Cowboy Ronnie 78 Posted September 2, 2005 the little guy is 90 today, which is very very old for a dwarf. Just curious, is there is a medical reason they live shorter (ahem) lives than people of average height, or is it because they're so likely to kill themselves over their frustration at being tiny that it brings the average down? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
honez 79 Posted September 2, 2005 the little guy is 90 today, which is very very old for a dwarf. Just curious, is there is a medical reason they live shorter (ahem) lives than people of average height, or is it because they're so likely to kill themselves over their frustration at being tiny that it brings the average down? Yes. In layman's terms, they're always a lot closer to their end than most. Boom-Tsch Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slave to the Grave 26 Posted September 2, 2005 the little guy is 90 today, which is very very old for a dwarf. Just curious, is there is a medical reason they live shorter (ahem) lives than people of average height, or is it because they're so likely to kill themselves over their frustration at being tiny that it brings the average down? Could have something to do with this. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Will Staub Posted November 7, 2005 I actually had Meinhart Raabe as a substitute teacher back in the early 80's. He was a truly wonderful teacher with many memories to share of the Wizard of Oz. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Guest Posted November 11, 2005 i work at that penny farms retirement community and the proper name is PRC.. Meinhardt Raabe is a very nice man.. Did you know he was on lex and terry the radio show a lil while ago? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BrunoBrimley 86 Posted November 20, 2005 They were running the Wizard of Oz last weekend 3 nights in a row and on Sat and Sun it followed the Seuss classic How The Grinch Stole Christmas as narrated with Boris Karloff. It bothered me no end though that The Grinch was not closed captioned. I think a lawsuit is in order here. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Canadian Paul 97 Posted November 20, 2005 Wow this is weird... last night I had the random thought to bring up this guy, but I couldn't remember his name. I heard somewhere that there was a reason that little people had shorter lifespans, but nothing I can find on Wikipedia or dwarfism.org backs that up, so perhaps not. Billy Barty lived to almost 80, did he not? I'll make the same argument here that I made with Louise Rainer. Although he's old and there's certainly a chance he could cark it next year, we have many more qualified candidates, and he is surprisingly active given his age and condition. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tempus Fugit 214 Posted November 20, 2005 Wow this is weird... last night I had the random thought to bring up this guy, but I couldn't remember his name. I heard somewhere that there was a reason that little people had shorter lifespans, but nothing I can find on Wikipedia or dwarfism.org backs that up, so perhaps not. Billy Barty lived to almost 80, did he not? I'll make the same argument here that I made with Louise Rainer. Although he's old and there's certainly a chance he could cark it next year, we have many more qualified candidates, and he is surprisingly active given his age and condition. Not to mention that he falls woefully short on the famousness test. Although not many people alive can boast that they were real 'friends of Dorothy'. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Canadian Paul 97 Posted November 20, 2005 Not to mention that he falls woefully short on the famousness test. I think it's a bit unfair to call this man out for falling short on anything Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Canadian Paul 97 Posted January 24, 2006 Had a dream the other night that this guy was listed on Wikipedia's recent deaths list. Not very clear, but ah well. Also, just a few hours ago, I had an incredibly detailed and vivid dream about Abigail van Buren's death, including getting a message from Notapotato about my point count on his Deadlypool. Not that either of these would do much for DL... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dr Hackenslash 25 Posted January 24, 2006 Dwarfs live as long as anybody else. It's giants who live short-lives, because their hearts conk-out, etc. Reminds me of John Le Mesurier's death notice in the Times John Le Mesurier want it to be known that he conked out on the ... etc Classic guy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Himler Posted January 25, 2006 But they do have a habit of topping themselves, i.e. the dude in time bandits Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tempus Fugit 214 Posted January 25, 2006 "Raised on a dairy farm near Watertown, Wisconsin, Raabe was the son of first-generation German-Americans. His parents were of normal height, as was his sister, and they were convinced Raabe would start growing, too, until doctors discovered that his pituitary gland was malfunctioning. He is, in clinical terms, a pituitary midget" So not a dwarf, but a pituitary midget. I'm starting to change my mind on Meinhardt, I think he'd make a good DeathList pick as the oldest living Munchkin. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Banshees Scream 110 Posted January 25, 2006 "Raised on a dairy farm near Watertown, Wisconsin, Raabe was the son of first-generation German-Americans. His parents were of normal height, as was his sister, and they were convinced Raabe would start growing, too, until doctors discovered that his pituitary gland was malfunctioning. He is, in clinical terms, a pituitary midget" So not a dwarf, but a pituitary midget. I'm starting to change my mind on Meinhardt, I think he'd make a good DeathList pick as the oldest living Munchkin. He welcomes the 2007 list in open arms. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest keith Posted July 8, 2006 UPDATE: Met the man just yesterday at the Cherry festival in Traverse City Mi.... alive and well.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Godot 149 Posted July 9, 2006 UPDATE: Met the man just yesterday at the Cherry festival in Traverse City Mi.... alive and well.... This is the closest I've ever been to a real live Munchkin. A post from someone called Keith who met one only yesterday at a Cherry festival of all places. What are the chances of that? What a small world we live in. It looks like we shall need to seek out another munchkin for deathlist glory. If only we'd known, Keith could have grilled him for a full munchkin health status list. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MyBrainHurts2 4 Posted July 10, 2006 Searched Google on Raabe and 'cherry festival' and evidently, he was booked to appear there on 7/7/06, backing up Keith's claim that he's alive...well is a relative term though. The bookings I found for him were around Michigan...I take it he lives there, but not much beyond that. I'd say he's doing well enough, just not for a lot of travel. Outsider's view, other than 90 seconds of searching, i don't know a damned thing about the man. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Godot 149 Posted July 10, 2006 Searched Google on Raabe and 'cherry festival' and evidently, he was booked to appear there on 7/7/06, backing up Keith's claim that he's alive...well is a relative term though. The bookings I found for him were around Michigan...I take it he lives there, but not much beyond that. I'd say he's doing well enough, just not for a lot of travel. Outsider's view, other than 90 seconds of searching, i don't know a damned thing about the man. It would be good to see a digitally enhanced version of the Wizard of Oz in which all the dead munchkins were blacked out like silhouettes, leaving the still alive ones to dance and sing. In fact it might be fun to see all films like that. It would make the spotting of deathlist candidates that much easier. This idea has got legs...which is more than you can say for munchkins. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tempus Fugit 214 Posted September 2, 2006 Happy 91st birthday Meinhaardt I'll be raising a glass to you little guy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alphonsin 1 Posted September 2, 2006 [Apologies if the quote has already been referred to, but...] When the Coroner dies, we'll be able to screech in a unison munchkin voice "he's not only merely dead, he's really most sincerely dead". Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Banshees Scream 110 Posted September 2, 2006 I'll be raising a glass to you little guy. Surely he will have to look upward to see your salute. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Banshees Scream 110 Posted November 1, 2006 I'm just doing some thread scrolling. Meinhardt Raabe will be 92 years old next year. Isn't it about time somebody hands him the certificate? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
