Ask questions via twitter! Message any question to @answers on twitter. We'll publish the question and send you a reply each time there's a new answer.
Next Question

Answered Question

mattman4 mattman4
 
M$2 April 15, 2009 02:00 AM

Why is Fred Astaire number 1 on IMDB?

I was on Fred Astaire's IMDB page:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000001/
and noticed that the URL has a number, specifically 1.

1: Fred Astaire
2: Lauren Bacall
3: Brigitte Bardot
etc.

Is there any reasoning behind the ordering of the stars (or at least the lower numbers) and why Fred Astaire is specifically number 1?
Interesting Question?  Yes (0)   No (0)   
RSS
 
 

Best Answer  Chosen by Asker

philipy philipy
 
 April 15, 2009 02:38 AM
I notice they seem to be in alphabetical order.

It might have something to do with how the first batch of data was loaded onto the system, with a selection of the most famous stars being uploaded from a sorted file.

There are surely people ahead of Astaire in alphabetical order, but the first data load might have been quite small.

EDIT:

Yes, the series continues:

John Belushi
Ingmar Bergman
Humphrey Bogart
Asker's Rating:
• Good observation! That seems like the most plausible explanation, especially since it holds true for later sets as well. All the names seem to be in alphabetical order, except when a new set begins.


Helpful Answer?  (0)   (0)    Tip philipy for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 
mattman4 mattman4
 
April 15, 2009 02:41 AM
Wow, good point. I didn't even notice that. That seems pretty reasonable.

Report
 
 
philipy philipy
 
April 15, 2009 02:44 AM
See my edit, which seems to confirm the theory.

Report
 
 

Other Answers (2)

Sort By
jeffhoard jeffhoard
 
April 15, 2009 02:14 AM
I don't know the for sure, but my best assumption is that Fred was the first person they added to the database.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pjlrrMvdtw

Helpful Answer?  (0)   (0)    Tip jeffhoard for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 
mattman4 mattman4
 
April 15, 2009 02:29 AM
That was my thinking, but what I mean is, why Fred Astaire? Obviously, he was a Hollywood great, but is there any other reason they picked him rather than anyone else? Did they feel he was the greatest actor ever? Or did they just start listing celebrities and adding them as they thought of them?

Now that I think about it more, unless there's an interview with the creators of IMDb or someone who knows them personally, I don't think I'll be able to get the answer I'm looking for. But, who knows? The community of MA is resourceful, so I may be proven wrong yet.

Report
 
 
jeffhoard jeffhoard
 
April 15, 2009 02:51 AM
hmmm, maybe they started off by using an alphabetic list of classic actors/actresses

Report
 
 
pmacdon1 pmacdon1
 
April 15, 2009 02:55 AM
It does appear to be the order the people were added in. However it also seems that when a list of people was added it was done in alphabetical order. The whole list isn't alphabetical for sure, but small portions of it are.

1: Fred Astaire
2: Lauren Bacall
3: Brigitte Bardot
4: John Belushi
5: Ingmar Bergman
6: Ingrid Bergman
7: Humphrey Bogart
8: Marlon Brando
9: Richard Burton
10: James Cagney
20: Henry Fonda
30: Audrey Hepburn
40: Stanley Kubrick
50: Groucho Marx

You get the idea. So I don't think there is really a reason other than his last name starts with an "A" and he was one of the first people they added.

Helpful Answer?  (0)   (0)    Tip pmacdon1 for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 

Answer this Question

How tips and payments work

This question has already been resolved. You may add an answer to it but you will not be eligible to win best answer or any associated tips.

Related Questions

View All Entertainment Questions

Ask a Question


140 characters left
Top of Page
Buy Mahalo Dollars with Credit Card or PayPal

Top Members

This Week All Time
  • buddawiggi
    buddawiggi
    2nd Degree Black Belt
    26207 Points
    M$761.64 Earned
  • kty2777
    kty2777
    Purple Belt
    4930 Points
    M$188.41 Earned
  • opher
    opher
    Purple Belt
    3450 Points
    M$146.42 Earned
   See All
 

Most Popular Tags

mahalo(1535)
twitter(938)
iphone(458)
music(449)
google(343)
food(303)
internet(297)
online(283)
beer(275)
money(258)
facebook(248)
apple(247)
movies(240)
aotd(235)
answers(216)
health(208)
dog(200)
video(199)
free(198)
windows(194)
   See All
 

Categories

Welcome New Members


 
 
Mahalo Dollars are the currency of Mahalo Answers.

Each Mahalo Dollar costs $1.

Once you earn more than 40 Mahalo Dollars, you can request to be paid via PayPal. Each Mahalo Dollar is currently worth $0.75 when paid out via PayPal. Learn More

 
 

Please log in to use this function.

Answers Home | Ask a Question | Earn Points | How Tips Work | Widget