Anyone up for MPI trivia?

[Doc Ibold]

I want to say Burt Reynolds, Dustin Hoffman, and the 3rd escapes me.....

[SelleckLover]

Mary Steenburgen.

[sophia]

Correct on all three.
next

[golfmobile]

In Home From the Sea, what did TM say his surfski cost? (Did we already ask this?)

On another subject regarding HFTS, we all know TM inherited his father's watch. And this would have been what year? (That's not a trivia question -- I'm trying to find out.) Around 1953? Did his father die in the Korean War? Now, was Rolex even making that model of watch in the early 1950s? It looks pretty "modern" for a 1953 watch! Weren't all watches then wind-up watches? I confess I know nothing of the history of watches, much less ROLEX watches, still . . . .

Secondly, at the funeral, the minister conducting the funeral says something along the line of "we are here to say farewell to Thomas Magnum Senior." Was he using that terminology only "generically" since the elder TSM who just died was father to the younger TSM, therefore the more "senior" of the two just recently alive -- but technically wouldn't our TM's father have been the third (TSM III) since our TM is TSM IV? (The "Senior" terminology is usually used only when there IS a "Jr." -- to differentiate between the two. One generally isn't named "Sr." -- one is usually just called that because there IS a "Jr.")

Any thoughts on this?

golf

[IslandHopper]

In Home From the Sea, what did TM say his surfski cost? (Did we already ask this?)

On another subject regarding HFTS, we all know TM inherited his father's watch. And this would have been what year? (That's not a trivia question -- I'm trying to find out.) Around 1953? Did his father die in the Korean War? Now, was Rolex even making that model of watch in the early 1950s? It looks pretty "modern" for a 1953 watch! Weren't all watches then wind-up watches? I confess I know nothing of the history of watches, much less ROLEX watches, still . . . .

Secondly, at the funeral, the minister conducting the funeral says something along the line of "we are here to say farewell to Thomas Magnum Senior." Was he using that terminology only "generically" since the elder TSM who just died was father to the younger TSM, therefore the more "senior" of the two just recently alive -- but technically wouldn't our TM's father have been the third (TSM III) since our TM is TSM IV? (The "Senior" terminology is usually used only when there IS a "Jr." -- to differentiate between the two. One generally isn't named "Sr." -- one is usually just called that because there IS a "Jr.")

Any thoughts on this?

golf

$1,500 for the surfski.

Good point about the watch. I don't know about the history of Rolex watches either. But when young TM was treading water with his Dad it was 1950. His Father said that by the time he gets back from Korea young TM will be 6 and able to tread water for an hour. It was also revealed that the Father was to be in Korea for 1 year. So, when young TM inherited the Rolex it would have been 1950 or 1951.


Was TM's Dad killed on July 4th? Is that the reason TM spends the 4th by himself?

[golfmobile]

IH,

I don't know about military service that much, but it seems to me that back in the 1950s, tours of duty were two years, not one year.

So maybe someone with more knowledge or more time than I have right now can research:

1. Rolex watches circa 1950-53

2. Korean War lengths of tours of duty.

Maybe we'll find some more flubs for you!

golf

[IslandHopper]

IH,

I don't know about military service that much, but it seems to me that back in the 1950s, tours of duty were two years, not one year.

So maybe someone with more knowledge or more time than I have right now can research:

1. Rolex watches circa 1950-53

2. Korean War lengths of tours of duty.

Maybe we'll find some more flubs for you!

golf

Hey Golf,

The 1 year actually came from the dialogue from the episode. Keep in mind that TM's Dad was a Navy carrier pilot. It is not uncommon for carriers to operate in certain areas for certain periods of time and then move on to another theater of operations, as they may be needed elsewhere.

During WWII soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen served until the war was over; they were wounded and couldn't come back; or killed. During Vietnam the typical tour of duty was 13 months, although servicemen and women could volunteer for additional tours. I'm not positive about Korea, but I believe it was similar to WWII. The reason the lengths of tours were shortened to 13 months during Vietnam was based on psychological studies of combat veterans who spent a certain number of days in combat (not necessarily consecutive days). The study revealed that a soldier can only stand a certain number of days in combat. Anything beyond that number, and the particular soldier would begin to suffer ill effects, e.g. shell shock, etc. I can't remember the exact number of days, but I think it is around 180. Don't quote me on that. That study was during WWII, so I'm sure there have been more up to date studies.

[golfmobile]

The 1 year actually came from the dialogue from the episode

Yes, IH, I understand that. I just wonder if that was an input on the writers' part based on Vietnam and NOT typical tours of duty in Korea. That may be what we need to know -- if that was a flub because it was based on what was actually done in Vietnam but was not done in the 1950s in Korea. I.e., was that an anachronism used in MPI based on Vietnam Era tours,not only what was actually done in Korea?

When I have some more time, I'll see if I can find anything. I could be wrong. I just remember reading books as a kid about the Korean War, and I thought I remembered a two-year tour of duty. But I could simply be remembering ENLISTMENT time, not active tour of duty time.

Still, that was many, many years ago, and my memory could certainly be faulty on that issue.

golf

P.S.

Just found this:



That excerpt came from:

Korean War Info

So I'm not sure what we have determined except that the "one year" MPI quote wasn't exactly wrong, but it wasn't exactly right either. Split the difference and let it slide for now.

So, I'm off to search for the date of the correct Rolex.

golf

P.S. Quick initial search for the watch results:

Best I can find on short notice, Rolex first made a dive watch (the "Submariner") in 1953, available for purchase in 1954. If the GMT was the one TM was supposed to have inherited from his father in 1950-53, I think that didn't exist then.

Again, from Wikipedia, and that's NOT the Holy Bible of facts:

The GMT Master was originally designed in 1956 to aid pilots who travel through multiple time zones.

A new model of the GMT Master came out in 1983 that features a sapphire crystal which cannot easily be scratched. This model was named the GMT Master II.

Production for the 16710 GMT Master II model has recently ceased. Launched in mid 2007, the new 116710LN stainless steel version boasts the ceramic bezel, polished bracelet center links with Daytona type clasp, maxi dial and green 24 hour hand found on the 50th anniversary edition.

The GMT can display time in two different time zones and the GMT II in three. Using the additional "GMT" hand which completes a 24 hour cycle in a single rotation, the GMT (and GMT II) uses a bi-directional rotatable bezel marked zero to twenty three allowing for a second time zone to be displayed with the GMT hand pointing to the bezel hour. The GMT II allows the GMT hand to be set independently from the hour hand thus allowing a third time zone.

A compass bearing can also be taken using the red 24 hour hand (the 24 hour hand must be set to LOCAL time, not GMT). When the watch is laid flat with the 24 hour hand pointed in the direction of the sun, the 12:00 marker on the dial will point to the north in the northern hemisphere and to the south in the southern hemisphere.


[edit] History
The watch was originally designed in collaboration with Pan American World Airways for use by their pilots. Today, this watch is popular with travelers and people who need to keep track of the time across multiple time zones. In 1981 The Rolex GMT Model 16750 added a quick set date feature, prior to this the model was 1675. Prior to this to adjust the date, one would have to continue to wind the crown thru all the dates in order to reach the current. The quick set date feature & the Sapphire Crystal added in 1987 are the two major changes in the last 30 years at Rolex. The model 16750 is currently selling on EBAY for over $4,000.

My initial impression from this is that the watch TM got from his father didn't exist when he would have gotten it.

But my research has been very limited. I could certainly be wrong and hope that someone else can re-inform me.

golf

[IslandHopper]

During WWII soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen served until the war was over; they were wounded and couldn't come back; or killed. During Vietnam the typical tour of duty was 13 months, although servicemen and women could volunteer for additional tours. I'm not positive about Korea, but I believe it was similar to WWII. The reason the lengths of tours were shortened to 13 months during Vietnam was based on psychological studies of combat veterans who spent a certain number of days in combat (not necessarily consecutive days). The study revealed that a soldier can only stand a certain number of days in combat. Anything beyond that number, and the particular soldier would begin to suffer ill effects, e.g. shell shock, etc. I can't remember the exact number of days, but I think it is around 180. Don't quote me on that. That study was during WWII, so I'm sure there have been more up to date studies.

Thanks for posting that Golf. I think what you have posted may apply more to ground forces (Army and Marines), but I will check to be sure. I have a friend who flew an F4 Phantom during Vietnam while in the USAF, and another that was a carrier pilot during the Vietnam era. I will ask them both about the length of their respective tours. I also have several friends that served in Vietnam for short periods of time on a "TDY" basis. My guess is that the dialogue of TM's Dad which said that he will be in Korea for 1 year is probably not a flub.

[golfmobile]

IH.

That's fine. I don't find that to be such a major problem. My problem is with the watch. From what I could find last night, that 16750 model (or whatever the number is, I can't remember right now) was not even made until 1981.

Since my research is obviously so flawed, perhaps someone else can determine if it was possible for TM's father to have given him that particular Rolex watch in the early 1950s. From what I found the first diver's watch made by Rolex, the Submariner, wasn't even available to the general public until 1954. When were GMTs manufacturered? Have we determined an exact year for his father's death based on how old TM says he was when his father died and what his driver's license showed as his year of birth? If so, did that watch exist then?

golf

[J.J. Walters]

golf,

Your research pretty much jives with what I found last year (I had '55 as the year the original GMT Master was introduced). I have 1950 as the year Magnum's dad died, although truthfully I can't remember how I arrived at that right now! Either way, the 16750 model was introduced in 1981, decades after TM's dad died!

[IslandHopper]

Have we determined an exact year for his father's death based on how old TM says he was when his father died and what his driver's license showed as his year of birth? If so, did that watch exist then?

golf

Agreed, and good spot on the Rolex. As far as the date that young TM inhereited the Rolex, I would still have to go with 1950 or 1951 since his father referred to young TM as the 1950 water treading champion. We also know that the father was killed before he completed his tour of duty in Korea, so I would say 1950 or 1951 depending on what month that the water treading scene was supposed to take place. In the water treading scene, it was revealed that young TM was 6 years old. However, I don't believe TM's date of birth helps us that much since at least two separate DOBs were given for TM. In "Try To Remember" (season 2) TM says his DOB is August 8, 1944, and in Memories Are Forever (season 2) TM's drivers license says his DOB is 01/05/1946.

[golfmobile]

Okay, we're in agreement that the Rolex should be considered a "shocking flub"? A 1981 watch masquerading as a watch from the Korean War? Also it's interesting that he valued it so much but he didn't wear it the first four years of the show because there wasn't a backstory to go with it . . . . I was talking to Larry (spouse) about this and he said Rolex probably paid him (or Universal) to have him wear it. I hadn't thought of that, but it makes sense.

And on another note, I think it's rather cruel to expect a 6-year-old to tread water for an hour! If a parent did that in this day and age, someone would be calling Dept. of Family and Child Services on the parent! And it started when his father went off for his tour of duty and little TM was 5! That's ridiculous! Is there any parent here who would expect one of his/her children at age 5-6 to tread water for an hour? I doubt a 6-year-old child could be expected to swim laps for an hour and never touch the sides of the pool, even if he were allowed to float on his/her back.

Hey, by the way, I'm getting all the seasons from Netflix so I may be able to guess at more trivia questions.

Since some folks have received their Season 8s, has the answer to the Legend of the Lost Art question been answered yet, and I just missed it? What was the question again?

golf

[IslandHopper]

Golf,

TM inherits his father's Rolex in 1951. I just watched "Home From The Sea" and the Naval officer presiding at TM's father's funeral says the date is July 4, 1951. That's why TM spends the 4th by himself.

[golfmobile]

IH,

Yes, I understand that. But the watch he's shown wearing as being his father's did not exist in 1951 so technically it can't be the watch he inherited, right?

golf

P.S. HOWEVER, it's interesting that he wants to be alone on the day of his father's funeral, NOT the day of his death. I'd think the day of the death would be more pivotal. JMO. That's when the pain would start for me, in a like situation.

P.P.S. And I'm still siding with the Rolex promotional pitch to Universal to get MPI to wear the watch, though who would really argue with being forced to wear a $2,500 watch?