Special Sub-Topic: Valentine's Day Memoirs Click Here To Play: Valentine's Day Memoirs

It's February 14th, 1859: the birthday of George Washington Gale Ferris. What fairground attraction still bears his name?

Wheel. He was an engineer who began in the railroads and later set up his own company to test steel strength. He invented the Ferris wheel for the Chicago World Fair in 1893.

It's Valentine's Day in 1866 and the first daylight bank robbery is committed in the USA. In what state did this crime take place?

Missouri. Liberty, Missouri was the scene of the crime. $57,000 was stolen by a gang led by Frank and Jesse James.

James Cook was murdered in the Sandwich Islands on Valentine's Day in 1779. By what name are these islands now known?

Hawaii. Cook called these islands the Sandwich Islands after one of his patrons John Montague, the Earl of Sandwich.

You are in London in 1895 and THE play to attend (though no one knew it then) is the last one written by Oscar Wilde. Which is it?

The Importance of Being Earnest. It opened in St. James' Theatre in London. Wilde was brought to court and found guilty of homosexuality, a crime at that time. He lost his money, home and family as a result. He died in Paris allegedly muttering, 'either the wallpaper or I must go'.

Complete this famous young Russian lady's name: ....... Tereshkova.

Valentina. She spent three days in space and orbitted the earth 48 times in 1963. It's not a lot today, but was groundbreaking stuff back then.

The Victorians had an elaborate language of flowers. Which colour of a rose stands for 'eternal love'?

White. Red = I love only you, pink = happiness, crimson = mourning (especially a dark crimson). Be careful what you buy is my message.

In what year did Alexander Graham Bell apply for a patent for the telephone?

1876. Valentine's Day, 1876. My, how the telephone has changed since. In 2001 30m. mobile short text messages were sent in the UK asking WUBMV, AGH!

Which two US states joined the Union on Valentine's Day (not in the same year, though).

Oregon and Arizona. In 1859 Oregon became the 33 state and in 1912 Arizona became the 48 state. Joining on February 14th seems to me a such a good omen.

February 14 th, 1894 and Benjamin Kubelsky arrived on planet Earth. By what name was this comic better known?

Jack Benny. Jack Benny was a star of both radio and tv. He always let on to be very tight with money and wove many jokes around it. He was also a very accomplished musician.

In the 1700s and 1800s, what were 'Valentine writers'?

Handbooks. These were little handbooks of verses which were bought and brought home. There they were painstakingly copied and hand-decorated with ribbons and lace before being sent to 'beloved'. Just a romantic note to end on.