Trivia Quiz?

[phkrause]

18 hours ago, phkrause said:

The Idea for Jeopardy! Came from Merv Griffin's Wife Who Was Making a Joke Inspired by What Event?

Game shows were a huge deal in America until word broke that the networks and studios were fixing the giving contestants the answers to make things more exciting. After the scandal and an ensuing law making the practice illegal, game shows kind of died. But Merv Griffin thought they could still be successful. The idea for Jeopardy! came when his wife, Julann, made a joke inspired by that very scandal: "Why not just give them the answers to start with?" she said. And just like that, a new game show was born. A quiz show where you got the answer and you had to ask the question. They would call it: What's the Question?

Don't worry, they eventually figured out a better name.

 

18 hours ago, phkrause said:

Name the Show’s Original Host and Announcer

Though it may seem like Alex Trebek and Johnny Gilbert have been the host and announcer for Jeopardy since the beginning, they actually didn’t show up until 1984. Before that, the team of Art Fleming and Don Pardo manned the respective helms, doing so from 1964 to 1979. 

To tie this question to the previous one: Weird Al recorded his song in 1983, a year before Trebek took over. The original show lasted until 1979, meaning that we actually went five whole years without televised trivia. Did Al losing horribly in song form prompt the revival? We like to think so.

 

18 hours ago, phkrause said:

What Famous Politician was a Jeopardy Champion Before the Fame?

Celebrity Jeopardy is certainly fun, especially because the questions are so watered-down any of us can ace them. But how many people appeared on Jeopardy as complete unknowns, and then went on to become famous in their own right? Senator John McCain did. In 1965, the future Arizona politician appeared on the show and actually won a game. However, his reign on top would not be a long one, as his inability to guess the name of a character from the novel Wuthering Heights led to his topple from grace the very next day.

 

18 hours ago, phkrause said:

How Long Does It Take to Film a Week's Worth of Jeopardy! Episodes?

Alex Trebek recently inked a new contract that will pay him $10 million a year, that's not bad for a guy who gets most of the week off. Said Alex Trebek in an interview one time, "We film two days a week, Tuesdays and Wednesdays usually. I go into the studio around 6:30 in the morning. The five games we're going to tape that day are given to me at 7:30 a.m. It takes me an hour and a half to go over those five games. We then have a production meeting. We then go to the studio, I get dressed and made up, we tape, and I'm done by 4:30. I get home around 6 p.m., and that's my day. I leave home around 5:50 a.m. and get home at about 5:50 p.m." That's right, he earns that money working two days a week, and he can tape an entire week's worth of episodes in just one day. However, he changes his suit in between each episode to make it feel like time is passing.

But despite a gig most people would kill for, Trebek has recently indicated he's considering retiring. Who could possibly replace the TV giant? That's one question he doesn't have the answer for.

 

18 hours ago, phkrause said:

How Many Times Has Jeopardy! Been Canceled Over the Years?

The problem with Jeopardy! has always been the fear that the game is just too smart for people. Who wants to watch a trivia game where they don't know the answers? Despite good ratings, the network would constantly push Griffin to dumb down the questions, and he would constantly refuse. Over the years, the show got bumped around to different time slots and canceled twice. But Jeopardy! eventually found its footing with a new host they hired in 1984: Alex Trebek.

[phkrause]

18 hours ago, phkrause said:

Who was the first host of the game show Jeopardy?

Art Fleming Dick Clark Merv Griffin Alex Trebek

Answer: Jeopardy! debuted on this day, March 30, 1964. While most of us assume that Jeopardy! came out of the womb hosted by Alex Trebek, that's actually not the case. The show was originally hosted by Art Fleming - an actor who appeared on radio, television and 48 movies. The show was a smash success from the early days, but in 1975, the show shut down, coming back and then leaving again in syndication a few years later. When the show was finally revived in 1984, Trebek was hosting, and he hasn't given up the podium since.

[phkrause]

Which of the following fruits is not a berry?

A. Avocado
B. Watermelon
C. Strawberry
D. Banana

[phkrause]

Which business partnership began by selling watches by mail?

Ben and Jerry Hewlett and Packard Baskin and Robbins Sears and Roebuck

My guess: Sears and Roebuck

[phkrause]

You Would Like Some Eiffel Tower Trivia, Oui?

On March 31, 1889, Gustave Eiffel, an architect and civil engineer, presided over dedication ceremonies for the tower that bears his name. Try your luck with these trivia questions we've put together to mark the anniversary of this historic event.

Why Was the Tower Built?

Which Critical Tower Feature Wasn't Ready on Opening Day?

What Saved the Tower from Scheduled Demolition?

What U.S. Skyscraper Succeeded the Tower as the World's Tallest?

How Much Does It Cost to Paint the Tower?

[phkrause]

Which guitar legend had a hit with the song "Purple Haze"?

Jimmy Page Eric Clapton B.B. King Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix

[phkrause]

17 hours ago, phkrause said:

Which of the following fruits is not a berry?

A. Avocado
B. Watermelon
C. Strawberry
D. Banana

C. Strawberry

The official definition of a berry is "a fleshy fruit produced from a single ovary," making strawberries, which are derived from the area where the plant's ovaries are found (not the ovaries themselves), not technically fruits.

Source: various web sites.

[phkrause]

17 hours ago, phkrause said:

Which business partnership began by selling watches by mail?

Ben and Jerry Hewlett and Packard Baskin and Robbins Sears and Roebuck

My guess: Sears and Roebuck

Answer: In 1886, Richard W. Sears founded the R.W. Sears Watch Company in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to sell watches by mail order. He relocated his business to Chicago in 1887, hired Alvah C. Roebuck to repair watches, and established a mail-order business for watches and jewelry. The company’s first catalog was offered the same year. In 1889, Sears sold his business but a few years later founded, with Roebuck, another mail-order operation, which in 1893 came to be known as Sears, Roebuck and Company.

[phkrause]

16 hours ago, phkrause said:

Why Was the Tower Built?

The tower was designed to be a spectacular architectural centerpiece for the 1889 Exposition Universelle, which was held in Paris from May 6 through October 31, 1889, and coincided with the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the French Revolution. Built over a period of two years, two months, and five days, the tower was a marvel of late-19th-century engineering and construction and was to represent the exposition's theme of "Utopia Achieved." Well in advance of the exposition, the French government held a design competition to select a monument to built on the city's Champ-de-Mars. From the more than 100 designs submitted, Eiffel's design for an open-lattice, wrought-iron tower was selected.

 

16 hours ago, phkrause said:

Which Critical Tower Feature Wasn't Ready on Opening Day?

Not yet completed for the dedication ceremony of Eiffel's imposing tower were its elevators, designed to quickly carry visitors from ground level to the tower's observation level nearly 1,000 feet above the Paris streets. Because the elevators were unavailable, Eiffel had no other option but to climb the tower's 1,710 steps to plant the French flag at the top of the tower. Accompanying Eiffel on this very strenuous exercise were a handful of reporters as well as some members of the Paris City Council. Down below, less hardy members of the city council, some 200 of the project's workers, and other dignitaries conducted another ceremony, one that was marked by a 21-gun salute.

 

16 hours ago, phkrause said:

What Saved the Tower from Scheduled Demolition?

As originally conceived, the exposition's soaring centerpiece was designed to remain in place for 20 years, after which it was to be torn down. In the years after its opening, antennas for wireless transmissions were placed atop the tower, eventually bringing its overall height to 1,063 feet and in the end providing a strong argument for preserving the tower. To help spare the tower from demolition, Eiffel actively encouraged scientific experiments that capitalized on the towering structure's height.

 

16 hours ago, phkrause said:

What U.S. Skyscraper Succeeded the Tower as the World's Tallest?

For just over 40 years, the Eiffel Tower held the title of world's tallest structure. However, in 1930, the opening of the 1,050-foot Chrysler Building in midtown Manhattan succeeded the tower as the world's tallest. In the years since, a number of taller structures have been constructed, dwarfing both the Eiffel Tower and Chrysler Building. The current titleholder, Burj Khalifa, towers 2,722 feet above the streets of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

 

16 hours ago, phkrause said:

How Much Does It Cost to Paint the Tower?

Every seven years, a painting crew refreshes the appearance of the Eiffel Tower with a fresh coat of paint that covers "every crevice, nut, bolt, and beam," according to USAToday.com. In 2009, a 25-man painting crew -- almost all of them foreigners -- slapped on a new coat of "Eiffel Tower brown," the patented paint that for years has accounted for the tower's signature look. The 2009 paint job had a price tag of about 4 million euros ($5.29 million at 2009 exchange rates).

[phkrause]

16 hours ago, phkrause said:

Which guitar legend had a hit with the song "Purple Haze"?

Jimmy Page Eric Clapton B.B. King Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix

Answer: "Purple Haze" is a song written by Jimi Hendrix and released as the second record single by the Jimi Hendrix Experience on March 17, 1967. The song features his inventive guitar playing, which uses the signature Hendrix chord and a mix of blues and Eastern modalities, shaped by novel sound processing techniques. Listeners often interpret the song as referring to a psychedelic experience, although Hendrix described it as a love song. "Purple Haze" is one of Hendrix's best-known songs and appears on many Hendrix compilation albums.

[phkrause]

What is the iconic Barbie doll's full name?

A. Barbara Millicent Roberts
B. Rebecca Anne Roberts
C. Barbara Ruth Handler
D. Lily Anne Grenier

[phkrause]

In 1998, on April Fool's Day, which chain staged a hoax of advertising a hamburger for left-handers?

White Castle Burger King McDonald’s Wendy’s

[phkrause]

Gotcha! Try These April Fools' Day Trivia Questions

It's that time of year: Whoopee cushions are on the chair, and outrageous claims are on news sites.  Try your luck with these trivia questions to see how much you know about April Fools' Day and some of the most awesome pranks ever pulled in its name…

What Is the Origin of April Fools' Day?

When Was the First Reference to April Fools' Day?

What Are Some of the Different Names for the Holiday?

In 1957, What Did the BBC Claim was Growing in Abundance that Spring?

[phkrause]

Which celebrity was shot and killed by his own father on April 1st, 1984?

Marvin Gaye Gianni Versace Tupac Shakur Kurt Cobain

Marvin Gaye??

[phkrause]

18 hours ago, phkrause said:

What is the iconic Barbie doll's full name?

A. Barbara Millicent Roberts
B. Rebecca Anne Roberts
C. Barbara Ruth Handler
D. Lily Anne Grenier

A. Barbara Millicent Roberts

Barbara Millicent Roberts is the doll's full name. She was named after her creator's daughter, Barbara. The rest is fictional.

Source: various web sites.

[phkrause]

18 hours ago, phkrause said:

In 1998, on April Fool's Day, which chain staged a hoax of advertising a hamburger for left-handers?

White Castle Burger King McDonald’s Wendy’s

Answer: In 1998 Burger King published a full page advertisement in USA Today announcing the introduction of a "Left-Handed Whopper" specially designed for the 32 million left-handed Americans. The left-handed whopper had "all condiments rotated 180 degrees, thereby redistributing the weight of the sandwich so that the bulk of the condiments will skew to the left, thereby reducing the amount of lettuce and other toppings from spilling out the right side of the burger." The following day Burger King issued a follow-up release revealing it was a hoax.

[phkrause]

17 hours ago, phkrause said:

What Is the Origin of April Fools' Day?

Although the precise origin of the holiday is uncertain, several theories have been advanced to explain how we came to associate the first day of April with hoaxes, practical jokes, and pranks. One of the most widely circulated explanations suggests that the holiday came into being after the 16th century switch to the Gregorian calendar in most European countries. Under its predecessor, known as the Julian calendar, New Year's Day was celebrated on or about April 1, which was close to the Vernal Equinox and the coming of spring. Under the Gregorian calendar, the first of January was designated as New Year's Day. Adherents to this theory suggest that those who either weren't aware of the calendar change or chose not to follow it continued to celebrate New Year's Day near the beginning of April, marking them as fools in the eyes of their countrymen.

 

17 hours ago, phkrause said:

When Was the First Reference to April Fools' Day?

The first reference to April Fools' Day, as we know it, is a question of some debate. Most scholars agree that Geoffrey Chaucer, the saucy poet who loved a good prank, makes reference to it in “The Nun's Priest's Tale,” written sometime around 1392. The story revolves around a vain rooster pranked by a fox.

And references to it are littered all throughout the Middle Ages. In 1686, the first English reference to it comes biographer John Aubrey, who called it the “Fool's Holy Day.” And in 1698, the first public prank in England was recorded, when crowds of people showed up at the Tower of London, having been told the stone lions were getting a bath, a prank that would be recirculated for at least two hundred years. The real credit, however, goes not to the English but, of all places, France.

 

17 hours ago, phkrause said:

What Are Some of the Different Names for the Holiday?

In an article posted at IBTimes.com, writer Rebecka Schumann notes that April 1 is not just an occasion for tomfoolery but also a time to celebrate the coming of spring. For this reason, April Fools' Day has a certain kinship with Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, and Hilaria, the ancient Roman celebration of spring's arrival, as heralded by the vernal equinox. 

In France, April 1 is widely known as ¨Poisson d'Avril,¨ or April Fish. Children celebrate the holiday by cutting out paper fish that they then surreptitiously fasten to the backs of their playmates. In Scotland, the practical jokes and pranks are stretched out over two days: April 1 is known as Hunt-the-Gowk (cuckoo) Day, while April 2 is known as Taily Day, and is traditionally reserved for pranks that target people's derrieres or bottoms. These are the folks who are said to have originated the practice of affixing ¨Kick Me¨ signs on the backs of others.

 

17 hours ago, phkrause said:

In 1957, What Did the BBC Claim was Growing in Abundance that Spring?

The BBC perpetrated one of the all-time wackiest April Fools’ stunts in history, when they aired a documentary claiming that the year’s spaghetti harvest would be particularly good that year. They went all out too, publishing pictures of people harvesting spaghetti noodles from what appeared to be the elusive spaghetti tree. 

Obviously, this was all hokum, but it didn’t stop scores of viewers from calling the BBC to ask how they could grow their own spaghetti tree. In their defense, the report was presented during what was supposed to be a serious program.

Who was the Contact Person for a Phony 1994 Bill that Would Make it Illegal to Use the Internet While Drunk?

In 1994, PC Computing Magazine columnist John Dvorak wrote that the government was seeking to pass a bill that would make it illegal to get drunk and use the Internet. Since this was 1994 and thus nobody really understood how the Net worked, this “bill” was taken very seriously, to the point where Senator Ted Kennedy had to come out and publicly deny being a sponsor.

Dvorak closed out his column by saying if anyone had questions about the bill, to contact Ms. Lirpa Sloof. That, of course, is April Fools backwards. Sadly, very few people got the joke.

[phkrause]

17 hours ago, phkrause said:

Which celebrity was shot and killed by his own father on April 1st, 1984?

Marvin Gaye Gianni Versace Tupac Shakur Kurt Cobain

Marvin Gaye??

Answer: Marvin Gaye helped to shape the sound of Motown Records in the 1960s and 1970s with a string of hits, including "Let's Get It On," "Sexual Healing" and "I Heard it Through the Grapevine." On April 1, 1984, Marvin Gaye was shot and killed by his own father after he intervened in an argument between his parents. His father claimed he acted in self-defense but would later be convicted of involuntary manslaughter. Gaye died on the day before his 45th birthday.

[phkrause]

Who was the world's first female president of a country?

A. Eva Pern
B. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
C. Imelda Marcos
D. Isabel Martnez de Pern

[phkrause]

Which celebrity is known as Canada’s Centennial Baby?

Alex Trebek Michael J. Fox Pamela Anderson William Shatner

[phkrause]

You Won't Pay a Mint to Try Our Coinage Act Trivia Questions

On April 2, 1792, the U.S. Congress passed the Coinage Act, which officially established the U.S. Mint and charged it with the responsibility of regulating the manufacture and circulation of U.S. coins.  To test your knowledge of the U.S. Mint and the coins it produces, we've put together a few trivia questions for you to try.

How Did Americans Pay for Goods and Services Before U.S. Coins Were Minted?

What Coins Were Produced Under the U.S. Mint's Authority?

When Did the U.S. Mint Stop Using Gold and Silver in Coins?

Is It True That It Costs More to Make a Penny Than the Coin's Face Value?

[phkrause]

In 2012, which company bought the rights to Star Wars?

Disney Comcast Amazon Warner Bros.

Disney??

[phkrause]

On 4/2/2017 at 3:40 PM, phkrause said:

Who was the world's first female president of a country?

A. Eva Pern
B. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
C. Imelda Marcos
D. Isabel Martnez de Pern

D. Isabel Martnez de Pern

Isabel Martnez de Pern assumed the presidency of Argentina when her husband, Juan Pern, died in office in 1974. Isabel was his second wife - the first was the famous Eva, or Evita.

Source: various web sites.

[phkrause]

On 4/2/2017 at 3:52 PM, phkrause said:

Which celebrity is known as Canada’s Centennial Baby?

Alex Trebek Michael J. Fox Pamela Anderson William Shatner

Answer: There has been something special about Pamela Anderson since the day she was born. Pamela Anderson is Canada's Centennial Baby, recognized as being the first baby born on the centennial anniversary of Canada's confederation as a nation. She came into the world at 4:08 am as the first baby born on July 1st, 1967 and since that was the 100th anniversary of Canada, Anderson was dubbed the Centennial Baby. Anderson gained more fame in the pages of Playboy and rose to international fame with her role on Baywatch.

[phkrause]

On 4/2/2017 at 8:04 PM, phkrause said:

How Did Americans Pay for Goods and Services Before U.S. Coins Were Minted?

Before the passage of the Coinage Act of 1792, the barter system was the primary way that Americans paid for goods and services. Although no American coins were available prior to passage of the 1792 law, many in the United States used foreign coins for some transactions. Among the most trusted of these foreign coins sometimes circulated in the United States were the silver Spanish coins known as pieces of eight or Spanish dollars. Each such coin was worth eight reales, the primary Spanish unit of currency. 

 

On 4/2/2017 at 8:04 PM, phkrause said:

What Coins Were Produced Under the U.S. Mint's Authority?

According to Investopedia, the first coins produced by the U.S. Mint were made of gold, silver, or copper. The following are the first coins to be circulated after passage of the Coinage Act of 1792:

• $10 gold eagle with 17.5 grams of pure gold.
• $5 gold half-eagles with 8.75 grams of pure gold.
• $2.50 quarter-eagles with 4.37 grams of standard gold.
• $1 dollars with 27 grams of pure silver.
• Half-dollars with 13.5 grams of standard silver.
• Quarter-dollars with 6.74 grams of standard silver.
• Dimes, spelled ¨dismes¨ until the 1800s, with 2.7 grams of standard silver.
• Half-dimes with 1.35 grams of standard silver.
• One cent with 17.1 grams of copper.
• Half-cents with 8.55 grams of copper.

  On 4/2/2017 at 8:04 PM, phkrause said:

  When Did the U.S. Mint Stop Using Gold and Silver in Coins?

  Because of widespread hoarding of gold during the Great Depression, the U.S. Mint in 1933 halted the production of gold coins. However, dimes, quarters, half-dollars, and dollar coins continued to be produced with roughly 90 percent silver until the 1960s when a silver shortage prompted the U.S. Mint to gradually decrease the amount of silver in coins until its use was completely phased out. 

   

  On 4/2/2017 at 8:04 PM, phkrause said:

  Is It True That It Costs More to Make a Penny Than the Coin's Face Value?

  According to the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. Mint spent 1.5 cents to produce every one-cent coin, or penny, during fiscal year 2016. The rising cost of producing pennies has prompted calls to discontinue this coin altogether. The 1.5-cent production cost, however, represented a decline from the 2.4 cents it cost to produce a penny in 2011. Despite efforts to cut the costs of manufacturing the copper coin, it seems unlikely that the cost of making it will ever sink below one cent