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Historic Catalina Island Trivia Quiz

Just off the California Coast, 26 miles from Los Angeles, lies historic Catalina Island. Many people have never heard of it, including some people from Los Angeles, but it is a bit famous.

A multiple-choice quiz by eatgelato. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
eatgelato

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
315,937

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
352

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Catalina Island was first claimed by which explorers? Hint

French fur trappers looking for more abundant wildlife.

Portugese explorers following rumors and the lure of fortune.

A British clipper ship moving cargo.

A Spanish galleon looking for a route to the Far East.

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Question 2 of 10

2. As was sometimes the tradition, the island was originally named after the ship that brought the discoverers there. Luckily, the name didn't stick as it shares the name of another famous place. What was the original name? Hint

San Juan

San Salvador

San Miguel

Santiago

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Question 3 of 10

3. Before the fight with the U.S. for California, Mexico deeded Catalina Island to Thomas Robbins. The island would would be sold several times before a very rich man with a very well known name bought it in 1919. Who was this? Hint

Andrew W. Mellon

Henry Ford

William Kellogg

William Wrigley Jr.

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Question 4 of 10

4. To turn Catalina into a tourism destination it needed a centerpiece. Catalina's owner built a key project right at the height of the Great Depression, often sparing no expense in its construction. What was it? Hint

A state-of-the-art movie house with a huge ballroom above it.

A massive aquarium set partially in the ocean.

A short-lived amusement park.

An off-shore gambling casino similar in style to the casino in Monaco.

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Question 5 of 10

5. Catalina also attracted tourists for its sports and activities. Which fact is not true? Hint

The waters around Catalina became a mecca for sport fishing.

The Chicago Cubs held their spring training here despite the distance from Chicago.

A world-class velodrome, or cycling track, was built as cycling was one of the most popular sports of the early 20th century.

It is believed that the Catalina Golf Course is the oldest golf course west of the Mississippi.

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Question 6 of 10

6. This famous actor took had his first screen test on Catalina Island while doing radio broadcasts. Hint

Ronald Reagan

James Cagney

Jimmy Stewart

Gary Cooper

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Question 7 of 10

7. Because of its proximity to Hollywood, Catalina was a playground for celebrities. Which of the following is NOT true? Hint

The young Marilyn Monroe lived on the island while her husband was stationed there during WWII.

John Wayne would take his yacht on day trips to the island and was known to socialize at the local boat gas dock.

Natalie Wood drowned while partying on a yacht in a Catalina cove.

Sherwood Schwartz often visited and had an idea to a do surfing TV show on the island, but eventually created Gilligan's Island instead.

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Question 8 of 10

8. Because of its isolation, Catalina also has some unique wildlife. Which of the following is not true? Hint

Carrier pigeons were used to transport celebrity gossip from the island to the "Los Angeles Times".

Flying fish, which skim above the surface of the ocean at high speed, are a popular attraction.

A herd of wild buffalo have made Catalina their home for nearly a century after they were left behind by a film crew.

A herd of Tule Elk, not accustomed to hilly terrain, have adapted and thrived after being brought to the island for sanctuary.

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Question 9 of 10

9. Catalina has several sentimental claims to fame, including all of these except one. Which is the exception? Hint

Catalina Island was once home to the world's largest aviary with 8,000 different bird species.

It was the very last municpality to use an operator and manual switchboard to place phone calls.

To encourage weekend visitors from Los Angeles, Catalina remained the last place you could be legally married without a license in the state of California.

Residents placed steep restrictions on cars and encouraged use of bikes, scooters and golf carts for transportation.

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which of these celebrity facts about Catalina Island is true? Hint

Famous western writer Zane Grey mocked Catalina in a book called "Salty Cowboy" about a cowboy who leaves ranching to fish.

"Leave It to Beaver" actor Tony Dow once ran for mayor in order to bring "a little glamour back to the island."

John Davidson, host of TV's "That's Incredible", started a circus one summer to "bring glamour back to the island" in the 1980's.

Brooke Shields once famously commented that Catalina was "a poor man's Hawaii," and told other celebrities not to visit.

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Catalina Island was first claimed by which explorers?

Answer: A Spanish galleon looking for a route to the Far East.

Spaniard Juan Cabrillo "discovered" the island in 1542.

Answer: San Salvador

The San Salvador was Cabrillo's main ship.

Answer: William Wrigley Jr.

William Wrigley Jr earned his fortune from his chewing gum empire.

Answer: A state-of-the-art movie house with a huge ballroom above it.

Although named The Casino, it never held any gambling. It is an art deco treasure and remains well-preserved, if underused.

5. Catalina also attracted tourists for its sports and activities. Which fact is not true?

Answer: A world-class velodrome, or cycling track, was built as cycling was one of the most popular sports of the early 20th century.

Velodrome racing was at its height at the turn of the century and lost popularity as Catalina was built-up.

6. This famous actor took had his first screen test on Catalina Island while doing radio broadcasts.

Answer: Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan was covering the Cubs Spring Training.

7. Because of its proximity to Hollywood, Catalina was a playground for celebrities. Which of the following is NOT true?

Answer: Sherwood Schwartz often visited and had an idea to a do surfing TV show on the island, but eventually created Gilligan's Island instead.

Catalina is not well-known for its surfing and most of the better surfing spots are on the hard-to-get-to backside of the island.

8. Because of its isolation, Catalina also has some unique wildlife. Which of the following is not true?

Answer: A herd of Tule Elk, not accustomed to hilly terrain, have adapted and thrived after being brought to the island for sanctuary.

The carrier pigeon service on Catalina is believed to be the very first commercial air mail service in the U.S.

9. Catalina has several sentimental claims to fame, including all of these except one. Which is the exception?

Answer: To encourage weekend visitors from Los Angeles, Catalina remained the last place you could be legally married without a license in the state of California.

The Bird Park was the world's largest aviary and was in operation for 35 years. It was partly built from the structure of an old ballroom.

10. Which of these celebrity facts about Catalina Island is true?

Answer: John Davidson, host of TV's "That's Incredible", started a circus one summer to "bring glamour back to the island" in the 1980's.

Tony Dow is actually is a very knowledgeable fan of the island as his family often vacationed there when he was young.

Brooke Shields was married on the island.

Zane Grey wrote many of his books while living on the island.

Source: Author eatgelato

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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