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.
Early in his career, Eastwood was known for playing people in this macho profession, including in a Sergio Leone trilogy.
What is cowboy? Eastwood plays The Man with No Name in Leone’s Dollars Trilogy.
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.
Known for their wafer candies, this company introduced candy conversation hearts in 1866.
What is Necco? Spangler Candy Company bought the Necco and Sweethearts brands in 2018 and continues to produce the wafers and candy hearts.
In this 1971 film, Eastwood plays a contentious and hotheaded San Francisco policeman.
What is Dirty Harry? The gritty film was so popular that it spawned several sequels.
1989: The Exxon Valdez oil spill occurred.
Who is George H. W. Bush? The spill and subsequent cleanup affected Prince William Sound.
In the 1980s, her vampire novels, like Queen of the Damned, were popular spooky reads.
Who is Anne Rice? One of her most popular works, Interview with the Vampire, was adapted to a recent TV series.
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.
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.
Eastwood’s comedic roles include a starring turn in Every Which Way But Loose, in which he stars alongside this kind of creature.
What is an orangutan? Other comedic roles include his 1974 appearance in Thunderbolt and Lightfoot with Jeff Bridges.
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.
Arthur Hailey’s 1971 novel Wheels covers this industry.
What is the automobile industry (cars)? Arthur Hailey also wrote about hotels and airports. Many of his works were bestsellers.
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.
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.
Eastwood is referenced by Marty, Michael J. Fox‘s character, in 1990’s third installment of this franchise.
What is Back to the Future? Eastwood not only gave permission for his name to be used but he was also said to be entertained by the homage.
1977: 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.
He is known for works like The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency as well as works of poetry and children’s literature.
Who is Alexander McCall Smith? His most popular series centers around a group of female detectives in Botswana.
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.
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.
A lover of music, Eastwood is accomplished at this black-and-white instrument and plays it in several movies, including 1993’s In the Line of Fire.
What is the piano? Specifically, Eastwood is known for his talent in jazz piano music.
1976: 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 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 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.