In July of 1959 there was an off the cuff debate between two leaders about the perceived industrial strengths of the Soviet Union and the United States at an American products exposition in Moscow. I bring this up not because I am obsessed with cold war political history, but because one of the participants in that debate is predominant in the movie ‘Watchmen’ which is based on the iconic graphic novel that opens this week. Can you name this American politician? Can you give me the moniker attributed to this impromptu debate? Can you tell me if you plan to see ‘Watchmen’ on Friday? I want to know all of these things so please let me know.
Either my question last week about the crazy baseball play was too cryptic, or no one is that interested in the Chicago Cubs or games in which there is more than one baseball on the field. But through a series of errors and misjudgments not one but two balls were in play at the same time and the extra ball was used by the Cubs to get a player from the opposite team out. The play was contested but since the Cubs lost the game anyway, it was not a big deal and the event was consigned to realm of obscure trivia.
Thanks to everyone who tried!

In 1959 the Chicago Cubs were only in year 51 of their now 101 year odyssey to experience firsthand what it is like to never win a World Series championship. Things were going better for Ernie “Mr. Cub” Banks that year having won the National League Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive year. On a much less prestigious, but way more hilarious note Ernie Banks was involved in one of the craziest plays in baseball history that year at Wrigley Field. Can you tell me what happened? More importantly can you explain it to me without getting really complicated because the situation is funny but the details will make my eyes glaze over. If you can do all of these things please let me know. As always the only prizes for correct answers are bragging rights.
Speaking of bragging rights last week I wanted to know which pioneering film director who passed in 1959 was name checked in one of the most memorable movie lines of all time. The line ‘All right Mr. Demille ‘m ready for my close-up’ is spoken by Gloria Swanson at the end of Sunset Boulevard.
Join me while I listen to Marianne Hageman and Peter Keenen brag about getting the question correct.
Thanks as always to everyone who played.

Which pioneering film director who died in 1959 was immortalized in front of the camera in one of the most famous lines in movie history?
If you can let me know.
Last week I wanted to know the name of a very catchy song about a very unsavory character that won a Grammy for Record of the Year in 1959. Who could that be? Could that someone be Mack the Knife? It could be and it is. Who could the singer of this particular version of the song be? Could that someone be Ella Fitzgerald or Louis Armstrong or Frank Sinatra or Michael Buble or Robbie Williams? It could be since they all did versions of this song – but Bobby Darin’s version is the one that got the Grammy and it became one of his signature songs.
Please help me congratulate those in the know –
Ann Hale
Marianne Hageman
Ann Kenne
Thanks to everyone who played!

In 1732 an English playwright John Gay wrote ‘The Beggar’s Opera’ which introduced a notorious highwayman simply named Macheath. Gay’s ballad opera was then adopted with music by famed dramatist Bertolt Brecht and composer Kurt Weill into The Three Penny Opera which debuted in Berlin in 1928.
I know what you are thinking…this is all very fine and good but what does this have to do with the year 1959?
Well, the main character of MacHeath was transformed by Brecht and Weil into the more sinister anti-hero Mackie Messer.
And……
A song from this musical detailing Mackie Messer’s crimes and cruelties was a huge hit in 1959.
Can you name the song and the singer who would eventually become most associated with this song? If you can send me a message.
Last week I wanted to know the one place Nikita Khrushchev and his family were not permitted to visit on their North American tour in 1959. This site has nothing to do with national security or James Bond levels of spy activity, in fact it is the happiest place on earth. That’s right, due to insufficient security against Mickey and Donald, Nikita Khrushchev was not allowed to visit Disneyland.
The campus Mouseketeers who knew this are Carolyn DeLuca and Marianne Hageman
Thanks to everyone who played!

There were many events that put 1959 on the map – everything from a continuing cold war with the Soviet Union, a band of revolutionaries overthrowing the government of a small Caribbean country, and the grand debut of a doll named ‘Barbie’. A little closer to home the St. Lawrence Seaway opened which made Duluth accessible to the Atlantic Ocean; and even closer still to home in 1959 the O’Shaughnessy-Frey Library Center was completed. The UST libraries are hosting events throughout this year to commemorate this 50th anniversary and to go along with these events there will be weekly trivia questions revolving around events from 1959. Do you know much about the Cold War? The Space Race? Beatniks? Elvis Presley? Maime Van Doren? You will after this year!
Unfortunately there will be no prizes for correct answers – only recognition on this blog that you are one cool cat/dolly.
With all that said and done – here is this week’s question.
In September 1959 Nikita Khrushchev toured the United States, but he was denied permission to visit one particular place which according to a New York Times article at the time was especially disappointing for his family. The official explanation had to do with not being able to provide adequate security for the Soviet leader and not because of that whole ‘We will bury you!’ thing at the UN a few years earlier.
Can you name this place? If you can send me a message.
If you can’t then visit this site next Monday for the answer and another question.