The Daily Teaser — 31-8-2014

Blimey, that was fun … !

Did I tell you I managed to catch Dr Who last night … ?

I did.   I’ll have the write-up done,  later tonight: fascinating stuff, I should add.

But it’s also an evening where I was joined by Ruth, my youngest sister: and by my nephew, Jude.

I tell you what: having a three-and-a-half-year-old persistantly asking ‘why’, certainly adds a twang to an episode.

On top of that … ?

I think Jude wouldn’t mind seeing a Dalek/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle cross-over.

Um … 

~≈⚛≈~

But let’s move on, shall we?

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi* putting in her answers: and scoring nine out of ten.

Let’s see how everyone does with today’s set, shall we?

Here they are, along with the How To, License and video …

Q1) 31st August, 1932, saw the birth of comedian, actor and TV presenter, Roy Castle.   Which children’s TV show did he present for many years?

Q2) 31st August, 2008, saw the death of Ken Campbell: which trilogy did he and Chris Langham stage in Liverpool, in 1976?

Q3) 31st August, 1963, saw North Borneo become self-governing.   Now part of Malaysia, North Borneo is now called what … ?

Q4) 31st August, 1968, saw who become the first batsman to hit six consecutive sixes, in a single Cricket over?

Q5) Finally … 31st August, 1888, saw the murder of Mary Anne Nichols, first victim of Jack the Ripper.   She was found in Buck’s Row.   The Ripper’s second victim was found where: Hanbury Street, Berner Street or Mitre Square?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 30th August, 1797, saw the birth of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, author of Frankenstein.   What was the novel’s subtitle … ?

A1) A Modern Prometheus.

Q2) Mary was brought up — single handedly — by her father: a noted political philosopher.   Who was he … ?

A2) William Godwin.

Q3) Her mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, died when Mary was eleven days old: at the age of 38.   Wollstonecraft was an early what: travel writer, feminist or anarchist?

A3) Feminist.   (Her book, A Vindication of the Right s of Women, is considered one of feminism’s founding texts: if not THE founding text.)

Q4) Mary famously eloped with — and then married — which English poet?

A4) Percy Bysshe Shelley.

Q5) Mary’s best known novel — Frankenstein — was written when Mary and her husband were on holiday: with Claire Claremont, John  Polidori … and Lord who … ?

A5) George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron: commonly known as Lord Byron.

Q6) That holiday was on Lake Geneva, near the city of Geneva.   Geneva is in which European country … ?

A6) Switzerland.

Q7) The novel itself, tell us about the work of Baron Frankenstein: what was his first name … ?

A7) Victor.

Q8) The name Frankenstein is often — wrongly — used about his creation.   In the the novel, does the creature have a name … ?

A8) No: it’s variously referred to as the ‘Creature,’ ‘Monster,’ ‘thing’ or ‘dæmon’.   It’s refers to itself, once, as ‘Adam’.

Q9) Who played the Creature, in Universal Studio’s classic 1931 version of Frankenstein … ?

A9) Boris Karloff.

Q10) Finally … 1994 film, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is generally considered the most faithful film version of the story.   Who played the monster in it?

A10) Robert De Niro.   (This is possibly the only period drama where someone gets their heart ripped out.)

I’ll leave you with this song … 

And this thought …

“I don’t know any of us who are in relationships that are totally honest - it doesn’t exist.”

Richard Gere, born 31st August, 1949.

Enjoy your day.

*        Fascinating little episode, that, Debbi.   I’m wondering … what’ll happen to Rusty … ?   (Oh, sorry about Q8, yesterday: I know everyone calls it the Monster: including Frankenstein.   But that wasn’t its name.)