Broadway Musicals
The 1940s
Potpourri
Numerology
Oh, "MM"y
100
Mary Martin played Maria in this 1959 Broadway musical; Julie Andrews plays the role in the 1965 film.
What is The Sound of Music? Set in Austria just before World War II, Maria leaves the convent to assume the role of governess before falling in love with the children’s father.
100
This landmark sculpture depicting four presidents was completed in 1941.
What is Mount Rushmore? The four U.S. presidents carved into the side of the mountain are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt.
100
In the 1950s, drive-in restaurant servers came to your car using this mode of transportation.
What are roller skates? Named carhops, the servers were all the rage throughout the 1950s. Sonic still uses carhops at some of its 3,500 restaurants
100
To “86” something is to do this.
What is to kill or end it? For example, “Let’s 86 that idea we discussed at the meeting.”
100
The dog days occur during this season.
What is summer? These days are a period of intense heat, something we often dream about in January.
200
A high-spirited, “unsinkable” young woman is the protagonist in this 1960 musical.
What is The Unsinkable Molly Brown? The show follows the story of a young mountain girl who leaves home in search of a wealthy husband
200
This prestigious global film festival was launched in 1946.
What is the Cannes Film Festival? The inaugural film festival was scheduled for 1939 in Cannes, France, but World War II caused its delay
200
These winter veggies resemble fat, white carrots.
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What are parsnips? They belong to the same family as carrots and parsley, but they are not eaten raw. They are sweeter than carrots and have a subtle licorice flavor
200
This number is associated with bad luck
What is 13? We’re told to watch out for Friday the 13th, but it’s just another day on the calendar.
200
Someone who shares a living space with another person in a college dorm is called this.
What is roommate? Due to today’s economic conditions, many young adults share apartments and houses with roommates to defray costs
300
This 1960 musical is named for the first three notes on the musical scale, or solfege.
What is Do Re Mi? The complete solfege scale is do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti, and do. The musical follows the ups and downs of Harry as he tries to make it big in the jukebox business.
300
This pen replaced the fountain pen in 1945.
What is the ballpoint pen? Gimbels introduced them at its flagship store in New York City. The first ballpoint pens sold for $12.50, which is the equivalent of $221 today. You don’t have to pay even 221 cents today if you buy in bulk.
300
This classic novel by J. D. Salinger tells the story of Holden Caulfield’s life after he is expelled from prep school.
What is The Catcher in the Rye? Caulfield narrates the book. Over the decades, the book has been both required high school reading and censored for being too risqué
300
This is the biblical number for wholeness or perfection.
What is three? This is exemplified by the three persons of the Holy Trinity and Jesus’ resurrection on the third day
300
Wear this detachable waistband with a tuxedo.
What is cummerbund? The cummerbund originated in India in the 19th century
400
The 1963 Broadway musical Here’s Love was based on this film about Santa Claus, released in 1947.
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What is Miracle on 34th Street? In the beloved story, Kris Kringle, a New York City department-store Santa Claus, goes on trial to prove he is Santa.
400
This president won an unprecedented fourth term in 1944.
Who is Franklin D. Roosevelt? His fourth term ended after just three months due to his death
400
America’s most fundamental criminal law concept, dating to ancient Rome, presumes this until proven otherwise.
What is innocence? The Roman law translated reads, “The burden of proof lies with who declares, not who denies.” This led to England’s common law and eventually became law in the United States.
400
This was 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit for a long time, but newer research indicates the number is falling.
What is humans’ average temperature? The standard temperature was established in 1851, and thermometers are more accurate today.
400
This is the name for the rules that govern all aspects of written and oral communication, such as correct subject-verb agreement.
What is grammar? Word processing programs have incorporated built-in spelling and grammar checkers for decades
500
This 1975 jazz musical, based on reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins’ 1926 play, is named for the city in which it is set.
What is Chicago? The show explores Watkins’ fact-based reports on crimes and criminals during the city’s jazz era.
500
Forrest Mars Sr. partnered with Bruce Murrie in 1941 to create these candies for the military.
What are M&M’s? Mars was inspired in the 1930s when he saw Spanish soldiers eating chocolate candies with hard shells, which prevented them from melting.
500
This is the northern hemisphere’s largest island.
What is Greenland? To put Greenland’s size into perspective, its land mass is 21 times larger than Iceland’s, and Australia’s land mass is four times that of Greenland’s
500
This number symbolizes infinity or infinite wisdom.
What is eight? Turn the number on its side, and you’ll see the infinity symbol.
500
This bird holds the distinction of being the only bird that can fly backward.
What is hummingbird? It can also hover and fly upside down, but it cannot walk.
