This is a fun way to test your knowledge of the 1950s.  We have broken this short quiz down into 3 categories: History, Pop Culture and Music.  Grab a pen and paper and see how much you remember from The Fabulous Fifties!   All correct answers are highlighted in white at the bottom of each category.

 


History
 
1.  Which war affected the US the most over the course of the 1950s?

      A.  The Cold War      

      B.  The Korean War

      C.  World War II
 

2.    In 1958, which bank launched the first credit card? 

     A.  Citi Bank

      B.  Wells Fargo

      C.  Bank of America
 
3.  In 1957, what company made the first Japanese car ever sold in America?

     A.  Honda

     B.  Toyota

     C.  Mitsubishi
 
4.  In 1953, what accomplishment made Edward Hilary and Tenzing Norgay famous?

     A.  Breaking the sound barrier

     B.  Climbing the summit of Mt. Everest

     C.  Running a four minute mile
 
5.  In 1950, in what city did the famous Brinks Robbery take place?

     A.  Chicago

     B.  Boston

     C.  San Francisco
 
6.  Which World War II leader died in March of 1953?

     A.  Winston Churchill

     B.  Joseph Stalin

     C.  Benito Mussolini
 
7.  Who said "Old soldiers never die, they just fade away"

     A.  General Omar Bradley

     B.  General Dwight D. Eisenhower

     C.  General Douglas MacArthur
 
8.  In 1958, the Saab GT750 became the first car to have what installed?

     A. Side-View Mirrors

     B.  Seat Belts

     C.  Automatic Transmissions
 
9.  In 1950, what US senator made a speech saying there were 205 known communists in the
     US   State Department?

     A.  Barry Goldwater

     B.  Richard Nixon

     C.  Joseph McCarthy
 
10.  What was the name of the first man-made satellite that was launched in 1957?

       A.  Explorer 1

       B.  Sputnik 1

       C.  Luna 1
 

Answers to History Quiz

1.  Which war affected the US the most over the course of the 1950s?  (A) The Cold War

2.  In 1958, which bank launched the first credit card?    (C)  Bank of America

3.  In 1957, what company made the first Japanese car ever sold in America?   (B) Toyota

4.  In 1953, what accomplishment made Edward Hilary and Tenzing Norgay famous?  ( B)
    Climbing the summit of Mt. Everest

5.  In 1950, in what city did the famous Brinks Robbery take place?  (B)  Boston

6.  Which World War II leader died in March of 1953?   (B)  Joseph Stalin

7.  Who said "Old soldiers never die, they just fade away"  (C)  General Douglas MacArthur

8.  In 1958, the Saab GT750 became the first car to have what installed?  (B) Seat Belts

9.  In 1950, what US senator made a speech saying there were 205 known communists in the
     US   State Department?   (C)  Joseph McCarthy

10.  What was the name of the first man-made satellite that was launched in 1957? (B)  Sputnik 1

 

 

Pop  Culture

 
1.  What famous baseball player married Marilyn Monroe in 1954?

     A. Yogi Berra

     B.  Mickey Mantle

     C.  Joe DiMaggio
 
2.  What famous cowboy of the 1950s was really named Leonard Slye?

     A.  Gene Autry

     B.  Roy Rogers

     C.  Hopalong Cassidy
 
3.  What television game show first aired in 1956 and is still running today?

     A. The $64,000 Question

     B.  The Price is Right

     C.  What's My Line?
 
4.  In the 1950s eating what type of live fish became popular?

     A.  Sardines

     B.  Goldfish

     C.  Minnows
 
5.  In 1954, which actress won an Academy Award for her portrayal of Princess Ann in the movie
     Roman  Holiday?

     A.  Ava Gardner

     B.  Grace Kelly

     C.  Audrey Hepburn
 
6.  Approximately how many Hula-Hoops did Wham-O sell in 1958?

     A.  15 million

     B.  55 million

     C.  100 million
 
7.  In 1955, what young star in the movie Rebel Without a Cause died in an automobile accident?

     A.  Ricky Nelson

     B.  James Dean

     C.  Montgomery Clift
 
8.   In 1957, Tony and Maria were the lead characters in what Broadway Musical?

      A.  High Society

      B.  West Side Story

      C.  Jail House Rock
 
9.  Frank Sinatra appeared in twenty movies during the '50s.  Which of the following is not one
     of them?

       A.  From Here To Eternity

       B.  Some Came Running

       C.  A Place in the Sun
 

10.   In 1958, what film won the Oscar for Best Picture of the year?

       A.  Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

       B.  The Bridge On The River Kwai

       C.  Gigi
 

Answers to Pop Culture Quiz

1.  What famous baseball player married Marilyn Monroe in 1954?  (C)  Joe DiMaggio

2.  What famous cowboy of the 1950s was really named Leonard Slye?  (B)  Roy Rogers

3.  What television game show first aired in 1956 and is still running today?  (B) Price is Right

4.  In the 1950s eating what type of live fish became popular?  (B)  Goldfish

5.  In 1954, which actress won an Academy Award for her portrayal of Princess Ann in the movie
     Roman  Holiday?   (C)  Audrey Hepburn

6.  Approximately how many Hula-Hoops did Wham-O sell in 1958?  (C) 100 million

7.  In 1955, what young star in the movie Rebel Without a Cause died in an automobile accident?
     (B)  James Dean

 8.  Tony and Maria were the lead characters in what Broadway Musical?  (B) West Side Story

9.  Frank Sinatra appeared in twenty movies during the '50s.  Which of the following is not one
     of them?  (C)  A Place in the Sun

In 1958, what film won the Oscar for Best Picture of the year?  (C)  Gigi

    

 

Music

 
1.  In 1955, what singer had a country music chart hit with Sixteen Tons?

     A. Johnny Cash

     B.  Hank Williams

     C.  Tennessee Ernie Ford
 
2.   Who originally sang That'll Be the Day in 1957?

      A.  The Drifters

      B.  The Everly Brothers

      C.  Buddy Holly and the Crickets
 
3.   What pop culture idols died in an airplane crash  in what is known as "The Day the Music
      Died"?

      A.  Chuck Berry, Richie Valens, Jerry Lee Lewis

      B.  Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, J. P. Richardson

      C.  Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry
 
4.    In 1951, who first recorded the song I Can't Help it if I'm Still In Love With You?

      A.  B. J. Thomas

      B.  Hank Williams, Senior

      C.  Glen Campbell
 
5.  Which group had a hit with Twilight Time in 1958?

     A.  The Platters

     B.  The Drifters

     C.  The Flamingos
 
6.  In 1956, what song became Elvis Pressley's  best-selling song that helped him earn the title
     of "King of Rock and Roll"?

    A.   Jail House Rock

    B.   Heartbreak Hotel

    C.  Hound Dog
 
7.  Which song was not recorded by Little Anthony & The Imperials?

     A.  Tears On My Pillow

     B.  The Great Pretender

     C.  When You Wish Upon A Star
 
8.  In 1959, what group recorded Sixteen Candles?

     A.  The Platters

     B.  The Crests

     C.  The Coasters
 
9.  In 1957, who recorded the song You Send Me?

     A.  Fats Domino

     B.  Sam Cooke

     C.   Tony Bennett
 
10.  In 1958, what song was Billboards Magazine's #1 top single of the year?

       A.  Twilight Time

       B.  Volare

       C.  It's All in the Game
 

Answers to Music Quiz

1.  What singer had a country music chart hit with Sixteen Tons?   (C)  Tennessee Ernie Ford

2.   Who originally sang That'll Be the Day in 1957?  (C)  Buddy Holly and the Crickets

3.   What pop culture idols died in an airplane crash  in what is known as "The Day the Music
      Died"?  (B)  Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, J. P. Richardson (the Big Bopper)

4.    In 1951, who first recorded the song I Can't Help it if I'm Still In Love With You? 
       (B)  Hank Williams, Senior

5.  Which group had a hit with Twilight Time in 1958?  (A) The Platters

6.  In 1956, what song became Elvis Pressley's  best-selling song that helped him earn the title
     of "King of Rock and Roll"?   (C) Hound Dog

7.  Which song was not recorded by Little Anthony & The Imperials?  (B) The Great Pretender

8.  In 1959, what group recorded Sixteen Candles?  (B) The Crests

9.  In 1957, who recorded the song You Send Me?  (B) Sam Cooke

10.  In 1958, what song was the Billboard #1 top single of the year?  (B)  Volare


Thanks for taking our quiz - we hope you enjoyed it. 

 

 

 


 

 

Page Created: 4/12/20