Pennsylvania Famous People Trivia

1. About what city did Gertrude Stein say that "There is no there there"?

From Quiz There Is No There There

Answer: Oakland, California

Gertrude Stein lived in Oakland from age six to seventeen. Upon returning in 1934, she commented on Oakland's inferiority complex with San Francisco across the Bay. Stein considered the United States her country but Paris as her hometown. The phrase has been used by others to describe a place that lacks culture, soul, life, and identity. A closer look at the context of the phrase might be interpreted as Thomas Wolfe said "You can't go home again" as Stein was troubled by the many changes to the Oakland of her memories. Through these years Oakland has tried to accept its description with humor. It is not unsual to see a flag or sign reading "There".

From Quiz Betsy Ross

Answer: 16

Betsy was the 8th child out of 17 kids.

From Quiz Modern Philadelphia Headlines

Answer: Wilson Goode

On May 13, 1985, Mayor Wilson Goode gave the order to drop a C4 bomb onto the roof of the MOVE headquarters, which was located at 6221 Osage Avenue. The bombing resulted in burning down an entire city block.

From Quiz There Is No There There

Answer: Allegheny, PA

Gertrude was the youngest of five children. Her father was an entrepreneur who had wide investments. Shortly after her birth the family settled in Vienna, then Paris, then back to Oakland where her father part-owned a transportation system. She attended a Hebrew school there. Having the wealth to do so, the Steins were frequent European travelers, believing that such visits raised the cultural values of their children. Much of Allegheny was later absorbed by greater Pittsburgh.

From Quiz Betsy Ross

Answer: she was going to marry John Ross, who was not a Quaker

Being "read out of meeting" basically meant being kicked out of the church. Betsy was read "out of meeting" because she was going to marry John Ross. John, however, was not a Quaker. There was a rule that Quakers had to marry Quakers. They had many other rules, too, such as not playing music or cards on Sundays.

From Quiz Modern Philadelphia Headlines

Answer: Thomas Jones

On July 13, 2000, Thomas Jones was involved in a police chase after he carjacked a vehicle. When he was apprehended with force by the police, the incident was videotaped by a TV news helicopter

From Quiz Art Rooney and other Famous Pennsylvanians

Answer: James Buchanan

James Buchanan (1791-1868) served as a member of the US House of Representatives, member of the US Senate, US Secretary of State, and US Ambassador to Britain before he became President (1857-1861). Beginning his career as a member of the Federalist Party, by the mid 1820s he was a Democrat. As the United States split in the winter of 1860-1861, he expressed his strong conviction that secession was unconstitutional. This was matched by another strong conviction that the Federal Government did not have the authority to stop it. A lifelong bachelor, Buchanan helped to raise an orphaned niece and nephew.

From Quiz Betsy Ross

Answer: five pointed star

Betsy said that five point stars were easier to make. According to one story, she made one while talking to George Washington.

From Quiz Modern Philadelphia Headlines

Answer: Gary Heidnik

Gary Heidnik was arrested in the early morning hours of March 25, 1987, after enslaving several women with chains in his basement. After killing several of the women, he cut up their bodies and fed it to the remaining women he was holding captive. Heidnik was executed for his crimes on July 6, 1999.

From Quiz Art Rooney and other Famous Pennsylvanians

Answer: Tina Fey

After college, Tina Fey spent several years with the "Second City" improvisational comedy troop in Chicago. While on "Saturday Night Live", Tina Fey (born 1970) spent several years as a co-host on the "Weekend Update" sketch. She also portrayed rolls in "Date Night" and "Megamind". Fey also wrote the comedic autobiography "Bossypants". Married to Jeff Richmond, Tina Fey has two daughters.

From Quiz There Is No There There

Answer: William James

His classic book "Principles of Psychology" (1890) made William James the "Father of American Psychology". Part of his wide range of interests was 'stream of consciousness', which in general terms says "-- [that] everyone will affirm to belong to his inner experience is the fact that consciousness of some sort goes on. 'States of mind' succeed each other in him. If we could say in English 'it thinks,' as we say 'it rains' or 'it blows,' we should be stating the fact most simply and with the minimum of assumption. As we cannot, we must simply say that thought goes on." Stein was one of his students who aided in researching the theory of 'stream of consciousness'. James encouraged her to take up medicine as a background to becoming a psychologist, but Stein was an indifferent medical student. However, much of her later writings were clearly influenced by James. Just as it was directly or indirectly influenced James Joyce, William Faulkner, Virginia Woolf and others.

From Quiz Betsy Ross

Answer: Upholstery shop

The Rosses owned an upholstery shop. They repaired things such as chair pillows and other furniture that had stuffing.

From Quiz Modern Philadelphia Headlines

Answer: Norman Braman

Auto dealer magnate Norman Braman was pronounced a hero when he purchased the team and kept it in Philadelphia, then was vilified by the fans after driving the proud franchise into ruins.

From Quiz Art Rooney and other Famous Pennsylvanians

Answer: Johnny Unitas

Johnny Unitas (1933-2002) also played on the practice squad of the Pittsburgh Steelers (1955) and on the team for the San Diego Chargers (1973) in addition to his time with the Colts (1956-1972). He appeared in Super Bowl III (losing to Joe Namath) and appeared in a Colts' victory in Super Bowl V. After his retirement, Unitas worked as a color commentator for National Football League games. His streak of completing a touchdown pass in 47 consecutive NFL games would stand from 1960 to 2012.

From Quiz There Is No There There

Answer: Painting

From 1902 through 1914 Leo and Gertrude became two of the leading art collectors of the most promising and dramatic paintings. Among the collection were Gauguins, Cézannes, Renoirs, Matisses and Picassos and, from an earlier peiod, works by Delacroix. After an acrimonious separation in 1914, Leo moved to Italy and the collection was split between the two. It is said the separation was so bitter that neither spoke to the other for thirty years. When Stein had difficult financial times, she sold many of the paintings.

From Quiz Betsy Ross

Answer: Elizabeth Griscom Ross Ashburn Claypoole

Her full name when she died was Elizabeth Griscom Ross Ashburn Claypoole. Griscom was her maiden name. Ross, Ashburn, and Claypoole were the last names of her husbands in the order that she married them. Two are switching around the names. She never married a Washington or Jefferson. I found her name in a biography. I had no idea she had two husbands after John died.

From Quiz Modern Philadelphia Headlines

Answer: Joe Rizzo

Joe Rizzo was appointed Fire Commissioner on merit after a long distinguished career, not out of nepotism.

From Quiz Art Rooney and other Famous Pennsylvanians

Answer: Steve Ditko

Steve Ditko (born 1927) has worked with Atlas Comics/Marvel Comics, DC Comics, and Charlton Comics. A stint in the US Army shortly after World War Two allowed him to attend art school under the GI Bill. In addition to the previously mentioned characters, Ditko also co-created the Creeper and Hawk and Dove and helped to re-launch Blue Beetle.

From Quiz Betsy Ross

Answer: American Revolution

One way or another, the American Revolution caused the deaths of her husbands. Her first husband, John Ross, died early in the war due to a gunpowder explosion while he was on guard duty. Her second husband, Joseph, died on a British prison ship. Then, her third husband died a few years after the war due to the conditions on the same prison ship. All of the other wars mentioned occurred after she had died.

From Quiz There Is No There There

Answer: Pablo Picasso

It was not a high priority to have her portrait painted, but Picasso was a close friend and she at the time was an admirer of his work and a collector. It was reported that Stein posed ninety times for him. Many of these times Picasso just had her sit in a rickety chair where he studied line, light, shadow, and perspective. Although the figure was to his satisfaction, he had difficulty with the face and repainted it several times. When told that the painting did not look like Stein, he replied "She will". Gertrude Stein and Pablo Picasso maintained a lifelong friendship and correspondence. They wrote each other from 1906 to 1944 in French. These have been collected into a single volume. So respectful of Picasso was she that she wrote a poem dedicated to him. The poem reflects the influence of William James' stream of conciouness upon her writing and is typical of her blunt repetitive style. Here is a brief quotation: "If I told him would he like it. Would he like it if I told him? Would he like it would Napoleon would Napoleon would would he like it? If Napoleon if I told him if I told him if Napoleon. Would he like it if I told him if I told him if Napoleon. Would he like it if Napoleon if Napoleon if I told him. If I told him if Napoleon if Napoleon if I told him. If I told him would he like it would he like it if I told him. Now. Not now. And now. Now."

From Quiz Betsy Ross

Answer: George Washington & Washington

According to legend, George Washington asked her to make the flag. Many people believe this is true but some believe it is false. It is a mystery in history.

From Quiz Modern Philadelphia Headlines

Answer: John Street

In 2003, the FBI had wiretapped the phone in Mayor John Street's office due to an investigation regarding corruption. Amazingly, the public backlash helped get him re-elected.

From Quiz Art Rooney and other Famous Pennsylvanians

Answer: Rachel Carson & Carson

Rachel Carson (1907-1964) published other works including "The Sea Around Us" and "The Edge of the Sea". "Silent Spring" dealt with the role of pesticides on the environment and is considered a early step in the modern environmental movement. Interestingly, "Silent Spring" does not call for a ban on the use of pesticides but instead caring in their use. In 1981 the US Postal Service released a stamp honoring Rachel Carson.

From Quiz Betsy Ross

Answer: 7

She had seven children but only five lived to adulthood.

From Quiz Modern Philadelphia Headlines

Answer: ABSCAM

Once again the FBI used wiretaps in Philadelphia politics, this time involving a scam for payoffs regarding government contracts.

From Quiz Art Rooney and other Famous Pennsylvanians

Answer: Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) moved to Philadelphia when he was 17. His autobiography describes many of his accomplishments. He signed the Declaration of Independence and US Constitution. He was President (Governor) of Pennsylvania in the 1780s. He was postmaster general for the British colonies in North America and for the United States. He created a musical instrument, the armonica, that involved spinning glass pieces. He helped to start the Free Library Company of Philadelphia and published "The Pennsylvania Gazette". His 1758 essay, "The Way to Wealth" summarized many of his saying attributed to Poor Richard.

From Quiz Betsy Ross

Answer: 1776

She was asked to create the flag in may of 1776. The year 1775 was when the war got started. 1770 was the year of the Boston Massacre. 1861 was the year the horrid Civil War began.

From Quiz Modern Philadelphia Headlines

Answer: Bobby Clarke

Although there is a hockey statue, it is of Gary Dornhoefer scoring an overtime goal over Minnesota goalie Cesar Maniago.

From Quiz There Is No There There

Answer: As a means of self-protection and survival

One of Gertrude Stein's friends was Bernard Fay. He worked his way into a powerful position in the Vichy government. Stein volunteered to work as a propagandist for Marshal Pétain, chiefly as a translator of his speeches, writings, and public statements. The logic here was to 'hide in plain sight'. They were able to survive and got a pass. Their precious art collection was not confiscated and they had relative freedom during this time although Stein's name did appear on a later list of enemies of the Nazis. In regard to her endorsement of Hitler for the Nobel Peace Prize, it was a statement taken out of context. Here is the actual quote: "I say that Hitler ought to have the peace prize because he is removing all elements of contest and struggle from Germany. By driving out the Jews and the democratic and Left elements, he is driving out everything that conduces to activity. That means peace." One critic said that it was a piece of high satire akin to saying Mel Brooks glorified Hitler in "The Producers"(1968). Nonetheless, Stein made other statements endorsing a slew of right wing ideologies. For instance, she endorsed Francisco Franco in Spain and detested Franklin Roosevelt in the United States. She seemed to favor leaders who promised to make change from the status quo with new ideas and the force to implement them.

From Quiz Betsy Ross

Answer: Pennsylvania

She lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The other colonies have been picked at random.

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