Ben Fernandez

YOU DON’T KNOW JACK!

June 7, 2014 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

That is a shortened version of a common street saying. However, I think you folks will know most of the Jacks I know. Let’s see if you really know Jack.

1. He was the ace of the Giants staff in their World Series year of 1962 (they lost to the Yanks in 7). He won 20 plus games. Who was this Jack?

2. He played the wistful tin man in “Wizard of Oz.” Who was Jack?

3. HBO presented an excellent film “You Don’t Know Jack” in 2012. Al Pacino starred as whom?

4. He was a singer of standards 25-30 years ago and his father made the “Donkey Serenade” famous. Who was this Jack?

5. Who was the All American boy of old radio?

6. This Jack played a great Western badman in my favorite Western “Shane.” Who played him and what was the character’s name?

Can You Beat the Pros?

May 8, 2014 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

The 34th Annual Kings X Trivia Tournament was held on April 27 at WPLJ in Walnut Creek. The winning team was “The Crying Babies of Claremont Hotel,” who won 19 to 14 over “It’s Fun Until You Poke Yourself in the Eye.” The captain of the losing team, Dana Rodriguez, one of our best players, lost with equanimity and grace (two of my favorite people). I was fortunate enough to captain the winning team. My partners RJ, Maddy, Kathryn and Pauline were all sterling performers. Our host, MC and quizmaster was Jim Buchanan, an excellent moderator and one of the great players in the area. I am sure Jim will not mind if I try a few of his questions on our interested readers.

1. The Washington Redskins have only retired one number of an ex-player. Who was that player?

2. What was the first movie directed by Elia Kazan?

3. In 1955, Steve Allen had a best-selling recording of a song, which was also recorded by Roger Williams later in the same year and became a giant hit. What was the song?

4. On what long running TV show did Diana Muldaur and Blair Underwood appear?

5. What 19th Century book has a caption, “This is a book without any heroes”?

6. What is the Capitol of the Cammelia State?

Famous Pairs!

April 1, 2014 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

In honor of National Pear month, let’s discuss famous pairs, like Abbott & Costello, Martin & Lewis, Lewis & Clark. (I made that stuff up about a National Pear Month. Just being silly).

1. In the early 40’s, Universal Studios tried to advance a vaudeville team to be competition for Abbott and Costello. Their two movies were “Hellzapoppin,” and “Crazy House.” Who were these two comics? (Last names will do).

2. They played shortstop and second base together for 17 years for the Detroit Tigers during the 1970’s and 1980’s. Who were they?

3. They were responsible for the Broadway musicals “Babes in Arms,” “Pal Joey,” and “On Your Toes.” Who was this wonderful team of composers?

4. He was a squirrel and his friend was a moose. They made kids laugh on TV in the early days and delighted parents (like me) with their offbeat humor. Who were they?

5. Their last names were Elliott and Goulding, but we knew them by their first names. They delighted radio listeners of the 40’s and 50’s with their whimsical humor. By what names did we know them?

6. They made several musicals for MGM in the 30s and 40s, such as “Rose Marie,” and “Naughty Marietta.” Who were they?

For anyone interested in watching the cream of the Bay Area Triviaphiles in action, you are urged to run, not walk, to WPLJ in Walnut Creek on Sunday April 27 from 11AM to 3PM for the annual Kings X Trivia Tournament. You will certainly thank yourself for attending.

A Special Salute

March 1, 2014 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

One of the nice aspects of American life today is the respect and love accorded to the nation’s veterans. It is common practice now for civilians to place their hand over their heart when passing a young man or woman in uniform. Having grown up during World War II, I remember the sacrifices made by our young people of the “Greatest Generation” and the great generations of fighting men and women since then. Let’s give them all a special salute with a few questions.

1. He flew over 25 missions in WWII over Europe and was a Brigadier General in the Air Force reserve at the time of his death. Who is this Oscar winning actor?

2. He was drafted into the Army after graduating from Notre Dame. He was wounded in Vietnam, but played on four Pittsburg Steelers Super Bowl winners after his discharge. Who is he?

3. Two famous celebrities died while flying over the English Channel during WWII. One was a bandleader and one was a famous British actor, who had starred in a 1939 Hollywood blockbuster. Who were they?

4. One of our greatest composers supplied the music for two separate Broadway sows that featured enlisted Army personnel in WWI and WWII. The shows were “Yip Yip Yaphank” and “This is the Army.” Who was the composer?

5. Our most celebrated hero of WWI was Sergeant who captured an entire unit of Germans single-handedly. His story was told in a 1942 movie. Who was he?

6. A cartoonist served as a war correspondent during WWII. He captured the life and struggles of the average foot soldier with a group of cartoons featuring two grizzled GIs trudging across Europe. Their names were Willie and Joe. Who was the cartoonist?

Czech Mate: Trivia of the 64 Squares

January 31, 2014 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

Alex Trebek says “Prague Pal.” What is the question? “What is a Czech Mate?” How better to get into a discussion of the venerable game of chess. Apparently invented centuries ago by the Chinese or Indians, it continues to challenge, perplex and enslave millions. My grand kids beat me without mercy, so I am hardly an expert. Even so, here goes?

1. The most famous chess player in US history was the controversial genius, Bobby Fischer. The most famous chess match in history occurred in 1972, when Fischer met the Russian champion. What was the Russian’s name?

2. The match was televised worldwide. In which city and country was the match held?

3. A couple decades back, the Musical “Chess” had a short run in England and on Broadway. The composers were Tim Rice, of “Evita” fame, and a couple of rock musicians from a famous rock group. What rock group did they represent?

4. “Searching for Bobby Fischer” was a fine movie of a few years back. Who played the father of the child prodigy chess player in the movie?

5. In the opening scene of this movie, consistently ranked among the five best American movies of the past century, our hero is shown for the first time in the movie playing chess against an unknown opponent. Who is the actor and what is the movie?

6. Everyone protects the king in chess, so he has to be pretty important. In the late 1930s, a movie magazine had a contest to select the King of Hollywood. From this point on, the star was referred to as “The King.” Who was he?

“The Butler Did It!”

January 2, 2014 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

“The butler did it!” How many times have we heard this while watching a mystery of some kind, but it is almost never the butler. Most of us never had the luxury of being attended to by a butler, but we know of quite a few. Let’s test our memories about “gentlemen’s gentlemen”.

1. He is probably the most famous Butler in local sports history and played center field for the Giants against the A’s in the 1989 World Series. Who was he?

2. The most famous manservant in literary history was Jeeves, the British butler for playboy Bertie Wooster in the 20s and 30s. Who wrote the books?

3. Jeeves was a successful BBC series in the 90s. It starred Steven Fry as Jeeves. The actor who played Bertie Wooster went on to star in a medical series in the US for eight seasons very successfully. Who is he?

4. On “Seinfeld,” George Costanzo, while thinking he is a TV writer, concocts a situation where a judge orders a defendant to serve as a butler for not being able to pay for damages. What had this defendant done?

5. This year, “Lee Daniels The Butler” was a box office hit depicting the career of a White House manservant serving famous US Presidents of the latter part of the 1900s. Who played Dwight Eisenhower in the movie?

6. The most famous Butler of them all was Rhett Butler, who loved Scarlett O’Hara for most of the novel “Gone With The Wind.” However, until it was too late, Scarlett loved the Southern dandy down the road. Who was he?

Take a Walk Over the Trivia Bridge

December 5, 2013 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

After a long wait, we have the lovely new bridge from Oakland to Yerba Buena Island. I am, unfortunately, old enough to remember when the Bay Bridge opened in the 30s. I can remember when the top deck was two-way auto traffic and the lower deck was exclusively dedicated to trucks and trains. That was a long time ago. Let’s bridge the gap!

1. In what year was the “Bay Bridge World Series” between the A’s and Giants?

2. My choice for best War movie ever won the 1957 Oscar as best movie and for Alec Guinness as Best Actor. What was that movie?

3. “Cross Over the Bridge” was a popular song of the late 50’s. Who was the singer, who died recently?

4. Who wrote the popular song “Bridge Over Troubled Waters?”

5. Thornton Wilder received a Pulitzer Prize for authoring a novel about the ill-fated victims of a bridge collapse. What was the book’s name?

6. Jeff and Beau Bridges finally played in a movie together in 1990 as two brother piano players. What was the movie’s name?

Stadium Stumpers!

November 3, 2013 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

The Giants have a new stadium. The 49ers are building a new stadium. Oakland’s three Major League sports franchises are in the process of looking to move. Can’t anybody stay put? Let’s review some of the local stadiums of the past and ones in other California cities.

1. When the Giants moved to San Francisco from New York in 1958, they played in an ex-Pacific Coast League stadium for two years. What was its name?

2. The A’s have only played in one stadium since moving to Oakland in 1968. From which middle West city did they move ?

3. The Golden State Warriors played in two arenas in San Francisco before moving to Oakland. What were the two arenas in San Francisco?

4. The 49ers first season was 1946. (I saw their first game.) What stadium in SF was their first home until 1970?

5. Before moving to the Coliseum, the Raiders played four years in San Francisco. They moved to Oakland in 1964 and played in a temporary stadium near the center of Oakland. What was the name of that stadium?

6. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (what a name!) have played in Anaheim several years. Originally, they were the Los Angeles Angels in 1961 and, like the Giants, played in a former Pacific Coast League stadium. What was its name?

7. The Dodgers also moved to California, with the Giants, in 1958. At what spacious stadium did they play until the park at Chavez Ravine could be built?

8. Brooklyn hearts were broken when their beloved Dodgers moved west. What was the name of their stadium in Brooklyn?

9. Less traumatic was the move of the Giants westward. What was the name of the quirky park they called home in New York?

10. I have not mentioned a NFL franchise in Los Angeles. They don’t have one anymore since the Rams moved to St. Louis in the 90’s. The Rams originally moved to Los Angeles in 1950. From what Midwest city did they move?

“You Must Remember This!”

October 8, 2013 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

The movie “Casablanca” was released 70 years ago. I have seen it at least once each year since then, which means two things. 1) I am very old, and 2) I should probably make better use of my time. I am unashamed in my regard for that flick. I am sure there are those who don’t understand the regard that flick has for movie fans, so what can I do except feel sorry for them. People will say that they see something new every time they see it. I don’t, which is just fine. As you have always, done please indulge me. “Here’s looking at you, kid.”

1. Guarded (Peter Lorre) assures Rick (Humphrey Bogart) that the Letters of Transit are valid by stating they are signed by whom?

2. Signor Ferrari (Sydney Greenstreet) owns the rival saloon/black market in Casablanca. What is its name?

3. Rick is reported to have run guns in the 1930’s for which country?

4. The first time we see Rick in the movie, what is he doing?

5. Where does Rick hide the Letters of Transit?

6. A young bride prevails upon Rick to allow her husband to lose at roulette, so that they can go to America. From what country do they come from?

Fall Into Some Trivia!

September 2, 2013 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

We are looking autumn right in the eye. Leaves will fall along with temperatures. Let’s put a trivial spin on the whole nonsense.

1. What sports traditional event is referred to as the Fall Classic?

2. Who played Brad Pitt’s father in “Legends of the Fall?”

3. Who wrote “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire?”

4. “After the Fall” was a play written by one of America’s great playwrights about his marriage to a famous movie star. Who was the playwright and who was the famous star?

5. “I see your lips, the summer kisses, the sunburned hands I used to know.” From what popular standard are these lyrics?

6. What occurs on September 22, 2013?