Hollywood Headlines
This actress became known as “The Blonde Bombshell” and starred in films like Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
Marilyn Monroe
Monroe’s iconic white dress scene in The Seven Year Itch is one of the most recognizable moments in film history.
What famous crooner was known as “Ol’ Blue Eyes” and made “Come Fly With Me” a hit in 1958?
Frank Sinatra
Sinatra’s nickname came from his striking blue eyes — he even inspired teenage fan hysteria before Elvis did!
This designer’s “New Look” revolutionized women’s fashion after World War II.
Christian Dior
Dior’s designs emphasized full skirts and hourglass silhouettes, a contrast to wartime styles.
This communication device became common in homes after World War II, changing how people stayed in touch.
The telephone
Party lines meant several households shared one line, leading to many “accidental” eavesdroppers.
In 1963, this U.S. president was assassinated in Dallas, Texas.
John F. Kennedy
Over 90% of Americans watched his funeral on television.
This 1959 epic starring Charlton Heston won a record 11 Academy Awards.
Ben-Hur
The chariot race took five weeks to film and used more than 15,000 extras.
This group of brothers became one of the most popular Motown acts of the late 1960s.
The Jackson 5
Michael Jackson was only 11 when the group hit number one with “I Want You Back.”
Poodle skirts and saddle shoes were a hallmark of what decade’s teenage fashion?
1950s
The felt skirts often had appliqués of poodles, records, or other fun motifs.
This household device became a staple of 1950s kitchens and helped people reheat food faster.
Microwave oven
The first microwave was almost six feet tall and cost about $5,000!
This event in 1941 led the United States to enter World War II.
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack destroyed or damaged over 300 aircraft and 18 ships.
This 1960 film by Alfred Hitchcock shocked audiences with its infamous shower scene.
Psycho
The “blood” in the scene was actually chocolate syrup!
This 1967 song by Aretha Franklin became an anthem for women’s rights and empowerment.
Respect
The song was originally written and recorded by Otis Redding in 1965, but Aretha’s version made it iconic.
This British model became a 1960s style icon known for her short hair and bold eyes.
Twiggy
Twiggy’s androgynous look defined the “Mod” movement in London.
This transportation breakthrough was first used commercially in the late 1950s, revolutionizing air travel.
The jet airplane
Jet travel cut flight times nearly in half compared to propeller planes.
In 1969, this American astronaut became the first person to walk on the Moon.
Neil Armstrong
His footprints on the Moon are still there — there’s no wind to erase them.
This actor was known as “The King of Cool” and starred in Bullitt and The Great Escape.
Steve McQueen
McQueen performed many of his own stunts and was a skilled race car driver off-screen.
What rock pioneer was known for his “duck walk” and hits like “Johnny B. Goode”?
Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry’s guitar riffs laid the foundation for rock music — even The Beatles and The Rolling Stones called him a major influence.
This Italian fashion house became famous in the 1950s for its handcrafted shoes and luxury designs.
Salvatore Ferragamo
Ferragamo designed shoes for Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn.
This small, portable music device introduced in 1954 allowed people to take music wherever they went.
Transistor radio
It became one of the first affordable tech gadgets marketed to teens.
This Cold War barrier went up in 1961, dividing one European city in two.
The Berlin Wall
It wasn’t fully demolished until 1989, nearly 30 years later.
In 1967, this film broke cultural boundaries with its interracial romance plot between a white woman and her fiancé.
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
It was one of the first major films to portray interracial marriage in a positive light, just six months after it became legal nationwide.
This folk singer became the voice of a generation with protest songs like “Blowin’ in the Wind.”
Bob Dylan
Dylan won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2016 for his poetic songwriting.
This French designer introduced the modern miniskirt in the mid-1960s.
Mary Quant
Quant’s miniskirt symbolized youthful rebellion and women’s liberation.
This Soviet invention launched in 1957 marked the beginning of the Space Age.
Sputnik
Sputnik’s radio signal could be picked up by amateur operators around the world.
In 1962, what 13-day confrontation between the U.S. and the Soviet Union brought the world to the brink of nuclear war?
Cuban Missile Crisis
President John F. Kennedy and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev negotiated a tense peace that avoided nuclear disaster