Sweets
This peanut-buttery candy’s popularity in the early ’80s is attributed to the film E.T
What are Reese’s Pieces? Although the candy was introduced in 1978, it wasn’t popular until a beloved on-screen alien munched on them in 1982
1995: With this U.S. president in attendance, the presidents of Bosnia, Croatia, and Serbia signed the Dayton Peace Agreement in Paris
Who is Bill Clinton? The agreement ended the Bosnian War and established a framework for peace
In 1976, this letter A author published Sleeping Murder, a Miss Marple mystery.
Who is Agatha Christie? Christie’s mystery novels include characters like Detective Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, a ghost hunter.
Opened in 1988, this Andrew Lloyd Webber musical still holds the record for Broadway’s longest-running show
What is The Phantom of the Opera? The show ran for nearly 14,000 performances and closed in 2023.
During which decade did the United States purchase Alaska?
The 1860s. The purchase cost $7.2 million, which is about two cents per acre of land.
Which famous Bonanza actor was known as the “Voice of Canada” in the 1930s and 1940s?
Lorne Greene. The Canadian started his career as a newsreader for the CBC National News. He was soon given the nickname.
Known for their wafer candies, this company introduced candy conversation hearts in 1866
Hint: Begins with N
What is Necco? Spangler Candy Company bought the Necco and Sweethearts brands in 2018 and continues to produce the wafers and candy hearts.
1989: The Exxon Valdez oil spill occurred.
Who is George H. W. Bush? The spill and subsequent cleanup affected Prince William Sound.
his Charles Dickens novel begins with the line, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
What is A Tale of Two Cities?
Published in 1859; set in London and Paris during the French Revolution.
A long-running Broadway favorite is this tale of the (literal) king of the jungle, which opened in 1997.
What is The Lion King? The Broadway show features original songs from the Disney film, written by Sirs Tim Rice and Elton John.
What was the name of the gold rush that occurred between 1897 and 1900 in Alaska?
The Klondike Gold Rush. Over 100,000 prospectors would try their luck after the discovery of gold in the Klondike region.
What did the nursery rhyme character Jack nimbly jump over?
The candlestick. The rhyme was first documented around 1815. Jumping over candlesticks was a form of fortune-telling or sport. Jumping over the candlestick without extinguishing the flame was a sign of good luck
In the early 1970s, this gelatin product brand popularized no-bake cheesecakes
What is Jell-O? A 1972 ad featured their no-bake pudding cheesecake as a perfect summer recipe; it became the year’s most popular dessert.
1983: The Strategic Defense Initiative was announced to the American public.
Who is Ronald Reagan? In a public address, he asked scientists to create a defense system against nuclear weapons.
This novel by Harper Lee features the character Atticus Finch.
To Kill a Mockingbird. Published in 1960; set in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama.
In the 1980s, Joe Papp led the campaign to save these.
What are theaters? The goal was to save theater buildings from demolition, due to slow growth in live theater during the previous two decades
During which decade did Alaska become a state?
The 1950s. Alaskans passed a referendum in favor of statehood in 1946 and the Alaska Statehood Act in 1958, which led to Alaska joining the Union in 1959.
What actress starred in Cleopatra and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof?
Elizabeth Taylor. During the filming of Cleopatra, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton started their romance.
The 1970s and ’80s saw a chocolate craze, including a trend toward this flowing chocolate fountain dessert.
What is chocolate fondue? At the same time, cheese fondue gained popularity.
He presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Dr. Jonas Salk and posthumously to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Who is Jimmy Carter? Carter’s remarks at the time noted Salk’s lifesaving work and King’s humanitarian efforts.
This Mark Twain novel follows a boy traveling down the Mississippi River.T
What is The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn? Published in 1884; often called a classic of American literature.
This Broadway musical based on a lengthy book by Victor Hugo opened in 1987
What is Les Misérables? The first Broadway production of the show, at the Broadway Theatre, ran for 16 years.
What type of ecological disaster happened in 1989 in Prince William Sound?
An oil spill. The oil tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground on March 24, causing one of the worst environmental disasters in U.S. history.
What is the name of the largest artery in the human body?
Aorta. The aorta distributes oxygenated blood through the entire body through the circulatory system
This retro dessert consisting of layered cake, fruit, and pudding had a resurgence in the 1980s, particularly in Great Britain
What is a trifle? The old-fashioned dessert was rebranded as a modern, easy-to-assemble confection
He introduced Black History Month, expanding it from a weeklong observance to a full month.
Who is Gerald Ford? Ford’s presidency also saw energy conservation policies and new controls for commercial chemicals
This novel by Louisa May Alcott follows the lives of the four March sisters.
What is Little Women? Published in 1868; loosely based on the author’s own family.
In 1972, The Museum of the City of New York hosted a tribute concert celebrating this composer, whose works include Carousel and Oklahoma
Who is Richard Rodgers? The tribute was held at the Imperial Theatre and featured performances by alumni of Rodgers’ shows, including Tony Randall, Helen Gallagher, and Celeste Holm.
What two colors are featured on the Alaskan flag?
Blue and yellow. The design features a blue background with eight yellow stars representing northern constellations.
Who chose Ottawa as the new capital for the “province of Canada” on December 31, 1857?
Queen Victoria. Ottawa is now a major metropolis and Canada’s fourth-largest city.
This Australian dessert, consisting of shortbread, caramel, and chocolate, was invented in the 1970s and originally called a caramel slice
What is millionaire shortbread? The recipe was first featured in The Australian Woman’s Weekly magazine.
He was president during the first observance of Earth Day
Who is Richard Nixon? This observance led to the creation of the EPA and OSHA, as well as the Clean Air and Water Acts.
This Woodward and Bernstein book has been called “the work that brought down a presidency and launched a thousand reporting careers.”
What is All the President’s Men? The book details the Watergate scandal and was adapted to a film starring Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman.
In 1980, a revival of this show at the Majestic Theatre introduced new audiences to the story of a magical village in the Scottish Highlands
What is Brigadoon? The story was also adapted into a 1954 film starring Gene Kelly and Van Johnson.
Approximately how many glaciers are in Alaska: 500, 6,000, or 100,000?
100,000. Only a few hundred are officially named, however. The largest glacier, the Malaspina, covers 850 square miles.
What children’s literary character is described as “a boy who never wants to grow up”?
Peter Pan. J. M. Barrie wrote Peter Pan. Other characters of the story include Tinker Bell, Peter, Wendy, and Captain Hook