Pete's 'Today In History' Quiz: New York

Showing posts with label New York. Show all posts

Friday, 9 October 2009

EDF World Half Marathon - Birmingham

On Sunday the EDF World Half Marathon Championship is taking place in Birmingham, which is great news for the city. However, there's a slight problem for me - I live inside the circuit, so for several hours on Sunday I'll be a 'prisoner' in my own neighbourhood! Actually it's not such a problem as I've no plans for going anywhere on Sunday. I called the hotline to find out what arrangements had been made if I needed to use my car, but we've only just had the details through out letterboxes today! As long as I remember to get all my food before the day I should be alright (I can still go to the local Co-op as well!)

Your Friday questions are: -

Which memorial garden to John Lennon opened in New York today in 1985 on what would have been his 45th birthday?
Scottish actor Alastair Sim (right) was born today in 1900 and played the headmistress in the first two films about which school?
Which Swedish golfer and winner of ten LPGA Major titles was born today in 1970?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Corporal Alvin C York (later Sergeant); 2. "Gorillas in the Mist"; 3. Pakistan (Kashmir)

Monday, 28 September 2009

The Easy Quiz Master

It's been a while since I plugged my own book, "The Easy Quiz Master". It is a simple book that contains enough quiz questions to run one quiz per week for a whole year! That's five rounds of ten questions per round for each quiz. For ANYONE who is looking to run a regular quiz it is an invaluable resource! It is available via Lulu.com and Amazon.

Your Monday questions are: -

Which Chinese philosopher is traditionally believed to have been born today in 551 BC?
French actress Sylvia Kristel (right) was born today in 1952 and played the title role in which 1974 erotic film?
Who was born today in 1960 in New York and had a UK No 1 single in 1985 with "The Power of Love"?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Queen Elizabeth (future Queen Mother); 2. "Shakespeare in Love"; 3. Meat Loaf

Thursday, 6 August 2009

Argentina - Debt Delays Football Season

The start of the Argentine football season has been delayed because many of the teams are so far in debt that they can't pay their players! The season was due to start on 14th August but has been delayed indefinitely! This is a clear warning to all football clubs worldwide, it could happen here!

Thursday's questions are: -

Which of the Spice Girls was born today in 1972 in Watford?
Actress Barbara Windsor (right) was born today in 1937 and has appeared in how many "Carry On" films?
Today in 1890 at Auburn Prison, New York, murderer William Kemmler became the first person to be executed by what method?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Neil Armstrong; 2. 'The Pink Panther' ; 3. Air Traffic Controllers

Wednesday, 8 July 2009

The Ashes - First Test Match in Cardiff

Today sees the renewal of an old rivalry when England take on Australia in the first Ashes Test Match at Cardiff. This is the first time a test match has been played on this ground, so it should be interesting as neither side should have any advantage. Let's hope it is as close and as tensely interesting as in 2005!

Your Wednesday questions are: -

Which poet drowned today in 1822 off the coast of Italy, aged 29?
Israeli politician Tzipi Livni (right) was born today in 1958 and, in 2008, became Prime Minister as leader of which political party?
Which newspaper was first published today in 1889 by Dow Jones & Company of New York?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Pierre Cardin; 2. "Worzel Gummidge"; 3. Sliced Bread

Monday, 8 June 2009

Yasmina Wins The Apprentice

In a tense and exciting final Yasmina Siadatan just edged out Kate Walsh as Sir Alan Sugar's new Apprentice. It was a close run thing and I think if he could, Sir Alan might have been tempted to give both of them a job! I would quite happily work for either of the finalists as they both seem to know how to manage people and get the best results - a rare ability in "The Apprentice"!

Monday's posers: -

Who was born today in 1867 and designed the Guggenheim Museum building in New York?
In 2007 what was the first UK No 1 single for Kanye West (right) who was born today in 1977?
At which airport was James Earl Ray, assassin of Martin Luther King, apprehended today in 1968?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Edward "Bear" Grylls; 2. Philippines; 3. "Driving Miss Daisy"

Saturday, 30 May 2009

Back Home

Holiday over, time to get back home, pick up the post, get depressed at the bills, start doing the clothes washing and generally get back down to the normal routine of life! Then it'll be time to find out where I'm drinking and eating tonight...life gets back to normal!!

Your Saturday questions are: -

Who became Henry VIII's third wife today in 1536?
Which actor was born today in 1953 and played Chief Miles O'Brien (right) in "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine"?
Which New York venue changed it's name from Gilmores Garden today in 1879?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Gilbert Keith; 2. Annette Bening; 3. Manchester United

Sunday, 24 May 2009

Long Itchington and Beyond

Lunchtime at the Two Boats, hopefully in glorious sunshine, and then onwards towards Braunston - the centre of the canal system.

Sunday's questions are: -

Which American singer was born Robert Zimmerman today in 1941?
Actress Kristin Scott Thomas (right) was born today in 1960 and played Katharine Clifton in which multi-Oscar winning 1996 film?
After 14 years of construction, what opened to traffic in New York today in 1883?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Franz Mesmer; 2. Chess; 3. Bonnie Parker & Clyde Barrow

Monday, 4 May 2009

Ancient New York Tsunami

Apparently, about 2,300 years ago a massive tsunami crashed into the New York region of North America. (see this link) While researching this I came across the United States Geological Survey website, which for trivia nuts like me, is a gold mine of information for use in quizzes!

Is this possible today? The answer is "Yes!". In fact, terrorists armed with the right weapons could wreak such havoc on the Eastern Seaboard of the USA! Well, that's my theory and I've written a film outline that exploits this possibility. All it now needs is a proper thriller writer to turn it into a screenplay and we could all be richly entertained!

Your Bank Holiday Monday questions are: -

Today in 2003, Idaho Gem was the first clone of which animal family to be born?
Actress Audrey Hepburn (right), who was born today in 1929, won an Oscar for her performance in which 1953 romantic comedy co-starring Gregory Peck?
Who entered Atlanta US Penitentiary today in 1932 for tax evasion?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Jamaica; 2. True; 3. Stephen Hendry

Friday, 17 April 2009

A Question of Genius - FINAL

This afternoon sees the final of "A Question of Genius" on BBC 2 at 4:30 pm presented by Kirsty Wark! As the second placed person on the leaderboard I was involved in the episode - but as always, I cannot reveal what happens. I can say, though, that it was another enjoyable experience and you'll just have to wait and see how it goes. And if you miss it, there's always BBC i-Player where you can catch up with this and many other BBC programmes.

Your Friday questions are: -

Which cartoon duck made his first appearance in "Porky's Duck Hunt" today in 1937?
Which of the Spice Girls (right) was born today in 1974?
Which sports stadium opened in New York today in 1964?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Great Train Robbery; 2. "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" 1; 3. Virginia Tech

Tuesday, 24 March 2009

New Labour Sleaze

Does anyone remember when Tony Blair was elected in 1997 saying that New Labour were going to be 'whiter than white'? Tony Blair isn't in charge any more, but his party is looking increasingly sleazy as various ministers try to defend their expenses. Hot on the heels of Home Secretary Jacqui Smith comes Employment Minister Tony McNulty saying that he hasn't broken any rules - that's as may be, but what about decency and honour? I don't think too many current politicians know the meaning of these words!

Tuesday's teasers for you are: -

Which fashion designer was born today in 1951 in Elmira, New York?
John Harrison (right) was born today in 1693 and invented what essential device for global navigation?
Quarterback Peyton Manning (below), born today in 1976, was MVP in Superbowl XLI playing for which team?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Elisha G Otis; 2. Virgil 'Gus' Grissom; 3. Oxford (Iffley Road)

Monday, 23 March 2009

March 23 - Day of Speed?

While researching for today's questions I came across an inordinately large number of 'speed freaks' who were born On This Day in History! First was Donald Campbell (1921), then came Craig Breedlove (1937) both holders of world land speed records in their day. Then follow Belgian Wim Eyckmans (1973), Brit Dougie Lampkin (1976), Brazilian Ricardo Zonta (1976), American Erin Crocker (1981) and Italian Andrea Dovizioso (1986). Coincidence, or is there something special about today? Who can say?

Monday's posers for you are: -

Whose first elevator was installed at 488 Broadway, New York today in 1857?
Who became the first man to fly in space twice with the launch of Gemini 3 today in 1965?
Sir Roger Bannister (below), who was born today in 1929, became the first person to run a sub-four minute mile in which city in 1954?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Marcel Marceau; 2. "Walk the Line"; 3. Figure Skating

Wednesday, 18 March 2009

Barack Obama is Irish (Partly)!

On St Patrick's Day Barack Obama (or should it be O'Bama?) reminded us that his great-great-great grandfather hailed from the Irish county of Offlay. I was also reminded of the song by the Irish band Hardy Drew and the Nancy Boys "There's No-one as irish as Barack Obama"! (link here)

Your Wednesday questions are: -

What sentence did the 'Tolpuddle Martyrs' receive today in 1834?
What nationality is jazz saxophonist Courtney Pine (right) who was born today in 1964?
Which financial services company was founded today in 1850 in Albany, New York by Henry Wells, William Fargo and John Butterfield?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Rudolf Nureyev; 2. "The Bold and the Beautiful" ; 3. Julius Caesar

Sunday, 22 February 2009

Atlantis Lost, Found, Lost Again

The lost city of Atlantis seemed to have been rediscovered by Google Earth this week. Google have moved swiftly to explain that the grid pattern seen on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean isn't Atlantis. Oh well, we'll just have to keep looking for it!!

Sunday's quizzing foursome are: -

In which country was golfer Vijay Singh (right) born today in 1963?

Who wrote the play “Lady Windermere’s Fan” which was first performed today in 1892?

Who opened the first of his 'five and dime' stores in Utica, New York today in 1879?

What character in “Star Trek; Voyager” was played by Jeri Ryan who was born today in 1968?

Yesterday's Answers: 1. Identity Cards; 2. Sideshow Bob; 3. Polaroid