Q 01/05

Who directed the 1938 Halloween radio play that convinced some listeners Martians had landed in New Jersey?

A) Lowell Thomas

B) Orson Welles

C) Cecil B. DeMille

D) Edward R. Murrow

Answer · why

B) Orson Welles

Orson Welles staged H. G. Wells's novel The War of the Worlds as news bulletins interrupting a programme of dance music. How far the panic really spre...

Q 02/05

Which superhero, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, first appeared in Action Comics No. 1 in 1938?

A) Batman

B) The Flash

C) Wonder Woman

D) Superman

Answer · why

D) Superman

Superman earned his two creators just $130 for the 13-page story, at $10 a page. The comic itself sold for 10 cents.

Q 03/05

Which racehorse beat Triple Crown winner War Admiral by four lengths in a 1938 two-horse special at Pimlico?

A) Seabiscuit

B) Whirlaway

C) Gallant Fox

D) Man o' War

Answer · why

A) Seabiscuit

Seabiscuit drew an estimated 40,000 fans to the Baltimore track while 40 million more listened on the radio. He was voted American Horse of the Year f...

Q 04/05

Douglas Corrigan earned the nickname Wrong Way in 1938 by landing in which country instead of California?

A) Iceland

B) Cuba

C) Ireland

D) Portugal

Answer · why

C) Ireland

Ireland was the very place he had been refused permission to fly to, so few believed his tale of a misread compass. His New York ticker-tape parade ou...

Q 05/05

Which European leader did Time magazine name its Man of the Year for 1938, judging impact rather than merit?

A) Adolf Hitler

B) Benito Mussolini

C) Joseph Stalin

D) Francisco Franco

Answer · why

A) Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler was picked after redrawing the map of central Europe within a single year. Time handed the same title to Joseph Stalin for 1939, and agai...