It Happened in October

Print PDF version of this Round 2020 General Knowledge History

Published: 1st October 2020

Today we bring you a bumper quiz about events that are connected to the month of October.

This round is of course free to print and use in your next quiz, but if you're playing alone then the answers are given below.

Thanks for playing

Questions:

1) The film ‘The Jazz Singer’ opened in October 1927, but what was notable about the movie?

2) Walter Hagen who died in 1969 was famous for playing which sport?

3) The photo sharing app Instagram was founded in October of which year? a) 2008 b) 2010 c) 2012

4) Before its reunification with West Germany in 1990 what was East Germany known as?

5) Anwar Sadat who was murdered by Islamic extremists in 1981 was the president of which country?

6) Born in 1931, Eileen Derbyshire played which character for 55 years in Britain’s longest running soap opera?

7) Founded in Oct 1919, which is the oldest airline still operating under its original name? a) British Airways b) Lufthansa c) KLM

8) Whose engine won the ‘Rainhill Trials’ in 1829?

9) The oldest still functioning Astronomical clock was installed in October 1410 in which european city? a) Paris b) Hamburg c) Prague

10) In 1799 which ship sank in a storm whilst transporting gold bullion to Hamburg with the loss of 239 of the 240 passengers and crew. The salvaged ship’s bell is now used for ceremonial purposes at Lloyds of London

11) The Belgian Revolution started in October 1830 which led to the Kingdom of Belgium being formed. From which country did they secede?

12) Gutzon Borglum began carving which giant iconic sculpture in 1927?

13) Which war began in 1853 when the Ottoman Empire declared war on the Russian Empire?

14) Which long distance train had its first run in October 1883?

15) Born in October 1973, which British actress starred as Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones?

16) In 1854 a series of fires and explosions killed 54 people and injured hundreds more in which two north east towns?

17) Tom Petty who died in October 2017 formed which group in 1976?

18) In Oct 1930 which aircraft crashed in France on its way to India on its maiden voyage?

19) Which march, protesting about unemployment and poverty, set off for London on 5th Oct 1936?

20) The first televised address from the Oval Office was made in 1947 by which President?

21) In October 1925 who performed the first test of a working television system?

22) Who launched WikiLeaks in October 2006?

23) Born in October 1890 this comedian, actor writer and film star was famous for his greasepaint mustache whilst acting alongside his brothers?

24) October 2010 saw the opening of the 19th commonwealth games and was held in which country? a) Australia b) Canada c) India

25) In 1958 Guinea declared independence from which country?

26) Who was the Indian freedom fighter, activist and philosopher who was born in October 1869?

27) In October of which year did The German Democratic Republic become part of the Federal Republic of Germany? a) 1990 b) 1992 c) 1994

28) The first complete English-language Bible (the Coverdale Bible) was printed in october of which year? a) 1335 b) 1435 c) 1535

29) What was the name of the first artificial satellite to orbit the earth and launched in October 1957?

30) In 1983 who set a new land speed record of 633.468 miles per hour, driving Thrust2 at the Black Rock Desert in Nevada?

31) Who opened the first electric lamp factory in October 1880?

32) Which official motto of the United States first appeared on paper currency in October 1957?

33) Which National Park in the USA was established by Congress in 1890? a) Yosemite National Park b) Badlands c) Grand Canyon

34) The Model T Ford motor car came onto the market in October of what year? a) 1901 b) 1908 c) 1915

35) In 1978 Tuvalu gained independence from which country?

36) The siege of which city on the Adriatic sea commenced in October 1991 and lead ultimately to the international recognition of an independent state?

37) In 1918 during WWI Arab forces, under whose command, captured Damascus?

38) Who did Helmut Kohl replace as German Chancellor in 1982? a) Willy Brandt b) Walter Scheel c) Helmut Schmidt

39) In 1958 which organisation replaced the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA)?

40) Who fought in the 'Thrilla in Manilla' in 1975?

41) In October 1926 this book was published and written by A.A.Milne. What was the book?

42) In Oct 1915 the man often regarded as the greatest cricketer of all time died, what was his name?

43) In 1936 which man was named as the Head of State in Spain?

44) In 1936 200 men marched from their home town to Westminster to highlight the poverty caused by the closure of their shipyard. What was the march known as?

45) In 1941 Mount Rushmore National Memorial was completed after how many years a) 14 b) 18 c) 22

46) 1956 saw the death of the founder of the modern frozen food industry, what was his name?

47) 1940 saw the U.S. premiere of which Charlie Chaplin film?

48) In 1991 the creator of Star Trek died, what was his name?

49) The United Nations was formed in 1945, what organization did it replace?

50) In 1965 which iconic building was the tallest in London when it was officially opened, and a title it kept until 1985?

Answers:

1) The film ‘The Jazz Singer’ opened in October 1927, but what was notable about the movie?

Regarded as the first ‘talkie’

2) Walter Hagen who died in 1969 was famous for playing which sport?

Golf

3) The photo sharing app Instagram was founded in October of which year? a) 2008 b) 2010 c) 2012

b) 2010

4) Before its reunification with West Germany in 1990 what was East Germany known as?

German Democratic Republic

5) Anwar Sadat who was murdered by Islamic extremists in 1981 was the president of which country?

Egypt

6) Born in 1931, Eileen Derbyshire played which character for 55 years in Britain’s longest running soap opera?

Emily Bishop/Nugent

7) Founded in Oct 1919, which is the oldest airline still operating under its original name? a) British Airways b) Lufthansa c) KLM

c) KLM

8) Whose engine won the ‘Rainhill Trials’ in 1829?

Stephenson (Rocket)

9) The oldest still functioning Astronomical clock was installed in October 1410 in which european city? a) Paris b) Hamburg c) Prague

c) Prague

HMS Lutine

11) The Belgian Revolution started in October 1830 which led to the Kingdom of Belgium being formed. From which country did they secede?

United Kingdom of the Netherlands

12) Gutzon Borglum began carving which giant iconic sculpture in 1927?

Mount Rushmore

13) Which war began in 1853 when the Ottoman Empire declared war on the Russian Empire?

Crimean War

14) Which long distance train had its first run in October 1883?

Orient Express

15) Born in October 1973, which British actress starred as Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones?

Lena Headey

16) In 1854 a series of fires and explosions killed 54 people and injured hundreds more in which two north east towns?

Newcastle and Gateshead.

17) Tom Petty who died in October 2017 formed which group in 1976?

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

18) In Oct 1930 which aircraft crashed in France on its way to India on its maiden voyage?

R101

19) Which march, protesting about unemployment and poverty, set off for London on 5th Oct 1936?

Jarrow March

20) The first televised address from the Oval Office was made in 1947 by which President?

President Truman

21) In October 1925 who performed the first test of a working television system?

John Logie Baird

22) Who launched WikiLeaks in October 2006?

Julian Assange

23) Born in October 1890 this comedian, actor writer and film star was famous for his greasepaint mustache whilst acting alongside his brothers?

Groucho Marx

24) October 2010 saw the opening of the 19th commonwealth games and was held in which country? a) Australia b) Canada c) India

c) India

25) In 1958 Guinea declared independence from which country?

France

26) Who was the Indian freedom fighter, activist and philosopher who was born in October 1869?

Mahatma Gandhi

27) In October of which year did The German Democratic Republic become part of the Federal Republic of Germany? a) 1990 b) 1992 c) 1994

a) 1990

28) The first complete English-language Bible (the Coverdale Bible) was printed in october of which year? a) 1335 b) 1435 c) 1535

c) 1535

29) What was the name of the first artificial satellite to orbit the earth and launched in October 1957?

Sputnik 1

30) In 1983 who set a new land speed record of 633.468 miles per hour, driving Thrust2 at the Black Rock Desert in Nevada?

Richard Noble

31) Who opened the first electric lamp factory in October 1880?

Thomas Edison

32) Which official motto of the United States first appeared on paper currency in October 1957?

In God We Trust

33) Which National Park in the USA was established by Congress in 1890? a) Yosemite National Park b) Badlands c) Grand Canyon

a) Yosemite National Park

34) The Model T Ford motor car came onto the market in October of what year? a) 1901 b) 1908 c) 1915

b) 1908

35) In 1978 Tuvalu gained independence from which country?

36) The siege of which city on the Adriatic sea commenced in October 1991 and lead ultimately to the international recognition of an independent state?

Dubrovnik

37) In 1918 during WWI Arab forces, under whose command, captured Damascus?

T.E.Lawrence

38) Who did Helmut Kohl replace as German Chancellor in 1982? a) Willy Brandt b) Walter Scheel c) Helmut Schmidt

c) Helmut Schmidt

39) In 1958 which organisation replaced the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA)?

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

40) Who fought in the 'Thrilla in Manilla' in 1975?

Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier

41) In October 1926 this book was published and written by A.A.Milne. What was the book?

Winnie-the-Pooh

42) In Oct 1915 the man often regarded as the greatest cricketer of all time died, what was his name?

W.G.Grace

43) In 1936 which man was named as the Head of State in Spain?

General Francisco Franco

44) In 1936 200 men marched from their home town to Westminster to highlight the poverty caused by the closure of their shipyard. What was the march known as?

The Jarrow March (Crusade)

45) In 1941 Mount Rushmore National Memorial was completed after how many years a) 14 b) 18 c) 22

a) 14

46) 1956 saw the death of the founder of the modern frozen food industry, what was his name?

Clarence Birdseye

47) 1940 saw the U.S. premiere of which Charlie Chaplin film?

The Great Dictator

48) In 1991 the creator of Star Trek died, what was his name?

Gene Roddenberry

49) The United Nations was formed in 1945, what organization did it replace?

The League of Nations

50) In 1965 which iconic building was the tallest in London when it was officially opened, and a title it kept until 1985?