On March 2, 1872, Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom narrowly escaped an assassination attempt. During her reign, how many such attempts were made on her life?
Four
Six
Eight
Which film, which premiered on this day in the early 20th century, ended with the line “It was Beauty that killed the Beast”?
Frankenstein
King Kong
The Island of Dr. Moreau
On this day in 1969, the first test flight of the supersonic Concorde took place at…
Overnight from the 1st to the 2nd of March, 1978, the coffin of the comic actor Charlie Chaplin, containing his body, was stolen from his grave in…
California, USA
Vaud, Switzerland
Cornwall, England.
On 2 March 1978, an astronaut or cosmonaut made history by becoming the first person of neither American nor Russian nationality to travel in space. What nationality was he?
Chinese
Canadian
Czech
Good luck, the answers will be posted later today.
Saint David—Today, March 1st, marks Saint David’s Day. David, a prominent Welsh Christian prelate who served as Bishop of Mynyw in the 6th century and is the patron saint of Wales. His exact birthdate remains uncertain, with estimates ranging from 462 to 512. Traditionally, he is believed to be the son of Non and grandson of Ceredig ap Cunedda. St. David’s profound wisdom is encapsulated in the phrase “Do ye the little things in life.” This timeless advice emphasises the significance of small tasks and details in our daily routines. By cultivating humility, mindfulness, and a present-moment focus, we can unlock the potential for personal growth and spiritual fulfilment. By diligently attending to these minor details, we can pave the way for greater achievements and a deeper connection with ourselves and the world around us.
Massachusetts—In 1692, Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne and Tituba were brought before local magistrates in Salem Village, Massachusetts. This marked the beginning of the infamous Salem witch trials. Tituba was an enslaved Native American but little is known of her. The Smithsonian Magazine says —
Tituba may have sailed from Barbados in 1680 with Parris [Samuel Parris, the minister in whose household the witchcraft erupted], then still a bachelor and not yet a minister. Though likely a South American Indian, her origins are unclear.
David Niven—David Niven, an English actor, soldier, and author, initially served in the British Army but returned during World War II. He gained fame in Hollywood, winning an Academy Award and two Golden Globes for films like ‘Separate Tables’ and ‘Around the World in 80 Days’. After studying at Sandhurst, he left the army in 1933 to pursue acting. Niven returned to military service in WWII and earned the Legion of Merit for his contributions to the BBC Allied Expeditionary Forces Programme. Post-war, he continued acting, notably playing James Bond in ‘Casino Royale’ (1967), and enjoyed renewed popularity with his memoir ‘The Moon’s a Balloon’. He also wrote a second novel, ‘Go Slowly, Come Back Quickly’, and appeared in films like ‘Death on the Nile’. Niven passed away in 1983 from ALS, remembered as a charismatic Hollywood figure.
1966 Soviet Union 6 kopeks stamp. Venera 3 Pendant and Medal. [Image Wikipedia]
Venera 3 and Venus—Venera 3, the first spacecraft to land on another planet, crashed on Venus on 1 March 1966 after a course correction manoeuvre. A Soviet space probe, Venera 3 was launched in 1965 to explore Venus’ surface. It comprised an entry probe and a carrier/flyby spacecraft. Contact was lost on 15 February due to overheating.
1872—Established on March 1, 1872, Yellowstone National Park stands as the first national park dedicated to preserving and showcasing the world’s unique hydrothermal and geologic features. Spanning an expansive 2.2 million acres, visitors are afforded unparalleled opportunities to witness wildlife in their natural habitat and explore geothermal wonders. Yellowstone boasts approximately half of the world’s active geysers, as well as awe-inspiring geologic formations like the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River.
Horace M. Albright, Superintendent of Yellowstone, with some bears at a table in Yellowstone National Park, 1922. [Image Wikipedia]
*Atebion and Answers. I hope my translation is correct but if not please accept my apologies.
Three women were brought before local magistrates on 1 march 1692 beginning what would become the Salem Witch Trials. In what colony was Salem?
Connecticut
Massachusetts
Rhode Island
An English actor, soldier and author born this day in 1910 who links Phileas Fogg, The Pink Panther and James Bond. As an officer in the British Army he took part in the World War II Normandy invasion. He also wrote the memoir The Moon’s a Balloon. Who is he?
Radar O’Reilly—Gary Burghoff played Corporal Walter Eugene Radar O’Reilly in both the film and television series. It was only on TV that he had this full name as he is known simply as Radar in the film. Hot Lips was played by Sally Kellerman in the film and Loretta Swift on TV; Trapper John was played by Elliott Gould (film) and Wayne Rogers (TV).
Theatrical release poster for the 1970 black comedy–war film M*A*S*H. The caption “M*A*S*H Gives a Damn” refers to the Ratings Administration taking issue with the film’s frequent use of the word. [Image Wikipedia]
Three—the Korean War lasted from 1950 to 1953.
Benjamin Franklin Pierce—Hawkeye (Alan Alda in the TV series), a central character in the MASH series, is known for his medical expertise, humour, heavy drinking and womanising ways. He becomes the Chief Surgeon early in the first season. Donald Sutherland played Hawkeye in the 1970 film. It is a quote from Hawkeye that provides the title of this post—Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happy Hour.
Mobile Army Surgical Hospital—Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals were U.S. Army field hospital units operational from the Korean War to the Gulf War. Each MASH unit had 60 beds and provided support to army units of 10,000 to 20,000 soldiers, with a low mortality rate due to shorter transportation times.
Jamie Farr—Maxwell “Max” Klinger, an Arab-American orderly in the 4077th MASH unit, initially attempts to gain a Section 8 discharge by cross-dressing and engaging in eccentric behaviour. After becoming the company clerk, he abandons these antics and later marries Soon Lee Han, a Korean refugee, choosing to stay in Korea to help her find her family. In AfterMASH, they move to the US, facing challenges that lead Klinger to bookmaking and eventual employment at a veterans’ hospital.
4077th—loosely based on the historic 8055th MASH unit.
Father John Mulcahy—a Catholic priest and US Army chaplain, serves at the 4077th. He is known for his compassionate nature, boxing skills, and ecumenical approach to religion. Despite his unshakable faith, he struggles with the importance of his role compared to the doctors’ life-saving abilities. Appearing in the novel, film and television series he is played by René Auberjonois (film) and William Christopher on television with the exception of the pilot episode when George Martin had the role.
Suicide is Painless—is a song from the 1970 film M*A*S*H, performed by characters and The Ron Hicklin Singers. It was composed by Johnny Mandel with lyrics by Mike Altman (the directors 15-year-old-son). The instrumental version became the theme music for the TV series.
Cover of MASH, by Richard Hooker. 1969 edition, Pocket Books [Image Wikipedia]
Richard Hooker—the pseudonym of Hiester Richard Hornberger Jr., who authored the novel MASH based on his experiences as a surgeon with the 8055th MASH during the Korean War. The novel was adapted into the successful film and television series.
The final episode of the television series M*A*S*H aired on 28 February 1983. The record-breaking episode is described as follows in Wikipedia
“As of 2025, it remains the most-watched single episode of any television series in U.S. history, and for twenty-seven years was the most-watched single broadcast in television history.”
Here are some M*A*S*H related questions to operate on.
The only character to be played by the same actor in both the 1970 film and television series was…
Hot Lips Houlihan
Radar O’Reilly
Trapper John McIntyre
Publicity photo from the M*A*S*H season premiere, 1974. Pictured are: Loretta Swit, Larry Linville, Wayne Rogers, Gary Burghoff, Alan Alda (driver of jeep), and McLean Stevenson. [Image Wikipedia]
The 11 series of M*A*S*H aired from 1972 to 1983 and depicted life in a military hospital during the Korean War. How many years did the Korean War last?
Three
Seven
Eleven
Alan Alda played Hawkeye Pierce, what was his character’s full name?
Alexander Hamilton Pierce
Benjamin Franklin Pierce
George Washington Pierce
In the context of the novel, film and TV series what four words do these letters M*A*S*H represent?
Major Aid Station (with) Helipad
Military Advanced Support Helicopter
Mobile Army Surgical Hospital
Corporal Maxwell Klinger was often seen wearing women’s clothing in an attempt to get a psychiatric discharge from the Army. Who was the actor in this role?
Jamie Farr
Larry Linville
Gary Burghoff
M*A*S*H was about life in what specific MASH unit?
1066th
4077th
7088th
Who was the US Army Chaplain assigned to this MASH unit?
Father Matthew Muelken
Father John Mulcahy
Father Patrick Mulholland
What was the name for the music often described as the Theme from M*A*S*H?
None Like it Hot
A War for all Seasons
Suicide is Painless
Who wrote the novel MASH which spawned the film and television series?
Raymond Harlot
Richard Hooker
Roger Hustler
Complete the title of the final M*A*S*H episode Goodbye, Farewell and ___.
Johnny Cash’s music explored sorrow, moral dilemmas, and redemption, featuring a deep bass-baritone voice and the Tennessee Three’s distinctive sound. His free prison concerts and all-black stage attire solidified his iconic status.
What
US Army in Hawaii
From Here to Eternity, US theatrical release poster for the 1951 film. [Image Wikipedia]
James Jones’s debut novel, From Here to Eternity, is set in Hawaii in 1941 and follows the lives of US Army infantry company members. The novel, loosely based on Jones’s experiences, won the National Book Award and was adapted into a successful film.
When
1919
Grand Canyon National Park poster (1938). [Image Wikipedia]
Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona features the Grand Canyon, a natural wonder of the Colorado River. The park, spanning over 1.2 million acres, welcomes millions of visitors annually.
Elba is a Mediterranean island in Tuscany, Italy, known for its natural beauty and historical significance as Napoleon’s first exile site. It is the largest island in the Tuscan Archipelago and part of the Arcipelago Toscano National Park.
Elba, shown here in the Tyrrhenian Sea part of the Mediterranean Sea. [Image Wikipedia]
Why
Portugal wished to control the Congo Basin
Map showing the Congo River drainage basin. [Image Wikipedia]
The Berlin Conference of 1884–1885, organised by Otto von Bismarck, regulated European colonisation and trade in Africa. The conference concluded with the signing of the General Act of Berlin. The Berlin Conference, initiated by Portugal and supported by Britain, brought together 14 nations to establish a joint policy for Africa.
Western Lowland Gorilla, an endangered species, in the the Congo River basin. [Image Wikipedia]
How
Novelist
Victor Hugo in 1829, lithograph by Achille Devéria in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. [Image Wikipedia]
Victor Hugo was a French Romantic author, poet, essayist, playwright, and politician. His most famous works include novels like The Hunchback of Notre-Dame and Les Misérables, as well as poetry collections like Les Contemplations and La Légende des siècles.
Portrait of Victor Hugo, deputy of the Second Republic in 1848, gallery of the representatives of the people of the French National Assembly, Paris. [Image Wikipedia]
Life of Pi promotional poster[Image from Wikipedia]
Abraham Lincoln
Jennifer Lawrence
Silver Linings Playbook
Argo
Life of Pi
Ang Lee
The post title 85th CDMYW RDS—NSWRS is in full 85th Academy Awards—Answers.
The Academy Awards, known as the Oscars, are prestigious film accolades presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States. These awards recognise excellence in cinematic achievements as judged by the Academy’s voting members.
First presented in 1929, the Oscars ceremony is the oldest entertainment awards event, having been televised since 1953. The awards are symbolised by a gold-plated statuette called Oscar, depicting a knight in Art Deco style.
The Academy presents awards in 23 categories, including Best Picture, Actor, and Actress. Additional accolades include scientific and technical awards, special achievement awards, honorary awards and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.
To be eligible for an Oscar, a film must be publicly screened in Los Angeles County for at least one week between 1 January and 31 December. Different submission requirements exist for foreign-language films, documentaries and short films, while music awards necessitate form submission by the artists.
The awards ceremony, often held in February or March, is a live-televised event where the major categories, known as the Academy Awards of Merit, are handed out. The first ceremony was held on 16 May 1929, with about 270 guests at The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, followed by a post-awards party at the Mayfair Hotel. Back then, tickets cost $5, and fifteen statuettes were awarded for achievements in the 1927–28 period.
Initially, winners were announced three months before the ceremony, with newspapers publishing results at 11:00 pm on the awards night. However, after The Los Angeles Times revealed winners before the 1940 ceremony, the Academy adopted the use of sealed envelopes from 1941 onwards.
Oscar is a registered trademark of AMPAS, and the awards continue to be a hallmark of excellence in the film industry.
The 85th Academy Awards took place on 24 February 2013 and below are some questions based on the awards made that evening.
After each question, a series of CNSN NTS (consonants) is displayed in the correct order as a hint to the answer. Fill in the missing vowels to reveal the solution. For example, if an answer was Benedict Cumberbatch the clue could be shown as BND CTC MBRB TCH or if Daniel Day-Lewis the clue could be DNLD YLWS
On 24 February 2013 at the 85th Academy Awards…
Daniel Day-Lewis won the Best Actor award for his role in a Steven Spielberg film and his portrayal of a famous historical character. Use the nine consonant clue below to help identify that famous character as…
[clue] BR HMLN C LN
The Best Actress Oscar was for the role of Tiffany Maxwell played by…
[clue] JN NF RLWR NC
Tiffany Maxwell, mentioned at Q2 above, was a character in this film…
[clue] SL V RLNN GSP LYBK
The Best Picture winner, which starred Ben Affleck as a CIA officer, was…
[clue] RG
The Best Director winner’s film was based on Yann Martel’s 2001 novel of the same name. The book and film are both named…
[clue] LFFP
The film at Q5 above won the Best Director Oscar for…
[clue] NGL
The answers will be posted later today.
The post title 85th CDMYW RDS is of course 85th aCaDeMY aWaRDS.
Statue of Stan and Ollie in Ulverston. [Image from Wikipedia]
[*Ulverston was in Lancashire at the time of his birth but is now in Cumbria]
Stan Laurel, born Arthur Stanley Jefferson, was a pivotal figure in comedy, renowned for his performance and partnership with Oliver Hardy in over 100 films, including shorts, features and cameos. Laurel’s journey into entertainment began in the music hall, where he honed his comedic skills by developing iconic devices such as the bowler hat and nonsensical understatement, all while understudying for Charlie Chaplin in Fred Karno’s London Comedians. His film career kicked off in 1917, with his final appearance in 1951. Laurel and Hardy first collaborated on The Lucky Dog in 1921 and officially became a team by 1927, maintaining their partnership until Hardy’s death in 1957. Their humorous style was famously described by Laurel as
two minds without a single thought.
Their 1932 short, The Music Box under Hal Roach’s production, earned them an Academy Award, further solidifying their status as the greatest comedy duo in film history. Laurel, originally a music hall comedian, found success in comedy shorts before transitioning into a director and gag writer role, often headlining most of their productions at Roach Studios. Meanwhile, Norvell Hardy, who later adopted the name Oliver, entered show business after managing a cinema, eventually appearing in over 200 short films before his collaboration with Laurel.
The duo’s partnership flourished with Roach’s All-Stars, where their chemistry was recognized, leading to their official team-up in 1927. Their comedic formula revolved around two brainless friends, with Laurel as the guileless troublemaker and Hardy as the meticulous man thwarted by misplaced faith in his partner. Their sound films showcased their genius: Laurel’s British accent and Hardy’s Southern tones added depth to their characters, and Laurel’s inventive use of audio gags became a hallmark of their work.
While Laurel was known for his head-scratching, whimpering cries, and blank stares, Hardy was characterized by his flowery speech, explosive double takes, and sympathetic looks to the camera. As the duo ventured into feature films driven by economic necessity, they gifted us with a string of classics, beginning with Pardon Us in 1931 and continuing through 1940 with thirteen more remarkable films, including the highly acclaimed Sons of the Desert (1933), often regarded as their finest feature-length work. This period solidified their legacy in the annals of film history.
Theatrical poster for Sons of the Desert. [Image from Wikipedia]
Fittingly, their best-known catchphrase provided the final line of their final film Atoll K (1951)—also known as Robinson Crusoeland (UK) and Utopia (US)—with Ollie telling Stan,,,
Well, here’s another nice mess you’ve gotten me into!
Quizology Online 