Thirty Something Trivia Quiz

Answer: The 30 Foot Bride Of Candy Rock

"The 30 Foot Bride Of Candy Rock" was a 1959 film starring Costello, Dorothy Provine, and Gale Gorden. Artie Pinsetter (Costello) is a junk man living in Candy Rock. His intended, Emmy Lou (Provine) grows to 30 feet after being exposed to radiation. [No spoiler here.}

Answer: Jack Benny

Jack Benny (Benjamin Kubelsky, 2/14/1894-12/26/1974) actually made it to age 80. His career began in vaudeville and continued in such media as radio, TV, and motion pictures. His persona included playing the violin badly and pretending to be cheap. [One gag had him held up by a crook who demanded "Your money or your life." Benny put his hand under his chin and paused.

The crook again ordered "Your money or your life." Benny replied, "I'm thinking, I'm thinking."]

Answer: Stone Canyon Way

"The Flintstones" was an animated television program that aired from 1960-1966. It featured stone age families (particularly Fred and Wilma Flintstone and their daughter Pebbles and their neighbors the Barney and Betty Rubble and their adopted son Bamm-Bamm). Part of the attraction was the way in which they used items available then as modern conveniences (a woodpecker who uses his beak as a needle to play a record, for example). In season 2, episode 4 "Alvin Brickrock Presents", the address Fred gives is 39 Stone Canyon Way when he is about to break open a trunk.

It is one of four addresses on the show for the family.

Answer: Alfred Hitchcock

"The 39 Steps," starring Robert Donat and Madeleine Carroll, centers on espionage and counter-espionage. Richard Hannay (Donat) tries to assist an agent, but when the agent is killed, Hannay is accused of killing him. He flees with Pamela (Carroll) and tries to clear himself and expose the spy network which is known as The 39 Steps.

Answer: 33 hours, 30 minutes

Charles Augustus Lindbergh (1902-1974) made his flight of about 3600 miles on May 20-21, 1927 in his plane "The Spirit of Saint Louis," and was the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic. When he arrived in Paris a crowd estimated at more than 150,000 greeted him. His flight won him the Orteig Prize of $25,000 for the first aviator who crossed the Atlantic solo in either direction.

Answer: 36

"Cool Hand Luke" is a 1967 film about a Florida prison. Lucas Jackson (Paul Newman) is sentenced to two years for cutting the heads off parking meters. In prison, he refuses to follow the unwritten rules of the prisoners and the written rules of the jailers.

His persistent individualism wins him the respect of the inmates, led by Dragline (George Kennedy, who won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor). His continual opposition causes him many difficulties with his guards. No spoilers here. The film is still very much worth watching. [The "ideal hourglass" female figure is 36(bust)-24(waist)-36(hips).]

Answer: 31

The chain was founded by Irvine Robbins in 1945. The 31 flavors, which began in 1953, represent one for each day of a month. Because of the number of flavors, Baskin-Robbins innovated the practice of allowing customers to sample several before making a selection. Over time, Baskin-Robbins has created more than 1000 ice cream flavors.

As the 21st century began, the company had more than 2800 shops in the United States and over 5800 around the world.

Answer: C. Auguste Dupin

Edgar Allan Poe created C. Auguste Dupin, who first appeared in "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" (1841). As a result, Poe is generally credited with creating detective fiction. To reason out solutions, Dupin combines intelligence with imagination. He appears in two other Poe stories: "The Mystery of Marie Roget" (1842) and "The Purloined Letter" (1844).

Answer: 30 Days of Night

"30 Days of Night" refers to the month-long polar night that Alaska experiences. During that period, a band of vampires attack Barrow, Alaska, first destroying the power supply and communications center. They proceed to annihilate most of the humans, often in horrible ways.

The ending of the film is equally horrible. [No spoilers here. Watch the film, but only if you have a strong, make that a very strong, stomach.]

Answer: Maude

"Maude" starred Bea Arthur as Maude Findlay, the cousin of and direct opposite of Edith Bunker of "All In The Family." Maude is married to her fourth husband, Walter Findlay (Bill Macy), with whom she often argues. The show ran from 1972 until 1978, and had a great cast including Adrienne Barbeau (Carol Traynor, Maude's divorced daughter), Conrad Bain (Maude's next door neighbor, Dr. Arthur Harmon), Rue McClanahan (Vivian, Dr. Harmon's wife), and Esther Rolle (Florida Evans, Maude's housekeeper until she left the show to star in her own sit-com).