Q: Is actor Alan Autry related to Western cowboy singer/actor Gene Autry? — J.S., East Peoria, Ill.
A: I have read several biographies of both Gene Autry and Alan Autry. According to at least one biographer, a connection is made if you go back several generations in the family tree.
According to his official website, Gene Autry’s career spanned some 70 years. He is the only entertainer to have five stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame — one for each category (radio, recording, motion pictures, television and live theater). He appeared in 93 movies and starred in 91 television productions. He was no slouch when it came to music, either: Autry recorded and wrote hundreds of songs. He was also an incredible businessman — he owned a major league baseball team, TV stations and several radio stations. Gene Autry went to the big ranch in the sky in 1998; he was 91.
Alan Autry is best known for his portrayal of police officer Bubba Skinner on the series “In the Heat of the Night.” He was born Carlos Alan Autry in Shreveport, La., in 1952. After his parents divorced when he was a year old, his name was changed to Carlos Brown. In 1975 he was drafted by the Green Bay Packers, where he was a second-string quarterback — though he did start several games. After his football career ended, he took up acting using the name Alan Autry. He was mayor of Fresno, Calif., from 2001 to 2009.
Q: I would like to know the dates of birth and death of the men who performed as the Three Stooges. — W.M.B., Media, Pa.
A: Moe Howard was born June 19, 1897, in Bensonhurst, N.Y.; he died May 4, 1975, at age 77. His real name was Moses Horwitz.
Larry Fine was born Louis Feinberg Oct. 5, 1902, on the south side of Philadelphia. He died Jan. 24, 1975, at age 72.
Curly Howard’s real name was Jerome Lester Horwitz. He was born Oct. 22, 1903, in Bath Beach, a summer resort in Brooklyn, N.Y. He died Jan. 18, 1952, at age 48 after a series of strokes.
Shemp Howard was born Samuel Horwitz in Brooklyn, N.Y., on March 17, 1895. Shemp’s nickname came from his mother’s pronunciation of the name Sam, which sounded like Shemp in her European accent. He died Nov. 23, 1955, at age 60.
Joe Besser was brought in to replace Shemp after his death in 1955. Besser was born Aug. 12, 1907, in St. Louis. He died March 1, 1988, at age 80.
The last Stooge, Curly Joe DeRita was born Joseph Wardell on July 12, 1909, in Philadelphia. He died July 3, 1993, at age 83.
Did you know? Early in his career, John Wayne made several films as a singing cowboy. A singer hidden off camera supplied the singing voice.
Q: My grandfather served in World War I. I used to ask him about the war, but he never wanted to talk about it any more than my dad did about his experiences in World War II. A few years ago I was elated to be given a box of letters my grandfather wrote to his parents during the war years. He was in the Navy and was stationed in South Carolina for a bit before going to Europe. He made several references to “Betsy.” Was there a ship by that name? Maybe he was referring to a girlfriend? I would love to know. — J.H., Summerville, S.C.
A: From what you told me, I suspect he is referring to the USS Miss Betsy (SP-151). She was a motorboat assigned to the 6th Naval District at Charleston, S.C., and served as a dispatch and mail delivery vessel from 1918 to 1919.
According to The Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, in 1916, Miss Betsy was built by E.S. Thibault in Jacksonville, Fla., as a civilian motorboat. The U.S. Navy acquired her on April 12, 1918, under a free lease from her owner, M.R. Ballantyne of South Montrose, Pa., for naval district use during World War I. She was commissioned on Sept. 21, 1918. Miss Betsy was returned to her owner on Jan. 17, 1919.
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