Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2021 June 19

= June 19 =

Similar to Charlie Chaplin
Who were the earliest globally popular celebrities in films, music, sports, and fiction writing? -- 2402:3A80:1113:39F1:CD65:FA:8D35:C5B2


 * Interesting question. In fiction writing, I think Walter Scott and Goethe were read throughout Europe in their lifetime. In music, touring performers and opera companies have been around for a long time, but the first figures akin to today's pop superstars were likely pianist Franz Liszt (better known as a virtuoso performer than as a composer in his days) and violinist Niccolo Paganini. Chaplin is a good choice for film, with maybe Buster Keaton and Mary Pickford as other potential candidates. Sports is more complicated, as its stars were largely local for a long time. It would probably be a boxer like Jack Johnson (although he never performed outside the United States) or someone like Jim Thorpe, famous in Europe for winning (and being stripped of) a gold medal in the Olympics, and in North America as a football and baseball player and all-around athlete. But there's probably someone else more obvious whom I've missed. Xuxl (talk) 12:27, 19 June 2021 (UTC)
 * What would be an objective measure of "globally popular"? ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 15:21, 19 June 2021 (UTC).


 * "globally popular" means, popular in more than one continent. I am assuming that during late nineteenth century and early twentieth century, most countries with urban areas which had radio, newspaper, movie theatres knew about other countries. In 1910 or 1899, an educated man from New York, Tokyo, London, Moscow, Cairo will know what happens in other countries, unless he is poor farmer or  homeless person. Poor people may not read novels, but they are aware of movies released in theatres, song concerts where tickets are sold. I am not discussing about 1566, 1643. -- 2402:3A80:113B:25BF:C893:5594:D8C5:B73D
 * So if they're popular in New York City and London, that counts as "globally" popular? ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 03:40, 20 June 2021 (UTC)


 * "What is your opinion of person X: (1) favourable; (2) unfavourable; (3) neutral/don't know/decline to say". Use the fraction of "favourables" as the measure. --Lambiam 21:05, 19 June 2021 (UTC)
 * So the next question would be, when did they start doing that kind of poll globally? ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 02:59, 20 June 2021 (UTC)
 * And then the next question, "How do you define celebrity?". And, "Have you researched the question yourself? What did you find?". Objective measures can be applied retrospectively to entities at times before these measures were defined, or any question such as "Did the Toba supereruption lead to global cooling?" would be meaningless. --Lambiam 09:35, 20 June 2021 (UTC)
 * How about Josephine Baker? 2603:6081:1C00:1187:398F:C182:48C8:BFA5 (talk) 22:00, 19 June 2021 (UTC)
 * There were plenty of celebrities who were known across many countries and continents long before modern sports, music, and movies. Religious figures spread far and wide. There were self-publicizing historical figures, such as Christopher Columbus, who made sure their name was well known. Some fell into international celebrity, like Pocahontas. So, I suggest removing the "earliest" clarification and use "early 20th century", which I believe is what you are asking for. 97.82.165.112 (talk) 15:00, 21 June 2021 (UTC)

Breed
What breed is Poly Purebred?
 * List_of_Underdog_characters doesn't say about the cartoon, but in the film she is depicted as a Cavalier_King_Charles_Spaniel RudolfRed (talk) 23:30, 19 June 2021 (UTC)
 * Like Shoeshine Boy/Underdog, she has no identifiable breed characteristics in the animated cartoon series. Not only was she depicted as a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in the 2007 live action film, but also played by a real one, reportedly named Ginger. --Lambiam 11:01, 21 June 2021 (UTC)