Don't Ask Me Why DRY An appeal to readers for Tell Me Why's toughest question yet. ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM ASSOCIATE EDITOR N Q: I once read that Al Capone once shared a prison cell with a Jewish convict. What's the story, Tell Me Why? only with us! • ^ ,*'(':;V". Somerset Cleaners 40 Minute Cleaners Two Times The Size For Better Service All Work Done On Premises (12 Mile & Evergreen) SAME DAY SERVICE UNTIL 3 P.M. r r lutely is I 1 Laundered r Coupon 1 Pair 01 Wo Pmts St r~i f When presented with any incoming dry clean- ing order of $7.95. Coupon must be sur- rendered when leaving order for pressing. Som- erset Cleaners Not valid with any other coupon. Expires 11/11/96 THE DETR O L 40 When presented with any incoming dry clean- ing order of $7.95. Coupon must be sur- rendered when leaving order for pressing. Som- erset Cleaners Not valid with any other coupon. i Expires 11/11/96 J With any $7.95 in- coming dry cleaners order. Cannot be used with any other coupon Somerset Cleaners. Expires 11/11/96 J L BIRMINGHAM BIRMINGHAM SOUTHFIELD 794 N. Woodward Ave. 608 S. Woodward Ave. (4 BlIcs. N. of Maple) (5 Bilis. S. of Maple) J TROY 19715 W.12 Mk 286 W. McFie pt Evergreen) (at Coolidge In Somerset Plaza) 644-6667 642-1660 559-9232 643-0807 M+ ste.Qyru VISA 11.1114.1 WOK SS II go, in Detroit with the Purple Gang, and in Kansas City, where he committed a crime that gained him the respect of A:Before being sent to Alca- fellow criminals every- traz, Capone was imprisoned where: he managed to in Atlanta, where his cell mate steal more than $2 million was a notorious thief named worth of whiskey from a Morris Rudensky. warehouse. And this be- Born Max Motel Friedman fore he even turned 21. in 1908 in New York's Lower Rudensky was finally East Side, Rudensky became caught following a failed one of the most famous robbers robbery in St. Louis and and escape artists of the centu- was sent to Leavenworth. ry. After committing a series of Three times, he managed small crimes, he was sent to a to escape: Once, by posing reformatory. There, he mas- as a visitor and simply terminded his first escape by walking out the door, an- eating lye-filled soap, which other time by sneaking in Bob Dylan singing the blues at a 1987 concert turned his skin a terrible color a bag with a corpse, and fi- in Israel. and convinced authorities he nally by hiding in a small box Q: I understand that Bob Dylan had tuberculosis. being shipped out of the prison. was once set to appear on "The Ed Rudensky worked in Chica- He was caught every time. Sullivan Show," but then failed to While in prison show up. Is that true? What's the Editor's Note #1: Each week, I answer ques- .Rudensky befriend, tions from around the country and yes, I re- ed not only Al story? A: It wasn't that Dylan failed ally do receive these strange and wonderful Capone but Machine queries about everything from William "Capt. Gun Kelly — and to appear, but that he got out of Kirk" Shatner's shoe size to crops in Israel also a man named his contract after he was told to why some Jews don't eat turkey. So it Charles Ward who he would not be allowed to per- seems only fair that I turn to you in my time would forever form the song of his choice. It was back in 1963, a time of need, when I am ripe with angst, filled change his life. Ward with turmoil over a question which only you was a reformed when television was very, very crook who, when re- different than it is today. When the reader, can answer. Exactly why is it, I need to know, that 90 leased, found work the Doors went on "Ed Sulli- percent of an readers cannot correctly iden with (and eventual- van," for example, they were tify the name of this column? Tell Me Why ly served as presi- asked to edit, "Girl, we couldn't has been running for years, yet no one seems dent of) Brown and get much higher" from their to know wha.t it's called. Why oh why oh why? Bigelow, a leading song "Light My Fire." (Lead Among the names I have heard for Tell advertising agency singer Jim Morrison, natural- in St. Louis. He con- ly, did no such thing, and in fact Me Why vinced Rudensky to sang the line with extra fervor *Ask Me Why abandon his wanton that evening.) The Bob Dylan controversy * That Column, You Know, Where You ways. had to do with his song "Talkin' Answer Questions And Stuff Rudensky later John Birch Society Blues," a The became editor of * I Didn't Know Who Else To Ask Atlantian, the prison parody about a man who be- * Jewish Tidbits magazine (where his lieves communists are lurking writing skills were behind every corner. Story has Ask Me Anything praised by a young it that the host, Ed Sullivan, * I'll Find It Out For You author named Mar- thought the song was terrific; * Jewish Trivia garet Gone With The CBS officials did not. When net- Wind Mitchell). Dur- work censors learned Dylan * Elizabeth's Column ing World War II, he planned to sing "Talkin' John * Ask Me A Question organized prisoners Birch Society Blues" on the .throughout the.coun.7.. show, they told him to come up * Tell Me What try to support the with something else. Dylan re- * my husband also frequently hears: war effort, and won fused. In the end, he did not ap- That Thing Your Wife Writes commendations pear on the program and was from the White released from his contract Please send answers to Tell Me Why, c/o House. based on "mutual consent." ❑ The Jewish News, 27676 Franklin Road, After his release Southfield, MI 48034. Because this is a ques- from prison, Ruden- tion with such profound implications, all de- sky went to work for Send questions to Tell Me Why, cent answers will be printed in a future Brown and Bigelow, The Jewish News, 27676 edition of This Column, You Know, Where I and later became Franklin Road, Southfield, MI Answer Questions And Stuff. chief consultant of 48034, or fax to (810) 354-6069. All letters must be signed and in- Editor's Note #2: To the fan of The Mad Ad- security systems for clude the writer's address. Ques- ventures of Rabbi Jacob: Please call me. A 3M. His advice to tions answered in the column will reader has managed to secure a copy of the young criminals: feature only the writer's initials "Don't lock yourself elusive film. and city of residence. up like I did."