First Names A-B Trivia

1. Adolph Marx (1888-1964) changed his first name in 1911 to Arthur. Arthur Marx is better known as which of the Marx Brothers? (Hint: when you see the answer, his real name and stage name makes sense)

From Quiz In the Name of the Arts .... and Arthurs

Answer: Harpo

Harpo Marx was named Adolph Marx at birth and changed it age 23 to Arthur Marx since he disliked his given name. His older brother Leonard Joseph Marx was known as Chico. The third oldest brother Julius Henry Marx is the most well-known, Groucho. Two younger brothers Milton Marx (Gummo) and Herbert Manfred Marx (Zeppo) played lesser roles in the Marx Brothers. Arthur/Harpo was an excellent musician, who played about six different instruments and was a dedicated harpist. He was self-taught on the harp and developed an unorthodox style that fascinated professional harpists. His love of the harp and the relatively close sound of Art and Harpo makes sense of the nickname he used. In the Marx Brothers' movies Harpo didn't speak, using a horn or whistling to communicate. He was noted for his use of props, especially in sight gags, and for his curly wig. In 1933 during a tour of Russia Harpo acted as a secret courier, delivering messages to and from the US Ambassador William Bullitt.

From Quiz Ask Alexa

Answer: Miami, FL

Vega was born on August 27, 1988. Although born in Florida, she moved to California with her family when she was four. She is an actress who started in the "SPY Kids" (2001) and its sequel movies, playing Carmen Cortez. She is also a singer. One of her songs is "Heart Drive."

From Quiz Ten August(us) Personages

Answer: Gaius Octavius Thurinus

The Emperor Augustus was the adopted heir and successor of the ill-fated Julius Caesar (also known as Gaius Julius Caesar) who had previously ruled over the Roman Empire, but as Dictator rather than Emperor. He was born Gaius Octavius Thurinus and before he took control of the empire he was generally known as Octavianus or Octavian. He was the grandson of Julius Caesar's sister, Julia, and was raised by his grandmother (and later adopted by his great-uncle) after the death of his father when he was four years old. Augustus proved to be a highly successful emperor and his reign saw massive expansion of the Roman Empire's boundaries, a large-scale redevelopment of the city of Rome and significant reform of taxation, the military and other services. In addition he was responsible for the start of a period of peace known as the Pax Romana. The name Augustus was actually a title bestowed on him in 27 BC by the Roman Senate to represent his religious authority and roughly translates into English as "the illustrious one". On Augustus' death in 14 AD (at the age of 75) the name and title passed on to his successors (although they tended to be known by their real names or other titles). Marcus Antonius (better known as Marc Anthony) and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus were members of the Second Triumvirate along with Augustus.

From Quiz The Lives of Brians

Answer: The Beatles

In November 1961, Brian Epstein visited the Cavern Club in Liverpool to see a performance by an up and coming local band; just a couple of months later he signed up to be their manager and went on to lead them to international success. The band in question was of course the Beatles. The Beatles went on to record numerous number one singles in countries all around the world, including the US (where they had led the 'British Invasion' in 1964), and star in five films including 'A Hard Day's Night' (1964) and 'Help' (1965). Epstein's success was however short-lived. He died of a drug overdose in 1967, at the age of 32.

From Quiz The Battle of the Bryans (and Brians)

Answer: Figure skating

These were the Winter Olympics, held that year in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Orser, a Canadian born in 1961, and Boitano, an American born in 1963, had each won a world championship and the adulation of skating fans. Orser was well regarded for his artistry; Boitano was famous for his technical skill, embodied in his trademark 'Tano Triple Lutz. And after two-thirds of the figure-skating competition at the 1988 Olympics, the two were essentially tied as they entered the long form finale. Boitano took home the gold after winning the technical tiebreaker, but both enjoyed professional success in the following years.

From Quiz Whatever Happened to Alfred?

Answer: He turned into a supervillain

Alfred's "death" came in the "Detective Comic" 328 published in June 1964 where he seemingly sacrificed himself to save Batman and Robin. This left them on their own for the following two years and having to face a new supervillain known as the Outsider. Finally, in Edition 356 (October 1966), it was revealed that the Outsider was really Alfred who had been revived and scientifically modified. Alfred, on being restored to normal, had no memory of the intervening period.

From Quiz You Can Call Me Al

Answer: Al Gore

Al Gore was the Vice President under Bill Clinton. His is also famous for his book on global warming, called "An Inconvenient Truth."

From Quiz How Great Thou "Art" : Famous Arthurs

Answer: Arthur Pendragon

Geoffrey de Monmouth recorded the myths of King Arthur in his 12th Century work, "Historia regum Britanniae". He relates that Arthur's father, Uther Pendragon, slept with Igraine (or Igerna), wife of the Duke of Cornwall. He managed this because the magician Merlin had charmed him to look like the Duke. Arthur was the resulting child. The Fonz (who didn't need magic to attract female attention in the TV series "Happy Days") was Arthur Fonzarelli.

From Quiz The World of Amy

Answer: Steven Spielberg

Amy Irving starred along with Sissy Spacek in the movie "Carrie" (1976). Amy again played the role of Sue Snell in the 1999 film "The Rage: Carrie 2".

From Quiz Famous Women Named "Barbara"

Answer: Barbara Bel Geddes

Ms. Bel Geddes was also nominated for a Tony Award for "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof". Much sought-after in her youth, her career was damaged during the era of McCarthyism and she never regained her previous leading lady status.

From Quiz Anne Who?

Answer: Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway of Shottery married William Shakespeare in 1582 when he was eighteen. She was several years his senior, and they lived apart for much of the marriage with Anne and her children, Judith, Hamnet and Susannah, remaining in Stratford while Will worked in London. When Will died, he left Anne his "second best bed" which is not an insult, since the best bed was actually a spare one! Stratford was Shakespeare's hometown, Hart was the married name of his sister Joanna and Arden was his mother, Mary's, maiden name.

From Quiz Famous Adams

Answer: neurologist

Adam Arkin is the son of actor Alan Arkin.

From Quiz In the Name of the Arts .... and Arthurs

Answer: King Henry VIII

Arthur Tudor (1486-1502) was the older brother of the future King Henry VIII. At age eleven he was engaged to Catherine of Aragon, and four years later they married. Although Arthur had been in good health for most of his life, he died about six months later from what was called the "sweating sickness" and is believed to be tuberculosis. Henry VIII was five years younger than Arthur and became king in 1509, seven years after Arthur's death.

From Quiz Ask Alexa

Answer: "It"

"It" was released in 2013 and had to do with fashion. "It" is a collection of her writings, drawings, and photographs. Born November 5, 1983, Alexa Chung is a model, television presenter, fashion designer, and writer. She has been on the best-dressed list in multiple magazines.

From Quiz Ten August(us) Personages

Answer: Augustus John

Augustus John (1878-1961) was a Welsh artist who achieved acclaim early in his career for his drawing of figures and for developing a technique of sketching with oil paints. However, he is best known for his post-war career as a portrait artist - famous people whose portraits were painted by John include T. E. Lawrence, Thomas Hardy, George Bernard Shaw and Dylan Thomas. He was also the brother of fellow artist, Gwen John. During the First World War, John went to the front lines in France alongside a Canadian Infantry regiment. As a result, many of his war portraits are of Canadian soldiers. Other works, including a large mural, were commissioned by the Canadian-British newspaper publisher, Lord Beaverbrook, for the Canadian War Memorials Fund.

From Quiz The Lives of Brians

Answer: Taoiseach of Ireland

According to the Constitution of Ireland, the Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister. The position is usually held by the leader of the party that holds the most seats in the Dáil Éireann (the lower house of the Irish parliament) and is officially appointed by the President. Brian Cowen took on the role of Taoiseach following the resignation of Bertie Ahern in 2008. He went on to preside over a series of financial disasters in Ireland, including the near collapse of the Anglo-Irish Bank, severe cuts in public spending, and a bail-out from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund. Following several votes of no confidence in his government he was forced to resign in 2011 and retired from politics. Cowen also held the position of Tánaiste (deputy prime minister) from June 2007 to May 2008.

From Quiz It's Al-ementary, My Dear Watson!

Answer: Al Capp

Debuting in 1934, the 'Lil' Abner' comic strip went from being published in eight papers to ultimately over 900. Al Capp also created 'Long Sam' and 'Abbie an' Slats'. During World War II, and for years afterward, Al Capp entertained hospital patients - in particular, amputees. In 1946 he created a comic book ('Al Capp by Lil' Abner') for the Red Cross to distribute to amputee veterans. He also served as honorary chairperson for the Sister Kenny Foundation, which pioneered new polio treatments. Al Capp - Alfred Gerald Caplin (1909-1979) - was also a satirist, and a radio and television commentator.

From Quiz You Can Call Me Al

Answer: Al Capone

His real first name was Alphonse. He got his nickname from the scars on his face, received when he insulted a patron whilst working as a nightclub doorman. Al Capone died in 1947 of cardiac arrest.

From Quiz Awesome Amys

Answer: Amy Carter

Amy Lynn Carter was the last child and only daughter of President Jimmy Carter and Rosalyn. She was born in 1967 and lived four years from age nine to age thirteen in the White House while her father was president. She married James Gregory Wentzel in 1996. Since her stay in the White House, Amy has earned a Bachelor's degree in Art from Memphis College of the Arts and a Master's Degree in Art History from Tulane History. Amy has also been quite a political activist. Working with Abbie Hoffman (of the Chicago Seven, accusing of disrupting the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 1968) Amy protested the recruiting by the CIA on the campus of the University of Massachusetts in 1987. She was arrested, but was not convicted of any of the charges.

From Quiz How Great Thou "Art" : Famous Arthurs

Answer: Henry VIII

Henry VII was the King who seized the English throne from Richard III in 1485 following the War of the Roses and Arthur was his eldest son. Arthur was named after the mythical King Arthur as part of an attempt to give extra credibility to the family's lineage. Henry was eager to forge an alliance with Spain so, at the age of 2, Arthur was promised in marriage to the Spanish Katherine of Aragon whom he duly married aged 15. Six months after his marriage, Arthur was dead. Henry VII was keen to further the alliance and therefore arranged for Katherine to marry Arthur's younger brother, Henry. The marriage took place in 1509 shortly after Henry had begun his reign as Henry VIII. Later, however, Henry sought to divorce Katherine claiming, among many other things, that his agreement to the marriage had been given under duress. The divorce was the central factor in the eventual split from Rome.

From Quiz The World of Amy

Answer: Amy Adams

Amy Adams was born in Italy in 1974 to American parents. She was nominated for a Golden Globe for her role as Giselle in "Enchanted".

From Quiz Famous Women Named "Barbara"

Answer: Barbara Boxer

Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein both represented California in the U.S. Senate beginning in 1992.

From Quiz Anne Who?

Answer: Anne Blythe

Anne Shirley met Gilbert Blythe in "Anne of Green Gables", was friendly with him in "Anne of Avonlea", and became engaged to him in "Anne of the Island". In "Anne of Windy Willows" (aka "Anne of Windy Poplars") she corresponded with him while working away from home. They married in "Anne's House of Dreams". The answer to this question is therefore "Anne Blythe". Anne was the creation of L.M. Montgomery. Cuthbert was the surname of Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert who adopted Anne, and Avonlea was the name of the town where she lived.

From Quiz Famous Adams

Answer: Pernell Roberts

Michael Landon was 'Little Joe'; Dan Blocker played 'Hoss'; and Lorne Green, was of course patriarch, 'Ben Cartwright'.

From Quiz In the Name of the Arts .... and Arthurs

Answer: Arthur Murray

Arthur Murray (1895-1991) was born as Moses Teichman in Austria-Hungary and immigrated to the US in 1897. He worked as a dance instructor at age 17 as a part time job. After studying under Vernon and Irene Castle, he started a chain of dance studios and later starred in an early television show "The Arthur Murray Party". His pupils included Eleanor Roosevelt, the Duke of Windsor, John D. Rockefeller, Jack Dempsey, and various other society blue book individuals. His son-in-law was Dr Henry Heimlich of the life-saving maneuver. Art Blakey was a famous American jazz drummer. Arthur Miller was an American playwright and spouse of Marilyn Monroe. Artie Wilson was one of the leader hitters in the Negro Baseball League. He played one year in the major leagues, but had a long career in the next tier, the Pacific Coast League, where he developed a reputation as a very good opposite field hitter.

From Quiz Ask Alexa

Answer: Jeff

Alexis Davalos was born May 28, 1982, to Elyssa Davalos and Jeff Dunas; he was born October 23, 1954, and is an American photographer of celebrities. Davalos played Andromeda in "Clash of the Titans" in 2010.

From Quiz Ten August(us) Personages

Answer: Prime Minister

The Duke of Grafton was a Whig politician who took up the role of Prime Minister when his predecessor, the Earl of Chatham (also known as William Pitt the Elder), resigned due to ill health. However, his time in the top job was short-lived due to serious criticism of his foreign policy that stemmed from his refusal to intervene in the French invasion of Corsica (a British ally). He was also condemned as corrupt by the author of the 'Junius Letters', a series of anonymous political commentaries published in the newspapers throughout his tenure. He was replaced as Prime Minister by Lord North, who had held the role of Chancellor of the Exchequer in Grafton's government. The roles of Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary weren't instituted until 1782. The Duke of Grafton's family surname - 'Fitzroy' - derived from the fact that his great-grandfather (the 1st Duke of Grafton) was one of the illegitimate children of King Charles II and his mistress Barbara Villiers.

From Quiz The Lives of Brians

Answer: England

This record-breaking match, held in Antigua, was the fourth test between the West Indies and England during the 2003/04 cricket season. However, despite Lara's amazing run scoring, the match ended in a draw. England had also already won the first three tests to win the series and retain the Wisden Trophy (which is awarded to the winners of international test cricket series between England and the West Indies). Brian Lara also broke the record for the most runs scored in a domestic first-class cricket match in 1994. He scored 501 not out for Warwickshire against Durham, in a match that also went on to end in a draw. The incorrect options are all famous cricketing nations but they didn't have the misfortune to come up against Brian Lara on that day in history.

From Quiz The Battle of the Bryans (and Brians)

Answer: Playing cards

Berg, born in 1974, has literally built his professional life on a house of cards -- and it's working out pretty well for him! His card-stacking construction method requires no glue, tape, or bending, yet he has used it to rise to great heights, repeatedly breaking his own records. In 2007, for example, he used 1100 decks to build a card skyscraper nearly 26 feet (8 meters) high! This project was completed at the African-American Museum in Dallas, Texas, but Berg has traveled to many different countries to build structures on commission. He's also showcased his skills on television talk shows and even in a music video. It takes some creativity to make ends meet this way, but creativity is clearly something Berg has in spades. (Sorry.)

From Quiz Annes in the Limelight

Answer: Fantine in Les Miserables

Filming for the 2012 version of "Les Miserables" was completed at locations in England and Paris including the Old Royal Naval College at Greenwich in London. Directed by Tom Hooper, who also directed "The King's Speech" (2010), the film saw Anne Hathaway losing a considerable amount of weight and cutting her hair very short for her role as the prostitute, Fantine. Anne Hathaway has portrayed the 'girl next door' in many of her films and it was at the 2009 Academy Awards when her soprano singing voice came to notice. Since then, she has sung her way through the 2011 animated film "Rio" as Jewel, the beautiful blue Spix's macaw.

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