Celebrity "Leapers": People Born on February 29 Quiz

Answer: Nancy Reagan

After graduating from Vanderbilt University, Shore headed for The Big Apple. She landed a job singing on WNEW, along with folks including Frank Sinatra and later joined bandleader Xavier Cugat's show. She was married to actor George Montgomery from 1943-1962 and had a 1970s fling with actor Burt Reynolds. During WWII she entertained the troops in Britain and France, sometimes escorted by General George Patton himself. She recorded over 85 songs, four of which were number one hits. They were "I'll Walk Alone" (1944), "The Gypsy" (1946), "The Anniversary Song" (1947) and "Buttons and Bows" (1948) which was numero uno for 10 weeks. She made numerous albums, a couple of handfuls of movies and hosted TV shows for decades. She won nine Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe. A longtime player and supporter of golf she even hosted a tournament on the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tour. In 1994 she was made an honorary member of the LPGA Hall of Fame.
Dinah also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Interesting fact: When TV Guide named their All-Time Top 50 TV Stars list, Dinah came in at number 16.

Answer: Motivational

He is what some would call a "life coach", believing very much in the power of positive thinking and acting. For over 30 years he has traveled the globe, giving weekend seminars. It is estimated that between his books, tapes, infomercials, seminars and speeches to various business groups, his message has been heard in over 100 countries by close to 30 million people. In 1994 President Bill Clinton invited him to come and visit with him at Camp David in MD. His books include "Unlimited Power" (1989) and "Awaken the Giant Within" (1991). He has even had time to appear in a couple of movies including "Shallow Hal" (2001) with Gwyneth Paltrow.

Interesting fact: Talk about earning a good living, Forbes magazine estimated that his income from all sources in just the year 1987 was $30 million bucks.

Answer: The Wild Horse of the Osage

Born on you know when in 1904, he got the name because of the way he played the game. He ran the bases with total reckless abandon, often diving headfirst into the bags. He was more than just peppery, the man could seriously play. In a 13 year career, spent entirely with the Cards, he compiled a .298 batting average, hitting over .300 seven times, and he stole 146 bases. He led the league three times in swiped sacks (1933-1934-1936). He was a four time All-Star and was named the 1931 Male Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press. He was a two time World Series champion (1931 and 1934) and his career Series batting average of .418 has held up as the best for over 75 years.

Interesting fact: When the first All Star game was played at Chicago's Comisky Park on July 6, 1933, Pepper Martin became the National League's first starting third baseman. (The All-Star game was the idea of Chicago Tribune sportswriter Arch Ward.)

Answer: Ireland

He "leaped" to life in Ireland in 1840, where he stayed until 1873. When he first hit the U.S. he started work as an engineer, before taking up teaching at St. John's Catholic school in N.J. for six years. With financial backing from an Irish group known as The Fenians, he was able to quit his teaching gig and get back to spending full time working on "submersible vessels". After much trial, tribulation and nixed proposals, on April 11, 1900 the U.S. Navy purchased his first ship. The 53 foot long "U.S.S. Holland" was commissioned October 12, 1900. The Navy wound up buying seven subs in all. The British Royal Navy developed a group of Holland type subs shortly thereafter. John Phillip Holland died August 12, 1914 in Newark, N.J.

Interesting fact: Ironically, the first five subs in the Japanese Navy were modified versions of The Holland, although 10 feet longer at 63 feet.

Answer: Mr. Blue

"Come Softly..." (the original title) hit number one in April and "Mr. Blue" made it to the top in November. The following year Dick Clark presented Gretchen's group with their only two Gold Records. Their first national TV appearance had been on Clark's "American Bandstand", March 14, 1959. Gretchen was the lead vocalist and composer of many of the groups songs. Their last hit as a trio came in 1963 with "Goodnight My Love". The group disbanded that year and Gretchen began a solo career as "Gretchen Christopher of the Fleetwoods", and she later performed with Bob Hope on one of his many USO Tours.

Interesting fact: In her fifth decade as a performer, Gretchen recorded her first solo CD album, "Sweet Sixteen" in 2007.

Answer: Tommy

Tommy was known as "The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing". They started playing together in the Roaring '20s with a band they called Dorsey's Novelty Six. Jimmy split from Tommy in the mid-30s and started the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, with the popular Helen O'Connell as his lead vocalist. Her rendition of "Brazil" from back in the days with the band, entered the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2009. As a musician, Jimmy played a mean sax and trumpet and he could liven things up with his clarinet too. As a composer he created "I'm Glad There Is You" (1941) and "It's the Dreamer In Me" (1938). The brothers re-united in 1953.
Jimmy's 1956 recording of "So Rare" earned him a Gold Record. He is a member of both The Big Band Hall of Fame and The American Jazz Hall of Fame. He even appeared in a few movies including "Shall We Dance?" (1937), with Fred and Ginger and "The Fleet's In" (1942), with Dorothy Lamour. Jimmy Dorsey died June 12, 1957.

Interesting fact: A young female singer who performed for a while with Jimmy in 1944 named Patti Palmer, would later become the first to say "I do" to comedian Jerry Lewis.

Answer: He succeeded Pope Julius III.

He succeeded Pope Clement VII. His mistress was named Sylvia Ruffini and she bore him three sons and a daughter, all before he became Pope. He had attained the title of Cardinal of the Catholic Church in 1493. Pope Paul III did indeed establish The Council of Trent, primarily with the intention of refuting the attacks of the Protestant Reformation, led by Marin Luther and John Calvin. Paul III died November 10, 1549 and was succeeded by Pope Julius III.

Interesting fact: The Council of Trent would last for 25 sessions over 18 years, under the terms of three different Popes, Paul III, Julius III and Pius IV.

Answer: The Famous Teddy Z

He won it for his role of Hollywood agent Al Floss.
In "The Godfather" (1972) he played Moe Greene, a mobster based on Bugsy Siegel, a member of the Vito Genovese crime syndicate in real life, who was the mob's front man in starting up Las Vegas. In one of the more memorable scenes from that (or any) film he is killed compliments of a bullet in the eye. Not so coincidentally that's the same way Bugsy actually got it as well (1947). After a rough and tumble youth in MA, Alex followed Horace Greeley's advice and the young man went west, taking a job tending bar for a while. He later came under the tutelage of Leonard Nimoy, a fellow Baystater who gave him acting lessons. He would go on to make over 30 films, including "Get Shorty" (1995), "That Thing You Do" (1996) and "The Wedding Planner" (2001). He also appeared on dozens of TV shows, including "That Girl"(1970), "Murphy Brown" (1989) and "Home Improvement" (1997).

Interesting fact: While "The Famous Teddy Z" opened to good reviews, even receiving two Primetime Emmy Award nominations, it didn't last long. After a strong debut on September 18 1989, poor ratings caused it to be cancelled in the second season on May 12, 1980, with five episodes already shot, still in the can.

Answer: Montreal Canadiens

He was the brother and teammate of the great Maurice "The Rocket" Richard. In fact Henri, who was three inches shorter than his bro, was nicknamed "The Pocket Rocket". His career scoring totals included 358 goals (with a high of 30 in 1959-60), 688 assists (with a high of 52 in 1957-58) and 1,046 points (with a high of 80 in 1957-58). He twice led the league in assists (1957-58 and 1962-63). In addition he scored 49 Stanley Cup playoff goals. He was listed at number 29 on the 1998 List of The 100 Greatest Players by the bible of the NHL, The Hockey News. The uniform number 16 that he wore with pride for two decades was retired by the Canadiens on December 10, 1975.

Interesting fact: When he retired he had played more games in a Montreal Canadiens uniform than any other player.

Answer: South Dakota

The South Dakota land ran red with the blood of between 150-300 Sioux men, women and children who were killed and over 50 others who were wounded. In addition, more than two dozen of the 7th Cavalry troops met their maker on that fateful day of December 12, 1890. Twenty cavalry troops were awarded The Medal of Honor for their part in the slaughter.

Brown was born in 1908 and worked as a reporter before college. After Graduate School at George Washington University he served from 1934-1942 as librarian for the U.S. Agriculture Department. He wrote over 30 books of both fiction and nonfiction. Many of his works dealt with the (mis)treatment of the Native American tribes and it was assumed by many readers of the time that he himself was an Indian. He died December 12, 2002.

Interesting fact: The site of what has become known as "The Wounded Knee Massacre" was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1965.