Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. English-born American actor, comedian, TV and movie star Bob Hope (born Leslie Townes Hope) graced the world with his presence for 100 years, from May 29, 1903 to July 27, 2003. He became an American citizen in 1920 and gave freely of his time to entertain U.S. troops stationed overseas in 199 documented U.S.O. sponsored shows, spanning 50 years and six wars. He is probably best known for the "Road" movies in which he starred with Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour. Which of the following was NOT one of them?
2. Steve Kordek was born in Chicago, IL on December 26, 1911. After graduating from high school, he was a forest ranger for a brief time, before turning to the game design field. He was fascinated with pinball machines (the first coin-operated of which had been invented in the early 1930s by movie projectionist David Gottlieb). In 1948 what innovation did Mr. Kordek bring to the standard pinball machine?
3. Israel Isadore Baline, better known as the great American songwriter Irving Berlin, was born May 5, 1888, the son of a cantor. His family emigrated to the United States and settled in New York (1893). He wrote an estimated 1,500 songs during a career that spanned over 60 years. The Songwriter's Hall of Fame welcomed him in 1970, and he has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
In what country was he born?
4. American folk artist, Anna Mary Robertson Moses, better known by the beloved nickname of "Grandma Moses", was born a farmer's daughter, and one of ten children, on September 7, 1860. She and her husband of 40 years had 10 children. In 1948 at the age of 88 she was designated a "Young Woman of the Year" by Mademoiselle magazine, and she was chosen as one of the most newsworthy women in 1950 by the National Press Club. She didn't seriously take up painting until her late 70s. What was the main reason that she did so?
5. U.S. politician Strom Thurmond was a born December 5, 1902. He was a staunch segregationist who, in the course of serving as a U.S. senator from 1954-2003, became the first to reach 100 years of age while still in office.
In 1948 he ran for president against Harry S Truman, but only managed to win four states. What state did he represent as a senator for 49 years?
6. Wenceslao Moreno born April 17, 1896 became better known as the beloved "Senor Wences", a Spanish ventriloquist who gained his fame mostly through his many American TV appearances. He also appeared on Broadway, Las Vegas and in several movies. He usually topped off his routines with a bit of juggling.
On which famous TV variety show did he make his most appearances?
7. Adolph Zukor, a famous Hollywood director/producer/mogul, was born Adolph Cukor on January 7, 1873, in Hungary, and came to America in 1889. He was originally a very successful furrier, who happened to get into the movie business when he loaned some money to a cousin who was already in the industry. To make a long story short, he went on to become the founder of a famous Hollywood motion picture studio. Which one?
8. Now let's talk about someone who REALLY hung around a long time. Chester Cornelius "Red" Hoff was a relatively obscure major league pitcher in the early 1900s. Although he hurled just 83 innings in 23 games over four years, he made his debut a memorable one, striking out the first batter he faced. Which future Hall of Famer was Red's first strike out victim?
9. George Burns was a beloved American vaudevillian, as well as a cigar-chomping comedian, singer, actor and author whose career spanned seven decades. He was born January 29, 1896 and when his dad passed away, he quit school in the fourth grade, and turned to vaudeville. He was a star on radio, TV, and the movies with the highlight of his career being "The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show" which produced almost 300 episodes from 1950-1958.
What was George Burns' birth name?
10. Alright already with these kids! Here is someone who must have really believed in the old saying "never say die'. Many people become part of history for some act of greatness, or perhaps for inventing something that revolutionized the way people lived, but Jeanne Calment became famous by just, well, living. It was something she did for 122 years, 164 days meaning that at the time of her death she was documented as being the oldest person ever to have lived. She passed away August 4, 1997 from, what else, old age. She died in the same town, where she had been born (Arles, France) on February 21, 1875. In 1896, she married her husband Fernand.
What was somewhat unusual about that occasion?
Source: Author
paulmallon
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Snowman before going online.
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