Quizology.Online

Category: Pursuit of the Trivial

  • Heigh Ho—Answers

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

    Heigh Ho.
    Image YouTube

    Today’s first question relates to the date December 21st and the subsequent questions follow a theme established by the initial one.

    One

    In what year did Walt Disney’s classic animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs premiere?

    Answer: 1937

    Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, a 1937 American animated musical fantasy film, was the first cel-animated feature film. It was a critical and commercial success, becoming the highest-grossing film of 1938 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential films ever made.

    Two

    Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was loosely based on a story from whose collection of fairy tales?

    Answer: Brothers Grimm

    It was loosely based on Snow White a German fairy tale published by the Brothers Grimm in 1812.

    Three

    Which one of the seven dwarfs connects a Barbra Streisand film and Bugs Bunny?

    Answer: Doc

    The connection to Doc was Streisand’s 1972 film What’s Up, Doc? with Bugs Bunny’s catchphrase.
    What’s Up, Doc? is a 1972 screwball comedy film directed by Peter Bogdanovich, starring Barbra Streisand and Ryan O’Neal. It was a success, becoming the third highest-grossing film of 1972 and winning a WGA award for Best Comedy Screenplay.

    Four

    Continuing with the theme of dwarf names, the film Happy Feet featured Mumble, a tap-dancing penguin, and his friends ‘the Amigos’. What species of penguin is Mumble, and what species are ‘the Amigos’?

    Answers: (Mumble is an) Emperor penguin; (the Amigos are) Adélie penguins

    Happy Feet is a 2006 animated musical comedy film about a tap-dancing penguin named Mumble. The film was positively received and grossed $384 million worldwide.

    Five

    The 1993 film Grumpy Old Men who starred as the title characters John Gustafson Jr. and Max Goldman?

    Answers: Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau

    Grumpy Old Men is a 1993 American romantic comedy film directed by Donald Petrie. John and Max, neighbours in Wabasha, Minnesota, engage in a feud characterised by ice fishing, insults, and practical jokes. Their rivalry bothers their friends and families.

  • Heigh Ho

    Heigh Ho.
    Image YouTube

    Today’s first question relates to the date December 21st and the subsequent questions follow a theme established by the initial one.

    One

    In what year did Walt Disney’s classic animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs premiere?

    Two

    Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was loosely based on a story from whose collection of fairy tales?

    Three

    Which one of the seven dwarfs connects a Barbra Streisand film and Bugs Bunny?

    Four

    Continuing with the theme of dwarf names, the film Happy Feet featured Mumble, a tap-dancing penguin, and his friends ‘the Amigos’. What species of penguin is Mumble, and what species are ‘the Amigos’?

    Five

    The 1993 film Grumpy Old Men who starred as the title characters John Gustafson Jr. and Max Goldman?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • First—Answers

    All of these questions are connected to today, December 20th, and all contain the word ‘first’.

    See question 3. Abraham Lincoln, 1863.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    ((First voice) I owe everything to George Bailey. Help him, dear Father.

    (Second voice) Joseph, Jesus and Mary. Help my friend Mr. Bailey.

    (Third voice) Help my son George tonight.

    (Fourth voice) He never thinks about himself, God; that’s why he’s in trouble.

    (Fifth voice) George is a good guy. Give him a break, God.

    (Sixth voice) I love him, dear Lord. Watch over him tonight.

    (Seventh voice) Please, God. Something’s the matter with Daddy.

    (Eighth voice) Please bring Daddy back.

    The individuals quoted praying above form the first lines in a classic film which premiered today in 1946. What was the film?

    Answer: It’s a Wonderful Life

    It’s a Wonderful Life, a 1946 Christmas film directed by Frank Capra, stars James Stewart as George Bailey. Initially a box office disappointment, the film later became a Christmas classic and is now considered one of the greatest films of all time.

    Two

    The first tale in an 1812 collection of fairy tales was The Golden Bird. Who published this collection?

    Answer: Brothers Grimm

    German folklorists Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, known for Grimm’s Fairy Tales, significantly contributed to folklore study and popularised classic tales. Jacob also made notable contributions to historical linguistics and Germanic philology.

    Three

    On this date in 1860, following Abraham Lincoln’s election as US president, which state became the first to secede from the Union?

    Answer: South Carolina

    South Carolina seceded from the Union in 1860, joining the Confederacy and sparking the Civil War. After the war, Reconstruction brought military occupation and disenfranchisement, leading to the rise of Wade Hampton and the ‘Bourbon era’. The conflict between the Up Country and Low Country culminated in the election of Benjamin R. Tillman, who championed agrarian reform, white supremacy, and the disenfranchisement of African Americans.

    Four

    In what decade was Ethiopia first declared a socialist state under the leadership of Mengistu Haile Mariam?

    Answer: 1970s

    On 20 December 1974, Mengistu Haile Mariam, an Ethiopian army officer, overthrew the monarchy and established a communist regime. He ruled with an iron fist, implementing the ‘Red Terror Campaign’ and facing armed rebellions, droughts and famines. Facing mounting challenges and dwindling support, Mengistu fled to Zimbabwe in 1991.

    Five

    In 1996, the horror classic Scream was first released in the United States. Who was the director, and who played the role of Sidney Prescott?

    Answers: Wes Craven; Neve Campbell

    Scream is a 1996 American slasher film directed by Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson. The film, which satirises slasher genre clichés, was a critical and commercial success, grossing approximately $173 million worldwide. It revitalised Craven’s and Drew Barrymore’s careers and spawned a successful franchise.

  • First

    All of these questions are connected to today, December 20th, and all contain the word ‘first’.

    See question 3. Abraham Lincoln, 1863.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    ((First voice) I owe everything to George Bailey. Help him, dear Father.

    (Second voice) Joseph, Jesus and Mary. Help my friend Mr. Bailey.

    (Third voice) Help my son George tonight.

    (Fourth voice) He never thinks about himself, God; that’s why he’s in trouble.

    (Fifth voice) George is a good guy. Give him a break, God.

    (Sixth voice) I love him, dear Lord. Watch over him tonight.

    (Seventh voice) Please, God. Something’s the matter with Daddy.

    (Eighth voice) Please bring Daddy back.

    The individuals quoted praying above form the first lines in a classic film which premiered today in 1946. What was the film?

    Two

    The first tale in an 1812 collection of fairy tales was The Golden Bird. Who published this collection?

    Three

    On this date in 1860, following Abraham Lincoln’s election as US president, which state became the first to secede from the Union?

    Four

    In what decade was Ethiopia first declared a socialist state under the leadership of Mengistu Haile Mariam?

    Five

    In 1996, the horror classic Scream was first released in the United States. Who was the director, and who played the role of Sidney Prescott?

    Good Luck! I’ll post the answers later today.

  • Little Sparrow—Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier post.

    See question 5. Artist pression of ESA’s Gaia satellite observing the Milky Way, with a background image of the sky compiled from data from more than 1.8 billion stars.
    Image ESA via Wikipedia

    One

    … was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that.

    Published for the first time on this date in 1843, what begins with the quote above and whose surname is missing from the start?

    Answer: A Christmas Carol; Marley

    A Christmas Carol, a novella by Charles Dickens, recounts the story of Ebenezer Scrooge’s transformation after visits from the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. The novella, published in 1843, was inspired by Dickens’s experiences and the Victorian revival of Christmas traditions. It has never been out of print and has been widely adapted.

    Two

    Born on this day in 1906, what Soviet leader, along with US President Jimmy Carter, signed the unsuccessful SALT II treaty in Vienna in 1979?

    Answer: Leonid Brezhnev

    Leonid Brezhnev, a Soviet statesman, led the Soviet Union for 18 years. He prioritised foreign and military affairs, implementing the Brezhnev Doctrine to justify Soviet intervention in Czechoslovakia and expanding the Soviet military-industrial complex. While achieving parity with the US in nuclear weapons and space programmes, Brezhnev’s focus on defence led to economic decline, impacting agriculture, consumer goods and healthcare.

    Three

    A singer born in Paris, France, on 19 December 1915, came to be known as ‘little sparrow’. Who was she?

    Answer: Edith Piaf

    Edith Piaf, a French singer and actress, gained international fame for her interpretation of the chanson. Her life, marked by tragedy and hardship, deeply influenced her music, which often reflected themes of loss and love. Despite her struggles with health and addiction, Piaf’s powerful voice and dramatic style captivated audiences, leaving a lasting legacy.

    Four

    On this day in 1606, Christopher Newport, in command of the Discovery, the Godspeed, and the Susan Constant, sailed from London, England. The following April, they entered a bay—the largest estuary in the United States—and went on to set up the first permanent English settlement in North America. What was the name of the bay and the colony?

    Answer: Chesapeake Bay; Jamestown

    Newport, a member of the colony’s governing body, led a total five voyages between Virginia and England, bringing supplies and settlers to the Jamestown colony between 1606 and 1611.

    Five

    In 2013, the European Space Agency launched a spacecraft that could be described as a space telescope or astronomical observatory. Named after the personification of Earth in Greek mythology, what was its name?

    Answer: Gaia

    Gaia, the Greek personification of Earth, is the mother of Uranus, Pontus, the Titans, Cyclopes and Giants.

    From 27 July 2014 to 15 January 2025, Gaia has made more than three trillion observations of two billion stars and other objects throughout our Milky Way galaxy and beyond, mapping their motions, luminosity, temperature and composition. Gaia’s extraordinarily precise three-dimensional map will provide the data needed to tackle an enormous range of important questions related to the origin, structure and evolutionary history of our galaxy.

    — European Space Agency

  • Little Sparrow

    See question 5. Artist pression of ESA’s … satellite observing the Milky Way, with a background image of the sky compiled from data from more than 1.8 billion stars.
    Image ESA via Wikipedia

    One

    … was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that.

    Published for the first time on this date in 1843, what begins with the quote above and whose surname is missing from the start?

    Two

    Born on this day in 1906, what Soviet leader, along with US President Jimmy Carter, signed the unsuccessful SALT II treaty in Vienna in 1979?

    Three

    A singer born in Paris, France, on 19 December 1915, came to be known as ‘little sparrow’. Who was she?

    Four

    On this day in 1606, Christopher Newport, in command of the Discovery, the Godspeed, and the Susan Constant, sailed from London, England. The following April, they entered a bay—the largest estuary in the United States—and went on to set up the first permanent English settlement in North America. What was the name of the bay and the colony?

    Five

    In 2013, the European Space Agency launched a spacecraft that could be described as a space telescope or astronomical observatory. Named after the personification of Earth in Greek mythology, what was its name?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later today.

  • The Glimmer Twins—Answers

    The Glimmer Twins. See question five.
    Image Atlas Obscura

    Today’s questions are all related to events that occurred on December 18th.

    One

    How many US presidents have been impeached, and who are they?

    Answer: Three; Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton and Donald Trump (twice)

    On 18 December 2019 Donald Trump became the third US president to be impeached. He was impeached a second time in January 2021. Impeachment is a congressional check on presidential power, requiring a simple majority vote in the House and a two-thirds majority in the Senate for conviction and removal from office. Despite being impeached, none of these presidents were convicted or removed from office. In 1974, in a bid to avoid being impeached Richard Nixon, became the first president to resign.

    Two

    In 1892, Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Nutcracker was first presented at which theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia

    Answer: Mariinsky Theatre

    The Nutcracker, Tchaikovsky’s final ballet, premiered in December 1892. Despite initial criticism of the choreography, scenery, and performance, it has become the most frequently performed ballet and a popular introduction to classical music. Though initially not as successful as the earlier Nutcracker Suite, it gained popularity and is now performed by many ballet companies, especially in North America.

    Three

    Born on this day in 1946, this director directed Richard Dreyfuss as Matt Hooper in a 1975 film and as Roy Neary in a 1977 one. Who is the director and what are the films?

    Answer: Steven Spielberg; Jaws and Close Encounters of the Third Kind

    Steven Spielberg, the highest-grossing director of all time, is renowned for pioneering the modern blockbuster with films like Jaws and Schindler’s List. He co-founded Amblin Entertainment and DreamWorks Pictures, producing numerous successful films and TV series. Spielberg’s filmmaking journey began in childhood, leading to early successes. His breakthrough with Jaws (1975) established him as a leading director and created the summer blockbuster genre. He is also celebrated for diverse works, including Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.

    Four

    The TV special How the Grinch Stole Christmas! premiered in 1966 and was an adaptation of a 1957 children’s book written under a pen name. Could you tell me what that pen name was and what is the author’s real name?

    Answer: Dr. Seuss; Theodor Seuss Geisel

    Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, was an American children’s author and illustrator. He wrote and illustrated over 60 books, including classics like The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham, selling over 600 million copies worldwide. His work has been adapted into numerous television specials, films, and a Broadway musical. His birthday, March 2nd, is marked annually as National Read Across America Day

    Five

    Born on this day in 1943, one half of ‘The Glimmer Twins’. This British musician and guitarist met a singer, his musical and songwriting ‘twin’ at a railway station in 1961. Their chance encounter ultimately led to their becoming key figures in the formation of a legendary rock band. Who was the musician born on this day?

    Answer: Keith Richards

    Born in Dartford, Kent, in 1943, Keith Richards is a celebrated British musician, guitarist, songwriter and record producer. His innovative chord-heavy playing style, influenced by early blues, has been a key factor in the Rolling Stones’ immense success. He is best known as a founding member and guitarist of the Rolling Stones, with a successful songwriting partnership with Mick Jagger. *Rolling Stones *magazine’s ‘500 Greatest Songs of All Time’ list included fourteen songs written by Richards and Jagger.

    The Glimmer Twins

    The post title refers to a name used by Keith Richards and Mick Jagger who have produced Stones’ albums under the pseudonym ‘The Glimmer Twins’ starting with It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (1974).

  • The Glimmer Twins

    The Glimmer Twins. See question five.
    Image Atlas Obscura

    Today’s questions are all related to events that occurred on December 18th.

    One

    How many US presidents have been impeached, and who are they?

    Two

    In 1892, Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Nutcracker was first presented at which theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia

    Three

    Born on this day in 1946, this director directed Richard Dreyfuss as Matt Hooper in a 1975 film and as Roy Neary in a 1977 one. Who is the director and what are the films?

    Four

    The TV special How the Grinch Stole Christmas! premiered in 1966 and was an adaptation of a 1957 children’s book written under a pen name. Could you tell me what that pen name was and what is the author’s real name?

    Five

    Born on this day in 1943, one half of ‘The Glimmer Twins’. This British musician and guitarist met a singer, his musical and songwriting ‘twin’ at a railway station in 1961. Their chance encounter ultimately led to their becoming key figures in the formation of a legendary rock band. Who was the musician born on this day?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Doh—Answers

    The first question refers to an event that occurred on December 17th. The subsequent questions are related to this initial one.

    The Simpsons title card.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    The Simpsons first appeared on American television as a full-length series in 1989. On whose television series had they previously appeared in short animated segments?

    Answer: The Tracey Ullman Show

    The Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire, a Christmas special, aired on American television on December 17th, 1989. The show had began as short animated segments on The Tracey Ullman Show before becoming its own half-hour series, eventually growing into the longest-running scripted TV show in US history.

    ⸻

    Two

    What is the name of Homer Simpson’s favourite beer?

    Answer: Duff Beer

    Duff Beer has become so iconic that real-world novelty versions and theme-park brands have been produced, despite the beer being fictional.

    ⸻

    Three

    D’oh. DOH. Doh. D’oooh (with or without either ! or ?).
    Dan Castellaneta, who voices Homer Simpson, adopted the expression after noticing its frequent use by an actor in films starring what duo.

    Answer: Laurel and Hardy

    Jimmy Finlayson, the moustachioed Scottish actor who starred in 33 Laurel and Hardy films frequently used the expression in their comedies influenced this.

    Four

    Which convenience store is frequently visited by Homer Simpson and is run by Apu Nahasapeemapetilon?

    Answer: The Kwik-E-Mart

    The Kwik-E-Mart is first mentioned in the episode, ‘Bart the General’, and quickly became one of the show’s most recognisable locations.

    ⸻

    Five

    The title of the 699th episode of The Simpsons, first aired in 2021, cleverly referenced Philip K. Dick’s novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? What was the episode’s title?

    Answer: Do Pizza Bots Dream of Electric Guitars

    The Simpsons episode ‘Do Pizza Bots Dream of Electric Guitars’ aired on 14 March 2021. It follows Homer’s attempt to reunite his childhood band, which is thwarted by J. J. Abrams.

  • Doh

    The first question refers to an event that occurred on December 17th. The subsequent questions are related to this initial one.

    The Simpsons title card.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    The Simpsons first appeared on American television as a full-length series in 1989. On whose television series had they previously appeared in short animated segments?

    Two

    What is the name of Homer Simpson’s favourite beer?

    Three

    D’oh. DOH. Doh. D’oooh (with or without either ! or ?).
    Dan Castellaneta, who voices Homer Simpson, adopted the expression after noticing its frequent use by an actor in films starring what duo.

    Four

    Which convenience store is frequently visited by Homer Simpson and is run by Apu Nahasapeemapetilon?

    Five

    The title of the 699th episode of The Simpsons, first aired in 2021, cleverly referenced Philip K. Dick’s novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? What was the episode’s title?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.