What works comprise Pale Horse, Pale Rider by Katherine Anne Porter?
There are three short novels in the 1939 collection by Katherine Anne Porter: 1. “Pale Horse, Pale Rider” 2. “Noon Wine” 3. “Old Mortality”
Which movie has won the most Oscars and how many did it win?
Ben-Hur with 11 Oscars was the biggest winner in 1989.
Who was the first U.S. president to make a televised speech from the White House?
Harry Truman was the first president to make a televised speech from the White House.
In what year did the Supreme Court decide that it was unconstitutional to require recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance?
The Supreme Court decided that it was unconstitutional to require recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance not in the 1960s but in 1943, in the midst of World War II. In that year, the Supreme Court struck down a West Virginia law requiring recitation of the pledge.
Who was Richard M. Nixon’s running mate in 1960?
Richard M. Nixon’s running mate in 1960 was Henry Cabot Lodge.
Who was Ishtar the goddess?
Ishtar was the great mother goddess of the Babylonians and Assyrians. Her concerns included fertility, healing, sexuality, and lust.
How did the members of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood sign their paintings?
The members of the secret brotherhood formed in 1848 exhibited their paintings anonymously with the signature PRB. The founding members were Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William Holman Hunt, and John Everett Millais, who were rebelling against the unimaginative academic art of their day. Though the PRB (unmasked in 1850) had a profound influence on Western painting,…
What was Sojourner Truth’s real name?
Sojourner Truth was born a slave named Isabella in 1797. After escaping to freedom in 1843, she became the first black female orator to speak out against slavery. Sojourner Truth traveled the North on foot to spread her message. She died in 1883.
Who were the first women to head the two major political parties in the United States?
In 1972, Jean Westwood became the first woman to head the Democratic party. In 1974, Mary Louise Smith became the first woman to head the Republican party.
Who coined the term “the lost generation”?
Gertrude Stein coined the term “the lost generation”. She translated the phrase from a French garage proprietor who was angry at a young mechanic’s negligence in fixing Stein’s car. Stein used it to refer to Hemingway and his contemporaries: “All of you young people who served in the war. You are a lost generation.” The…
Did Chilean poet Pablo Neruda live to see the 1973 coup by right-wing General Pinochet?
Chilean poet Pablo Neruda just barely lived to see the 1973 coup by right-wing General Pinochet. Neruda died of a heart attack in Chile just twelve days after the coup. Neruda had supported the overthrown President Allende.
What were the earlier names for the Beatles?
The Beatles had several names. In the late 1950s, John Lennon and Paul McCartney formed a band to play “skiffle” music in local Liverpool clubs. They first called themselves the Quarrymen, then tried several other names: Johnny and the Moondogs, the Moonshiners, Long John and the Silver Beatles. By 1960, however, they settled on the…
Which of the 13 Colonies was founded by pacifists?
Pennsylvania, founded by William Penn, a Quaker, in 1682 was one of the 13 Colonies was founded by pacifists. Members of the Society of Friends, or Quaker movement, rejected formal sacraments and clergy, trusted in the inspiration of an “inner light,” and forbade violence and war. Penn hoped Pennsylvania’s government would embody Quaker principles, practicing…
What was the name of Cheri’s lover in Colette’s Cheri (1920)?
The young man Cheri is having an affair with is the aging courtesan Leonie Vallon, more commonly known as Lea de Lonval, or just Lea, in Colette’s Cheri.
What was the first chartered railroad in the United States?
The Granite Railway was the first chartered railroad in the United States. It began running from Quincy, Massachusetts, to the Neponset River, a distance of three miles, on October 7, 1826. Its principal cargo consisted of blocks of granite for use in building the Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown. The railway later became part of…
Who wrote the catchy theme song for “Mission: Impossible” (CBS, 1966-73)?
Lalo Schifrin wrote the catchy theme song for “Mission: Impossible” (CBS, 1966-73). He was also the composer for Clint Eastwood movies like Dirty Harry (1971) and Magnum Force (1973).
Do Hens sit on eggs?
After a fashion. Hens squat on the eggs, supporting most of their weight with their feet. Their nests also provide a protective cushion for the eggs.
How deep is a Fathom?
A fathom is Six feet deep. How far is a league? A League can vary from 2.4 to 4.6 miles. What is the area of an acre? An acre is 4,840 square yards, or 43,560 square feet.
What was Ronald Reagan’s first broadcasting job?
In Ronald Reagan’s first job after college, the future president (served 198189) broadcasted play-by-play accounts of major league baseball games from Station WHO in Des Moines, Iowa.
How much does an official baseball weigh?
An official baseball weighs between 5 and 5.25 ounces.
What do you get when you kiss the Blarney Stone in Ireland?
According to legend you get the gift of eloquence when you kiss the Blarney Stone in Ireland. To reach the Blarney Stone, go to the southern wall of Blarney Castle in the village of Blarney, County Cork, Ireland. The stone is under the battlements there. Be warned: You have to hang head downward to kiss…
How many wives did Cary Grant have?
Cary Grant had five wives: Virginia Cherrill, Barbara Hutton, Betsy Drake, Dyan Cannon, and Barbara Harris.
Which teenager dies in John Knowles’s A Separate Peace (1959)?
Phineas was the teenager who dies in John Knowles’s A Separate Peace. Gene, the novel’s narrator, survives to tell the tale. The two are students at the Devon School in New Hampshire during World War II.
Who hosted the TV show “Fernwood 2-Night” (synd., 1977)?
Barth Gimble, played by Martin Mull on the TV show “Fernwood 2-Night” (synd., 1977). He was the twin brother of Garth Gimble, a character on “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman” (synd., 1976-78).
Where was Sherwood Forest?
Sherwood Forest was the royal hunting ground frequented by Robin Hood and his merry men. It was located in Nottinghamshire, England. Today Sherwood Forest is under the protection of the British Forestry Commission.
How many air traffic controllers did President Reagan fire during the strike in 1981?
President Reagan fired all of the 11,600 air traffic controller strikers after they refused to obey a court order to return to work. By decade’s end, there were 2,500 fewer air traffic controllers employed in the industry. Meanwhile, U.S. air traffic had increased by a third and safety records had worsened.
Who were the Molly Maguires in the Pennsylvania anthracite coal mines?
The Molly Maguires were a secret militant organization of Irish miners working in the Pennsylvania anthracite coal mines in the 19th century. They organized in 1854 to fight the mine operators. In 1875, a Pinkerton spy working for the owners infiltrated the group. That led to the conviction and hanging of 20 Molly Maguires on…
Who pitched the only perfect game in World Series history?
The no-hitter was pitched by Don Larsen of the New York Yankees against the Brooklyn Dodgers in the fifth game of the 1956 World Series.
What happened to the concluding part of Nikolai Gogol’s Dead Souls (1842)?
The first part of Nikolai Gogol’s Dead Souls is recognized as a comic masterpiece, but the second part never saw the light of day. Convinced by the radical priest Father Matthew Konstantinovsky that literature was sinful, Gogol (1809-52) burned the manuscript of Part Two in 1852. He died a few days later.
What was the White Hand Society?
The White Hand Society was a community group sponsored by Italian-American business leaders. It was organized in 1907 to oppose the work of the Black Hand and developed its own police force but sustained itself for only five years.
How old was Judy Garland when she made The Wizard of Oz (1939)?
Judy Garland was sixteen when she made The Wizard of Oz.
What was the first manmade plastic?
Called celluloid, it was invented in 1869 by American John Wesley Hyatt. This cellulose nitrate and camphor mixture, though flammable, was strong and pliable enough for use in a variety of common household items. Eventually it was replaced by less flammable synthetic polymers.
How long have people of Mexican descent lived in Los Angeles?
People of Mexican descent founded the city of Los Angeles in 1781. Mexicans remained the major population group in Los Angeles (named for Our Lady of the Angels) until the Gold Rush of 1849 brought Anglo-Americans to California in droves. By then, as a result of the Mexican War in 1846-48, California had passed from…
When did Andrew Carnegie present his “Gospel of Wealth”?
In an 1889 speech, the 54-year old steel baron and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie outlined his “Gospel,” a set of principles for amassing and sharing wealth. He wrote, “The millionaire will be but a trustee for the poor; entrusted for a season with a great part of the increased wealth of the community, but administering it…
Who wrote the Uncle Remus stories?
Joel Chandler Harris adapted the Uncle Remus folktales, which were first published in the Atlanta Constitution and were later collected in Uncle Remus, His Songs and His Sayings (1880).
In how many films did Basil Rathbone play Sherlock Holmes?
Basil Rathbone played Sherlock Holmes in fourteen films. The first was The Hound of the Baskervilles in 1939. The last was Dressed to Kill in 1946.
What is Neil Simon’s complete name and what was his first Broadway play?
Marvin Neil Simon’s (1927) first Broadway play was Barefoot in the Park, about a young married couple living in New York City. It was produced in 1963.
What positions did Tinker, Evers, and Chance play?
In the early 20th century, these three Chicago Cubs filled the following infield positions: Joe Tinker, shortstop; Johnny Evers, second base; Frank Chance, first base. Their fielding, immortalized in a popular sportswriter’s phase, “Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance,” has become synonymous with crack teamwork.
What was the name of Barbara Stanwyck’s TV show?
Barbara Stanwyck starred in two TV shows: “Barbara Stanwyck Theater” (NBC, 1960-61), a drama anthology that she hosted and in which she regularly performed; and “The Big Valley” (ABC, 1965-69), in which she played Victoria Barkley, matriarch of the Barkley clan.
How large was the city of Troy?
What Homer referred to as “wind-swept Troy” was not what we would call a great city. The city of Troy was a village of some 7 acres.
How are U.S. highways numbered?
Odd-numbered highways move north and south, while those with even numbers move east and west. Highways with one or two digit numbers are through routes, often long ones used for distance driving. Three-digit routes that begin with an even number are usually beltways around a city. Three-digit routes that begin with an odd number are…
Was there a Kilroy during World War II?
Kilroy was the hero of graffiti scrawled by countless U.S. servicemen during World War II, proclaiming “Kilroy was here,” but he may never have existed in person. Sergeant Francis J. Kilroy of the U.S. Air Corps and James J. Kilroy, an inspector in a Massachusetts shipyard, have both been suggested as the namesake of the…
Where did Peoria, Illinois, get its name?
Peoria, Illinois, got its name from the Peoria tribe of the Illinois Confederacy. The name means “carrying a pack on his back.”
How many 1988 films featured the premise of body-switching between a young person and an older person?
Three movies featured the premise of body-switching between a young person and an older person: 18 Again, Vice Versa, and Like Father, Like Son. A fourth, Big, dealt with a young person magically matured into an older one. The premise dates back to the 1947 Vice Versa, where a child (Anthony Newley) switched bodies with…
Who was Tokyo Rose?
Tokyo Rose was a Japanese American named Iva d’Aquino (b. 1916) known for her World War II radio broadcasts aimed at weakening the morale of U.S. servicemen. Convicted of treason after the war, she received a presidential pardon in 1977. She had several counterparts, all known as Axis Sally and all broadcasting to GIs in…
In Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea (1952), what fish does Santiago catch?
In Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea (1952), Santiago catches a marlin.
What did Paul Newman do for a living before becoming an actor?
Paul Newman ran the family sporting goods store in Cleveland, Ohio before becoming an actor. His first critical acclaim came with his Broadway debut in Picnic in 1953; his first screen appearance was in The Silver Chalice (1954).
On “Star Trek,” what were the names of Spock’s parents?
Spock’s parents in Star Trek were Sarek, a Vulcan ambassador, and Amanda, a human being.
How many Perry Mason novels did Erle Stanley Gardner write?
Erle Stanley Gardner wrote 75 “case of the” books, beginning with The Case of the Velvet Claws in 1933 and ending with The Case of the Troubled Trustee in 1965. Erle Stanley Gardner died in 1970.
How many empires did Alexander the Great conquer?
By the time of his death in 323 B.C., Alexander III, king of Macedonia, had conquered Persia, Syria, Phoenicia, Egypt, Bactria, Bukhara, and the Punjab. His armies marched as far as India. He was thirty-three when he died.
Which U.S. state has been the birthplace of the most presidents?
Virginia has the honor of being the birthplace of the most presidents, with eight: Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, William Henry Harrison, Tyler, Taylor, and Wilson. Ohio is second, with seven: Grant, Hayes, Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, McKinley, Taft, and Harding.
To whom did the million-dollar legs belong in the 1939 movie Million Dollar Legs?
The million-dollar legs belong to a racehorse by the same name. Betty Grable’s legs and the rest of the actress appeared in the movie too.
Who was the first pro football player?
The first pro football player was William (“Pudge”) Heffelfinger. He made his professional debut for the Allegheny Athletic Association on November 12, 1892. He was paid $500 for his performance against the Pittsburgh Athletic Club, in which he led his team to victory, 4-0.
What was the actual case behind An American Tragedy?
An American Tragedy was a 1925 novel by Theodore Dreiser (1871-1945). It was based on the murder of the pregnant Grace Brown by her boyfriend, social climber Chester Gillette, at Big Moose Lake in the Adirondacks in 1906.
Do Gargoyles on medieval cathedrals have a practical function?
Gargoyles, the grotesque statues that decorate medieval cathedrals, and the medieval-influenced architecture of some universities, are not merely decorative. A gargoyle is technically a waterspout that projects from a roof gutter to throw rainwater clear of a building. The term is applied more loosely to any grotesquely carved figure.
Where are the following forts located?
Fort Necessity—Pennsylvania Fort Duquesne—Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Fort Ticonderoga—New York State Fort Laramie—Wyoming Fort Sumter—Charleston, South Carolina Fort Corregidor—Manila Bay, Philippines
Of what movie was Bob Hope’s Fancy Pants (1950) a remake?
Bob Hope’s Fancy Pants (1950) was a remake of Ruggles of Red Gap (1935), where Charles Laughton played the role later retailored for Hope.
Who is buried in Grant’s Tomb?
Ulysses S. Grant and his wife Julia Denton Grant are buried in Grant’s Tomb on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.
Who said, “Puritanism is the haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy”?
H. L. Mencken said, “Puritanism is the haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy”.
Which movie based on works by Stephen King featured John Travolta?
Carrie (1976) featured John Travolta. Cat’s Eye (1985) featured James Woods? Creepshow (1982) featured Stephen King. Here the author played a farmer who was slowly covered with green fungus.
When did the dodo become extinct?
Not until 1681, and mainly because humans and animals ate the remaining eggs. The dodo, first found on the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, was the size of a very large turkey. It was slow and defenseless, save for its hooked beak. To complicate matters, it did not reproduce well, as the female…
How many women died in the Triangle Waist Company fire in New York City?
At least 146 women, mainly young immigrants, died in the sweatshop fire in the Triangle Waist Company that occurred on April 20, 1911. The sprinkler system was inadequate, the 500 female workers stood back-to-back on the crowded work floors, and the fire doors were kept locked to prevent theft. The company owners were later acquitted…
In what year did Rita Hayworth’s famous World War II pinup photo appear on the cover of Life magazine?
Rita Hayworth’s famous World War II pinup photo appeared on the cover of Life magazine in 1941.
What determines where the Arctic Circle lies?
The Arctic Circle lies at 66° 30′ north latitude. This is because that is the southernmost latitude where the sun can be seen for a full 24-hour period on or about June 22, the first day of summer (summer solstice). On the same day in the Antarctic Circle (south of 66°30′ south latitude), the sun…
Who played the lead in The Last Angry Man (1959)?
Paul Muni played idealistic Brooklyn doctor Sam Abel-man in the film. The Last Angry Man which was based on Gerald Green’s novel.
Who was the head of the Vichy government in France during World War II?
Henri Philippe Main (1856-1951) was a military hero in World War I and premier of France in 1940. In June of that year, he called for an armistice with Germany and became the “chief of state” of the puppet government at Vichy. After the war, he was sentenced to death, but the sentence was commuted…
Who wrote “Mary Had a Little Lamb”?
One of the earliest and most influential American magazine editors, Sarah Josepha Hale wrote “Mary Had a Little Lamb” in 1830. In addition to founding the first national women’s magazine, Godey’s Ladies’Magazine, and successfully campaigning to make Thanksgiving a national holiday, she was inspired to write the rhyme by an actual case of a child’s…
What is the derivation of the phrase In Like Flynn?
The phrase “In Like Flynn” is believed to have originated with Ed Flynn. Flynn was head of New York City’s Democratic party machine from 1922 to 1953. Flynn’s political machine was always “in” power. The phrase gained further popularity in 1942, when swashbuckling actor Errol Flynn (1909-1959) was tried and acquitted on charges of the…
What was the first name of Dr. Frankenstein in the 1931 Universal version of Frankenstein?
The first name of Dr. Frankenstein in the 1931 Universal version of Frankenstein was Henry, played by Colin Clive. In the book by Mary Shelley the character’s name was Victor. Victor’s son’s name in Son of Frankenstein (1931) was Wolf, as in Baron Wolf von Frankenstein, played by Basil Rathbone.
Who named the quark?
American physicist Murray Gell-Mann (b. 1929) named the quark in 1964. He took the name from James Joyce’s Finnegans Wake. A quark, a subatomic particle with a fractional electric charge, is believed by physicists to be the fundamental unit of matter.
Who was William Randolph Hearst’s extramarital love interest, the model for Susan Alexander in Citizen Kane (1941)?
Marion Davies, an actress for whom Hearst founded a movie production company, Cosmopolitan Pictures (which was absorbed by MGM in 1925), was William Randolph Hearst’s extramarital love interest and the model for Susan Alexander in Citizen Kane (1941).
In what year did J. M. Synge’s The Playboy of the Western World spark a riot?
Rioting started during the first performance of the comedy The Playboy of the Western World by J. M. Synge at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin in 1907. The commotion was started by a reference to an undergarment.
When did Willard Scott join the “Today” cast (NBC, 1952)?
Willard Scott join the “Today” cast in March 1980. Before then he was the weatherman at NBC’s Washington affiliate.
What was the first known case of wiretapping in American politics?
The first known case of wiretapping in American politics occurred at the Republican convention in Chicago in 1912, when opponents of Teddy Roosevelt tapped the phones he used to communicate with his managers. When Roosevelt learned of it, he left his home in Oyster Bay, New York, and came to Chicago to talk to his…
Who are the five Mafia families of New York City?
The five Mafia families of New York City in the 1980s were the Bonanno, Colombo, Gambino, Genovese, and Lucchese families.
Who trained the rats used in Willard (1971)?
Moe and Nora di Sesso trained the rats used in the movie Willard (1971). They were assisted by their pet cat.
What was Mr. Magoo’s complete name?
Mr. Magoo’s full name was Quincy Magoo. His voice in the 1964-65 comedy series, “The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo” (NBC), was provided by Jim Backus.
What is the population of “Twin Peaks” (ABC, 199091)?
According to the sign that flashes on the screen in the opening credits of the TV series, the population of “Twin Peaks” is 51,201.
What are neutrinos?
Neutrinos are objects produced by the decay of certain subatomic particles. They have energy but little or no mass, and they travel almost at the speed of light.
How long has Charles Kuralt’s “On the Road” feature appeared on “The CBS Evening News”?
Charles Kuralt’s “On the Road” feature has appeared on “The CBS Evening News” since October 1967.
Who created Babar the Elephant?
Jean de Brunhoff created Babar the Elephant, in stories beginning with The Story of Babar (1933). De Brunhoff’s son Laurent continued the series.
How many movies have actor Robert Redford and director Sydney Pollack made together?
Robert Redford and director Sydney Pollack made seven movies together: This Property Is Condemned (1966); Jeremiah Johnson (1972); The Way We Were (1973); Three Days of the Condor (1975); The Electric Horseman (1979); Out of Africa (1987); and Havana (1990).
What movie inspired Alien (1979)?
It! The Terror from Beyond Space (1958) inspired the movie Alien (1979). Both movies were about a spaceship with an alien stowaway.
What New York City apartment building was used as the location for Rosemary’s Baby (1968)?
The Dakota, at Central Park West and 72 Street in New York City, was used as the location for Rosemary’s Baby (1968).
Who was known as the Man Who Shot Dillinger?
FBI agent Melvin Purvis was known as the Man Who Shot Dillinger. Purvis never actually fired at John Dillinger in the 1934 shootout in Chicago that ended in the death of”public enemy number one.” But Purvis directed the trap and pointed Dillinger out to other agents and police.
Who were the original hosts of “NFL Monday Night Football” (ABC, 1970)?
Howard Cosell and Don Meredith were the original hosts of “NFL Monday Night Football” (ABC, 1970).
Who first said “Eureka!” and what did it have to do with a bath?
The Greek word heureka, meaning “I have found it,” was made famous by Archimedes, a Sicilian philosopher (c. 287-212 B.C.). Archimedes was given the task of finding out whether a crown presented to the ruler of Syracuse was really pure gold or alloyed with an inferior metal. The philosopher was baffled until he stepped into…
How many copies of Gone with the Wind have been sold?
Margaret Mitchell’s 1937 Pulitzer Prize winner Gone with the Wind has been translated into 27 languages and has sold over 20 million copies.
Why was Sisyphus of Greek mythology punished?
It is well known that Sisyphus was a king in Greek mythology who was punished in Hades by having to roll a stone forever up a hill, only to have it roll back down. It is less well known that he was given this sentence as punishment for cheating death. Sisyphus, a king of Corinth,…
When was Medicare established in the United States?
Federally funded health insurance for the disabled and those over 65 called Medicare was part of the Social Security Amendments of 1965. The Amendments also saw the beginning of Medicaid.