Saturday 9: Purple People Eater

Saturday 9: Purple People Eater (1958)

Unfamiliar with this song? Hear it here.

1) When actor Sheb Wooley brought this song to MGM Records, they initially rejected it, saying it just wasn't the kind of thing they wanted to be associated with. Then executives discovered how popular the audition recording was with the 20-somethings in the office. MGM released it after all and it became a #1 hit. Tell us about a time you were glad you changed your mind about something.  I am drawing a total blank on anything of importance this morning.

2) This song has been so enduringly popular that in the 1970s, the Minnesota Vikings defensive line referred to themselves as the Purple People Eaters. What football team do you root for?  The Pittsburgh Steelers, of course! I've been a fan all my life.

3) The song was initially inspired by Sputnik, the satellite launched by the Soviet Union in 1958. In the 21st century, do you think space exploration is a worthwhile public investment? Or would you prefer  governments spend that money here on earth?  I'm sure it's worthwhile in many ways, but I would prefer the money was spent on solving some of the problems we have here on earth. How many hungry people could that money feed? How many homeless could it house? How many children could have a better start in life?

4) The Purple People Eater is a visitor from another planet. When you imagine creatures from outer space, are they frightening or friendly?  I really don't know. If they are out there (and in light of the vastness of the universe, I'd guess that they are) there are a lot of possibilities. I'm sure they have the same capacity for good and evil that we do.

5) This record was the biggest hit Sheb Wooley ever had. He was better known as an actor, costarring with Clint Eastwood on the 1950s TV show, Rawhide. What's your favorite Clint Eastwood movie?  I can't decide. I've always liked Clint. Top contenders would be Any Which Way But Loose, Grand Torino, Two Mules for Sister Sara, Space Cowboys, and Paint Your Wagon. 

6) Sheb and Clint remained buddies and appeared together decades later in The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976). Tell us about one of your longest-lasting friendships.  Sadly, I'm not good at friendships that last forever. They don't end badly, they just seem to fizzle out after a time...when circumstances change or we don't see each other much. 

I guess the closest I come to a life-long friend is Dana. We were practically joined at the hip all the way through high school, but I went off to college and then got married and moved out of state. We both live in the old neighborhood now, just two houses apart, and we're friendly but not really good friends. We both went on with our lives when I moved away and while we make noises about doing more together, we never do.

7) In 1958, when this song was popular, hula hoops were a national craze. Did you ever play with a hula hoop?  Yes, I did. If yes, were you good at it?  I could do it around my waist, but I was always better at doing it around my knees, on one leg, my neck, etc.

8) Also in 1958, Arnold Palmer won his first Masters Golf Tournament. When did you most recently play golf?  That would have been in college. So...37 or 38 years ago. As an aside, I live in Arnold Palmer's hometown and my dad knew him growing up. He wasn't a fan.

9) Random question: Do you believe women gossip more than men?  No. I think men often gossip just as much, if not more than women. It's just that they do it differently from women.

Thanks, as always, to Sam @ Saturday 9 for the music and questions!