Invented in the ’70s
In 1970, this popcorn mogul unveiled his hybrid strain of gourmet popping corn
Who is Orville Redenbacher? His namesake popcorn was lighter and fluffier than anything else on the market. It took him nearly 20 years to develop
This Mario Puzo novel was on the bestseller list for 67 weeks and spawned a movie franchise.
What is The Godfather? The novel is estimated to have sold 20–30 million copies worldwide
Charlotte Stewart played Laura Ingalls’ teacher on this TV show.
What is Little House on the Prairie? For her portrayal of schoolteacher Eva Beadle, Stewart was nominated for a TV Land “Teacher of the Year” award.
) “_______ Takes Oath as 40th President, Promises an ‘Era of National Renewal,’” reads the New York Times front page on January 21, 1981
Who is Reagan? The inauguration ceremony was the first to be held on the western front of the Capitol
This television series stars Alan Alda, Wayne Rogers, and Loretta Swit at a mobile Army hospital
What is M*A*S*H? The series premiered on September 17, 1972, and ran for 11 years
This simple and beloved toy that gets kicked around was invented in 1972 by friends Mike Marshall and John Stalberger.
What is a hacky sack? The hacky sack game is also called footbag
Breakfast of Champions by this satirical author was one of 1973’s bestselling novels
Who is Kurt Vonnegut? Vonnegut’s own experiences as an Army veteran influenced the novel’s sentiments about war
Some of the Little Rascals had a crush on this schoolteacher.
Who is Miss Crabtree? She was played by June Marlowe and was one of the show’s most popular characters despite appearing in only six shorts
A headline from July 30, 1981: “Amid Splendor, Charles Weds _______.
Answer: Who is Diana? Newspapers around the world reported on the royal wedding at St. Paul’s Cathedral
This 1987 thriller stars Glenn Close and Michael Douglas
What is Fatal Attraction? The movie was released on September 18 and was one of the highest-grossing films of the year worldwide
Arthur Fry of the 3M company invented this re-stickable stationery item as a bookmark for his hymnal.
What is the Post-it Note? The adhesive Fry used was invented by fellow 3M scientist Dr. Spencer Silver
The original title of this Richard Adams bestseller was Hazel and Fiver, after two of the book’s rabbit characters.
The novel began as a story Adams told to his children and became a bestseller in 1974.
This show of the ’70s stars Gabe Kaplan as the titular teacher, trying to keep up with the antics of the “Sweathogs.”
What is Welcome Back, Kotter? Farrah Fawcett was considered for the role of Mrs. Kotter until producers decided audiences wouldn’t buy her as Kaplan’s wife.
From January 29, 1986: “Space Shuttle __________ Explodes Shortly After Lift Off.
What is Challenger? After the explosion, crew members’ families founded the Challenger Center for Space Science Education program
This actress known for Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, 9 to 5, and Grace and Frankie was born on September 1, 1939.
Who is Lily Tomlin? She originally majored in pre-med before starting stand-up comedy and choosing acting as a career.
This Hungarian teacher and puzzle lover invented his famous puzzle cube in 1974.
Who is Erno Rubik? Since 2003, the World Cube Association has hosted contests to see who can solve a Rubik’s cube the fastest.
The Silmarillion, a fantasy novel by this author, sat at No.1 for 13 weeks in 1977 followed by 10 weeks in 1978 for a total of 23 consecutive weeks
What is Spy? The novel inspired a 1965 film starring Richard Burton.
Theodore Cleaver had quite the crush on his second-grade teacher, Miss Canfield, in this beloved TV series.
What is Leave It to Beaver? Diane Brewster reprised her role in the 1983 TV movie Still the Beaver.
On March 24, 1989, the Washington Post reported, “Millions of Gallons of _______ Spill into Alaskan Sound.”
What is Oil? The Exxon-Valdez oil spill was the worst oil spill North America had seen to date
This English actor was born on September 10, 1960; he is known for roles in The King’s Speech and Bridget Jones’s Diary
Who is Colin Firth? He won an Oscar for his portrayal of King George VI in The King’s Speech.
These bite-sized peanut butter candies were invented in 1978 and featured in the movie E.T.
What are Reese’s Pieces? Sales of the candy increased by around 60 percent thanks to its status as E.T.’s favorite candy
This novelist topped the NYT bestsellers list many times throughout the ’60s and ’70s, with hits such as Hawaii and Chesapeake.
Who is James A. Michener? He was noted for his meticulously researched historical novels
The teachers at Bayside High School had to keep up with rowdy teens in this late ’80s/early ’90s sitcom.
What is Saved by the Bell? The show is a spinoff of Good Morning, Miss Bliss
From the Seattle Times on May 19, 1980: “________ still spewing ash, but scientists believe worst is over.”
What is St. Helens? The 1980 explosion sparked advances in our understanding of volcano science and improved scientists’ ability to predict volcanic eruptions
Released in the United States in August 1971, And Now for Something Completely Different is an anthology of comedic sketches from this British comedy group.
What is Monty Python? The group included Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin