Inventions and Inventors
Who was the first to secure a patent for the telephone?
Alexander Graham Bell
The 29-year-old inventor did so in March 1876. He had a personal interest in sound technology because his mother and wife were deaf.
What was the name of the Ukrainian nuclear power plant that was the site of a nuclear disaster in April 1986?
Chernobyl
What song contains the line "Trailers for sale or rent, Rooms to let, 50 cents"?
King of the Road
Complete the title of this major 1950s hit for the Everly Brothers: “Wake Up Little _____.”
Susie
“Wake Up Little Susie” was released on September 2, 1957. Some Boston radio stations banned the song because the lyrics implied that young couples spent the night together.
On a dartboard or target, where can you find the bullseye?
At the very center, or inside the innermost circle of the board
Who is known for inventing the incandescent lightbulb, the phonograph, and the early movie camera?
Thomas Edison
He was one of the original owners of Edison General Electric, but he left what is now General Electric to set up his own laboratory in New Jersey. At its height, it employed 10,000 people.
This beloved British royal married Prince Charles on July 29, 1981.
Princess Diana (or Diana, Princess of Wales)
“A long, long time ago/ I can still remember…” begins the No. 1 hit song of 1972,a Don McLean classic.
American Pie
The song mourns the end of the 1950s music era with the death of Buddy Holly, and its solemn and poetic lyrics have made it a classic that endures to this day.
Which 1950s entertainment venues were also known as "Passion Pits"?
Drive- In Movies
What medical condition causes bones to be weakened and brittle?
Osteoporosis
Who is credited with inventing the code that uses dots and dashes?
Samuel Morse
Others contributed to the invention called Morse code, which was transmitted across telegraph lines.
This British ocean liner was sunk by a German U-boat in 1915.
Lusitania
The sinking of the Lusitania was a crucial event leading up to World War I.
This popular singer of the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s first asked us “What’s love got to do, got to do with it?” in1984 and gifted us a remix of her smash hit in 2020, at age 80.
Tina Turner
She was inducted into the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in 2021. She had been inducted once before in 1991 as a duo with then-husband Ike Turner.
What is the name of the woman who refused to give up her seat on the bus in 1955?
Rosa Parks
She was 42 years old when she refused to give up her seat to a white man on a crowded bus in Montgomery, Alabama.
What song contains the line “Yes, I ask you very confidentially, ain’t she nice?”
“Ain’t She Sweet”
The song was published in 1927 by songwriters Milton Ager
Who is generally considered to have invented the modern airplane?
The Wright Brothers (Orville and Wilbur)
It is well-established that the Wright Brothers were the first to take flight, but they also invented the modern airplane. In Brazil, however, they credit Brazilian Alberto Santos-Dumont with inventing the airplane.
This decades-long conflict ended in 1975 following the fall of Saigon.
Vietnam War
The conflict came to an end with the formal reunification of North and South Vietnam.
What rock and roll singer popularized several dance styles in the 1960s?
Chubby Checker
Checker’s biggest hits include “The Twist,” “Pony Time,” “Let’s Twist Again,” and “Limbo Rock.”
Who wrote the classic novel The Catcher in the Rye in 1951?
J.D. Salinger
Of the three territories and 10 provinces in Canada, which has the most land area?
Nunuvut
Despite its size, Nunavut has only one city: the capital ofI qaluit (ee-KAL-oo-it).
Who invented the steam engine?
Robert Fulton
He also invented what is considered the first practical submarine
These two men took “one small step” on July 20, 1969
Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin
Around half a billion people tuned in to watch the historic moon landing. The crew safely landed back on Earth on July 24
She sang "God Bless The Child" and "Summertime." Who was this great lady who sang the blues?
Billie Holliday
What famous baseball player married Marilyn Monroe in 1954?
Joe DeMaggio
In the 1946 film It’s a Wonderful Life, who played the main character, George Bailey?
Jimmy Stewart
Stewart had said that George Bailey was his favorite role he ever played.