The Great Book of California: The Crazy History of California with Amazing Random Facts & Trivia

135 Pages·2018·1.83 MB·English

by  Bill O’Neill

THE GREAT BOOK OF
CALIFORNIA
The Crazy History of California with
Amazing Random Facts & Trivia
A Trivia Nerds Guide to the History of the United
States Vol.3
Bill O’Neill
Copyright © 2018 by LAK Publishing
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by
any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, without the prior
written permission of the publisher.
​
DON’T FORGET YOUR FREE
BOOKS
GET THEM FOR FREE ON WWW.TRIVIABILL.COM
Contents
THE GREAT BOOK OF CALIFORNIA
DON’T FORGET YOUR FREE BOOKS
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER ONE CALIFORNIA’S HISTORY AND RANDOM FACTS
California Was Given Its Name by Mistake
Spanish Missions Had Devastating Effects on California’s Native Americans
California Was Once a Country of Its Own
You Can Thank the Gold Rush for California’s Population
California Also Had a Silver Rush
The Discovery of Oil Helped Shape Los Angeles Into the City it is Today
The Golden State Wasn’t California’s First State Nickname
The Bubonic Plague Epidemic in the U.S. First Broke Out in San Francisco’s Chinatown
The Deadliest Earthquake in the U.S. Took Place in California in 1906
California Sterilized More People Through Its State-Run Eugenics Program Than Any Other U.S.
State
California’s Wine Industry Took a Huge Hit During the Prohibition
California Was the First State to Ban Marijuana
The Film Industry Moved to Hollywood to Escape Thomas Edison
Walt Disney Got His Inspiration for Disneyland at a Los Angeles Park
Several Actors Have Gone into Politics in California
Random Facts
Test Yourself – Questions and Answers
Answers
CHAPTER TWO CALIFORNIA’S POP CULTURE
How Hollywood Got Its Name
The Rise and Fall of West Coast Hip Hop
Other Music Genres Got Their Start in California
A Library in San Diego Honors Dr. Seuss’s Legacy
A 1990s Cult Classic Movie Centered on Beverly Hills
This Celebrity Sex Icon Was Once the Second Choice for Queen at a California Festival
Lots of Songs Have Been Written About California
Celebrity-Owned Restaurants in California
The United States Hippie Culture Started Out in California
A Friends Actress Got Her Role Thanks to a Los Angeles Gas Station
Many Talk Shows are Filmed in California
Shirley Temple’s Career Started Out in California, but it Wasn’t Always Glamorous
Tyra Banks Was Teased While Growing Up in California
You Can Check Out the Tanner’s House from Full House
Maroon 5 Started Out as a Garage Band in California
Random Facts
Test Yourself – Questions and Answers
Answers
CHAPTER THREE FACTS ABOUT CALIFORNIA’S ATTRACTIONS
You Can See a Rainbow at Night at Yosemite National Park
Having a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Comes at a Hefty Price
The San Diego Zoo Was Home to the First Panda Cubs in America
Disneyland’s Opening Day Was a Disaster
And a Disneyland Ride Once Contained Some Creepy Props
Balboa Park is Bigger Than Central Park
The Golden Gate Bridge Isn’t Actually Gold
Knott’s Berry Farm Claims to be America’s First Theme Park
One of the Most Famous Trees in the World is Located in California
SeaWorld Almost Didn’t Happen
Death Valley is the Hottest, Driest Place in the USA
The Hollywood Sign is Almost as Secure as Fort Knox
There are Hundreds of Wineries in Napa Valley
There’s a Castle in California
The Origins of Alcatraz Island’s Name May Surprise You
Random Facts
Test Yourself – Questions and Answers
Answers
CHAPTER FOUR CALIFORNIA’S INVENTIONS, IDEAS, AND MORE!
Doritos
Barbie Dolls
Rocky Road Ice Cream
Blue Jeans
Popsicles
Martinis
California Rolls
Apple Inc.
McDonald’s
Slot Machines
Fortune Cookies
Orange Julius
Taylor Guitars
The Gap
The Hot Fudge Sundae
Random Facts
Test Yourself – Questions and Answers
Answers
CHAPTER FIVE CALIFORNIA’S UNSOLVED MYSTERIES, SUPERNATURAL, AND OTHER
WEIRD FACTS
The Black Dahlia Murder Mystery
Conspiracy Theories Surround Marilyn Monroe’s Death
Natalie Wood’s (Not So) Accidental Drowning
Californians Report Lots of Bigfoot Sightings
The Death of Elisa Lam at the Cecil Hotel in Los Angeles
Alcatraz is One of the Most Haunted Spots in America
The Zodiac Killer Once Killed in Northern California
Dark Watchers May Haunt the Santa Lucia Mountains
The Hollywood Sign is Believed to be Haunted
A Former Navy Pilot’s Story About UFOs in California is Eerie
The Monster That Once Haunted Elizabeth Lake
The Most Haunted Ship in the USA is Docked in California
The Winchester Mystery House Might be Home to Spirits
The Mystery of California’s Gravity Hills
The Skinwalkers of Joshua Tree National Park
Random Facts
Test Yourself – Questions and Answers
Answers
CHAPTER FIVE CALIFORNIA’S SPORTS
California is the Only State That’s Hosted Both the Summer and the Winter Olympics
There are More Professional Sports Teams in California Than Any Other State
The Oldest College Bowl Game Takes Place in California Every Year
Tiger Woods’s Career Started at a Navy Golf Course in California
Major Surfing Competitions are Held in California
California is Home to the Salinas Rodeo
One California NFL Team Was Named After the Gold Rush
A New York Yankees Legend is From California
And So is a Boston Red Sox Legend!
These Famous Tennis Sisters are From California
O.J. Simpson Had a Troubled Youth While Growing Up in California
The First African-American to Play Major League Baseball Grew Up in California
The First Owner of the Los Angeles Angels May Surprise You
Bethany Hamilton is Honored at the California Surf Museum
A Famous Figure Skater is From the Golden State
Random Facts
Test Yourself – Questions and Answers
Answers
DON’T FORGET YOUR FREE BOOKS
Other Books in this Series
MORE BOOKS BY BILL O’NEILL
INTRODUCTION
How much do you know about the state of California?
Sure, you know it’s home to Hollywood. You know the state has a lot of
natural disasters, ranging from earthquakes to wildfires. But what else do you
really know about the state?
You might know California has a huge population, but do you know how it
got some of its population?
Have you ever wondered how California was named? Do you know how it
came to be nicknamed the Golden State?
Do you know which celebrities have held government positions in
California?
You know all about Hollywood. At least, you think you do. Do you know
who drove the film industry to California in the first place? Do you know
how much it costs to get your name on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?
Did you know Beverly Hills wasn’t always a community where the rich and
famous lived? Do you know what it was before the glitz and glamour took
over?
Do you know which popular toy originated from the state or which popular
frozen treat was invented in California by accident?
Do you know which famous fast-food chain opened its first location in
California?
Do you know about the celebrity sex icon whose death remains a mystery to
this day?
Did you know California was once the murdering grounds for one of
America’s most famous serial killers? Do you know about the mysterious
hotel death that went viral?
If you have ever wondered about the answers to these or other questions, then
you’re in luck! This book is filled with stories and facts about the state of
California.
This isn’t just any book about California. It will highlight some of the facts
that have helped form the Golden State into what it is today. You’ll learn
facts about the state you’ve probably never even considered before. Once
you’re done reading, you’ll know everything there is to know about
California.
The state of California is rich in both its history and culture. While we’ll try
to stick to a timeline as we explore some of the state’s most significant
historical facts, we’ll also jump around some.
This book is broken up into easy to follow chapters that will help you learn
more about the Golden State. Once you have completed each chapter, you
can test your knowledge with trivia questions!
Some of the facts you’ll read about in this book are surprising. Others are
sad, and some may even give you goosebumps. But the one thing all of these
facts have in common, is that they’re all fascinating. Once you’ve finished
reading this book, you’ll be an expert on the state of California.
The book will answer the following questions:
How did California get its name?
Why is it nicknamed the Golden State?
Why did filmmakers choose to open studios in Hollywood?
Which genres of music started out in California?
Which California-born celebrity sex icon’s death remains a mystery?
Which fast-food chain got its start in California?
And so much more!