Across the Pond
This British monarch celebrated her Silver Jubilee in 1977.
Who is Queen Elizabeth II? The celebrations and tours across the U.K. commemorated 25 years of her reign.
P. L. Travers first published the tale of this magical nanny in 1934, and Julie Andrews famously brought her to life in the 1964 film.
Who is Mary Poppins? Despite the film’s immense popularity, Travers is said to have disliked how her story was portrayed by Disney.
This backward-sliding dance move was popularized by Michael Jackson after he performed it onstage in 1983.
What is the moonwalk? Based on a dance move called the backslide, the moonwalk is considered one of Jackson’s signature dance moves.
This actor and slapstick comedian is best known for his work with partner Dean Martin.
Who is Jerry Lewis? Lewis’ many comedic film credits include 1963’s The Nutty Professor. His last role was in the 2016 crime thriller The Trust.
This company that sells Barbie dolls began by selling wooden frames from a garage.
What is Mattel? In addition to the Barbie line and dollhouses, Mattel also sells the Fisher-Price line, Hot Wheels, and other toys.
In 1961, this British author published the children’s classic James and the Giant Peach.
Who is Roald Dahl? Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach was made into a movie in 1996.
The 1980 horror flick The Shining is based on a novel of the same name by this renowned author.
Who is Stephen King? King found inspiration for the story when he and his wife stayed as the only guests at an old hotel in the dead of winter.
Mikhail Baryshnikov is a Russian American dancer known for his grace in this style of dance.
What is ballet? Baryshnikov moved to Canada from the Soviet Union in 1974 and began touring with the American Ballet Theatre shortly thereafter.
This 1977 comedy film stars Woody Allen and Diane Keaton (who plays the title role).
What is Annie Hall? The film won the Oscar for Best Picture and is the second-shortest movie to win that honor at only 93 minutes. Fun fact: The shortest film to win it was Marty, starring Ernest Borgnine.
A multi-billion-dollar business that runs “the happiest place on Earth,” this company began life as a cartoon.
What is the Walt Disney Company? Walt Disney leveraged the money from selling his cartoon Alice’s Wonderland to build his first studio. In that studio, Mickey Mouse came to life.
British sports fans had a great day on July 30, 1966, when the English team won this global sporting event.
What is the World Cup? England’s 1966 team won on home soil against the West German team.
The film True Grit, based on a novel by Charles Portis, stars this western movie icon as Rooster Cogburn.
Who is John Wayne? Wayne reprises his role in 1975’s Rooster Cogburn, where he stars alongside Katharine Hepburn
Patrick Swayze plays dance instructor Johnny Castle in this hit film of 1987.
What is Dirty Dancing? The ending dance sequence, with Swayze lifting costar Jennifer Grey into the air, has become an iconic image of the film.
Peter Sellers’ iconic comedic role is this bumbling inspector in The Pink Panther.
Who is Inspector Jacques Clouseau? The Pink Panther films were originally intended to focus on a different character entirely, but the crew was so enamored with Sellers’ performance that he literally stole the show.
This famous chewing gum company’s owner started by selling baking powder and soap.
What is Wrigley’s? William Wrigley Jr. gave away sticks of gum to his customers. They grew more popular than his products, so he switched gears and built a chewing gum empire.
This British physicist first posited his theory that black holes emit radiation in 1974.
Who is Stephen Hawking? This theory has been tested in recent years using technology to detect mass, spin, and reverberations from black holes.
The film Who Framed Roger Rabbit? had a slightly different title than this 1982 novel on which the movie was based.
What is Who Censored Roger Rabbit? The film adapts Gary Wolf’s novel with a blend of live-action and animated characters.
The 1960s dance craze the mashed potato was popularized thanks in part to the song “(Do the) Mashed Potatoes” by this R&B singer.
Who is James Brown? Brown, under the pseudonym Dessie Rozier, released the song in 1960 and made it to the Billboard Top 100 that year.
John Cleese was a member of this British comedy troupe for many years, appearing in such films as Life of Brian.
What is Monty Python? The group had its own program, Monty Python’s Flying Circus, though Cleese left the show after three seasons to pursue other comedic roles.
Two teachers and a writer founded this now-famous coffeehouse at Seattle Pike Place Market. They sold beans, not brewed coffee, and they sold their company to a former employee—Howard Schultz.
What is Starbucks? The three founders went to school together at the University of San Francisco.
Sci-fi fans across the pond rejoiced at the 1963 premiere of this show starring William Hartnell as a time-traveling alien.
What is Doctor Who? The show was rebooted in 2005 with Christopher Eccleston in the title role.
The 1972 film The Godfather is based on a 1969 novel by this author.
Who is Mario Puzo? The popular film made $302,393 on its opening weekend in the U.S. and Canada alone.
This legend of the dance world was given a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Film Institute in 1981 for his appearances in films including Funny Face, The Band Wagon, and The Towering Inferno.
Who is Fred Astaire? He is often associated with costar Ginger Rogers; together they are considered the most successful dance team on film.
This 1974 comedy is set in Transylvania and stars Gene Wilder in the title role.
What is Young Frankenstein? Reportedly, this was Gene Wilder’s favorite of all the films he made.
This poultry franchise was one of the first fast-food outlets to go international, but it began as “a roadside stop in Utah during the Depression,” according to Inc. magazine.
What is KFC or Kentucky Fried Chicken? The Colonel started by trading his services for a place to sell his chicken.