St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 114

The Although Dierdorf was only required to lose 40 pounds for the Slim Fast commercials, he lost about 60 pounds and has kept most of it off, according to Lou Garesche at Dierdorf Hart's West Port. Dierdorf, who lives in Town Country, continues to eat steaks at both Dierdorf Hart locations when he's in town and not on assignment for ABC Sports. While Dierdorf primary responsibility for ABC is providing football commentary and analysis, he also provides commentary for boxing, and for the Olympic Games. Dierdorf is also still affiliated with KMOX, and appears occasionally on "Sports Open Line." Could you name the past five Veiled Prophets? If not, can you name one? We've asked people about this and everyone acts like it's some kind of state secret. Charles Slayback, who founded the Veiled Prophet organization with others in 1878 to compete with New Orleans' Mardi Gras and attract people to St.

Louis during the harvest season, was a Veiled Prophet. And at the 1970 Veiled Prophet Ball, the Grand Oracle was "revealed" by civil rights activists Jane Sauer and Gena Smith, who were dressed in gowns like ball-goers, but who swung down from a balcony on a rope to the stage and unveiled Monsanto executive Tom K. Smith. The incident was publicized, but the name of the Veiled Prophet was not. Otherwise, the names of the Veiled Prophets are never announced, and only members of the organization, who appoint the prophet and hold their choice in Christine Buck Joe Buck mmiwwhipi ii ii tm i iii m.mjwi 1 1 iw i i mn 1.1 A A In I 1 AS- secrecy, know the man's identity.

Veiled Prophets have a term of office (not necessarily one year), conduct meetings of the membership, and oversee the organization's activities. According to spokesman Allyn Glaub, the organization is interracially mixed, although Dan Dierdorf Could you tell us which St. Louisan made the popular new doll called a Waterbaby? Dan Lauer, founder of Lauer Toys, created Waterbabies, vinyl dolls that feel warm, flexible and lifelike when filled with water. This year he licensed the doll to Playmate Toys the same Tom K. Smith Jr.

it has an all-male membership. Members are a highly select group culled from the area's business, civic, and governmental leaders. They are, according to Glaub, "the people who run St. Louis and St. Louis County." company that markets the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Lauer says Waterbabies will become Playmate's No. 1 doll this year 500,000 of them were recently shipped to 201 cities, and the trade magazine "Toy Hobby World" gave Waterbabies a rating of four and a half Barbie Doll heads out Jack Buck Are both Joe Buck and Christine Buck the children of Jack Buck? How many kids does Jack Buck have, and are they all as talented and successful? I think he has two different families and was wondering who was who. Joe and Christine Buck are both the children of Jack Buck, although the two have different mothers. Christine Buck is the daughter of Jack Buck and his first wife, Alice. They had five other children.

Buck and his wife, Carole, have two children Joe, and his sister Julie, who is a college student Although none of the other Buck children are in the public spotlight, a KMOX spokesperson said they are "all very successful and have many children of their own." Has Dan Dierdorf kept the weight off he says he lost in the Slim Fast commercials? Doesn't he really eat steaks at his restaurant any more? How much weight did he lose exactly? What is he doing now? 1 Dan Lauer The Wednesday Magazines 7310a Manchester Rd. St. Louis, MO 63143 314-645-4200 For advertising information call Meg Ousley On the Cover: "Pillows and Ferns," a watercoior on black and white photography by Kristen Peterson, 863-2554. of a possible five. Playmates predicts they'll sell 2 million domestically the first six months and another 500,000 worldwide.

Lauer, 30, is a graduate of the University of Missouri-St. Louis school of business administration, and was a vice president with Royal Banks before launching his company in 1987. The toy tycoon set out to create something anti-Nintendo, "a toy from yesteryear that didn't beep or buzz." by Steve Givens.