Q: Years ago, while watching “The Lawrence Welk Show” with my parents, I was in awe of trumpeter Johnny Zell. He was as good as Harry James, and I loved listening to him play. Now, as an adult, I still watch the reruns of the show and still enjoy listening to Zell. What can you tell me about him? — J.V.H. e-mail
A: Johnny Zell entered the world on an army base in Fort Benning, Ga., on Nov. 24, 1947. Growing up in California, he studied music and eventually auditioned for Lawrence Welk at age 15. Story goes that Welk was impressed, but thought he was too young to hire. Next, following a stint in the army, a second, this time successful, audition with Welk occurred. From 1968 to 1982, Zell became one of the show’s most popular musicians. He has since become a born-again Christian and concentrates on Christian music. He lives in Oregon with his wife Laura; they have four children.
Q: Can you tell me what the average playing time is for a National Football League game? By playing time, I mean the time from when the ball is snapped until the play is dead. — R.C., e-mail
A: Actual game action is about 12 to 15 minutes. Of those minutes, special teams play about two to three minutes per game, leaving 10 to 12 minutes of actual play from scrimmage. Now consider that there is defense and offense, meaning each player toils maybe five to six minutes per game, unless he gets tired and sits out for a play or two.
Q: When and where were the first coins put into circulation? — B.L., Manhattan, Kan.
A: There is not a lot of agreement on when, but most historians believe the first coins were introduced in Lydia, now part of present-day Turkey. The Lydian lion, a small coin made of gold and silver, was minted during the reign of King Gyges around 650 B.C.; it may be the first coin used for money.
Q: Are DVDs available for these two movies: “Soldier in the Rain,” with Jackie Gleason and Steve McQueen, and “Red Sky at Morning,” with Desi Arnaz Jr.? — J.W., Torrance, Calif.
A: The 1963 movie “Soldier in the Rain” is available on DVD; it can be found at Amazon.com. “Red Sky at Morning” (1971) has not been released in DVD format.
Q: While visiting the United Kingdom, I saw several signs proclaiming “fairy cakes” were on sale. What is a “fairy cake”? — M.F., Tyler, Texas
A: In the United States, they are called “cupcakes.”
Q: How high does a shoe heel have to be to be considered a high heel? — T.C.V., Medford, Mass.
A: There is no set rule, but some high-fashion shoe designers claim a “low heel” is one that is less than 2-1/2 inches, while heels between 2-1/2 and 3-1/2 inches are considered “mid heels.” Anything over 3-1/2 inches is a “high heel.”
Q: Who is Lee in Lee Jeans? — G.R.N., Summerville, S.C.
A: The jeans are named after Henry David Lee (1849-1928). As a young man, he successfully invested in real estate and later in the oil industry. In 1889, on the advice of his doctor, he moved to Salina, Kan., where he established the H.D. Lee Mercantile Company, a food distributor. In time, the business expanded into other areas, including clothing. To meet the demand for workwear, he set up his own factory in which Lee Jeans were made.
Q: What is “kindred,” as in kindred spirit? — N.E., Woburn, Mass.
A: Kindred refers to a group of related individuals or relatives. According to Merriam-Webster, the word dates back to the 12th century.