Things I Learned From Reading 5 Quiz

Answer: Watch

The first commercial to air on TV was for Bulova watches. The commercial aired during the Phillies/Dodgers game on July 1, 1941. The ten second commercial cost $9.

Ironically on July 1,1971, the last cigarette commercial to air on TV was during the "The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson". The commercial was for Virginia Slims and aired at 11:50pm on NBC.

The first TV commercial for alcohol aired in 1996 for Seagram's Crown Royal.

Commercials for children's programming could last 12 minutes during an hour of TV in the week and 10.5 minutes during an hour of TV on the weekend.

Answer: New York

On September 19, 1896, the first marathon in the United States ended in New York City by the Knickerbocker Athletic Club. The race was twenty-four miles long and started in Connecticut and ended in New York. One year later, John McDermott won the first Boston Athletic Association marathon (now known as Boston Marathon).

Answer: Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln was the first president of the United States to hold the patent, #6469. It was a device used to move boats over shoals. He filed the patent on March 10, 1849 and built a replica of what the device would look like. The device was never developed. However, the replica can be seen at the National Museum of American History in Washington D.C.

Answer: New Mexico

New Mexico's official state question is: "Green or red?". The question refers to what color chili sauce you like on your food. The question was asked in 1996 by the New Mexico State Legislature.

By the way, New Mexico's state bird is the greater roadrunner and its state flower is the yucca. New Mexico is the first state to have an official question.

Answer: Baby Desi Arnaz, Jr.

Desi Arnaz, Jr. was born on the same day as Little Ricky Ricardo on "I Love Lucy". The first issues of "TV Guide" ran from Friday to the following Thursday. A year later, issues of "TV Guide" ran from Saturday to the following Friday. Subsequently, Lucille Ball was featured on more covers of "TV Guide" than anyone else.

Answer: female

Jennie Hodgers was born to an immigrant father who needed a boy to help with farm work so Jennie created a male identity, Albert Cashier. Jennie was nineteen when she enlisted in the Infantry as Albert Cashier. As Albert, Jennie did any job that was asked of her and never complained. She fought at the Battle of Vicksburg and 39 other Civil War engagements. Even when she was sick or injured, Jennie never went to the infantry doctor because she was afraid her secret would be discovered.

In 1865, as Albert Cashier, Jennie was honorably discharged. When her secret was discovered in 1914, the pension that went to Albert Cashier was revoked. Only when Albert Cashier's fellow soldiers testified about Albert's bravery and work in the Infantry was the pension restored. A grave marker has Albert Cashier's name, date of birth and date of death while a second grave marker was installed with Jennie's name, date of birth and date of death next to Albert Cashier's grave marker.

Answer: James Madison

Lucy Payne was the sister-in-law of James Madison. She was the first person to be married in the White House. On March 29, 1812, Lucy married Supreme Court Associate Thomas Todd. Between the two of them they already had eight children when they married. (Lucy had three and Thomas had five).

Answer: Japan

Soldiers during War World II in Japan brought home rice paper sandals called zōris. In the United States, rice paper didn't hold up for walking so rubber was substituted. The flip-flop received its name from the sound the shoe made when it hit solid ground.

Answer: Pepsi

After Khrushchev had his first cup of Pepsi in Moscow at the 1959 American National Exhibition he was so in love with the soft drink that he traded thirteen million dollars worth of Russia vodka for American Pepsi. By 1989, Russia had switched vodka for weapons and ships for Pepsi. The United States donated everything to Sweden as scrap metal.

Answer: Gunsmoke

On the September 10, 1955 premiere episode of "Gunsmoke", John Wayne took one minute and twenty-four seconds to introduce the show to the TV viewing world. James Arness said the cast knew nothing of the introduction until they all watched the first episode on TV.

Answer: Henry Ford

In 1926, Henry Ford, owner of Ford Motor Company, started the five day work week for Ford's factory workers and then later the rest of the company's employees.

In 1869, President Eisenhower started the five day eight hour work week for federal employees and in 1937 the five day forty-hour work week for all other workers.

Answer: Johnny Carson

Hasbro had trouble selling the board game "Twister" which comprised of a white plastic sheet with colored dots and a spinner board. The object of the game was to see if a player could stay upright the longest while tangled up with other players. On May 31, 1966, Johnny Carson had Eva Gabor on as his guest.

He and Eva played "Twister" during that night's show. On June 1, 1966, "Twister" was selling off the shelves and the company was inundated with orders for more.

Answer: Ohio

The first traffic light in the United States was installed in Cleveland, Ohio on the corner of West 105th Street and Euclid Avenue. The traffic light was installed on August 5, 1914.

Answer: Academy Awards

When the Oscars aired for the first time on May 16, 1929, there was no red carpet. That tradition began before the 1961 Oscars. Tickets for the Oscars cost $5. Only twelve categories were announced and the winners were informed before hand in February.

Answer: Change of Habit

"Change of Habit" was first released in 1969. The movie starred Mary Tyler Moore ("The Mary Tyler Moore Show") and Jane Elliot ("General Hospital") as nuns who wore civilian clothes instead of habits to keep from being ostracized by the community. They work closely at a clinic with a doctor played by Elvis Presley, who falls in love with Mary Tyler Moore's character, not knowing she is a nun.