What Else Happened In 1914 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Pygmalion

'Pygmalion' has enjoyed several film incarnations, the first being in a 1938 movie of the same name. Later to become 'My Fair Lady', who could forget the wonderful Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle and Rex Harrison as 'Enry 'Iggins? Ultimately it's all about a posh bloke who tries to make a common bit of tottie into someone who is worthy of his affections.

Answer: Threat of civil war in Ireland

The key problem for the British government in the run-up to war was the tensions in Ireland between Republicans and Loyalists and the rioting that occurred, particularly in Belfast, concerning the so-called Irish Home Rule Bill. Immigration wasn't an issue and the first national strike came about in 1926. Interestingly, the term 'birth control' was popularised in 1914.

Answer: The Tramp

The Tramp walked into Keystone studios in January 1914. Studio boss Mack Sennett had sent for Chaplin, who had only recently joined the company, to return to the set and inject some laughs into a particularly flat film. The character came to Chaplin after a moment's thought - big baggy pants, big shoes, tight jacket, a cane and a derby hat ... and a timeless hero was born.

Answer: Britannic

Who would want to travel on a 50,000 ton luxury vessel in the wake of the Titanic disaster? The White Star Line put aside their misgivings (and the 1500 deaths) and made HMHS Britannic safer. It was launched on February 26th and was soon requisitioned by the British government for the war effort.

It was sunk in 1916 in the Aegean Sea, but because there were enough lifeboats 1100 were saved and only 30 lost their lives.

Answer: Non-direct blood transfusion

While blood transfusions had been attempted since the 1600s, the first non-direct blood transfusion - i.e. not directly from person to person - was performed in Brussels on 27th March 1914. It was made possible by using sodium citrate as an anticoagulant, allowing blood to be stored outside the body for longer without clotting.

The first facelift was done in 1901 - the lady in question looked great but died soon afterwards!

Answer: Women's suffrage

On May 6th 1914 the House of Lords rejected a bill that would have extended limited voting rights to women. By the early 20th century not all groups demanding universal suffrage behaved in a very lady-like way; and some groups' militancy probably delayed their success. Unfortunately we Brits had to wait to 1938 for holiday pay, and 1948 for the NHS. Trade Unions were legalised in 1871.

Answer: Performing the first foxtrot

On July 28th dancer, comedian and singer Harry Fox first danced the foxtrot at New Amsterdam Roof Garden in New York City. He was born Arthur Carrington May in 1882, but the Maytrot sounds like a seasonal stomach complaint, so good name-change decision there, Artie.

Answer: Sentenced to 20 years' solitary confinement

What? There had to be ONE war-related question - it is 1914 after all! Princip was sentenced to 20 years in solitary confinement, chained day and night with little food and exercise. Odd to think that the 19 year old who lit the flame of the Great War might actually have been released back into society in time for WW2.

In fact he wasted away in his cell and having had an arm amputated with tuberculosis of the bone, died in 1918.

Answer: Electric traffic light

On August 5th 1914, the electric traffic light on East 105th Street and Euclid Avenue in Cleveland was installed. It had been invented two years earlier by Lester Wire, a policeman from Utah. Britain got its first electric signal in 1925 in London - arguably better driving meant they were not necessary before!

Answer: Animation

August 11th 1914 and John Wray patents animation. Who could imagine you could actually patent such a thing? This is cartoons, right? Not the excited, spirited, vivacious way we all get sometimes when we realise it's the weekend?