Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) This #1 instrumental hit was the only popular song to have featured a zither. What was the song?

2) On this date in 1986, Red Sox pitcher, Roger Clemens set a major league record by striking out 20 batters in a nine-inning game against Seattle. That broke this pitcher's streak of 19 strikeouts.

3) Which MLB player led the field in number of games played by one player?

4) Which chain of mountains forms the Continental Divide?

Answers:

1) Anton Karas's "Third Man Theme." It was a #1 hit in the U.S. for 11 weeks.

2) Nolan Ryan.

3) Pete Rose, playing 3,562 games.

4) The Rocky Mountains.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) On this date in 2001, a private citizen millionaire did something no private citizen had ever done. What was it?

2) Jay Leno went ten years on The Tonight Show without having a guest host. Who was his first sub?

3) This famous actor invented the boom mike when he improvised one using a fishing pole with a microphone tied to it. Whao was he?

4) The shortest war on record was between Britain and Zanzibar. How long did it last?

Answers:

1) He became the first space tourist, paying $20 million to tag along with the Russians on a visit to the International Space Station.

2) Katie Couric

3) Lionel Barrymore

4) 38 minutes.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Who was the only heavyweight boxing champion to have retired undefeated? He had a perfect record of having been unbeaten in 49 professional fights.

2) In ancient Greece, not all Olympic runners were totally naked. What did they wear?

3) On this date in 1937 the U.S. began issuing these payments. What were they?

4) On this date Ringo Starr married an actress known for having been a Bond girl. What was her name?

Answers:

1) Rocky Marciano. He retired on this date in 1956 at the age of 32.

2) shoes

3) Social Security checks were sent out.

4) Barbara Bach

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) The name of this masked folk hero means fox in Spanish.

2) What are you doing if you're pandiculating?

3) Who composed the jazz standard, "Misty"?

Answers:

1) Zorro

2) You are yawning.

3) Errol Garner

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) The city where the Declaration of Independence was signed:

2) He was the first president to appoint a woman to the Supreme Court:

3) What was her name?

4) In hot weather, you should avoid eating food with too much of this:

Answers:

1) Philadelphia

2) Ronald Reagan

3) Sandra Day O'Connor

4) protein

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) On this date in 1914, Babe Ruth made his debut as a professional baseball player, pitching for which team?

2) On this date in 1976, this woman became network television's first news anchorwoman when she accepted the job to co-anchor with what news anchorman?

3) During WWII, home gardens were encouraged due to rationing and as a means of freeing up the food supply to send to the troops. These home gardens became popularly known as what?

4) These cells, which extend from the brain and spinal cord carry electrical signals. What are they called?

Answers:

1) Baltimore Orioles

2) Barbara Walters, Harry Reasoner

3) "victory gardens"

4) neurons

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Before landing a role on the sitcom, Taxi,what did Tony Danza do for a living?

2) On this date in 1987, the U.S. Postal Service issued its first special occasion stamps. What two were the most popular?

3) The quiz show Take It or Leave It premiered on this date in 1940. It asked "the _____ question."

4) Of all U.S. welfare recipients, 66% have this in common.

Answers:

1) Danza was a part-time boxer

2) The birthday and get well stamps, unsurprisingly, were the most popular.

3) $64

4) Of all current recipients of welfare, 66% are too young to vote.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) On April 20, 2008, Danica Patrick became the first female driver to win an Indy car race. Which race did she win?

2) Who was the first world leader to send an e-mail?

3) What modern-day assignment has the Catholic Church given the Virgin Mary?

4) If you are lentiginous, what do you have?

Answers:

1) The Indy Japan 300.

2) Queen Elizabeth II.

3) Patron Saint of Aircraft.

4) You have freckles.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) This important event took place April 6, 1917, during Woodrow Wilson's presidency.

2) A terrible tragedy took place at 11:40 PM on April 14, 1912. What happened?

3) This measuring scale for tornadoes is analogous to the Richter scale for earthquakes. What is its name?

4) One of the most despised figures in human history was born April 20, 1889. Who was he?

Answers:

1) Congress declared war against Germany, leading to U.S. involvement in WWI.

2) The "unsinkable" Titanic struck an iceberg.

3) The Fujita scale.

4) Adolf Hitler.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) This city's nickname is "Nashville West." What city is it?

2) This northern Alabama city is known as "Rocket City." What city is it?

3) U.S. Highway 101 is known by this on its stretch through California's sequoia country.

4) This city in New Mexico is named for a 1940's radio program. What's the town's name?

Answers:

1) Branson, MO

2) Huntsville

3) "The Redwood Highway"

4) Truth or Consequences

Alan Rock's Trivia

Questions:

1) Today is the birthday of Poncé Kiah Marchelle Heloise Cruse Evans, a columnist known better as ____________?

2) By water content, how much snow is equal to one inch of rain?

3) Which state has the shortest ocean coastline?

4) Under what pseudonym did Agatha Christie write her romance novels?

Answers:

1) Heloise.

2) Ten inches.

3) New Hampshire.

4) Mary Westmacott

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) What country drinks the most coffee per capita?

2) On April 14, 1910, William Howard Taft started the custom of a president doing what?

3) On April 14, 1775, the first organization for the abolition of slavery was organized. Can you name who organized it?

4) According to emergency room records, when are you most likely to crash into a glass door (what time of day)?

Answers:

1) The Swedes drink more coffee than anyone.

2) Throwing out the first ball of the baseball season.

3) Benjamin Franklin and Benjamin Rush.

4) Late afternoon.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Why was The Muppet Show banned in Saudi Arabia?

2) Who was the first African-American to win an Oscar for best actor?

3) What U.S. state bears the nickname "Ocean State"?

4) On April 13, 1782, a town was incorporated and named after George Washington -- in which state?

Answers:

1) One of its stars was a pig.

2) Sidney Poitier.

3) Rhode Island, also lovingly known as "Little Rhody."

4) North Carolina.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) What was the first TV series with an African-American co-star?

2) What was the first racially integrated group of jazz musicians?

3) How many events are included in the modern Olympic decathlon?

4) Which president had the greatest electoral vote victory? For bragging rights, give the electoral vote tally.

Answers:

1) I Spy, which starred Bill Cosby and Robert Culp.

2) The Benny Goodman Quartet: Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa, Teddy Wilson, and Lionel Hampton.

3) There are 10 events in the Olympic decathlon.

4) In 1980, Ronald Reagan defeated Walter Mondale by an electoral vote count of 525 to 13.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) Which state, located on the U.S. eastern seaboard, has registered 16 earthquakes since 1974?

2) When naming aircrafts, what do the letters T, F and B stand for?

3) What jazz trumpet icon was heralded as the "Prince of Darkness" by media hounds and music critics, none of whom could seem to break the ice in their interviews with this master?

4) The ancient Romans called their symbol the "king of birds." What type of bird preceded each marching legion?

Answers:

1) Maine.

2) Trainer, Fighter, and Bomber, respectively.

3) Miles Davis. There is nothing dark about Davis' "Kind of Blue," one of the most popular albums in jazz history -- supposedly unrehearsed before its recording. His "dark" side came later in his career as he moved in a direction that most critics could not understand (and Mr. Davis refused to talk to media idiots).

4) A golden eagle preceded each marching Roman legion.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) This woman may have had the most perfect set of pipes in history. She recorded her famous tune "Lullaby in Birdland" with trumpeter Clifford Brown in 1954. Who is she?

2) On April 8, 1993, the first African-American singer to appear at New York's Metropolitan Opera died at age 91. What was her name?

3) This lovely lady is a wonderful pianist in addition to being one of today's greatest female jazz vocalists. Who is she (she's married to singer Elvis Costello)?

Answers:

1) Sarah Vaughan. Sarah Vaughan's voice was truly divine. Her range and physical ability were staggering. The album she recorded with Brown, titled "Sarah Vaughan," is well worth getting. Brilliant!

2) Marian Anderson.

3) Diana Krall.

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) On average, which organ accounts for 12% of an adult's weight?

2) In ancient Egypt, this animal was fed wine and cakes. When it died, not only was it embalmed, it was decorated with gold rings and placed on scales. What animal was it?

3) Peasants were not permitted to hunt in medieval England. To get around these obstacles and indulge their yen to hunt, what did they do?

4) A call known as "Last Post" has been sounded over British army soldiers' graves since 1885. In the U.S., "Taps" is played for the same function, but what was the initial purpose of playing "Taps"?

Answers:

1) the skin (Yes - the skin is an organ!)

2) The Nile Crocodile

3) The peasants resorted to training pigs as pointers and retrievers.

4) "Taps" began as a signal to extinguish lights, sounded at the end of each day. The graveside use is a metaphorical exension of the original intent.

Alan Rock's Trivia

Questions:

1) The first version of a Cinderella story appeared in what country?

2) On April 6, 1909, who was the first man to stand at the North Pole?

3) The U.S. Congress recently bestowed the highest civilian honor on WASP members. What does WASP stand for?

4) The first U.S. Congress met March 4, 1789, declaring the Constitution as being in effect. In what city did this historic event take place?

Answers:

1) China

2) Robert Peary

3) WASP stands for Women Airforce Service Pilots. These women flew noncombat military missions in World War II.

4) Federal Hall in New York City

Alan Rock's Trivia

Questions:

1) Which U.S. president's son served in a presidential cabinet in 1881?

2) Which U.S. president's wife had the same maiden name as his family name?

3) Gerry Mulligan is famous for playing which type of saxophone?

4) What famed author created the fictional character Perry Mason?

Answers:

1) Abraham Lincoln's son, Robert T. Lincoln, served as Secretary of War under President James Garfield and President Chester Arthur.

2) Franklin Roosevelt married Anna Eleanor Roosevelt.

3) The baritone sax, although he did play the other saxophones, including the soprano.

4) Erle Stanley Gardner (1889-1970).

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

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

2) Prior to forming the Mahavishnu Orchestra, this British guitarist grew up playing the violin, traveled around as a blues player and worked extensively with Miles Davis.

3) The slogan for the graduating class of this institution is as follows: "Shoot straight, ride hard, dance well, and so live that you can look any man straight in the eye and tell him to go to hell."

4) The ancient Greeks played a game similar to American football. What did they use for a ball?

Answers:

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

2) John McLaughlin

3) West Point

4) an inflated cow's bladder

Alan Rock's Trivia!

Questions:

1) What was the first ready-made food sold commercially?

2) What does the "e" in "e-mail" signify?

3) Which computer company was the first to achieve $1 billion in annual sales?

4) On this date in 1778, New Orleans businessman Oliver Pollock created this symbol that remains in daily use. What is it?

Answers:

1) Aunt Jemima's pancake flour

2) "electronic" mail

3) Apple

4)The dollar symbol: $