Television Cities
Historic Firsts
This n' That
Women of the Stage and Screen
The Year Was 1965
100
In I Love Lucy, the Ricardos live in this borough of New York City
What is Manhattan? Fun fact: In reality, their address—623 East 68th Street on the Upper East Side—would be in the middle of the East River between Manhattan and Roosevelt Island.
100
The first man to set foot on the moon
Who is Neil Armstrong? On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first human to descend in the lunar module Eagle and set foot on the moon, “a giant leap for mankind,” in his words. He was part of a three-man team on NASA’s Apollo mission. He was accompanied in the lunar module by Buzz Aldrin, who joined him in planting the American flag on the moon. Michael Collins remained behind in the command module Columbia.
100
This everyday expression includes the color of Ireland and a word similar to jealousy
What is green with envy? The idiom may have begun with Shakespeare’s writings. He wrote about jealousy in at least two of his plays: In Othello, he refers to “the green-eyed monster,” a phrase we still hear. In Antony and Cleopatra, he uses “the green sickness.”
100
This Sound of Music star played Eliza Doolittle in the 1956 Broadway production of My Fair Lady.
Who is Julie Andrews? Her role in My Fair Lady launched her career into the stratosphere.
100
This 630-foot-tall steel structure in St. Louis, Missouri, was completed.
What is Gateway Arch (aka St. Louis Arch)? Completed on October 28, 1965, it was designed by Finnish-born, American-educated architect Eero Saarinen.
200
Andy, Aunt Bee, Opie, Barney, Goober, and Gomer live here.
What is Mayberry? The Andy Griffith Show is emblematic of small towns in the 1960s.
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200
The century during which the first U.S. transcontinental railroad was finished
What is 19th century? In 1869, the inauguration of the railroad led to the country’s westward expansion.
200
In 1920, this Macy’s competitor (now closed) was the first to host a Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia.
What is Gimbel’s? The department store, founded in 1887, closed its doors in 1986.
200
Before her long run portraying a mystery author and sleuth from the fictional town of Cabot Cove, this dame first appeared in the 1940s films Gaslight and The Picture of Dorian Gray.
Who is Angela Lansbury? Her acting career spanned eight decades. Fun fact: Her first performance in a Broadway musical was in 1964 when she appeared in Sondheim’s Anyone Can Whistle.
200
This Pygmalion film adaptation won eight Academy Awards.
What is My Fair Lady? Audrey Hepburn plays Eliza Doolittle, and Rex Harrison plays Professor Henry Higgins, who guides Eliza through her transformation.
300
Green Acres and Petticoat Junction are both set in this small rural community.
What is Hooterville? Though both series are set in the mythical town of Hooterville, the town appears differently in each series.
300
The first American self-made businesswoman to become a millionaire
Who is Sarah Breedlove (or Madam C. J. Walker)? Breedlove had a problem with hair loss, so she started a hair-care company for Black women that focused on healthy hair. Madam C. J. Walker was her business name and the name of her line of products.
300
When translated, the Italian title of this 1960 Federico Fellini film starring Marcello Mastroianni means “The Sweet Life.”
What is La Dolce Vita? It was filmed in Italy, mostly in Rome and the surrounding area.
300
Cabaret immediately brings this actress and singer to mind.
Who is Liza Minnelli? She starred in the Broadway and screen productions, and no one else comes close to singing the title song with the life and passion she brings to it.
300
The Medicare and Medicaid Act was signed into law by this president.
Who is Lyndon B. Johnson? Medicare is a health insurance program for the elderly, while Medicaid is for people with limited income.
400
The 1960s spy sitcom Get Smart is set in this city.
What is Washington, D.C.? In the show, CONTROL’s assignment is to neutralize KAOS, a malevolent international organization. The audience doesn’t ever learn what CONTROL and KAOS stand for, but we learn in Episode 38 that KAOS was founded in Bucharest.
400
First woman to win a Nobel Prize; did so for her work in the field of radioactivity and then again for her work in chemistry
Who is Marie Curie? In 1903, the Nobel committee awarded the prize to Curie, her husband Pierre, and physicist Becquerel, “in recognition of the extraordinary services they have rendered by their joint research on the radiation phenomena discovered by [Becquerel].”
400
This type of light causes wrinkles and ages skin.
What is ultraviolet (or UV)? According to the Cleveland Clinic, too much UV light exposure can cause wrinkles, freckles, skin discolorations, and even cancer.
400
She’s best known for hosting her long-running comedy-variety show, but she made her career-launching debut in 1959 on Broadway in Once upon a Mattress.
Who is Carol Burnett? She was nominated for a Tony for her performance in Once upon a Mattress.
400
This soap opera debuted on NBC.
What is Days of Our Lives? The show’s introduction states, “Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.”
500
Batman and Robin were headquartered in this city.
What is Gotham City? The Batman franchise has been filmed in several large cities, including London, New York, and Chicago.
500
Origin country of the first woman in space
What is Soviet Union (not Russia)? In 1963, Valentina Tereshkova orbited Earth for three days.
500
This New York City store’s shoe floor has its own zip code.
What is Saks Fifth Avenue? The official zip code is 10022-SHOE. The shoe floor features several shoe shops.
500
Nicknamed the “Divine Miss M,” she appeared in the Broadway production of Fiddler on the Roof.
Who is Bette Midler? She also has a string of hit tunes, including “Do You Want to Dance,” “From a Distance,” and “The Rose.”
500
Warning labels were first put on this product.
What are cigarettes? In 1965, forty-two percent of adults smoked cigarettes, and the average price in the 1960s was 30 cents a pack.
