Q: Betty White received a lot of attention for her 90th birthday in January. She was married to Allen Ludden until he died. Ludden was previously married and had several children. What became of them? — K.J.H., Owosso, Mich.
A: Allen Ludden and his first wife, Margaret McGloin, were married in October 1943. They remained together until her death from cancer in October 1961. They had three children: David, Martha and Sarah. I have not been able to find any details about them. Perhaps a reader knows and will share the information?
Ludden and Betty White married in June 1963. They were married until his death in June 1981.
Q: The amount of the national debt is staggering — beyond my comprehension. How much is it per person? — J.C., Stowe, Vt.
A: According to Jill Schlesinger of CBS MoneyWatch, the United States national debt is $15.3 trillion, which amounts to $49,030 per every man, woman and child in the country, or $135,773 per taxpayer.
Q: What has happened to the three young men who played the sons of Tim Allen in the TV series “Home Improvement”? — M.R. Robinson, Ill.
A: “Home Improvement” was an incredibly popular TV series that ran from 1991 to 1999. It starred Tim Allen and Patricia Richardson.
Zachery Ty Bryan (born October 1981) has maintained an active television career, primarily in guest roles. In addition to Zach’s on-screen presence, he writes and co-owns the popular Hollywood bar Big Wangs.
Jonathan Taylor Thomas (born September 1981), who played middle son Randy Taylor, was the heartthrob of the show. He left “Home Improvement” in the seventh season to pursue his education. JTT graduated from Columbia University in 2010.
Taran Noah Smith (born April 1984) played the youngest of the three Taylor children, Marcus “Mark” Jason Taylor. In a 2001 interview, Smith said, “When I was 16, I knew that I didn’t want to act anymore.” In 2001, at the age of 17, he married Heidi Van Pelt, who was 16 years his senior. In 2005, he and Van Pelt formed a California-based nondairy cheese manufacturer and restaurant, Playfood, which specialized in vegan and organic foods. The couple divorced in 2007. After a protracted legal battle after their divorce Smith took control of the company.
Q: I was listening to my shortwave radio one night; a caller to the show said she was from Kits. From the conversation, I got the impression she was from the Vancouver area. I’ve been to Vancouver several times, but I’ve never heard of Kits. I got out my map and could not locate it. Can you help me out? — H.J., Louisville, Ky.
A: Kits refers to Kitsilano, an upscale section of Vancouver. The name Kitsilano is derived from a local chief of the Squamish people.
Q: My wife is from Southern California. One of the things she misses is See’s Candies. It’s an unusual name. Can you tell me the origin of the company? — D.N.H., Elmira, N.Y.
A: Charles See arrived in Los Angeles from Canada in 1921 to try his hand at the confection business; he used his mother’s recipes to start his operation. The image of Mary See is on every box of candy. The first See’s store was designed to resemble Mary See’s home kitchen. By the 1950s, shops were open all over California. In 1972, the See family sold the company to Berkshire Hathaway Inc., presided over by Chairman Warren Buffett.
Why not treat your wife to a taste of home? You can call the company for a catalog (800-895-7337), or visit sees.com to order the candy.
Send your questions to Mr. Know-It-All at AskMrKIA@gmail.com or c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.