The Answer Man
Encyclopedia
The Answer Man was a United States 15-minute radio program that aired from 1937 to 1956 on the Mutual Broadcasting System
and also in syndication. It was broadcast late Sunday evening on some stations. During the 1940s, the program was sponsored by Trommer's White Label Beer
. The Answer Man was Albert Carlyle Mitchell, who was born May 31, 1893 in Elsberry, Missouri
. The series was created by Mitchell and Bruce Chapman.
Questions submitted by listeners were answered on the air by Mitchell, and those who sent questions not used in the program were given answers by mail. The program's offices were located across the street from the New York Public Library
, which helps to explain how Chapman and his 40-person staff were able to deal with a constant flow of a million questions a year. They also kept their own specialized library of several thousands of volumes, and they created a card index of 20,000 authorities who could be consulted when all research avenues failed. The show was carefully scripted, yet it created the illusion that Mitchell was answering spontaneously. Many listeners believed that he was a genius with total recall of all information.
, the program was heard twice a day from 1937 to 1952. Questions and answers covered every conceivable topic, from stain removal to legal advice. Typical questions:
According to an article printed in the 1940s, there were two questions that the Answer Man was unable to answer:
The series was sometimes developed for individual markets, such as local versions in France, Germany, Greece, Holland and Poland, with Radio Luxembourg
also broadcasting the concept in Europe. In Los Angeles, Joe Mansfield was the Answer Man.
The spin-off quiz book, Here's the Answer by Albert Mitchell, was published by Miles-Emmett in 1946. Distributed by Dodd, Mead & Company, this book featured more than 2000 questions and answers, grouped by subject.
Mitchell died October 4, 1954.
and Steve Allen
. The Kovacs lampoon was a feature titled The Question Man. In Steve Allen's parody, the answers were given first, followed by the question: A: "Rank and file." Q: "What does it take to get out of an Army prison?"
Mutual Broadcasting System
The Mutual Broadcasting System was an American radio network, in operation from 1934 to 1999. In the golden age of U.S. radio drama, MBS was best known as the original network home of The Lone Ranger and The Adventures of Superman and as the long-time radio residence of The Shadow...
and also in syndication. It was broadcast late Sunday evening on some stations. During the 1940s, the program was sponsored by Trommer's White Label Beer
Piels Beer
Piels Beer, aka Piel Bros. Beer and Piel's Beer, is a regional lager beer, originally brewed in the East New York section of Brooklyn, New York, at 315 Liberty Avenue...
. The Answer Man was Albert Carlyle Mitchell, who was born May 31, 1893 in Elsberry, Missouri
Elsberry, Missouri
Elsberry is a city in Lincoln County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,047 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Elsberry is located at ....
. The series was created by Mitchell and Bruce Chapman.
Questions submitted by listeners were answered on the air by Mitchell, and those who sent questions not used in the program were given answers by mail. The program's offices were located across the street from the New York Public Library
New York Public Library
The New York Public Library is the largest public library in North America and is one of the United States' most significant research libraries...
, which helps to explain how Chapman and his 40-person staff were able to deal with a constant flow of a million questions a year. They also kept their own specialized library of several thousands of volumes, and they created a card index of 20,000 authorities who could be consulted when all research avenues failed. The show was carefully scripted, yet it created the illusion that Mitchell was answering spontaneously. Many listeners believed that he was a genius with total recall of all information.
Q&A
On New York's WORWOR (AM)
WOR is a class A , AM radio station located in New York, New York, U.S., operating on 710 kHz. The station has a talk format and has been owned by Buckley Broadcasting since 1987, after the station was sold by RKO. The station has conservative, or right-of-center hosts.Its call letters have no...
, the program was heard twice a day from 1937 to 1952. Questions and answers covered every conceivable topic, from stain removal to legal advice. Typical questions:
- How tall was Jesus?
- What makes bubble gum bubble?
- Is it true that only the male cricket chirps?
According to an article printed in the 1940s, there were two questions that the Answer Man was unable to answer:
- How many buffalo would it take to fill Grand CanyonGrand CanyonThe Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in the United States in the state of Arizona. It is largely contained within the Grand Canyon National Park, the 15th national park in the United States...
? - Do birds dream?
The series was sometimes developed for individual markets, such as local versions in France, Germany, Greece, Holland and Poland, with Radio Luxembourg
Radio Luxembourg (English)
Radio Luxembourg is a commercial broadcaster in many languages from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It is nowadays known in most non-English languages as RTL ....
also broadcasting the concept in Europe. In Los Angeles, Joe Mansfield was the Answer Man.
The spin-off quiz book, Here's the Answer by Albert Mitchell, was published by Miles-Emmett in 1946. Distributed by Dodd, Mead & Company, this book featured more than 2000 questions and answers, grouped by subject.
Mitchell died October 4, 1954.
Satires
The series was satirized on television by Ernie KovacsErnie Kovacs
Ernie Kovacs was a Hungarian American comedian and actor.Kovacs' uninhibited, often ad-libbed, and visually experimental comedic style came to influence numerous television comedy programs for years after his death in an automobile accident...
and Steve Allen
Steve Allen
Steve Allen may refer to:*Steve Allen , American musician, comedian, and writer*Steve Allen , presenter on the London-based talk radio station LBC 97.3...
. The Kovacs lampoon was a feature titled The Question Man. In Steve Allen's parody, the answers were given first, followed by the question: A: "Rank and file." Q: "What does it take to get out of an Army prison?"