1950s Trivia

1. The Treaty of Friendship, Co-operation, and Mutual Assistance was formed in 1955. What is the most common name for this treaty?

From Quiz Stayin' Alive in '55

Answer: The Warsaw Pact

Led by the USSR during the Cold War, the Warsaw Pact consisted of the People's Republic of Albania, People's Republic of Bulgaria, Czechoslovak Republic, German Democratic Republic, People's Republic of Hungary, People's Republic of Poland and the People's Republic of Romania. One of the reasons for forming the Warsaw Pact was the inclusion of West Germany in NATO earlier in 1955, but the main reason was that the USSR wanted to keep its control over Eastern and Central European forces. Ironically, the Warsaw Pact's biggest military actions were against some of its own members; against Hungary in 1956 and in 1968 against Czechoslovakia. Albania withdrew from the Pact in 1968. When the Romanian Communist government was brought down by a revolution in 1989, this ended Romania's membership. Due to the reunification of Germany in 1990, East Germany left the pact. In 1991 at a meeting of the USSR and the remaining members, the Warsaw Pact ended. The USSR itself also dissolved in 1991. Question submitted by wenray.

From Quiz An American Baby Boomer's Weekend

Answer: Cheerios

CheeriOats were introduced by General Mills in 1941 and renamed Cheerios in 1945. The breakfast cereal remained unchanged until 1976 when Cinnamon Nut Cheerios came out. "If you know your oats you too will go for nutritious, delicious Cheerios."

From Quiz The 1950s as I Remember Them

Answer: Dwight D. Eisenhower

Eisenhower was the 34th president. He ended the Korean War, helped hold inflation to nothing and oversaw the building of an amazing interstate highway system. He was "Ike" to millions. He passed away in 1969.

From Quiz Year in Review 1959

Answer: Vanguard 2

The first weather satellite was Vanguard 2. It was launched on February 17, 1959. It was intended to measure cloud cover and resistance but a poor axis of rotation kept it from collecting a notable amount of useful data. It was soon replaced by more sophisticated technology. In January, 1958, Explorer 1 was the first satellite launched by the United States. The Russians beat the United States by launching Sputnik in October 1957. Telstar was launched in 1962 and was the first active telecommunication satellite. It was built by engineers at Bell Telephone Laboratories. On August 12, 1960, the United States launched Echo 1, a passive reflector satellite with no amplification possibilities. The technology was ineffective and it was soon abandoned in favor of active systems. Echo 1 was visible to the eye because of its shiny surface.

From Quiz 1951: A Review (All American)

Answer: Douglas MacArthur

General MacArthur had been successful in retaking Seoul from the North Koreans in 1950. He then wanted to expand the operations on the Korean peninsula to include an invasion of Manchuria. President Truman expressly forbade the action, fearing it would lead to escalation and draw Communist China and the Soviets into another World War. Despite their differences MacArthur was treated to a ticker tape parade in New York when he returned from South Korea and retired. Admiral Chester Nimitz was in the Pacific theater of operations during WWII. Dwight Eisenhower was a WWII general who would win the presidential election replacing Truman. George Patton was killed in an auto accident shortly after WWII while still in Europe.

From Quiz 1957 - It Was A Very Good Year

Answer: Barker

Laika was originally thought to have died after four days in space. In 2002 it was revealed that she died about five hours into the flight from stress and overheating.

From Quiz Early Blooming Boomers: The Early Years (American)

Answer: Lucky Strike Cigarettes

"The Hit Parade" was on radio from 1935 to 1955. The program announcer assured us that the show's top ten list was "an accurate, authentic tabulation of America's taste in popular music". Sheet music sales, record sales and even jukebox choices were all evaluated to generate the list, but the exact methodology was never revealed. It was after one of these shows that one of the greatest tragedies of my early years occurred: I broke the 78 rpm disc, on which was recorded one of my father's most beloved songs, "Pistol Packin' Mama".

From Quiz Remembering the 50s - 1959 Americana

Answer: Danny's Donuts

In 1953 Harold Butler founded Danny's Donuts in Lakewood, California. The next year the menu expanded to include sandwiches and other entrees and it was renamed Danny's Coffee Shops. In 1959 the chain was renamed Denny's Restaurants, with 20 stores by year's end.

From Quiz Remembering the 50s - 1958 Americana

Answer: Anti-communist organization

The society was established by Robert Welch, and named for Captain John Birch, a member of the China Air Task Force who was murdered by Chinese Communists in 1945.

From Quiz Remembering the 50s - 1957 Americana

Answer: Little Rock, Arkansas

After local authorities refused to implement court-ordered desegregation, President Eisenhower ordered federal troops to do the job. He stated: "The Federal Constitution will be upheld by me, by every means at my command."

From Quiz Remembering the 50s - 1956 Americana

Answer: Pepsodent

The full jingle went: "You'll wonder where the yellow went, when you brush your teeth with Pepsodent".

From Quiz Remembering the 50s - 1955 Americana

Answer: Doctor

In 1955 Jonas Salk, after many years of research, found a vaccine that gave effective protection from the polio virus. Dr. Salk endeared himself to the public by refusing to patent the vaccine as he had no desire to profit personally from his discovery.

From Quiz Remembering the 50s - 1954 Americana

Answer: New York Giants

The New York Giants swept the Cleveland Indians in four straight games. The only New York Yankee getting any attention was Joe DiMaggio who had married Marilyn Monroe in January and announced their divorce in October.

From Quiz Remembering the 50s - 1953 Americana

Answer: Chevrolet Corvette

The first production Corvette rolled off the assembly line on June 30, 1953 at a plant near Flint, Michigan. Its sticker price was just over $3000. The Corvette was the first series-production car with a fiberglass body.

From Quiz Remembering the 50s - 1952 Americana

Answer: Mad

Alfred E. Neuman, the not-too-bright looking gapped-tooth boy, did not appear on the cover of "Mad" until 1954.

From Quiz Remembering the 50s - 1951 Americana

Answer: Used a direct-dial coast-to-coast telephone service

Mayor M. Leslie Denning of Englewood, New Jersey called Mayor Frank Osborn in Alameda, California, initiating direct-dial, coast-to-coast telephone services.

From Quiz Remembering the 50s - 1950 Americana

Answer: Diners Club

Frank McNamara was dining in a New York restaurant and discovered that he had forgotten his wallet. His wife paid the bill but he resolved to never have to face this embarrassment again. The next year McNamara created Diners Club and offered it to 200 personal friends and acquaintances with the first card being issued on May 13, 1950. By the end of the year, 20,000 people carried Diners Club cards. Unlike with modern credit cards, the outstanding balance had to be paid in full once a month.

From Quiz Remembering the 50s - Headlines

Answer: George VI

King George had come to the throne following the abdication of his brother Edward VIII, who gave up the crown to marry an American divorcee Wallis Simpson, and they became the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

From Quiz Remembering the 50s - American Consumer Products

Answer: Cosmetics

Hazel Bishop (1906-1998), developed and marketed a "kissable lipstick" in the early 1950s. She was a Standard Oil chemist during World War II, working on a special fuel for airplanes. At night she experimented to end lipstick stains and successfully produced a smear-proof, long-lasting lipstick, and formed Hazel Bishop, Inc.

From Quiz 1950s Fads, Fashion, Events and Pop Culture

Answer: Elvis Presley

It was Elvis. He went to Sun Recording Studios in Memphis, TN, in July, 1954 to record blues-singer Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup's song "That's All Right, Mama" (which he recorded in 1946).

From Quiz 1950 - That Was the Year

Answer: Al Jolson

This movie, "The Jazz Singer", made in 1927, established "talkies". The first talking movie was "Der Brandstifter" ("The Arsonist"), made in Germany in 1922.

From Quiz Do You Remember The 1950s?

Answer: Douglas MacArthur & MacArthur & Douglas McArthur & McArthur

Douglas MacArthur wanted the US to attack China which backed communist North Korea. Because of public criticism of this idea, president Harry Truman fired him and called him back home, where he received a hero's welcome.

From Quiz Do You Remember 1957?

Answer: Sputnik

Sputnik I was launched on 4 October 1957, just ahead of the 40th anniversary of the Russian Revolution. Laika, a dog, was the first creature in space. Explorer I was the first US satellite.

From Quiz Do You Remember 1954?

Answer: Algeria

Algeria finally became independent in 1962.

From Quiz Remembering the 50s

Answer: Rosa Parks

On December 1st, 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama.

From Quiz Do You Remember 1950?

Answer: The Rose Tattoo

Cat 1955 Streetcar 1947 Menagerie 1944

From Quiz Do You Remember 1951?

Answer: Winston Churchill

From Quiz Do You Remember 1956?

Answer: Bonanza

Bonanza was first seen in 1959. The other programs all premiered in 1956.

From Quiz Do You Remember 1953?

Answer: Marilyn Monroe & Monroe

There was no date on the cover as Hugh Hefner wasn't sure there would be a second issue!

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