbly endeavors to do for the
newspapers, really did pull off the amazing exchange quoted above. In fact . 
. .

For more, see:
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_024.html

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