New England Trivia
How many states make up New England? Can you name them all?
Six states: Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire
This man is the creator of the Peanuts characters.
Who is Charles M. Schulz? His first cartoon, a drawing of his family’s dog Spike, was published in 1937 when he was only 15. By the 1970s, his comic strips and TV specials were a national success.
This famous guitarist is best remembered for his psychedelic tunes like “Purple Haze” but was also proud to be of Cherokee descent.
Who is Jimi Hendrix? The late rock star’s family donated some of his belongings to the National Museum of the American Indian in 2010.
This hit by Chubby Checker begins with the lyrics “Come on, baby/Let’s do ____ ____.”
What is the twist? The song sparked a dance craze and even spinoff songs like “Let’s Twist Again.”
What year did New England officially get its name: 1700, 1620, or 1595?
1620. Captain John Smith of Jamestown sailed up the coast and called the area North Virginia. However, King James renamed it New England.
Founded in 1636, what Ivy League university is the oldest in the U.S.?
Harvard University. Harvard was initially called New College or the college at Newtowne.
In the 1973 cartoon A Charlie Brown Holiday Dinner, this canine character helps Charlie Brown prepare toast and popcorn for dinner.
Who is Snoopy? The multitalented pooch has been appearing in Peanuts cartoons since their creation by Charles Schulz in 1950.
Actor Abel Fernandez, of Yaqui descent, is known for his role as Agent William Youngfellow in this 1960s television series about Eliot Ness.
What is The Untouchables? The character Fernandez plays is also Indigenous and is based on a real-life agent from the 1930s.
In 1965, the Four Tops declared, “Sugar pie, honey bunch/You know that I love you/I can’t ____ ____.”
What is help myself? The song topped the Billboard charts twice in 1965, becoming one of the biggest hits of that summer.
This composer wrote and performed the soundtrack for A Charlie Brown Holiday Dinner.
Who is Vince Guaraldi? In addition to many Charlie Brown TV specials, Guaraldi worked on the soundtracks of Cast Away; Good Morning, Vietnam; and The Wolf of Wall Street.
What state is nicknamed “The Green Mountain State”?
Vermont. Vermont gets its name from the French word roots vert (green) and mont (mountain).
This sports-loving gal with a crush on Charlie Brown first appeared in a Peanuts comic in 1966.
Who is Peppermint Patty? Did you know her full name is Patricia Reinhardt?
In 1972, the Indian ______ Act gave federal funding to improve schooling for Indigenous children and to create parent advisory boards.
What is Education? Notably, the act gave Indigenous communities a degree of autonomy in developing curricula and managing the education in their communities.
In 1960, the Drifters crooned, “Don’t forget who’s taking you home/And in whose arms you’re gonna be/So darlin’, save the last ____ ____ ____.”
What is dance for me? Known for a string of hits throughout the ’50s and ’60s, the Drifters were inducted into the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.
This organization, called AIM for short, was founded in 1968 to promote self-sufficiency for Indigenous American peoples.
What is the American Indian Movement? Co-founded by Dennis Banks, AIM helped advocate for important legislation like the Indian Civil Rights Act.
What is the state capital of New Hampshire?
Concord. New Hampshire’s motto, “Live Free or Die,” was written by Revolutionary General John Stark.
At the beginning of the Thanksgiving special, this character offers to hold the football for Charlie Brown to kick but pulls it away at the last moment.
Who is Lucy (Van Pelt)? Lucy often does this to Charlie Brown throughout the comic strip’s decades-long run. However, in the one comic where Lucy does not pull the ball away, Charlie Brown ends up missing the ball and accidentally breaking Lucy’s arm.
In 1969, Native American activists took over this island prison off the coast of California to protest the government’s treatment of Indigenous peoples.
What is Alcatraz? The occupation lasted until June 1971 and helped spread awareness of issues in the Indigenous community, which sparked changes to government policies.
Singing for the Four Seasons, Frankie Valli asks, “Sherry, can you ____ ____ ____?”
What is come out tonight? According to an interview with NPR, the song was written in just 15 minutes, and the name Sherry was chosen to fit the melody and not to honor a specific person.
In 1965, the Righteous Brothers first sang, “You lost that _____ _____.”
What is loving feeling? The song topped the Billboard charts in February 1965 and is often cited as one of radio’s mostplayed hits.
What New England city is known for clam chowder and a distinct accent?
Boston. Bostonians have a unique dialect, using words like wicked and jimmies.
To get into the festive spirit for Thanksgiving dinner, Snoopy dons this kind of tall, buckled hat
What is a pilgrim hat? Throughout the comics, Snoopy is known for various costumes, from a World War I-era pilot uniform to the sunglass-wearing Joe Cool.
Born in this U.S. state, actor Jason Momoa plays Khal Drogo in the popular HBO show Game of Thrones. He is also an advocate for the rights of the people of island nations.
What is Hawaii? The actor made headlines in 2019 by protesting the construction of a telescope on a sacred Hawaiian mountain.
Singing of his home state, Ray Charles sang, “Just an old sweet song, keeps Georgia ____ ____ ____.”
What is on my mind? This song earned Ray Charles the first of his impressive 17 Grammy Awards.
What is the smallest of the 50 states?
Rhode Island. It was the last of the original 13 colonies to become a state