Q: I was pleasantly surprised to come across "Hometime," with hosts Dean Johnson and Miriam Johnson. How long has the home-improvement show been on the air?

- F.E.R., Tucson, Ariz.

A: In 1984, Dean Johnson founded Hometime Video Publishing to produce do-it-yourself videos for sale in hardware stores and home-improvement centers. In November 1986, "Hometime" premiered on public television. Dean hails from Minnesota, as does Miriam, and both share a passion for DIY projects. Dean married his high-school sweetheart and has two college-age children. Miriam and her husband have recently acquired an 80-year-old house, where she gets to bring her work home with her.

Q: What can you tell me about Gene Rayburn from "Match Game?"

- E.L.M., Baltimore, Md.

A: Gene Rayburn entered the world on Dec. 22, 1917, in Christopher, Ill. His parents were Croatian immigrants. Gene's father died while he was still an infant, and his mother moved to Chicago, where she met and married a man named Milan Rubessa. Gene used the name Rubessa until he was told it sounded too Italian; he came up with Rayburn after pointing his finger in a telephone book. He served in the U.S. Air Force. He worked as an announcer and became a popular radio personality; he also acted on Broadway. His first job as a game show host came in 1955. He married Helen Ticknor in 1940, and they remained together until her death in 1996. The couple had one daughter. Rayburn passed away in 1999.

Q: I inherited thousands of family pictures. There are many from an old castle, and the name on the back says "Coity." What does this mean?

- J.J., Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

A: Coity Castle is a Norman fortress in Wales. Constructed in the 11th or 12th century, it was remodeled several times over the centuries and abandoned in the 17th century. If you enjoy exploring old ruins and are headed to the British Isles, put Coity Castle on your list.