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1. Who, the son of a slave, was America’s first international sports hero?
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Triathlete, Marvin Williams of Manhattan. Born October 11, 1770.
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Boxer Bill Richmond of Staten Island. Born August 5, 1763.
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Runner, James Hopkins of Brooklyn. Born March 17, 1765.
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2. Where, on August 26, 1939, was the first telecast of a major league baseball game?
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Ebbets Field in Brooklyn.
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Yankee Stadium - Bronx. |
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Shea Stadium - Queens. |
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3. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, when Lower East Siders couldn’t afford a radio,
what was a popular form of entertainment every Monday night at the Henry Street Settlement Playhouse?
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Community theater. British plays were not very popular, especially Shakespeare. Shakespeare plays were shun.
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Community sing. And high on the charts in the mostly Jewish neighborhood were Yiddish translations of Negro spirituals.
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Stick ball. Stick ball tournaments between neighborhoods were often the highlight of each month.
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4. During the 1940s and 1950s, the Golden Age of comic books, what was the message of a frequent
sign in candy stores all over town?
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"CANDY & COMICS."
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"READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!"
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"THIS IS NOT A LIBRARY!"
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5. How did Walt Whitman describe his relationship to the city?
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"Walt Whitman am I, a Kosmos, of mighty Manhattan the son."
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""New York City is like a Big Brother to me, courageous and nurturing."
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"I Love and Hate New York, as I do the misty mornings of Sunday.
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6. Early in his training to co-star with Bonzo, Ronald Reagan made what film about a resident
of the Big Apple?
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The Man from Manhattan.
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Cowboy from Brooklyn.
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The Babe Ruth Story.
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7. What New Yorker, born into high society, will always be associated with a shady gambling operation
in an African city?
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Katherine Hepburn. For her role in African Queen.
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Humphrey Bogart. For his role in Casablanca.
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Robert Redford. For his role in Out of Africa.
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8. Jimmy Walker, elected mayor in 1925, wrote what great love song that appealed to older voters?
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"Will You Love Me in December as You Did in May?"
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Hello My Darling.
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Mend My Old Heart.
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9. How did Mayors Fiorello LaGuardia and Rudolph Giuliani exercise the musical heritage of their
Italian ancestors?
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They both learned to play the violin as adults.
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La Guardia sang tenor for the New York City Chorus. Giuliani guest appeared in 5 Broadway shows.
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LaGuardia conducted bands and orchestras. Giuliani does walk-ons at the Metropolitan Opera.
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10. Back in the early 17th century, when the city was still New Amsterdam, how did women display
their respectability?
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All dresses and skirts were worn below the knees.
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They always wore white on Sundays.
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In addition to wedding rings, they wore scissors and pin cushions.
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11. Though Christians, the early Dutch in the city celebrated what holiday usually associated
with Jews?
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Passover.
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Yom Kippur.
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Hanukkah.
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12. On June 12, 1665, who became the first mayor of the city?
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William Dyre. |
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Thomas Willett.
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Stephanous Van Cortlandt.
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13. In the 1940s, circus strongman The Mighty Atom panhandled herbal remedies that he claimed
could cure what afflictions of male New Yorkers?
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Baldness and impotence.
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Blindness.
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Arthritis.
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14. Located in the Financial District, Maiden Lane was named not for women on the Stock Exchange
but in what other occupation?
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Nursing.
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Washing clothes.
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Teaching.
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15. Recent Presidents have slept at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, but George Washington,
our first President, slept at what address in Manhattan?
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1 Broadway.
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3 Cherry Street.
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2 Water Street.
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16. On April 30, 1789, why was the ceremony delayed when George Washington was sworn in as first
President in New York City?
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A Bible had to found for his taking the oath of office.
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His wife was in labor. She went into labor one hour before the ceremony was to be held, three months before she was expected.
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Hurricane Charles shut down the entire City. Charles was New York City's worst hurricane ever to be recorded.
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17. In case you missed Washington’s inaugural ball, where can you see the outfit he wore?
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Gracie Mansion, East End at 88th Street.
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The Whitney Museum, 945 Madison Avenue.
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The Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Avenue.
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18. Long before the popularity of the Internet and even the telephone, Maspeth in Queens was
a center of what all-natural form of communication?
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Messenger Boy Headquarters.
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Pony Express.
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The training of carrier pigeons.
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19. Groundhogs may be accurate weather predictors in other areas, but according to the New
York City Audubon Society, the sighting of what migrant bird is a sure sign that winter is over here in town?
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The Palm Warbler.
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The Great Horned Owl.
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The Northern Gannet.
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20.What, appropriately,
was the first play at the Bowery Theater in 1826? |
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The Road to Ruin.
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The Bowery Boys.
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Dem Bums.
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| More contributions from visitor Hy Brett |
