Odds and Evens Trivia Quiz

Answer: David Bowie

'Space Oddity' was written by Bowie, and featured the character of 'Major Tom', who re-appeared in his 1980 hit 'Ashes to Ashes'. It was originally released in 1969, when it reached number five on the UK Singles Chart, and was re-released in 1975 when it achieved the top position on the charts.

The song also reached number fifteen on the US Billboard Hot 100. Bowie went on to establish himself as one of the most innovative singers of his generation, with many other hits to his credit around the world. Bryan Ferry was the lead singer for Roxy Music. Alvin Stardust and David Essex were also part of the 'glam rock' scene in the UK.

Answer: W. C. Fields

'Never Give a Sucker an Even Break' was the last film in which Fields starred, although he did appear as himself in cameo roles in later films. As well as starring in the film, Fields had written the story himself, using the pseudonym of Otis Criblecoblis, although the screenplay was written by John T. Noville and Prescott Chaplin.

In the film, Fields plays a fictional version of himself, attempting to sell a script to a film studio, with various misadventures along the way. The other actors I offered you also came from films released in 1941.Orson Welles appeared in 'Citizen Kane', Walter Pidgeon in 'How Green was My Valley' and Humphrey Bogart was in 'The Maltese Falcon'.

Answer: Lawrence Binyon

The poem was first published in September 1914, and has become an established part of Remembrance Day services in many countries. I am sure you will know the final stanza of the poem:

'They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.'

All of the poets listed are known for their 'war' poetry.

Answer: Jewish

The series ran on the Disney Channel from 2000 until 2003. LaBoeuf played the role of Louis Stevens, the misfit youngest member of a high achieving Jewish family. He also made some television films, before moving to the big screen. Among the notable films in which LaBoeuf has appeared are 'Disturbia' (2007) and 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull' (2008).

In the latter film, he played the role of Henry Jones III, the son of Indiana Jones, who was portrayed, as usual, by Harrison Ford.

Answer: The Lord of the Rings

Arwen is the daughter of Elrond, the lord of Rivendell, and is one of the elves in the series, She falls in love with Aragorn, one of the main characters in the novel series, who is the heir to the kingdom of Gondor. Arwen is known as the Evenstar due to her beauty. She was portrayed by Liv Tyler in the film series directed by Peter Jackson, and released between 2001 and 2003.

The 'Lord of the Rings' novels were written by J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis was the author of the 'Chronicles of Narnia'. Stephenie Meyer created the 'Twilight' novels and 'Artemis Fowl' was the work of Eoin Colfer.

Answer: Economics

The 'dead cat bounce' refers to a short term recovery in the price of a failing stock, and was first used in the American financial market in the mid 1980s. Although the price of the stock appears to be picking up, seeming to indicate a recovery, it soon falls again to even lower levels.

Answer: Rachel Ward

Rachel Ward made her breakthrough when she appeared in the television series 'The Thorn Birds', opposite Richard Chamberlain. The series also introduced her to her husband, the Australian actor Bryan Brown. 'Against All Odds' was directed by Taylor Hackford and features the doomed love affair between the characters played by Ward and Bridges.

The film also gave us the title song, performed by Phil Collins, which gave him his first number one hit on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Answer: Jack Klugman

The television series was based on the play of the same name, written by Neil Simon. The show starred Tony Randall as the neat and tidy Felix Unger, with Klugman playing his direct opposite, the messy Madison. The show featured the conflict caused when these two opposites are forced to share an apartment, following their divorces. Klugman went on to star in 'Quincy, M.E.', where he portrayed a crime solving pathologist. Fess Parker appeared in 'Daniel Boone', and Jack Lord was best known for 'Hawaii Five-O'. Martin Landau was in 'Space:1999'.

Answer: Even the Bad Times are Good

The Tremeloes were originally the backing group for Brian Poole, with the band being formed in 1958. With Brian on vocals, they had UK chart success with, among others, 'Twist and Shout' and 'Do You Love Me?' in 1963. After Poole left, in 1966, the former backing group went on to even greater success with their hits including 'Silence is Golden' in 1967. The follow up to this was 'Even the Bad Times are Good' which reached number four on the UK Singles Chart and number thirty-six on the US Billboard Hot 100.

'Even Better than the Real Thing' was by U2 and 'Even Flow' by Pearl Jam; these both made the UK Singles Chart in 1992. 'Even Now' was a minor hit from 1983 for Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band.

Answer: Dick Francis

Dick Francis is best remembered for being the jockey riding 'Devon Loch' in the 1956 Grand National race, when the horse suddenly fell while in the lead. The fact that the horse was owned by the Queen Mother ensured that the event became big news. After retiring, Francis turned his hand to writing, and produced over forty novels, mostly featuring a racing background. Dick Francis died in 2010, but his son, Felix, has continued producing novels which bear his father's name as part of the title.

John Francome is another retired jockey who went on to write fiction, but twenty years later than Francis. The other two jockeys named have not ventured into writing fiction, although both have produced autobiographies.