Steamboat Willie—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions from my earlier post.

These questions all relate to today’s date, December 5th.

Walt Disney’s business envelope featured a self-portrait, c. 1921.
Image Wikipedia

One

Walt Disney was born on December 5, 1901, in Chicago, this visionary American producer created a global entertainment empire that truly began with a mouse. What was that mouse originally going to be called?
A. Maxwell Mouse
B. Meredith Mouse
C. Mortimer Mouse

Answer: C. Mortimer Mouse

The mouse was originally called Mortimer Mouse but Lillian Disney, Walt’s wife, suggested Mickey. Disney received a record 59 Oscar nominations and won 22 competitive Academy Awards – still the most for any individual in history.

The post title Steamboat Willie is a nod to Mickey. It is the title of what was Mickey’s third film, which was the first to be distributed and so considered to be his public debut.


Two

Which pope issued the 1484 papal bull Summis desiderantes affectibus, condemning witchcraft and empowering inquisitors in Germany?
A. Pope Alexander VI
B. Pope Julius II
C. Pope Innocent VIII

Answer: C. Pope Innocent VIII

The bull later helped legitimise Malleus Maleficarum (1487), one of the most notorious witch-hunting manuals of the era.


Three

Which modern television series featured the Great Smog of London as the central focus of a Season 1 episode, portraying the political and social impact of the 1952 crisis?
A. Downton Abbey
B. The Crown
C. Call the Midwife

Answer: B. The Crown

The Great Smog has also inspired satirical and fictional treatments—including a Goon Show episode in 1954 and the Doctor Who audio drama The Creeping Death, both of which use the choking fog as a dramatic backdrop.


Four

Born in Vienna, which director known for visually striking films such as Metropolis and M became one of the major figures in early cinema?
A. F.W. Murnau
B. Sergei Eisenstein
C. Fritz Lang

Answer: C. Fritz Lang

Lang fled Nazi Germany the same day he was offered a high-ranking propaganda role, later becoming influential in shaping American film noir.


Five

On December 5, 2006, which military commander declared himself acting president of Fiji after leading a coup?
A. Sitiveni Rabuka
B. Frank Bainimarama
C. Epeli Nailatikau

Answer: B. Frank Bainimarama

Bainimarama later served as Fiji’s elected prime minister from 2014 to 2022, overseeing the country’s return to democratic elections.

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Author: Scott F

As a retired trivia writer, editor and quiz compiler, I wholeheartedly agree with Bertrand Russell’s quote: “There’s much pleasure to be gained in useless knowledge.” Trivia of all sorts has always fascinated me, and for many years, I’ve written and compiled trivia for various media, including traditional TV and radio quiz shows, newspapers and magazines, apps, and other digital platforms.

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