"A" is for Alibi Trivia Quiz

Answer: Abraham

Abraham has a unique status in religious lore as he is part of three faiths: in Judaism, he is the father of the Covenant, the relationship between the man and God; in Christianity, he is the symbol of all believers; and in Islam he is seen as prophet, of the group that includes Adam and Muhammad.

Answer: Adonis

In Greek mythology Adonis was born from an incestuous relationship between
Cinyras and his daughter Myrrha, according to Ovid. He grew to be very handsome so that even today his name is used to describe a man with universal good looks. When Aphrodite and Persephone both fell in love with him, Zeus declared that he must spend one third of each year with Aphrodite, one with Persephone, and the other third with whoever he wanted. He chose to spend it with Aphrodite.

Answer: Abbot

William Alexander "Bud" Abbott had a long career in various phases of entertainment but is most remembered for his long association with Lou Costello. Both veterans of burlesque and vaudeville, their salary was split 60/40 as straight men were considered more valuable, an old burlesque custom.

However, as Costello's ego and popularity grew, it became 40/60. Their first pairing on film was "One Night in the Tropics" (1939) where as bit players they did their famous "who's on first" routine. In 1940 "Buck Privates" was a sleeper smash hit and cemented their careers in film and later in radio and television.

Answer: Andrews

Audrey Hepburn did a very good job as Eliza Doolittle in the movie version of "My Fair Lady" (1964) but we did miss Julie Andrews, as she created the role on Broadway; the producers said "No one ever heard of her". In the musical genre, she gave us "The Sound of Music" (1964) and "Mary Poppins"(1965) and as a dramatic actress, "The Americanization of Emily"(1965) and "Victor/Victoria" (1983).

Answer: Abigail

Abigail Adams was the first to be both the wife of a president and mother to another--John Quincy Adams. But she was more than just Adams' wife. She was his chief advisor as documented in the many letters and notes they exchanged. She was an activist, a role that many first ladies have emulated.

Answer: Ahab

Captain Ahab's pursuit of the personification of evil, the whale called Moby Dick, is a novel more talked about than actually read. For instance, Melville included long chapters about whaling such as how the whale is butchered, processed, and killed.

You and your friend Ishmael go to Starbucks and read it together.

Answer: Albright

Madelaine Albright was the first woman to be appointed Secretary of State of the US. She was born in Czechoslovakia. Although only four feet ten inches tall, she spoke in a direct manner.

On American policy in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Middle East, Albright debated with Colin Powell on using military force. "What's the point of you saving this superb military for, Colin, if we can't use it?" she asked.

At the 1998 NATO conference she gave her three Ds, "No diminution of NATO, no discrimination and no duplication - because I think that we don't need any of those three "Ds" to happen".

In 2000, Albright became the highest level Western diplomat ever to meet Kim Jong-il, leader of communist North Korea.

Answer: Aykroyd

Dan Aykroyd is one of several "Saturday Night Live" initial cast members who went on to other entertainment success. Initially overshadowed by the likes of John Bulushi, Chevy Chase, and Bill Murray, he went on to claim his piece of the action. He was a skilled impersonator, manipulating the voices of such diverse persons as Jimmy Carter, Vincent Price, Richard Nixon, Rod Serling, Tom Snyder, and Julia Child and also recurring roles, such as Beldar, father of the Coneheads family; and, with Steve Martin, Yortuk Festrunk, one of the "Two Wild and Crazy Guys" Czech brothers.

His film career had such range as "The Blues Brothers" (1980) and "Driving Miss Daisy" for which he received an Oscar nomination (1989).

Answer: Austen

Jane Austen's novels have had a rebirth in the twenty-first century, party due to quality television and film adaptations and renewed interest among literary critics for her use of irony and social commentary. Born to an era when 'ladies did not write novels', Austen published anonymously using "By a Lady". Four novels were published during her lifetime and two posthumously. Austen also left behind a vast amount of unpublished juvenile literature.

Answer: Andrews

Since 1941 we have been treated to many transformations of Archie Andrews. But he still is in high school, doesn't know if he likes Betty, the girl next door, or Veronica, the sultry rich girl. But he can always depend on Jughead, his best buddy.

In 2008 a studio band recorded "Sugar, Sugar" as part of the Archie cartoon series and it was a hit in the bubble gum genre.

The television series "Riverdale" (2016-?) revived the Archie characters. Archie is still trying to choose between Betty and Veronica but is also having an affair with his music teacher, Mrs. Grundy. Meanwhile Jughead has morphed into an intellectual and writer and narrates the series. The plot is so dark and gloomy that the word 'comic' does not apply.

Answer: Addison

Joseph Addison and Richard Steele published "The Spectator" a satiric news letter from 1711 to 1712. Each "paper", or "essay" was about 2500 words long, and were later bound into seven volumes. Here is one paragraph to give you the flavor of their writings.

"But before I communicate my discoveries, I must acquaint the reader, that upon my walking behind the scenes last winter, as I was thinking on something else, I accidentally jostled against a monstrous animal that extremely startled me, and upon my nearer survey of it, appeared to be a lion rampant. The lion seeing me very much surprised, told me, in a gentle voice, that I might come by him if I pleased. "For," says he, "I do not intend to hurt anybody." I thanked him very kindly, and passed by him. And in a little time after saw him leap upon the stage, and act his part with very great applause. It has been observed by several, that the lion has changed his manner of acting twice or thrice since his first appearance; which will not seem strange, when I acquaint my reader that the lion has been changed upon the audience three several times. The first lion was a candle-snuffer, who being a fellow of a testy, choleric temper, over-did his part, and would not suffer himself to be killed so easily as he ought to have done; besides, it was observed of him, that he grew more surly every time he came out of the lion, and having dropt some words in ordinary conversation, as if he had not fought his best, and that he suffered himself to be thrown upon his back in the scuffle, and that he would wrestle with Mr. Nicolini for what he pleased, out of his lion's skin, it was thought proper to discard him: and it is verily believed, to this day, that had he been brought upon the stage another time, he would certainly have done mischief. Besides, it was objected against the first lion, that he reared himself so high upon his hinder paws, and walked in so erect a posture, that he looked more like an old man than a lion."

Apparently, a stage actor at the time was being teased. Now you know what English majors have to endure.

Answer: Aaron

Henry (Hank) Aaron hit 733 career home runs and surpassed Babe Ruth's 714. Many baseball pundits thought it was a record that would never be broken so there was some controversy. The record breaking home run was off Al Downing of the Los Angeles Dodgers in Atlanta Fulton County Stadium on April 8, 1974.

Answer: Anne

"Anne of Green Gables" (1908) by Lucy Maud Montgomery is a novel that has captured the hearts of adults as well as children. Since its publication, the novel has sold over fifty million copies and has been adapted for many films and television versions. Anne Shirley, an orphan, is mistakenly adopted by an old sister and brother on Prince Edward Island, Canada. Anne's adventures through adapting to a new environment, school, making friends, and development, are the core of the novel.

Answer: Abdul-Jabbar

Just as with Malcom X and Mohamed Ali, the public had a hard time adjusting to the name change when Lew Alcindor adopted Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as his religious name. But whatever name he used, his success on the basketball court speaks for itself. After his All-American years at UCLA, he joined the National Basketball League for twenty years, first with the Milwaukee Bucks and then with Los Angeles Lakers.

He achieved six Most Valuable Player awards and was selected for the league All Star game fifteen times. Since then he has been an activist, a sometimes actor, and recently appeared on "Dancing with the Stars" but it appeared that his seventy-one year old legs were not quite up to the task.

Answer: Anthony

Susan B. Anthony, born 1820, along with her friend Elizabeth Cady Stanton, campaigned for equal rights and women's suffrage for decades. Her death in 1906 fell short of 1920 when women were first allowed to vote but her perseverance prevailed even after her demise. She was and is the inspiration for women activists everywhere.