The Jukebox (1950s Hits)
Q: This 1954 hit by Bill Haley & His Comets is often cited as the song that brought Rock and Roll into the mainstream.
A: "Rock Around the Clock"
Q: This actress famously stood over a subway grate in a white dress in the 1955 film The Seven Year Itch.
A: Marilyn Monroe
Q: In 1958, the Wham-O company sparked a national craze with this circular plastic toy that you rotate around your waist.
A: The Hula Hoop
Q: This cereal’s mascots—Snap, Crackle, and Pop—first appeared in the 1930s.
A: Rice Krispies
Q: In 1955, this doctor became a national hero after developing the first successful vaccine for Polio.
A: Jonas Salk
Q: This vocal group, famous for "Only You," was one of the first African American groups to be successful with white audiences in the 50s.
A: The Platters
Q: Known as "The Duke," this actor was the face of the American Western for decades.
A: John Wayne
Q: These "theaters" allowed families to watch movies from their cars and reached their peak popularity in the late 1950s.
A: Drive-in theaters
Q: This coffee brand claimed its brew was "Good to the last drop."
A: Maxwell House
Q: The 1950s saw the beginning of this 48,000-mile project, championed by President Eisenhower to connect American cities.
A: The Interstate Highway System
Q: Patti Page asked this musical question in 1953, wondering about a certain pet in a window.
A: "How Much Is That Doggie in the Window?"
Q: This 1959 romantic comedy was the first of three films to pair the iconic duo Doris Day and Rock Hudson.
A: Pillow Talk
Q: Often worn at record hops, this flared skirt usually featured a felt patch of a specific dog on a leash.
A: Poodle Skirt
Q: Since the 1930s, this cereal has been known as the "Breakfast of Champions."
A: Wheaties
Q: This Soviet satellite, launched in 1957, was the first man-made object to orbit the Earth.
A: Sputnik 1
Q: This 1958 hit by The Coasters warns kids to take out the papers and the trash or they won't get any "spending cash."
A: "Yakety Yak"
Q: This actress won an Oscar for her role in Roman Holiday and later became a fashion icon in Breakfast at Tiffany's.
A: Audrey Hepburn
Q: This coiled wire toy "walks downstairs, alone or in pairs."
A: The Slinky
Q: This salt brand used the slogan "When it rains, it pours" to highlight its free-flowing salt.
A: Morton Salt
Q: This 1950s conflict is often referred to as "The Forgotten War."
A: The Korean War
Q: He was the "King of Skiffle" who had a massive 1956 hit with "Rock Island Line."
A: Lonnie Donegan
Q: In 1955, this "rebel" star died in a car accident before his most famous film, Rebel Without a Cause, was even released.
A: James Dean
Q: In the 1950s, teenagers flocked to these locations to share a milkshake or a "cherry phosphate."
A: Malt Shops (or Soda Fountains)
Q: This effervescent antacid used the catchy jingle "Plop, plop, fizz, fizz, oh what a relief it is."
A: Alka-Seltzer
Q: In 1954, the Supreme Court ruled that "separate but equal" schools were unconstitutional in this landmark case.
A: Brown v. Board of Education