Ben Fernandez

Holiday Trivia 2016

November 30, 2016 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

Among all the things we get used to at the holidays is the proliferation of Holiday Television shows. Some of these, if not all of them, were made 50 years or more ago. A new generation comes along to enjoy them, so I guess we should too. So, let’s…

The Charlie Brown Christmas Special plays every year. What celebrated San Francisco Jazz artist is responsible for the music in all the Charlie Brown specials?

He owned a Major League Baseball team and was one of the first singing cowboys, but he is probably most famous for singing Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer. Who is he?

He played Patton in the movies, but he also played a memorable Scrooge in a very good TV version of “Christmas Carol.” Who is he?

“Miracle on 34th Street” still delights families at Christmastime, although it was filmed 69 years ago. In the movie, Kris Kringle surprises the shoppers at Macy’s by telling them they can find a better deal at famous competitor’s store down the street. No longer in business, who was that competitor?

It think everyone’s favorite movie at Yuletide is still “It’s a Wonderful Life.” I know my kids watched it repeatedly as kids and I watched it with my grownup daughter last year. What were the names of the cop and the cabdriver in that movie?

In that movie, who played Mr. Potter, the town miser, who always tried to upset George Bailey’s plans to make Bedford Falls a more livable community?

Favorite Broadway Musicals

November 5, 2016 by Ben Fernandez 1 Comment

Sitting around with contemporaries over morning coffee leads to long discussions on matters in the distant past. This morning, for example, we discussed our favorite Broadway musicals. It is no surprise to anyone that we did not speak of “Hamilton” or “Book of Mormon.” No, we spoke of older chestnuts. Thankfully, modern audiences enjoy these shows too, since they are constantly restaged for modern audiences. Bet you, most of you will know these.

My favorite is “My Fair Lady.” What song writing team wrote the music and lyrics for this timeless classic?

My friend’s favorite is “Guys and Dolls.” I love it too. The words and music were crafted by a prolific tunesmith of movies, radio and stage. Who was he?

“Gypsy” is another show that pops up every few years to feature veteran actresses who love playing Mama Rose. Who wrote the music and what young prodigy wrote the lyrics for this timeless score?

Musicals of the 20s and 30s do not come around often, but “Anything Goes” is a delightful exception. Who was the composer of this great score?

Rogers and Hammerstein are responsible for so many of the great musicals. The sources of the stories will vary greatly. “The King and I” is based on a movie of the late 40s. What was that movie?

“The Music Man” was an original story that resulted in a great hit of the late 50s. The words and music were the brain work of a musician who had been better known as the backup band for a couple radio shows. Who was he?

Emmy Awards

October 6, 2016 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

The annual Emmy Awards were on this past week. In the old days, the major networks picked up all the prizes. Nowadays, Netflix , Amazon and other alternate providers pick up plenty of loot. Let’s look at the Emmy winning comedies over the past 50 years.

In 1956, the top comedy was a family comedy much like a few others of the time. Which comedy picked up the Emmy that year?

Ten years pass, but we are still watching domestic comedies. This gem had a little more going for it. What was the Emmy winning comedy of 1966?

Norman Lear came along in 1971 and changed what television comedy looked like. He did not produce the top comedy of 1976, but the traditional comedy more or less grew up that year. What comedy took the prize in 1976?

The winner in 1986 borrowed players from previous hit comedies. What comedy won the prize in 1986?

The 1996 winner was actually a spinoff from a great series of a few years earlier. What was it?

The winner for 2006 was a true original, but was based on a British comedy of the same name. Which comedy took the 2006 prize?

Tougher Trivia

September 4, 2016 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

I was asked to supply several sports questions for the annual Kings X Trivia Tournament, held on August 21 in Walnut Creek. Since I have exhausted myself with the work, I thought it convenient to share a few of them with Alive. Here goes…

1. On April 15, 1958, the first Major League Baseball game in West Coast history was played in San Francisco between the Giants and Dodgers. The Giants won 8-0. Who was the winning pitcher?

2. Another famous day in San Francisco sports history occurred August 28, 1965 when a Minnesota Viking picked up a 49er fumble and proceeded to run the wrong way. He spiked the ball in the end zone and the ball went out of bounds, resulting in a 2 point safety for SF. Who was that ill fated Viking?

3. You may not think of competitive eating as a sport, but let’s. This chap was the annual champ of the Nathan’s Hot Dog eating contest, until Joey Chestnut came along. He then got into a dispute with Nathan’s, so is no longer invited back. He still competes and goes by a single name. Who is he?

4. The late Nate Thurmond was one of the most popular players in Warrior’s history. Ironically, he was traded to Cleveland a Center for a Center , who played on the Warrior championship team of 1974-1975. Who was that center?

5. Serena Williams is closing in on the record number of Grand Slam titles of 24. Who holds the record of 24 Grand Slam Tennis titles?

6. He played for the undefeated, untied, uninvited University of San Francisco Football team of 1951. He went on to a Hall of Fame career as a Defensive End for the Baltimore Colts and participated in the so called Greatest Game ever Played against the NY Giants in 1957. Who was he?

Bogie!

August 4, 2016 by Ben Fernandez 1 Comment

In 2001, the American Film Institute named Humphrey Bogart as the greatest film star of the 20th Century, ahead of Cary Grant, John Wayne and James Stewart. Bogart was only a star for a few years; from 1940 to his death in 1956. Before that he was a supporting actor who specialized in getting shot by James Cagney or Edward G. Robinson. His roles were distinctive and his name in his best movies we all know (or do we?). Let’s see.

His first break came in 1936’s “Petrified Forest.” He plays an escaped convict who holds the stars of the movie cap rives in a remote diner. What was his name?

His big break came in 1940’s “High Sierra.” He plays an ex con known to the public as Mad Dog, who meets his demise on Mount Whitney. What was his name?

In 1941, Bogie got one of his most famous roles in “The Maltese Falcon,” as a private eye in one of the classic films noir. What was his name?

His most famous movie, “Casablanca,” followed in 1943. He played the owner of Rick’s American Cafe in that Moroccan town. What was Rick’s last name?

In 1948, Bogie starred in my favorite movie “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.” Although Walter Huston steals the movie, Bogie does great job as the vagrant who goes mad with gold fever. What was his name, including middle initial?

Bogie finally won an Oscar in 1951 playing a drunken boat captain opposite Katharine Hepburn in “The African Queen.” What was his name in this classic?

Rogers & Hammerstein

July 8, 2016 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

“There’s a bright golden haze in the meadow,” are the opening lyrics to the American treasure Oklahoma, the first musical by the legendary team, Rodgers and Hammerstein. Rodgers wrote the music, while Hammerstein supplied the lyrics and libretto to a steady stream of great musicals from the 1940s to the 1950s. Let’s reminisce about their masterworks produced together and separately.

Prior to getting together with Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein wrote the lyrics to the great musical of 1928, Showboat. Who was the music composer of that great show?

Prior to getting together with Hammerstein, Richards Rodgers partnered with a wonderful lyricist in several hit shows of the 1920s and 1930s, such as Pal Joey. Who was that lyricist?

She later won an Oscar for Gentlemen’s Agreement, but she got her first big break playing Ado Annie in R & H’s first hit Oklahoma. Who was she?

Their next big hit was Carousel. The love song between Billy and Julie was the personal favorite of R & H. What was it?

For their next hit, South Pacific, they hired a star from the New York opera to play the male lead and sing “Some Enchanted Evening.” Who was he?

For their next hit, King and I, they chose a star from England who made her career in British music halls and some early Broadway musicals. Who was she?

The most successful movie based on a R & H musical was Sound of Music. Julie Andrews starred in the movie, but who played Maria on Broadway?

June, Sweet June… Bug?!

June 9, 2016 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

Summer is here. Kids are home. Vacations are nigh. What could be better? I will think of something. Let’s celebrate June.

1. He coached the Atlanta Falcons from 1988 to 1996. He coached University of Hawaii from 1996 to 2004. He coached SMU from 2004 to 2008. Who was he?

2. What was Beaver’s mother’s name on “Leave it to Beaver?” First and last name, please.

3. It was a rousing number in the early portion of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Carousel.” What was it?

4. She played opposite Fred McMurray in “Where do we go from Here,” then became his wife in real life for his remaking 40 plus years. Who was she?

5. Famous as the girl next door, she was married to Dick Powell and made a few movies with Van Johnson and Jimmy Stewart. Who was she?

6. She sang memorably with Stan Kenton and was known for years as the First Lady of Jazz. Who was she?

May Flowers

May 7, 2016 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

At long last, we were blessed with April showers. As we all remember, they bring May flowers. Let’s take a look at some famous “flowers.”

Although barred from membership in the Baseball Hall of Fame, who had the most lifetime hits in Major League history?

What the name the great love of his life, who was married to another, of the Great Gatsby?

What was the name of Lil Abner Yokum’s mother in the classic comic strip?

In what excellent 1979 movie did Peter Sellers play Chance the Gardener?

It was the most infamous crime in California of the 1940s and was known by the name of a flower and its color. What was it known as?

For what 1969 movie did Goldie Hawn win an Oscar?

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

March 30, 2016 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

As spring splashes its way in, we are encouraged that Baseball is back. How do we exist the rest of the year when there is almost always a Major League game being played in the area? It is well nigh impossible to go to the park every day, but the magic of TV and radio brings it all home to us. What else is there to say? Play ball!

1. Where did the SF Giants play their home games their first two seasons in San Francisco 1958 and 1959?

2. Who played Dizzy Dean in the movie biopic “Pride of St. Louis?”

3. What Broadway musical hit was based on Douglas Wollop’s book “The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant?”

4. Sam Malone, the owner of Cheers of TV fame, had been a relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. What was his nickname as a pitcher?

5. Who threw a perfect game for the Oakland A’s in 1968?

6. Who wrote the book “Moneyball?”

Black History Month Trivia

March 6, 2016 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

Shame on me for missing Black History Month. Let’s see if I can make it up.

1. What position did Jackie Robinson play in his Dodger rookie season of 1947?

2. Who was the first African American to win an Oscar for performing and what was the movie?

3. Who was the first African American to have a regular musical variety show in TV history?

4. Who wrote “The Invisible Man”? (Not the HG Wells version.)

5. What African American singer sang to the American public at Lincoln Memorial in 1939?

6. What African American actor has won 2 Oscars for performances? What were the movies?