Friday, January 30, 2009

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Which famous western hero made his debut on this date in 1933?

2) The first jazz recording, according to many, was released this date in 1917. Can you name it?

Answers:


1) The Lone Ranger.

2) "The Darktown Strutters Ball" was the song and it was performed by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Today's Trivia Teasers

Q: Jan 29, 1951, Elizabith Taylor divorced her first husband. Do you remember his name?
A: Conrad Hilton Jr.

Q: Who were the first players elected to Baseball Hall of Fame on Jan 29, 1936?
A: Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson & Walter Johnson

Q: Jan 29, 1985, who became the first Heisman Trophy winner to be elected to pro football's Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
A: OJ Simpson

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Born this date in 1981, this one-time child actor who appeared in Avalon, Forever Young and Radio Flyer is familiar to us now through the Lord of the Rings movies. Who is he?

2) On this date in 1956, Elvis Presley made his first national TV appearance. What song did he perform?

3) Who was the democrat who unsuccessfully ran against unpopular incumbent, Jimmy Carter in 1980?

Answers:

1) Elijah Wood

2) "Heartbreak Hotel"

3) Ted Kennedy

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) The Library of Congress has three extremely large buildings on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Each building bears the name of a president - which presidents are they?

2) Name the current top five syndicated TV programs according to Nielsen Research.

Answers:


1) Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and John Adams.

2) 1) Wheel of Fortune, 2) Jeopardy 3) The Oprah Winfrey Show 4) Judge Judy 5) Two and a Half Men

Monday, January 26, 2009

Alan Rock's Trivia

History's largest diamond was mined at the Premier Mines in South Africa Jan. 26, 1905. How many carets or how much did it weigh?
A: It weighed one pound four ounces or 3,206-carets. To put it in perspective, that would cover all of Liz Taylor's and Jennifer Lopez's weddings and have enough left over for an earring for Elton John.

Why was Paul Newman disqualified from Navy Pilot School during World War II?
A: He was color blind.

The late great Paul Newman was born on this date in 1925. In which year did he make his first Hollywood movie?
A: 1954 (The Silver Chalice)

Friday, January 23, 2009

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) On this date in 1977 ABC began its airing of the most watched television program in history, a min-series based on a novel by Alex Haley. What was its title?

2) On this date in 1968, Navy lieutenant Don Walsh completed the deepest ocean dive ever made. How deep was it?

3) On this date in 1849, Elizabeth Blackwell became the first American woman to be awarded what?

Answers:

1) Roots

2) 35,839 feet - nearly seven miles

3) A medical degree

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Today's Trivia Teasers

Q: On Jan. 22, 1987, the first US talk show to tape a segment inside the Soviet Union debuted. Who was the host?
A: Phil Donahue

Q: David Edward Hughes died on Jan 22, 1900. What was it that he invented?
A: The microphone.

Q: On Jan. 22 1968, a fast-paced satirical review debuted on NBC-TV. It featured Dan Rowan & Dick Martin, Goldie Hawn, Judy Carne, Alan Sues, Lily Tomlin, Arte Johnson, Ruth Buzzi, JoAnne Worley, Henry Gibson, and Gary Owens. Can you name the show?
A: Laugh-In

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Today's Trivia Teasers

Q: According to research by McKinsey & Company of New York, how many advertisements are Americans exposed on the average day?
A: 270

Q: Name the world's first atomic-powered submarine.
A: The first atomic-powered submarine was the Nautilus.

Q: Name the Shoshone Indian woman guide of the Lewis & Clark expedition, and tell us in what state she was buried on an Indian reservation.
A: Sacajawea, she lies in the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming.

Q: What words do the initials ORD (for Chicago O'Hare Airport) stand for?
A: Orchard Field

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Alan Rock's Triva

Q1: On JAN 20, 1920, the SECOND man to set foot on the moon was born. Can you name him?

A: Astronaut Buzz Aldrin. Buzz was the SECOND man to set foot on the moon. "One small step for man, one giant leap for sidekicks".

Q2: Actor DeForest Kelly was born on JAN 20, 1920. What was the most famous character he played?

A: On the Star Trek TV series he played Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy. "Bones" was not his original nickname. His original nickname was -- "Glands".

Q3: Which great comedian was born on this date in 1896. (Clue: He died in 1996)

A: George Burns

Alan Rock's Triva for January 19th, 2009

Q: On JAN 19, 1977, U.S. President Gerald Ford pardoned Iva Toguri D'Aquino, who has been convicted of treason for her World War II Japanese propaganda broadcasts. We knew her better as?

A: Tokyo Rose

Q: The first televised presidential news conference was conducted on JAN 19th (I won't say the year). There wasn't much on T.V. back then, but some viewers still complained because he pre-emptied their test pattern. Who was the President?

A: On JAN 19. 1955 Dwight Eisenhower conducted the first presidential news conference.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Today's Trivia Teasers

Q: On Jan 14, 1690, which musical instrument invented in Nuremberg, Germany?
A: The clarinet

Q: What was NBC's original title for the "Today" show, which debuted on Jan 14, 1952
A: "The Rise and Shine Revue."

Q: On Jan 14, 1963, who was the first of how many different guest filled in for Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show?
A: Country singer, Jimmy Dean, the first of 124

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Today's Trivia Teasers

Q: This is Cuckoo dancing week, but it has nothing to do with dancing. It's a special week to remember the crazy antics of what comedians?
A:Laural and Hardy. Their theme song was called "the danging cuckoo", and so were they

Q: "The Bionic Woman" debuted on ABC-TV, thirty years ago today. WHo played the lead role?
A: Lindsay Wagner, playing schoolteacher Jaime Sommers

Monday, January 12, 2009

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) On this date in 1932, Hattie Caraway, shattered a barrier for women. What was her achievement?

2) On this date in 1967, Dragnet returned to television after an eight year hiatus. The revamped version had Harry Morgan (of later M.A.S.H. fame) as officer Joe Friday's sidekick. Who originally played that role?

3) On this date in 1971, the first episode of All in the Family aired. Who starred as Archie and Edith?

4) Today is Batman Day, marking the television series' debut. Who starred as the crime-fighting duo in this campy series?

Answers:

1) Hattie Caraway, a democrat from Arkansas, was the first woman to be elected to the U.S. Senate.

2) Ben Alexander was the first to play Frank Smith in the earlier Dragnet.

3) Carroll O'Connor and Jean Stapleton starred as Archie and Edith, respectively.

4) Adam West was Batman and Burt Ward tagged along as Robin.

Friday, January 09, 2009

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) On this date in 1959, a handsome newcomer burst onto the scene as the star in TV's Rawhide. He may be up for an Oscar this year. Who is he?

2) On this date in 1987, actor Arthur Lake died at the age of 81. What character is he most famous for?

Answers:

1) Clint Eastwood (that was pretty easy). As a bonus, if you remembered his character's name - "Rowdy Yates" - that's impressive!

2) He starred as Dagwood Bumstead in 27 "Blondie" movies as well as radio and TV versions of the character.

Thursday, January 08, 2009

Alan Rock's Trivia Teasers

Q: Elvis Presley was born on Jan 8, 1935. Where?
A: Tupelo, Mississippi

Q: How many presidents first served as vice-presidents?
A: 14: J. Adams, Jefferson, Van Buren, Tyler, Fillmore, A. Johnson, Arthur, T. Roosevelt, Coolidge, Truman, Nixon, L. Johnson, Ford, and George H.W. Bush.

Q: Vice Presidents were originally the presidential candidates receiving the second largest number of electoral votes. Which amendment passed in 1804, changed the system so that the electoral college voted separately for the president and vice president?
A: The Twelfth Amendment, The presidential candidate, however gradually gained power over the nominating convention to choose his own running mate.

Q: For two years the nation was run by a president and vice president who were not elected by the people. Who were they?
A: Gerald Ford and Nelson Rockefeller. After Vice President Spiro T. Agnew resigned in 1973, President Nixon appointed Gerald Ford as Vice president. Nixon resigned the following year and Ford appointed vice president, Nelson Rockefeller, as second in line.

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Today Trivia Teaser

Q: On Jan 7, 1990 a famous public building was closed to the public due to safety concerns. What building?
A: The Leaning Tower of Pisa. It was leaning too far. They stabilized the tower and reopened it in 2001.

Q: On Jan 7, 1789, a very special election occurred. What was it?
A: The first U.S. Presidential election was held. Results from Florida are expected any day now

Q: The first commercial bank in the U.S. opened on Jan 7, 1782. In what city?
A: In Philadelphia Everybody who opened a new account got a free toaster. There was a huge line at Ben Franklin's house waiting to plus into his kite.

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) On this date in 1838 an amazing new invention was demonstrated for the first time. What was it?

2) On this date in 1975 "Wheel of Fortune" debuted on NBC. Who was the host and letter-turner?

Answers:


1) Samuel Morse's invention, the telegraph.

2) Chuck Woolery was the host and Susan Stafford was revealing the letters.

Monday, January 05, 2009

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) On this date in 1948 the first color newsreel was released by Warner Brothers Pathe. Where was it filmed?

2) The TV comedy "Mr. Ed"- the adventures of a talking horse and his owner - debuted this date in 1961. Alan Young played Wilbur Post. Who was the voice of Mr. Ed?

3) On this date in 1998, Sonny Bono died in an unfortunate accident. What was he doing at the time?

Answers:

1) It was filmed in Pasadena, CA and the occasion was the Tournament of Roses.

2) Allan "Rocky" Lane was the voice of Mr. Ed.

3) Sonny Bono met his demise in a skiing accident.