“Jet Song” and “Maria” belong to this movie musical from 1961.
What is West Side Story? Leonard Bernstein composed the songs, and Stephen Sondheim wrote the lyrics.
Glen Bell founded this Mexican fast-food restaurant in 1962 in Downey, California.
What is Taco Bell? Just five years later, Taco Bell opened its 100th restaurant in Anaheim.
In 1971, Ray Tomlinson of MIT was the first to send this kind of electronic communication.
What is an email? Tomlinson has stated he forgets what his email message said.
From the 1960s through the early 1990s, he said “Heeeeere’s Johnny!” every weeknight.
Who is Ed McMahon? He was Johnny Carson’s sidekick for 30 years on The Tonight Show. While in college, McMahon sold veggie slicers on the Atlantic City boardwalk.
On January 4, people who are visually impaired celebrate this method of reading and writing.
What is braille? World Braille Day honors Louis Braille, the Frenchman who invented braille and was born with sight but lost it at the age of 10.
This Hepburn film features the signature song “Moon River.”
What is Breakfast at Tiffany’s? Composer Henry Mancini said he wrote the song specifically for Audrey Hepburn and always felt her version was best.
This pizza chain got into the fast-food “game” in 1960.
What is Domino’s Pizza? The first Domino’s was in Ypsilanti (ip-suh-LAN-tee), Michigan. By 1983 the chain had spread to Canada.
In 1974, U.S. Air Force pilots completed a record-setting flight across this ocean, landing in London, England.
What is the Atlantic? The flight from New York to London took just over one hour and 54 minutes.
The phrase “Danger, Will Robinson!” was famously uttered by a robot on this 1960s show.
What is Lost in Space? In pop culture, the phrase caught on as a way to warn someone that they were about to make a mistake or that they were overlooking something
Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday is observed as a federal holiday on this day of the week.
What is Monday? We celebrate Dr. King’s birth each year on the third Monday in January.
“Imperial Attack” and “Princess Leia’s Theme” are both on this movie soundtrack.
What is Star Wars (or Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope)? The music was composed by John Williams and is easily recognizable.
This snack food company was founded in 1961 by C. E. Doolin and Herman Lay.
What is Frito-Lay? Doolin and Lay merged their business with Pepsi-Cola in 1965 to form PepsiCo, of which Frito-Lay is still part of today.
In 1980, Reinhold Messner of Italy became the first person to climb this mountain alone.
What is Mount Everest? He made the climb from base camp in three days, all without using bottled oxygen.
“Live long and prosper” comes from Mr. Spock and this show.
What is Star Trek? Before making it big in show business, Leonard Nimoy, who plays Mr. Spock, drove a taxi as a side job and once drove President John F. Kennedy
On January 17, 1991, this operation began the combat phase of the Gulf War in response to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait.
What is Operation Desert Storm? It took place on the heels of Operation Desert Shield, which had begun the prior August and lasted 43 days.
The most iconic music from this 1975 beachy thriller is John Williams’ two-note motif.
What is Jaws? Williams won the 1976 Academy Award for Best Original Dramatic Score for his efforts.
Rival Manufacturing debuted this countertop slow cooker in 1971.
What is the Crock-Pot? In true ’70s fashion, the Crock-Pot was sold in colors like Harvest Gold and Avocado Green.
Guinness World Records declared this man the most successful songwriter in 1979 for having the most songs on the UK singles chart.
Who is Sir Paul McCartney? Guinness states that 91 of his songs have reached the Top 10, with 33 No. 1 hits.
This family was known for their distinctive bedtime routine that began with “Good night, John-Boy.”
Who are the Waltons? The Waltons creator Earl Hamner Jr. said this was something his own family did each night before going to sleep when he was growing up.
January was named for Janus, who is depicted with two faces, symbolizing this.
What is looking forward and backward (or looking to the future and the past)? He was the protector of gates and doors or beginnings and endings.
Kenny Loggins sings the title song from this 1984 Kevin Bacon film.
What is Footloose? Another popular song from the movie is Deniece Williams’ “Let’s Hear It for the Boy.” The film was adapted for the Broadway stage in 1998.
Thanksgiving sides got a makeover in the 1960s when scientist Edward Asselbergs invented a shelf-stable, flaked version of this dish.
What are mashed potatoes? Asselbergs hoped to create a nutritious food that could be easily eaten by soldiers or those suffering from malnutrition.
In 1960, two explorers set a record for the deepest manned ocean descent into this trench.
What is the Mariana Trench? Don Walsh, one of the explorers, later advised filmmaker James Cameron on Cameron’s solo dive into the trench in 2012.
This child actor often said, “What’choo talkin’ ’bout, Willis?
Who is Gary Coleman? Coleman plays Arnold Jackson on the show Diff’rent Strokes. Arnold often says this quip to his brother, Willis (played by Todd Bridges).
This large South American tourist destination’s name translates to “River of January.”
What is Rio de Janeiro? It is named this because the Portuguese landed in the area on January 1, 1502.