Trivia through the Decades

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

100

In terms of fashion, what is a popover?

a. jacket

b. dress

c. t-shirt

b. dress

Claire McCardell designed the popover, a type of wrap-around dress, in 1942. It was versatile and could be used for entertaining, parties, and as a swimsuit coverup.

100

What movie was the biggest box office success?

a. The African Queen

b. An American in Paris

c. Strangers on a Train

a. The African Queen

Starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn

100

What was the popular dance in the 1960s?

a. the hand jive

b. the twist

c. the hustle

b. the twist

100

In which year did the Vietnam War end?

a. 1971

b. 1975

c. 1979

b. 1975

The Vietnam War lasted from 1954 to 1975, meaning it spanned a period of 21 years

100

What was the major health epidemic that emerged in the 1980s?

a. AIDS

b. COVID

c. Bird Flu

a. AIDS

The epidemic began in June 1981. As of 2023, HIV/AIDS has killed an estimated 40.4 million people

200

In 1941, El Rancho Vegas, a casino hotel, opened. This was soon followed by others. What is the name of the part of the highway where one could find all these casinos?

a. Casino Row

b. The Strip

c. Vegas Ave.

b. The Strip

The Strip was filled with places for gamblers to win and lose big money. Mobster, Bugsy Siegel, and others opened one of the most famous casinos - The Flamingo. Siegel was murdered a year later, but mobsters continued to grow Las Vegas.

200

Which American television sitcom, starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz was released on 15 October 1951?

a. Leave it to Beaver

b. I Love Lucy

c. The Honeymooners

b. I Love Lucy

"I Love Lucy", a hundred laughs a minute, stars Lucille Ball who plays the part of Lucy, a dippy woman who constantly strives to become a star along with her Bandleader husband, played by Desi Arnaz.

200

Which groundbreaking sci-fi television series premiered in 1966?

a. star wars

b. star trek

c. doctor who

b. star trek

200

Who released the hit song ‘Stayin Alive’ in 1977?

a. Bee Gees

b. Queen

c. Led Zeppelin

a. Bee Gees

200

Who played the Goblin King in “Labyrinth” (1986)?

a. David Bowie

b. Freddie Mercury

c. John Travolta

a. David Bowie

300

In 1941, a new comic began with a character whose best friend was Jughead. What was the name of the title character?

a. ken

b. Andy

c. Archie

The "Archie" gang first appeared in "Pep Comics" in 1941; by 1942, they had their own comics: "Archie Comics," eventually shortened to "Archie."

300

Who was the "Today" show's famous non-human cohost?

a. Bucky

b. J. Fred Muggs

c. Iriving

b. J. Fred Muggs

The "Today" show's earling ratings were not promising, and the producers wanted to make the show more entertaining. They added a chimpanze named J. Fred Muggs, who became an almost instant popular star in his own right.

300

Which British rock band was formed in 1962 and became one of the most influential acts of all time?

a. the beatles

b. the who

c. the rolling stones

The Beatles had formed two years earlier in 1960 and The Who formed two years later in 1964

300

Who was the U.S. president at the beginning of the 70s?

a. Lyndon Johnson

b. Gerald R. Ford

c. Richard Nixon

Nixon was the 37th president of the united states. His presidency was from 1969-1974

300

Who directed “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” (1982)?

a. Quentin Tarantino

b. Alfred Hitchcock

c. Stephen Spielberg

Spielberg has directed many popular movies such as, Jaws, Indiana Jones, and Jurassic Park.

400

In 1940, Disney released "Pinocchio" with a little cricket who acted as Pinocchio's conscience. What was the cricket's name?

a. Jiminy

b. Jim

c. Jimmy

a. Jiminy

400

Name the number 1 song on the Billboard Charts in 1951:

a. Be My Love

b. Moonlight Bay

c. The Old Lamplighter

a. Be My Love

Mario Lanza was the artist.

400

Who was the first man to walk on the moon in 1969?

a. Neil Armstrong

b. John Glenn

c. Alan Shepard

a. Neil Armstrong

400

Which compact car did Ford introduce in 1970?

a. Ford Torino

b. Ford Bronco

c. Ford Pinto

400

What was the first video played on MTV in 1981?

a. You Better Run

b. She Wont Dance With Me

c. Video Killed the Radio Star

500

Sometimes it's fun to visit different places. In 1943 someone from Asteroid 325 visited other planets, including Earth. Who was this traveler?

A. the giant king

B. the little princess

C. the little prince

500

Turning to music, time to dust off those old 45's. Who sang the never-to-be-forgotten, rock classic "Turn Me Loose."

A. Ricky Nelson

B. Fabian

C. Buddy Holly

B. Fabian

Talk about a one-hit wonder, Fabian was a heart throb in the late '50s. He had a short singing career and an even shorter movie career. Problem was he couldn't sing or act. But he sure was cute.

500

In 1969, what music festival drew over 400,000 attendees in New York?

a. burning man

b. lollapalooza

c. woodstock

In 1969, the country was deep into the controversial Vietnam War, a conflict that many young people vehemently opposed. It was also the era of the civil rights movement, a period of great protest and unrest. Woodstock was an opportunity for people to escape into music and spread a message of unity and peace.

500

Who was the infamous American serial killer active during the mid-70s?

a. Rodney Alcala

b. Ted Bundy

c. Charles Manson

b. Ted Bundy

Serial killer and rapist Ted Bundy was one of the most notorious criminals of the late 20th century, having admitted to 30 murders committed in the 1970s.

500

What was the major nuclear accident that occurred in 1986?

a. Fukushima Daiichi

b. Chernobyl

c. Three Mile Island

b. Chernobyl

On April 26, 1986, the Number Four reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine exploded, releasing a large amount of radiation into the atmosphere. The disaster was caused by a combination of factors, including a flawed reactor design, inadequately trained operators, and a disregard for safety measures. The Chernobyl disaster is considered the worst nuclear disaster in history, with an estimated cost of $700 billion