Five questions which are all related to today’s date, September 17.
M*A*S*H (From left) Actors McLean Stevenson, Wayne Rogers, Gary Burghoff, and Alan Alda in a scene from the television series M*A*S*H. Image Encyclopædia Britannica
One
M*A*S*H debuted on television on 17 September 1972. It was based on the 1970 film of the same name, which was directed by whom?
Two
The opening paragraph of Encyclopædia Britannica‘s article on Wenceslas II, who was born on this date, is quoted below. What word is missing after ‘king of’?
Wenceslas II (born Sept. 17, 1271—died June 21, 1305) was the king of … from 1278 and of Poland from 1300 who ably ruled his …n kingdom and spread his influence not only into Poland but also into Hungary.
Three
In 1978, the Nobel Prize for Peace was awarded to two leaders who signed the Camp David Accords on 17 September of that year. Name these two leaders?
Four
On 17 September 1940, Adolf Hitler postponed Operation Sea Lion. What was the purpose of this operation?
Five
Martin Brian Mulroney became prime minister of what nation on this date in 1984?
Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.
The Admiral Benbow in Penzance, reportedly an inspiration for Stevenson’s Inn. Image Wikipedia
One
Which 1883 novel begins at an inn called the Admiral Benbow, and who wrote it?
Answer: Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson
The Admiral Benbow in Penzance is reportedly an inspiration for Stevenson’s Inn from Treasure Island, although the inn in the story was set in a rural location.
Two
Lady Jane Grey’s reign of only nine days came between what two other monarchs?
Answer: Edward VI and Mary I
Lady Jane Grey, known as the ‘Nine Days Queen’, was proclaimed Queen of England and Ireland in 1553 after Edward VI’s death. However, her reign was short-lived as Mary I was proclaimed queen just nine days later. Jane was later executed for treason in 1554.
Three
Of what ocean is the Bay of Fundy an arm?
Answer: Atlantic Ocean
The Bay of Fundy (French: Baie de Fundy) is a bay located between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, and the US state of Maine. It is an arm of the Gulf of Maine and is renowned for its exceptionally high tidal range, making it the highest in the world.
Cnidus Aphrodite. Marble, Roman copy after a Greek original of the 4th century. Image Wikipedia
Four
Which ancient goddess of love is a 2010 album by Kylie Minogue named after?
Answer: Aphrodite
Aphrodite, the ancient Greek goddess of love, beauty and passion, was associated with various symbols and worshipped in several cult centres. Her origins can be traced back to the Phoenician goddess Astarte and the Sumerian goddess Inanna.
Five
What ‘A’, found in perfumes and food, is defined as follows?
a waxy substance that originates as a secretion in the intestines of the sperm whale, found floating in tropical seas and used in perfume manufacture. — Oxford English Dictionary
Answer: Ambergris
Ambergris, used in perfumes like musk, has also been used as a flavouring agent in food and drink, including a favourite dish of King Charles II and in Turkish coffee and hot chocolate.
ambergris /ˈambəɡriːs , ˈambəɡrɪs / ▸ noun [mass noun] a waxy substance that originates as a secretion in the intestines of the sperm whale, found floating in tropical seas and used in perfume manufacture. – ORIGIN late Middle English: from Old French ambre gris ‘grey amber’, as distinct from ambre jaune ‘yellow amber’ (the resin). — Oxford English Dictionary
Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica), Deception Island, South Shetland Islands. Image Wikipedia
One
How old, in years, was Stevie Wonder when Little Stevie Wonder – The Twelve Year Old Genius topped the US album charts in 1963?
11
12
13
Answer: 13
Stevie Wonder was 13 years 3 months old when his album Little Stevie Wonder – The Twelve Year Old Genius (1963) topped the US charts. — Guinness World Records
Two
What’s is a species of penguin?
Backstrap
Bootstrap
Chinstrap
Answer: Chinstrap
The chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarcticus) is a penguin species that inhabits various islands and shores in the Southern Pacific and the Antarctic Oceans. Its name stems from the narrow black band under its head, which makes it appear as if it were wearing a black helmet. Due to its loud, harsh call, other common names include ringed penguin, bearded penguin, and stonecracker penguin. — Wikipedia
Three
Johnny Cash’s family once blocked advertisers using Ring of Fire, what did they want to promote?
Pacific ring sea cruises
Haemorrhoid preparations
Propane gas products
Answer: Haemorrhoid preparations
…the 1963 classic “Ring of Fire”, was to be used in a commercial for a haemorrhoid ointment. The Cash family blocked the deal immediately. Johnny Cash’s daughter Rosanne, also a singer, explained that the family would never allow the song to be demeaned in this way. When she hears the lines “And it burns, burns, burns, that ring of fire” she is in no doubt that “it is about the transformative power of love. That is what it will always mean to us”. — The Independent
Four
Which city was the birthplace of former Israeli prime minister Golda Meir?
Kyiv, Ukraine
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Minsk, Belarus
Answer: Kyiv, Ukraine
Meir was born Golda Mabovitch on 3 May 1898 into a Jewish family in downtown Kiev, Ukraine, then part of the Russian Empire. Her parents were Blume Neiditch (died 1951) and Moshe Yitzhak Mabovitch (died 1944), a carpenter. Meir wrote in her autobiography that her earliest memories were of Moshe boarding up the front door in response to rumours of an imminent pogrom. She was named after Blume’s paternal grandmother, Golde. She had two sisters, Sheyna (born 1889) and Tzipke (later known as Clara; born 1902), as well as five other siblings who died in infancy. — Wikipedia
Five
It’s a Hap-Hap-Happy Day is a song which was originally featured in what 1939 film?
Beauty and the Beast
Gulliver’s Travels
Sleeping Beauty
Answer: Gulliver’s Travels
“It’s a Hap-Hap-Happy Day” is a popular song with words by Sammy Timberg & Winston Sharples and music by Al J. Neiburg. It was featured in the animated feature film Gulliver’s Travels in 1939. It was a hit in the UK in 1940 during the Battle of Britain, having been played heavily on BBC radio. — Wikipedia
A cathedral located in the Bebelplatz, Berlin, Germany is named St …
Hagrid’s
Hedwig’s
Hogwart’s
Answer: Hedwig’s
St. Hedwig’s Cathedral, the Catholic cathedral of the Archdiocese of Berlin, was built in Baroque style from 1747 to 1773. Damaged in WWII, it was restored in post-war modernist style and reopened in 2024 with a modern interior design.
Two
This has connected Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsula’s since 1957?
Big Bang
Big Easy
Big Mac
Answer: Big Mac
The Mackinac Bridge, a suspension bridge connecting Michigan’s Upper and Lower peninsulas, spans the Straits of Mackinac. Opened in 1957, it is the longest suspension bridge in the Western Hemisphere and part of Interstate 75.
Three
Who played the bride’s father in the 1950 version of Father of the Bride?
Cary Grant
James Stewart
Spencer Tracy
Answer: Spencer Tracy
Father of the Bride is a 1950 romantic comedy film about a man coping with his daughter’s wedding preparations.
Four
What is the community of Ballarat in Australia most associated with?
Ballet
Gold
Surfing
Answer: Gold
Ballarat, a city in Victoria, Australia, experienced rapid growth during the Victorian gold rush in the 1850s. The Eureka Rebellion, a significant event in Australian history, occurred in Ballarat in 1854. Today, Ballarat is a major regional centre known for its history, culture and well-preserved colonial heritage.
Five
What channel is found between mainland Italy and Sicily?
Strait of Bonifacio
Strait of Messina
Strait of Otranto
Answer: Strait of Messina
The Strait of Messina, connecting the Tyrrhenian and Ionian Seas, separates Sicily from Calabria in Southern Italy.
On 13 September 1959, the first spacecraft successfully made contact with another celestial body. Which spacecraft and celestial body were involved?
Kal-L 1 and Mercury
Luna 2 and the Moon
Mariner 3 and Mars
Answer: Luna 2 And the Moon
…the Soviets launched their second Cosmic Rocket (later renamed Luna 2) on Sep. 12 and it successfully achieved escape velocity and placed the spacecraft, virtually identical to Luna 1, on an intercept course with the Moon. The upper stage once again released its one kilogram of sodium gas at a distance of 97,000 miles. On Sep. 13, Luna 2 became the first spacecraft to make contact with another celestial body when it impacted the Moon between Mare Imbrium and Mare Serenitatis, about 160 miles from where Apollo 15 would land 12 years later. The spacecraft’s scientific instruments detected no magnetic field or radiation belts around the Moon. Luna 2 deposited Soviet emblems on the lunar surface, carried in two metallic spheres. During his only visit to the United States a few days after the Luna 2 mission, Soviet Premier Nikita S. Khrushchev presented a replica of the spherical pennant to President Dwight D. Eisenhower. That sphere is kept at the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum in Abilene, Kansas, while a copy is displayed at the Kansas Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, Kansas.
The 13 September Japanese release of Super Mario Bros marked the start of the Super Mario series of platforming games.
1985
1991
1997
Answer: 1985
Super Mario Bros. is a 1985 platform game developed by Nintendo for the NES. Players control Mario or Luigi to rescue Princess Toadstool from Bowser, traversing side-scrolling stages and collecting power-ups. The game is praised for its precise controls and is credited with reviving the video game industry after the 1983 crash.
Three
On 12 September 1988, Hurricane Gilbert set a record as the strongest hurricane in the Western Hemisphere, based on barometric pressure. Which 2005 hurricane surpassed this record?
Maria
Rita
Wilma
Answer: Wilma
Hurricane Gilbert, a Category 5 hurricane in 1988, caused widespread destruction in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. It was the second-most intense Atlantic landfalling hurricane (only behind 2005’s Hurricane Wilma) and the most intense to strike Mexico.
Four
Hannibal Goodwin patented celluloid photographic film on this date. In what decade did this occur?
1890s
1900s
1910s
Answer: 1890s
Five
On 13 September 1899, the first ascent of Batian was achieved. Of what mountain is Batian the highest peak?
Mount Erebus
Mount Fuji
Mount Kenya
Answer: Mount Kenya
Mount Kenya, located near the equator in Kenya, has three highest peaks: Batian, Nelion, and Point Lenana. It is the source of the country’s name.
Five multiple choice questions related to today, September 13th.
One
On 13 September 1959, the first spacecraft successfully made contact with another celestial body. Which spacecraft and celestial body were involved?
Kal-L 1 and Mercury
Luna 2 and the Moon
Mariner 3 and Mars
Two
The 13 September Japanese release of Super Mario Bros marked the start of the Super Mario series of platforming games.
1985
1991
1997
Three
On 12 September 1988, Hurricane Gilbert set a record as the strongest hurricane in the Western Hemisphere, based on barometric pressure. Which 2005 hurricane surpassed this record?
Maria
Rita
Wilma
Four
Hannibal Goodwin patented celluloid photographic film on this date. In what decade did this occur?
1890s
1900s
1910s
Five
On 13 September 1899, the first ascent of Batian was achieved. Of what mountain is Batian the highest peak?
Here are the answers to the questions from my earlier post about events related to 12 September.
John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Lee Bouvier on their wedding day. Image Wikipedia
One
On 12 September 1953, Jacqueline Lee Bouvier married at St. Mary’s Church in Newport, Rhode Island. Who did she marry?
Answer: John F. Kennedy
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, known as Jackie O, was the First Lady of the United States from 1961 to 1963. She was a popular figure, admired for her dedication to historic preservation, arts and culture, and her unique fashion sense. After her husband’s assassination, she married Aristotle Onassis and later became a book editor in New York City.
Two
On 12 September 1885, Arbroath achieved a world record scoreline in professional football (soccer) by defeating Bon Accord in the first round of the Scottish Cup. Was the margin of Arbroath’s win 26, 31, or 36 goals?
Answer: 36 goals
The final scoreboard read Aberdeen 36-0 Bon Accord. Arbroath led 15-0 at halftime and scored 21 more goals in the second half. The match was so one-sided that Arbroath’s goalkeeper didn’t touch the ball.
It holds the largest margin of victory in an unrigged first-class football match. A match between AS Adema and SO l’Emyrne, a thrown game where SO l’Emyrne scored deliberate own goals in a protest against prior officiating decisions, took the title of most goals in a professional football match in 2002. — Wikipedia
Three
The estimated age range of the wall paintings in the Lascaux Cave, France, and the year in which Lascaux was inducted into the UNESCO World Heritage List are 17,000 to 22,000 years and 1979; 87,000 to 92,000 years old and 1954; or 147,000 to 220,000 years old and 2000?
Answer: 17,000 to 22,000 years and 1979
Lascaux, a network of caves in southwestern France, were discovered on this day in 1940 and features over 600 prehistoric wall paintings dating back 17,000 to 22,000 years. The site, recognised for its outstanding art, was inducted into the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979.
Four
Salisbury, Rhodesia, was founded on 12 September 1890. What are the current names of the city and country?
Answer: Harare, Zimbabwe
Founded in 1890 as Fort Salisbury, the city served as the capital of Southern Rhodesia and later Rhodesia. Upon independence, Rhodesia became Zimbabwe, and Salisbury was renamed Harare in 1982. It remained the capital until the national parliament relocated to Mount Hampden in 2022.
Five
The Battle of Marathon, fought on this day in 490 BCE, was a victory for the Athenians against which empire?
Answer: Persian Empire (aka Achaemenid Empire)
The Battle of Marathon, usually accepted as occurring in 490 BCE, saw the Athenians and their Plataean allies defeat the first Persian invasion force of Greece.
Quizology Online 
