One more trip to the Thirteen Colonies, this time with Pennsylvania Trivia. How well do you know the state, its history, and its place in popular culture. Well, we’ve got thirty challenging questions that will test your trivia skills for this week’s episode of Dorky Geeky Nerdy.
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Book of the Week
Built on Chocolate: The Story of the Hershey Chocolate Company
Everyone’s first kiss was a Hershey’s Kiss. This fascinating photographic history is lovingly written by the man who has been the curator of the Hershey Museum in Pennsylvania since 1988. The delicious array of images from the last 200 years is taken from the comprehensive memorabilia collection of the museum, which is the sixth most-popular tourist destination in the United States. While world-famous for its confections (galaxy-famous, if you count E.T., who loved Reese’s Pieces), Hershey’s is also a phenomenally philanthropic company. It tends its name to a teaching hospital and medical center, a school for disadvantaged youth, several hotels and entertainment attractions, and more. However, the 20th century would not have been as sweet if it weren’t for the man named Milton and the quality chocolate candy bars he created. Features an at-a-glance chronology and product timeline.
Get the book and help support Dorky Geeky Nerdy!
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Episode Intro
One more time to the 13 colonies.
Hey trivia nerds, it’s episode 181 of the Dorky Geeky Nerdy trivia podcast. I’m your host, Brian Rollins, and this week we’ve got thirty questions all about Pennsylvania.
If you’re from Pennsylvania, please feel free to reach out to me and let me know what you think of today’s show.
As always, we’ve got three rounds of ten questions each. If you need rules or score cards, visit the show’s website, DorkyGeekyNerdy.com.
That covers the basics, so let’s get started with the game.
The Dorky Round
1. What is the state's largest city?
2. Who played 20 seasons in the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers and died in a helicopter crash along with his daughter in 2020?
3. What Pennsylvanian and Academy award winner got into a physical altercation with Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars?
4. Harold Ramis directed what 1993 comedy set in Punxsutawney, PA?
5. What state borders Pennsylvania to the West?
6. Tom Hanks won his first Oscar in what Pennsylvania-based movie?
7. We all saw dead people in what 1999 movie?
8. Independence Hall is the birthplace of the Declaration of Independence and what other critical document in US History?
9. What Pennsylvania town was founded in 1903 for workers of a chocolate company?
10. Pittsburgh is famous for producing what alloy?
The Geeky Round
1. What is the capital of Pennsylvania?
2. How many Presidents have been born in Pennsylvania?
3. Pennsylvania is named after who?
4. So we know where the Penn comes from. What does 'sylvania' mean?
5. How many NFL teams call Pennsylvania home?
6. What American actress became the Princess Consort of Monaco in 1956?
7. Born in Upper Darby Township, what comedian and writer created the TV series 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt?
8. Sylvester Stallone was nominated for what two Academy Awards for the 1976 film, Rocky?
9. Jennifer Beals starred in what 1983 film about an aspiring ballet dancer who works as a welder during the day?
10. What is the official nickname of Pennsylvania?
The Nerdy Round
1. What singer-songwriter was born in West Reading, PA on December 13, 1989?
2. Billy Joel sang of the woes of what dying factory town in a 1982 song?
3. What artist earned far more than 15 minutes of fame with his paintings, Campbell's Soup Cans and Marilyn Diptych?
4. What singer from Doylestown was born with the name Alecia Beth Moore?
5. What actor from Indiana, PA played Wyatt Earp in 1964's Cheyenne Autumn and Wylie Burp in 1991's An American Tail: Fievel Goes West?
6. Born in Pennsylvania on December 7, 1928, who has been called 'the father of modern linguistics'?
7. Samuel L Jackson starred alongside Geena Davis as an ex-assassin in what 1996 action movie, set in Pennsylvania?
8. ENIAC, built at the University of Pennsylvania, is the world's first what?
9. The Pennsylvania Dutch are settlers from what European nation?
10. Pennsylvania borders which of the five Great Lakes?
Episode Conclusion
And that’s all the questions we have this week. Here are some bonus facts about Pennsylvania:
- It was the second state, right after Delaware.
- It’s the 5th most populous state.
- If you have a US coin with a P mintmark on it, that coin was minted in Philadelphia.
- The Three Mile Island nuclear plant was located near Harrisburg. It’s the site of the worst nuclear accident in US history.
- Philadelphia was one of the first cities to grant religious freedom for all immigrants. That’s why it’s called the ‘City of Brotherly Love’.
Pennsylvania is definitely on my to-see list. I’d love to stand in the same hall where the Declaration and Constitution were signed. How about you? What would you like to see in Pennsylvania?
I haven’t mentioned it in a few episodes, but have you figured out what order these episodes are in? I’ve left hints in the questions each week. Let me know if you’ve figured it out, but don’t spoil it for everyone else.
We’ll be back again next week with another round of questions. Here’s a clue to hold you over in the meantime:
What state gets its name from the Algonquian word for ‘long tidal river’?
There’s a couple hints packed in there, if you know what you’re looking for. I’ll see you back here next Wednesday.
This has been episode 181 of the Dorky Geeky Nerdy Trivia Podcast. The theme music has been by Jason Shaw at Audionautix.com.
I’m your host, Brian Rollins. You can find me at TheVoicesInMyHead.com.
Thanks for listening.
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Hosted & Written by Brian Rollins
Music by Jason Shaw
Copyright 2019-2023 by Brian Rollins
Permission granted to redistribute audio but only if left unaltered. Permission denied for use in AI training.
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