Round Up Pop Quiz Test your knowledge about our state’s people, places and history with this ‘round-about’ puzzle

by Sandra Miller-Louden

s Pennsylvanians, we have a bubbling of cooking porridge, and “lolly,” Oops! You didn’t make the runoff proud tradition of well-known a British word for soup boiled in a pot. 9. this time. Chris Christie was born Apeople and places. How familiar What bubbling porridge and soup have in Newark, N.J., in 1962 and graduated are you with our state’s heritage? To test to do with a tree, we don’t know. That from the University of Delaware in 1984. what you know, we’ve written a quiz filled aside, let’s try question 7 again, shall we? He earned his J.D. from Seton Hall, also with interesting facts. While there are no located in Newark. Let’s trod on back prizes to claim, we think you’ll have fun That’s the ticket. Joe Biden is a na- to question 23 and try for a more judi- answering the questions. 5. tive Keystoner of Irish descent, born cious answer. Follow the number path (starting at November 20, 1942, in Scranton. Politics number 1) as you try your hand at solv- are in his blood as his great-grandfather What Harrisburg native began ing our quiz. was a member of the state Senate in Penn- 10. her career as an eighth-grade sylvania. The family moved to Delaware in English teacher before turning to writ- Every Pennsylvanian knows—or 1953, and Biden became a member of the ing children’s and young adult literature 1. should know—that actor Jimmy U.S. Senate in 1972. He was reelected six full time in 1997? She has won a number Stewart is from our Keystone State. In times before becoming the first Roman of awards, including a Newbery Honor what 1939 film does Stewart portray a Catholic vice president. Way to go . . . Medal in 2006. wholesome, innocent man whose home- and now you’re elected to try question 10. a. Beverly Cleary. Flip through the pages until you spun knowledge makes him a target for arrive at 8. corrupt enemies? Hurray! Mr. Smith Goes to Washington b. Susan Campbell Bartoletti. Scan the numbers a. Mr. Deeds Goes to Town. Rush ahead to 19 to 6. starred Stewart as the innocent Jef- until you reach 16. see how you fared. ferson Smith, a likable “regular Joe.” He b. Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House. Try 24 is handpicked to replace a senator who Well, that’s just not right. An- to get the scoop. has died, but unbeknownst to Mr. Smith, 11. heuser-Busch was founded in 1852 c. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Let’s meander he is to be nothing more than a stooge in St. Louis, Mo., and is headquartered to 6 to see if you got it right. for entrenched corruption. This film was in Belgium. Guess you must be a wine d. Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation. Go to 13 and see added to the National Film Registry in connoisseur. Back to question 17 ya go! what happens. 1989 for being “culturally, historically and aesthetically significant.” It’s also a Impressive! While many Penn- This native of North East, Pa., was significant accomplishment to get the first 12. sylvanians would know that the 2. both a comedian and cornet player question right…so on you go to question 2! eastern hemlock is the state tree, not who was given the name Merwyn Bogue at as many are familiar with its scientific birth. He performed with Big Band leader Pennsylvania’s state tree is the eastern classification of Tsuga canadensis. The Kay Kyser and appeared in 10 movies be- 7. hemlock. What is its official scien- oldest recorded specimen, estimated tween 1939 and 1950. His stage name was: tific name? to be at least 554 years old, is located in a. Ish Kabibble. Swing your way over to 18. a. Pinaceae Pinus taeda. Let’s try 4 and see if you’re Tionesta, Forest County. Well done—and b. IceFrog. Transport yourself to 21. right. let’s climb over to question 23. b. Tsuga canadensis. Use the nearest limb to climb Strike up the music, although your over to 12. Okay, we’ll give you that James 3. answer struck up a goose egg! Al- 13. Stewart, as Mr. Hobbs, starred though catchy and sung by the swingin’ Dearie, dearie me! Author Beverly in this 1962 film along with the delightful Andrews Sisters, the “Pennsylvania Polka” 8. Cleary is an Oregon native, born in Maureen O’Hara. His character, Roger cannot be classified as “swing jazz.” Sooo, 1916. She has won many awards, including Hobbs, is a hapless, overworked banker your only option is to swing back to ques- a Newbery Medal for the book Dear Mr. who finds vacation life not exactly what tion 14 and try again. Henshaw.While definitely talented and he anticipated. However, there is a 23-year truly beloved, she doesn’t quite fit the gap between this film and the correct Sorry, but the Pinus taeda is a type of bill as a native Pennsylvanian. Back to answer. Let’s return to question 1 and 4. pine tree found in the southeastern the drawing board (or question 10) to get try again. . It is also called “loblolly”—a the correct answer. combination of “lob,” which is a thick

14 Vol. 42, No. 5 | www.pa-mag.com Our state has been the topic of in Dumb and Dumber. Ish Kabibble died for Dota 2. IceFrog continues to maintain 14. several notable songs through- in 1994 of respiratory failure. Be a jive cat his anonymity and has never publicly out the decades. This particular tune is as you boogie triumphantly to number 7. revealed his real name. On that cryptic classified as a swing jazz and pop standard note, let’s return to question 2 and pick from 1940. The right answer has to be… You’re off to a not-so-flying- the only other choice remaining. a. Pennsylvania 6-5000. Be a hep cat and swing 19. start. While Longfellow Deeds on over to 20. is a wholesome, innocent man, he is por- Oops! You’re wrong. The song b. Allentown. Can’t keep a good guesser down, so trayed in this 1936 film by Montana native 22. “Allentown,” written and per- see what 22 has in store. Gary Cooper. Mr. Deeds is a tuba-playing, formed by Billy Joel, was initially met c. Pennsylvania Polka. Veliko sreče (good luck) as greeting-card poet from Vermont who with mixed reaction from the city’s resi- you dance your way to 3. inherits $20 million along with powerful dents. While first criticized as filled with “friends” who wish to handle his money. blue-collar archetypes, the song soon Tsk, tsk! We really need to Although the two film characters are overcame initial skepticism to become 15. brush up on native a hit record, and Joel himself was Keystoners. Although Kelly awarded the key to the city of Allen- Ayotte is a graduate of Penn- town by the mayor who proclaimed sylvania State University and it “a gritty song about a gritty city!” Villanova University School of It has since become the unofficial Law, she was born in Nashua, anthem of labor and blue-collar N.H., and serves as a sena- workers. March back to question tor from that state. We may 14 and try again. need a runoff as we go back to question 23. This politician is most 23. commonly associated Absolutely correct! with a state bordering the Atlantic 16. Susan Campbell Bar- Ocean but, in reality, is a Pennsyl- toletti is recognized for her vania native. And the winner is… compelling nonfiction in such a. Chris Christie. Rally your way over to 9 and books as Kids on Strike!, Hitler see if you won. Youth: Growing up in Hitler’s b. Kelly Ayotte. Let’s try for a victory with 15. Shadow (a 2006 Newbery Honor Book) Do you know this movie that starred Pennsylvania’s own c. Joe Biden. Join the campaign as we race and Black Potatoes: The Story of the Great Jimmy Stewart? It’s the first question in our pop quiz. toward 5. Irish Famine, 1845 to 1850. She was born in Harrisburg and graduated from the Seriously?! Mr. Blandings was University of Scranton in 1982. Now try similar, unfortunately you still must go 24. portrayed by Cary Grant in your hand at question 14. back to the beginning (question 1) and this endearing 1948 film in which he and try a bit harder. screen-legend wife, Myrna Loy, come up When we hear the phrase “toss against constant odds when they attempt 17. back a cold one,” we know it’s You are one smart cookie! to build their “dream house” in Connecti- not about snowballs! Breweries are part 20. “Pennsylvania 6-5000” was re- cut. Go back to question 1 and try again. of America’s history, and Pennsylvania corded by the great Glenn Miller and his is home to the nation’s oldest brewery. orchestra in 1940 and first released as a Clink those glasses together for What is the name of that brewery? 78-rpm single by RCA Victor. Miller was 25. the final big win! In 1829, David a. Anheuser-Busch. Head over to 11 to get the inspired by hearing the Hotel Pennsylva- Yuengling established the Eagle Brewery lowdown. nia’s phone number (yep—PEnnsylvania on Centre Street in Pottsville. As its web- b. Yuengling. Walk a straight line to 25. 6-5000) when his orchestra played in site states, “The story of Yuengling is the the hotel’s Café Rouge (no relation to story of the American spirit.” The site Now we’re cookin’ on the front today’s French-styled restaurant chain). goes on to say that by 2015, “Yuengling 18. burner! Ish Kabibble performed The song can be heard in such films as tops the Brewers Association’s annual with Kay Kyser in Kyser’s Kollege of Mu- Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Any Given Sunday list of craft beers.” On that positive note, sical Knowledge. Before that, he studied and The Majestic. Okay, jive cat, it’s on congratulations on not only completing law at West Virginia University, but his to the final stretch as you try question 17. our quiz, but also learning more about comedy style soon found a sizable, nation- our wonderful state. wide audience. Moe Howard of the Three Cool name, wrong choice. Ice- —Sandra Miller-Louden makes her home in Somerset County. Stooges was inspired by Kabibble’s bowl- 21. Frog designs video games for cut hairdo, as was ’s character Valve Corporation and is the lead designer

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