"All My Children" and Real Life Events Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. One of the first major storylines of "All My Children" focused on sending Phil Brent off to serve in the Vietnam War while that war raged. Characters took different sides on this war, such as Ruth opposing it while Phoebe supported it. The war concluded at which of these events?

Answer: The Fall of Saigon

The Vietnam War commenced in 1957 and ended in 1975 after the Fall of Saigon. However, American military troops were completely withdrawn in 1973. This controversial conflict has remained a hotly debated topic. On "All My Children" Phil was presumed dead at one point.

2. In 1973, Erica Kane underwent daytime television's first abortion just months after the United States Supreme Court handed down its landmark decision in Roe v. Wade. Who was the plaintiff that went by "Jane Roe"?

Answer: Norma McCorvey

On the show, Erica hid the abortion from her husband Jeff. It was just months before this story, however, that a woman named Norma McCorvey, going by the alias of "Jane Roe", scored a victory for reproductive freedoms in the case of Roe v. Wade. This case legalized abortion for the first trimester while the second and third trimester terminations could be subject to state intervention. Later on, McCorvey reversed her position on abortion.

In 2006, the show "All My Children" would rewrite this story to state that Erica's fetus had been transplanted into another woman.

Interestingly enough, Susan Lucci (Erica) did not discuss this rewrite in her memoir, "All My Life".

3. Birth control remained a hotly debated topic in 1979. On "All My Children", Erica Kane took birth control that year. In 2013 (and 1979), which of these organizations was a staunch opponent of birth control?

Answer: Roman Catholic Church

The Roman Catholic Church has long been vociferous about its opposition to birth control, yet this did not faze Agnes Nixon when she penned the story of Erica going behind Tom's back to take birth control on "All My Children". The story did not appear to harm the soap's ratings since "All My Children" was the top rated soap opera in 1979.

4. "All My Children" made history in the early 1980s by introducing daytime's first lesbian character, Lynn Carson. Years before, which man made history by becoming the first openly gay male to be elected to a major political office in the US (Supervisor for the City/County of San Francisco)?

Answer: Harvey Milk

Lynn Carson was on "AMC" for a short while in the early 1980s and Devon McFadden believed that she was sexually attracted to Lynn. Lynn advised Devon that she was straight. This story was a victory for gay rights by granting the gay community some exposure.

However, the community scored an even bolder victory just years before when Harvey Milk became the first openly gay male to be a Supervisor for the City and County of San Francisco, a major political office. In 1978, Harvey Milk and George Moscone were assassinated by Dan White.

In the aftermath of the assassination, then President of the City and County of San Francisco Board of Supervisors Dianne Feinstein became San Francisco Mayor (later United States Senator from California). Senator Feinstein has been a major supporter of gay rights.

5. During the 1980s, African Americans started to enter major entertainment projects in massive numbers and had prime roles. This was also reflected on "All My Children" when Jesse and Angie became the first African American supercouple. Which African American actor, however, was the first to win an Oscar for Outstanding Supporting Actor?

Answer: Louis Gossett, Jr.

Major Black stars like Morgan Freeman, Denzel Washington, Louis Gossett, Jr. and Whoopi Goldberg broke out into prominent roles during the 1980s. This was not ignored by "All My Children", as Jesse and Angie were on the front burner for many years during the decade. Jesse and Angie have maintained a legion of "All My Children" fans.

Another major achievement occurred for the Black community in the 1980s: Louis Gossett, Jr. made history as the first African American to win the Outstanding Supporting Actor Oscar for "An Officer and a Gentleman".

6. One of the best storylines on "All My Children" focused on Cindy's battling AIDS and Stuart supporting her during 1987 and 1988. This disease spread in the 1980s, and people who died from AIDS had their names placed on which of these items?

Answer: Quilt

A heartbreaking story for "All My Children" involved Cindy Parker Chandler facing her AIDS diagnosis. Her husband Stuart stood by her side as she faced some opponents in Pine Valley. Stuart was not alone in supporting Cindy with her fight. Many people started to raise awareness on AIDS with something called The AIDS Quilt to remember everyone who succumbed to the disease.

7. "All My Children" examined the issue of racism in 1992 when Terrence Frye was beaten by two white hoodlums during a shift at Tom Cudahy's gym. This story was relevant as it occurred shortly after which real-life man was beaten severely by officers from the Los Angeles Police Department?

Answer: Rodney King

In 1991, Rodney King was stopped by the police and ended up beaten by members of the Los Angeles Police Department. The officers involved were acquitted, thus leading to major rioting in Los Angeles during 1992. However, Rodney King sued the department and won his case. To reflect on this storyline, Terrence Frye received a major beating while working at Tom Cudahy's gym.

In the end, Terrence received justice when his attackers were punished.

8. In 2007, Dre Woods revealed that his mother had died in the September 11th attacks on "All My Children". Which of these flights did NOT crash into the World Trade Center on that traumatic day (this flight crashed someplace else)?

Answer: American Airlines Flight 77

Dre discussed with his friends his loss on September 11th when his mother perished in the terrorist attacks. Of the four airplanes that day, American Airlines Flight 77 actually crashed into the Pentagon, not the World Trade Center. United 93 crashed into a field in Pennsylvania.

9. In 2009, Bianca and Reese made history when they became the first same sex couple to marry on a soap opera. This was instrumental in that the two tied the knot right after which state legalized gay marriage?

Answer: Connecticut

Bianca and Reese happily wed in Connecticut in February of 2009. "All My Children" elected to have the characters wed in Connecticut due to the fact that Connecticut had just legalized same sex marriage, becoming the second state to do so after Massachusetts.

In regards to the other answer choices, New York legalized gay marriage in 2011 while Maryland and Minnesota followed suit in 2012 and 2013, respectively.

10. In 2000, a major story unfolded on "All My Children" when teenage Bianca Montgomery came out of the closet. This story occurred shortly after which teenager was killed due to being gay?

Answer: Matthew Shepherd

To examine the life of a teenager coming to grips with being gay, "All My Children" told an excellent tale in 2000 when Bianca came out of the closet. This was a major maneuver by the soap since a young gay male named Matthew Shepherd had been murdered over his homosexuality just months prior to the plot.

Many years after his murder, the Matthew Shepherd Act was signed into law to amend the federal hate crimes definition to incorporate crimes committed over one's sexuality.

Source: Author CAGuy0206

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Pagiedamon before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

"All My Children" and Real Life Events Quiz

"All My Children" has been known to tell storylines that reflect on national and international news. In this quiz, questions will reflect on the real life events but include information about these stories. Good luck! All air dates are American.

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