"Brother Can You Spare a Dime"

I've just finished the Studs Terkel book on the Depression I mentioned earlier. This period of American history has greatly changed the modern American landscape, from welfare to civil rights; but this is not that type of blog. This is the kind of blog that doesn't give up on the idea of posting quizzes!

1.) The picture to the right is one of the most iconic in the milieu of Depression era photography. Tell me who took it, or what it's called, or how old the woman in the picture is.


2.) "Black Tuesday" is considered the start of the Great Depression. What was the day, month and year?

3.) FDR is the President most associated with the Depression, but what President was in the hot seat when it started?

4.) The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) are all independent agencies of the United States Government . Two of them were founded during the Depression. Which two?

5.) Two amendments to the Constitution were passed during the Depression, the 20th and 21st. What did they do?

6.) The 22nd amendment set term limits for President of the United States. Before this time, all former Presidents had followed the tradition of George Washington and only held two terms in office. FDR broke this tradition and was elected to how many terms?

7.) The first Academy Awards after the Depression hit was the 2nd Academy Awards in April of 1930. Cedric Gibbons won for Best Art Direction. What did he do for the Academy in 1928, well before the first awards show?

8.) The 12th Academy Awards was held in February of 1940 for films of 1939. Gone with the Wind was a major winner. The event was the first to have the rights sold to be filmed, when the stars found out, they all showed up in very formal gowns and jewelry; a trend that continues today. Mr. Smith goes to Washington opened in October, and was in line to win almost everything, but Gone with the Wind opened in December and swept up. Creative teams still release "Oscar Worthy" films in December. Another tradition started on this night. A 36 year old English born comedian hosted for the first time. He hosted 18 times in total from 1940 to 1978. Name that comedian.

9.) Right in the middle of the Depression, music styles underwent a shift that we ignore today. Before 1935, the popular music was called jazz, but modern musicians call it "sweet jazz": Irving Berlin, Rogers and Hart, Ray Noble, Johnny Mercer, and Cole Porter. As the Depression continued, what was called "race music" started to blend with the "sweet jazz" and we get Swing Music. Swing was controversial (as all good music is) as it crossed racial lines, and poverty lines. Benny Goodman popularized the style that continued to dominate popular music into the 40s and 50s. Count Basie and Duke Ellington were major influences on the Swing era. What instruments did the Count, the Duke, and Goodman play in their respective bands?

10.) John Steinbeck was a prominent writer during the Depression and beyond. He wrote at least three novels during the Depression that were about the Depression. Everyone remembers Grapes of Wrath. Name one of the others.

11.) One of America's favorite books: To Kill A Mockingbird is set during the Depression. It all takes place in the fictional town of Maycomb. What State is Maycomb in?

12.) "As Maine goes, so goes the nation" was a political phrase that meant that Maine was a Bellwether of the nation's political state of mind. The voted for Governor, and Congressional delegation in September, and for many years, had accurately predicted who was going to win the Presidential Election. In 1936 they elected Republicans across the state, and Republican presidential candidate Alf Landon was exuberant. Two months later however, FDR proved victorious at the polls, and Landon only took 2 states and 8 electoral college votes, against Roosevelt's 46 and 523. A Democratic strategist flipped the phrase on its ear after his candidates stunning victory. What was the new phrase?