Ben Fernandez

Here’s Lookin’ At You, Sweetheart

August 5, 2018 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

My favorite all time movie star was Humphrey Bogart. Many of you may not know him, but he had a 15 year run unmatched by anyone. Let’s see if you can deal with a few “Bogie” questions.

1. Bogie began his movie career in 1936 playing Duke Mantee, a runaway gangster, holing up in the Black Mesa Barbecue with Bette Davis and Leslie Howard. What was the name of this film, based on a Broadway play?

2. He then spent the rest of the 30s playing gangsters, a version of Mantee, being shot down by Edward G. Robinson or James Cagney. This changed for good when he was cast as the lead in a film where he played a sympathetic ex-con with Ida Lupino, pulling one last job. He is shot on top of Mt. Whitney. What is the name of that flick?

3. He hit his stride in 1941, when he made The Maltese Falcon, possibly the first film noir. He played a shrewd private detective on the search of the killer of his partner. What is his name in that memorable movie?

4. He became a romantic leading man in 1943 in one of America’s favorite movies, Casablanca. It was just another movie when it was made, but America has loved it ever since. Bogie does a great job as a cynic and a sufferer of lost love. He owns a bar in the title city. His piano player plays their song of love throughout the film. What was that song?

5. My favorite all time movie is Treasure of the Sierra Madre which featured Bogie as a grifter in Mexico seeking gold in the hills. One of the most famous scenes features a Mexican bandit attempting to convince Bogie’s group that they are Federales. What is the head bandit’s reply when Bogie asks them to show their badges?

6. Bogie never won an Academy Award until 1951 when he played a gin soaked captain of a leaking boat on an African river in The African Queen. His shipmate was a prudish minister’s sister, who falls in love with him and convinces him to sink a German ship during WWII. They do it. What famous movie actress played his lady love?

TrivEal Goof-upS!

July 9, 2018 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

We’ll, we do it sometimes. We don’t mean to, but it happens, doesn’t it? I made a mistake last month and you guys caught it. If I were truly devious, I would say I did it on purpose to see if anyone was really reading this nonsense. I am happy to say you are reading it, so Thank You. Let’s look at famous faux pas in history.

Most famous error in World Series history occurred in 1986 when Red Sox first baseman, Bill Buckner let a slow roller go through his legs and allowed the winning run to score for the NY Mets. Who hit the slow roller?

I was there and saw it happen on 10/25/64 at Kezar Stadium when the 49ers faced the Vikings. After a short pass to 49er Billy Kilmer, the ball was fumbled and picked up by a Viking defensive end. What does he do but run the wrong way to the 49er end zone. Who was this otherwise fine football player who became famous for running the wrong way?

In the early 30s, a pilot allegedly flew the wrong way. He was supposed to be flying from the East Coast to the Midwest, but ended up flying to Ireland. This was in the days when flyers did not cross the Atlantic without fan fare. Always referred after this as “Wrong Way,” who was he?

One of the most somber of Alfred Hitchcock’s movies was 1957’s “The Wrong Man.” Who played the wrongly accused man, who is finally freed in the last scene?

Super Bowl XXXVIII had its biggest controversy during the halftime when Janet Jackson’s wardrobe “malfunctioned” while being yanked on by a famous singer. Who was he?

The annual Oscar telecast is usually fairly reliable for not messing up award winners, but last year they did a doozy. The wrong movie was named as the Best Movie of the year, the most important award. The winner was “Moonlight,” but the presenters announce “LaLaLand” as the winner. After a short period, the winning name was announced. Who were the oblivious presenters who announced the wrong name?

Agatha Christie Trivia

June 9, 2018 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

One of the greatest experiences when I was young, (an awfully long time ago) was devouring Agatha Christie mystery novels. They have never gone out of date, so let’s have a go at it.

1. Her most memorable character was super sleuth Hercule Poirot. What nationality was Poirot?

2. Poirot gave credit to his super sleuthing to what special power of his brain?

3. Christie also wrote books about a female super sleuth, who was British and elderly. Who was she?

4. That lady sleuth appeared in a series of books with a common word in all the titles. What was that word?

5. Christie wrote a play that may still be playing on the London stage. It has run for at least 30 years. What is the name of that play?

6. And Then There Were None is possibly her most popular book. It has been released as a movie at least four times. What is another title it frequently goes by?

Kings X 2018 Top Trivia

May 10, 2018 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

The 38th Annual Kings X Trivia Tournament was held April 25 at Magoo’s Restaurant in Pleasant Hill. The team named It’s Neither Ceased Nor Salmon captained by John Prokofiev won a hotly contested battle. John’s reward is he gets to do the questions next year. The moderator for the tournament was Darrell Garrison, a longtime Trivia stalwart, who unsurprisingly, did a fabulous job of offering interesting, but challenging questions to the assembled experts. He has been kind enough to share a few of them with you, dear reader.

1. His number 14 jersey has been retired by the Warriors and he played for them in Philadelphia and San Francisco. Who was he?

2. Now age 97, she sang at halftime in Super Bowl IV and VI. Who was she?

3. She just recorded a top selling British recording of her hits at her 100th birthday. She received one of the highest honors that Britain grants. Who is she?

4. Abraham Lincoln’s son, Robert Todd, was once saved from a serious accident on a train by what man?

5. What CBS TV show appeared 547 times, which is second to Gunsmoke in CBS history?

6. What is considered to be the oldest fast food chain in American history? It started in 1921.

Presidential Trivia

April 8, 2018 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

Sure been talking a whole bunch lately about the U.S. Presidency. Let’s have a little fun swapping “real news” about presidents of the past.

1. Which president was the first to call his home the White House?

2. Which two ex-presidents died in the same year 1826, the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence?

3. Which president was the first to appoint an African American to his cabinet?

4. Who was the first president to install a bathtub in the Executive Mansion (what it was called prior to White House)? What did they do before this?

5. Who was the only President elected to four terms?

6. Who was the President to build a Library and include the First Bible in the Executive Mansion?

Play Ball!

March 8, 2018 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

Life returns as baseball season has begun once again. It is hard to believe that the Giants are celebrating the 60th anniversary of their first year in San Francisco. Almost as hard to believe the A’s are celebrating 50 years in Oakland. Let’s look back at those first years in our Bay Area.

1. The Giants played their first game at home. Candlestick Park had not be built yet. Where was the game played that day (and all home games that year?)

2. Reuben Gomez threw the opening game, but who was the leading pitcher for the Giants that year with 16 wins?

3. That was a period prior to homerun onslaughts. The Giants s leader hit 29 dingers (had to use that expression). Who was he?

4. The A’s opened on the road in 1968. They played their first home game on April 17,1968. Who was their starting pitcher that day?

5. Now, it gets tough. Who was their first baseman that day (or should I say night?)

6. If that one was tough, who was their second baseman that night?

We Love Valentine Trivia

February 8, 2018 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

Don’t kid yourself. Old guys like me know what love is. I have three generations of people to love. That is a wife, three beautiful daughters and seven adorable grandchildren. No great grandkids yet, but there is still time, I think. In honor of Valentine’s Day, let’s talk about love, hearts and Valentines.

1. She has been on the music scene for a few decades and was the wife of Kurt Cobain. Who is she?

2. He was the right fielder with the great arm in the same outfield with Andre Dawson. Who was he?

3. Who was the female star of the 1955 movie “Love is a Many Splendored Thing?”

4. He was the front runner for the 1988 Democratic presidential nomination until word of his affair with Donna Rice aboard his boat Monkey Business. Cannot make this stuff up! Who was he?

5. Fred Astaire played Robert Wagner’s father on this TV spy thriller of the 70s. They were reformed thieves. What was the name of the show?

6. The Giants had a third baseman from 1963 to 1973 with a potent bat and some difficulty in controlling throws to first. His name included three names. Who was he?

Know the SF 49ers?

January 11, 2018 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

If you would like a clue as to my age, I was in attendance at Kezar Stadium for the very first 49er game in 1946. Don’t worry. I am not going to ask questions about that game. But let’s look at the 49ers over the years.

1. In the 1950s, a very entertaining SF team featured QB Y.A. Tittle throwing the Alley Oop pass for touchdowns. It was a high arching pass to the end to a tall, agile receiver who out jumped their defenders and usually caught the ball. Who was that receiver?

2. SF did not win very often in the 60s. One Sunday afternoon, the fans were treated to an occurrence rarely seen. A Minnesota Viking defensive player, after turning around a few times trying to corral the 49er, picked up the fumble and proceeded to run the wrong way. He was followed by 49ers who protected him. He did not score a TD for SF because he spiked the ball and it went out of the end zone for SF safety. Who was this unfortunate Viking?

3. The 70s were another decade of small accomplishments for the 49ers. They got close to championships, but the pesky Dallas Cowboys beat them in the playoffs three seasons in a row. The SF quarterback battled bravely, but could not get the important win. He was a Stanford star, who had a fine career with SF. Who was he?

4. The 49ers made the grade in the 80s, with 4 Super Bowl titles led by QB Joe Montana. The most famous play was called “The Catch.” Montana completed this pass in the waning moments to finally beat Dallas in the NFC championship game. Here’s an easy one. Who caught it?

5. They won another one in the 90s behind QB Steve Young. The key player acquisition that year is when they picked up a dynamic defensive back who only played one season. He moved on to Dallas and, wouldn’t you know it, he won the Super Bowl with Dallas. Who was he?

6. In the new century, the 49ers are yet to win a Super Bowl, but it is still early. I have not mentioned Jimmy Garapallo yet, but maybe he will be an answer in 5 years. The 49ers did play in a Super Bowl a few years back, but lost. What team beat them?

Christmas Trivia

December 10, 2017 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

Earlier and earlier each year, we hear Christmas music on our radios. How many of us still listen to the radio? We know all of them, so let’s have a little fun with them.

In what movie was Irving Berlin’s song White Christmas introduced?

Silver Bells is another Christmas song introduced in a movie. What movie was it?

Who composed the lyrics to The Christmas Song?

Baby it’s Cold Outside is hardly a Christmas song, but it is still played during the Yuletide season. What movie was it from?

He was a one hit wonder when he recorded I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus in the early 50s. Who was he?

Montgomery Ward( remember them?) had a promotion at Christmas in the early 40s that featured a novelty song sung by a Western movie star. What was the tune and who sang it?

Play Ball!

November 10, 2017 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

As we watch another World Series, we have to adjust to not seeing either of our beloved teams, the Giants and the A’s watching from home , like we do. It was not always like this. The A’s in particular won consecutive World Series, 1972 to 1974, which is still very rare. Let’s see how well we remember those glorious days.

The 1972 Most Valuable Player in the World Series was an Oakland Catcher, who only became a regular the last few weeks of the season. All of a sudden, in the Series, he became a Homerun hitter. Who was he?

A defensive highlight of that Series occurred when Oakland’s left fielder snagged a Dennis Menke line drive off the left field wall and saved a win for the A’s. Who was that left fielder?

In 1973, the A’s took on the New York Mets. The Mets center fielder was a long time great local player finishing a fabulous career. Who was he?

The highlight of the series, unfortunately, occurred when A’s owner, Charles Finley fired the A’s second baseman after game 1 for making the error. The player’s teammates were upset and wore a patch on the uniforms in protest. The second baseman was reinstated, but did not play. Who was he?

In 1974, the A’s met the LA Dodgers. The A’s won in 5, primarily because of their pitching. One of them was selected as the MVP of the series. Who was it?

The A’s that year featured a Designated Runner. This fellow rarely batted. He was a pinch runner. His one time running the bases in that series resulted in being picked off first base by the Dodger pitcher. Who was this player?