Today’s first question relates to the date 1st June. The subsequent questions follow on, but I won’t reveal how.
One
The roles shown are from each decade between the 1980s and the present. Which actor born today links them? Hoke Colburn, Azeem Edin Bashir Al Bakir, Eddie Dupris, Sheikh Ilderim, and Thurmond Fowler.
Two
I love the smell of … in the morning.
What word is missing from this quote from a 1979 film?
Three
Singer Jack Jones had a top forty hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1966 with The Impossible Dream. What Broadway musical had the song been written for?
Four
In the United States, the state dog of the 49th state to be admitted to the Union is what?
Five
Which composer won the Academy Award for Best Original Score for the 2015 film The Hateful Eight?
Woodcut representing the waterfront of Memphis, Tennessee, published 1879. Image Wikimedia Commons
Today’s five questions form a theme, and that is all I am alluding to.
One
The Perry Index sorts fables attributed to which ancient Greek writer?
Answer: Aesop.
The Perry Index is a comprehensive index of Aesop’s Fables, attributed to the ancient Greek storyteller Aesop (620-560 BC). Created by Ben Edwin Perry, a University of Illinois classics professor, it categorises and references the fables. Modern scholarship suggests Aesop didn’t compose all of the fables attributed to him; some predate him, others appear over a millennium after him.
Two
What singer’s debut album was Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number?
Answer: Aaliyah.
Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number is Aaliyah’s debut album, released on 24 May 1994. Produced by R. Kelly, it blends R&B with new jack swing, peaking at number 18 on the US Billboard 200. It sold over three million copies in the US and six million worldwide, featuring two gold-certified singles.
Three
In 1938, which national leader was named Time magazine’s Man of the Year?
Answer: Adolf Hitler.
TIME explained what was perhaps the most controversial of its choices thus: “Hitler became in 1938 the greatest threatening force that the democratic, freedom-loving world faces today” (1/2/39).
Hitler’s rise began in 1919, when he joined the German Workers Party, which was renamed the Nazi party. Within two years he was the party’s leader. In 1933, Hitler became chancellor of Germany and soon consolidated his power, banning other parties and establishing totalitarian rule. He put the unemployed to work in public programs, rebuilt the army and sent Jews, communists and others to concentration camps. On September 1, 1939, Hitler began World War II by invading Poland. By 1941, German troops had become bogged down in Russia, and in 1944 the Allies began their advance on Germany. Hitler lived his final months in a Berlin bunker, committing suicide on April 29, 1945.
Big River, a 1984 musical, is based on which Mark Twain novel?
Answer: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Roger Miller’s Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a musical based on Mark Twain’s novel, featuring bluegrass and country music. The 1985 Broadway production ran for over 1,000 performances and won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
Five
What word describes the repetition of the same sound at the start of each word?
Answer: Alliteration.
alliteration | əˌlɪtəˈreɪʃn | noun [mass noun] the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words: the alliteration of ‘sweet birds sang’ | [count noun] : alliterations are clustered in the last few lines. – ORIGIN early 17th century: from medieval Latin alliteratio(n-), from Latin ad– (expressing addition) + littera ‘letter’. Oxford English Dictionary
In the Beginning
The post title refers to all the answers beginning with ‘A’.
Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom was born on 21 April 1926. To the nearest year how long did she reign?
Answer: 71 years.
Elizabeth II, born on 21 April 1926, was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 1952 until her death in 2022 — 70 years and 214 days — the longest reign of any British monarch. She was queen regnant of 32 states and monarch of 15 at her death. Educated privately, she served in World War II and married Philip Mountbatten in 1947. Her reign saw significant political changes and historic visits. Despite challenges, her popularity remained high. She died at 96, succeeded by Charles III.
Two
On this day In 1918, the Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen, Germany’s top World War I flying ace, was shot down and killed near Amiens, France. What act had a novelty song Snoopy vs. The Red Baron in the 1966 charts?
Answer: The Royal Guardsmen.
Snoopy vs. the Red Baron is a 1966 novelty song by The Royal Guardsmen, peaking at No.2 on the Hot 100 and No.1 in Australia and Canada. It sold nearly three million copies. The band released other Snoopy-themed songs, including The Return of the Red Baron and Snoopy’s Christmas.
Three
What was the musical Annie based on, and what type of work was it?
Answer: Little Orphan Annie; Newspaper comic strip.
Annie is a musical with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and a book by Thomas Meehan, based on the 1924 comic strip Little Orphan Annie. It premiered in 1977, ran for nearly six years, won seven Tony Awards, and features popular songs like ‘Tomorrow‘ and ‘It’s the Hard Knock Life‘.
Four
Whose visit to a Caribbean Island nation in 1966 led to the annual celebration of April 21st as Grounation Day?
Answer: Haile Selassie.
In 1966, the Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie I, believed by many Rastas to be the Second Coming of Christ, arrived in Jamaica for a visit. This event is now celebrated annually in the Rastafari movement as Grounation Day, specifically on April 21.
Five
According to legend Rome was founded in what century?
Answer: 8th Century BCE
Ancient Rome, spanning from 753 BCE to 476 CE, evolved from a small Italic settlement into a dominant Mediterranean power. It encompassed the Roman Kingdom, Republic, and Empire, controlling vast territories including North Africa, Egypt, and much of Europe. At its peak in CE 117, it covered 5 million square kilometres with 50-90 million people. Rome’s influence on language, law, architecture, and governance persists, inspiring modern republics and achieving remarkable technological feats like aqueducts and roads. In Ancient Rome, its founding by Romulus was celebrated annually on April 21st.
The Royal Guardsmen
The post title had nothing to do with question one, but everything to do with question two.
Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom was born on 21 April 1926. To the nearest year how long did she reign?
Two
On this day In 1918, the Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen, Germany’s top World War I flying ace, was shot down and killed near Amiens, France. What act had a novelty song Snoopy vs. The Red Baron in the 1966 charts?
Three
What was the musical Annie based on, and what type of work was it?
Four
Whose visit to a Caribbean Island nation in 1966 led to the annual celebration of April 21st as Grounation Day?
Five
According to legend Rome was founded in what century?
Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.
Kublai Khan, a posthumous painting executed shortly after his death in February of 1294. Image Wikimedia Commons
Finishing the alphabetical theme with the remaining letters, so six questions today with answers beginning with the letters from U to Z, with each letter being used only once, but they are not in alphabetical order. If a question has more than one part it is only the first that conforms to the theme.
One
What word links Shangdu, which was ruled by Kublai Khan and is mentioned in the first line of a Samuel Taylor Coleridge poem, with the title track of a 1980 musical of the same name?
Answer: Xanadu.
Shangdu, the summer capital of Yuan dynasty ruled by Kublai Khan, grandson of Genghis Khan. A metaphor for opulence or an idyllic place, based upon Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s description of Shangdu in his 1816 poem Kubla Khan. Xanadu is the title song from the soundtrack of the 1980 musical film of the same name. Written by Jeff Lynne of the English rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), the song is performed by British-Australian singer, songwriter and actress Olivia Newton John.
Two
What professional golfer won the U.S. Masters tournament in 2007, and 2015 Open Championship at St. Andrews?
Answer: Zach Johnson.
Zachary Harris Johnson, an American professional golfer, has won 12 PGA Tour events, including two majors. He captained the unsuccessful U.S. Ryder Cup team in 2023.
Three
The Macallan, Bunnahabhain and Laphroaig are three examples of what product from the United Kingdom?
The last two mentioned, Bunnahabhain and Laphroaig, both come from what region which is well known for this product?
Answers
Whisky.
Island of Islay.
Scotch whisky, first mentioned in 1494, was originally made from malted barley. Single malt Scotch whisky, which the three examples mentioned are, must be distilled in one distillery using only water and malted barley. By 2024, Scotland boasted 151 distilleries, solidifying its reputation for this renowned spirit.
Four
Which name connects a character from a Charles Dickens’ 1850 novel to the 1972 studio album The Magician’s Birthday?
Answer: Uriah Heap.
Uriah Heep, a sycophantic character in Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield, manipulates his employer, Mr. Wickfield, into making him a partner. He later faces exposure for his frauds and is imprisoned for bank fraud. Named after the Dickens’ character Uriah Heep, an English rock band formed in 1969, pioneered hard rock, heavy metal, and progressive rock. With over 40 million albums sold worldwide, they are known for hits like Lady in Black and maintain a strong following in Europe and Asia.
Five
In what film does Tom Hanks play Joe Fox?
Answer: You’ve Got Mail.
You’ve Got Mail is a 1998 romantic comedy starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, directed by Nora Ephron. The film, inspired by a Hungarian play, tells the story of two online romantics who are business rivals.
Six
This small fully independent nation-state’s independence was recognised by the Lateran Treaty of 1929. Which nation is it?
Answer: Vatican City.
Vatican City, the smallest independent nation-state, is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church and home to the Pope. It has its own infrastructure and diplomatic relations, with a population of around 882 people.
Kublai Khan, a posthumous painting executed shortly after his death in February of 1294. Image Wikimedia Commons
Finishing the alphabetical theme with the remaining letters, so six questions today with answers beginning with the letters from U to Z, with each letter being used only once, but they are not in alphabetical order. If a question has more than one part it is only the first that conforms to the theme.
One
What word links Shangdu, which was ruled by Kublai Khan and is mentioned in the first line of a Samuel Taylor Coleridge poem, with the title track of a 1980 musical of the same name?
Two
What professional golfer won the U.S. Masters tournament in 2007, and 2015 Open Championship at St. Andrews?
Three
The Macallan, Bunnahabhain and Laphroaig are three examples of what product from the United Kingdom?
The last two mentioned, Bunnahabhain and Laphroaig, both come from what region, an island which is well known for this product?
Four
Which name connects a character from a Charles Dickens’ 1850 novel to the 1972 studio album The Magician’s Birthday?
Five
In what film does Tom Hanks play Joe Fox?
Six
This small fully independent nation-state’s independence was recognised by the Lateran Treaty of 1929. Which nation is it?
