jqw (07/16/82)
The answers to the great July 4th (or 7th) trivia quiz.
1. The song that provided the tune for "The Star-Spangled Banner"
The Anacreontic Song: "To Anacreon in Heaven"
Words by Ralph Tomlinson, Music by John Stafford Smith
Written for the Anacreontic Society of London around 1775.
Ralph Tomlinson, the President of the Anacreontic Society,
composed the following \beautiful/ song:
To Anacreon in Heav'n, where he sat in full glee
A few sons of harmony sent a petition,
That he their inspirer and patron would be:
When this answer arriv'd from the jolly old Grecian-
Voice, fiddle, and flute,
No longer be mute;
I'll lend ye my name, and inspire ye to boot:
And besides, I'll instruct ye, like me, to intwine
The myrtle of Venus with Bacchuss's vine.
-----
And so on. Anacreon was an ancient Greek poet whose philosophy could best
be summed up as "Have Fun," so calling the tune an English drinking song
isn't likely to be far wrong. Bacchuss, also known as Dionysus is best known
as the god of wine and ecstasy. The tune was borrowed for many patriotic
songs both before and after it was used with Francis Scott Key's poem.
2. The newest independent nation:
The Republic of Vanuatu, formerly the New Hebrides, was ruled
jointly by France and Great Britain until July 30, 1980.
3. Who signed the Panama Canal Treaty for Panama (the original one)?
Philippe Bunau-Varilla did. Bunau-Varilla was the "man" in
A man, a plan, a canal: Panama. (hint: read it backwards)
After the French canal company failed to build a canal, he
took it upon himself to see that a canal was built in Panama.
Once, when the United States was favoring Nicaragua as a site
for the canal, Bunau-Varilla sent a Nicaraguan postage stamp
that featured a volcano to every senator, and told them that
Nicaragua was a dangerous place.
The treaty is called the Hay-Bunau-Varilla treaty.
4. Frank Oz has appeared (sans Muppets) in two movies:
"The Blues Brothers" Oz played the prison clerk who gave
Belushi his belongings, including "one prophylactic, used"
"An American Werewolf in London" where he played the American consul.
5. Elmer Fudd has at least two uncles:
Louie, who left Elmer over $2,000,000. It was all lost in Louie's
debts and inheritance taxes.
Judd Fudd, who sent Elmer a large (circumference) white female
rabbit with a pronounced accent. The poor rabbit was lonely, and
Elmer thought that Bugs would make the perfect companion.
6. Andy Kaufman only fought one man in his long wrestling career. This
match put an end to Kaufman's career, and put Kaufman in the hospital.
What was the name of the winner of the Kaufman-??? match?
Kaufman won. His opponent was disqualified for using an illegal wrestling
maneuver (a piledriver?).
7. Twiggy's original name: Lesley Hornby.
Watch these pages for more exciting nonsense.