Cecil Adams
Encyclopedia
Cecil Adams is a name, possibly a pseudonym
, designating the American
author
of The Straight Dope, a popular question and answer column published in The Chicago Reader
since 1973. Ed Zotti
is Adams' current editor.
The column has since been syndicated in 30 newspaper
s in the United States
and Canada
and is available online. Billed as the "World's Smartest Human," Adams responds to often unusual inquiries with abrasive humor (often directed against the questioner), and at times exhaustive research into obscure and arcane issues, urban legend
s, and the like. On more than one occasion, Adams has been forced to retract or modify an answer when confronted by "the Teeming Millions" (Adams's term for his readers), often claiming overwork and staff shortages. On rare occasions, Adams has made appearances on the Straight Dope's Message Board.
A subsidiary column concerning questions of local interest in Adams's home city of Chicago
has been added.
, who currently fulfills Adams's publicity engagements, has appeared in at least one photo captioned "Cecil Adams." Previous editors include Mike Lenehan and Dave Kehr
.
In his columns, Adams has revealed a few details of his personal life (although the FAQ
section on his website states that chance references to "Mrs. Adams" may refer to his mother). He is an accomplished traveler, and currently resides in Chicago's
47th Ward. He is also left-handed
and may be balding and colorblind. He mentions having taken a class with Northwestern University
English Professor Bergen Evans
, mentions once working as an electrician's
apprentice, and a railroad machinist's helper. He also mentions attending a Catholic school
. He is of Irish
descent, and relaxes with Pink Floyd
and Baileys
.
briefly aired a show hosted by comedian Mike Lukas based on the column also called The Straight Dope.
Over 600 articles have been posted to the site's online archive; some of these contain multiple questions-and-answers. Also included with the columns are quirky illustrations. Slug Signorino
, in addition to a successful commercial art career, has been the regular illustrator for The Straight Dope for the past twenty years. In his illustrations, Cecil Adams is often depicted as a large turkey wearing a mortar board
.
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
, designating the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
of The Straight Dope, a popular question and answer column published in The Chicago Reader
The Chicago Reader
The Chicago Reader is an American alternative weekly newspaper in Chicago, Illinois, noted for its literary style of journalism and coverage of the arts, particularly film and theater. It was founded in 1971 by a group of friends from Carleton College...
since 1973. Ed Zotti
Ed Zotti
Ed Zotti is credited as being the "editor and confidant" of Cecil Adams, the pseudonym of the writer of the nationally syndicated column The Straight Dope...
is Adams' current editor.
The column has since been syndicated in 30 newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
s in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and is available online. Billed as the "World's Smartest Human," Adams responds to often unusual inquiries with abrasive humor (often directed against the questioner), and at times exhaustive research into obscure and arcane issues, urban legend
Urban legend
An urban legend, urban myth, urban tale, or contemporary legend, is a form of modern folklore consisting of stories that may or may not have been believed by their tellers to be true...
s, and the like. On more than one occasion, Adams has been forced to retract or modify an answer when confronted by "the Teeming Millions" (Adams's term for his readers), often claiming overwork and staff shortages. On rare occasions, Adams has made appearances on the Straight Dope's Message Board.
A subsidiary column concerning questions of local interest in Adams's home city of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
has been added.
Personal details
Adams claims that he has "never been photographed," but Ed ZottiEd Zotti
Ed Zotti is credited as being the "editor and confidant" of Cecil Adams, the pseudonym of the writer of the nationally syndicated column The Straight Dope...
, who currently fulfills Adams's publicity engagements, has appeared in at least one photo captioned "Cecil Adams." Previous editors include Mike Lenehan and Dave Kehr
Dave Kehr
Dave Kehr is an American film critic. A critic at the Chicago Reader and the Chicago Tribune for many years, he writes a weekly column for The New York Times on DVD releases, in addition to contributing occasional pieces on individual films or filmmakers.-Early life and education:Dave Kehr did...
.
In his columns, Adams has revealed a few details of his personal life (although the FAQ
FAQ
Frequently asked questions are listed questions and answers, all supposed to be commonly asked in some context, and pertaining to a particular topic. "FAQ" is usually pronounced as an initialism rather than an acronym, but an acronym form does exist. Since the acronym FAQ originated in textual...
section on his website states that chance references to "Mrs. Adams" may refer to his mother). He is an accomplished traveler, and currently resides in Chicago's
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
47th Ward. He is also left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
and may be balding and colorblind. He mentions having taken a class with Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
English Professor Bergen Evans
Bergen Evans
Bergen Baldwin Evans was an American lexicographer, a Rhodes Scholar, a Harvard College graduate, a Northwestern University professor of English, and a television host...
, mentions once working as an electrician's
Electrician
An electrician is a tradesman specializing in electrical wiring of buildings, stationary machines and related equipment. Electricians may be employed in the installation of new electrical components or the maintenance and repair of existing electrical infrastructure. Electricians may also...
apprentice, and a railroad machinist's helper. He also mentions attending a Catholic school
Catholic school
Catholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
. He is of Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
descent, and relaxes with Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
and Baileys
Baileys Irish Cream
Baileys Irish Cream is an Irish whiskey and cream based liqueur, made by Gilbeys of Ireland. The trademark is currently owned by Diageo. It has a declared alcohol content of 17% alcohol by volume...
.
Published works
Adams has published five collections of his The Straight Dope columns, and Zotti has published a children's collection in The Straight Dope style entitled Know It All. Adams' columns are archived at the Straight Dope website. In 1996, the A&E NetworkA&E Network
The A&E Network is a United States-based cable and satellite television network with headquarters in New York City and offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, London, Los Angeles and Stamford. A&E also airs in Canada and Latin America. Initially named the Arts & Entertainment Network, A&E launched...
briefly aired a show hosted by comedian Mike Lukas based on the column also called The Straight Dope.
Over 600 articles have been posted to the site's online archive; some of these contain multiple questions-and-answers. Also included with the columns are quirky illustrations. Slug Signorino
Slug Signorino
Slug Signorino is an illustrator and designer most notable for his cartoons in The Straight Dope, a nationally syndicated weekly newspaper column that he has illustrated since 1975. He lives and works in La Porte, Indiana.-External links:* *...
, in addition to a successful commercial art career, has been the regular illustrator for The Straight Dope for the past twenty years. In his illustrations, Cecil Adams is often depicted as a large turkey wearing a mortar board
Square academic cap
The square academic cap, graduate cap, or mortarboard or Oxford cap, is an item of academic head dress consisting of a horizontal square board fixed upon a skull-cap, with a tassel attached to the center...
.