A Pit of This and That Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Pit and the Pendulum

"The Pit and the Pendulum", is a gothic terror story by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1842, by Carey & Hart in "The Gift" (an annual gift book), which tells the story of a prisoner of the Spanish Inquisition, in a trial that intends to extract confessions through torture.

"The Pit and the Pendulum", 1961, is a horror film directed by Roger Corman, starring Vincent Price and others, loosely inspired by Poe's short story of the same name. It was set in the 16th century, in which a young man visits a haunted castle to investigate his sister's death. "The Pit and the Pendulum", 1991, (released in the USA on DVD as "The Inquisitor") is based on Poe's story and on "The Cask of the Amontillado". It was directed by Stuart Gordon and had the actor Lance Henriksen playing the role of Torquemada.

Answer: Gene Pitney

Gene Francis Alan Pitney (1940 - 2006), also known as Gene Pitney or Billy Brian was an American singer, songwriter, and musician (guitar, piano, drums, and vocals). In 1962 his second album "Only Love Can Break a Heart" was released, which included the top ten hits "Only Love Can Break a Heart" and "(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valence".

He also wrote the hits "Hello Mary Lou" for Ricky Nelson, and "He's a Rebel" for The Crystals.

Answer: William Pitt the Younger

The British statesman William Pitt the Younger (1759-1806) was the youngest and the last Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1783 until 1801. When the Acts of Union 1800 were approved, bringing together the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland, he became the first Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in January 1801, only to resign in March of that year.

In 1804, he was re-elected and stayed in the position until his death in 1806. He was prime minister during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars and it is considered that he managed to strengthen the role of the prime minister.

Answer: Walter Boughton Pitkin

Walter Boughton Pitkin (1878 - 1953) was an American writer and professor at Columbia University for over 30 years. He published more than 30 books including the self-help book, "Life Begins at Forty" (1932), which became a best-seller when the American life expectancy at birth was around 60 years and was climbing fast. This book became popular suggesting to readers that due to the new living conditions they, after age 40, could have a long and happy life, as long as they kept a positive attitude. The book, according to "Publishers Weekly" was the #1 selling non-fictional book in the U.S. in 1933 and #2 in 1934.

Due to the book's success, the phrase "life begins at forty", which was not necessarily coined by Pitkin, entered into circulation and became the title of a 1935 Will Rogers movie, a 1980 John Lennon song, a television series, plus several novels and books.

Answer: Pitts

Eliza Susan Pitts, known professionally as ZaSu Pitts, (1894-1963) was an American comedic motion actress born in Kansas and whose name ZaSu, often incorrectly spelled, came from the names of her father's sisters, Eliza and Susan. She was known for her squeaky voice, flailing hands, and caricature-like eyes.

She rose to prominence in the 1920s when she starred in many silent dramas including the epic silent film "Greed" (1924) and in several comedies. It was the time of transition between silent and sound films and she had difficulties acting in serious films due to her high-pitched voice.

Her career as an entertainer spanned nearly fifty years. She made several television appearances in the 1950s and 1960s and last appeared in the comedy "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad World" (1963).

Answer: Pituitary

The "pituitary" gland (or hypophysis ceribri) is an endocrine gland, found at the base of the brain, in line with the top of the nose. It is protected by a bony structure called the sella turcica of the sphenoid bone. In humans, the pituitary gland is the size of a chickpea and weighs about 0.5 grams (0.018oz).

A pituitary gland is attached to the hypothalamus that controls its activity. The pituitary secretes different hormones, some of which have a direct effect on the body, such as those that affect metabolism, reproduction, blood pressure, and other vital body functions. It produces other hormones that control the actions of other glands that are also hormone producing as the thyroid, adrenal, and reproductive glands.

Answer: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh is the second-most populous city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, with a population of 302,000, according to the 2020 census. It is located in southwest Pennsylvania at the confluence of the Allegheny River and the Monongahela River, which together form the Ohio River.

The area occupied by Pittsburgh was disputed between the British and the French. The English succeeded in expelling the French army from there and in 1758, General John Forbes named the place Pittsburgh in honor of the British William Pitt the Elder.

Answer: Pitcairn Islands

The Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands better known as Pitcairn Islands are a group of four volcanic islands located in the Pacific Ocean and which form the only British Overseas Territory in that ocean. They are scattered over hundreds of miles of ocean and have a combined area of 18 square miles (47 square km), of which 86% belongs to Henderson Island, but only Pitcairn is inhabited. The current population is less than 50 people and future prospects are not encouraging. In the fertile soil various types of fruits and vegetables are produced. In 1998, a successful program for the production of honey began, which is currently exported.

In 1790, nine of the mutineer's crew of the Royal Navy vessel HMS Bounty accompanied by six men, eleven women, and a girl, arrived on Pitcairn where they settled and set fire to the ship. This group was only discovered in 1808 by when only one mutineer remained alive. The current inhabitants are descendants of this group.

Answer: Pitaya

Pitaya or Pitahaya is the fruit of several different cactus species indigenous to the region of southern Mexico and along the Pacific coasts of Guatemala, Costa Rica, and El Salvador. This fruit is cultivated in East and South Asia, the United States, Australia, and tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Some refer to Pitaya as the fruit of the genus Stenoceurus, while Pitahaya refers to the genus Selenicereus, both of the Cactaceae family. The common name "dragon fruit" derives from the leather-like skin and spikes on the outer fruit. The fruit flavor can be sweet or sour depending on the variety and the pulp can be red, white, or yellow.

This is a fruit that can be incorporated into a healthy diet as it has numerous benefits because it contains a large amount of antioxidants, polyphenols, vitamins, and minerals.

Answer: Pittsburgh

"Pittsburgh" (1942) is an American movie directed by Lewis Seiler, starring Marlene Dietrich, John Wayne, and others. The film is about an ambitious coal miner, who at the expense of friendships and love, pursues wealth and power in the steel industry in Pittsburgh. The German actress Marlene Dietrich and John Wayne co-starred in three films: "Seven Sinners" (1940), "The Spoilers" (1942) and "Pittsburgh" (1942), the last one.

During this period, in the 1940s, they had a torrid affair causing the end of John Wayne's marriage to his first wife, Josephine Saenz. Although married he didn't bother to hide the fling. The FBI became aware of the affair as it was monitoring Dietrich to find out if she was a potential Nazi sympathizer. In the book: "John Wayne, My Life with the Duke" (1987) it is revealed that after three years, his love affair with Dietrich came to an end but he never revealed why they parted ways.