Fun in the Forties Trivia Quiz

Answer: Glenn Miller

The Glenn Miller Orchestra had a sound all its own. Who could forget numbers such as 'String of Pearls', 'Little Brown Jug' and 'Pennsylvania 6500'?
During World War II they entertained troops all over the world.
Miller's plane, a Norseman C64, left an RAF base in southern England on December 15th 1944 bound for Paris where they were going to perform for the troops. The plane never arrived, and its disappearance has been the subject of all kinds of conspiracy theories ever since. Recently, however, the discovery of a British teenage plane-spotters notebook confirms a sighting of the plane on course and on time. We still don't know what happened, but it looks likely that it was the victim of some 'normal' wartime incident.

Answer: Leslie Howard

Howard was more than just a famous actor. He was a patriot who, on completion of 'Gone with the Wind' returned to the UK in order do his bit for the war effort. He directed and starred in films such as ' First of the Few', and made many anti-Nazi broadcasts.

He was believed to be involved in secret work, and in 1943 was on a BOAC commercial flight from Portugal to England when the plane was shot down by eight Junkers 88s over the Bay of Biscay. Everyone on board died, and there have been many theories about why it was targeted. No-one knows, but it has been claimed that Goebbels ordered the attack.

Answer: ENSA

ENSA - Entertainments National Service Association - encompassed everything from ballet to broad comedy. The entertainment on offer was of distinctly variable quality, and the running joke was that the initials really stood for 'Every Night Something Awful'. Whatever the truth, they had the services of some fabulous performers such as Gracie Fields, Joyce Grenfell and Vera Lynn.

Answer: It's That Man Again

The 'Man' in question was Hitler. 'ITMA' ran from 1939-1949, and Handley died only a few weeks after it finished.
'ITMA' was originally set in a pirate commercial radio station but it was felt that a pirate radio wasn't really appropriate in time of war and it was replaced by the Office of Twerps; the show became known as 'It's that Sand Again', set in a seedy seaside resort called Foaming at the Mouth. There were many memorable characters such as Col. Chinstrap and Funf, the German spy.

Answer: White Christmas

The film's soundtrack was by Irving Berlin.

Answer: Henry V

The play is the story of Henry V's victory over the French at Agincourt. The battle sequence was filmed in Ireland, and has the air of a medieval fantasy with bright costumes and much pageantry.
It would be hard to resist feeling stirred when hearing Olivier make his 'Once more into the breach, dear friends, once more' speech.

Answer: Song of the South

The film is a re-telling of Joel Chandler Harris' 'Brer Rabbit' stories. It is set on a southern plantation during the days of slavery, and though it paints a somewhat idealised portrait of life there, the sequences that feature interaction between real human beings and cartoon animals are still enchanting. James Baskett stars as Uncle Remus, and who could forget seeing him singing 'Zippity Doo Dah' with the cartoon bluebirds? Hattie McDaniel (who played 'Mammy' in 'Gone with the Wind') also featured as Aunt Tempy.

Answer: Elizabeth Taylor

The story concerns a young girl called Velvet Brown, who is encouraged to train her horse, Pie, to enter the Grand National. It's based on a story by Enid Bagnold.

Answer: Forever Amber

Forever Amber told the story of Amber St Clair and her adventures during the reign of Charles II. It's still in print and a real bodice-ripper of a read.

Answer: The Lone Ranger

'The Lone Ranger' began broadcasting in 1949, and starred Clayton Moore as the Masked Hero, and Jay Silverheels as his friend Tonto - Tonto's horse was called Scout.

Heigh Ho, Silver! Awaaaay!