Grand Slam—Answers

Martina Navratilova, 2011.
Image Wikipedia

One

In 1956, Martina Navratilova, who went on to dominate women’s tennis, was born? In what city was she born and how many Grand Slam singles titles did she win?

Answer: 18 (Grand Slam singles titles)

Martina Navratilova, a Czech-American former tennis player, dominated women’s tennis in the 1980s. She holds numerous records, including nine Wimbledon singles titles and a career Grand Slam in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. Navratilova became a US citizen in 1981 and later reacquired Czech citizenship in 2008.


Two

In 1939, the man who would later be accused of assassinating President John F. Kennedy — and who himself would be fatally shot two days afterward — was born in New ….
What was his name and his place of birth?

Answer: Lee Harvey Oswald and New Orleans

Lee Harvey Oswald, a former U.S. Marine, assassinated President John F. Kennedy on 22 November 1963 and was himself killed by Jack Ruby two days later. The Warren Commission concluded Oswald, who had a troubled past and at one time defected to the Soviet Union, acted alone, a finding supported by multiple investigations, though many Americans remain sceptical.


Three

The BBC, a national broadcasting service, was founded in London on this day. Which decade saw this happen?

Answer: 1920s

The British Broadcasting Corporation—established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company—is headquartered in London and is the oldest and largest broadcaster in the UK. Funded primarily by a television licence fee, it provides radio, TV, and online services, including the BBC World Service.


Four

On this day in 1867, following the US’s approval of the purchase of Alaska from Russia, the American flag was unfurled over the capital for the first time. Where was that capital and how far apart are Alaska and Russia at their closest point, measured in miles?

Answer: Sitka and 2.4 miles or 3.8 km

The Alaska Purchase, negotiated by William H. Seward in 1867, was finalised on October 18th with a flag-raising ceremony at Fort Sitka, now celebrated as Alaska Day.

Anything between 2 and 3 miles or 3 and 4 km is acceptable.

The Diomede Islands, Little Diomede (Alaska, U.S.) and Big Diomede (Chukotka, Russia), are located in the Bering Strait, between Alaska and Siberia.

  • The distance between the islands is about 2.4 miles (3.8 kilometres).
  • The International Date Line runs between them, making Big Diomede almost one day ahead of Little Diomede; consequently, they are sometimes called ‘Tomorrow Island’ (Big Diomede) and ‘Yesterday Island’ (Little Diomede).

Five

The Whale, first published in London on this day in 1851, was written by whom?

Answer: Herman Melville

The British edition of The Whale was published on October 18th with only 500 copies printed, a small print run due to slow sales of previous books. The American editions—titled Moby Dick or The Whale was released on November 14th.

Grand Slam

Here are some questions all related to today’s date, October 18th.

Martina Navratilova, 1980.
Image Wikipedia

One

In 1956, Martina Navratilova, who went on to dominate women’s tennis, was born. In what city was she born, and how many Grand Slam singles titles did she win?

Two

In 1939, the man who would later be accused of assassinating President John F. Kennedy — and who himself would be fatally shot two days afterward — was born in New ….
What was his name and his place of birth?

Three

The BBC, a national broadcasting service, was founded in London on this day. Which decade saw this happen?

Four

On this day in 1867, following the US’s approval of the purchase of Alaska from Russia, the American flag was unfurled over the capital for the first time. Where was that capital and how far apart are Alaska and Russia at their closest point, measured in miles?

Five

The Whale, first published in London on this day in 1851, was written by whom?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

The Silver Screen—Answers

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

Bullitt.
Image carbuzz.com

One

Answer: San FRAncisco and Dodge Charger

The iconic car chase scene in Bullitt, filmed in San Francisco, featured Steve McQueen driving a Ford Mustang through the city’s hilly streets. The 10-minute scene, filmed over three weeks, showcased modified Mustangs and Chargers, with McQueen performing close-up scenes and stunt drivers handling the high-speed stunts. Bullitt was released on this date in 1968.


The Misfits starring Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe and Montgomery Clift.
Image The Movie Database

Two

Answer: Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe

Clark Gable played Gaylord Langland and Marilyn Monroe as Roslyn Taber. Montgomery Clift, an American actor, was known for his emotional depth and vulnerability in roles.


Rita Hayworth. 1945.
Image Wikipedia

Three

Answer: Rita Hayworth

Rita Hayworth, an American actress and dancer, was a prominent figure in the Golden Age of Hollywood, starring in 61 films over 37 years. Known for her role in Gilda, she was a top pin-up girl during World War II and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960.


Question 4. George Wendt as Norm Peterson.
Image Cheers Fandom

Four

Answer: George Wendt; Cheers and Norm Peterson

Hilary Norman ‘Norm’ Peterson, a semi-unemployed accountant, is a regular at the bar. His character, originally named George, was rewritten after George Wendt’s audition.

George Wendt was born on this date in 1948 and passed away in May 2025.


James Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
Image Encyclopædia Britannica

Five

Answer: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington


The American classic Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, starring James Stewart, had its world premiere; although it angered the political establishment, the drama won wide acclaim from the public and film industry.

The Silver Screen

Bullitt.
Image carbuzz.com

One

The iconic car chase in Bullitt, starring Steve McQueen, was filmed in which city?  Secondly, McQueen was driving a Ford Mustang but what make and model was the other car in the chase?

Two

Born today in 1920, Montgomery Clift portrayed Perce Howland in the 1961 film The Misfits. Who were his co-stars who played Gaylord Langland and Roslyn Taber.

Three

1918 American actress …, whose portrayal of seductresses helped earn her the nickname “The Love Goddess,” was born.

— Encyclopædia Britannica

Born as Margarita Carmen Cansino in New York City this day in 1918, what actress’s name is missing from the above quote?

Four

Question 4.

Three-in-one?

  • Who is the actor in the photograph?
  • He was a regular in which television series from 1982 to 1993?
  • What is his character’s name in that series?

Five

On this day in 1939, a classic film premiered. James Stewart stars as the title character, who launches a filibuster in the US Senate to combat corruption. What is the film?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

Unsinkable—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

One

In the film Titanic what were Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet’s fictional characters full names?

Answer: Jack Dawson and Rose DeWitt Bukater

Titanic film poster.
Image Original Vintage

Two

Name the independent countries in Africa that have names beginning with ‘M’?

Answer: Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco and Mozambique


Three

What type of animal was Flipper, the star of the sixties American television series?

Answer: Bottlenose dolphin

Bottlenose dolphins.
Image American Oceans

Four

There’s only been one instance of a father and daughter performing a number one song in America. Can you name the song and the performers?

Answer: Somethin’ Stupid Frank and Nancy Sinatra

This 1967 hit, which was billed as being by ‘Nancy Sinatra and Frank Sinatra’, was the first and only instance of a father-daughter number-one song in America. Nancy Sinatra has said, ‘Some people call (it) the Incest Song, which I think is, well, very sweet!’


Five

Name any US presidents and British prime ministers with the same surname?

Answer: Woodrow Wilson and Harold Wilson

Woodrow Wilson, was the 28th President of the United States and was in office from 1913 to 1921.
Harold Wilson, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and was in office from 1964 to 1970 and 1974 to 1976.

Unsinkable

Today’s questions are random with no connection between them.

RMS Titanic.
Image Encyclopædia Britannica

One

In the film Titanic what were Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet’s fictional characters full names?

Two

Name the independent countries in Africa that have names beginning with ‘M’?

Three

What type of animal was Flipper, the star of the sixties American television series?

Four

There’s only been one instance of a father and daughter performing a number one song in America. Can you name the song and the performers?

Five

Name any US presidents and British prime ministers with the same surname?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

The Great Dictator—Answers

(See question 3.) This iconic shot of Harold Lloyd hanging from a clock in Safety Last! was achieved with some improvisation.
Image Wikipedia

One

The Great Dictator, which premiered in New York on 15 October 1940, satirised Adolf Hitler, Nazism and anti-Semitism. Who directed this film?

Answer: Charlie Chaplin

The Great Dictator is a 1940 American political satire black comedy film written, directed, produced by, and starring Charlie Chaplin. Having been the only major Hollywood filmmaker to continue to make silent films well into the period of sound films, Chaplin made this his first true sound film. — Wikipedia


Two

From which London railway station does the Hogwarts Express depart and what is the name of the Scottish viaduct it crosses on its way to and from Hogwarts?

Answer: Kings Cross Station; Glenfinnan Viaduct

Steam train on the Glenfinnan Viaduct features in four films in the series.
Image Wikipedia

Three

Two for the price of one! Who played the actor dangling from a clock on a skyscraper in the 1923 film Safety Last! and what’s the fictional name of the skyscraper in Die Hard?

Answer: Harold Lloyd (Safety Last!) and

Answer: Nakatomi Tower (or Plaza) (Die Hard)

2121 Avenue of the Stars, formerly Fox Plaza, is a 34-storey skyscraper in Century City, Los Angeles. It stands at 493 feet (150 metres) tall was used for external filming of Die Hard’s Nakatomi Tower.
Image Wikipedia

Four

Which actor was the first to receive two consecutive Academy Awards for best actor?

Answer: Spencer Tracy

Tracy was nominated for nine best actor Oscars, a category record held jointly with Laurence Olivier. His two consecutive Academy Awards for Best Actor were for Captains Courageous (1938) and Boys Town (1939).


Five

Sean Connery won only one Academy Award during his career, and it came some time after he had finally retired from the role of James Bond. For which role, and in which film, did he win this Best Supporting Actor Oscar?

Answer: Jimmy Malone in The Untouchables

Brian De Palma’s The Untouchables (1987) was nominated for four Academy Awards. Connery won the best supporting actor Oscar and Golden Globe Award for his role as the incorruptible beat cop, Jimmy Malone.

The Great Dictator

Today’s first question centres around a film premiere on October 15, followed by questions related to films.

Adenoid Hynkel in The Great Dictator.
Image Wikipedia

One

The Great Dictator, which premiered in New York on 15 October 1940, satirised Adolf Hitler, Nazism and anti-Semitism. Who directed this film?

Two

From which London railway station does the Hogwarts Express depart and what is the name of the Scottish viaduct it crosses on its way to and from Hogwarts?

Three

Two for the price of one! Who played the actor dangling from a clock on a skyscraper in the 1923 film Safety Last! and what’s the fictional name of the skyscraper in Die Hard?

Four

Which actor was the first to receive two consecutive Academy Awards for best actor?

Five

Sean Connery won only one Academy Award during his career, and it came some time after he had finally retired from the role of James Bond. For which role, and in which film, did he win this Best Supporting Actor Oscar?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

Presidential Genesis—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th President of the United States.
Image Wikipedia

One

Answer: Ohio

Ohio ranks second to Virginia in the number of US presidents born there. These seven presidents hail from Ohio: Ulysses S Grant, Rutherford B Hayes, James A Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, William Howard Taft and Warren G Harding.


Two

Answer: Weasels or Mustelidae

The wolverine, the largest member of the Mustelidae family – commonly known as the weasel family – includes other animals like weasels otters martens and badgers. Renowned for their stocky build thick fur and impressive strength relative to their size, wolverines are truly remarkable creatures.


Petrus Kartner—Father Abraham.
Image Wikipedia

Three

Answer: Dutch and Father Abraham

Dutch musician and record producer Petrus Antonius Laurentius Kartner (1935-2022), known as Vader Abraham, wrote around 1600 songs. He is best known for his Smurf-themed music, including The Smurf Song, which sold 400,000 copies after a repress and a full album that sold 500,000 copies.


Four

Answer: Libero

The word originates from Italian and means ‘free’. The libero, is a defensive specialist in volleyball, wearing a different coloured jersey and unable to serve or attack above the net. Libero replacements don’t count against the substitution limit, but can only be made with the original libero.
Established in 1998, this position is recognised by most volleyball governing bodies and is credited with lengthening rallies.


Neptune’s Staircase, Caledonian Canal, Scotland, UK.
Image Wikipedia

Five

Answer: Caledonian Canal

Built by Thomas Telford between 1803 and 1822 the Caledonian Canal is one of Scotland’s most remarkable engineering achievements — a scenic 60-mile (97 km) waterway that cuts through the Great Glen, connecting the east coast at the Beauly Firth near Inverness with the west coast’s Loch Linnhe at Corpach near Fort William. Some 60 miles (97 km) in length with 22 miles (35 km) of man-made canal while the rest is natural lochs which include Loch Dochfour, Loch Ness, Loch Oich and Loch Lochy. Neptune’s Staircase is a flight of eight locks near to the Loch Linnhe end of the canal.

Presidential Genesis

Here are five random questions for you to consider.

Wolverine, see question 2.
Image Wikipedia

One

The US state of Virginia is in pole position with eight US presidents being born there. What state would be in second place?

Two

Which mammal family, common or scientific name, is the wolverine the largest member of?

Three

In 1977 Petrus Kartner was commissioned to compose a promotional song for The Smurfs which became a hit single and album. What nationality was Kartner and under what stage name did he perform?

Four

In volleyball, a defensive specialist who can’t serve or rotate to the front line and wears a different coloured jersey is known as a …. What six-letter word describes this player?

Five

What eventually links Loch Ness to Neptune’s Staircase?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.