Quizology.Online

Tag: entertainment

  • Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer — Answers

    See question three. Loevestein Castle.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    These questions are all about today’s date, March 22nd.

    One

    Born in 1948, this composer wrote the music for a musical based on a 1939 T.S. Eliot poetry collection. Three questions…

    1. Who is the composer?
    2. What is the title of the musical? 
    3. What is the name of the poetry collection?

    Answers

    1. Andrew Lloyd Webber;
    2. Cats
    3. Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats

    Cats, a sung-through musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber based on T.S. Eliot’s poetry, tells the story of the Jellicle cats and their annual ‘Jellicle choice’. Premiering in 1981, it became a commercial success, running for decades in both the West End and Broadway, and sparking the mega-musical phenomenon.

    Two

    Canadian actor William Shatner, who was born on 22 March 1931, first appeared in the role of James T. Kirk in series 1 episode 1 of the original television series Star Trek in September 1966. What was the episode title?

    Answer: The Man Trap.

    William Shatner, born in 1931, is a Canadian actor renowned for his iconic role as Captain Kirk in the Star Trek franchise. He also starred in T.J. Hooker, Rescue 911, and Boston Legal, earning two Emmy Awards for the latter. Beyond acting, Shatner has released several albums and made history in 2021 as the oldest person to fly in space.

    Three

    Hugo Grotius, a Dutch jurist, scholar and diplomat, is often called the ‘father of modern international law’. Today, he is best known for escaping imprisonment in Loevestein Castle, Netherlands, on this date in 1621. His wife devised the escape plan; what was it?

    Answer: Hidden in a wooden chest.

    On this day in 1621, Hugo Grotius was smuggled out of prison in a chest. Religious tensions were high in Holland and Grotius, who favoured tolerance, made many enemies. Arrested and sentenced to life in prison in 1618, his guards grew careless, neglecting to inspect the large book chest he often received. His wife then devised a plan to smuggle him out using the same chest. The plan was successful and the couple later reunited in Paris. Grotius is also remembered for his extensive legal writings which earned him the title ‘father of international law’.

    Four

    Born in 1976 in New Orleans, Louisiana, this actress won an Academy Award in 2006 for her role in Walk the Line. Who is she?

    Answer: Reese Witherspoon.

    Reese Witherspoon, born on March 22, 1976, in New Orleans, Louisiana, is an acclaimed American actress and producer renowned for her roles in romantic comedies and films like Legally Blonde and Walk the Line — for which she won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of June Carter. Witherspoon founded Hello Sunshine, a production company dedicated to female-led literary adaptations, and is actively involved in advocacy for children and women.

    Five

    Born in 1641 in Antwerp, Spanish Netherlands (now Belgium), this Flemish Baroque artist became a leading court painter in England. He is also known for having a beard named after him. Who is he? 

    Answer: Anthony van Dyck.

    Sir Anthony van Dyck, a Flemish Baroque artist, revolutionised court portraiture in England, notably painting Charles I. He was a prolific painter of portraits, religious and mythological subjects, and a fine draftsman and etcher. The Van Dyke beard is named after him.

    Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer

    Today’s post title is the names of two feline characters from T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats and the musical Cats.

  • Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer

    See question three. Loevestein Castle.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    These questions are all about today’s date, March 22nd.

    One

    Born in 1948, this composer wrote the music for a musical based on a 1939 T.S. Eliot poetry collection. Three questions…

    1. Who is the composer?
    2. What is the title of the musical? 
    3. What is the name of the poetry collection?

    Two

    Canadian actor William Shatner, who was born on 22 March 1931, first appeared in the role of James T. Kirk in series 1 episode 1 of the original television series Star Trek in September 1966. What was the episode title?

    Three

    Hugo Grotius, a Dutch jurist, scholar and diplomat, is often called the ‘father of modern international law’. Today, he is best known for escaping imprisonment in Loevestein Castle, Netherlands, on this date in 1621. His wife devised the escape plan; what was it?

    Four

    Born in 1976 in New Orleans, Louisiana, this actress won an Academy Award in 2006 for her role in Walk the Line. Who is she?

    Five

    Born in 1641 in Antwerp, Spanish Netherlands (now Belgium), this Flemish Baroque artist became a leading court painter in England. He is also known for having a beard named after him. Who is he? 

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?—Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

    Today’s questions revolve around March 21st and follow the 5W1H format: Who, What, Where, When, Why and How. This results in six questions instead of the usual five.

    Who

    In a 1980 television series finale, who shot J.R.? 

    Answer: Kristin Shepard.

    ’Who shot J.R.?’ is a catchphrase from the 1980 season finale of Dallas, referring to the fictional murder attempt on J.R. Ewing. The mystery, resolved eight months later, became a pop culture phenomenon and increased the popularity of cliffhanger endings. Kristin Shepard, played by Mary Crosby, was J.R.’s sister-in-law and mistress.

    What

    What did Jack Dorsey use to end the first public tweet in 2006: ‘just setting up my ——’? 

    Answer: twttr.

    Twitter (originally Twttr), launched in 2006, quickly grew to over 100 million users by 2012. Initially limited to 140 characters per post, the limit was increased to 280 in 2017 and removed for subscribed accounts in 2023.

    Flag of Namibia.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Where

    Represented by this flag, where, in 1990, gained independence after a combined period of 106 years German and then South African rule?

    Answer: Namibia.

    Namibia, a sparsely populated country in Southern Africa, gained independence from South Africa in 1990. Despite significant GDP growth, poverty and inequality remain high, with a Gini coefficient of 59 in 2015. The economy is based on agriculture, tourism, and mining, with a small manufacturing sector.

    When

    When was Gary Oldman’s year of birth?

    Answer: 1958.

    Gary Oldman, an English actor and filmmaker, is known for his versatility and intense acting style. He has received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, and his films have grossed over $11 billion worldwide. Oldman began his career in theatre and rose to prominence in British film, later achieving greater recognition in American films and franchise roles.

    Why

    Why, in 1980, did U.S. President Jimmy Carter announce that the United States was boycotting that year’s Summer Olympics in Moscow?

    Answer: Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

    The 1980 Moscow Olympics, boycotted by the U.S. and 60 other countries due to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, saw 5,000 athletes from 81 countries compete amidst ongoing protests and security concerns.

    How

    How many visitors, according to the U.S. National Park Service, visit Alcatraz annually (to the nearest 100,000)? 

    Answer: 1.2 million.

    Golden Gate National Recreation Area, established in 1972, includes Alcatraz Island, attracting 1.2 million visitors annually. The island offers a unique opportunity to explore its layered history and contemplate crime and punishment.

  • Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?

    Today’s questions revolve around March 21st and follow the 5W1H format: Who, What, Where, When, Why and How. This results in six questions instead of the usual five.

    Who

    In a 1980 television series finale, who shot J.R.?

    What

    What did Jack Dorsey use to end the first public tweet in 2006: ‘just setting up my ——’? 

    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Where

    Represented by this flag, where, in 1990, gained independence after a combined period of 106 years German and then South African rule?

    When

    When was Gary Oldman’s year of birth?

    Why

    Why, in 1980, did U.S. President Jimmy Carter announce that the United States was boycotting that year’s Summer Olympics in Moscow?

    How

    How many visitors, according to the U.S. National Park Service, visit Alcatraz annually (to the nearest 100,000)? 

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Coathanger—Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

    Sydney Harbour Bridge.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    People, places, and events from today’s date, March 19th, feature in these questions.

    One

    On this date, the Sydney Harbour Bridge was opened. In what decade did this occur?

    Answer: 1930s

    Opened in 1932, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, a steel through arch bridge, connects Sydney’s CBD to the North Shore. An iconic image of Sydney, nicknamed the ‘Coathanger’, it carries rail, vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic.

    Two

    A writer who had been born in 1917 died in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 19 March 2008. His best-known works include the script he wrote with director Stanley Kubrick for 2001: A Space Odyssey and his novel of that film. Who is this writer?

    Answer: Arthur C. Clarke.

    Arthur C. Clarke was an English writer known for his science fiction and non-fiction works. He co-wrote the script for the film 2001: A Space Odyssey and its novelisation. Clarke’s notable works include Childhood’s End, Rendezvous with Rama, and The Fountains of Paradise. He was knighted in 2000.

    Three

    This American actor, who was born in West Germany in 1955, earned a Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe nomination in 1990 for his role as Emmett Smith in the film In Country. Who is he?

    Answer: Bruce Willis

    In Country (1989) follows Samantha Hughes, a recent high school graduate, as she becomes fixated on learning about her deceased father a Vietnam veteran. Staying with her Uncle Emmett (Bruce Willis) another veteran she embarks on a journey to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. seeking closure. Bruce Willis, a retired American actor, is renowned for his action roles, particularly his portrayal of John McClane in the Die Hard franchise. He starred in over 100 films including Pulp Fiction and The Sixth Sense, earning numerous accolades throughout his career. Willis retired in 2022 due to aphasia and was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in 2023.

    Four

    This 20th-century national leader issued his ‘Nero Decree’, ordering that all of the nation’s ‘industries, military installations, shops, transportation facilities, and communications facilities be destroyed’? Who was he, and what was the country?

    Answers: Adolf Hitler; Germany.

    The Nero Decree, issued by Hitler in March 1945, ordered the destruction of German infrastructure to prevent its use by the Allies. It was disobeyed by Albert Speer, Minister of Armaments and War Production, before the Nazi regime’s fall.

    Five

    American actress Glenn Close, born on 19 March 1947 in Greenwich, Connecticut, received her first Academy Award nomination for her debut film. This was for her role as Jenny Fields in a 1982 film with a five-word title: The World ——. What film?

    Answer: The World According to Garp.

    Glenn Close is an American actress with a career spanning five decades. She has won numerous awards, including three Emmys, three Tonys, and three Golden Globes, as well as having been nominated for eight Academy Awards. Her debut film role earned her a Best Actress in a Supporting Role nomination for The World According to Garp. Close, who is known for her work in film, television, and theatre, is a vocal advocate for women’s rights, same-sex marriage, and mental health.

  • Coathanger

    Sydney Harbour Bridge.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    People, places, and events from today’s date, March 19th, feature in these questions.

    One

    On this date, the Sydney Harbour Bridge was opened. In what decade did this occur?

    Two

    A writer who had been born in 1917 died in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 19 March 2008. His best-known works include the script he wrote with director Stanley Kubrick for 2001: A Space Odyssey and his novel of that film. Who is this writer?

    Three

    This American actor, who was born in West Germany in 1955, earned a Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe nomination in 1990 for his role as Emmett Smith in the film In Country. Who is he?

    Four

    This 20th-century national leader issued his ‘Nero Decree’, ordering that all of the nation’s ‘industries, military installations, shops, transportation facilities, and communications facilities be destroyed’? Who was he, and what was the country?

    Five

    American actress Glenn Close, born on 19 March 1947 in Greenwich, Connecticut, received her first Academy Award nomination for her debut film. This was for her role as Jenny Fields in a 1982 film with a five-word title: The World ——. What film?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Born and Raised—Answers

    The answers to my earlier questions are shown below.

    The following questions relate to people born on 18 March.

    Grover Cleveland.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    Born 1980. Actress who links the following roles: Penelope (in 2004), Isolde (2006), Erika (2003 and 2006), Darcy (2014) and Freya (2008). Who is she? 

    1. Rose Keegan
    2. Sophia Myles
    3. Lucy Russell

    Answer: 2. Sophia Myles.

    Sophia Myles, an English actress, who portrayed the following characters in the associated film. Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward in Thunderbirds(2004), Isolde in Tristan & Isolde(2006), Darcy in Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014), Erika in Underworld(2003) and Underworld: Evolution (2006), and Freya in Outlander (2008)”

    Two

    Born 1837, Grover Cleveland, served as the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Where was he born? 

    1. Amherst, New Hampshire 
    2. Brighton, New York 
    3. Caldwell, New Jersey

    Answer: 3. Caldwell, New Jersey.

    Stephen Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th President of the United States, was the first Democrat elected after the Civil War and the first president to serve non-consecutive terms. A Bourbon Democrat, he championed political reform, fiscal conservatism and classical liberalism. His presidency was marked by significant legislation like the Interstate Commerce Act and the Dawes Act, as well as challenges like the Panic of 1893 and the Pullman Strike.

    Three

    Anthem for Doomed Youth was written by a war poet born this day in 1893. Who was he? 

    1. Rupert Brook 
    2. Wilfred Owen 
    3. Siegfried Sassoon

    Answer: 2. Wilfred Owen.

    Wilfred Owen, an English poet and soldier, expressed anger at war’s cruelty and waste through his poetry. Based on his World War I experiences, his war poetry was about the horrors of trenches and gas warfare. At only 25 years of age, he was killed in action at the Battle of the Sambre on 4 November 1918, exactly a week before the war’s end. His best-known works— most of which were published posthumously— are Anthem for Doomed Youth, Dulce et Decorum est, Futility, and Spring Offensive. 

    Four

    Who is Dana Elaine Owens, born 18 March 1970, a musician and actress, better known as?

    1. Lauryn Hill
    2. Missy Elliott
    3. Queen Latifah 

    Answer: 3. Queen Latifah.

    An American musician and actress, Queen Latifah rose to fame in the late 1980s with her debut album, All Hail the Queen, which blended diverse styles and feminist themes. The name Latifah is Arabic for ‘delicate’ or ‘sensitive’.

    Five

    Born today in 1869, this British prime minister returned from Germany with a ‘piece of paper’ promising to ‘have brought you back peace — but a peace I hope with honour’. Who was he? 

    1. Stanley Baldwin  
    2. Neville Chamberlain 
    3. Winston Churchill 

    Answer: 2. Neville Chamberlain.

    Prime Minister of the UK from 1937 to 1940 Neville Chamberlain is known for his policy of appeasement towards Hitler’s Germany. He served in various government positions, including Chancellor of the Exchequer, before becoming Prime Minister. Despite signing the Munich Agreement with Hitler in 1938, Chamberlain declared war on Germany less than a year later following the Nazi invasion of Poland.

  • Born and Raised

    The following questions relate to people born on 18 March.

    Grover Cleveland.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    Born 1980. Actress who links the following roles: Penelope (in 2004), Isolde (2006), Erika (2003 and 2006), Darcy (2014) and Freya (2008). Who is she? 

    1. Rose Keegan
    2. Sophia Myles
    3. Lucy Russell

    Two

    Born 1837, Grover Cleveland, served as the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Where was he born? 

    1. Amherst, New Hampshire 
    2. Brighton, New York 
    3. Caldwell, New Jersey

    Three

    Anthem for Doomed Youth was written by a war poet born this day in 1893. Who was he? 

    1. Rupert Brook 
    2. Wilfred Owen 
    3. Siegfried Sassoon

    Four

    Who is Dana Elaine Owens, born 18 March 1970, a musician and actress, better known as?

    1. Lauryn Hill
    2. Missy Elliott
    3. Queen Latifah 

    Five

    Born today in 1869, this British prime minister returned from Germany with a ‘piece of paper’ promising to ‘have brought you back peace — but a peace I hope with honour’. Who was he? 

    1. Stanley Baldwin  
    2. Neville Chamberlain 
    3. Winston Churchill 

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Luna Links

    Some more random trivia for your enjoyment.

    Apollo Landing Sites.
    Image NASA.

    One

    What creature is missing from the title of this Nathaniel West novel: The Day of the ——?

    Two

    Also, the oldest, who was the fifth Apollo astronaut to walk on the Moon?

    Three

    200 million years ago all land on Earth was in one landmass, what name do scientists give to this super-continent?

    Four

    Who played Simon Templar in a 1997 film and what was the film?

    Five

    In Judaism hat is the only insect which is considered kosher?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Why a Duck?—Answers

    Here are the answers to my questions which were posted earlier.

    Five random multiple-choice questions for you today.

    The Marx Brothers, 1931.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    Who was the eldest of the Marx Brothers? 

    1. Chico
    2. Groucho
    3. Harpo

    Answer: 1. Chico.

    Chico, born Leonard Joseph Marx in 1887, was the eldest. Harpo, born Adolph Marx in 1888, followed. Groucho, born Julius Henry Marx in 1890, then came Gummo, born Milton Marx in 1893. Finally, Zeppo, born Herbert Manfred Marx in 1901, was the youngest and last of the five Marx brothers. The picture shows them in age order but missing Gummo. From top: Chico, Harpo, Groucho and Zeppo.

    Two

    The African polecat is also known as a …

    1. Zimbal
    2. Zorilla 
    3. Zugerro

    Answer: 3. Zorilla.

    The striped polecat, native to sub-Saharan Africa, is a nocturnal, mostly carnivorous mammal with distinctive black and white fur. It uses its long claws to dig for prey and its spray to deter predators. While mostly solitary, females tolerate males during breeding season, and the species is not considered threatened.

    Three

    What movement which flourished in the early twentieth century was also referred to as Style Moderne?

    1. Art Deco
    2. Naturalism
    3. Realism

    Answer: 1. Art Deco.

    Art Deco, a style of visual arts, architecture, and product design, emerged in Paris in the 1910s and flourished internationally during the 1920s and 1930s. Influenced by various artistic movements and cultures, it represented luxury and progress, utilising both rare and new materials. While its popularity waned after World War II, Art Deco remains a significant architectural and design style.

    Four

    At what age did Alexander the Great die?

    1. 32 years old
    2. 41 years old
    3. 49 years old

    Answer: 1. 32 years old.

    Alexander the Great, king of Macedon (20/21 July 356 BCE – 10/11 June 323 BCE), created one of the largest empires in history through a decade-long military campaign. He conquered the Persian Empire, invaded India, and founded numerous cities, spreading Greek culture and initiating the Hellenistic period. His legacy includes cultural diffusion, military tactics, and legendary status in both Greek and non-Greek cultures.

    Five

    1. Florida
    2. Louisiana
    3. Texas

    Answer: 3. Texas.

    The latitude of the three cities listed are as follows with the southernmost first…

    • Austin, Texas (30.2672° N)
    • Tallahassee, Florida (30.4383° N)
    • Baton Rouge, Louisiana (30.4571° N)

    Why a Duck? — Post Title

    Why a Duck? is a well-known comedy routine from the Marx Brothers’ movie The Cocoanuts (1929). The scene, features Groucho mentioning an ‘viaduct’ and Chico asking ‘Why a duck?’. This turns into a prolonged routine which is a favourite among fans and has been analysed in Richard Anobile’s book of the same name. The script for the scene is on the Marx Brothers website here.