Stage Names
This “Candle in the Wind” singer was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight.
Who is Sir Elton John? His stage name is a tribute to members of the band Bluesology.
On April 12, 1981, this organization launched its first space shuttle mission.
What is NASA? The first Space Transportation System carried astronaut John Young and navy test pilot Robert Crippen.
Their free concert in Hyde Park on the night of September 18, 1976, included the hits “Keep Yourself Alive” and “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
What is Queen? An estimated 200,000 people turned out to enjoy the 80-minute concert.
It is cooked, pureed apples combined with cinnamon and sugar.
What is applesauce? It’s a staple of kids’ diets. In the 1950s and 1960s, it was frequently on the school lunch menu.
This best-selling toy from the 1950s began life as a wallpaper cleaner until a teacher decided to have her students use it as clay for sculpting.
What is Play-Doh? The original colors were red, yellow, and blue. The colors have been expanded, and it’s still non-toxic.
This Ghost and Sister Act actress was born Caryn Elaine Johnson.
Who is Whoopi Goldberg? She has said her first name is a nod to the whoopee cushion.
Introduced to the tech world in 1982, this would quickly gain popularity and become the preferred alternative to floppy disks.
What is the CD or CD-ROM? CDs had a larger storage capacity (680 megabytes) than floppy disks (1.4 megabytes).
On April 21, 1990, fans in this nation rocked out with Paul McCartney in Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, breaking the world attendance record in the process.
What is Brazil? The record-setting show was almost canceled due to rain and flooding, but McCartney reportedly insisted the rains would stop—and he was right!
Served with pasta, its main ingredient is basil.
What is pesto? Other ingredients are garlic, Parmesan cheese, and pine nuts. You can substitute walnuts without compromising flavor.
When you were growing up, boys played with this military figure.
What is G.I. Joe? The figure is ready for action with its movable joints.
Born Eric Marlon Bishop, he took his stage name from a comedian and star of Sanford and Son.
Who is Jamie Foxx? Inspired by comic Redd Foxx, he took on an androgynous stage name while doing stand-up comedy
Handheld communicators from the Star Trek universe are often credited with inspiring this ’80s invention.
What is the mobile phone (or cell phone)? Digital cell phones came into being with early models like the Motorola DynaTAC, which weighed over a kilogram.
It wasn’t just an album title. For their 1980 tour, this band insisted on creating an actual brick “wall” on stage and playing from behind it.
What is Pink Floyd? The tour to promote their album The Wall included complex logistics of building a wall in front of the band as they played.
This red sauce is served with tortilla chips.
What is salsa? Basic ingredients include chopped tomatoes, onion, cilantro, and jalapeño. Add cumin and salt to taste.
These pictures come in hundreds of irregular pieces and occupy a good portion of the dining room table.
What are (jigsaw) puzzles? These puzzles date to 1860 in England and the United States.
The country artist who sings “Wild One,” she was born Audrey Faith Perry.
Who is Faith Hill? The song was her first single and reached No. 1 on the country music charts for four weeks.
In 1981, the F-117 Nighthawk was introduced by Lockheed; it was this type of radarresistant craft.
What is an airplane? With its first flight on June 18, the F-117 became the world’s first stealth aircraft and changed military history
On September 10, 1970, this blues artist played at Cook County Jail with songs like “Worry, Worry” and “The Thrill Is Gone.”
Who is B. B. King? The performance inspired King to co-found the Foundation for the Advancement of Inmate Rehabilitation and Recreation.
This mayo-based sauce includes minced dill pickles, mustard, lemon juice, and spices and often accompanies fried fish.
What is tartar sauce? The name comes from the French tartare, but its roots might date to the Roman era.
This popular children’s game involves balls and metal pieces.
What is jacks? This used to be a popular sidewalk game.
This basketballer was born Earvin Johnson Jr.
Who is Magic Johnson? He earned his nickname in high school for his seemingly magical sports prowess.
This Microsoft disk operating system was released in 1981 and was designed to work on IBM computers.
What is MS-DOS? It became the most prevalent operating system for PCs in the ’80s and helped launch Microsoft as a tech giant.
Just in time for Halloween, this Ozzy Osbourne-fronted heavy metal band played their first U.S. show on October 30, 1970
What is Black Sabbath? Although known for heavy metal and rock, the band started out playing blues music and was originally called Earth.
This is the French name for natural gravy and pan drippings served with roast beef.
What is au jus? The juices are released during cooking.
She is Barbie’s best friend.
Who is Midge? She was introduced in 1963. Her last name is Hadley.