The Decade It's Set in
This decade was full of Happy Days.
What is the 1950s?
Although the show ran from 1974 to 1984, the story of the Cunningham family was set much earlier.
He said, "My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over."
Who is Gerald Ford?
The quote comes from his presidential address in 1974.
This nation launched the first space station, the Salyut 1.
What is the USSR?
The launch took place on April 19, 1971.
Her novel The Handmaid's Tale has been made into a popular modern TV series.
Who is Margaret Atwood?
Her other titles include 1989's Cat's Eye and a recent novel, The Testaments, from 2019.
The 8os were a time for female leaders, including Corazon Aquino, who became the first woman president of the Southeast Asian island nation
What is the Philippines?
The backstory for Dallas starts the Ewing family drama during this decade.
What is the 1930s?
Star-crossed lovers, family dynamics, and drama abound in this soap opera.
In one of his most beloved songs, he says "You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."
Who is John Lennon?
The 1971 tune "Imagine" is still popular and has been used during two Olympics ceremonies, in 2012 and 2018.
Launched and returned from space in 1981, this was the first reusable spacecraft.
What is Columbia?
A tragic accident destroyed the spacecraft in 2003, but remnants can still be seen at the Kenndy Space Center.
This New Orleans native is noted for her Interview with the vampire, which was made into a movie starring Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt.
Who is Anne Rice?
Her wide variety of works include religious novels and supernatural fiction.
A 1986 disaster saw the explosion of this nuclear power plant in the Ukraine.
What is Chernobyl?
The explosion caused widespread damage, with radioactive particles reaching as far away as Sweden?
This decade was the setting for M*A*S*H.
What is the 1950s?
It tells the story of an army hospital during the Korean War and is one of the most beloved shows from the '70s and early '80s.
After rejecting his Best Actor Oscar, he said, "If we are not our brother's keeper, at least let us not be his executioner."
Who is Marlon Brando?
Penned by Brando as a protest, the words were read out by Sacheen Littlefeather.
This large space telescope was launched in 1990.
What is Hubble (space telescope)?
The reflecting telescope has since sent back breathtaking images of starts, nebulas, and more.
Danielle Steel is an author most noted for her bestsellers in this genre.
What is romance?
Her first novel, Going Home, was published in 1973.
In 1982, it became illegal worldwide to hunt these large marine mammals.
What are whales?
The International Whaling Commision put an indefinite moratorium on commercial whaling to protect the animals.
Recent TV show The Goldbergs has this decade as its setting, leading to many of the show's iconic and nostalgic moments.
What is the '80s?
Creator Adam Goldberg based the show's storylines around his real-life '80s childhood.
Talk about irony! This British politician once said, "I don't think there will be a woman prime minister in my lifetime."
Who is Margaret Thatcher?
Just six years later, she became that first female Prime Minister.
In 1976, an American probe discovered water frost on the surface of this planet.
What is Mars?
The Viking 2 probe also found many elements essential to life, such as carbon and oxygen.
She's the author of fiction and nonfiction works including The Joy Luck Club and The Moon Lady.
Who is Amy Tan?
She is a Master Class instructor and has been awarded the National Humanities Medal. Her most recent book, The Backyard Bird Chronicles, is about how she took up bird watching during the 2020 pandemic.
In 1985, this Soviet leader introduced two concepts to revive the economy: glasnost, or "openness," and perestroika, or "restructuring."
Who is Gorbachev?
These movements yielded few improvements or results.
Much of the original Dark Shadows series takes place during this decade in the last 1700s.
What is the 1790s?
The show tells the story of the Collins family and has been remade into both a TV series and a movie.
This film character told is love Sally, "I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."
Who is Harry Burns?
Billy Crystal stars as Harry alongside Meg Ryan in the 1989 romance When Harry Met Sally.
William Shepard, Yury Gidzenko, and Sergey Krikalyov were the first resident crew to occupy this space object.
What is the ISS (International Space Station)?
The station boasts multiple labrotories for experiemnts and study of space.
Born in 1944, her famous works include 1982's, The Color Purple and the 1970's The Third Life of Grange Copeland.
Who is Alice Walker?
She is also largely responsible for reviving interest in fellow author Zora Neale Hurston.
Supreme Court news in the 1980s included her appointment as the first female associate justice.
Who is Sandra Day O'Connor?
She was appointed by President Reagan.