There is much pleasure to be gained from useless knowledge. (Bertrand Russell)
Author: Quizologist
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.
Today’s questions all relate to the date, November 22nd.
Cutty Sark, on display at Greenwich, England Image Wikipedia
One
The clipper Cutty Sark was launched in Dumbarton, Scotland, on 22 November 1869. Named after a garment in Robert Burns’ poem, what is the item of clothing and the poem?
Two
Mount Merapi erupted on this date in 1994, resulting in the deaths of 64 people. On what island—the world’s most populous—is Mount Merapi located?
Three
Which infamous pirate, also known as ‘Blackbeard’, was killed in a 1718 battle against Royal Navy Lieutenant Robert Maynard off the coast of North Carolina?
Four
By what pen name is the English novelist born in 1819—known for Middlemarch and pioneering psychological realism—better known?
Image Wikipedia
Five
On 22 November 1963, from which Texas building (pictured) did Lee Harvey Oswald fire? Secondly, after fatally shooting Police Officer JD Tippit, what building did Oswald enter?
Here are the answers to the questions I posed in my earlier post.
All of these questions relate to today’s date, November 21st.
Verrazano-Narrows Bridge from Brooklyn at night, 2012. Image Wikipedia
One
Which two boroughs of New York City were linked by the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, pictured above, upon its opening on 21 November 1964?
Answer: Brooklyn and Staten Island
The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, a suspension bridge connecting Staten Island and Brooklyn, spans the Narrows and carries 13 lanes of Interstate 278. Designed by Othmar Ammann and others, it opened in 1964 with a central span, 4,260 feet (1,298 m), that was the longest in the world until 1981. The bridge, named after explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano, collects tolls in both directions.
Two
The first crewed hot air balloon flight took place on this day in 1783 in a balloon constructed by the Montgolfier brothers. Which of contemporary Paris’s over 400 public parks was the site of this historic flight?
Answer: Bois de Boulogne
The first untethered manned balloon ascent occurred on 21 November 1783, when two Frenchmen Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and François Laurent, marquis d’Arlandes, travelling from the Château de la Muette across the Bois de Boulogne, Paris. The flight lasted 20 minutes in a hot air balloon designed and built by brothers Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier. This historic event was witnessed by Louis XVI, the French Academy of Sciences, and the public, including Benjamin Franklin.
Three
On this date, Danish astronomer Ole Rømer presented the first quantitative measurements of the speed of light. Which century was this?
Answer: 17th century
In 1676, Danish astronomer Ole Rømer announced that an eclipse of Jupiter’s moon would occur ten minutes later than expected, a prediction based on his calculations of the speed of light. Despite this occurring as he predicted, there was initial scepticism from the Paris Académie des Sciences, including his patron, Cassini. Rømer’s claim was eventually confirmed by James Bradley’s discovery of the aberration of light in 1729.
René Magritte shown with one of his works featuring his recurring motif, a bowler hat. Image Encyclopædia Britannica
Four
Who is this Belgian artist, born on 21 November 1898 and pictured above with one of his works?
Answer: René Magritte
René Magritte (1898 – 15 August 1967) was a Belgian surrealist artist renowned for his bizarre and enigmatic paintings that depicted ordinary objects in unsettling, unexpected contexts, challenging perceptions of reality and representation. Influenced by Giorgio de Chirico, Magritte developed a unique style characterised by carefully rendered objects in dreamlike juxtapositions. His work gained international popularity in the 1930s and influenced pop art, minimalist art, and conceptual art, continuing until his death in 1967.
Five
Frankenstein, the classic horror film, was released in the US today in 1931. Who played the monster in this film?
Answer: Boris Karloff
Frankenstein is a 1931 American horror film directed by James Whale, based on Peggy Webling’s 1927 stage play adaptation of Mary Shelley’s novel. Starring Colin Clive and Boris Karloff, the film follows Dr. Frankenstein’s experiment to create life, resulting in tragic consequences. It was a commercial success, significantly impacting popular culture and spawning sequels and remakes, with its influence still felt today.
All of these questions relate to today’s date, November 21st.
Verrazano-Narrows Bridge at night, 2012. Image Wikipedia
One
Which two boroughs of New York City were linked by the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, pictured above, upon its opening on 21 November 1964?
Two
The first crewed hot air balloon flight took place on this day in 1783 in a balloon constructed by the Montgolfier brothers. Which of contemporary Paris’s over 400 public parks was the site of this historic flight?
Three
On this date, Danish astronomer Ole Rømer presented the first quantitative measurements of the speed of light. Which century was this?
See question four. Artist with one of his works featuring his recurring motif, a bowler hat. Image Encyclopædia Britannica
Four
Who is this Belgian artist, born on 21 November 1898 and pictured above with one of his works?
Five
Frankenstein, the classic horror film, was released in the US today in 1931. Who played the monster in this film?
Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.
Today’s first question draws on a real-life event from November 20th, which was later adapted into a work of fiction. The rest of the questions also blend fact and fiction to varying degrees.
The 20 November 1820 ramming and sinking of the American ship Essex inspired a climatic scene in what 1851 epic maritime novel?
Answer: Moby Dick
The Essex, an American whaling ship, was rammed by a sperm whale on November 20, 1820, and subsequently sank. Despite initial survival for all 20 crewmen only eight were rescued after a difficult journey that ultimately led to cannibalism. This sinking inspired the climactic scene in Herman Melville’s Moby Dick (1851).
Two
The series of novels first published in 1980, written by Robert, and the subsequent films first released in 2002 starring Matthew, may have taken their title character’s surname from a 19th-century psychology case involving a patient named Ansel who likely suffered from reversible amnesia.
Answer: Bourne
Robert Ludlum’s character Jason Bourne who first appeared in The Bourne Identity which was published in 1980 may have been named after Ansel Bourne. A.J. Brown, a resident of Norristown, Pennsylvania, woke up in 1887 with no memory of his identity. Physicians diagnosed him with amnesia, but it was later revealed that he was actually Ansel Bourne, a carpenter and pastor from Coventry, Rhode Island, who had no recollection of the past two months. During further study of him he was put under hypnosis where he could be induced to assume the personality of either Bourne or Brown, and neither personality had any knowledge of the other.
Three
The Terror, a 2007 novel by Dan Simmons is a fictionalised account of what failed 1845 expedition of Arctic exploration?
Answer: Franklin Expedition
Franklin’s lost expedition, led by Sir John Franklin, aimed to traverse the Northwest Passage and record magnetic data. The expedition ended in disaster when both ships—HMS Erebus and HMS Terror—became icebound, leading to the abandonment of the vessels and the disappearance of the crew.
James Cameron’s 1997 film Titanic depicts the real-life disaster that occurred in what year? Secondly, Titanic sank approximately 370 miles (600 kilometers) southeast of where?
Answer: 1912; Newfoundland, Canada
Cameron’s film is a mix of fictional and historical fact about the RMS Titanic, a British luxury passenger liner, which sank in the early hours of 15 April 1912 southeast of Newfoundland, Canada. See RMS Titanic below for further information.
Five
Every Man for Himself, a 1996 novel which is also set on the Titanic, was a Booker Prize nominee. Who wrote this novel?
Secondly, although not explained in this book or indeed in the film mentioned at question four above, what does the term RMS mean in the name, RMS Titanic?
Answer: Beryl Bainbridge; Royal Mail Ship (RMS)
Like the film above, Every Man for Himself is a combination of fiction and history. It is narrated by Morgan over a period of four days up to the sinking.
RMS Titanic
The RMS Titanic, a British luxury passenger liner, which sank in the early hours of 15 April 1912 during its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City. About two-and-a-half hours after hitting an iceberg, the ship sank approximately 370 miles (600 km) southeast of Newfoundland in approximately 12,500 feet (3,800 m) of water, tragically resulting in the loss of around 1,500 lives. Despite its advanced safety features and luxurious first-class accommodations, the Titanic only carried enough lifeboats for half its passengers. This catastrophe prompted changes in maritime safety regulations and left an enduring legacy in popular culture.
Today’s first question draws on a real-life event from November 20th, which was later adapted into a work of fiction. The rest of the questions also blend fact and fiction to varying degrees.
The 20 November 1820 ramming and sinking of the American ship Essex inspired a climatic scene in what 1851 epic maritime novel?
Two
The series of novels first published in 1980, written by Robert, and the subsequent films first released in 2002 starring Matthew, may have taken their title character’s surname from a 19th-century psychology case involving a patient named Ansel who likely suffered from reversible amnesia.
Three
The Terror, a 2007 novel by Dan Simmons is a fictionalised account of what failed 1845 expedition of Arctic exploration?
James Cameron’s 1997 film Titanic depicts the real-life disaster that occurred in what year?
Secondly, Titanic sank approximately 370 miles (600 kilometers) southeast of where?
Five
Every Man for Himself, a 1996 novel which is also set on the Titanic, was a Booker Prize nominee. Who wrote this novel?
Secondly, although not explained in this book or indeed in the film mentioned at question four above, what does the term RMS mean in the ships name, RMS Titanic?
Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.
Today’s Question 1 concerns the revocation of an award on this date, November 19th. The subsequent questions explore a similar theme, focusing on disqualification, revocation or stripping of awards, medals and other honours.
Grammy Award. Image Recording Academy
One
Which pop duo had their 1989 Grammy Award for Best New Artist revoked on 19 November 1990 after it was revealed they had not actually sung on their album?
Answer: Milli Vanilli
This remains the only time in Grammy history that an award has been formally withdrawn.
Two
Which professional cyclist had all of his Tour de France titles stripped after a major doping investigation, and how many titles were involved?
Answer: Lance Armstrong; seven (1999–2005)
Armstrong was stripped of seven titles (1999–2005). After his disqualification, race organisers chose not to award his vacated titles to anyone else.
Three
In 2024, the arrest and subsequent conviction of a multi-BAFTA award winner forced the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) to amend its procedures to include the power to retrospectively strip future award winners should they be convicted of a crime. Whose arrest and conviction led to this change?
Answer: Huw Edwards
Huw Edwards, a Welsh news presenter, was the lead presenter of BBC News at Ten from 2003 to 2023. He resigned from the BBC in 2024 after pleading guilty to child pornography offences.
Which Canadian sprinter was stripped of his 1988 Olympic gold medal in the 100 metres after testing positive for steroids?
Answer: Ben Johnson.
His world-record-breaking time of 9.79 seconds was erased, and the gold medal was reassigned to American runner Carl Lewis.
Five
What event in 1966 saw the competitors who finished in the first four places disqualified because of a single filament bulb?
Answer: Monte Carlo Rally
In 1966, the Monte Carlo Rally was marred by controversy when the winning Minis were disqualified for using an illegal lighting system with non-standard bulbs. Despite the disqualification, the incident generated significant publicity for the Minis and the rally, ultimately leading to a Mini victory in 1967. The event highlighted the growing professionalism of rallying and the complexities of navigating evolving regulations.
Today’s Question 1 concerns the revocation of an award on this date, November 19th. The subsequent questions explore a similar theme, focusing on disqualification, revocation or stripping of awards, medals and other honours.
Grammy Award. Image Recording Academy
One
Which pop duo had their 1989 Grammy Award for Best New Artist revoked on 19 November 1990 after it was revealed they had not actually sung on their album?
Two
Which professional cyclist had all of his Tour de France titles stripped after a major doping investigation, and how many titles were involved?
Three
In 2024, the arrest and subsequent conviction of a multi-BAFTA award winner forced the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) to amend its procedures to include the power to retrospectively strip future award winners should they be convicted of a crime. Whose arrest and conviction led to this change?
Four
Which Canadian sprinter was stripped of his 1988 Olympic gold medal in the 100 metres after testing positive for steroids?
Five
What event in 1966 saw the competitors who finished in the first four places disqualified because of a single filament bulb?
On 18 November 1959, Ben-Hur had its world premiere. It is quite well known that the film went on to win an unprecedented eleven Academy Awards but how many was it actually nominated for?
Answer: Twelve
Ben-Hur missed out only on Best Adapted Screenplay at the 32nd Academy Awards but still came away with eleven Oscars, surpassing the previous record of nine set by Gigi. Its tally of eleven wins was later equalled by Titanic at the 70th Awards and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King at the 76th.
Each of the remaining questions have some connection to the Oscars.
Two
The first actor to receive two consecutive Academy Awards for Best Actor was whom?
Answer: Spencer Tracy
Spencer Tracy won the Best Actor Oscar for his performances in Captains Courageous (1937) and Boys Town (1938), making him the first to win two consecutive Academy Awards for Best Actor. Tracy was an American actor known for his natural performing style and versatility. He starred in 75 films, including nine with Katharine Hepburn. Despite personal struggles, including alcoholism and a troubled marriage, Tracy remained a prominent figure in Hollywood until his death in 1967.
Three
This Scottish actor portrayed various roles including a British MI6 agent seven times between 1962 and 1983. He also played an immortal named Ramirez in 1986, the archaeologist father of an archaeologist in 1989 and the captain of the Soviet Union’s latest nuclear-powered submarine in 1990. His performance as Jimmy in a 1987 film directed by Brian De Palma earned him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Who is the actor, what was the 1987 film and what was the full name of his character in that film?
Answer: Sean Connery; The Untouchables and Jimmy Malone
Sean Connery was a Scottish actor best known for his portrayal of James Bond in seven films. He also starred in numerous other films, including collaborations with Alfred Hitchcock and John Huston, and received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award and a knighthood.
Walt Disney visited Broadway to watch an actress perform as Queen Guinevere in Camelot. Impressed, he offered her the lead role in her first film. Released in 1964, the film earned her an Oscar for Best Actress. Who was the actress and what was her title role?
Answer: Julie Andrews
Dame Julie Andrews, born Julia Elizabeth Wells, is an English actress, singer and author. She is a highly acclaimed performer, having won numerous awards including an Academy Award, three Emmy Awards and seven Golden Globe Awards. Andrews is known for her roles in films like Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music and The Princess Diaries, as well as her collaborations with Carol Burnett and her work as an author.
Five
An actor who portrayed Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars also starred in two films directed by the same person in 1957 and 1962. In the first, he played Colonel Richardson, the British Commander, and won an Academy Award for his performance. In the second, he portrayed Prince Faisal. Who was the actor and what were the titles of the other two films?
Answer: Alec Guinness; The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) and Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Alec Guinness, an English actor knighted for his contributions to the arts, starred in numerous films including six Ealing comedies and collaborations with David Lean. He won an Academy Award for his role in The Bridge on the River Kwai. Guinness also portrayed Obi-Wan Kenobi in the original Star Wars trilogy and George Smiley in the BBC television adaptations of John le Carré’s Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (1979) and Smiley’s People(1982).
On 18 November 1959, Ben-Hur had its world premiere. It is quite well known that the film went on to win an unprecedented eleven Academy Awards but how many was it actually nominated for?
Each of the remaining questions have some connection to the Oscars.
Two
The first actor to receive two consecutive Academy Awards for Best Actor was whom?
Three
This Scottish actor portrayed various roles including a British MI6 agent seven times between 1962 and 1983. He also played an immortal named Ramirez in 1986, the archaeologist father of an archaeologist in 1989 and the captain of the Soviet Union’s latest nuclear-powered submarine in 1990. His performance as Jimmy in a 1987 film directed by Brian De Palma earned him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Who is the actor, what was the 1987 film and what was the full name of his character in that film?
Four
Walt Disney visited Broadway to watch an actress perform as Queen Guinevere in Camelot. Impressed, he offered her the lead role in her first film. Released in 1964, the film earned her an Oscar for Best Actress. Who was the actress and what was her title role?
Five
An actor who portrayed Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars also starred in two films directed by the same person in 1957 and 1962. In the first, he played Colonel Richardson, the British Commander, and won an Academy Award for his performance. In the second, he portrayed Prince Faisal. Who was the actor and what were the titles of the other two films?
Here are the answers to the questions posted earlier.
The first question relates to today, November 17th. The others follow a theme connected to it.
Richard Nixon, President of the United States. Image Wikipedia
One
On November 17th, sometime in the 20th century, which US President declared, “I am not a crook”?
Answer: Richard Nixon
On 17 November 1973, during a televised press conference at the Contemporary Resort in Walt Disney World, Florida, Richard Nixon famously declared ‘I am not a crook’. This response came amid questions about his personal finances as the Watergate scandal unfolded.
Two
In Carlo Collodi’s The Adventures of Pinocchio, what physical feature of the wooden puppet famously grows longer whenever he tells a lie?
Answer: His nose
In Collodi’s original 1883 novel, Pinocchio is far more mischievous than in the later Disney adaptation, and his nose grows several times—not just once—making it a recurring symbol of the moral consequences of dishonesty.
The Shepherd Boy and the Wolf. An illustration of The Shepherd Boy and the Wolf (also known as The Boy Who Cried Wolf) by Milo Winter, from The Aesop for Children, published by Rand McNally & Company, Chicago, 1919. Image Encyclopædia Britannica
Three
Which ancient Greek is traditionally credited with moral tales such as The Boy Who Cried Wolf, a story warning of the consequences of repeated lying?
Answer: Aesop
Although Aesop is believed to have lived in ancient Greece around the 6th century BC, there is no firm historical record of his life; many scholars think ‘Aesop’ may represent a tradition of oral storytelling rather than a single individual.
Four
In which Shakespeare play does the villain Iago manipulate Othello through lies and insinuations, ultimately leading to tragedy?
Answer: Othello
Iago actually speaks more lines than Othello, making him one of Shakespeare’s most verbally dominant villains—a fitting trait for a character whose destructive power lies almost entirely in persuasion and deceit.
Five
What 18th-century literary character, created by Rudolf Erich Raspe, is famous for outrageous tall tales such as riding on a cannonball and escaping a swamp by pulling himself up by his own hair?
Answer: Baron Munchausen
The fictional Baron was loosely inspired by a real nobleman, Hieronymus Karl Friedrich von Münchhausen, who entertained guests with wildly exaggerated stories about his life—though nowhere near as fantastical as those in the book.
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