Illinois Trivia | Dorky Geeky Nerdy Podcast

Dorky Geeky Nerdy Trivia

209 | Illinois Trivia

00:00 / 14:11

Time to head up North. It’s time for Illinois Trivia. That’s right 30 trivia facts about the state of Illinois, including its famous residents, geography, and more.

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Episode Transcript/Quiz

Episode Intro

It’s time for trivia. Illinois Trivia, to be exact.

Hey gang, I’m your host, Brian Rollins and this is episode 209 of the Dorky Geeky Nerdy Trivia Podcast. This week, we’ve got Illinois Trivia. After this, we’ve only got three states left.

If you’re new, welcome. Please come by DorkyGeekyNerdy.com for more content or just to say hi.

That’s a good enough intro, so let’s get started with the show.

The Dorky Round

What is the most populous city in Illinois?
Chicago. It’s 15 times larger than the second largest, Aurora.
What 1986 movie saw Matthew Broderick, Mia Sara, and Alan Ruck ditch school to hang out in Chicago?
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Set in suburban Chicago, what 1990 Christmas movie starred Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, and Daniel Stern?
Home Alone
What Major League Baseball team went without a championship victory from 1908 to 2016?
The Chicago Cubs
What actor and star of Star Wars and the Indiana Jones movies, got his first screen credit in 1967 with A Time For Killing?
Harrison Ford
Before heading to Dodge City and Tombstone, what lawman was born in Monmouth, IL in 1848?
Wyatt Earp
What former first lady was born in Chicago and wrote books titled, American Grown, Becoming, and The Light We Carry?
Michelle Obama
What comedian from Peoria, IL, co-starred with Gene Wilder in four films, including Silver Streak and Stir Crazy?
Richard Pryor
What comedy legend passed away just a few weeks shy of her 100th birthday on December 31, 2021?
Betty White
Born in Evanston, what comedic actor starred in Stripes, Ghostbusters, and played himself in Zombieland?
Bill Murray

The Geeky Round

Who is the only US President born in Illinois?
Ronald Reagan. While he was governor of California, he was born in Tampico, IL.
The Sears Tower was renamed what in 2009?
Willis Tower. It’s the second-tallest building in North America
Set in Aurora, IL, what 1992 comedy caused Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody to peak at number two on the charts?
Wayne’s World
Born in Waukegan in 1920, what Science Fiction author wrote Fahrenheit 451 and was the subject of a very risque song by Rachael Bloom?
Ray Bradbury
What is the capital of Illinois?
Springfield
Filmed in Chicago, what long-running talk show aired from 1986 to 2011?
The Oprah Winfrey Show
From 1963 to 1998, what Illinois airport was the world’s busiest?
Chicago O’Hare International Airport. It’s considered the world’s most connected airport, with direct flights to every continent except Antarctica.
Illinois touches which of the 5 great lakes?
Lake Michigan
What author from Illinois wrote the books The Man in the High Castle and Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
Philip K Dick
Born in Chicago in 1930, what author wrote The Giving Tree, Where the Sidewalk Ends, and A Light in the Attic?
Shel Silverstein

The Nerdy Round

What 1987 movie, set in and around Chicago, was the directorial debut of Chris Columbus?
Adventures in Babysitting
What chess Grandmaster was born in Chicago, but died in Iceland while on the run from the US government?
Bobby Fischer
What river makes up the western border of Illinois?
The Mississippi River
What actor from Chicago said he based the voice of Homer Simpson on a loose impression of Walter Matthau?
Dan Castellaneta
Born in Blue Island, what actor created his own foundation to support veterans after his role as Lt. Dan in Forrest Gump?
Gary Sinese
What comedian and actor from Chicago has won 1 Academy Award, 2 Emmys, and 5 Grammys? Hint: None of the Grammy awards are for music.
Robin Williams
Set in Haddonfield, IL, what 1978 horror movie kicked off a long-running franchise?
Halloween
What author’s novel, Dragon Teeth, was published in 2017, eight years after his death?
Michael Crichton. Crichton actually finished the novel in 1974 and never published it while he was alive.
Born in Wilmette, IL, what actor served five terms as President of the NRA?
Charlton Heston
What 273-mile long river runs from the Chicago metro area southwest through Illinois before it joins the Mississippi River?
The Illinois River

Episode Conclusion

And that’s it for Illinois Trivia. Want some bonus facts?

Chicago is the largest city in Illinois and the third largest in the nation
That helps make Illinois the 6th most populous state in the US
It’s 25th in landmass
It became a state on December 3, 1818 making it the 21st state.
While Reagan is the only president born in Illinois, Lincoln and Obama served Illinois in Congress. Lincoln was a Representative and Obama a Senator.

I’ve never made it up to Illinois, but I’d love to visit sometime, especially Chicago. Let me know what I need to see whenever I get there.

We’ll be back here next week with another thirty questions. Here’s a clue to tide you over:

What state holds the distinction of being the flattest state in the US?

If you know, you know. I’ll see you back here next Wednesday.

This has been episode 209 of the Dorky Geeky Nerdy Trivia Podcast. The music is by Jason Shaw at Audionautix.com.

This podcast was written, produced, and hosted by me, Brian Rollins. Come find me at TheVoicesInMyHead.com.

Thanks for listening.