Editing Cecil Adams

{{short description|American humorist}}
{{BLP primary sources|article|date=September 2012}}
{{use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
'''Cecil Adams''', affectionately known to readers and fans and sometimes refers to himself as '''Uncle Cecil''' or '''Uncle Cece''', is the [[pseudonym]]ous author of ''[[The Straight Dope]]'', a popular question and answer column published in the ''[[Chicago Reader]]'' from 2 February 1973 to 2018.  The true identity of Adams, whether a single individual or a group of authors, has remained secret.  ''The Chicago Reader''{{'}}s 1986 trademark filing for the name "Cecil Adams" states that "Cecil Adams does not identify any particular individual but was devised as a fanciful name."<ref>{{cite web |url = http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4810:wllijm.2.1 |title = Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS) |publisher = United States Patent and Trademark Office |access-date = 30 Aug 2013 |archive-date = 25 August 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170825193819/http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4810:wllijm.2.1 |url-status = live }}</ref> As of 2008, [[Ed Zotti]] was the editor of the column.<ref>[http://us.penguingroup.com/static/pdf/library/HistBioMemF08.pdf Advance Publication Newsletter;  Volume Seventeen, Number 3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320060353/http://us.penguingroup.com/static/pdf/library/HistBioMemF08.pdf |date=2012-03-20 }} Penguin Group (USA)</ref> The column was syndicated in 31 [[newspaper]]s in the [[United States]] and [[Canada]] and has been continued as a website.{{citation needed|date=March 2017}} The aim of the column, and now the website, is to spread general knowledge and everyday rational thinking, using a very strong and characteristically quirky sense of humor - some of it self-deprecating.

Billed as the "World's Smartest Human",<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/196104/the-straight-dope-tells-all-by-cecil-adams/9780345420077/ | title = The Straight Dope Tells All | date = February 24, 1998 | work = Penguin Random House | access-date = February 22, 2019 | archive-date = February 22, 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190222204819/https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/196104/the-straight-dope-tells-all-by-cecil-adams/9780345420077/ | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2556/are-jet-contrails-the-latest-threat/ | title = Are jet contrails the latest threat? | date = June 16, 2000 | first = Cecil | last = Adams | work = The Straight Dope | access-date = February 22, 2019 | archive-date = February 27, 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190227063858/https://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2556/are-jet-contrails-the-latest-threat/ | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="SDfaq" /> Adams responded to often unusual inquiries with a high degree of humor (often directed against the questioner, sometimes sardonically), and at times carried out exhaustive research into obscure and arcane issues, [[urban legend]]s, and the like.{{citation needed|date=March 2017}} On more than one occasion, Adams was forced to retract or modify an answer when confronted by "the Teeming Millions" (Adams' term for his readers), often claiming overwork and staff shortages.{{citation needed|date=March 2017}} On rare occasions, Adams made appearances on the Straight Dope's [[Message Board]].{{citation needed|date=March 2017}}

On June 27, 2018, Adams announced that the "Straight Dope" column would be ending after 45 years and over 3,400 columns.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.straightdope.com/21374450/a-note-from-cecil-adams-about-the-straight-dope | title=A note from Cecil Adams about The Straight Dope | date=27 June 2018 }}</ref>  On January 13, 2023, it was announced that Cecil Adams would again be writing a column on The Straight Dope Message Board.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecils-back/978175 | title=Cecil's back! | date=13 January 2023 }}</ref> The first column, which appeared on the same day, was titled, "Is [[longtermism]] the world’s most dangerous belief system?"<ref>{{cite web | url=https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-1-13-2023-is-longtermism-the-worlds-most-dangerous-belief-system/978173 | title=Straight Dope 1/13/2023: Is longtermism the world's most dangerous belief system? | date=13 January 2023 }}</ref>

== Personal details ==
Adams states that he has "never been photographed", and while there is at least one photo captioned with his name, the image is of [[Ed Zotti]], who fulfilled Adams's publicity engagements.<ref>{{cite journal | last = Piper | first = Paul S. |date=February 1995 | title = What makes Cecil Adams the world's greatest reference librarian? | journal = [[American Libraries]] | volume = 26 | issue = 2 |page=147 | issn = 0002-9769 | oclc = 854299  }}</ref> Previous editors include Mike Lenehan and [[Dave Kehr]]. In his columns, Adams has revealed a few details of his purported personal life, including the existence of a Mrs. Adams (the [[FAQ]] section on his website states that chance references to "Mrs. Adams" may refer to his mother), that he has a brother-in-law, and that he has either children or dwarves as helpers.<ref name="SDfaq">{{cite web | url = http://www.straightdope.com/who-is-this-man-called-cecil-adams/ | title = The Straight Dope: Who is this man called Cecil Adams? | access-date = February 22, 2019 | work = StraightDope.com | publisher = [[The Chicago Reader]] | archive-date = February 22, 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190222204613/http://www.straightdope.com/who-is-this-man-called-cecil-adams/ | url-status = live }}</ref> He has a brother.<ref>{{cite web|last=Adams|first=Cecil|title=What is a felo-de-se?|url=https://www.straightdope.com/21341299/what-is-a-felo-de-se|work=The Straight Dope|date=17 August 1973|publisher=Sun-Times Media, LLC|access-date=2024-10-24|archive-date=16 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616032006/http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/127/what-is-a-felo-de-se|url-status=live}}</ref>   He is an accomplished traveler, and currently resides in [[Chicago|Chicago's]] 47th Ward.<ref>{{cite news | last = Adams | first = Cecil | url = http://chicago.straightdope.com/sdc20100923.php | title = Are Chicago streets swept frequently so the city can collect more fines? | date = 2010-09-23 | work = [[The Straight Dope]] Chicago | publisher = [[The Chicago Reader]] | access-date = 2010-10-10 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100926131740/http://chicago.straightdope.com/sdc20100923.php | archive-date = 2010-09-26 | url-status = dead }}</ref>  He is also [[left-handed]]<ref name="SDfaq" /> and may be balding<ref>{{cite news | last = Adams | first = Cecil | url = https://www.straightdope.com/21341915/does-sex-make-your-acne-worse | title = Does sex make your acne worse? | date = 1992-08-28 | work = [[The Straight Dope]] | publisher = [[The Chicago Reader]] | access-date = 2024-10-24 | archive-date = 2007-05-15 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070515044930/http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_217.html | url-status = live }}</ref> and [[colorblind]].<ref>{{cite news | last = Adams | first = Cecil | url = https://www.straightdope.com/21341613/who-decided-red-means-stop-and-green-means-go | title = Who decided red means "stop" and green means "go"? | date = 1986-03-07 | work = [[The Straight Dope]] | publisher = [[The Chicago Reader]] | access-date = 2024-10-24 | archive-date = 2007-05-02 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070502124052/http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_152.html | url-status = live }}</ref> He mentions having taken a class with [[Northwestern University]] English professor [[Bergen Evans]],<ref>{{cite news | last = Adams | first = Cecil | url = https://www.straightdope.com/21343738/what-s-so-great-about-shakespeare | title = Why is William Shakespeare considered the greatest English language writer of all time? | date = 2005-10-14 | work = [[The Straight Dope]] | publisher = [[The Chicago Reader]] | access-date = 2024-10-24 | archive-date = 2007-05-03 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070503003553/http://www.straightdope.com/columns/051014.html | url-status = live }}</ref> mentions once working as an [[electrician|electrician's]] [[apprentice]],<ref>{{cite news | last = Adams | first = Cecil | url = https://www.straightdope.com/21342179/how-come-the-u-s-uses-120-volt-electricity-not-240-like-the-rest-of-the-world | title = How come the U.S. uses 120 volt electricity, not 240 like the rest of the world? | date = 1992-11-20 | work = [[The Straight Dope]] | publisher = [[The Chicago Reader]] | access-date = 2024-10-24 | archive-date = 2007-05-18 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070518184128/http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_292.html | url-status = live }}</ref> and a railroad machinist's helper.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=3176765#post3176765|title=Cecil! Tell us about you smashing the building with the crane! - Straight Dope Message Board|access-date=May 23, 2010|archive-date=March 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306025420/http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=3176765#post3176765|url-status=dead}}</ref> He also mentions attending a [[Catholic school]].<ref>{{cite news | last = Adams | first = Cecil | url = https://www.straightdope.com/21342323/why-is-the-heart-considered-the-center-of-love-and-affection | title = Why is the heart considered the center of love and affection? | date = 1996-02-16 | work = [[The Straight Dope]] | publisher = [[The Chicago Reader]] | access-date = 2024-10-24 | archive-date = 2007-09-30 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930200449/http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_271.html | url-status = live }}</ref>  He is of [[Irish people|Irish]] descent,<ref>{{cite news | last = Adams | first = Cecil | url = https://www.straightdope.com/21342241/who-are-the-black-irish | title = Who are the "black Irish"? | date = 1993-07-30 | work = [[The Straight Dope]] | publisher = [[The Chicago Reader]] | access-date = 2024-10-24 | archive-date = 2008-02-13 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080213175711/http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_077.html | url-status = live }}</ref> and relaxes with [[Pink Floyd]] and [[Baileys Irish Cream|Baileys]].<ref>{{cite news | last = Adams | first = Cecil | url = https://www.straightdope.com/21344045/can-binaural-beats-improve-your-mood | title = Can binaural beats improve your mood? | date = 2010-07-30 | work = [[The Straight Dope]] | publisher = [[The Chicago Reader]] | access-date = 2024-10-24 | archive-date = 2010-08-02 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100802161708/http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2949/can-binaural-beats-improve-your-mood | url-status = live }}</ref>

==Published works==
Adams has published five collections of his ''The Straight Dope'' columns:

* ''The Straight Dope'' (1984)
* ''More of the Straight Dope'' (1988)
* ''Return of the Straight Dope ''(1994)
* ''Triumph of the Straight Dope'' (1994)
* ''The Straight Dope Tells All'' (1998)

Zotti has also published a children's collection in ''The Straight Dope'' style entitled ''Know It All''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://isbnsearch.org/isbn/9780345362322 |title=ISBN 9780345362322 - Know It All!: The Fun Stuff You Never Learned in School }}</ref>  Adams' columns are archived at the Straight Dope website. In 1996, [[A&E Network|the A&E Network]] briefly aired a show hosted by comedian [[Mike Lukas]] based on the column, also called ''The Straight Dope''.{{citation needed|date=March 2017}} Over 600 articles have been posted to the site's online archive; some of these contain multiple questions and answers. Also included with the columns are quirky illustrations. Slug Signorino was the regular illustrator for ''The Straight Dope'' for forty-two years.  In his illustrations, Cecil Adams is often depicted as a large turkey wearing a [[Square academic cap|mortar board]] or, occasionally, as a man in underwear with a paper bag over his head.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.straightdope.com/pages/faq/slug|title=The Slug Signorino FAQ|access-date=26 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905002508/http://www.straightdope.com/pages/faq/slug|archive-date=5 September 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.straightdope.com/ The Straight Dope]
* {{IMDb name|1564833}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Adams, Cecil}}
[[Category:American columnists]]
[[Category:American humorists]]
[[Category:Chicago Reader people]]
[[Category:Unidentified American people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]