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Quiz about Irving Berlin is American Music

Irving Berlin is American Music Quiz

From Tin Pan Alley to Broadway and Hollywood, Irving Berlin wrote over thousand songs. This is a quiz surveying his career, his life, and a few of his tunes.

A multiple-choice quiz by Yowsers74. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
Yowsers74

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
278,707

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
4 / 10

Plays
480

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Although he could not write or read music, Irving Berlin played on a special kind of piano that he named after a brand of car. What was the name of the car? Hint

Rolls Royce

Cadillac

Buick

Chrysler

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Question 2 of 10

2. Which extraordinary song writing team produced Irving Berlin's most enduring Broadway musical comedy, "Annie Get Your Gun"? Hint

Cohan and Harris

Rodgers and Hart

Rodgers and Hammerstein

Lerner and Loewe

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Question 3 of 10

3. What was Irving Berlin's first "hit" song? Hint

Alexander's Ragtime Band

Marie from Sunny Italy

Mammy

Blue Skies

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Question 4 of 10

4. Irving Berlin built a Broadway theater designed as a showcase for his musical revues. What is the name of the theater? Hint

The Neil Simon, formerly the Alvin

New Amsterdam

Winter Garden

The Music Box

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Question 5 of 10

5. Irving Berlin was born of Russian-Jewish parents in Mogilev, Belarus; however, the family soon immigrated to the United States in 1883. What was Berlin's original surname? Hint

Balinozsky

Baline

Isidore

Berlin

6. Irving Berlin embraced his adopted country with open arms and was very patriotic. To support the American troops during both World Wars, he wrote two revues, one of which was made into a movie. What are the names of these two shows? Hint

"Watch Your Step" and "This is the Army"

"God Bless America" and "Oh, How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning"

"Yip Yip Yaphank" and "This is the Army"

"The Army Show" and "Irving Berlin's Army Revue"

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Question 7 of 10

7. Irving Berlin wrote his first original Hollywood film musical score for which screen pair? Hint

Ethel Merman and Bing Crosby

Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers

Howard Keel and Betty Hutton

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Question 8 of 10

8. All the songs in this Irving Berlin movie musical reached the Top 15 simultaneously on the charts when the radio program "Your Hit Parade" was broadcast in 1935. Which movie was it? Hint

Top Hat

Face the Music

There's No Business Like Show Business

White Christmas

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Question 9 of 10

9. Although Berlin was very proud of his adopted homeland, he once composed a song as a tribute to another nation. Which nation and song was it? Hint

Heaven Watch the Philippines (Philippines)

God Save the Queen (United Kingdom)

Sunrise, Sunset (Israel)

Bonjour Paris, Viva la France (France)

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Question 10 of 10

10. Irving Berlin wrote his last original Broadway musical score for which musical? Hint

Mr. President

Silk Stockings

Miss Liberty

The Sound of Music

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Although he could not write or read music, Irving Berlin played on a special kind of piano that he named after a brand of car. What was the name of the car?

Answer: Buick

In fact, Berlin could only play in one key, F sharp major (all the black keys) and when he wanted to transpose a song to a different key, there was a lever on the piano that changed the key for him.

2. Which extraordinary song writing team produced Irving Berlin's most enduring Broadway musical comedy, "Annie Get Your Gun"?

Answer: Rodgers and Hammerstein

Originally, Rodgers and Hammerstein had commissioned Jerome Kern to write the score with co-librettist Dorothy Fields, however Kern passed away before writing a single note.

3. What was Irving Berlin's first "hit" song?

Answer: Marie from Sunny Italy

Although this was his first hit song, he only wrote the lyrics. The music was written by M. Nicholson.

4. Irving Berlin built a Broadway theater designed as a showcase for his musical revues. What is the name of the theater?

Answer: The Music Box

Built in 1921, The Music Box is still going strong and is one of the most "intimate" Broadway theaters seating only 860.

5. Irving Berlin was born of Russian-Jewish parents in Mogilev, Belarus; however, the family soon immigrated to the United States in 1883. What was Berlin's original surname?

Answer: Baline

Irving Berlin came upon his name due to a printer's error that appeared on the sheet music cover of his song, "Marie from Sunny Italy".

Answer: "Yip Yip Yaphank" and "This is the Army"

Berlin wrote "Yip Yip Yaphank" while he was in the army during World War I. "This is the Army" included songs from "Yip Yip Yaphank", as well as new songs. The movie of "This is the Army" featured a future president, Ronald Reagan, and Irving Berlin singing one of his favorite songs, "Oh, How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning".

7. Irving Berlin wrote his first original Hollywood film musical score for which screen pair?

Answer: Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers

Irving Berlin wrote the songs for six films starring Fred Astaire including "Top Hat", "Follow the Fleet", "Carefree", "Holiday Inn", "Blue Skies", and "Easter Parade".

8. All the songs in this Irving Berlin movie musical reached the Top 15 simultaneously on the charts when the radio program "Your Hit Parade" was broadcast in 1935. Which movie was it?

Answer: Top Hat

"Top Hat" featured such unforgettable tunes as "Cheek to Cheek", which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song. The other hit tunes include "Top Hat, White Tie, and Tails", "Isn't This a Lovely Day", "No Strings", and "The Piccolino".

9. Although Berlin was very proud of his adopted homeland, he once composed a song as a tribute to another nation. Which nation and song was it?

Answer: Heaven Watch the Philippines (Philippines)

It was in 1945, while he was in Leyte, Philippines entertaining the American liberation troops, he composed the song, "Heaven Watch the Philippines".

10. Irving Berlin wrote his last original Broadway musical score for which musical?

Answer: Mr. President

"Mr. President" opened on Broadway at the St. James Theater, October 20, 1962 and ran for 265 performances.

Source: Author Yowsers74

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