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.