Sporty Seventies
On July 21, 1970, Brazil’s team led by Pelé won the international soccer competition known by this two-word title.
What is the World Cup? Brazil faced off against Italy in the final match that year and won 4–1, with Pelé securing the title of player of the tournament. Did you know that his first World Cup victory happened when Pelé was just 17 years old?
This three-word fashion staple for women is closely associated with designer Coco Chanel and the iconic style of actress Audrey Hepburn. Hint: LBD
What is the little black dress? This closet essential became popular in the 1920s and has remained a favorite due to its versatility and classic silhouette. It was famously worn by Hepburn in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
Alan Alda starred as wisecracking Captain “Hawkeye” Pierce from 1972 to 1983.
What is M*A*S*H? The show takes place during the Korean War and features many humorous plotlines alongside more serious fare. M*A*S*H celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2022.
Perhaps one of the most iconic sixties sayings is this single word, meaning “outstanding,” “nice,” or “cool.” The Troggs sang about this word in “Wild Thing,” saying “Wild thing, you make my heart sing/You make everything _______.”
What is groovy? By the 1980s, this word was mostly out of fashion.
June 1972: The Watergate Scandal broke, eventually causing this president to resign his office—the only president ever to do so
Who is Richard Nixon? He announced his decision to resign in a public address on August 8, 1974. Gerald Ford was then sworn in as the 38th president
A place wherer a colony of bees are kept.
What is Apiary?
This female tennis player is perhaps best known for her victory over Bobby Riggs in a spectacular and highly publicized 1973 match.
Who is Billie Jean King? Her victory in the match known as the “Battle of the Sexes” is depicted in a 2017 film. Did you know King won her first tournament in 1960 and was named “Female Athlete of the Year” in 1967?
Though John, Paul, George, and Ringo didn’t really live in this colorful undersea vessel, the song featuring it has remained popular ever since its release in 1966.
What is “Yellow Submarine”? This song is featured on the album Revolver alongside other classics, such as “Eleanor Rigby.” It was written as a children’s song but is popular with all ages.
The 1980s would not have been the same without Ten Danson in his iconic role as Sam on this sitcom.
What is Cheers? Set in a bar “where everybody knows your name,” the series was originally supposed to continue without Danson, but show regular Woody Harrelson refused to take his place as the bar owner.
This term for a geometric shape referred to a person who wasn’t considered cool or hip. As the saying goes, “Be there or be _____.”
What is square? Though the word was used in the 16th century to mean an honest person, in the 1960s the term was used to refer to people who were out of touch with trends, particularly in music
September 1972: This American beat Russian competitor Boris Spassky to become the world chess champion.
Who is Bobby Fischer? The “Match of the Century” took place in Reykjavik, Iceland. Fischer was the first American to win the competition since it began in 1866.
A self contained housing unit.
What is an apartment?
The year 1970 was a “Grand Slam” for this female tennis player, the first in the Open Era to win all four major tennis tournaments in one year.
Who is Margaret Court? She won the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open that year to secure this historic title. Court holds the record for most Grand Slam singles titles, though fellow tennis great Serena Williams is only one win behind her record as of 2021.
This “Boss” is a New Jersey-born musician who famously sang about cruising down the street in a “Pink Cadillac.”
Who is Bruce Springsteen? The singer-songwriter is nicknamed “The Boss.” He is still making music today, including recent collaborations with singer John Mellencamp and the modern band the Killers.
“You’ve just crossed over into…” this popular series hosted by Rod Serling.
What is The Twilight Zone? The original program ran from 1959 until 1964 and features Serling as narrator and host; in 2019 there was a reboot of the series that features original storylines told in the same style.
Though this three-letter word can also refer to a popular condiment for toast, 1960s musicians used it to mean “play musical instruments together.”
What is jam? Though the phrase originated in the 1920s, it gained popularity during the 1960s music scene, where “jamming” together in a free-flowing and expressive way encouraged musicians to make their free-spirited music.
August 1972: This legendary leftie was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame alongside Sandy Koufax. Hint: He is also known for his witty and whimsical sayings.
Who is Yogi Berra? His witticisms include “Baseball is 90 percent mental, and the other half is physical.” Additionally, Berra played an impressive 19 seasons of Major League Baseball and appeared in 14 World Series.
A garment covering the front of the body, used in the kitchen
What is an apron?
On June 9, 1973, a thoroughbred horse by this name won the Triple Crown for the first time in 25 years, as nearly 100,000 people watched the race live.
Who is Secretariat? The racehorse, also known as Big Red, is remembered as one of the greatest racehorses to ever live. He is immortalized in the 2010 film Secretariat, starring Diane Lane.
This popular design company is closely associated with the color robin’s egg blue.
What is Tiffany and Co.? Its flagship store has been seen in the films Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Sleepless in Seattle (1993), and Sweet Home Alabama (2002). The brand has been known for its trademark cheery blue shade ever since the 1840s.
Pow! Adam West starred in this campy and comedic superhero show alongside sidekick Burt Ward
What is Batman? The television series spawned a 1966 movie and proved to audiences that comic books and superheroes could appeal to adults and children alike.
This rhyming two-word phrase referred to a person with the popular 1960s Beatles-style bowl haircut. It was sometimes called a mushroom cut.
What is mop top? This longer hairstyle was popular among young men in the 1960s who wished to emulate the Fab Four.
“A long, long time ago/I can still remember…” begins the No. 1 hit song of 1972, a Don McLean classic.
What is “American Pie”? The song mourns the end of the 1950s music era with the death of Buddy Holly, and its solemn and poetic lyrics have made it a classic that endures to this day.
A yellowish, pinkish edible fruit resembling a small peach.
What is an apricot?
In 1970, these two major professional football leagues merged to form the National Football League.
What are the AFL and NFL? The merger was controversial at the time, with some believing the NFL got the better end of the bargain. It did lead to the construction of many new, larger stadiums, which has been seen as a benefit
This three-word phrase is the title of a song by Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons. As Frankie sang, “I’ll paint a _______ on the weather-beaten skies for you.”
What is “Patch of Blue”? The song is from the album Half & Half. It was released in 1970.
This show is a family affair: Florence Henderson as Mom, Robert Reed as Dad, and kids played by Maureen McCormick and Christopher Knight (among others).
What is The Brady Bunch? The popular sitcom of the late 1960s and early ’70s followed the Brady family through the trials and tribulations of their everyday lives.
This “distant” two-word expression could be used to describe something awesome
What is far out? The phrase originates from jazz talk and originally described music that was highly creative, though hippie culture later used the phrase more generally to describe anything great.
This gritty crime drama starring Marlon Brando was the highest-grossing film of 1972. We bet author Mario Puzo is pretty proud of that!
What is The Godfather? The classic film stars big names, including Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, and Diane Keaton, among others. The film grossed over $130,000,000 in 1972.
An expression of value; thanks or gratitude.
What is appreciation?