Entertaining Common Bond Quiz 4

Answer: Tennessee

Tennessee got its nickname from the courage shown by its volunteer soldiers in the Battle of New Orleans under Gen. Andrew Jackson during the War of 1812. Tennessee has also been called "The Big Bend State", in reference to the Tennessee river.

Answer: Williams

In 2001, Venus and Serena became the first sisters in decades, and the first African Americans ever, to play against each other in the U.S. Open. They each started playing tennis at the age of four with found tennis balls because the family could not afford new ones. They can probably afford a can or two now.

Answer: Maggie

The sitcom starred Miriam Flynn, best known as Cousin Catherine in the "Vacation" movies, and the voice of Maa, the ewe in "Babe". For some reason, Bombeck's humor did not translate well to the small screen, either that or it just wasn't given a chance. Seven years later, Roseanne Barr would bring her own "domestic goddess" to television.

In the 1990's Harry Anderson played another columnist, Dave Barry, in "Dave's World". The hint referred to Maggie Smith, who has played Prof. Minerva McGonagall in both "Harry Potter" films.

Answer: Bricks

A mason uses layers of strong material, such as brick or stone. The craft of masonry originated when early man imitated the style of rare natural caves by piling stones atop one another. The word "mason", however, did not come into use until it was taken from the Old English word "macian" meaning "to make" or "to build".

The English got it from the Old French word "macon" and the French got that word from the Germans. The French got the name of their country from the Germans as well.

Answer: Skipper

Skipper was introduced in 1964, five years after Barbie and three years after Ken (whom Skipper quickly outsold). Skipper was first introduced as a brunette, but a new model was soon introduced with the same shade of blond hair as Barbie's. Other siblings followed, including one brother, Todd. Barbie also has had popular friends named Midge and Christie.

Answer: Daddy's Dyin'...Who's Got the Will?

The plot is pretty much spelled out in the title. Southern family members are reunited on the deathbed of their father, Buford Turnover. This movie was the film debut of Sissy Spacek's daughter Schuyler Fisk, who was 8 years old at the time. The screenplay was written by Del Shores, who went on to direct the 2000 cult hit, "Sordid Lives" and Showtime's "The Wilde Girls", both of which featured Olivia Newton-John.

Answer: an ex-football player

Jack F. Kemp played professional football for thirteen years. He was quarterback for both the San Diego Chargers and the Buffalo Bills. One of the reasons he was selected to run was because he was more of a moderate than conservative Bob Dole, and might have lured more voters away from Bill Clinton, who was re-elected. Kemp seems especially moderate in light of Clinton's right-wing successor, George W. Bush.

Answer: "Break a leg"

One theory of how this phrase originated is that it refers to John Wilkes Booth jumping from the stage and breaking his leg after assassinating U.S. president Abraham Lincoln. Another says it originated in the German military during World War I, and then spread to the theatre.

The German phrase, "Hals-und Beinbruch" literally translates as "a broken neck and a broken leg". Yet another theory says that it came from Shakespeare's times - those standing by the stage would drool and dribble and the actors could slip in the result on stage - to break a leg in this way meant you were doing a good job.

Answer: "Happy Birthday to You"

It was originally called "Good Morning to All", which they sang to their students. One of their relatives finally thought to copyright it after it started being used in plays, and later movies. Now if you hear "Happy Birthday to You" sung in a movie, you will see the Hill sisters' names in the credits.

Answer: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" was written by TENNESSEE WILLIAMS in 1955. It is the story of MAGGIE ("The Cat"), a sexually frustrated woman whose husband BRICK is AN EX-FOOTBALL PLAYER who BROKE A LEG on his old playing field in a drunken stupor. Brick is obsessed with the memory of his beloved teammate SKIPPER, who committed suicide over the fact that he was in love with Brick. Maggie and Brick, along with brother Gooper and sister-in-law Mae, have been gathered by Big Mama to wish a final HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Big DADDY, who is DYING of cancer. Nasty Mae wants to see to it that Brick and Maggie are left out of the WILL. "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" was shocking when it was first produced.

The 1958 movie glossed over much of the subject matter, but it's there if you read between the lines. Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman, Burl Ives, and Dame Judith Andersen were all praised for their performances.

The 1976 TV remake starred Natalie Wood, Robert Wagner, Sir Laurence Olivier, and Maureen Stapleton.

The 1985 PBS version starred Jessica Lange, Tommy Lee Jones, Rip Torn, and Kim Stanley. The play still packs a dramatic wallop, despite the dated old-fashionedness of the family it depicts. Williams' other plays include "The Glass Menagerie", "A Streetcar Named Desire", and "Suddenly Last Summer". Thanks for playing!