Official Website of UCLA, United Clam Lovers of America
ClamCyclopedia
Miscellaneous assorted fascinating clam trivia, in no particular order.
In 1975, Bette Midler
starred in "Clams On The
Half Shell Revue" on
Broadway. The show
opened with Bette
emerging from a giant
clam shell, singing "Moon
Of Manakoora. "Clams"
set a Guinness record for
the most tickets sold in the
shortest amount of time:
80 sold-out shows.
On Gilligan's Island, Ginger, Mrs. Howell
and Mary Ann sang " You need us... Like
a clam needs a shell..."
"Chowderhead" is not related to clam chowder, but is a variation of "jolterhead," used in the
16th century to mean "idiot." You might think that an idiot's head is full of soup, not brains.
Today, "chowderhead" can mean someone from Boston, who may or may not be an idiot. New
Jersey residents are "clam catchers." Someone who gathers clams is a "clammer."

On the other hand, "clamor," means a lot of noise -- the opposite of "clamming up." While
fresh clams should be moist, and cold, and something that is moist and cold is clammy, the word
"clammy" is not related to "clam."

"Clam" comes from an Old English word relating to "clamp" or "restrain; and "clammy" comes
form an Old English word for mud or clay; or from a Middle Low German word meaning
stickiness.

It all comes together nicely: in Yiddish, which is based on German, a person is "ferklempt"
("verklempt") when she is so overcome with emotion that she is speechless, choked-up. Her
mouth is stuck closed (involuntarily "clamming up").
Clam Dip & Other Delights is a 1989 record from Minneapolis
rockers Soul Asylum. The title and cover art are both parodies of
Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass's album Whipped Cream and
Other Delights. Bassist Karl Mueller sat in for the original album's
model, Dolores Erickson (and unlike her, he was not pregnant at
the time. Dave Ayers, the band's first manager, said that Mueller
had to sit for hours in a foul-smelling combination of sour cream,
paint, whipped cream and seafood. (from Wikipedia)
Clam Liquor is not usually served at bars. It's just
another name for the juice that comes from steaming.
Hard shell clams give you more potent liquor than
soft-shell steamers.
Raw clams may not be good for your health. Clams eat by
filtering up to 20 gallons of water each day, and they can
accumulate bacteria and viruses if they live in polluted water.
People with diabetes or impaired immune systems, or chronic
liver, gastrointestinal or kidney disease, or alcoholism, have a
high risk of serious illness from eating contaminated clams.
Cooking clams to an internal temperature of 140 degrees
Fahrenheit will kill nearly all bacteria. Steamed clams are often
cooked for only a minute or two, and don't get hot enough to
kill bacteria. Steam them for at least six minutes. From
BestOfHealth.com
Killer Clams?

The giant clam is native to the shallow coral
reefs of the South Pacific and Indian oceans,
and can weigh more than 400 pounds and
measure as much as 5 feet across.

As is often the case with uncharacteristically
large species, the giant clam has been
historically misunderstood. Known in times
past as the killer clam or man-eating clam,
reputable scientific and technical manuals
once claimed that the great mollusk had
caused deaths. Some versions of the US Navy
Diving Manual even gave detailed instructions
for releasing oneself from its grasp by
severing the adductor muscles used to close
its shell.

Today, it is generally acknowledged that the
giant clam is neither aggressive nor
particularly dangerous; while it is certainly
capable of holding one fast in its grip, the
shell's closing action is actually a defensive
response, and far too slow to pose any
reasonable threat. No account of a human
becoming trapped in this manner has ever
been substantiated.
In 1946, jitney driver Izzy Weintraub of Atlantic City and
Catherine Hollis of Chester, Pa., ate cherrystone clams at the
Atlantic City annual clam-eating contest. In 20 minutes, Izzy ate
96 and Catherine 66.

In 1947,  Edna Lamb, a professional oyster opener from
Maurice River, N.J., won the U.S. clam-eating championship by
downing 186 cherrystones in 30 minutes.
In 1948, a clam eating contest was held at Ivar's restaurant
on the Seattle waterfront. The winner was Richard Watson,
a Seattle cabdriver, who gulped down 110 clams in 10
minutes and became the first ever IPFSACECA (The
International Pacific Free Style Amateur Clam Eating
Contest Association) World Champion Clam Eater.

No sooner had Watson been crowned world champ than
someone yelled "FOUL!" Ivar was shocked. "Who could
possibly impugn the integrity of the IPFSACECA? We've
only had one contest," he said, "and besides we make up
our own rules." The grievance came from Massachusetts,
of all places, and came from a truck driver named Joe
Silva. "Your boy," Joe claimed, "cannot possibly be the
Clam Eating Champion of the world until he defends his
title against the East Coast Champion, namely me."

Ivar carefully considered the situation. Two clam eating
champions? Competing in Seattle for the world title? This
was too good to be true. After deliberating for a good two
or three seconds, he accepted the challenge. The stage
was set for the great East versus West Clam Eat Off of
1948.

The great East vs. West Clam Eat Off of 1948 ended in
victory for Watson. He is shown above receiving the
coveted title crown from Ivar and congratulations from East
Coast challenger Joe Silva.
Ivar Haglund, Seattle character,
folksinger, and restaurateur was known as
"King of the Waterfront," and also "Mayor"
and "Patriarch" of the waterfront. He
began as a folksinger, and in 1938
established Seattle's first aquarium at Pier
54, along with a fish-and-chips stand.

In 1946 Ivar established the renowned
"Acres of Clams" restaurant. By 1965,
when he began lofting fireworks over Elliott
Bay -- Fourth of Jul-Ivar -- he was a
legend. He became a radio personality
and Puget Sound's principal champion of
regional folk music. In 1976, Ivar bought
Smith Tower, dedicated in 1914 as the
tallest building west of the Mississippi. His
escapades, publicity stunts,
pronouncements, pranks, and his
excellent restaurants have entered into
Seattle's unique character as a city. Ivar
Haglund died on January 30, 1985. (from
HistoryLink.org)
The highlight of the Highlands NJ 2004 Clamfest was a new tradition,
a clam eating contest. A dozen people stood around a table, in Huddy
Park, each next to a five-gallon bucket filled with steamed clams. Within
a 5 minute period, Middletown resident Michael Poss won with 101 clams
eaten, to claim the title of Mr. Clam Fest 2004. Monroe Township's
Donna Dalia ate 100 clams and came in second. She vowed to be back
to win the title in 2005. We don't know if she did.
This is the clam eating contest held on Pier 54 in Seattle in 1970. We don't know who ate what, but
Number Five looks like the champ. The sign at left says: "Welcome to Clam Eaters From Japan,
Canada, Caribbean, Germany & Pacific Northwest - Keep Cool, Keep Clam."
Clams are important. The shells have been
used for jewelry and currency. Dollars are
called clams. People can be "happy as a clam."
When we refuse to talk, we "clam up" and
become "quiet as a clam."

Clambakes -- even if they feature lobster -- are
called clambakes. Lots of restaurants are
called Clam House and Clam Shack and Clam
Bar. Pants that reach mid-calf are "clam
diggers."

Packaging and buildings and construction
equipment use "clamshell" designs. Clams can
grow pearls, like their classier cousin, the
oyster. Clam juice can be drunk by itself, or
mixed with tomato juice to be sold as "Clamato."
Clamato plus vodka, a twist of lemon, some
celery and pepper is a "Bloody Caesar."

Clams can be kept as pets (leave them in a
saltwater tank -- DO NOT attach a leash and
try to walk one around the neighborhood).
Horror movies show people being devoured by
giant clams, (not giant shrimp; sorry, Forrest
Gump). And many men spend much of their
lives in pursuit of the elusive bearded clam.
WeLoveClams.com                   Michael N. Marcus, Clam Master