50s Sing-A-Long Movies
Which 1957 musical features the song "Tonight" and takes place between the Sharks Vs. The Jets is based on a Shakespeare play?
West Side Story
Fun fact: It won 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
Who is considered the father of modern horror fiction?
Edgar Allan Poe
Fun fact: Poe’s works include “The Raven” and “The Tell-Tale Heart.”
What pie often made from a large orange gourd?
Pumpkin pie
Fun fact: Pumpkin pie was first served at Thanksgiving feasts in the 1600s.
What color-changing natural event peaks in October in many parts of the world?
Fall foliage
Fun fact: Leaf colors change due to chlorophyll breaking down in colder temperatures.
Who invented the lightbulb, changing how we live after dark?
Thomas Edison
Fun fact: Edison also held over 1,000 patents during his lifetime.
What 1952 musical stars Gene Kelly
Singin' in the Rain
Fun fact: Gene Kelly choreographed the iconic rain dance himself.
What invention did Thomas Edison improve that helped bring movies to life?
Motion picture camera
Fun fact: Edison also helped invent the phonograph, an early sound recording device.
What fruit is picked during October and often made into cider?
Apples
Fun fact: Apple cider is a classic fall drink, enjoyed hot or cold.
What fruit do people bob for at parties?
Apples
Fun fact: Apple bobbing was a British courting tradition hundreds of years ago.
Who is the famous female scientist who discovered radioactivity?
Marie Curie
Fun fact: She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize—and the only to win in two fields!
Which 1954 musical is known for the song "There's No Business Like ________"?
There's No Business Like Show Business
Fun fact: It stars Ethel Merman and Marilyn Monroe.
Who was the infamous “Mad Scientist” known for experiments with electricity and “Frankenstein”?
Mary Shelley (author)
Fun fact: Shelley wrote “Frankenstein” at age 18 during a rainy summer with friends.
What dish made of marshmallows and sweet vegetables is popular in the fall?
Sweet potato casserole
Fun fact: This dish dates back to the early 1900s and became a holiday favorite.
What do people often visit in October to pick their own orange fruit?
A pumpkin patch
Fun fact: Many families make a tradition of taking photos at pumpkin patches.
What invention lets farmers harvest crops more efficiently?
The combine harvester
Fun fact: Combines helped turn October into a key harvest month worldwide.
What 1956 musical features the songs "Young at Heart" and "Whatever Will Be, Will Be"?
The Man Who Knew Too Much
Fun fact: Doris Day sang "Que Sera, Sera," which became her signature song.
What was the name of the first Halloween-themed store chain founded in 1983?
Spirit Halloween
Fun fact: Spirit Halloween is now the largest Halloween retailer in North America.
Which nut is commonly roasted and eaten during the fall season?
Chestnuts
Fun fact: Chestnuts roasting on an open fire became iconic thanks to the holiday song!
What sport becomes very popular to watch in October
Baseball
Fun fact: October is nicknamed “Fall Classic” season in Major League Baseball.*
What device, invented in the 1800s, lets us capture autumn leaves in high detail?
The camera
Fun fact: Early cameras required subjects to sit still for several minutes!
Which 1954 musical is about a governess who brings music and joy to a family in Austria?
The Sound of Music
Fun fact: Though most famous for the 1965 film, the original Broadway musical debuted in 1959.
What (creepy) invention allows preserved human bodies to be displayed for centuries?
Embalming
Fun fact: Embalming became widely used during the U.S. Civil War and is now a standard funeral practice in many countries.
What root vegetable is used in hearty October soups and stews?
Butternut squash
Fun fact: Butternut squash is technically a fruit, though it’s used like a vegetable.
What color do leaves turn in October before they fall off the trees
Red, orange, and yellow
Fun fact: The color depends on the type of tree and how much sugar is stored in the leaves.*
What’s the name of the invention that allows for long-term food storage, perfect for fall canning?
The mason jar
Fun fact: Mason jars were patented in 1858 and are still widely used today.