Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins Trivia Quiz

Answer: Jemima

In the 1890s, entrepreneur Chris Rutt heard a song called "Aunt Jemima" in a vaudeville show. He and his partner decided to name their packaged pancake flour after the lady in the song. They later sold their product to Davis Milling Company, who hired Nancy Green, a former slave, to serve as a living trademark.

By the mid-1900s, people began to object to Aunt Jemima's stereotypical "mammy" image and ad agencies gradually morphed her into the smiling, pretty middle-aged African American woman she is today.

She has lustrous, curly dark-brown hair and of course no more "head rag" kerchief or long snowy apron. Quaker Oats has owned the Aunt Jemima products for many years. Does anyone remember the talking Mrs. Butterworth-shaped syrup bottle TV commercials from the 1960s or 1970s?

Answer: Sam

Historians do not seem to know for sure how the term "Uncle Sam" arose, but most trace it back to Samuel Wilson (1766-1854), a meat inspector (or perhaps a meat supplier) for the army during the War of 1812. Apparently, people liked Wilson, so soldiers and others called him "Uncle Sam." He used to stamp meat boxes with "U.S." (which probably stood for "United States") but some joked that it stood for his nickname. During the same era, "Uncle Sam" was a derogatory term that British soldiers used for Americans (you Brits were mean to us back then).

It all came together somehow. Uncle Sam, in most Americans' minds, looks like the goat-faced elderly guy wearing a red, white, and blue tophat on the "I Want YOU" recruiting posters for the Army. His pointing finger seems to poke right AT the viewer, who I guess is supposed to think: "Oh! You want ME?"

Answer: Harriet Beecher Stowe

Harriet Beecher came from a highly religious Protestant New England family; her father and brother were ministers, and her husband, Calvin Stowe, was a professor of Biblical literature. Published in 1852, "Uncle Tom's Cabin" was perhaps the first American bestseller.

The publisher sold half a million copies in three years, not counting pirated editions. Legend says that, upon meeting the author at a White House reception, President Abraham Lincoln said, "So this is the little lady who started the big war." If you've seen the film "The King and I," you may remember Anna's stage adaptation of the novel, performed by the King's wives.

Answer: Cousin Itt

In the mid-60s TV show, Cousin Itt was played by Felix Silla and Roger Arravo. He wore a brown derby hat and sunglasses over his light-brown, floorlength locks. Sound effects engineer Tony Magro created Itt's garbled voice, which was very difficult to understand. Shy Cousin Itt liked to hang out in the Addams chimney and closets.

Answer: Em

Miss Blandick acted in over 100 films. She took her own life in 1962 at the age of 80. Besides Dorothy's Auntie Em, Blandick played the following silver-screen aunties: Pewtie, Cissy, Martha, Sarah, Polly, Mattie, Gussie, Margaret, Sophie, Julia, and Agatha.

Answer: Vinny

It's a terrific, funny movie about a culture clash between New Yorkers and small-town Southerners. Marisa Tomei won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her portrayal of Vinny's girlfriend, Mona Lisa Vito.

Answer: rice

This is a controversial brand name (as is "Aunt Jemima"), since the trademark picture is that of an elderly African American man. "Uncle" was the affectionate but obviously condescending title that some whites used for elderly black men. This custom dated from the days of slavery. For example, in "Gone with the Wind," Aunt Pittypat's servant is named "Uncle Peter."

Answer: Mame

The movie was based on the stage play (also starring Rosalind Russell), which was based on a novel by Patrick Dennis. The movie also starred Forrest Tucker.

Answer: Ernie

"Fiddle about, fiddle about...."

Answer: Aunt Bee

She was played by Frances Bavier, who was also in the movie "Benji."

Answer: Charley

Demarest replaced William Frawley (aka Fred from "I Love Lucy"), who played Steve Douglas's father-in-law "Bub."

Answer: Petticoat Junction

Betty Jo, Bobbie Jo, and Billie Jo's Uncle Joe was played by Edgar Buchanan. "And that's Uncle Joe, he's a-movin' kinda slow, at the Junction...Petticooooooat Junction!"

Answer: Cousine

"Cousin, Cousine" means "male cousin, female cousin." This 1975 film starred Marie-Christine Barrault and Victor Lanoux.

Answer: Jackie Coogan

Jackie Coogan was a child actor who appeared as "The Kid" in a 1921 Charlie Chaplin movie. He also played Tom Sawyer and the Dickens' character Oliver. Jackie Mason is an elderly Jewish comedian who's still going strong as of 2003. Mickey Rooney, also a renowned child actor, appeared in "National Velvet" with the beautiful young Elizabeth Taylor, as well as with the beautiful Judy Garland. Micky Dolenz was a Monkee (the one this quizmaker had a crush on).

Answer: John Candy

Sadly, Candy died in 1994. He was best known for his work on SCTV. "Uncle Buck" also starred Macaulay Culkin. It was directed by John Hughes.

Answer: Stefanie Powers

Although "The Girl from U.N.C.L.E." only lasted two seasons, Powers went on to star in "Hart to Hart." MacRae was on "Petticoat Junction," Fawcett was in "Charlie's Angels," and Eden was on "I Dream of Jeannie."

Answer: Christina Rossetti

Part of it goes: "Oh Lady Kate, my Cousin Kate, you grew more fair than I: He saw you at your father's gate/Chose you, and cast me by."

Answer: Chekhov

As well as plays, Anton Chekhov wrote many wonderful short stories.

Answer: United Network Command for Law and Enforcement

The popular TV series starred David McCallum (of "The Great Escape") and Robert Vaughan. T.H.R.U.S.H. stands for Technical Hierarchy Removal of Undesirables and Subjugation of Humanity.

Answer: Albert

"...but we haven't done a bloody thing all day. We're so sorry, Uncle Albert, but the kettle's on the boil and we're so easily called away....Hands across the water (water)! Hands across the sky!" This 1971 song is alternately titled "Admiral Halsey."

Answer: Cornwall

A player (also named Jack!) tells me that in Grass Valley, California, Cornishmen would approach the mining supervisor and inquire, "Ay've you got a job for me, Cousin Jack?" I'm not sure if this is how the nickname originated, but maybe so. Cornish women were called "Cousin Jennies."

Answer: Pittypat

In the 1939 movie, Laura Hope Crews did a fantastic job of portraying silly, babyish Aunt Pitty. When Scarlett misbehaves at a charity ball by dancing when she is still in mourning, poor Aunt Pitty is so mortified that she faints. The actress died three years and eight films after her role in GWTW.

Her last movie was "The Man Who Came to Dinner." She played aunts in five different movies.

Answer: Norris

Aunt Norris always does her best to make Fanny feel like a second-class citizen in the Mansfield Park household. She's the only real wicked stepmother-type character in Jane Austen's works (although Lady Catherine de Bourgh gives her a run for her money in the nastiness department).

Answer: Glegg

The aunts are sisters of Mrs. Tulliver, a Dodson by birth. In the beginning of the book, Aunt Glegg is 50. She is the least amiable of all the aunts, and she disapproves of almost everything except her own behavior. Tom and Maggie Tulliver "considered their aunt Glegg as the type of ugliness."

Answer: Grizelda

This song is by Diane Hilderbrand and Jack Keller. My favorite verse is: "You can't begrudge her style, your Auntie Grizelda. She couldn't budge a smile and do it for free. So righteous making fudge, your Auntie Grizelda, so proper judging others over her tea." I also love this line: "No bird of grace ever lit on Auntie Grizelda."