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Quiz about Remembering the 50s 1955 Americana

Remembering the 50s - 1955 Americana Quiz

It was 1955, and what a difference a decade had made! West Germany was admitted into N.A.T.O. and Juan Peron was ousted in a military coup while Americans first saw Elvis and McDonald's.

A multiple-choice quiz by rblayer. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
rblayer

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
182,736

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
1461

Last 3 plays: Johnmcmanners (10/10), Fiona112233 (7/10), Guest 68 (2/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Who was Jonas Salk? Hint

Doctor

Basketball player

Disc jockey

Politician

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Question 2 of 10

2. By what name was Esther Pauline Lederer better known? Hint

Martha Raye

Doris Day

Phyllis Diller

Ann Landers

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Question 3 of 10

3. Who manufactured the first home microwave ovens? Hint

Westinghouse

Frigidaire

General Electric

Tappan

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Question 4 of 10

4. In 1955 Rosa Parks, a black woman, was arrested for not giving up her seat on a bus to a white man. In what city did this take place? Hint

Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Selma, Alabama

Montgomery, Alabama

Atlanta, Georgia

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Question 5 of 10

5. What was the first toothpaste that contained fluoride? Hint

Gleem

Colgate

Pepsodent

Crest

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. How long after opening did it take Disneyland to have one million visitors? Hint

3 weeks

6 months

7 weeks

12 months

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Question 7 of 10

7. On whose television show did Elvis Presley make his first national appearance? Hint

Ed Sullivan

Jackie Gleason

Milton Berle

Steve Allen

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Question 8 of 10

8. What type of vehicle was James Dean driving when he was killed in an accident? Hint

Corvette

Porsche

Harley Davidson

Cadillac

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Question 9 of 10

9. What name did Davy Crockett give his rifle? Hint

Maggie

Daisy

Betsy

Lucille

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. What state enacted the first automobile seat belt legislation? Hint

Illinois

New York

California

Wyoming

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Nov 10 2024 : Johnmcmanners: 10/10
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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Who was Jonas Salk?

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.

2. By what name was Esther Pauline Lederer better known?

Answer: Ann Landers

Actually, Esther became the "new" Ann Landers when she was hired by the Chicago Sun Time in 1955 as a replacement for the existing Ann Landers columnist, who had written the advice column for 12 years.

3. Who manufactured the first home microwave ovens?

Answer: Tappan

Unfortunately, sales were not brisk. The cost of owing a home microwave ovens was $1,300 in 1955 dollars.

4. In 1955 Rosa Parks, a black woman, was arrested for not giving up her seat on a bus to a white man. In what city did this take place?

Answer: Montgomery, Alabama

Following Rosa's arrest a bus boycott was organized which eventually cost the bus line 65% of its revenues. Eight months later the United States Supreme Court ruled that bus segregation was illegal.

5. What was the first toothpaste that contained fluoride?

Answer: Crest

The benefits of fluoride were discovered in 1916, but there were no fluoride toothpastes until 1955 when Crest was able to develop an abrasive that would not render fluoride ineffective. In 1960, the American Dental Association recognized Crest as effective in preventing tooth decay.

6. How long after opening did it take Disneyland to have one million visitors?

Answer: 7 weeks

Walt Disney was truly a visionary, and contrary to advice charged admission to his amusement park, didn't have a Ferris wheel, and didn't serve alcohol on the premises. Instead of going broke as many had predicted, the $17 million Magic Kingdom, had over one million visitors in only 7 weeks.

7. On whose television show did Elvis Presley make his first national appearance?

Answer: Jackie Gleason

In 1955 Elvis appeared on "Jackie Gleason's Stage Show". The next year he appeared on Ed Sullivan's and became a national sensation. Because it was believed that his pelvic gyrations were scandalous (!), he was shown on television only from the waist up.

8. What type of vehicle was James Dean driving when he was killed in an accident?

Answer: Porsche

James Dean was appearing in "East of Eden" and "Rebel Without a Cause" when he was killed in an automobile accident when his Porsche 550 Spyder crashed near Paso Robles, California.

9. What name did Davy Crockett give his rifle?

Answer: Betsy

It was rumored that Walt Disney's three-installment presentation of the coonskinned-capped Davy Crockett caused the raccoon population to become endangered. The last scene of "Davy Crockett at the Alamo" showed Davy swinging ol' Betsy at Mexican soldiers.

10. What state enacted the first automobile seat belt legislation?

Answer: Illinois

When actor James Dean died in a car accident in California in September 1955, other states quickly followed suit to pass seat-belt legislation.

Source: Author rblayer

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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