Arsenic and Old Lace: was written in 1939 and became best known though the 1944 film adaptation starring Cary Grant and directed by Frank Capra

Mortimer is a huge fan of Thoreau: Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) was an American essayist and naturalist. Wrote: Walden: Simple Living In Natural Surroundings

Mortimer is excited to spot a Horundinida carnina (the red-crested swallow) in the graveyard: Does not really exist. Horundinae is the swallow family, but carnina would indicate a carnivorous swallow, which does not exist!

At one point, Einstein tells Jonathan that they are “a year too late” for their face altering clinic plans: In 1940, Brooklyn police were able to shut down the organized crime syndicate “Murder Inc.” based on the testimony of informant Harry Rodolph against Abe Reles, Martin Goldstein and Anthony Maffetore in relation to a 1933 killing.

A bit on Arsenic: Arsenic is a naturally occurring element in the environment. Although renowned as a poison, it is used commercially in semi-conductor and microchip production and in some wood preservatives. Arsenic was once used in pigments for some wallpapers. Napoleon is thought to have suffered from arsenic poisoning while in exile at St Helena after the Battle of Waterloo because mould on the wallpaper released the arsenic from these pigments.

“Nature faker”: Teddy accuses Janathan of being a “nature faker”. In real life, President Roosevelt played a personal role in the Nature Faker Controversy (1903-1905) attacking authors of the time as taking too much sentiment in literature, with things like talking animals.

Mortimer tells Abby she looks like “Judith Andersen” when she is in her funeral clothes: in 1940, Andersen played the housekeeper, Danvers, who psychologically terrorized the second Mrs. de Winter in Alfred Hitchcock’s Rebecca.

In O’Hara’s play: Yes! Mayor LaGuardia was the Mayor of NYC from 1934-1946

Boris Karloff: Was of course the original film Frankenstein. Son of Frankenstein was released in 1939, after Frankenstein (1931) and Bride of Frankenstein (1935). He later played the Grinch in the Dr. Seuss classic.

Cardinal (James) Gibbons: Was the second-ever American Cardinal who often used parts of President Roosevelt’s speeches in defending the separation of church and state.

Teddy announces: “To the West, there’s your danger, there’s your enemy Japan”: He was a bit of an oracle in this line. AOL was first performed in August 1941; four months later in December, Japan attacked Pearl Harbour in Hawaii. President Roosevelt became concerned about the growing power of Japan in the early 20th century when he negotiated an end to the war between Russia and Japan in 1904-05 - he received the Nobel Peace Prize

General (Nelson Appleton) Miles: was a decorated American General who ran afoul of Roosevelt when he criticized the US Army’s campaign in the Philippines and when he openly questioned Roosevelt’s leading the charge up San Juan Hill in the Spanish-American War

The Oregon: was the first Battleship fully built in the US. It played a big part in the Spanish-American War and was known as “The Bulldog of the Navy”

Teddy is upset about breaking a promise to Fighting Bob Evans – a.k.a Rear Admiral Robley “Fighting Bob” Evans: his nickname came from his being shot three times on a failed attempt at a raid during the American Civil War. He refused to have his leg amputated and after five months recovered and returned to duty. As Rear Admiral and Commander-in-Chief of the Atlantic Fleet he was a close advisor of Roosevelt and often joined the President on the President’s private yacht. On hearing of his death President Roosevelt said the navy never had another individual “who more thoroughly and joyously welcomed a fight”.

Charge at San Juan Hill 1 July 1898: This was a key battle in the Spanish American War. Roosevelt had formed a fighting unit, the Rough Riders Calvary and led the charge to defeat the Spanish Forces which had been encamped on the high ground. It was a major American victory and paved the way for Roosevelt’s political career.

Panama Canal: The 82 km long Canal was a major engineering accomplishment that greatly shortened trips between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. US-backed Panamanian separatists seeking independence from Columbia after being refused the right to dig the canal. Within a month of independence the Americans were granted full permission to build the canal Bonus fun fact: Construction of the Canal involved an approximate 9 km section through a mountain. Known as the Culebra Cut excavation involved moving close to 100 million cubic yards of rock and soil.

Teddy thinks Dr. Einstein is General (George Washington) Goethals: Goethals was appointed by President Roosevelt as chief engineer for the construction of the Panama Canal. A major bridge in New Jersey is named after him.

Teddy claims Elaine is his daughter, Alice Roosevelt: Alice was known as a wild child and one who shunned the norms concerning how young ladies “should” have acted. She became a fashion icon whose Blue dress touched off a national craze, the colour became known as Alice Blue, and inspired a popular song Alice Blue Gown President Roosevelt once said “I can either run this country or attend to Alice, but I cannot possibly do both”

President Theadore Roosevelt Overcame being a sickly child Read a book a day Became the first president to win a Nobel Peace Prize First President to visit a mosque and be given a Koran As President set aside 230 million acres of land as natures preserves Lived as a rancher in North Dakota for two years he said of it “It is certainly a most healthy life. How a man does sleep, and how he enjoys coarse fare.” His most famous 1910 speech “The Man in the Arena” continues to resonate today: “It is not the critic that counts…The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.”