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A Man Named Charlie ... Trivia Quiz

Many years ago, a campaign song became a major hit record. This quiz is about that song, and poor Charlie and the MTA.

A multiple-choice quiz by collect. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
collect

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
217,857

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
521

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What city did Charlie enter the MTA in? (Hint: MIT) Hint

Boston

Oxford

Cambridge

London

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Question 2 of 10

2. How much did Charlie have to pay to ride the MTA train? Hint

Sixpence

Thruppence

One Quid

Ten cents

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Question 3 of 10

3. Where does Charlie's sister live? Hint

Chelsea

Quincy

Roxbury

Beacon Hill

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Question 4 of 10

4. In real life, who won or lost the election? (Hint: Names were changed for political reasons) Hint

Walter O'Brien lost.

George O'Brien lost.

Charlie won.

George O'Brien won.

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Question 5 of 10

5. Who was noted for singing the "MTA Song"? Hint

Peter, Paul and Mary

Merv Griffin

Benny Hill

The Kingston Trio

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Question 6 of 10

6. Who wrote the "MTA Song"? Hint

Irving Berlin

Rogers and Hammerstein

Steiner and Hawes

Rogers and Hart

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Question 7 of 10

7. The song used a reused tune. What was the original song called? Hint

He Shall Ever Return

For Want of a Nickel

The Fate Is Still Insured

The Ship That Never Returned

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Question 8 of 10

8. What does Charlie's wife do? Hint

Gives him the money he needs

Hands him a sandwich each day

Waves as he goes by

Gets married to another man

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Question 9 of 10

9. The MTA is a lot bigger now -- how far to the south can you ride on the MBTA now? (Hint: A stone) Hint

Plymouth

Liverpool

Brighton

South Boston

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Question 10 of 10

10. The MBTA is introducing a smart card system in 2006 to replace tokens. What is the new card called? Hint

Charlie Card

Card Token

Quick Pass

O'Briens Card

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What city did Charlie enter the MTA in? (Hint: MIT)

Answer: Cambridge

Kendall Square Station is in Cambridge, MA -- barely a block from MIT.

2. How much did Charlie have to pay to ride the MTA train?

Answer: Ten cents

If you have already figured out that the MTA is in the U.S., you probably should have figured he had to use American money!

3. Where does Charlie's sister live?

Answer: Chelsea

"How can I afford to see my sister in Chelsea?"

4. In real life, who won or lost the election? (Hint: Names were changed for political reasons)

Answer: Walter O'Brien lost.

The actual candidate was Walter O'Brien, who ran on the Progressive Party Ticket. Later, that party was considered too radical, so the Kingston Trio changed his name to "George."

5. Who was noted for singing the "MTA Song"?

Answer: The Kingston Trio

The Kingston Trio had a huge hit in 1959 with this song.

6. Who wrote the "MTA Song"?

Answer: Steiner and Hawes

The campaign song was written by two ladies, Jacqueline Steiner and Bess Lomax Hawes, in 1948 for the campaign of Walter A. O'Brien for Mayor of Boston.

7. The song used a reused tune. What was the original song called?

Answer: The Ship That Never Returned

"The Ship That Never Returned" was written in 1865 by Henry Clay Work. About whom I know not a lot :)

8. What does Charlie's wife do?

Answer: Hands him a sandwich each day

For some reason, Charlie's wife never hands him the nickel so he can get off the train! She just hands him a sandwich at the Scollay Square Station as the train goes through.

9. The MTA is a lot bigger now -- how far to the south can you ride on the MBTA now? (Hint: A stone)

Answer: Plymouth

The MTA (now the MBTA) uses the old railroad lines all the way to Plymouth, MA. Unfortunately the tracks which used to run all the way to Plymouth Rock were torn up many years ago. The fare is not a dime.

10. The MBTA is introducing a smart card system in 2006 to replace tokens. What is the new card called?

Answer: Charlie Card

In honor of the song this whole quiz has been about -- welcome the new Charlie Card!

Source: Author collect

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