Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) In the song, "Jingle Bells," one of the verses mentions this person as being seated "next to me a day or two ago." Who was it?

2) What did "Frosty the Snowman" do when the magic hat was placed on his head?

3) In "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" what item do Janice and Jen both want?

4) What did "my true love give to me" on the 11th day of Christmas?

Answers:

1) Miss Fanny Bright

2) He began to dance around

3) dolls that will talk and go for a walk

4) 11 pipers piping

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) In The Polar Express, what is "the first gift of Christmas"?

2) What is the name of the rabbit in Frosty the Snowman?

3) Lucy charged this much for a psychiatric session.

Answers:

1) A bell from Santa's sleigh

2) Hocus Pocus (he had a magic hat)

3) 5 cents

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) In A Christmas Story, what gift did Ralphie's mom give his dad?

2) What was Ralphie's little brother's name?

3) Who wrote and performed the music for A Charlie Brown Christmas?

4) What was the name of George Bailey's guardian angel (It's a Wonderful Life)?

Answers:

1) a bowling ball

2) Randy

3) Vince Guarladi

4) Clarence Oddbody

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) In the movie, A Christmas Story, Ralphie asked Santa for the Daisy Red Ryder BB gun he was obsessed with. What did Santa have to say about this request?

2) In A Christmas Story, what was Ralphie's favorite radio show?

3) Children often leave a plate out on Christmas Eve with Santa's favorite snack. What is it?

4) One foggy Christmas Eve, Santa needed helping guiding his sleigh. To whom did he turn for help?

Answers:

1) Santa told Ralphie the same thing everyone else had told him: "You'll shoot your eye out!"

2) Little Orphan Annie

3) Milk and cookies

4) Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) What was the name of Ebeneezer Scrooge's deceased business partner?

2) How many times does Santa check his "naughty" and "nice" list?

3) What was Tiny Tim's father's name?

4) According to the song, how many reindeer pull Santa's sleigh on a clear night?

Answers:

1) Jacob Marley

2) twice

3) Bob Cratchit

4) 8 (Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen)

Alan Rock's Trivia

Questions:

1) In the song "Winter Wonderland," who do we pretend the snowman is?

2) Robert May wrote a poem that was illustrated for a Montgomery Ward Christmas pamphlet in 1939. Eight years later John Marks composed music for the poem. Can you name that poem?

3) In the movie Miracle on 34th Street, a man is on trial for claiming to be Santa Claus. What convinces the judge to rule in the man's favor?

4) What famed cartoonist's drawing became the most popular image of St. Nicholas?


Answers:

1) Parson Brown

2) "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"

3) The U.S. Postal Service delivers mail to him.

4) German-born artist Thomas Nast created the most common Santa Claus image.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) What did Frosty the Snowman have for a nose?

2) How many gifts would you receive in total, if you got all the gifts described in "The Twelve Days of Christmas"?

3) In A Charlie Brown Christmas, the characters are engaged in this winter activity in the opening scene.

4) What was the name of Charles Dickens' classic Christmas story?

Answers:

1) a button

2) 364 presents

3) ice skating

4) A Christmas Carol

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Which two of Santa's reindeer have names starting with the letter, "C"?

2) What animal served as the Grinch's reindeer?

3) What Christmas carol has the singers demanding "figgy pudding"?

4) This cartoon, based on a newspaper editorial, won an Emmy award.

Answers:

1) Comet and Cupid

2) His dog.

3) "We Wish You a Merry Christmas."

4) Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus."

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) What was the gift my true love sent on the sixth day of Christmas?

2) What "Saturday Evening Post" artist was known for his whimsical pictures of Santa Claus?

3) Which reindeer is never mentioned in "The Night Before Christmas"?


Answers:

1) Six geese a-laying.

2) Norman Rockwell.

3) Rudolph.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Can you name the three reindeer whose names begin with "D"?

2) In It's a Wonderful Life, how did Clarence cleverly save George's life?

3) What was Rudolph's punishment for his red nose?


Answers:

1) Dasher, Donner, and Dancer.

2) He jumped into the river first.

3) He could not play in reindeer games.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Which character in It's a Wonderful Life lost $8000?

2) In Frosty the Snowman, a washed-up magician was looking for his magic hat. What was his name?

3) Who tells you she's in town by "tap, tap, tapping at your windowpane"?

4) What was Scrooge's first name?

Answers:

1) Uncle Billy

2) Professor Hinkle

3) Suzy Snowflake

4) Ebenezer

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) In the 1964 Christmas classic Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer, what did Rudolph's elf friend, Hermey want to be?

2) In the "Twelve Days of Christmas," how many drummers are drumming?

3) In what country are outdoor barbecues a traditional part of the Christmas holiday?

4) What physical defect made Dr. Seuss's Grinch so mean?

Answers:

1) Hermey wanted to be a dentist.

2) There were 12 drummers.

3) Australia

4) His heart was two sizes too small.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) The real Saint Nicholas was born in what country?

2) Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer was created as a promotion for what department store?

3) In A Charlie Brown Christmas, which character builds a gray snowman?

4) The first known time anyone in the U.S. drank eggnog was when?

Answers:

1) Turkey. He was born some time around 280, A.D. in Patara, which is near the modern city of Myra. The legend about him is that he gave away his inherited wealth and traveled the countryside seeking out and helping the sick and impoverished.

2) Montgomery Ward

3) Pigpen

4) According to the historical accounts of Captain John Smith, the first eggnog made in the U.S. was consumed in his Jamestown settlement in 1607. Nog was a variation of "grog," which refers to any drink made with rum.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Who narrated the 1966 television special "How the Grinch Stole Christmas?"

2) Which sport has what's called a "sin bin"?

3) She was born on this day in 1981. Raised in Kentwood, Loisiana, when she was 9 she competed at the state level in this sport.

Answers:

1) Boris Karloff

2) The "sin bin" is a slang term for hockey's penalty box.

3) Britney competed at the state level in gymnastics.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Bette Midler was born on this date in 1945. In 1992 she won an Emmy for her guest appearance on this show.

2) Christmas Island is located in which ocean?

3) The first telephone in the White House was installed on this date in 1878. The first call was from a storm window salesman. Who was president at the time?

4) Where is the world's roller skating museum located?

Answers:

1) She appeared on the Johnny Carson's final episode of The Tonight Show. She sang "One for My Baby, and One More for the Road" to him, causing him to get tearful - a sweet moment.

2) Christmas Island is in the Indian Ocean.

3) Rutherford B. Hayes

4) Lincoln, Nebraska

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Today is the anniversary of Mark Twain's birthday. On one of the Star Trek series of television shows, "Mark Twain" met the crew. Which show was it?

2) This European set sail in 1778 and was the first European to visit Hawaii.

3) In colonial America, people in this profession were called upon to make flags.

4) What is Africa's longest river?

1) Star Trek: The Next Generation

2) Captain James Cook

3) Upholsterers

4) The Nile is longest; it is 4,160 miles in length.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Who was Duke Ellington's first and long-time drummer?

2) How much did Lucy charge for her psychiatric sessions?

3) In whose band did Dizzy Gillespie play?

4) When is Canada Day celebrated?

Answers:

1) Sonny Greer

2) Five cents

3) Cab Calloway

4) July 1st is now known as Canada Day; prior to 1982, it was called Dominion Day.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Singer Tom Jones Woodward was born in Pontypridd, South Wales. What other famous person hailed from that same small village?

2) John Lennon maintained that the greatest rock-n-roll record ever made was what?

3) On this date in 1929, the Cardinals, then in Chicago (now in AZ), defeated the Chicago Bears 40 - 6. Their fullback was responsible for all 40 points. Who was he?

4) The Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act was a bill in the U.S. Congress that enacted the National Maximum Speed Law. States had to agree to the limit if they wanted federal funding for highway repair. This uniform speed limit was signed into law by which president? Which president mandated a federal speed limit of 55 mph and which president ended the 55 mph limit?

Answers:

1) Richard Burton

2) Jerry Lee Lewis's "Whole Lotta Shakin.'"

3) Ernie Nevers

4) Nixon signed into law the 55 mph limit out of safety and fuel economy concerns; Clinton ended the 55 mph limit on this date in 1995.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) The largest cereal maker is Kellogg's. Who is the second largest cereal maker?

2) Which Constitutional Amendment promises a speedy public trial?

3) Glenn Miller had a regular gig in the mid 1930's playing in what band?

4) The Glenn Miller Orchestra received its first gold record with this song February 2, 1942.

Answers:

1) General Mills

2) The 6th Amendment promises a speedy public trial

3) He played in the Dorsey Brothers band during that period.

4)"Chattanooga Choo Choo"

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) In what year did the first American Thanksgiving celebration take place?

2) Where was the first American Thanksgiving celebration held?

3) How many pilgrims were on board the Mayflower?
4) How long did the first American Thanksgiving celebration last?

5) Which beverage was brought along on the Mayflower?
6) Approximately how many feathers does a mature turkey have?

Answers:

1) 1621

2) Plymouth, MA

3) 102

4) 3 days (complete with games and food)

5) beer

6) 3,500

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) William H. Bonney was born on this date in 1859. If his given name doesn't ring a bell, perhaps you remember his nickname.

2) This movie star's given name was Archibald Leach.

3) On this date in 1942, FDR signed into law the creation of SPARS. What was it?

Answers:

1) Billy the Kid

2) Cary Grant

3) SPARS was the U.S. Coast Guard Women's Reserve. The acronym stood for the Latin "Semper Paratus" and its English translation: "Always Ready." This service, as well as similar women's divisions of other armed forces, was created to free up men from stateside duty in order to fight overseas.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) What is a caper?

2) What state consumes the most turkey?

3) Butterball recommends that a turkey should thaw for how long for every 4 pounds?

4) Eisenhower won both his elections handily, facing the same opponent for both elections. Who was his opponent?

Answers:

1) A caper is the unopened flower of the bush Capparis Spinosa, which grows mainly in southern France, Itlay and Algeria as well as California.

2) California

3) Thaw the turkey one day for every 4 pounds.

4) Adlai Stevenson

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) On this date in 1980, a TV show ended its season with a famous cliffhanger. What was the cliffhanger and the show?

2) On this day in 1934, this teenager, dressed in borrowed clothes, won the Amateur Night award at New York's Apollo Theater, beginning a very successful career.

3) Which U.S. president was the first to travel in a submerged submarine?

4) Goldie Hawn had a job at the 1964 World's Fair; what was it?

Answers:

1) The show was Dallas, and the season ended with the lead character having been shot. It wasn't revealed until the first episode of the following season who had shot him. All summer the headlines asked, "Who Shot J.R.?"

2) Ella Fitzgerald

3) Harry Truman

4) Ms. Hawn had a job as a dancer in a chorus line. This led to her go-go gig with Laugh-In, where her comedic talents emerged, leading to her film career.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Who wanted the wild turkey to be designated as the U.S. national bird?

2) In what year was a turkey first issued a "presidential pardon"?

3) Marlon Brando patented two innovations for use with a musical instrument. Which instrument?

Answers:

1) Benjamin Franklin

2) 1947

3) Drum (specifically, the conga drum)

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) This president established the third Thursday in November as the national day to celebrate Thanksgiving.

2) Being acquitted of treason and escaping prosecution for murder were not enough to deter this Vice President from his goal to establish a North American kingdom over which he would rule as emperor.

3) Which domesticated animal is distantly related to the hyena?

4) Which tenor sax man often played with Kenny Burrell and Jimmy Smith?

Answers:

1) Franklin D. Roosevelt

2) Aaron Burr

3) Hyenas belong to a family of their own, hyaenidae, but they are more closely related to cats than they are dogs.

4) Stanley Turrentine

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Which cartoon character was the first to be made into a Macy's Thanksgiving Day balloon?

2) Which president established Thanksgiving as a national holiday?

3) Macy's put on its Thanksgiving Day parade for the first time in what year?

Answers:

1) Felix the Cat

2) Abraham Lincoln

3) 1924

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Cats walk by moving their front and hind legs, first on side, then the other. Only two other species do the same. What are they?

2)The average dog makes about 10 different vocal sounds. How many, on average, can a cat make?

3) The world's first streetcar began operating on this date in 1832 in what city?

4) Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber composed this long-running musical in the early 80's.

Answers:

1) Camels and giraffes

2) A cat is able to make about 100 distinct sounds.

3) New York. The street car was pulled by horses.

4) Cats, which was named after T.S. Eliot's book, Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Which New Testament verse is the briefest sentence in the Bible?

2) Which state was first to ratify the Constitution?

3) This land mammal is born underwater and grows to be 8,000 pounds.

4) In what year did the Little League Baseball World Series begin?

Answers:

1) John 11:35 - "Jesus wept."

2) Delaware

3) Hippotamus

4) 1947.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Which president issued the first Veteran's Day Proclamation?

2) Which individuals does Veteran's Day honor?

3) Veteran's Day in other countries is known by other names such as ____________ and ___________.

4)Which president said, "...to care for him [veteran] who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and orphan."

Answers:

1) Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the bill in 1954.

2) All who have served in the U.S. military in times of war and peace.

3) Armistice Day and Remembrance Day are used in the UK and commonwealth countrries.

4) Abraham Lincoln

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) How many of Elvis's hits did he write?

2) Whose picture is on the $2 bill?

3) What breed of dog has the sharpest eyesight?

Answers:

1) None - Elvis's fame was before Dylan ushered in the era of the singer-songwriter.

2) Thomas Jefferson

3) Greyhounds have the sharpest eyesight.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) What are the three most populous cities in the world?

2) Which three countries are the most populated?

3) Which six states established the CSA at a meeting in Montgomery, February 4, 1861?

4) Which U.S. library has the highest number of volumes?

Answers:

1) Shanghai (17.8M), Karachi (12.9M) and Istanbul (12.9M)

2) China (1.3B), India (1.2B) and the United States (312M)

3) Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and South Carolina.

4) The Library of Congress, with more than 147 million items.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) What has always been the theme song for the Glenn Miller Orchestra?

2) What was trumpeter Harry Edison's nickname?

3) Who was the Modern Jazz Quartet's vibraphone player?

4) Who is often thought of as the "father of jazz saxophone"?

Answers:

1) "Moonlight Serenade"

2) "Sweets"

3) Milt Jackson

4) Coleman Hawkins

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) This city was founded in 1820 and was a leading manufacturer of home furniture until the 1960s. It remains a major manufacturer of office furniture and is commonly referred to as "Furniture City."

2) This famous author once said this of Huckleberry Finn: "All American writing comes from that. There was nothing before. There has been nothing as good since."

3) The first English settlers to set foot in America did so at this tourist destination.

4) This river basin contains evidence of the earliest known human culture in Europe.

Answers:

1) Grand Rapids, MI

2) Ernest Hemingway

3) Virginia Beach, VA

4) The Danube

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) In what year did women win the right to vote in the U.S.?

2) Losing this item in 1951 made Thelonious Monk's life extremely problematic. What was it?

3) On this date in 1957, the same six songs topped both the pop and R&B charts. What were they?

Answers:

1) In 1920 the nineteenth amendment to the constitution was passed, granting women the right to vote.

2) He lost his cabaret card as a result of being charged with possession of narcotics. In New York the cabaret card permitted musicians to play wherever alcohol was served.

3)
1) Elvis - "Jailhouse Rock"
2) Everly Bros. - "Wake Up, Little Susie"
3) Sam Cooke - "You Send Me"
4) The Rays - "Silhouettes"
5) Ricky Nelson - "Be-Bop Baby"
6) Jimmie Rodgers - "Honeycomb"

Alan Rock's Trivia

Questions:

1) Name the traditional wedding anniversary gifts given for the 25th and 50th years.

2) Can you name the National Football League teams that faced off in the first Super Bowl in 1967? Who won?

3) Jazz can be hot or cool. One of the first to define "cool" jazz was this piano virtuoso. Noted mostly as a big band leader, he greatly influenced jazz by his less frantic approach to the genre. And what could be cooler than a "Snowfall"? Miles Davis was one of his admirers. What was his name?


Answers:

1) The 25th anniversary gift is silver, and the 50th is gold.

2) The Green Bay Packers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs with a score of 35 to 10 in Los Angeles.

3) Claude Thornhill. Thornhill worked as a band musician for most of the 1930s with such notables as Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, and Paul Whiteman. As a studio musician, he worked with Andre Kostelanetz on his studio recording arrangements. It was not until about 1940 that he created his own big band. But his was different in that he sought a new sound. He included French horns and a tuba. He also had a choir of six clarinets that played in unison. Thornhill's piano styling flourished among the brass. His band was interrupted by WWII, but reorganized afterward. "Snowfall" was his theme song and most noted recording.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) What's the difference between a nook and a cranny?

2) Which is the oldest letter in the Phoenician alphabet?

3) This tenor saxophonist was key to moving the bop genre forward.

4) In 1847, the first US postage stamps were sold. Whose images were on the 5 and 10-cent stamps?

Answers:

1) A nook is a corner and a cranny is a crack.

2) The letter, "O." It dates back to 1300 BC.

3) Sonny Rollins

4) Ben Franklin was on the 5-cent stamp and Washington's was on the 10-cent stamp.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Set to the tune of a once-popular British drinking song, this tune was inspired by an 1814 poem, called "The Defence of Fort McHenry."

2) Who are, to date, the top three best-selling recording artists?

3) This alto/soprano saxophone player achieved fame in the 70s with his jazz/pop ensemble, Spyro Gyra.

Answers:

1) "The Star-Spangled Banner."

2) The Beatles, Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson.

3) Jay Breckenstein

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) This cable channel was created for the express purpose of showing music videos.

2) This stocky actor and former fighter pilot starred in TV's Cannon and Jake and the Fatman. Before his television career took hold, he worked in radio, starting in the 1930s. But it was the role he voiced from 1952 - 1961 that was his longest-running role. What was it?

3) Charles Ginsburg was head of the team that invented this entertainment device.

4) Who was the original host of Jeopardy?

Answers:

1) MTV

2) Conrad’s longest-running role was that of U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon on the radio western Gunsmoke, which aired on CBS radio from 1952 to 1961.

When the golden age of radio was over, Conrad could be heard delivering the urgent narration for Jay Ward’s classic Bullwinkle Show.

3) The VCR

4) Art Fleming hosted the show from 1964-1975, then again from 1978-1979 when the show returned to television.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) What retailer was the first to guarantee satisfaction?

2) How many feathers are there in a shuttlecock (used in badminton)?

3) How frequently, according to astronomers' estimates, is a new star is born?

Answers:

1) Montgomery Ward introduced a satisfaction-guaranteed promise back in 1874.

2) Exactly 16. The best shuttles use feathers from a goose's left wing.

3) Every 18 days a new star forms in our galaxy.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Which coffee was the first to be sold in sealed tin cans?

2) On this date in 1792, the first cornerstone of the White House was laid. Who was the first presidential family to live in the White House?

3) On this date in 1958, the last Big Band style song to appear on the Billboard charts peaked at #7. What was the song?

Answers:

1) Chase and Sanborn

2) President John Adams and his family were the first to move in to the White House.

3) Tommy Dorsey Orchestra's recording of the Tea for Two Cha Cha Cha

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) The kilt originated what country?

2) In a deck of playing cards, which king has no facial hair?

3) What term is commonly applied to the mainstream jazz of the 1930s and '40s?

Answers:

1) Kilts are famously associated with Scotland, but they originated in France.

2) The King of Hearts

3) Swing

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Saturday Night Live premiered on this date in 1975. Who was the guest host?

2) This powerful lobbying organization was founded by Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus in 1958.

3) This organization claims to be the oldest and largest fraternal organization in the world.

Answers:

1) George Carlin. Janis Ian and Billy Preston were the musical guests.

2) AARP: the American Association of Retired Persons

3) Freemasons. Freemasons date back to the late 16th century.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) According to Men's Health magazine, 69% of men surveyed considered themselves to be fit. What percent of men actually are physically fir?

2) As of 2010, only 5 jazz musicians have been featured on the cover of Time. Who are they?

3) What was the biggest selling single for The Platters?

Answers:

1) Only 13%

2) Thelonius Monk, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Wynton Marsalis and Dave Brubeck.

3) "The Great Pretender."

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) The art of bonsai originated in what country?

2) For boxers, what is the difference between standard boxing gloves and golden gloves?

3) Who was known as the "March King" and led the U.S. Marine Band?

Answers:

1) China

2) Regular gloves weigh 8 ounces and golden gloves weigh 10 ounces.

3) John Philip Sousa

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) The Blackhawk Night Club was a legendary jazz mecca from 1949 - 1963. What city was it in?

2) These 7 states are named for various royalty.

3) How did the tradition of trick-or-treat start?

4) What city was the first to have paved streets?

Answers:

1) San Francisco

2) Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, both Carolinas and both Virginias

3) The tradition of going from door to door receiving food already existed in Britain and Ireland, in the form of souling, where children and poor people would sing and say prayers for the dead in return for cakes.[1] Guising — children disguised in costumes going from door to door for food and coins — also predates trick or treat, and is recorded in Scotland at Halloween in 1895, where masqueraders in disguise carrying lanterns made out of scooped out turnips, visit homes to be rewarded with cakes, fruit and money.[2] While going from door to door in disguise has remained popular among Scots and Irish, the North American custom of saying "trick or treat" has recently become common. The activity is prevalent in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, Puerto Rico, and northwestern and central Mexico. In the latter, this practice is called calaverita (Spanish for "little skull"), and instead of "trick or treat", the children ask ¿me da mi calaverita? ("can you give me my little skull?"); where a calaverita is a small skull made of sugar or chocolate.

4) Rome

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) This member of Monty Python's Flying Circus was born on this date in 1943.

2) Which university was the first to award athletic scholarships to women?

3) He was the the first American in outer space.

4) What rolle did Ann B. Davis play on The Brady Bunch?

Answers:

1) Michael Palin

2) University of Miami was the first to do so, in keeping with the passage of Title IX.

3) Alan Shepard was - for only 15 minutes, on May 5, 1961.

4) Ann B. Davis played the lovable maid, Alice. She had previously been "Schultzy" on Love That Bob with Bob Cummings and played Miss Wilson on the John Forsythe Show.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) What country holds the record for highest recorded temperature?

2) Where was the coldest temperature recorded?

3) In the United States, which snack is the most popular?


Answers:

1) Libya was recorded as having reached 136 degrees Fahrenheit.

2) Vostok Station, Antarctica got down to -128.6 F.

3) The ever-popular potato chip is America's favorite.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) What is the oldest breed of canine in the United States?

2) Which breed of dog is said to be the smartest?

3) What breed of dog bites humans more frequently than other breeds?

4) It was common at one time for dogs to sleep under the covers with their humans. What was the reason for this?

Answers:

1) Foxhound

2) Border Collie

3) German Shepherds

4) So any bugs in the bed would be attracted to the dog and leave the humans alone.

Alan Rock's Trivia

Questions:

1) FDR offered the "New Deal" as his presidential program. That followed the program offered by President Theodore Roosevelt, which was called what?

2) This legendary tenor sax player from New Jersey played with Art Blakey, Maynard Ferguson and Miles Davis before co-founding the seminal fusion group Weather Report. Who was he?

3) Name the three states that are connected to Yellowstone National Park.


Answers:

1) Square Deal.

2) Wayne Shorter! While a member of Miles Davis' band, he composed many of the group's tunes, including "Nefertiti," "ESP," "Footprints" and "Prince of Darkness." In addition to his legendary work with Weather Report, Shorter was also a much sought-after session man, and contributed much of the great sax work on Steely Dan's magnum opus album, "Aja."

3) Yellowstone National Park touches on Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) This singer is the only singer to have five stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

2)This company is credited with having created the first coin-operated video game.

3) Who played Billy Holiday in the 1972 film, Lady Sings the Blues?


Answers:

1) Gene Autry

2) Atari

3) Diana Ross

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) In 1963 this singer recorded with John Coltrane. He was the only singer Coltrane thought was worthwhile working with.

2) This landmark is recognized the world over as a symbol of freedom and democracy.

3) This 1964 presidential candidate's logo was "element"ary. What was it?

Answers:

1) Johnny Hartman

2) The Statue of Liberty

3) Au H2O was seen on stickers, buttons and even license plates. They are the periodic table of elements' symbols for gold and water - Goldwater.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) What percentage of pumpkins is water?

2) In September 1939, Warsaw fell to Nazi invaders. As a final act of defiance, this composer's music was broadcast continuously on Warsaw radio.

3) The Eastern Cottonwood is the fastest growing tree. How much does it grow in one month?

4) What is Florida's official state flower?

Answers:

1) 90%

2) Frederic Chopin

3) 2.5'

4) The orange blossom was so designated in 1909.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Which planet of our solar system was found not to be a legitimate planet and was thus demoted?

2) "God helps those who help themselves." This saying comes from ___________.

3) Who was the youngest man to serve as President of the U.S.?


Answers:

1) Pluto

2) If you said the Bible, you and the rest of the 75% of Americans who think that are wrong! The saying comes from Ben Franklin. http://harpers.org/archive/2005/08/0080695

3) Though he was not elected (assuming the presidency in the wake of McKinley's assassination), Theodore Roosevelt was 42 at the time he was sworn in. John F. Kennedy was the youngest, at 43, to be elected to the presidency.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Which country consumes the most wine per household?

2) This was the only person to have been recognized in the College Basketball Hall of Fame for his achievements and contributions as both a player and a coach.

3) Which country was the first to manufacture rubber bands?

Answers:

1) Denmark wins with 93%, followed by France with 85% of households consuming wine.

2) John Wooden

3) Rubber bands were first manufactured in England in 1845 by Perry and Co. of London.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) This U.S. Cabinet member was shot and wounded in his home at the same time Lincoln was assassinated at the Ford Theater.

2) Which continent is the largest in size?

3) Two countries in the world are listed as less than one square mile each in size. Which are they?

4) Which National Park is the oldest?

Answers:

1) Secretary of State, William H. Seward

2) Asia, with nearly 12,000,000 square miles.

3) Vatican City and Monaco.

4) Founded in 1872, Yellowstone National Park is America's oldest park to be designated as a National Park.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) In what year did Congress declare the fourth of July a national holiday?

2) Representing the women who shored up the manpower deficit caused by World War II, this fictional assembly line worker's image was frequently shown, smiling confidently, with her sleeve rolled up. What was her nickname?

3) The comic book arm of this company started in 1939 as Timely Publications and was later known as Atlas Comics. Now they go by what name?

Answers:

1) 1870

2) Rosie the Riveter

3) Marvel Comics / Marvel Publishing, Inc.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) This country was the first to invent paper money. The practice dates back to the 9th century.

2) Oreo cookies have been America's most popular cookie since their introduction in 1912. How many varieties of Oreo cookies are there, not counting seasonal varieties or frozen treats?

3) What three currencies are the most traded currencies on the foreign exchange market?

Answers:

1) China

2) Nine continuous varieties, including original, mini, chocolate creme, chocolate creme minis, reduced fat, double stuf, fudge-covered, fudge mint-covered, and peanut butter and chocolate.

3) The U.S. dollar, the euro and the yen

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) On this date in 1620, the Mayflower left Plymouth, England bound for America. How many pilgrims were on the Mayflower?

2) On this date in 1630, the village of Shawmutt, Massachusetts changed its name to what?

3) On this date in 1953, the first movie filmed in wide-screen Cinemascope premiered at the Roxy Theater in New York. What was the name of the film?

4) How large is the mouth on the Statue of Liberty?

Answers:

1) 102

2) Boston

3) The Robe

4) The mouth is 3 feet wide

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) On this day in 1971, this environmental organization was founded.

2) Danny Kaye starred in The Five Pennies, which was a film about the life of what jazz cornet player?

3)During the Vietnam War, what did director Oliver Stone do?

4) Who composed the song, "Misty"?

Answers:

1) Greenpeace was founded.

2) Eugene "Red" Nichols

3) For his service in the army, Stone was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart with the Oak Leaf Cluster.

4) Erroll Garner

Alan Rock's Trivia

Questions:

1) In 1937, the Count Basie Band featured two singers: Jimmy Rushing and who else?

2) Who was the first chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court who resigned from the court (to run for governor of New York)?

3) In the late 1930's, who led the house band at the Savoy in Harlem?

4) Water particles that freeze once they hit the ground are called what?


Answers:

1) Billie Holiday, who was ousted from the band after a year on the road with them. Rumor has it that John Hammond forced her out.

2) John Jay.

3) Chick Webb, whose hard-swinging band introduced the first lady of song to the world -- Ella Fitzgerald.

4) Freezing rain!

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) According to Forbes Magazine in 2008, what was the most visited tourist destination in the U.S.?

2)One of the most famous jazz recordings of all time was Kind of Blue. Who was the famous trumpet player who made the album?

3) What was trumpet player Harry Edison's nickname?

4) Which state is the only one that does not have a national park?

Answers:

1) Times Square

2) Miles Davis

3) "Sweets"

4) Delaware

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Who scored the winning in the 1999 World Cup?

2) Under what pseudonym did Agatha Christie write romance novels?

3) Married to John Dankworth, this "dame" was born in London and is a renowned jazz singer. Who is she?

4) What year did the WNBA debut?

Answers:

1) Brandy Chastain

2) Mary Westmacott

3) Cleo Laine. For her contributions to music, she was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1979.

4) 1996

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) The elephant is the heaviest land animal. Which land animal is the second heaviest?

2) When was the first computer program created and published?

3) Which American city claims to be the richest in history? It has retained many of its original buildings,using them as historical memorials to early America.

Answers:

1) The hippopotamus

2) Ada Byron published the first computer programs in 1843. She based them on Jacquard's punch-card idea. The programs were used on the first general-purpose mechanical digital computer, Charles Babbage's invention.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) On this date in 1935, this famous singer started off his career as part of The Hoboken Four, appearing on the Major Bowes Amateur Hour.

2) The expression, "lightning never strikes twice" is meant to indicate that the odds of something happening in the same way again are slim. Does lightning ever strike twice?

3) This jazz guitarist is credited as being the father of jazz guitar, bringing guitar from the background rhythm section to the forefront with his groundbreaking solos. Who is he?

Answers:

1) Frank Sinatra. He debuted on the show at the tender age of 19.

2) Actually lightning strikes twice a lot, especially in high locations. The Empire State Building, for example, is struck about 25 times a year.

3) Charlie Christian. He died in 1941 at the age of 25.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Which country produces the most cork?

2) This singer was born Ruth Lee Jones and she grew up to perform jazz, R&B and pop with equal ease. Her biggest hit was "What a Difference a Day Makes." What name did she adopt for her performing career?

3) ESPN made its debut on this date in 1979. What do the letters ESPN stand for?

4) Which country produces the ripest olives?

Answers:

1) Portugal

2) Dinah Washington

3) the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) The U.S. experiences what percentage of the world's tornadoes?

2) Assuming you're average, how much of your brain is water?

3) Which snack is the most popular?

4) According to the National Safety Council, on average, how many Americans will be killed by a drunk driver in the next hour?

5) Which TV game show is a variation of Hangman?

6) Jazz musicians began integrating rock elements into their music in the late 60s, creating what kind of jazz genre?

7) What jazz style was made popular by performers like Stan Getz, Gerry Mulligan and Lee Konitz?

Answers:

1) 75%

2) 80%

3) Potato chips are the number one selling snack, accompanying lunch 32% of the time and dinner 18% of the time.

4) Two Americans are killed every hour. Drunk drivers injure another 30 people every hour.

5) Wheel of Fortune

6) Fusion

7) Cool Jazz.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) On this date in 1963, who anchored the first half-hour newscast on network television?

2) On this date in 1923, the movie The Hunchback of Notre Dame was released in the U.S. Who was the star?

3) This president delivered his inaugural address without using the word "I" once?

4) The Renaissance began in which country?

Answers:

1) Walter Cronkite, when he interviewed President Kennedy.

2) Lon Chaney

3) Theodore Roosevelt

4) Italy

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) This remarkable discovery on the ocean floor happened on this date in 1985. What was found?

2) What was the motivation for Seuss's book Green Eggs and Ham?

3) For her role in this film, Lily Tomlin was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. What was the role and film?

Answers:

1) The wreck of the Titanic was found.

2) His editor dared him to write a book using fewer than 50 words.

3) Tomlin played Linnea Reese in the 1975 Robert Altman film, Nashville.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Richard Gere's first three major film roles were all turned down by what actor?

2) Peggy Lee was nominated for an Oscar for what film?

3) What did President Hoover do with his salary?

4) What was the world's first airline?


Answers:

1) John Travolta turned down the lead roles in Days of Heaven, American Gigolo, and An Officer and a Gentleman before they were offered to Gere.

2) Lee appeared in Pete Kelly's Blues, in a role which garnered her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

3) During his entire 47 years in government, Herbert Hoover turned over each of his federal salary checks to charity. He had become independently wealthy before entering politics.

4) DELAG, an acronym from German: Deutsche Luftschiffahrts-Aktiengesellschaft ("German Airship Travel Corporation") was the world's first airline to use an aircraft (a Zeppelin rigid airship) in revenue service. It was founded on November 16, 1909 with government assistance, and operated airships manufactured by Zeppelin Corporation. Its headquarters were in Frankfurt.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) What is the most popular game in Las Vegas?

2) What popular Christmas flower was named for an American ambassador to Mexico?

3) What Hollywood club is famous for its roasts of celebrities?

4) What beloved writer of songs about the South hardly ever visited the region?


Answers:

1) Black Jack.

2) The Poinsettia, named after Joel Poinsett.

3) The Friars Club.

4) Stephen Foster from Pennsylvania.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter were the leader and co-leader of Weather Report, which they formed in 1970. They are also alums of what jazz great who was one of the first to play jazz fusion?

2) Which jewel is perceived as a symbol of success?

3) What is the name of the city that was planned and partly laid out by Major Pierre Charles L'Enfant, a French engineer, in the late 1700s? And, after whom was the city named?

4) The jazz group Fourplay scored a hit in 1991 with El Debarge singing lead on a cover of Marvin Gaye's song "After the Dance" -- Nathan East on bass, Harvey Mason, Jr. on drums, and Lee Ritenour on guitar. Who was the keyboardist making up the final piece of the group? Here's a clue: He scored a hit with a song named "Angela," also known as the theme to the T.V. show "Taxi."


Answers:

1) Miles Davis. Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter worked with Miles Davis in the late 1960s. They formed Weather Report in 1970 and disbanded in 1987. Sadly, Joe Zawinul passed away on September 11, 2007.

2) The birthstone for May, the emerald, is perceived as a symbol of success. Even more than the diamond, this jewel has been a favorite of emperors and kings.

3) Washington, D.C., which was named after our first president, George Washington -- the district was named after Christopher Columbus.

4) Bob James. Fourplay was formed in 1991; however, the members first played together on Bob James' 1990 effort "Grand Piano Canyon." Lee Ritenour left the group in 1997 and was replaced by Larry Carlton. Larry Carlton left in 2010 and was replaced by present guitarist Jeff Golub.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) The first woman to be nominated for Vice President by a major U.S. political party was born on August 26, 1935. Who?

2) During the rise of the bebop era, who was the house pianist at Minton's Playhouse?

3) Dr. Lee DeForest was born on August 26, 1873. He invented something that all of you listening [to my show] today can be thankful for. What?

4) Who was the girl singer in Gene Krupa's band?


Answers:

1) Geraldine Ferraro.

2) Thelonious Monk.

3) The 3-element vacuum tube, making possible all of our wonderful electronic technology -- radio... television... radar traps... One of Dr. DeForest's early inventions was stolen by his competitor's spies, so he planted trees outside the windows of his laboratory -- so the spies couldn't see DeForest for the trees.

4) Anita O'Day.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Actor Sean Connery was born August 25, 1930. How many James Bond films did he star in? Can you name them?

2) In Great Britain on August 25, 1972, computerized axial tomography was introduced. We know it better as what?

3) In 1939, Lina Medina became the youngest mother on record. How old was she?


Answers:

1) 7 -- in order from most recent to earliest film:

Never Say Never Again (1983)
Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
You Only Live Twice (1967)
Thunderball (1965)
Goldfinger (1964)
From Russia With Love (1963)
Dr. No (1962)

2) CAT scan

3) 5 years old

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Prior to his presidential service, George H.W. Bush served as director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Which president appointed him to the CIA?

2) What United States park and tourist destination is 95 percent water?

3) How many commercials are aimed at kids?

4) Who was regarded as the "James Dean of Jazz" in the 1950s?


Answers:

1) President Gerald Ford.

2) Biscayne National Park.

3) According to the Federal Trade Commission, there are 20,000 television commercials made each year that are aimed exclusively at children. Of these, 7,000 are for sugared breakfast cereals.

4) Chet Baker.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Who was the first musician to put together a jazz trio of piano, guitar, and bass?

2) Which blood type is the most rare?

3) On radio in the 1940s, was Captain Midnight's mechanic (a) Aristotle Jones, (b)Ichabod Mudd, or (c) Jet Jackson?

4) Wes Montgomery taught himself to play the guitar while still a teenager, and developed an interesting playing style. What was unique about his self-taught style?


Answers:

1) Nat King Cole.

2) Type O is the most common blood type in the world. Type AB is the rarest. There is also a subtype called A-H, but to date only three people in the world are known to have it.

3) Ichabod "Icky" Mudd. Aristotle Jones was the Captain's scientific adviser.

4) He played with his thumb.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) In the comic strip Blondie, what is the husband's name?

2) Which two U.S. cities are both known for producing some of the best thoroughbred horses in the world?

3) The first English settlers to set foot in America landed at the tip of what city on April 29, 1607? This city is a popular tourist destination.

4) In the comic strip B.C., what are the talking clams used for?


Answers:

1) Dagwood.

2) Lexington, Kentucky and Ocala, Florida.

3) Virginia Beach, Virginia.

4) Money.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Actor John Stamos (born on this date in 1963), occasionally appeared as drummer and backup vocalist in what band?

2) What is the most frequently stolen car in the United States?

3) This began as one of the first radio comedy series, written and voiced by Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll and originating from station WMAQ in Chicago. After the program was first broadcast in 1928, it grew to become a huge influence on radio series that followed. The show ran as a nightly radio serial from 1928 until 1943, as a weekly situation comedy from 1943 until 1955, and as a nightly disc-jockey program from 1954 until 1960. A television adaptation ran on CBS-TV from 1951 until 1953, and continued in syndicated reruns from 1954 until 1966, when it disappeared after complaints from civil rights groups. Can you name the show?

4) What is the name of the victim in the board game "Clue"?


Answers:

1) The Beach Boys.

2) According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the 1994 Honda Accord is the car that auto thieves love the most.

3) Amos and Andy!

4) Mr. Boddy.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Actor Patrick Swayze (born August 18, 1952) co-starred with whom in Dirty Dancing?

2) In a deck of playing cards, which king does NOT have a moustache?

3) Which TV personality insured her legs for $2 million?

4) In the famous Abbott and Costello "Who's on First" skit, what was the right fielder's name?


Answers:

1) Jennifer Grey (who won Season 11 of Dancing With The Stars).

2) The King of Hearts.

3) Mary Hart of "Entertainment Tonight."

4) There was no right fielder named.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) What's the difference between a land mile and a nautical (ocean) mile?

2) In which TV series did Sean Penn make his camera debut?

3) What was the original plastic?

4) How many different animal shapes are in the Animal Crackers cookie zoo?

Answers:

1) A land (or statute) mile is 5,280 feet. On the ocean, a nautical mile measures 6,080 feet.

2) Barnaby Jones.

3) The first plastic invented was celluloid. It came about as an alternative for billiard balls made from ivory.

4) 18.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) What was the name of the ship that was attacked at Pearl Harbor? It is still commissioned and on display.

2) Which U.S. county occupies the smallest area?

3) Where is the largest concentration of bones in the human body?

4) Can you name the four state capitals with names starting with the same letter as their corresponding state's names?

Answers:

1) The USS Arizona

2) Manhattan

3) Of the 206 bones in the body, 106 are in the hands and feet.

4) Dover, DE; Honolulu, HI; Indianapolis, IN; Oklahoma City, OK.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Which two U.S. states have the highest speed limit?

2) Which country is second largest in the world?

3) What Country & Western star was depicted biographically in the film Coal Miner's Daughter, and what actress won the Oscar for her role in the film?

4) What early explorer to the New World paved the way for Dutch colonization in what is now the New York area? He was later set to sea and abandoned by mutineers.

Answers:

1) Utah and Texas both have stretches of highway with an 80 mph speed limit.

2) Canada is the second largest country after Russia. Nearly 90 percent of Canada's population is concentrated within 161 km of the United States/Canada border.

3) Loretta Lynn was the Coal Miner's Daughter, and Sissy Spacek won the Oscar (she even did the singing in the film).

4) Henry Hudson was the abandoned explorer.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) On August 12, 1974, for the first time in history, two teammates were elected to baseball's Hall of Fame on the same day. Can you name them?

2) How many varieties of tomatoes are there?

3) What's the difference between regular boxing gloves and golden gloves?

4) On August 12, 1973, Jack Nicklaus won the Professional Golfers' Association championship for his 14th major title, surpassing Bobby Jones' record of 13 majors. How many majors did Jack win in his career?

Answers:

1) Yankees Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford.

2) 7500!

3) The gloves worn by professional boxers weigh a regulation 8 ounces. The golden gloves, on the other hand, weigh 10 ounces.

4) Jack Nicklaus won 18 major tournaments in his career.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Today is the birthday of Terry Gene Bollea, better known as?

2) How much coffee does a tree produce?

3) In 1934, how much did Babe Ruth pay a fan for the baseball he hit for his 700th career home run?

4) How many punctuation marks are there in English grammar? Can you name at least half of them?

Answers:

1) Hulk Hogan.

2) It takes five years for a coffee tree to reach maturity. The average yield from one tree is the equivalent of one roasted pound of coffee.

3) $20.

4) There are 14 punctuation marks in English grammar.
period
comma
colon
semicolon
dash
hyphen
apostrophe
question mark
exclamation point
quotation marks
brackets
parenthesis
braces
ellipses

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) What was the original title of the Beatles' song, "Eleanor Rigby"?

2) What popular festival is celebrated on the eve of All Saints' Day?

3) This U.S. senator was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996.

Answers:

1) "Daisy Hawkins"

2) Hallowe'en

3) Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., pitched for several teams, including the Philadelphia Phillies and the Detroit Tigers.

Alan Rock's Trivia

Questions:

1) Sean Penn received a Best Actor nomination for his portrayal of a jazz guitar player in Sweet and Lowdown (1999). Although he was American in the film, the character was actually based on a famed French jazz guitarist who recorded during the 1930s and 40s. Who was he?

2) What was Queen Victoria's first official act as Sovereign?

3) Jazz can be hot or cool. One of the first to define "cool" jazz was a piano virtuoso, noted mostly as a big band leader. He greatly influenced jazz by his less frantic approach to the genre. And what could be cooler than a "Snowfall"? Oh, Miles Davis was one of his admirers. What was this cool cat's name?

4) Hard as it is to believe, this drummer first performed professionally at the age of 18 months on the vaudeville stage. By thirteen, he was the leader of his own band. He entered into the Big Band era by drumming for Tommy Dorsey and Harry James, among others. He traveled successfully with his own big band even after the genre declined in popularity. Who was this percussionist?

Answers:

1) Django Reinhardt.

2) Eighteen-year-old Queen Victoria's first act after her coronation in 1838 was having her bed moved from her mother's room to the very first room of her own.

3) Claude Thornhill.

4) Buddy Rich.

Alan Rock's Trivia

Questions:

1) The name of this soft drink is a nickname for the illegal alcohol, moonshine. It was originally intended to be used as a whiskey mixer.

2) A 19th-century entrepreneur started his empire at the age of 16 with a ferry service from Staten Island to Manhattan. Who was he?

3) What language did Queen Victoria speak?

Answers:

1) Mountain Dew.

2) Cornelius Vanderbilt, Sr.

3) Queen Victoria's mother was the daughter of a German duke. Though she ruled England for 64 years, she was never able to speak English perfectly.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Question:

1) Which U.S. president signed legislation designating Martin Luther King Day as a federal holiday?

Answer:

1) Ronald Reagan

Fun Fact! On this date in 1936 Jesse Owens won the 200-meter dash at the Berlin Olympics while his teammate, Mack Robinson came in second. Mack's little brother, Jackie became the first player in major-league baseball to break the color barrier.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Yesterday was former child actor Jay North's birthday. What was his TV character's name?

2) When Jimmy Steart ended his tour of duty in the armed forces, what was his rank?

3) Benjamin Franklin believed a warm bed sapped one's strength, so as a bed became too warm in the night he'd switch to a cold one. How many beds did he wind up sleeping in every night?

4) Which pro wrestler did Richard Belzer (Law and Order) sue for putting him in a stranglehold and rendering him unconscious?

Answers:

1) Dennis the Menace

2) Brigadier General

3) 4

4) Hulk Hogan

Alan Rock's Trivia

Questions:

1) Dino Crocetti and Joseph Levitch were a stage and screen duo of much fame under their adopted showbiz name. Can you name this popular team?

2) Who penned "Tuxedo Junction"?

3) What is the longest river in Europe?

4) What is the common name for the headquarters of the London Metropolitan Police?

Answers:

1) Crocetti and Levitch adopted the names Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis (Martin and Lewis).

2) Erskine Hawkins.

3) Europe's longest river is the Volga in Russia.

4) Scotland Yard.

Alan Rock's Trivia

Questions:

1) How much can a thirsty camel drink?

2) In what musical group did Roy Rogers perform?

3) What is Africa's longest river?

4) In DC Comics, Inc., what do the initials "DC" stand for?

Answers:

1) When thirsty, a camel can swig down 25 gallons of water in less than three minutes!

2) Roy Rogers performed in the Sons of the Pioneers group.

3) The Nile is Africa's longest river, at 4,160 miles.

4) The initials "DC" refer to the company's series "Detective Comics."

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) The trophy awarded to the team winning the NBA finals has a name. What is the name of the trophy?

2) What's the difference between a nook and a cranny?

3) This bop-era bass-baritone was born in Pittsburgh. He ended his days there as well. In addition to singing he also was a bandleader, and was often called "Mr. B." Who was he?

4) She was one of the great vocalists of the Swing Era and a regular at the Cotton Club, singing with Ellington's band. Who was she?

Answers:

1) The Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy

2) A nook is a corner; a cranny is a crack.

3) Billy Eckstine

4) Ivie Anderson

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) On this date in 1957, Jack Paar debuted as host of The Tonight Show. Who hosted the show before Paar?

2) This appointee to the Supreme Court was once an NFL player.

3) Who was the first actress to win a second Best Actress Oscar?

4) On this date in 1981, a large ceremony was held in London. What was the occasion?

Answers:

1) Steve Allen and Ernie Kovaks.

2) Byron "Whizzer" White played for the Detroit Lions for two seasons.

3) Luise Rainer won her first Oscar for her role in The Great Ziegfeld in 1936, then in the following year won for her role in The Good Earth.

4) Prince Charles and Diana Spencer were married.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) In the early 1930s, opinion polls showed that Mickey Mouse was a close second to what cartoon series?

2) Where was the first traffic light installed?

3) In 1938, this animated film became the most successful motion picture of that year and earned over $8 million on its initial release. What was it?

4) What was the so-called "Soldier's Disease"?


Answers:

1) Popeye the Sailor

2) The world's first traffic light was installed 75 years ago at the intersection of Euclid Avenue and 105th St. in Cleveland.

3) It was the most successful motion picture of 1938 - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

4) "Soldiers Disease" is a term for morphine addiction. The Civil War produced over 400,000 morphine addicts.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Which president signed into legislation a bill requiring cigarette manufacturers to put warning labels on cigarette packaging?

2) Who was the first movie comic actor to have gotten a pie in the face?

3) Who was the first American cyclist to win the Tour de France?

4) What was the name of Blackbeard's ship?

Answers:

1) Lyndon Baines Johnson

2) Fatty Arbuckle, in the 1913 silent film, A Noise from the Deep.

3) Greg LeMond was the first American and first non-European to win the Tour de France.

4) Queen Anne's Revenge

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Which species of wild animal has been responsible for killing the most humans in Africa?

2) How many hearts does an earthworm have?

3) What is the only temporary (for humans) organ?

4) What state once belonged to Russia?

Answers:

1) The hippopotamus

2) An earthworm has five hearts.

3) The placenta, which forms during conception is designed for the temporary purpose of providing life support and nourishment to the developing fetus as it grows inside the womb.

4) The former Governor can tell you: it's Alaska.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Who was the Native American who led the battle opposing Custer in his "last stand"?

2) Who was the only president to, after his term, serve as Chief Justice on the Supreme Court?

3) What material is used for a first anniversary gift?

Answers:

1) Sitting Bull, Sioux Chief

2) William Howard Taft

3) Paper

_____________________________________________________________


For July 22

Questions:

1) This famous gangster was gunned down July 22, 1934. Who was he?

2) This university was founded in 1746 as the College of New Jersey. It is now known by what name?

3) The meteorological term for fluffy clouds is what?

4) What was Gone With the Wind's original title?

Answers:

1) John Dillinger

2) Princeton University

3) Cumulus

4) Tomorrow is Another Day

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) You are hired to be part of a claque. What will you be doing?

2) What was Thomas Edison afraid of?

3) On this date in 1955, the last episode of this popular radio program aired. Which character was the star of the show?

4) Also on this date in 1955, this woman swam the English Channel, setting a record for either women or men, in having crossed in 13 hours and 55 minutes. Who was she?

Answers:

1) Claquers comprise a paid "instant audience," such as the instant crowds that appear at events like the Halftime shows at the Superbowl. They are rehearsed to quickly get into place, applaud and cheer wildly, then swiftly exit.

2) Edison feared the dark.

3) Roy Rogers

4) Florence May Chadwick

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) What apparel item did Samuel Clemons (aka Mark Twain) invent?

2) How popular is Lithiated Lemon today?

3) Who scored the 1999 World Cup winning goal for the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team?

4) Which president was the first to issue a military draft in peacetime?

Answers:

1) suspenders

2) Introduced in 1929, 7-Up, as the drink was renamed, is still popular today.

3) Brandy Chastain

4) President Truman

Alan Rock's Trivia

Questions:

1) Which planet has the shortest day?

2) Who was the star of Our Miss Brooks that debuted on CBS Radio on July 19, 1948?

3) Who was the first woman on a major political ticket?

4) In how many novels did Sherlock Holmes star?

Answers:

1) Jupiter is the planet with the shortest day -- slightly under 10 hours. However, its years are 12 times as long as ours.

2) Eve Arden.

3) On July 19, 1984, U.S. Rep. Geraldine Ferraro (D-NY) was chosen as Walter Mondale's vice presidential running mate at the Democratic National Convention.

4) In all, Sherlock Holmes (and Dr. John Watson) was featured in four novels and 56 short stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Unquestionably, Holmes is one of the most beloved figures in the history of mystery fiction, and was immortalized in many films, particularly those in the 1930s and 1940s starring Sir Basil Rathbone. The character has also been a popular subject in many novels since those of Conan Doyle.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) What industry spends more money on television commercials each year than the cereal industry?

2) The U.S. cereal industry uses enough sugar every to cover each year to cover every single American in how much sugar?

3) Which style of jazz is most closely associated with Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and Max Roach?

4) What is an autodidact?

Answers:

1) The automobile industry

2) 3 pounds

3) Bebop

4) Someone who is self-taught

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Sylvan N. Goldman of Humpty Dumpty Stores and Standard Food Markets developed an innovation allowing people to buy more items in a single visit. What was it?

2) Your BMI (body mass index) estimates your body fat based on what calculations?

3) What noted author served as a nurse in the Civil War?

Answers:

1) Shopping carts

2) BMI = weight in pounds divided by height (in inches)

3) Louisa May Alcott

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) What was the first item ever dispensed from a vending machine?

2) People in this profession are credited with having the most extensive vocabulary.

3) What river forms the natural border for northern Kentucky?

4) The longest Monopoly game on record lasted how long?

Answers:

1) The first reference to a vending machine is in the work of Hero of Alexandria, a first-century engineer and mathematician. His machine accepted a coin and then dispensed holy water. The first modern coin-operated vending machines were introduced in London, England in the early 1880s, dispensing post cards. The first vending machine in the U.S. was built in 1888 by the Thomas Adams Gum Company, selling gum on New York City train platforms.

2) Journalists

3) The Ohio River

4) 1,680 hours - over 70 days

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) What country has the most doughnut shops per capita?

2) Which of the Great Lakes is the only one entirely within U.S. borders?

3) Where is the best place to see Norman Rockwell paintings?

4) Depressed at how his career was going in the early 70s, Harrison Ford took up another line of work. What did he do?

Answers:

1) Canada

2) Lake Michigan

3) The Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA - of course!

4) Ford worked as a carpenter.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Which city was the U.S.'s first to serve as the capitol?

2) Which Bond girls were played by Nikki Van der Zyl?

3) When was wearing red as a bride in fashion?

4) In addition to humans, there are a few species that can recognize their own reflection in a mirror. Name two.

Answers:

1) Philadelphia

2) Ursula Andress, Shirley Eaton, Eunice Gayson, and Claudine Auger were unable to match an alluring voice to go with their looks. Van der Zyl provided the voicework.

3) During the American Revolution, many brides did not wear white gowns but instead wore red as a symbol of rebellion.

4) Great apes, bottlenose dolphins, orca, elephant and European magpies can all recognize their own images in a mirror.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Name the treaty that recognized the United States as an independent country.

2) Which U.S. Vice-President shot Alexander Hamilton to death in a duel?

3) How much does a coffee measure scoop hold?

4) Why do we abbreviate pound as "lb" and ounce as "oz"?

Answers:

1) The Treaty of Paris

2) On this date in 1804, Aaron Burr shot Hamilton.

3) 2 U.S. tablespoons

4) "Lb." is derived from the Latin word for pound: "libra." "Oz" is from the Italian "onzia." Additionally, the early Anglo-Saxon word "tun," meaning tub or vat, later became "ton."

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) On this date in 1932, the low point of the Depression came when the stock market crashed. What was the Dow Jones average that day?

2) On this date in 1995, former DJ Robert Weston Smith was buried. His audience knew him by what nickname?

3) What makes a diamond fully faceted?

4) On this date in 1958, the RIAA presented the first gold album. Which recording won?

Answers:

1) 41.22

2) Wolfman Jack

3) A quality, fully-faceted round brilliant diamond has at least 58 facets. These are important in order to have maximum sparkle and brilliance of the stone.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Who wrote "Over There"?

2) Which government official heads up the American Red Cross?

3) On this date in 1754, New York's Kings College opened with eight students and one professor, Dr. Samuel Johnson, who also served as college president. Kings College would later be known as ___________ ____________.

4) Who was the youngest player to win the Men's Singles title at Wimbledon?

Answers:

1) George M. Cohan

2) The President

3) Columbia University

4) Boris Becker was 17 when he won on this date back in 1985.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) On this date in 2002 Serena Williams beat her sister, Venus, to win her first Wimbledon title and second straight Grand Slam tournament title. Who was the first black female to win a Singles title at Wimbledon?

2) When Thomas Jefferson wrote his epitaph, what important fact did he omit?

3) What Shakespearean play inspired Disney's The Lion King?

Answers:

1) Althea Gibson

2) that he was President

3) Hamlet

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) On July 5, 1947, the first black American League baseball player signed with the Cleveland Indians. Who was he?

2) What state, in 1781, first declared Independence Day as a holiday?

3) Who was the first president to be voted out of office? Which president won that election replacing the incumbent?

4) In what city and building did the Continental Congress convene to sign the Declaration of Independence?

Answers:

1) Larry Doby

2) Massachusetts

3) John Adams was voted out and Jefferson was voted in.

4) Philadelphia's Independence Hall

Trivia for July 4th:

Questions:

1) What town changed its name as a publicity stunt?

2) A dozen is frequently used by bakers and for recipes. Why?

3) Who was the first woman to be awarded a Congressional Medal of Honor?

4) "Jiffy" is an expression used by people and businesses to indicate speedy service. It is an actual term though, indicating what?

Answers:

1) Hot Springs, NM changed its name to Truth or Consequences in 1950 in response to a dare from Ralph Edwards, host of the show of the same name. Edwards promised the town free publicity in exchange.

2) Twelve is a convenient number for cooking and baking since it can be divided evenly by half, thirds or quarters.

3) Milly Francis, the "Oklahoma Pocahontas," was recognized by Congress for having saved the life of Captain Duncan McKrimmon. Francis, part Creek Indian, persuaded the group of Seminole Indians who'd captured McKrimmon to release him. Later, the grateful McKrimmon proposed to Francis, but she turned him down. She fell on hard times and was living in poverty when her story was reported to Congress. By the time her reward was sent to her, she was dying from tuberculosis.

4) A "jiffy" is an actual unit of time used in chemistry and physics equal to a light centimeter, i.e., the time required for light to travel one centimeter.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) How many official federal holidays are observed in the United States?

2) In which publication was the Pledge of Allegiance first published?

3) On this date in 1941, NBC broadcast the first FCC-sanctioned television commercial during a Dodgers-Phillies. What was the product?

4) Which part of the American flag is the canton?

Answers:

1) 10

2) The Youth's Companion

3) Bulova watches

4) The blue square that serves as the background for the stars.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) This former Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast later went on to star as Peter Pan on Broadway? Who was it?

2) Who was the first woman to race in the Indianapolis 500?

3) What was the name of the Wright Brother's plane?

4) In ancient Egypt, it was a capital offense to kill this animal.

Answers:

1) Cathy Rigby, a gold medalist at the 1972 Olympics, began playing the role in a touring company in 1974, then played the role on Broadway in the 1990s. She is presently set to revive the role again - at age 58 - in a touring production scheduled for this fall.

2) Janet Guthrie was the first to compete in the Indianapolis 500 (in 1977). Danica Patrick was the first to win an Indy race, having done so at the 2008 Indy Japan race.

3) Flyer

4) It was a capital offense to kill a cat.

Alan Rock's Trivia

Questions:

1) When asked if there was anything she didn't play, what female athlete replied, "Yeah, dolls."

2) The founders of Portland, Oregon chose the name by flipping a coin. If the coin had come up on the other side, what would Portland be named?

3) Why is the monarch butterfly never eaten?

4) What happened to London Bridge?

Answers:

1) Babe Didrikson.

2) Boston.

3) It's poisonous.

4) The famed London Bridge, which spanned the River Thames for almost 140 years from the 1830s until 1968, now connects Arizona's Lake Havasu City's mainland and island. The bridge survived a terrorist attack in 1884 and bombing from Germany in both world wars; but it could not withstand the forces of nature, as it was sinking into the Thames River's clay bottom.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) What was baseball player Ty Cobb's jersey number?

2) On this date in 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was signed. What did that document accomplish?

3) Who was the founder of the company that experimented with flash freezing in order to preserve food while using minimal ice crystals?

4) Who was the first to design and build a mechanical ventilating fan?

Answers:

1) Trick question! There weren't any numbers on players' jerseys until the 1930s.

2) It effectively ended World War I.

3) Clarence Birdseye.

4) Leonardo da Vinci

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Today, June 27TH, marks the 1949 television debut of Captain Video and His Video Rangers. Who was the star?

2) Who is the oldest major leaguer to hit a grand slam?

3) On this date in 1950, an 8-pound bear cub that had been seriously burned in a forest fire was transferred to the National Zoo in Washington, DC, where he lived to the ripe old age of 26. The firemen who saved him nicknamed him "Hot Foot Teddy," but he became better known as who?

4) This cough drop company was sold to Hershey Foods in 1986.

Answers:

1) Richard Coogan. Guest "villains" included appearances by Jack Klugman and Tony Randall (pre-Odd Couple).

2) Julio Franco. In a single game, he hit a grand slam, a pinch-hit home run,two regular home runs, and stole two bases to boot!

3) Smokey the Bear

4) Founded by William H. Luden, Luden's was sold to Hershey Foods in 1986.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) What was the first Beatles song to reach #1 on the country charts?

2) What was the first network television western-themed program?

3) Which river is the longest river in the world?

Answers:

1) Rosanne Cash's cover of the Beatles' "I Don't Want to Spoil the Party" charted number 1 on the country charts. The original hit #1 on the pop charts.

2) Hopalong Cassidy, starring William Boyd and Edgar Buchanan. The show debuted on this date in 1949.

3) The length of a river can be very difficult to calculate; as a result the lengths reported are ultimately only approximations. There is disagreement, for example, over whether the Nile or the Amazon is longer. The Nile is traditionally considered to be the longest but recent scholarship suggests the Amazon could be longer.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Which fictional character is the most-portrayed character in films?

2) Which president was sworn into office by his own father?

3) The U.S. cereal industry uses enough sugar every year to cover each American with how much sugar?

4) Which president died less than one mile from the house where he was born?

Answers:

1) Sherlock Holmes

2) Calvin Coolidge

3) 3 pounds

4) Lyndon Baines Johnson

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) M&Ms is the American version of a U.K. candy that goes by what brand name?

2) Whose nickname was "Leo the Lip"?

3) Humans aren't the only mammals able to recognize their own reflection in a mirror. What other species can do this?

4) Of these thre important documents, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Mayflower Compact, which document had the most signers?

Answers:

1) "Smarties"

2) Leo Ernest Durocher

3) Great apes, bottlenose dolphins, orca whales, elephants and European magpies can recognize their own reflections.

4) The Declaration of Independence was signed by 56 people. The Mayflower Compact was signed by 41 and the Constitution was signed by 39, not including William Jackson, who signed merely as a witness to the other signatures.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) What was the Glenn Miller Orchestra's theme song?

2) Which president was nicknamed "Old Sink-or-Swim"?

3) What did Merv Griffin, Ted Knight, Ernest Borgnine, Soupy Sales and Adam West all have in common?

4) Which famous author said this about Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn:"All American writing comes from that. There was nothing before; there has been nothing as good since."?

Answers:

1) "Moonlight Serenade"

2) John Adams

3) They all started their careers as local television station's children's show hosts.

4) Ernest Hemingway

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Two signers of the Constitution went on to serve as presidents. Who were they?

2) What is the nation's oldest newspaper that is still in publication?

3) Glenn Miller co-wrote "Room 1411" with which other famous band leader?

4) How many people signed both the Declaration and the Constitution?

Answers:

1) George Washington, who was president of the Constitutional Convention, and James Madison. Both men were from Virginia.

2) The answer is a bit complicated. The New York Post, established on November 16, 1801 as the New York Evening Post, describes itself as the nation's oldest continuously published daily paper. The Hartford Courant was founded in 1764 as a semi-weekly paper, then began publishing daily in 1836. It describes itself as the nation's oldest continuously published newspaper. The New Hampshire Gazette has trademarked its claim of "The Nation's Oldest Newspaper." It was founded in 1756 as a weekly publication. Since the 1890's it has been strictly a weekend paper.

3) Benny Goodman. Miller was playing with Ben Pollack's band in 1928 when he and Goodman wrote "Room 1411." Glenn and Benny also played together in the pit orchestras for Broadway shows Strike Up the Band and Girl Crazy.

4) Six people signed both the Declaration of Independencee and the Constitution.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Whose nickname was "Rapid Robert" or "The Heater from Van Meter"?

2) Deep Hollow Ranch is the country's oldest cattle ranch that's still in operation. Where is it located?

3) Barry Manilow worked as an accompanist for what singer?

4) What is the proper term for a bunch of bananas?

Answers:

1) The Cleveland Indians' Bob Feller.

2) Montauk, NY. Deep Hollow Ranch has been in operation since the 1800's.

3) Bette Midler

4) A bunch of bananas is a hand. A single banana is a finger.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) According to Roper Starch Worldwide, what do most U.S. adults consider to be the most important product to have been introduced in the 20th century?

2) Who was the first president to be inaugurated in Washington, D.C.?

3) On this date in 1995, Batman Forever opened in movie theaters. Who played The Riddler?

4) This president was the first Rhodes Scholar.

Answers:

1) 83% say the computer, 9% the telephone, and 5% the television.

2) Thomas Jefferson

3) Jim Carrey

4) Bill Clinton

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) For what purpose were screwdrivers first used?

2) What color clothing is best for deflecting heat?

3) In hot weather you should avoid eating foods that are high in what?

4) Which president was the first to have also served as Speaker of the House?

Answers:

1) Screwdrivers were first used to secure knights in their armor.

2) White

3) Protein

4) James J. Polk

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) How many of the top ten best-selling hardcover books of all time were written by Dr. Seuss?

2) What is unique about the leaders of elephant herds?

3) The hoary bat and monk seal share a Hawaiian connection. What is it?

4) Who was the first U.S. president to broadcast a message on the radio?

Answers:

1) Four: The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, Hop on Pop, and One Fish, Two Fish, Red Blue Fish.

2) Females are the leaders

3) They are two mammals that are native only to Hawaii.

4) Warren G. Harding, who broadcast on this date in 1922, dedicatiing the Francis Scott Key Memorial in Baltimore.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Which worldwide organization was founded by two friends, Dr. Robert Smith and William G. Wilson, on this date in 1935?

2) The first television debate between vice-presidential candidates was held in 1976. Who were the candidates?

3) Who was the first African-American to win an Oscar?

4) Of commonly used words, which is the longest word typed only using the left hand? With the right hand?

5) Which four words end in "_dous"?

6) Who invented scissors?

7) What common word in the English language ends in "_mt"?

Answers:

1) Alcoholics Anonymous

2) Walter Mondale and Bob Dole

3) Hattie McDaniel won for her role in Gone With the Wind.

4) left hand: stewardesses; right hand: lollipop

5) stupendous, horrendous, tremendous, hazardous

6) Scissors were first devised in ancient Egypt, dating back to 1500, BCE, however, Leonardo da Vinci is credited with inventing scissors as we know them today.

7) dreamt