The 1950s
Royal Rules
On the Phone
Plant Life
Odd Man Out (the one that doesn’t fit)
100

In 1950, this agency released the first 10 Most Wanted list.

What is the FBI? The previous year, the International News Service ran a story on “the worst of the worst” fugitives, and a tip from someone who saw a photo led to the conviction of a three-time murderer.

100

When royal women are on official engagements and wear a dress or skirt, they must wear hose or tights of one of these two colors.

What is black or nude? This is not a written rule, but it is expected.

100

Old-style analog phones use this feature to input the phone number.

What is a dial? The dial was invented in 1891. These phones are called rotary phones.

100

This is the fastest growing woody plant.

What is bamboo? There’s no need to fertilize bamboo; it self-fertilizes. Its leaves act as a mulch when they drop, and as they decompose, they return nutrients to the soil.

100

Comb, brush, razor

What is razor? Combs and brushes style hair; razors remove hair

200

Home entertainment was transformed with the introduction of this electronic.

What is color TV? RCA was the first to invent and bring color TV to market. Color was first broadcast in 1953 but became more widely adopted in the 1960s.

200

This classic real estate board game is off limits.

What is Monopoly? The prohibition is because the game can become vicious.

200

This is the United States’ emergency phone number

What is 911? It’s easy to remember, and it was introduced in 1968.

200

During the 1600s, these bulbs were worth more than gold.

What are tulips? At the peak of Tulipmania, the price for one tulip bulb was around 5,200 guilders. In today’s dollars, the bulb sold for around $250,000.

200

Ben Casey, Dr. Kildare, Perry Mason

What is Perry Mason? It is the only TV show that isn’t a TV medical drama; it’s a legal drama.

300

This “Rebel Without a Cause” became the symbol of teenage rebellion

Who is James Dean? His three films are Rebel Without a Cause, East of Eden, and Giant. He was also an auto racer, and he died because of injuries sustained in a car crash on his way to a racing event.

300

Royals don’t give autographs for this reason.

What is the risk of forgery? Kate broke the rules by signing “Catherine” to an official letter.

300

This invention inspired the telephone

What is the telegraph? Telegraphs were used for written messages. Western Union delivered its last telegram in 2006.

300

Avocado, zucchini, and pumpkin are classified as this type of plant because they have seeds.

What is fruit? Fruits can contain a single seed, like an avocado, or many seeds, like a zucchini or pumpkin.

300

Salmon, crab, tuna

What is crab? Crab is the only shellfish on the list.

400

This movement gained momentum after the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

What is the Civil Rights Movement? Rosa Parks’ arrest sparked the boycott when she refused to give up her seat on the bus

400

Married royals replace hats with these at 6 p.m.

What are tiaras? Unmarried royals do not wear these crown jewels.

400

Before callers could complete calls themselves, they relied on these women to make the calls for them.

Who are switchboard operators? As automatic switching took over, the number of switchboard operators declined. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 1,460 operators remained in 2019.

400

Saffron comes from this plant

What is the crocus? Specifically, it comes from the stigma of the fall-blooming crocus. It is hand-harvested, and the stigma is also removed by hand, which contributes to its high cost.

400

Peridot, ruby, sapphire

What is peridot? Ruby and sapphire are precious stones; peridot is not. The diamond is the rarest gemstone. The only precious gemstones are diamond, ruby, sapphire, and emerald.

500

Men’s fashion evolved to the Ivy League look, featuring these shirts and loafers.

What is a button-down? Some of the fashions, such as Oxford button-down shirts and khakis, remain popular.

500

While on official engagements, the royals never eat this protein from the sea.

What is shellfish? They avoid it due to the risk of food poisoning. They rarely eat garlic and avoid rich sauces.

500

Alexander Graham Bell suggested this greeting when answering the phone.

What is “ahoy”? Thomas Edison suggested “hello,” and it’s the most common greeting in English-speaking countries.

500

Ferns and mosses are two common plants that reproduce through these.

What are spores? Most plants reproduce via seeds. Spores travel through the air to procreate. Algae are marine plants that reproduce by releasing spores that are carried by water.

500

Persea americana, Lepus, Rosa

What is Lepus? It’s the name of the genus of animals that includes rabbits. The other two belong to the plant kingdom. Persea americana is an avocado, and Rosa is a rose.