Boston Common, located near the Financial District and Beacon Hill, is the oldest public park in the United States. Along with the adjacent Boston Public Garden, it is part of the Emerald Necklace, a string of parks designed by Frederick Law Olmsted to encircle the city. The Emerald Necklace includes Jamaica Pond, Boston's largest body of freshwater, and Franklin Park, the city's largest park and home of the Franklin Park Zoo. Another major park is the Esplanade, located along the banks of the Charles River. The Hatch Shell, an outdoor concert venue, is located adjacent to the Charles River Esplanade. Other parks are scattered throughout the city, with the major parks and beaches located near Castle Island; in Charlestown; and along the Dorchester, South Boston, and East Boston shorelines.

What is the oldest public park in the US?

Boston Common

Where is Boston Common located?

near the Financial District and Beacon Hill

What is next to Boston Common?

Boston Public Garden

The Emerald necklace is a string of what?

parks

Who designed the Emerald necklace?

Frederick Law Olmsted


Boston's park system is well-reputed nationally. In its 2013 ParkScore ranking, The Trust for Public Land reported that Boston was tied with Sacramento and San Francisco for having the third-best park system among the 50 most populous US cities. ParkScore ranks city park systems by a formula that analyzes the city's median park size, park acres as percent of city area, the percent of residents within a half-mile of a park, spending of park services per resident, and the number of playgrounds per 10,000 residents.

What ranking does the Boston park system have?

third-best

Who ranks city park systems?

ParkScore

Parkscore ranks the number of resident within what distance of the park?

a half-mile


Boston has a strong mayor – council government system in which the mayor (elected every fourth year) has extensive executive power. Marty Walsh became Mayor in January 2014, his predecessor Thomas Menino's twenty-year tenure having been the longest in the city's history. The Boston City Council is elected every two years; there are nine district seats, and four citywide "at-large" seats. The School Committee, which oversees the Boston Public Schools, is appointed by the mayor.

How often are elections for mayor held in Boston?

every fourth year

What kind of power does the mayor have?

extensive executive power

Who became Mayor in january, 2014?

Marty Walsh

Who oversees the Boston Public Schools?

The School Committee


In addition to city government, numerous commissions and state authorities—including the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Boston Public Health Commission, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA), and the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport)—play a role in the life of Bostonians. As the capital of Massachusetts, Boston plays a major role in state politics.

What is the capital of Massachusetts?

Boston

As the state capital, Boston plays a large role in what?

state politics

What is the MWRA?

Massachusetts Water Resources Authority

What is the name of the massachusetts port authority?

Massport


The city has several federal facilities, including the John F. Kennedy Federal Office Building, the Thomas P. O'Neill Federal Building, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

Where is the John F kennedy Federal office building located?

The city

What court is located in Boston?

the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

What is the name of the famous bank located in Boston?

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston


Federally, Boston is split between two congressional districts. The northern three-fourths of the city is in the 7th district, represented by Mike Capuano since 1998. The southern fourth is in the 8th district, represented by Stephen Lynch. Both are Democrats; a Republican has not represented a significant portion of Boston in over a century. The state's senior member of the United States Senate is Democrat Elizabeth Warren, first elected in 2012. The state's junior member of the United States Senate is Democrat Ed Markey, who was elected in 2013 to succeed John Kerry after Kerry's appointment and confirmation as the United States Secretary of State.

Boston is split between how many congressional districts?

two

What district is the North 3/4 of the city located in?

the 7th district

Who represents the 7th district?

Mike Capuano

What year was Capuano elected?

What district is the South fourth of Boston located in?

the 8th district


The Boston Globe and the Boston Herald are two of the city's major daily newspapers. The city is also served by other publications such as Boston magazine, The Improper Bostonian, DigBoston, and the Boston edition of Metro. The Christian Science Monitor, headquartered in Boston, was formerly a worldwide daily newspaper but ended publication of daily print editions in 2009, switching to continuous online and weekly magazine format publications. The Boston Globe also releases a teen publication to the city's public high schools, called Teens in Print or T.i.P., which is written by the city's teens and delivered quarterly within the school year.

The Boston Globe and the Boston herals are two of Bostons what?

daily newspapers

Where is the Christial Science Monitor headquarters?

Boston

When did the Christian Science Monitor end daily print newspapers?

How often does The Christian Science monitor publish their magazine?

weekly

What is the name of the teen paper that the Boston Globe provides to schools?

Teens in Print


The city's growing Latino population has given rise to a number of local and regional Spanish-language newspapers. These include El Planeta (owned by the former publisher of The Boston Phoenix), El Mundo, and La Semana. Siglo21, with its main offices in nearby Lawrence, is also widely distributed.

Where is the main office of Siglo21?

Lawrence

The former publisher of the Boston phoenix owns what Spanish newspaper?

El Planeta


Various LGBT publications serve the city's large LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community such as The Rainbow Times, the only minority and lesbian-owned LGBT newsmagazine. Founded in 2006, The Rainbow Times is now based out of Boston, but serves all of New England.

What is the name of the citys only lesbian owned LGBT magazine?

The Rainbow Times

What year was the Rainbow Times founded?

What locations does the Rainbow Times serve?

all of New England

Where is the headquarters for the Rainbow Times?

Boston


Boston is the largest broadcasting market in New England, with the radio market being the 11th largest in the United States. Several major AM stations include talk radio WRKO, sports/talk station WEEI, and CBS Radio WBZ. WBZ (AM) broadcasts a news radio format. A variety of commercial FM radio formats serve the area, as do NPR stations WBUR and WGBH. College and university radio stations include WERS (Emerson), WHRB (Harvard), WUMB (UMass Boston), WMBR (MIT), WZBC (Boston College), WMFO (Tufts University), WBRS (Brandeis University), WTBU (Boston University, campus and web only), WRBB (Northeastern University) and WMLN-FM (Curry College).

What is the national ranking of Bostons radio market?

11th largest

What Bostom Am radio station is a sports and talk station?

WEEI

What is the name of Boston Colleges radio station?

WZBC

What is the name of Harvards radio station?

WHRB

WBUR and WGBH are exaples of what type of radio station?

NPR


The Boston television DMA, which also includes Manchester, New Hampshire, is the 8th largest in the United States. The city is served by stations representing every major American network, including WBZ-TV and its sister station WSBK-TV (the former a CBS O&O, the latter an MyNetwork TV affiliate), WCVB-TV (ABC), WHDH (NBC), WFXT (Fox), and WLVI (The CW). The city is also home to PBS station WGBH-TV, a major producer of PBS programs, which also operates WGBX. Spanish-language television networks, including MundoFox (WFXZ-CD), Univision (WUNI), Telemundo (WNEU), and Telefutura (WUTF-DT), have a presence in the region, with WNEU and WUTF serving as network owned-and-operated stations. Most of the area's television stations have their transmitters in nearby Needham and Newton along the Route 128 corridor. Six Boston television stations are carried by Canadian satellite television provider Bell TV and by cable television providers in Canada.

What ranking does the Boston television DMA hold?

8th largest in the United States

What is the sister station to WBZ-TV?

WSBK-TV

What is the citys PBS station?

WGBH-TV

MundoFox is an example of what?

Spanish-language television networks

Where are most of the television stations transmitters located?

Needham and Newton


The Longwood Medical and Academic Area, adjacent to the Fenway district, is home to a large number of medical and research facilities, including Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Children's Hospital Boston, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Joslin Diabetes Center, and the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Prominent medical facilities, including Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital are located in the Beacon Hill area. St. Elizabeth's Medical Center is in Brighton Center of the city's Brighton neighborhood. New England Baptist Hospital is in Mission Hill. The city has Veterans Affairs medical centers in the Jamaica Plain and West Roxbury neighborhoods. The Boston Public Health Commission, an agency of the Massachusetts government, oversees health concerns for city residents. Boston EMS provides pre-hospital emergency medical services to residents and visitors.

What is the Longwood medical and Academic Area located next to?

the Fenway district

Where is Massachusetts General Hospital located?

the Beacon Hill area

Where is St. Elizabeths medical center located?

Brighton Center

What agency oversees health concerns for city residents?

The Boston Public Health Commission


Many of Boston's medical facilities are associated with universities. The facilities in the Longwood Medical and Academic Area and in Massachusetts General Hospital are affiliated with Harvard Medical School. Tufts Medical Center (formerly Tufts-New England Medical Center), located in the southern portion of the Chinatown neighborhood, is affiliated with Tufts University School of Medicine. Boston Medical Center, located in the South End neighborhood, is the primary teaching facility for the Boston University School of Medicine as well as the largest trauma center in the Boston area; it was formed by the merger of Boston University Hospital and Boston City Hospital, which was the first municipal hospital in the United States.

A lot of Bostond medical facilities are associated with what?

universities

The Longwood medical and Academic Area is affiliated with what medical school?

Harvard Medical School

Tufts- new England medical Center was renamed what?

Tufts Medical Center

What neighborhood is the Tufts medical Center located in?

Chinatown

What is the name of the first municipal Hospital in the US?

Boston City Hospital


Logan Airport, located in East Boston and operated by the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport), is Boston's principal airport. Nearby general aviation airports are Beverly Municipal Airport to the north, Hanscom Field to the west, and Norwood Memorial Airport to the south. Massport also operates several major facilities within the Port of Boston, including a cruise ship terminal and facilities to handle bulk and container cargo in South Boston, and other facilities in Charlestown and East Boston.

What Airport is located in East Boston?

Logan Airport

Who operates Logan Airport?

Massport

What is the name of Bostons main airport?

Logan Airport

What airport is North of Logan Airport?

Beverly Municipal Airport

What airport is south of Logan Airport?

Norwood Memorial Airport


Downtown Boston's streets grew organically, so they do not form a planned grid, unlike those in later-developed Back Bay, East Boston, the South End, and South Boston. Boston is the eastern terminus of I-90, which in Massachusetts runs along the Massachusetts Turnpike. The elevated portion of the Central Artery, which carried most of the through traffic in downtown Boston, was replaced with the O'Neill Tunnel during the Big Dig, substantially completed in early 2006.

How did the streets of downtown Boston grow?

organically

Boston is at the East end of what Interstate?

What year was the O'neill tunnel put in place?

The streets of Back bay grew into a what?

planned grid


With nearly a third of Bostonians using public transit for their commute to work, Boston has the fifth-highest rate of public transit usage in the country. Boston's subway system, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA—known as the "T") operates the oldest underground rapid transit system in the Americas, and is the fourth-busiest rapid transit system in the country, with 65.5 miles (105 km) of track on four lines. The MBTA also operates busy bus and commuter rail networks, and water shuttles.

How many people in Boston use public transportation?

nearly a third

Where does Boston rank nationally in terms of public transportation use?

fifth-highest

What is the name of Bostons subway system?

MBTA

The MBTA is also known as the what?

T

How long is bostons subway system?

65.5 miles


Amtrak's Northeast Corridor and Chicago lines originate at South Station, which serves as a major intermodal transportation hub, and stop at Back Bay. Fast Northeast Corridor trains, which serve New York City, Washington, D.C., and points in between, also stop at Route 128 Station in the southwestern suburbs of Boston. Meanwhile, Amtrak's Downeaster service to Maine originates at North Station, despite the current lack of a dedicated passenger rail link between the two railhubs, other than the "T" subway lines.

Where do Amtrack's Northeast corridor and Chicago lines start?

South Station

Where do Amtrack's Northeast corridor and Chicago lines end?

Back Bay

Trains serving new Yourk and Washington D.C also stop where?

Route 128 Station

What suburbs of Boston is the Route 128 Station located in?

southwestern

Where does the Downeaster service to maine start?

North Station


Nicknamed "The Walking City", Boston hosts more pedestrian commuters than do other comparably populated cities. Owing to factors such as the compactness of the city and large student population, 13 percent of the population commutes by foot, making it the highest percentage of pedestrian commuters in the country out of the major American cities. In 2011, Walk Score ranked Boston the third most walkable city in the United States. As of 2015[update], Walk Score still ranks Boston as the third most walkable US city, with a Walk Score of 80, a Transit Score of 75, and a Bike Score of 70.

What is Bostons nickname?

The Walking City

What type of commuters does Have than any other largely populated city?

pedestrian

What percent of Boston's population commutes by walking?

13 percent

What year did walkscore rank Boston the third most walkable city in the US?

What was the walk score given to Boston?


Between 1999 and 2006, Bicycling magazine named Boston three times as one of the worst cities in the US for cycling; regardless, it has one of the highest rates of bicycle commuting. In 2008, as a consequence of improvements made to bicycling conditions within the city, the same magazine put Boston on its "Five for the Future" list as a "Future Best City" for biking, and Boston's bicycle commuting percentage increased from 1% in 2000 to 2.1% in 2009. The bikeshare program called Hubway launched in late July 2011, logging more than 140,000 rides before the close of its first season. The neighboring municipalities of Cambridge, Somerville, and Brookline joined the Hubway program in summer 2012.

Bicycling magazine named Boston one of the worst cities in the US for what?

cycling

What magazine put Boston on its Future best City For Biking list?

Bicycling magazine

What is the name of the bike share program in Boston?

Hubway

What year did Hubway launch?

How many rides did Hubway log in its first year?

more than 140,000


Universal Studios Inc. (also known as Universal Pictures) is an American film studio, owned by Comcast through its wholly owned subsidiary NBCUniversal, and is one of Hollywood's "Big Six" film studios. Its production studios are at 100 Universal City Plaza Drive in Universal City, California. Distribution and other corporate offices are in New York City. Universal Studios is a member of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). Universal was founded in 1912 by the German Carl Laemmle (pronounced "LEM-lee"), Mark Dintenfass, Charles O. Baumann, Adam Kessel, Pat Powers, William Swanson, David Horsley, Robert H. Cochrane, and Jules Brulatour.

What is another name for Universal Studios Inc.?

Universal Pictures

Who is the ultimate owner of Universal Studios?

Comcast

What is the street address of Universal Studios' production studios?

100 Universal City Plaza Drive

In what city and state are its production studios located?

Universal City, California

In what city are Universal Studios' corporate offices located?

New York City

What does MAAP stand for?

I'm not sure.

What was founded in 1921?

I'm not sure.

Who founded Universal Studios in 1921?

I'm not sure.

Who owns Comcast?

I'm not sure.

Where in Universal City are the corporate offices located?

I'm not sure.


It is the world's fourth oldest major film studio, after the renowned French studios Gaumont Film Company and Pathé, and the Danish Nordisk Film company.

What is the nationality of Pathé?

French

Along with Pathé and the Gaumont Film Company, what major film studio is older then Universal Studios?

Nordisk Film company

Among major film studies, where does Universal Studios rank in terms of age?

fourth

What studios follow Universal for being the oldest?

I'm not sure.

Who does the Pathe Film Company belong to?

I'm not sure.

Who does the Danish Film Company belong to?

I'm not sure.


Universal Studios was founded by Carl Laemmle, Mark Dintenfass, Charles O. Baumann, Adam Kessel, Pat Powers, William Swanson, David Horsley, Robert H. Cochrane[a] and Jules Brulatour. One story has Laemmle watching a box office for hours, counting patrons and calculating the day's takings. Within weeks of his Chicago trip, Laemmle gave up dry goods to buy the first several nickelodeons. For Laemmle and other such entrepreneurs, the creation in 1908 of the Edison-backed Motion Picture Trust meant that exhibitors were expected to pay fees for Trust-produced films they showed. Based on the Latham Loop used in cameras and projectors, along with other patents, the Trust collected fees on all aspects of movie production and exhibition, and attempted to enforce a monopoly on distribution.

After a trip to what city did Carl Laemmle leave the dry goods business?

Chicago

In what year was the Motion Picture Trust created?

What notable historical figure was involved in the Motion Picture Trust?

Edison

For what part of a motion picture projector did the Motion Picture Trust hold a patent?

the Latham Loop

Who founded Universal Studios in Chicago?

I'm not sure.

What was created in 1980?

I'm not sure.

Who back the Motion Trust Picture?

I'm not sure.

Who attempted to enforce a monopoly on cameras and projectors?

I'm not sure.


Soon, Laemmle and other disgruntled nickelodeon owners decided to avoid paying Edison by producing their own pictures. In June 1909, Laemmle started the Yankee Film Company with partners Abe Stern and Julius Stern. That company quickly evolved into the Independent Moving Pictures Company (IMP), with studios in Fort Lee, New Jersey, where many early films in America's first motion picture industry were produced in the early 20th century. Laemmle broke with Edison's custom of refusing to give billing and screen credits to performers. By naming the movie stars, he attracted many of the leading players of the time, contributing to the creation of the star system. In 1910, he promoted Florence Lawrence, formerly known as "The Biograph Girl", and actor King Baggot, in what may be the first instance of a studio using stars in its marketing.

What company did Laemmle found in June 1909?

Yankee Film Company

Who were Laemmle's business partners in the Yankee Film Company?

Abe Stern and Julius Stern

In what city and state was the Independent Moving Pictures Company based?

Fort Lee, New Jersey

What was a nickname of Florence Lawrence?

The Biograph Girl

What actor did Laemmle promote?

King Baggot

What did Laemmle and Edison decide to do?

I'm not sure.

Who started the Yankee Film Company in 1910?

I'm not sure.

What was started in June 1910?

I'm not sure.

What was Lawrence Florence known as?

I'm not sure.

What does IPM stand for?

I'm not sure.


The Universal Film Manufacturing Company was incorporated in New York on April 30, 1912. Laemmle, who emerged as president in July 1912, was the primary figure in the partnership with Dintenfass, Baumann, Kessel, Powers, Swanson, Horsley, and Brulatour. Eventually all would be bought out by Laemmle. The new Universal studio was a vertically integrated company, with movie production, distribution and exhibition venues all linked in the same corporate entity, the central element of the Studio system era.

On what date was the incorporation of the Universal Film Manufacturing Company?

April 30, 1912

In what state was the Universal Film Manufacturing Company incorporated?

New York

Who was the president of the Universal Film Manufacturing Company circa July 1912?

Laemmle

What was the fate of the other partners of the Universal Film Manufacturing Company?

bought out by Laemmle

Along with exhibition and distribution, what business did the Universal Film Manufacturing Company engage in?

movie production

What was incorporated in New York on April 30, 1921?

I'm not sure.

Who emerged as president in April 1912?

I'm not sure.

Where was the Universal Manufacturing Film Company incorporated?

I'm not sure.


On March 15, 1915,:8 Laemmle opened the world's largest motion picture production facility, Universal City Studios, on a 230-acre (0.9-km²) converted farm just over the Cahuenga Pass from Hollywood. Studio management became the third facet of Universal's operations, with the studio incorporated as a distinct subsidiary organization. Unlike other movie moguls, Laemmle opened his studio to tourists. Universal became the largest studio in Hollywood, and remained so for a decade. However, it sought an audience mostly in small towns, producing mostly inexpensive melodramas, westerns and serials.

On what date did Universal City Studios open?

March 15, 1915

In square kilometers, what was the size of Universal City Studios?

What geographical feature separated Universal City Studios from Hollywood?

Cahuenga Pass

What was the biggest Hollywood studio during this period?

Universal

What opened on March 19, 1915?

I'm not sure.

Who opened Universal City Studios on March 19, 1915?

I'm not sure.

What studio was built on a 230-km² converted farm?

I'm not sure.

Who opened his studio to tourists like other movie moguls?

I'm not sure.


In its early years Universal released three brands of feature films — Red Feather, low-budget programmers; Bluebird, more ambitious productions; and Jewel, their prestige motion pictures. Directors included Jack Conway, John Ford, Rex Ingram, Robert Z. Leonard, George Marshall and Lois Weber, one of the few women directing films in Hollywood.:13

What sort of films were produced by Red Feather?

low-budget programmers

What type of movies came out of Bluebird?

more ambitious productions

What motion pictures were made by Jewel?

prestige motion pictures

What was the profession of George Marshall?

Directors

Who was one of the few female Hollywood directors in this era?

Lois Weber

Who was Red Bluebird a brand for?

I'm not sure.

What was Blue Feather a brand for?

I'm not sure.

What was Jewel Bird a brand for?

I'm not sure.

Who was the one woman directing films in Hollywood?

I'm not sure.


Despite Laemmle's role as an innovator, he was an extremely cautious studio chief. Unlike rivals Adolph Zukor, William Fox, and Marcus Loew, Laemmle chose not to develop a theater chain. He also financed all of his own films, refusing to take on debt. This policy nearly bankrupted the studio when actor-director Erich von Stroheim insisted on excessively lavish production values for his films Blind Husbands (1919) and Foolish Wives (1922), but Universal shrewdly gained a return on some of the expenditure by launching a sensational ad campaign that attracted moviegoers. Character actor Lon Chaney became a drawing card for Universal in the 1920s, appearing steadily in dramas. His two biggest hits for Universal were The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) and The Phantom of the Opera (1925). During this period Laemmle entrusted most of the production policy decisions to Irving Thalberg. Thalberg had been Laemmle's personal secretary, and Laemmle was impressed by his cogent observations of how efficiently the studio could be operated. Promoted to studio chief, Thalberg was giving Universal's product a touch of class, but MGM's head of production Louis B. Mayer lured Thalberg away from Universal with a promise of better pay. Without his guidance Universal became a second-tier studio, and would remain so for several decades.

Who directed Blind Husbands?

Erich von Stroheim

In what year was Foolish Wives produced?

Who starred in The Phantom of the Opera?

Lon Chaney

What year saw a film version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame?

Who was at one time Laemmle's personal secretary?

Irving Thalberg

Who else decided not to develop a theater chain with Laemmle?

I'm not sure.

What year did Foolish Husbands come out?

I'm not sure.

What year did Blind Wives come out?

I'm not sure.

Who starred in the 1925 film The Hunchback of Notre Dame?

I'm not sure.

Who starred in the 1923 film The Phantom of the Opera?

I'm not sure.


In 1926, Universal opened a production unit in Germany, Deutsche Universal-Film AG, under the direction of Joe Pasternak. This unit produced three to four films per year until 1936, migrating to Hungary and then Austria in the face of Hitler's increasing domination of central Europe. With the advent of sound, these productions were made in the German language or, occasionally, Hungarian or Polish. In the U.S., Universal Pictures did not distribute any of this subsidiary's films, but at least some of them were exhibited through other, independent, foreign-language film distributors based in New York, without benefit of English subtitles. Nazi persecution and a change in ownership for the parent Universal Pictures organization resulted in the dissolution of this subsidiary.

What was the name of Universal's German production unit?

Deutsche Universal-Film AG

Who ran Universal's German production unit?

Joe Pasternak

In what year did Deutsche Universal-Film AG open?

How many films did Universal's German subsidiary make yearly?

three to four

Along with Germany and Austria, where was Deutsche Universal-Film AG at one time based?

Hungary

What opened in 1962?

I'm not sure.

Who directed Deutsche AG Universal-Film?

I'm not sure.

How many films did Deutsche Universal-Film AG produce in 1936?

I'm not sure.

Where did Universal Pictures distribute the subsidiary's films?

I'm not sure.


In the early years, Universal had a "clean picture" policy. However, by April 1927, Carl Laemmle considered this to be a mistake as "unclean pictures" from other studios were generating more profit while Universal was losing money.

what was the policy that Universal followed in its early years?

"clean picture"

By what month and year did Laemmle change his opinion on "unclean pictures"?

April 1927

Why did Laemmle change his position on "unclean pictures"?

Universal was losing money

What policy was established in April 1927?

I'm not sure.

When did Carl Laemmle decide to establish a clean picture policy?

I'm not sure.

What did Carl Laemmle consider a mistake in 1972?

I'm not sure.


Universal owned the rights to the "Oswald the Lucky Rabbit" character, although Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks had created Oswald, and their films had enjoyed a successful theatrical run. After Charles Mintz had unsuccessfully demanded that Disney accept a lower fee for producing the property, Mintz produced the films with his own group of animators. Instead, Disney and Iwerks created Mickey Mouse who in 1928 stared in the first "sync" sound animated short, Steamboat Willie. This moment effectively launched Walt Disney Studios' foothold, while Universal became a minor player in film animation. Universal subsequently severed its link to Mintz and formed its own in-house animation studio to produce Oswald cartoons headed by Walter Lantz.

Along with Walt Disney, who created Oswald the Lucky Rabbit?

Ub Iwerks

Who owned the rights to Oswald?

Universal

Who produced an Oswald the Lucky Rabbit motion picture?

Charles Mintz

What character did Walt Disney create in 1928?

Mickey Mouse

What was the first animated short with synchronized sound?

Steamboat Willie

Who owned the rights to Oswald the Rabbit?

I'm not sure.

Who created Oswald with Ib Uwerks?

I'm not sure.

Who was created in 1829 by Disney and Iwerks?

I'm not sure.

What was the first 1982 animated short?

I'm not sure.

What was Walt Disney a minor player in?

I'm not sure.


In 2006, after almost 80 years, NBC Universal sold all Walt Disney-produced Oswald cartoons, along with the rights to the character himself, back to Disney. In return, Disney released ABC sportscaster Al Michaels from his contract so he could work on NBC's Sunday night NFL football package. However, Universal retained ownership of Oswald cartoons produced for them by Walter Lantz from 1929 to 1943.

Who bought the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoons in 2006?

Disney

Who was 2006 seller of the Oswald cartoons?

NBC Universal

What notable figure worked as a sportscaster for ABC?

Al Michaels

Who began producing Oswald cartoons for Universal in 1929?

Walter Lantz

In what year did Walter Lantz cease producing Oswald cartoons for Universal?

What did NBC Universal sell in 2008?

I'm not sure.

What did NBC Universal do after 60 years?

I'm not sure.

What NBC sportscaster did Disney release from contract?

I'm not sure.

What did Universal retain ownership of from 1923 to 1949?

I'm not sure.


In 1928, Laemmle, Sr. made his son, Carl, Jr. head of Universal Pictures as a 21st birthday present. Universal already had a reputation for nepotism—at one time, 70 of Carl, Sr.'s relatives were supposedly on the payroll. Many of them were nephews, resulting in Carl, Sr. being known around the studios as "Uncle Carl." Ogden Nash famously quipped in rhyme, "Uncle Carl Laemmle/Has a very large faemmle." Among these relatives was future Academy Award winning director/producer William Wyler.

How many of Carl Laemmle, Sr.'s relatives were working for Universal as of 1928?

What was Carl Laemmle, Sr.'s nickname at Universal?

Uncle Carl

What poet wrote a notable rhyme about Laemmle?

Ogden Nash

At what age did Carl Laemmle, Jr. become president of Universal?

What Academy Award-winning director was a relative of Carl Laemmle's?

William Wyler

Who become head of Universal Pictures in 1921?

I'm not sure.

How many relatives of Laemmle Sr. were on the payroll in 1928?

I'm not sure.

What did Nash Ogden say about Uncle Carl?

I'm not sure.

Who was Wyler William related to?

I'm not sure.


"Junior" Laemmle persuaded his father to bring Universal up to date. He bought and built theaters, converted the studio to sound production, and made several forays into high-quality production. His early efforts included the critically mauled part-talkie version of Edna Ferber's novel Show Boat (1929), the lavish musical Broadway (1929) which included Technicolor sequences; and the first all-color musical feature (for Universal), King of Jazz (1930). The more serious All Quiet on the Western Front (1930), won its year's Best Picture Oscar.

What was Carl Laemmle Jr.'s nickname?

Junior

What movie was based on an Edna Ferber novel?

Show Boat

In what year was the musical Broadway produced?

What movie won the 1930 Academy Award for Best Picture?

All Quiet on the Western Front

What all-color musical did Universal make in 1930?

King of Jazz

What 1930 film based on Edna Farber's novel did Universal produce?

I'm not sure.

What 1930 musical did Universal produce?

I'm not sure.

What 1929 all-color musical feature did Universal produce?

I'm not sure.

What 1929 film won its year's Best Piture Oscar?

I'm not sure.


Laemmle, Jr. created a niche for the studio, beginning a series of horror films which extended into the 1940s, affectionately dubbed Universal Horror. Among them are Frankenstein (1931), Dracula ( also in 1931), The Mummy (1932) and The Invisible Man (1933). Other Laemmle productions of this period include Imitation of Life (1934) and My Man Godfrey (1936).

In what year did Universal make a film version of Dracula?

In what year was The Invisible Man made?

What film was produced by Laemmle in 1934?

Imitation of Life

In what year did My Man Godfrey premiere?

When was Universal's version of Frankenstein made?

What began in the 1940s?

I'm not sure.

What year was The Man Godfrey made?

I'm not sure.

What year was My Invisible Man made?

I'm not sure.

What year was The Dracula made?

I'm not sure.

What year was Mummy made?

I'm not sure.


Universal's forays into high-quality production spelled the end of the Laemmle era at the studio. Taking on the task of modernizing and upgrading a film conglomerate in the depths of the depression was risky, and for a time Universal slipped into receivership. The theater chain was scrapped, but Carl, Jr. held fast to distribution, studio and production operations.

What part of Universal's business was terminated while it was in bankruptcy?

The theater chain

Along with distribution and studio operations, what part of Universal was retained by Carl Laemmle, Jr. during bankruptcy?

production operations

What type of chain conglomerate was scrapped?

I'm not sure.

What did Carl Jr hold fast in addition to the theater chain?

I'm not sure.

What period did Universal move into high-quality production in?

I'm not sure.


The end for the Laemmles came with a lavish version of Show Boat (1936), a remake of its earlier 1929 part-talkie production, and produced as a high-quality, big-budget film rather than as a B-picture. The new film featured several stars from the Broadway stage version, which began production in late 1935, and unlike the 1929 film was based on the Broadway musical rather than the novel. Carl, Jr.'s spending habits alarmed company stockholders. They would not allow production to start on Show Boat unless the Laemmles obtained a loan. Universal was forced to seek a $750,000 production loan from the Standard Capital Corporation, pledging the Laemmle family's controlling interest in Universal as collateral. It was the first time Universal had borrowed money for a production in its 26-year history. The production went $300,000 over budget; Standard called in the loan, cash-strapped Universal could not pay, Standard foreclosed and seized control of the studio on April 2, 1936.

In what year was Universal's ill-fated film version of Show Boat released?

In what year had Universal previously made a version of Show Boat?

What was the amount of the production loan Universal sought to complete Show Boat?

Who granted Universal the production loan?

the Standard Capital Corporation

When did the Standard Capital Corporation take control of Universal?

April 2, 1936

Who was forced to seek a $300,000 loan?

I'm not sure.

What production went $750,000 over budget?

I'm not sure.

What did Standard Corporation Capital issue Universal?

I'm not sure.

What happened on April 2, 1935?

I'm not sure.


Universal's 1936 Show Boat (released a little over a month later) became a critical and financial success, it was not enough to save the Laemmles' involvement with the studio. They were unceremoniously removed from the company they had founded. Because the Laemmles personally oversaw production, Show Boat was released (despite the takeover) with Carl Laemmle and Carl Laemmle Jr.'s names on the credits and in the advertising campaign of the film. Standard Capital's J. Cheever Cowdin had taken over as president and chairman of the board of directors, and instituted severe cuts in production budgets. Gone were the big ambitions, and though Universal had a few big names under contract, those it had been cultivating, like William Wyler and Margaret Sullavan, left.

Who became president of Universal after the Standard Capital takeover?

J. Cheever Cowdin

What notable female star left Universal after the Standard Capital takeover?

Margaret Sullavan

Who was Universal's chairman of the board of directors after the Standard Captial takeover?

J. Cheever Cowdin

Along with Margaret Sullavan, what notable film talent left Universal after the Standard Capital takeover?

William Wyler

In what year was Show Boat released?

Who was ceremoniously removed from the company?

I'm not sure.

What position did J. Cowdin Cheever hold?

I'm not sure.

What position on the board did J. Cowdin Cheever take over?

I'm not sure.

What did William Sullavan and Margaret Wyler do?

I'm not sure.


Meanwhile, producer Joe Pasternak, who had been successfully producing light musicals with young sopranos for Universal's German subsidiary, repeated his formula in America. Teenage singer Deanna Durbin starred in Pasternak's first American film, Three Smart Girls (1936). The film was a box-office hit and reputedly restored the studio's solvency. The success of the film led Universal to offer her a contract, which for the first five years of her career produced her most successful pictures.

Who produced the film Three Smart Girls?

Joe Pasternak

Who starred in the film Three Smart Girls?

Deanna Durbin

In what year was Three Smart Girls made?

Prior to his work in America, where was Joe Pasternak employed?

Universal's German subsidiary

What type of films did Joe Pasternak produce in Germany?

light musicals

What film was released in 1963?

I'm not sure.

Who produced the 1963 film Three Smart Girls?

I'm not sure.

What did Deanna Pasternak star in?

I'm not sure.

What did the 1963 film to for the studio?

I'm not sure.


When Pasternak stopped producing Durbin's pictures, and she outgrew her screen persona and pursued more dramatic roles, the studio signed 13-year-old Gloria Jean for her own series of Pasternak musicals from 1939; she went on to star with Bing Crosby, W. C. Fields, and Donald O'Connor. A popular Universal film of the late 1930s was Destry Rides Again (1939), starring James Stewart as Destry and Marlene Dietrich in her comeback role after leaving Paramount Studios.

How old was Gloria Jean in 1939?

Along with Donald O'Connor and Bing Crosby, with whom did Gloria Jean star?

Bing Crosby

Who played Destry in Destry Rides Again?

James Stewart

Prior to working at Universal, what studio employed Marlene Dietrich?

Paramount Studios

In what year was Destry Rides again produced?

What year did the studio sign Gloria Durbin?

I'm not sure.

What did Gloria Durbin star in?

I'm not sure.

Who did Gloria Durbin star with?

I'm not sure.

What 1930 film starred James Stewart?

I'm not sure.

What woman starred in the 1930 film Destry Rides Again?

I'm not sure.


By the early 1940s, the company was concentrating on lower-budget productions that were the company's main staple: westerns, melodramas, serials and sequels to the studio's horror pictures, the latter now solely B pictures. The studio fostered many series: The Dead End Kids and Little Tough Guys action features and serials (1938–43); the comic adventures of infant Baby Sandy (1938–41); comedies with Hugh Herbert (1938–42) and The Ritz Brothers (1940–43); musicals with Robert Paige, Jane Frazee, The Andrews Sisters, and The Merry Macs (1938–45); and westerns with Tom Mix (1932–33), Buck Jones (1933–36), Bob Baker (1938–39), Johnny Mack Brown (1938–43); Rod Cameron (1944–45), and Kirby Grant (1946–47).

During what period were the Little Tough Guys films produced?

Over what span were the Baby Sandy films made?

In what period did Universal produce Hugh Herbert comedies?

When did Universal make Tom Mix westerns?

In what span did Universal produce westerns with Kirby Grant?

When did The Dead End Guys run?

I'm not sure.

When did Little Touch Kids run?

I'm not sure.

When did comedies with Sandy Herbert run?

I'm not sure.

Who preformed in the 1932-33 musicals?

I'm not sure.

When did westerns with Johnny Rod Brown run?

I'm not sure.


Universal could seldom afford its own stable of stars, and often borrowed talent from other studios, or hired freelance actors. In addition to Stewart and Dietrich, Margaret Sullavan, and Bing Crosby were two of the major names that made a couple of pictures for Universal during this period. Some stars came from radio, including Edgar Bergen, W. C. Fields, and the comedy team of Abbott and Costello (Bud Abbott and Lou Costello). Abbott and Costello's military comedy Buck Privates (1941) gave the former burlesque comedians a national and international profile.

What two performers were known as the team Abbott and Costello?

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello

What military comedy did Bud Abbott and Lou Costello star in?

Buck Privates

Along with Abbott and Costello and Edgar Bergen, what radio star appeared in Universal films?

W. C. Fields

What entertainment medium did Edgar Fields and W.C. Bergen come from?

I'm not sure.

What comedy came out in 1914?

I'm not sure.

Who starred in the 1914 Buck Privates comedy?

I'm not sure.


During the war years Universal did have a co-production arrangement with producer Walter Wanger and his partner, director Fritz Lang, lending the studio some amount of prestige productions. Universal's core audience base was still found in the neighborhood movie theaters, and the studio continued to please the public with low- to medium-budget films. Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce in new Sherlock Holmes mysteries (1942–46), teenage musicals with Gloria Jean, Donald O'Connor, and Peggy Ryan (1942–43), and screen adaptations of radio's Inner Sanctum Mysteries with Lon Chaney, Jr. (1943–45). Alfred Hitchcock was also borrowed for two films from Selznick International Pictures: Saboteur (1942) and Shadow of a Doubt (1943).

Who was the directorial partner of Walter Wanger?

Fritz Lang

In what period did Basil Rathbone star in a series of Sherlock Holmes films?

In what period did film versions of Inner Sanctum Mysteries appear?

What was the studio that Alfred Hitchcock normally worked for?

Selznick International Pictures

In what year was Shadow of a Doubt produced?

Who partnered with Walter Lang and Fritz Wanger during the war years?

I'm not sure.

What did Basil Bruce and Nigel Rathbone star in?

I'm not sure.

What type of productions did Gloria Ryan and Peggy Jean star in?

I'm not sure.

Who was borrowed for two films from Selznick Pictures International?

I'm not sure.

Who starred in Inner Mysteries Sanctum?

I'm not sure.


As Universal's main product had always been low-budget film, it was one of the last major studios to have a contract with Technicolor. The studio did not make use of the three-strip Technicolor process until Arabian Nights (1942), starring Jon Hall and Maria Montez. The following year, Technicolor was also used in Universal's remake of their 1925 horror melodrama, Phantom of the Opera with Claude Rains and Nelson Eddy. With the success of their first two pictures, a regular schedule of high-budget, Technicolor films followed.

What was the first Universal film to use the three-strip Technicolor process?

Arabian Nights

What actress starred in Arabian Nights?

Maria Montez

Along with Nelson Eddy, who starred in the Phantom of the Opera?

Claude Rains

When was Universal's first version of the Phantom of the Opera made?

In what year was Arabian Nights produced?

Who was Universal first to have a contract with?

I'm not sure.

What 1925 film was the first that made use of the three-strip Technicolor process?

I'm not sure.

What remake used technicolor in 1942?

I'm not sure.

Who starred in the 1942 version of Phantom of the Opera?

I'm not sure.


In 1945, the British entrepreneur J. Arthur Rank, hoping to expand his American presence, bought into a four-way merger with Universal, the independent company International Pictures, and producer Kenneth Young. The new combine, United World Pictures, was a failure and was dissolved within one year. Rank and International remained interested in Universal, however, culminating in the studio's reorganization as Universal-International. William Goetz, a founder of International, was made head of production at the renamed Universal-International Pictures Inc., which also served as an import-export subsidiary, and copyright holder for the production arm's films. Goetz, a son-in-law of Louis B. Mayer decided to bring "prestige" to the new company. He stopped the studio's low-budget production of B movies, serials and curtailed Universal's horror and "Arabian Nights" cycles. Distribution and copyright control remained under the name of Universal Pictures Company Inc.

In what year was United World Pictures founded?

What producer was involved in the founding of United World Pictures?

Kenneth Young

How long did United World Pictures last?

one year

Who was the head of production at Universal-International Pictures?

William Goetz

Who was William Goetz's father-in-law?

Louis B. Mayer

Who bought into a four-way merger with Universal in 1954?

I'm not sure.

When did Arthur J. Rank buy into a four-way merger?

I'm not sure.

What combine did Kenneth Young found?

I'm not sure.

What position was given to William Mayer?

I'm not sure.

What did Louis B. Goetz rename United World Pictures as?

I'm not sure.


Goetz set out an ambitious schedule. Universal-International became responsible for the American distribution of Rank's British productions, including such classics as David Lean's Great Expectations (1946) and Laurence Olivier's Hamlet (1948). Broadening its scope further, Universal-International branched out into the lucrative non-theatrical field, buying a majority stake in home-movie dealer Castle Films in 1947, and taking the company over entirely in 1951. For three decades, Castle would offer "highlights" reels from the Universal film library to home-movie enthusiasts and collectors. Goetz licensed Universal's pre–Universal-International film library to Jack Broeder's Realart Pictures for cinema re-release but Realart was not allowed to show the films on television.

In what year was the Olivier version of Hamlet made?

Who directed 1946's Great Expectations?

David Lean

In 1947, what company did Universal buy a stake in?

Castle Films

Who ran Realart Pictures?

Jack Broeder

In what year did Universal-International take over Castle Films?

What year was Laurence Olivier's Great Expectations produced?

I'm not sure.

What year was David Lean's Hamlet produced?

I'm not sure.

What company did Universal-International buy a major stake in during 1946?

I'm not sure.

Who took over Castle Films in 1947?

I'm not sure.


The production arm of the studio still struggled. While there were to be a few hits like The Killers (1946) and The Naked City (1948), Universal-International's new theatrical films often met with disappointing response at the box office. By the late 1940s, Goetz was out, and the studio returned to low-budget films. The inexpensive Francis (1950), the first film of a series about a talking mule and Ma and Pa Kettle (1949), part of a series, became mainstays of the company. Once again, the films of Abbott and Costello, including Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948), were among the studio's top-grossing productions. But at this point Rank lost interest and sold his shares to the investor Milton Rackmil, whose Decca Records would take full control of Universal in 1952. Besides Abbott and Costello, the studio retained the Walter Lantz cartoon studio, whose product was released with Universal-International's films.

In what year was The Killers produced?

What Universal-International film was about a talking mule?

Francis

In what year was Ma and Pa Kettle made?

What Abbott and Costello film was released in 1948?

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein

Who bought Rank's share of Universal-International?

Milton Rackmil

Who left Universal in 1940?

I'm not sure.

What year was Ma and Pa Francis made?

I'm not sure.

What year was Kettle made?

I'm not sure.

What 1952 Abbott and Costello film was a top grossing production?

I'm not sure.

What company took full control of Universal in 1948?

I'm not sure.


In the 1950s, Universal-International resumed their series of Arabian Nights films, many starring Tony Curtis. The studio also had a success with monster and science fiction films produced by William Alland, with many directed by Jack Arnold. Other successes were the melodramas directed by Douglas Sirk and produced by Ross Hunter, although for film critics they were not so well thought of on first release as they have since become. Among Universal-International's stable of stars were Rock Hudson, Tony Curtis, Jeff Chandler, Audie Murphy, and John Gavin.

Who did many of Universal-International's Arabian Nights films feature?

Tony Curtis

Who notably produced monster and science fiction films for Universal?

William Alland

What Universal director was known for his melodramas?

Douglas Sirk

Who directed monster movies for Universal?

Jack Arnold

Who produced melodramas for Universal?

Ross Hunter

What series of films did Tony Alland star in?

I'm not sure.

What types of films did William Curtis produce?

I'm not sure.

What type of films did Douglas Hunter and Ross Sirk produce?

I'm not sure.

What company did stars Rock Hudson, Tony Chandler, and Jeff Curtis work for?

I'm not sure.


Though Decca would continue to keep picture budgets lean, it was favored by changing circumstances in the film business, as other studios let their contract actors go in the wake of the 1948 U.S. vs. Paramount Pictures, et al. decision. Leading actors were increasingly free to work where and when they chose, and in 1950 MCA agent Lew Wasserman made a deal with Universal for his client James Stewart that would change the rules of the business. Wasserman's deal gave Stewart a share in the profits of three pictures in lieu of a large salary. When one of those films, Winchester '73, proved to be a hit, the arrangement would become the rule for many future productions at Universal, and eventually at other studios as well.

Who was a notable talent agent circa 1950?

Lew Wasserman

What star did Lew Wasserman represent?

James Stewart

What actor featured in Winchester '73?

James Stewart

What legal decision resulted in movie studios letting their contract actors go?

U.S. vs. Paramount Pictures, et al.

What court decision happened in 1950?

I'm not sure.

Who made a deal in 1948 with Universal for James Stewart?

I'm not sure.

What company did Lew Wasserman make a deal with in 1948?

I'm not sure.

Who was a MAC agent?

I'm not sure.


By the late 1950s, the motion picture business was again changing. The combination of the studio/theater-chain break-up and the rise of television saw the reduced audience size for cinema productions. The Music Corporation of America (MCA), then predominately a talent agency, had also become a powerful television producer, renting space at Republic Studios for its Revue Productions subsidiary. After a period of complete shutdown, a moribund Universal agreed to sell its 360-acre (1.5 km²) studio lot to MCA in 1958, for $11 million, renamed Revue Studios. MCA owned the studio lot, but not Universal Pictures, yet was increasingly influential on Universal's product. The studio lot was upgraded and modernized, while MCA clients like Doris Day, Lana Turner, Cary Grant, and director Alfred Hitchcock were signed to Universal Pictures contracts.

What acronym was the Music Corporation of America known by?

MCA

Where did MCA's Revue Productions subsidiary rent space?

Republic Studios

In square kilometers, how large was the lot Universal sold to MCA?

In what year did Universal sell its 360-acre lot to MCA?

How much did MCA pay for Universal's 360-acre lot?

$11 million

What was responsible for a rise in audience for cinema productions?

I'm not sure.

What does MAC stand for?

I'm not sure.

When did Universal sell its 1.5-acre studio lot?

I'm not sure.

How much did Universal sell its lot to MAC for?

I'm not sure.

What did MAC not own after the lot purchase?

I'm not sure.


The long-awaited takeover of Universal Pictures by MCA, Inc. happened in mid-1962 as part of the MCA-Decca Records merger. The company reverted in name to Universal Pictures. As a final gesture before leaving the talent agency business, virtually every MCA client was signed to a Universal contract. In 1964 MCA formed Universal City Studios, Inc., merging the motion pictures and television arms of Universal Pictures Company and Revue Productions (officially renamed as Universal Television in 1966). And so, with MCA in charge, Universal became a full-blown, A-film movie studio, with leading actors and directors under contract; offering slick, commercial films; and a studio tour subsidiary launched in 1964. Television production made up much of the studio's output, with Universal heavily committed, in particular, to deals with NBC (which later merged with Universal to form NBC Universal; see below) providing up to half of all prime time shows for several seasons. An innovation during this period championed by Universal was the made-for-television movie.

In what year did MCA take over Universal?

What company did MCA create in 1964?

Universal City Studios, Inc.

What new name was given to Revue Productions in 1966?

Universal Television

What was the company formed by the merger of Universal and NBC?

NBC Universal

When did Universal inaugurate its studio tour subsidiary?

What did MAC, Inc. do in 1962?

I'm not sure.

What name did the company revert to after the MAC takeover?

I'm not sure.

What did MCA form in 1966?

I'm not sure.

What was Universal Pictures Company and Revue Productions renamed in 1966?

I'm not sure.

What television network did MCA later merge with?

I'm not sure.


At this time, Hal B. Wallis, who had latterly worked as a major producer at Paramount, moved over to Universal, where he produced several films, among them a lavish version of Maxwell Anderson's Anne of the Thousand Days (1969), and the equally lavish Mary, Queen of Scots (1971). Though neither could claim to be a big financial hit, both films received Academy Award nominations, and Anne was nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor (Richard Burton), Best Actress (Geneviève Bujold), and Best Supporting Actor (Anthony Quayle). Wallis retired from Universal after making the film Rooster Cogburn (1975), a sequel to True Grit (1969), which Wallis had produced at Paramount. Rooster Cogburn co-starred John Wayne, reprising his Oscar-winning role from the earlier film, and Katharine Hepburn, their only film together. The film was only a moderate success.

Who produced Anne of the Thousand Days?

Hal B. Wallis

Who wrote the original work that the film version of Anne of the Thousand Days was based on?

Maxwell Anderson

In what year was the film version of Mary, Queen of Scots made?

Whose performance in Anne of the Thousand Days garnered a Best Actor nod?

Richard Burton

What was the name of the sequel to True Grit produced by Universal?

Rooster Cogburn

What company did B. Hal Wallis work at before Universal?

I'm not sure.

What company did B. Hal Wallis work at after Paramount?

I'm not sure.

What year did May of the Thousand Days come out?

I'm not sure.

What year did Anne, Queen of Scots come out?

I'm not sure.

What 1969 film was a sequel to True Grit?

I'm not sure.


In the early 1970s, Universal teamed up with Paramount Pictures to form Cinema International Corporation, which distributed films by Paramount and Universal worldwide. Though Universal did produce occasional hits, among them Airport (1970), The Sting (1973), American Graffiti (also 1973), Earthquake (1974), and a big box-office success which restored the company's fortunes: Jaws (1975), Universal during the decade was primarily a television studio. When Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer purchased United Artists in 1981, MGM could not drop out of the CIC venture to merge with United Artists overseas operations. However, with future film productions from both names being released through the MGM/UA Entertainment plate, CIC decided to merge UA's international units with MGM and reformed as United International Pictures. There would be other film hits like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Back to the Future (1985), Field of Dreams (1989), and Jurassic Park (1993), but the film business was financially unpredictable. UIP began distributing films by start-up studio DreamWorks in 1997, due to connections the founders have with Paramount, Universal, and Amblin Entertainment. In 2001, MGM dropped out of the UIP venture, and went with 20th Century Fox's international arm to handle distribution of their titles to this day.

Who partnered with Universal in the creation of Cinema International Corporation?

Paramount Pictures

In what year was the film Airport made?

What Universal hit film was produced in 1974?

Earthquake

What company was purchased by MGM in 1981?

United Artists

When did United International Pictures start distributing films for DreamWorks?

What company did Universal team up with in 1970?

I'm not sure.

What company was formed in 1970?

I'm not sure.

What does MMG stand for?

I'm not sure.

Who dropped out of the UIP venture in 2001?

I'm not sure.

Who did UIP join in 2001?

I'm not sure.


Anxious to expand the company's broadcast and cable presence, longtime MCA head Lew Wasserman sought a rich partner. He located Japanese electronics manufacturer Matsushita Electric (now known as Panasonic), which agreed to acquire MCA for $6.6 billion in 1990. Meanwhile, around this time, the production subsidiary was renamed Universal Studios Inc., and (in 1990) MCA created MCA/Universal Home Video Inc. for the VHS video cassette (later DVD) sales industry.

Who was the head of MCA in 1990?

Lew Wasserman

What is the current name of the company that was called Matsushita Electric in 1990?

Panasonic

How much did Matsushita Electric pay for MCA?

$6.6 billion

In what year was MCA/Universal Home Video Inc. created?

What was the nationality of Matsushita Electric?

Japanese

What company acquired MAC for $6.6 billion in 1990?

I'm not sure.

What was Panasonic renamed in 1990?

I'm not sure.

What was Matsushita Electric renamed in 1990?

I'm not sure.

What company created the VHS cassette?

I'm not sure.


Matsushita provided a cash infusion, but the clash of cultures was too great to overcome, and five years later Matsushita sold an 80% stake in MCA/Universal to Canadian drinks distributor Seagram for $5.7 billion. Seagram sold off its stake in DuPont to fund this expansion into the entertainment industry. Hoping to build an entertainment empire around Universal, Seagram bought PolyGram in 1999 and other entertainment properties, but the fluctuating profits characteristic of Hollywood were no substitute for the reliable income stream gained from the previously held shares in DuPont.

What percentage of MCA/Universal did Matsushita Electric sell five years after acquiring the company?

To whom did Matsushita sell a large share of MCA/Universal?

Seagram

How much did Seagram pay to buy a large share of MCA/Universal?

$5.7 billion

What did Seagram sell to finance their purchase of a share in MCA/Universal?

its stake in DuPont

What company did Seagram buy in 1999?

PolyGram

What percent stake did MCA/Univeral have in Matsushita?

I'm not sure.

How did MCA/Universal sell their stake to?

I'm not sure.

How much did MCA/Universal sell their stake for?

I'm not sure.

What year did PolyGram buy Seagram?

I'm not sure.


To raise money, Seagram head Edgar Bronfman Jr. sold Universal's television holdings, including cable network USA, to Barry Diller (these same properties would be bought back later at greatly inflated prices). In June 2000, Seagram was sold to French water utility and media company Vivendi, which owned StudioCanal; the conglomerate then became known as Vivendi Universal. Afterward, Universal Pictures acquired the United States distribution rights of several of StudioCanal's films, such as Mulholland Drive (which received an Oscar nomination) and Brotherhood of the Wolf (which became the second-highest-grossing French-language film in the United States since 1980). Universal Pictures and StudioCanal also co-produced several films, such as Love Actually (an $40 million-budgeted film that eventually grossed $246 million worldwide). In late 2000, the New York Film Academy was permitted to use the Universal Studios backlot for student film projects in an unofficial partnership.

Who was the head of Seagram?

Edgar Bronfman Jr.

Who bought the USA cable network from Seagram?

Barry Diller

Who bought Seagram in June 2000?

Vivendi

What was the budget of the film Love Actually?

$40 million

What StudioCanal film received an Academy Award nomination?

Mulholland Drive

What company did Edgar Bronfman Jr. sell Seagram's holdings to?

I'm not sure.

Who was Seagram sold to in June 1980?

I'm not sure.

What 2000 film grossed $246 million?

I'm not sure.

What film grossed $264 million?

I'm not sure.

What was Universal Studios permitted to use in 2000?

I'm not sure.


Burdened with debt, in 2004 Vivendi Universal sold 80% of Vivendi Universal Entertainment (including the studio and theme parks) to General Electric, parent of NBC. The resulting media super-conglomerate was renamed NBCUniversal, while Universal Studios Inc. remained the name of the production subsidiary. After that deal, GE owned 80% of NBC Universal; Vivendi held the remaining 20%, with an option to sell its share in 2006. GE purchased Vivendi's share in NBCU in 2011 and in turn sold 51% of the company to cable provider Comcast. Comcast merged the former GE subsidiary with its own cable-television programming assets, creating the current NBCUniversal. Following Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approval, the Comcast-GE deal was closed on Jan 29, 2011. In March 2013, Comcast bought the remaining 49% of NBCUniversal for $16.7 billion.

Who bought 80% of Vivendi Universal Entertainment in 2004?

General Electric

What percentage of NBC Universal was owned by Vivendi until 2011?

Who bought 51% of NBC Universal in 2011?

Comcast

In what month and year did Comcast buy 49% of NBCUniversal?

March 2013

How much did Comcast pay for 49% of NBCUniversal in 2013?

$16.7 billion

What percentage did General Electric sell to Vivendi Universal?

I'm not sure.

What does NCBU stand for?

I'm not sure.

Who purchased Vivendi's share of NBCU in 2006?

I'm not sure.

What does CFC stand for?

I'm not sure.

Who bought 49% of NBCUniversal for $17.6 billion?

I'm not sure.


In late 2005, Viacom's Paramount Pictures acquired DreamWorks SKG after acquisition talks between GE and DreamWorks stalled. Universal's long time chairperson, Stacey Snider, left the company in early 2006 to head up DreamWorks. Snider was replaced by then-Vice Chairman Marc Shmuger and Focus Features head David Linde. On October 5, 2009, Marc Shmuger and David Linde were ousted and their co-chairperson jobs consolidated under former president of worldwide marketing and distribution Adam Fogelson becoming the single chairperson. Donna Langley was also upped to co-chairperson. In 2009, Stephanie Sperber founded Universal Partnerships & Licensing within Universal to license consumer products for Universal. In September 2013, Adam Fogelson was ousted as co-chairman of Universal Pictures, promoting Donna Langley to sole-chairman. In addition, NBCUniversal International Chairman, Jeff Shell, would be appointed as Chairman of the newly created Filmed Entertainment Group. Longtime studio head Ron Meyer would give up oversight of the film studio and appointed Vice Chairman of NBCUniversal, providing consultation to CEO Steve Burke on all of the company's operations. Meyers still retains oversight of Universal Parks and Resorts.

In what year did Paramount Pictures purchase DreamWorks?

What Universal chairperson headed DreamWorks as of 2006?

Stacey Snider

Who became the chairperson in late 2009?

Adam Fogelson

Who was the founder of Universal Partnerships & Licensing?

Stephanie Sperber

Who became chairperson of Universal Pictures in September 2013?

Donna Langley

What company did Viacom acquire in 2005?

I'm not sure.

What company did Stacey Shmuger leave in 2006?

I'm not sure.

What position did Donna Sperber hold?

I'm not sure.

Who was ousted as co-chairman of Universal Pictures in October 2013?

I'm not sure.


Universal's multi-year film financing deal with Elliott Management expired in 2013. In July 2013, Universal made an agreement with Legendary Pictures to market, co-finance, and distribute Legendary's films for five years starting in 2014, the year that Legendary's similar agreement with Warner Bros. expires.

Universal's deal with what company ended in 2013?

Elliott Management

With whom did Universal sign a marketing and distribution deal in July 2013?

Legendary Pictures

How many years is the deal with Legendary Pictures intended to run?

five years

In what year did Universal's deal with Legendary Pictures begin?

When did Elliott Management's financing deal expire?

I'm not sure.

What company made an agreement with Legendary Pictures in July 2014?

I'm not sure.

What two companies had a deal that expired in 2013?

I'm not sure.


In June 2014, Universal Partnerships took over licensing consumer products for NBC and Sprout with expectation that all licensing would eventually be centralized within NBCUniversal. In May 2015, Gramercy Pictures was revived by Focus Features as a genre label, that concentrated on action, sci-fi, and horror films.

What film studio was brought back in May 2015?

Gramercy Pictures

What division of NBCUniversal revived Gramercy Pictures?

Focus Features

What genre of films will Gramercy be responsible for creating?

action, sci-fi, and horror

What year did NBCUniversal take over Sprout?

I'm not sure.

Who revived Focus Features in 2015?

I'm not sure.

What happened in June 2015?

I'm not sure.


As of 2015, Universal is the only studio to have released three billion-dollar films in one year; this distinction was achieved in 2015 with Furious 7, Jurassic World and Minions.

In what year did Universal release three billion-dollar films?

Along with Jurassic World and Furious 7, what billion-dollar film was released by Universal in 2015?

Minions

How many studios have released three billion-dollar films in one year?

Universal is the only studio

Who released three billion-dollar films in 2017?

I'm not sure.

What movies made three billion dollars?

I'm not sure.


In the early 1950s, Universal set up its own distribution company in France, and in the late 1960s, the company also started a production company in Paris, Universal Productions France S.A., although sometimes credited by the name of the distribution company, Universal Pictures France. Except for the two first films it produced, Claude Chabrol's Le scandale (English title The Champagne Murders) and Romain Gary's Les oiseaux vont mourir au Pérou (English title Birds in Peru), it was only involved in French or other European co-productions, the most noticeable ones being Louis Malle's Lacombe, Lucien, Bertrand Blier's Les Valseuses (English title Going Places), and Fred Zinnemann's The Day of the Jackal. It was only involved in approximately 20 French film productions. In the early 1970s, the unit was incorporated into the French Cinema International Corporation arm.

What was the name of the Universal production company based in Paris?

Universal Productions France S.A.

What was the name of Universal's French distribution company?

Universal Pictures France

What was the English title of Le scandale?

The Champagne Murders

Who directed The Day of the Jackal?

Fred Zinnemann

What film was known in English as Going Places?

Les Valseuses

Where did Universal set up a distribution company in 1950?

I'm not sure.

Where did Universal set up a production company in 1960?

I'm not sure.

What happened in 1970?

I'm not sure.

What was the name of the company established in 1960?

I'm not sure.


Estonian (eesti keel [ˈeːsti ˈkeːl] ( listen)) is the official language of Estonia, spoken natively by about 1.1 million people in Estonia and tens of thousands in various migrant communities. It belongs to the Finnic branch of the Uralic language family.

What country has Estonian as its official language?

Estonian

In Estonia how many people speak Estonian as their native language

1.1 million

Of what language family is Estonian a part of?

Uralic

On which branch of Uralic language family can Estonian be found?

Finnic

How many estimated non native speakers of Estonian are there in Estonia?

tens of thousands


One distinctive feature that has caused a great amount of interest among linguists is what is traditionally seen as three degrees of phonemic length: short, long, and "overlong", such that /sɑdɑ/, /sɑˑdɑ/ and /sɑːdɑ/ are distinct. In actuality, the distinction is not purely in the phonemic length, and the underlying phonological mechanism is still disputed.[citation needed]

Who is interested in the degrees of phonemic length?

linguists

What are the phonemic length's three degrees?

short, long, and "overlong"

What is a matter of dispute among linguists regarding the distinction?

the underlying phonological mechanism

Who isn't interested in the degrees of phonemic length?

I'm not sure.

What is not a distinctive feature?

I'm not sure.

Underlong is a degree of what length?

I'm not sure.

What are the three degrees of phonemic width?

I'm not sure.


Estonian belongs to the Finnic branch of the Uralic languages, along with Finnish, Karelian, and other nearby languages. The Uralic languages do not belong to the Indo-European languages. Estonian is distantly related to Hungarian and to the Sami languages.

What Uralic language branch contains Estonian?

Finnic

What are two other languages in the Finnic branch?

Finnish, Karelian

What language group is Estonian not a part of?

Indo-European languages

What languages are related to Estonian but not closely?

Hungarian and to the Sami languages

What Uralic language branch does not contain Estonian?

I'm not sure.

What Uralic language branch does not contain Finnish?

I'm not sure.

What Uralic language branch does not contain Karelian?

I'm not sure.

What languages are very close to Estonian?

I'm not sure.

What languages are not related to Estonian?

I'm not sure.


Estonian has been influenced by Swedish, German (initially Middle Low German, which was the lingua franca of the Hanseatic League and spoken natively in the territories of what is today known as Estonia by a sizeable burgher community of Baltic Germans, later Estonian was also influenced by standard German), and Russian, though it is not related to them genetically.

Who spoke German in what came to be known as Estonia?

Baltic Germans

Aside from standard German what German language influenced Estonian?

Middle Low German

Baltic Germans spoke which language?

I'm not sure.

What German language did not influence Estonian?

I'm not sure.

Where is Middle Low German spoken today?

I'm not sure.

Which language did Russian not influence?

I'm not sure.


Like Finnish and Hungarian, Estonian is a somewhat agglutinative language, but unlike them, it has lost vowel harmony, the front vowels occurring exclusively on the first or stressed syllable, although in older texts the vowel harmony can still be recognized. Furthermore, the apocope of word-final sounds is extensive and has contributed to a shift from a purely agglutinative to a fusional language.[citation needed] The basic word order is subject–verb–object.

What kind of harmony has Estonian lost?

vowel

What language feature does Estonian, Finish and Hungarian share?

agglutinative

In what order are words put in sentences in the Estonian language?

subject–verb–object

What kind of harmony has Estonian not lost?

I'm not sure.

What language features do Estonian, Finish and Hungarian differ?

I'm not sure.

In what order are words put in sentences in the Finnish language?

I'm not sure.

In what order are words put in sentences in the Hungarian language?

I'm not sure.

What made it shift from a fusional language to an agglutinative one?

I'm not sure.


The two different historical Estonian languages (sometimes considered dialects), the North and South Estonian languages, are based on the ancestors of modern Estonians' migration into the territory of Estonia in at least two different waves, both groups speaking considerably different Finnic vernaculars. Modern standard Estonian has evolved on the basis of the dialects of Northern Estonia.

What was the minimum number of waves through which modern Estonians migrated into Estonia?

two

What are the names of the two separate Estonian languages?

North and South Estonian languages

What are East and West Estonian languages based on?

I'm not sure.

What evolved from Eastern Estonian dialect?

I'm not sure.

The two waves of migration into Estonian spoke the exact same type of what language?

I'm not sure.

What was the maximum number of waves through which modern Estonians migrated into Estonia?

I'm not sure.


The domination of Estonia after the Northern Crusades, from the 13th century to 1918 by Denmark, Germany, Sweden, and Russia delayed indigenous literacy in Estonia.[citation needed]

When did the Northern Crusades happen?

13th century to 1918

Which countries took part in the Northern Crusades?

Denmark, Germany, Sweden, and Russia

Following the crusades which country was dominated?

Estonia

What did the aftermath of the crusades end up delaying in Estonia?

indigenous literacy

When didn't the Northern Crusades happen?

I'm not sure.

Which countries didn't take part in the Northern Crusades?

I'm not sure.

Following the crusades which country was not dominated?

I'm not sure.

What did the aftermath of the crusades end up beginning in Estonia?

I'm not sure.

What country was involved in the Eastern Crusades?

I'm not sure.


The oldest written records of the Finnic languages of Estonia date from the 13th century. Originates Livoniae in Chronicle of Henry of Livonia contains Estonian place names, words and fragments of sentences.

How far back do the first written records of Estonia's Finnic languages go?

13th century

Where can records of Estonian place names be found?

Originates Livoniae

Which Chronicle contains the Originates Livoniae?

Chronicle of Henry of Livonia

Aside from place names what else from the Estonian language can be found in the Originates Livoniae in Chronicle of Henry of Livonia?

words and fragments of sentences.

Where can records of Estonian place names not be found?

I'm not sure.

Which Chronicle does not contain the Originates Livoniae?

I'm not sure.

What was the last century fo Estonia's Finnic language?

I'm not sure.

When is the most recent written records of Finnic Languages of Estonia?

I'm not sure.

In what book were place names, words and fragments of sentences were not included?

I'm not sure.


The earliest extant samples of connected (north) Estonian are the so-called Kullamaa prayers dating from 1524 and 1528. In 1525 the first book published in the Estonian language was printed. The book was a Lutheran manuscript, which never reached the reader and was destroyed immediately after publication.

What was the first Estonian language book to be published?

a Lutheran manuscript

When were the Kallamaa prayers written?

1524 and 1528

What was the fate of the Lutheran manuscript printed in 1525?

destroyed

At what point in its existence was the Lutheran manuscript destroyed?

immediately after publication

What was the last Estonian language book to be published?

I'm not sure.

Who wrote the first prayers?

I'm not sure.

What was the fate of the Lutheran manuscript printed in 1524?

I'm not sure.

At what point in its existence was the Lutheran manuscript published?

I'm not sure.

What manuscript was written in 1528?

I'm not sure.


The first extant Estonian book is a bilingual German-Estonian translation of the Lutheran catechism by S. Wanradt and J. Koell dating to 1535, during the Protestant Reformation period. An Estonian grammar book to be used by priests was printed in German in 1637. The New Testament was translated into southern Estonian in 1686 (northern Estonian, 1715). The two languages were united based on northern Estonian by Anton thor Helle.

What two people are responsible for the first still in existence book in the Estonian Language?

S. Wanradt and J. Koell

In what year was S. Wanradt and J. Koell's book written?

What type of book was it?

bilingual German-Estonian translation of the Lutheran catechism

What book specifically for the use of priests was printed in Estonian?

An Estonian grammar book

What year was the priests' grammar book put into print?

Who wrote the last Estonian book?

I'm not sure.

What book was published in Eastern Estonia in 1715?

I'm not sure.

What book was not used by priests in 1637?

I'm not sure.

Who wrote in Eastern Estonian?

I'm not sure.

Who wrote the grammar book in 1637?

I'm not sure.


The birth of native Estonian literature was in 1810 to 1820 when the patriotic and philosophical poems by Kristjan Jaak Peterson were published. Peterson, who was the first student at the then German-language University of Dorpat to acknowledge his Estonian origin, is commonly regarded as a herald of Estonian national literature and considered the founder of modern Estonian poetry. His birthday on March 14 is celebrated in Estonia as the Mother Tongue Day. A fragment from Peterson's poem "Kuu" expresses the claim reestablishing the birthright of the Estonian language:

Which Estonian poet's works were printed from 1810 to 1820?

Kristjan Jaak Peterson

What subjects were Kristjan Jaak Peterson poems on?

patriotic and philosophical

When was Peterson born?

March 14

What is another name given for Peterson's birthday?

Mother Tongue Day

What university did Peterson attend?

German-language University of Dorpat

Which Estonian playwright works were printed from 1810 to 1820?

I'm not sure.

What subjects were Kristjan Jaak Peterson novels on?

I'm not sure.

Whose birthday is on March 13th?

I'm not sure.

What day is Father Tongue Day on?

I'm not sure.

What university was Peterson rejected from?

I'm not sure.


From 1525 to 1917 14,503 titles were published in Estonian, as opposed to the 23,868 titles which were published between 1918 and 1940.[citation needed]

In the years between 1918 and 1940 how many Estonian language books were printed?

In the roughly four centuries previous to 1918 how many Estonian language books were printed?

In what language were 14,503 books published prior to 1918?

Estonian

How many books were published in Etonian before 1525?

I'm not sure.

How many Estonian books were published after 1917 through today?

I'm not sure.

How many books were published before 1918?

I'm not sure.

How many books were published after 1940?

I'm not sure.


Writings in Estonian became significant only in the 19th century with the spread of the ideas of the Age of Enlightenment, during the Estophile Enlightenment Period (1750–1840). Although Baltic Germans at large regarded the future of Estonians as being a fusion with themselves, the Estophile educated class admired the ancient culture of the Estonians and their era of freedom before the conquests by Danes and Germans in the 13th century.

What Age's ideas allowed Estonian writings to gain significance?

Age of Enlightenment

Who thought their future would be fused with Estonians?

Baltic Germans

Who had admiration for the ancient Estonian culture?

Estophile educated class

Who conquered the ancient Estonians?

Danes and Germans

When did the ancient Estonian era of freedom come to an end?

13th century

What Age's ideas did not allow Estonian writings to gain significance?

I'm not sure.

Who did not want their future to be fused with Estonians?

I'm not sure.

Who had did not like the ancient Estonian culture?

I'm not sure.

Who conquered the ancient Danes?

I'm not sure.

Who conquered the ancient Germans?

I'm not sure.


After the Estonian War of Independence in 1919, the Estonian language became the state language of the newly independent country. In 1945, 97.3% of Estonia considered itself ethnic Estonian and spoke the language.

What year did Estonia's War of Independence take place?

After Estonia achieved independence what was made their state language?

Estonian

What percentage of Estonians thought of themselves as ethnic Estonian's in 1945?

What language was spoken by ethnic Estonians?

Estonian

What year did Estonia have a civil war?

I'm not sure.

What percentage of Estonians did not speak Estonian in 1945?

I'm not sure.

What war took place in 1945?

I'm not sure.

What language did ethnic Estonians refuse to speak?

I'm not sure.

What year did Estonia fail at getting independence?

I'm not sure.


When Estonia was invaded and occupied by the Soviet Union in World War II, the status of the Estonian language changed to the first of two official languages (Russian being the other one). As with Latvia many immigrants entered Estonia under Soviet encouragement. In the second half of the 1970s, the pressure of bilingualism (for Estonians) intensified, resulting in widespread knowledge of Russian throughout the country. The Russian language was termed as ‘the language of friendship of nations’ and was taught to Estonian children, sometimes as early as in kindergarten. Although teaching Estonian to non-Estonians in schools was compulsory, in practice learning the language was often considered unnecessary.

What happened to Estonia during WWII?

invaded and occupied

Who invaded Estonia?

Soviet Union

After the Soviet invasion what other language became the second official Estonian language?

Russian

What was another country with similar immigration patterns to post Soviet Estonia?

Latvia

What became more intense in the 1970's in Estonia?

pressure of bilingualism

What country did not occupy Estonia?

I'm not sure.

What happened to Estonia during WWI from the Soviet Union?

I'm not sure.

What became more intense in the early 1970's in Estonia?

I'm not sure.

What is the third language of Estonia?

I'm not sure.

What language was terms the "language of enemy nations"?

I'm not sure.


During the Perestroika era, The Law on the Status of the Estonian Language was adopted in January 1989. The collapse of the Soviet Union led to the restoration of Republic of Estonia's independence. Estonian went back to being the only state language in Estonia which in practice meant that use of Estonian was promoted while the use of Russian was discouraged.

What historical event once again freed Estonia?

collapse of the Soviet Union

Following the Soviet collapse what became the only official Estonian Language?

Estonian

What language was no longer promoted as one of Estonia's main languages?

Russian

What came into being in January 1989?

The Law on the Status of the Estonian Language

What historical event once again enslaved Estonia?

I'm not sure.

Following the Soviet rise what became the only official Estonian Language?

I'm not sure.

What language became less popular prior to the Soviet collapse?

I'm not sure.

What came into being in February 1989?

I'm not sure.

When was Russian encouraged to be used in Estonia?

I'm not sure.


The return of Soviet immigrants to their countries of origin has brought the proportion of Estonians in Estonia back above 70%. And again as in Latvia, today many of the remnant non-Estonians in Estonia have adopted the Estonian language; about 40% at the 2000 census.

Following the departure of the Soviet immigrants what was the percentage of Estonians in Estonia?

above 70%

When Soviet immigrants joined Estonia, how many Estonians lived in Estonia?

I'm not sure.

How many native Estonians adopted Estonian?

I'm not sure.

What percentage of Estonians spoke Russian in 2000?

I'm not sure.

What percentage of Soviets spoke Estonian?

I'm not sure.

What percentage of Latvians spoke Russian?

I'm not sure.


The Estonian dialects are divided into two groups – the northern and southern dialects, historically associated with the cities of Tallinn in the north and Tartu in the south, in addition to a distinct kirderanniku dialect, that of the northeastern coast of Estonia.

How many groups of Estonian dialects are there?

two

What are the names of the Estonian dialect groups?

the northern and southern dialects

What is the northern city to which the northern dialect is associated?

Tallinn

Where is the kirderanniku dialect spoken?

the northeastern coast of Estonia

What is the city where the southern dialect was historically spoken?

Tartu

What city is north of Tallinn?

I'm not sure.

What city is south of Tartu?

I'm not sure.

What is the city where the eastern dialect was historically spoken?

I'm not sure.

Where is the kirderanniku dialect not spoken?

I'm not sure.


The northern group consists of the keskmurre or central dialect that is also the basis for the standard language, the läänemurre or western dialect, roughly corresponding to Läänemaa and Pärnumaa, the saarte murre (islands') dialect of Saaremaa and Hiiumaa and the idamurre or eastern dialect on the northwestern shore of Lake Peipsi.

What dialect is also known as the central dialect?

the keskmurre

What is the dialect from Lake Peipsi?

the idamurre or eastern dialect

What dialects of the northern group are spoken on the saarte murre?

Saaremaa and Hiiumaa

What is another name for Estonian's northern group's western dialect?

the läänemurre

What dialect is also known as the middle dialect?

I'm not sure.

What is the dialect from the city of Peipsi?

I'm not sure.

What dialects of the southern group are spoken on the saarte murre?

I'm not sure.

What is another name for Estonian's southern dialect?

I'm not sure.


The southern group (South Estonian language) consists of the Tartu, Mulgi, Võru (Võro) and Setu (Seto) dialects. These are sometimes considered either variants of a South Estonian language, or separate languages altogether. Also, Seto and Võro distinguish themselves from each other less by language and more by their culture and their respective Christian confession.

What dialects comprise the southern group?

the Tartu, Mulgi, Võru (Võro) and Setu (Seto) dialects

More importantly than their language aspect how do the Seto and Võro dialects set themselves apart from each other?

their culture

Aside from being thought of as variants of Estonian's southern group what else are the Tartu, Mulgi, Võru (Võro) and Setu (Seto) dialects sometimes considered?

separate languages altogether

What religion is associated with Seto and Võro?

Christian

What dialects do not comprise the southern group?

I'm not sure.

How are the seto and voro communties similar?

I'm not sure.

What religion is rejected by the Seto and Võro?

I'm not sure.


Like Finnish, Estonian employs the Latin script as the basis for its alphabet, which adds the letters ä, ö, ü, and õ, plus the later additions š and ž. The letters c, q, w, x and y are limited to proper names of foreign origin, and f, z, š, and ž appear in loanwords and foreign names only. Ö and ü are pronounced similarly to their equivalents in Swedish and German. Unlike in standard German but like Finnish and Swedish (when followed by 'r'), Ä is pronounced [æ], as in English mat. The vowels Ä, Ö and Ü are clearly separate phonemes and inherent in Estonian, although the letter shapes come from German. The letter õ denotes /ɤ/, unrounded /o/, or a close-mid back unrounded vowel. It is almost identical to the Bulgarian ъ /ɤ̞/ and the Vietnamese ơ, and is used to transcribe the Russian ы.

From what script does the Estonian language get its alphabet?

Latin

What is another language that uses Latin for its alphabet?

Finnish

In the Estonian language how is the letter A pronounced?

[æ], as in English mat

From what script does the Swedish language get its alphabet?

I'm not sure.

From what script does the German language get its alphabet?

I'm not sure.

What vowels are not separate phonemes?

I'm not sure.

What letters are not limited to proper names of foreign origin?

I'm not sure.


Although the Estonian orthography is generally guided by phonemic principles, with each grapheme corresponding to one phoneme, there are some historical and morphological deviations from this: for example preservation of the morpheme in declension of the word (writing b, g, d in places where p, k, t is pronounced) and in the use of 'i' and 'j'.[clarification needed] Where it is very impractical or impossible to type š and ž, they are substituted with sh and zh in some written texts, although this is considered incorrect. Otherwise, the h in sh represents a voiceless glottal fricative, as in Pasha (pas-ha); this also applies to some foreign names.

What principles usually govern the Estonian orthography?

phonemic principles

To how many phoneme's does each grapheme correspond?

one

What type of deviations are there from the single phoneme to each grapheme general principle?

some historical and morphological deviations

On what occasions are š and ž replaced with sh and zh?

Where it is very impractical or impossible to type š and ž

What is an example of a word containing a voiceless glottal fricative?

Pasha (pas-ha)

What principles never govern the Estonian orthography?

I'm not sure.

On what occasions are š and ž replaced with ch and zu?

I'm not sure.

What is an example of a word not containing a voiceless glottal fricative?

I'm not sure.

Foreign names are not considered what?

I'm not sure.


Modern Estonian orthography is based on the Newer Orthography created by Eduard Ahrens in the second half of the 19th century based on Finnish orthography. The Older Orthography it replaced was created in the 17th century by Bengt Gottfried Forselius and Johann Hornung based on standard German orthography. Earlier writing in Estonian had by and large used an ad hoc orthography based on Latin and Middle Low German orthography. Some influences of the standard German orthography — for example, writing 'W'/'w' instead of 'V'/'v' persisted well into the 1930s.

 In what Orthagraphy does Modern Estonian orthography have its basis?

Newer Orthography

Who is responsible for the creation of the Newer Orthography?

Eduard Ahrens

In what century was the Newer Orthography created?

19th century

Previous to the Newer Orthography what orthography was in place?

Older Orthography

From what other country's orthography did the Older Orthography get its basis?

standard German orthography

In what Orthagraphy does Modern Estonian orthography reject?

I'm not sure.

When was Eduard Ahrens born?

I'm not sure.

When did Eduard Ahrens die?

I'm not sure.

When did Newer Orthography end?

I'm not sure.

When did German orthography stop being influential?

I'm not sure.


It should be noted that Estonian words and names quoted in international publications from Soviet sources are often back-transliterations from the Russian transliteration. Examples are the use of "ya" for "ä" (e.g. Pyarnu instead of Pärnu), "y" instead of "õ" (e.g., Pylva instead of Põlva) and "yu" instead of "ü" (e.g., Pyussi instead of Püssi). Even in the Encyclopædia Britannica one can find "ostrov Khiuma", where "ostrov" means "island" in Russian and "Khiuma" is back-transliteration from Russian instead of "Hiiumaa" (Hiiumaa > Хийума(а) > Khiuma).

In Soviet international publications what language's transliteration are Estonian words and names often back-transliterations from?

Russian

What famous encyclopedia contains a Russian back-transliteration of Estonian?

Encyclopædia Britannica

What is the Russian back-transliteration from Encyclopædia Britannica?

"ostrov Khiuma"

What famous encyclopedia contains a Estonian back-transliteration of Russian?

I'm not sure.

What is the Estonian back-transliteration from Encyclopædia Britannica?

I'm not sure.

What is the Estonian translation of ostrov?

I'm not sure.

What is the Estonian translation of Khiuma?

I'm not sure.


Typologically, Estonian represents a transitional form from an agglutinating language to a fusional language. The canonical word order is SVO (subject–verb–object).

What is the typological form of Estonian?

transitional

What is Estonian typologically transitioning from?

an agglutinating language

What sort of form is Estonian transitioning into?

a fusional language

How are words ordered in Estonian canonically?

subject–verb–object

What is not the typological form of Estonian?

I'm not sure.

What sort of form is Estonian moving away from into?

I'm not sure.

What is the incorrect order of words in Estonian canonically?

I'm not sure.


In Estonian, nouns and pronouns do not have grammatical gender, but nouns and adjectives decline in fourteen cases: nominative, genitive, partitive, illative, inessive, elative, allative, adessive, ablative, translative, terminative, essive, abessive, and comitative, with the case and number of the adjective(s) always agreeing with that of the noun (except in the terminative, essive, abessive and comitative, where there is agreement only for the number, the adjective being in the genitive form). Thus the illative for kollane maja ("a yellow house") is kollasesse majja ("into a yellow house"), but the terminative is kollase majani ("as far as a yellow house"). With respect to the Proto-Finnic language, elision has occurred; thus, the actual case marker may be absent, but the stem is changed, cf. maja – majja and the Pohjanmaa dialect of Finnish maja – majahan.

What language lacks gendered nouns and pronouns?

Estonian

In the nominative, genitive, partitive, illative, inessive, elative, allative, adessive, ablative, translative cases what always agrees with the noun in number and case?

adjectives

What language relies on gendered nouns and pronouns?

I'm not sure.

In nominative cases what never agrees with the noun in number and case?

I'm not sure.

What is "a yellow house" in Finnish?

I'm not sure.

How many cases to verbs decline?

I'm not sure.


The direct object of the verb appears either in the accusative (for total objects) or in the partitive (for partial objects). The accusative coincides with the genitive in the singular and with nominative in the plural. Accusative vs. partitive case opposition of the object used with transitive verbs creates a telicity contrast, just as in Finnish. This is a rough equivalent of the perfective vs. imperfective aspect opposition.

What other language has a telicity contrast?

Finnish

Aside from the accusative, where can the direct object of the verb be found?

partitive

What is the accusative used for?

total objects

What language does not have a telicity contrast?

I'm not sure.

Where can the direct object of the noun be found?

I'm not sure.

Why is the accusative rejected?

I'm not sure.

What is an example of a partial object?

I'm not sure.

What does a transitive noun create?

I'm not sure.


The verbal system lacks a distinctive future tense (the present tense serves here) and features special forms to express an action performed by an undetermined subject (the "impersonal").

From what system is a distinctive future tense lacking?

verbal system

What is used in place of the future tense?

present tense

What does Estonian use to show actions performed by an undecided subject?

special forms

From what system is a distinctive future tense prominent?

I'm not sure.

What is used in place of the past tense?

I'm not sure.

What does Estonian use to show actions performed by an determined subject?

I'm not sure.

What is performed by the undetermined subject?

I'm not sure.


Although the Estonian and Germanic languages are of very different origins, one can identify many similar words in Estonian and English, for example. This is primarily because the Estonian language has borrowed nearly one third of its vocabulary from Germanic languages, mainly from Low Saxon (Middle Low German) during the period of German rule, and High German (including standard German). The percentage of Low Saxon and High German loanwords can be estimated at 22–25 percent, with Low Saxon making up about 15 percent.[citation needed]

Close to 33 percent of Estonian's vocabulary belong to what group of languages?

Germanic languages

What is the main Germanic language from which Estonia gets the Germanic portion of its vocabulary?

Low Saxon

When did Low Saxon make its appearance as part of the Estonian language?

during the period of German rule

From what other Germanic language does Estonian derive its vocabulary?

High German

Standard German is part of what Germanic language?

High German

What language does Estonian have very close origins with?

I'm not sure.

When did Low Saxon stop being part of the Estonian language?

I'm not sure.

From what non-Germanic language does Estonian derive its vocabulary?

I'm not sure.

Non-Standard German is part of what Germanic language?

I'm not sure.

Less than 30 percent of Estonian's vocabulary belong to what group of languages?

I'm not sure.


Often 'b' & 'p' are interchangeable, for example 'baggage' becomes 'pagas', 'lob' (to throw) becomes 'loopima'. The initial letter 's' is often dropped, for example 'skool' becomes 'kool', 'stool' becomes 'tool'.

What two letters can be replaced with each other a lot of the time in Estonian?

'b' & 'p'

What happens in many cases when a word starts with an 's'?

The initial letter 's' is often dropped

In an example of replacing 'b' with 'p' how is 'baggage' pronounced?

pagas

What two letters can never be replaced with each other in Estonian?

I'm not sure.

What happens to the first letter when a word starts with an 'L'?

I'm not sure.

In an example of replacing 's' with 'g' how is 'baggage' pronounced?

I'm not sure.

What word does Tool become when you apply the interchangeable rule?

I'm not sure.

What word does Loopima become when you drop the appropriate letter?

I'm not sure.