Ben Fernandez

Trivial Matters: All Things American!

August 1, 2013 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

Isn’t it great looking out on San Francisco Bay to see the magnificent sailing boats competing in the America’s Cup? Of course, a few of the races feature just one boat, but who’s counting. One boat or four, they are truly beautiful. Anything that uses the names America is worthy of our attention, so let’s look at a few things American.

1. What year was the American League formed to do battle once a year with the National League of Baseball?

2. “America, America” was a famous movie director’s 1963 tribute to his father, who sailed from his native Greece to a new life in America. Who was this two time Oscar winning director?

3. Irving Berlin wrote “God Bless America,” but what two people wrote “America, the Beautiful?”

4. Dick Clark’s name is synonymous with “American Bandstand,” but he was not the original host. Who was the Philadelphia DJ who inaugurated the show?

5. “Cavalcade of America” was a weekly radio anthology of the 40s and 50s. The sponsor promised “Better Living through Chemistry.” Who was that sponsor?

6. Who was the alter ego of “Captain America,” who began appearing in Marvel Comics in 1941?

Trivial Matters: A First Time for Everything!

July 3, 2013 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

There is a first time for practically everything. I just made that up, so I will devote this month’s nonsense to famous first times

1. What was the first movie to win an Oscar for Best Movie of the Year?

2. What team won the first World Series?

3. What recording was the first to sell 1 million copies (the first Gold Record)?

4. On what popular TV show did we first hear a toilet flush?

5. Who was the first man in outer space?

6. Who was the first host of Lux Radio Theater?

Trivial Matters

May 31, 2013 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

The 33rd annual Kings X Trivia Tournament was held May 19 at WPLJ in Walnut Creek. We still call it Kings X to honor the legendary home of Trivia and Fantasy Football in Oakland. The winning team was We Are Not Spartacas, who was captained by one of the great veterans Masters, Jim Buchanan. Jim’s team took the measure of the very impressive team Les Miserables Gangnam Style, captained by another great veteran, Mark Ryder. My team, Hunter Pence Underpants finished tied for last, which begs the question: What right do I have to write this stuff? Our moderator was another veteran, Darrell Garrison, who did his usual job of writing sharp, fair and interesting questions. I am sure Darrell will not mind if I share a few of them with you.

What was the last movie Ann Miller appeared in?
Which of the original NFL franchises, still operating under its original name, was the first to win an NFL title?
Who was the Captain of the USS Pueblo, which was captured during the 1950’s?
What was the only song written by Hoagy Carmichael to win an Oscar for Best Song?
Which Actor has won the most Emmys for Acting?
What is the largest landlocked country in the world?

As Far as 1962 is Concerned…

May 3, 2013 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

For those brave souls who might enjoy watching a dissolute group of adults (some seniors) indulging in this simplistic nonsense are urged to attend the annual Kings X Trivia Tournament at WPLJ in Walnut Creek on May 19. Along with yours truly, other ALIVE writers Joe Redmond and Paul Hirsch will participate as among the better players. Please join us, if you can.

As far as 1962 is concerned:

The SF Giants participated in their first World Series in 1962. Who caught Willie McCovey’s 9th inning line drive in game seven to cinch the title for the Yankees?
“To Kill a Mockingbird” was a hit movie that year. What future Oscar winner played the mysterious Boo Radley in that flick?
In 1962, one of the longest runs in TV history began with the debut of what comedian in the start of a +30 years run as a host?
During that year Soviet ships sailed toward Cuba in an attempt to place rocket launchers in Cuba as a direct threat to the US. What country, where American rockets were placed, did President Kennedy agree to dismantle in return for Russia to a scary?
The Beatles exploded onto the music scene in 1962. What was their first recording?
A future two-time Academy Award winning actress was born in 1962. Her career has covered 45 years. Who is she?

Trivial Matters – April 2013

March 29, 2013 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

Having fooled with this nonsense for 40 some years, both competitively and non-competitively, I have been asked for the best Trivia questions I have ever heard. Some are easy and some are provocative, but usually there is interest in the answer. Let’s try a few.

Who played Audrey Hepburn’s husband in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”?
Tinker, Evers and Chance were the famous double play combination of the early 20th century. Who played third base on that team?
Oscar Hammerstein wrote the lyrics to the score for “Show Boat,” except for the famous song “Bill.” Who wrote the lyrics for that song and what famous character was he famous for in a popular series of books?
Margaret Mitchell, author of “Gone With the Wind,” based Rhett Butler on a distant relative of hers who was famous in the Old West. Who was he?
One of the most famous scenes in movie history occurs in the back seat of a cab in “On The Waterfront” between Marlo Brando and Rod Steiger. The cab driver is seen only briefly, but became a popular character actor. Who was he?
Mel Torme originally was a boy drummer as a teenager. For whose band did he perform?

March 2013 Answers

Frederic March
Ted Lyons
Charles Lamb
Wimoweh
The March of Time
The March of the Wooden Soldiers

OUR MARCH WINNER IS:
Mr. Nobody

WIN LUNCH ON BEN!
The first person to email or mail, no calls please, the correct answers to all of the above questions will win a $25 gift certificate for Restaurante Forli in downtown Alamo, compliments of Ben Fernandez!
Entries must be received by April 20, 2013. In the event of a tie, the winner will be drawn at random. Please email your answers to info@aliveeastbay.com, or mail to ALIVE East Bay, 3200 A Danville Blvd., Ste. 204, Alamo, CA 94507. Employees and family members of employees of ALIVE East Bay are not eligible. Restaurant may be changed without notice.

Trivial Matters – March 2013

March 6, 2013 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

Historically, March comes in like a lion and exits like a lamb (or is it the other way around?) Only Mother Nature knows for sure and since I am doing this nonsense in February, it is anyone’s guess.

Who played Willy Loman in the 1951 screen version of “Death of a Salesman?
He was a consistent 15-20 game winner for the White Sox in the 40’s and 50’s. Who is this Hall-of-Famer?
This famous English essayist wrote often under the pseudonym Elia. Who was he?
In what song does the lion sleep tonight?
Before TV, we got our filmed news on movie newsreels and this great movie news anthology hosted by Lowell Thomas. What was its name?
“Babes in Toyland” was a famous operetta. What is its most famous piece of music?

February Answers

Merkle’s Boner
Michael Cimino
Milli Vanilli
Monkey Business
Orson Welles
Jackie Gleason

OUR FEBRUARY WINNER IS:
TIM HUDSON OF SAN RAMON

WIN LUNCH ON BEN!
The first person to email or mail, no calls please, the correct answers to all of the above questions will win a $25 gift certificate for Restaurante Forli in downtown Alamo, compliments of Ben Fernandez!
Entries must be received by March 20, 2013. In the event of a tie, the winner will be drawn at random. Please email your answers to info@aliveeastbay.com, or mail to ALIVE East Bay, 3200 A Danville Blvd., Ste. 204, Alamo, CA 94507. Employees and family members of employees of ALIVE East Bay are not eligible. Restaurant may be changed without notice.

Trivial Matters – February 2013

February 3, 2013 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

I guess I have egg on my face. Or is it mea on my culpa? Or is it Punta on my Arenas? Need to check Google Earth before I do any more Geography questions. At least, I know a few people are reading this stuff. To honor famous faux pas (is that the plural?), I submit the following questions about famous booboos.

The last time the Cubs won the World Series in 1908, they would not have won unless a New York Giant baseunner did not advance from first base to second base on a base hit in a late season game, thus nullifying the game and giving the Cub an extra game to win the pennant. By what name do we know this colossal mistake?
The 1980 Western movie “Heavens Gate” is one the most famous flops in Hollywood history. Despite an all-star cast and a $44,000,000 budget, it was barely relesed and disappeared soon from sight. It ruined the career of its director, who had won an Oscar a few years previously. Who was that director?
In the early 90’s, two young Germans Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus took the music world by storm, selling millions of records in a short space of time. It was discovered that they were not doing the singing and were disgraced. What was the stage name of this singing pair?
Gary Hart had the 1988 Democrat Presidential nomination apparently sewed up until he was caught in a dalliance with a young intern. He was photographed cavorting on his boat with the girl, Donna Rice. What was the name of his boat?
It was the American public who committed this monumental goof in 1938 when they heard a radio broadcast purportedly announcing an invasion of the US by Mars. It was so realistic, the public panicked and took to the streets. Who was the boy wonder radio prodigy who put this show over?
“You’re in the Picture” was a radio quiz show that ran just once in 1960. It was so bad, the host of the show spent the following week apologizing for having his name attached to this turkey. He finished that season hosting a talk show. One of early TV’s great ones, who was he?

Answers

“The Mission Bells”
Fernandomania
Wallace Beer
Sy
Jose Jimenez
Benito Juarez

JANUARY WINNER: JOHN TAKACS OF CONCORD

WIN LUNCH ON BEN!
The first person to email or mail, no calls please, the correct answers to all of the above questions will win a $25 gift certificate for Ristaurante Forli in downtown Alamo, compliments of Ben Fernandez! Entries must be received by Feb 20, 2013. In the event of a tie, the winner will
be drawn at random. Please email your answers to info@aliveeastbay.com, or mail to ALIVE East Bay, 3200 A Danville Blvd., Ste. 204,Alamo, CA 94507. Employees and family members of employees of ALIVE East Bay are not eligible. Restaurant may be changed without notice.

Trivial Matters – January 2013

January 14, 2013 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

Shouldn’t keep talking about places I have been, but am doing this little exercise sitting at Cascada de Baja in Cabo San Lucas. What better excuse to ask a few puzzlers about the land south of the Border?

In the song “South of the Border,” what told the cowboy that he “should not stay south of the border”?
What “mania” possessed the Los Angeles Dodgers in the early 1980s?
Who played Pancho Villa in the 1934 movie “Viva Villa”?
Mel Blanc played a Mexican character on the Jack Benny radio show in a hilarious, oft- repeated bit. What was this character’s very un-Mexican name?
What was the name of the astronaut played by Bill Dana on the Steve Allen TV show?
Who was hailed as the liberator of Mexico from French rule in the 1800’s?

December Answers

“Dr. No”
Ursula Andress
Oddjob
George Lazenby
Timothy Dalton
Barry Nelson

DECEMBER WINNER:
MARIA BARANDICA OF SAN RAMON

WIN LUNCH ON BEN!
The first person to email or mail, no calls please, the correct answers to all of the above questions will win a $25 gift certificate for Restaurante Forli in downtown Alamo, compliments of Ben Fernandez! Entries must be received by Jan 20, 2013. In the event of a tie, the winner will be drawn at random. Please email your answers to info@aliveeastbay.com, or mail to ALIVE East Bay, 3200 A Danville Blvd., Ste. 204, Alamo, CA 94507. Employees and family members of employees of ALIVE East Bay are not eligible. Restaurant may be changed without notice.

Trivial Matters – December 2012

December 6, 2012 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

Looks like the greatest “legs” in history belong to James Bond. After 50 years, the latest in the movie series is making record earnings worldwide. Most of the moviegoers who are making this record were not even born when the original Bond movie came out in 1962.

What was the name of the first Bond movie?
Who played the first “Bond girl” in that movie?
“Goldfinger” was one of the best of the early Bond films. What was the name of Goldfinger’s Asian accomplice?
“On His Majesty’s Secret Service” was the first Bond movie that did not star Sean Connery. Who played Bond in that film?
After Roger Moore and before Pierce Brosnan played Bond, a British Shakespearean actor had a go at Bond in two movies. Who was he?
In 1955, the television series “Climax” made an Americanized TV movie of “Casino Royale.” Who played the character Jimmy Bond?

November Answers

Teddy Roosevelt
Punta Arenas
Argentina
2002
Peter Brand
Ken Schott

NOVEMBER WINNER:
MR. NOBODY!

WIN LUNCH ON BEN!
The first person to email or mail, no calls please, the correct answers to all of the above questions will win a $25 gift certificate for Restaurante Forli in downtown Alamo, compliments of Ben Fernandez! Entries must be received by Dec 20, 2012.
In the event of a tie, the winner will be drawn at random.
Please email your answers to info@aliveeastbay.com, or mail to ALIVE East Bay, 3200 A Danville Blvd., Ste. 204, Alamo, CA 94507. Employees and family members of employees of ALIVE East Bay are not eligible. Restaurant may be changed without notice.

Trivial Matters – November 2012

November 2, 2012 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

Getting ready for a repeat trip through the Panama Canal. I recommend it for anyone who appreciates American and World History. It is always mind boggling to realize it was built in 1915 and still works pretty well today. Another Canal is in the process of being constructed. Hopefully, we can see how far it is progressing. Make sure you do it some day.

Who was the US President when the Canal was originally started?
A town at the tip of Cape Horn had constant traffic on a daily basis before the canal was built and very little after. What is the name of that town?
In which South American country is the town located?
Enough Canal talk. The Giants and A’s made the playoffs this year, which is great. When was the last time they both did it?
Jonah Hill played a fictitious assistant general manager in “Moneyball.” What was his fictitious name?
Who was the A’s owner mentioned a couple times in the movie?

October Answers

Colin Clive
Dave Casper
Louis Armstrong
“Lights Out”
Hope Lange
Vaughn Monroe

OCTOBER WINNER:
Colleen McFadden of Pleasant Hill

WIN LUNCH ON BEN!
The first person to email or mail, no calls please, the correct answers to all of the above questions will win a $25 gift certificate for Restaurante Forli in downtown Alamo, compliments of Ben Fernandez! Entries must be received by Nov 20, 2012. In the event of a tie, the winner will be drawn at random. Please email your answers to info@aliveeastbay.com, or mail to ALIVE East Bay, 3200 A Danville Blvd., Ste. 204, Alamo, CA 94507. Employees and family members of employees of ALIVE East Bay are not eligible. Restaurant may be changed without notice.