Pop Quiz Trivia: Funny People—Comedians at the National Portrait Gallery

A painter, a curator and an intern walk into a bar . . . If you want the punch line, join us at the National Portrait Gallery for our monthly collections-based trivia game, Pop Quiz, on April 23 at 6:30 p.m. in the Kogod Courtyard.

Do you think you know the straight facts about history’s silliest men and women? We’ll put you to the test. This month’s Pop Quiz theme is “Comedians,” featuring sitters from our collection who have made audiences giggle and guffaw. They range from vaudevillians like Charlie Chaplin to stand-ups icons like Bill Cosby. Did you know that radio personality Jimmy Durante was also the voice of the much-loved animated character Frosty the Snowman? Or that the majority of Buster Keaton’s films were made without any script?

The Courtyard Café will be open, and snacks and beverages will be available for purchase.

Here is a sneak peek at the 10-point bonus question for this month’s Pop Quiz trivia:

When Woody Allen (above) transitioned from comedy writer to stand-up comedian in the 1960s, his act emphasized monologues rather than traditional jokes. The result was the development of a unique persona—that of a worried, neurotic intellectual which he insists is different from his true temperament. Besides entertaining film audiences and critics alike, Allen also has a passion for jazz music. He still performs regularly with his band in New York. What instrument does Allen play?

a)    Clarinet          

b)    Trumpet

c)     Saxophone

d)    Flute

Pop Quiz trivia occurs once a month in the Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard in the National Portrait Gallery.