The Decade It's Set In
The decade was full of happy days.
WHat is the 1950s?
Although the show
ran from 1974 to
1984, the story of the
Cunningham family
was set much earlier.
He said, “My fellow
Americans, our long national
nightmare is over.”
Who is
Gerald Ford?
The quote comes from
his first presidential
address in 1974.
This nation launched the first
space station, the Salyut 1.
What is the USSR?
The launch took place on
April 19, 1971.
This sport’s February 18, 1979,
race is a historic moment
in racing, the first televised
race from start to finish.
What is NASCAR?
The spectacle of the race included a
fight between drivers Cale Yarborough
and the Allison brothers.
Her novel The Handmaid’s
Tale has been made into a
popular modern TV series.
Who is Margaret
Atwood?
Her other titles include
1989’s Cat’s Eye and
a recent novel, The
Testaments, from 2019.
The backstory for Dallas
starts the Ewing family
drama during this decade.
What is the 1930s?
Star-crossed lovers, family dynamics,
and drama abound in this soap opera.
In one of his most beloved
songs, he says, “You may say
I’m a dreamer, but I’m not
the only one.”
Who is John Lennon?
The 1971 tune “Imagine” is still
popular and has been used during
two Olympics ceremonies,
in 2012 and 2018.
Launched and returned from
space in 1981, this was the
first reusable spacecraft.
What is Columbia?
A tragic accident destroyed the
spacecraft in 2003, but remnants can still
be seen at the Kennedy Space Center
This Italian race car driver has won
many titles, including IndyCar in
1984 and USAC Silver Crown in 1974;
other racers in his family include
brother Aldo, grandson Marco, and
nephews John and Adam.
Who is Mario Andretti?
After studying cars and racing in their
native Italy, the Andretti brothers and their
family came to the United States in 1955.
This New Orleans native is
noted for her Interview with
the Vampire, which was
made into a movie starring
Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt.
Who is Anne Rice?
Her wide variety of works
include religious novels and
supernatural fiction.
This decade was the setting
for M*A*S*H.
What is the 1950s?
It tells the story of an army hospital
during the Korean War and is one of
the most beloved shows from the
’70s and early ’80s.
After rejecting his Best Actor
Oscar, he said, “If we are not
our brother’s keeper, at least
let us not be his executioner.”
Who is Marlon Brando?
Penned by Brando as a protest,
the words were read out by
Sacheen Littlefeather.
This large space telescope
was launched in 1990.
What is the Hubble
(space telescope)?
The reflecting telescope has since sent
back breathtaking images of stars,
nebulas, and more.
In 1997, Japanese automaker
Toyota introduced this
fuel-saving hybrid vehicle.
What is the Prius?
Chief engineer Takeshi Uchiyamada
rose to the chairman of the board
of directors after designing this
groundbreaking car.
Danielle Steel is an
author most noted for her
bestsellers in this genre.
What is romance?
Her first novel, Going Home, was
published in 1973.
Recent TV show The
Goldbergs has this decade as
its setting, leading to many
of the show’s iconic and
nostalgic moments.
What is the ’80s?
Creator Adam Goldberg based the
show’s storylines around his real-life
’80s childhood.
Talk about irony! This
British politician once said,
“I don’t think there will be a
woman prime minister in
my lifetime.”
Who is Margaret
Thatcher?
Just six years later,
she became that
first female PM.
In 1976, an American probe
discovered water frost on
the surface of this planet
What is Mars?
The Viking 2 probe also found many
elements essential to life, such as
carbon and oxygen.
At a July 4 race in 1984, this
driver won his 200th career
cup race in NASCAR, a
record that still stands.
Who is Richard Petty?
The race at Daytona International
Speedway was attended by
President Reagan.
She is the author of fiction
and nonfiction works
including The Joy Luck Club
and The Moon Lady
Who is Amy Tan?
She is a Master Class instructor
and has been awarded the National
Humanities Medal. Her most recent
book, The Backyard Bird Chronicles,
is about how she took up bird
watching during the 2020 pandemic.
Much of the original Dark
Shadows series takes place
during this decade in the
late 1700s.
What is the 1790s?
The show tells the story of the Collins
family and has been remade into both
a TV series and a movie.
Her anti-drug campaign
slogan told ’80s kids to
“just say no.”
Who is Nancy Reagan?
The slogan was on posters and in
films distributed to U.S. schools
throughout the 1980s and ’90s.
The Apollo and this other
spacecraft became the first
two to achieve international
docking in space, in 1975
What is Soyuz?
The docking between the U.S. and Soviet
crafts took place as part of a test project.
During the 1982 Paris–Dakar
Rally, this son of a British
prime minister went missing,
to be found five days later in
a headline-making incident.
Who is Mark Thatcher?
The incident gave a lot of publicity to
the race and increased attendance in
the following year.
Born in 1944, her
famous works include
1982’s The Color Purple
and 1970’s The Third Life
of Grange Copeland.
Who is Alice Walker?
She is also largely responsible for
reviving interest in fellow author
Zora Neale Hurston.