Dear Sun Spots: Does anyone have bike trailers to sell? I need to buy two. They attach to adult bicycles and each one seats two small children, some convert to strollers. If anyone has any that their children have outgrown, preferably in the Rumford or surrounding areas, please call (207) 364-3470. – Barbara Doherty, Rumford.

Dear Sun Spots: On July 13, after a small rain shower there was the most gorgeous double rainbow in the sky that anyone could ever want to see. I have never seen a double rainbow before in my lifetime. Is this a rare thing? One rainbow was real bright colors and the other one was sort of light pastel colors. Could you or any reader explain what causes a double rainbow? It was a beautiful sight to see. I’m sure there are other people out there wondering the same thing. Thanks for such a great column. I read it every day and love it. – L. M., Wilton.

Answer: In addition to responses from readers, Sun Spots checked with Channel 8 Chief Meteorologist Russ Murley who says questions involving atmospheric optics are never easy to answer since they typically involve a minimal understanding of physics.

However, he was more than happy to provide this explanation: Murley says the double rainbow is interesting but easily explained. Light gets refracted twice when passing through a droplet of water. The first trip through yields the primary rainbow. When light passes through the back of a raindrop, the light gets refracted a second time resulting in a second rainbow. This rainbow is weaker and not always visible since the light is not as strong as it exits the water droplet. The second rainbow is always nine degrees above the first one and is weaker – with the colors reversed (red on bottom, violet on top).

Dear Sun Spots: I have the music of “The Wedding of the Painted Doll” but I can’t remember the words to this song. It is from the MGM picture “The Broadway Melody.” Could you please find the words for me? – A.E.M., Auburn.

Answer: Unfortunately the only words Sun Spots was able to locate are:

It’s a holiday, today’s the wedding of the painted doll.

It’s a jolly day, the news is spreading all around the hall.

Red Riding Hood and Buster Brown,The Jumping Jack jumped into town…

Hopefully other readers out there familiar with this 1920s song from “The Broadway Melody,” (1929), words by Arthur Freed and music by Nacio Herb Brown, will be able to assist you.

In addition, you may be interested in noting that Freed was the preeminent producer of musical films during the golden age of the MGM musical. He was born in Charleston, S.C., and grew up in Seattle.

He attended the Phillips Academy in Exeter, N.H., where he began to write poetry. Freed was a lyricist with his family long before he ever went to Hollywood. His father was a tenor, brother Walter was an organist and brothers Sydney and Clarence went into the recording business in Hollywood. His brother Ralph was a songwriter as well and his only sister, Ruth, wrote songs.

Freed, along with Nacio Herb Brown, penned such classics as “Singin’ in the Rain,” “The Wedding of the Painted Doll,” “Would You?” and many others. Freed produced such great films as “The Harvey Girls,” “The Pirate,” “Easter Parade,” “On the Town,” “An American in Paris,” “Show Boat,” “Singin’ in the Rain” and “The Bandwagon.” His last big musical hit was the 1958 “Gigi,” which won eight Oscars, including best picture.

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be posted at www.sunjournal.com in the Inform Us section under Press Release.

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