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Quiz about Remembering the 50s 1958 Americana

Remembering the 50s - 1958 Americana Quiz

It was 1958 and America launched and orbited the satellite Explorer I, thus closing the 'missile gap' with the Soviet Union. Life was good.

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

Author
rblayer

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
182,739

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
3461

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

Last 3 plays: fado72 (10/10), rainbowriver (8/10), Philip_Eno (10/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The John Birch Society was formed in December of 1958 in Indianapolis, Indiana. What type of organization is it? Hint

Anti-communist organization

Roman Catholic brotherhood

Tree preservation society

Left wing Castro supporters

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Question 2 of 10

2. Many Americans complained about a 1958 increase in the price of sending a letter by 1st class U.S. Mail. What was the new cost of a first class postage stamp? Hint

15 cents

6 cents

4 cents

11 cents

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Question 3 of 10

3. On March 11, 1958, America's most infamous game show contestant Charles Van Doren finally lost his television match. What was the name of the game show? Hint

$64,000 Question

Twenty One

$64,000 Challenge

Strike It Rich

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Question 4 of 10

4. What were Alvin, Simon and Theodore? Hint

Monkeys

Fish

Woodpeckers

Chipmunks

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Question 5 of 10

5. An eighteen-year-old boy read a 1958 magazine article about a "pizza fad" among teenagers and college students, and opened the first Pizza Hut. In what American city did this take place? Hint

Buffalo, New York

Dallas, Texas

Tampa, Florida

Wichita, Kansas

6. After eight years of success as the only major charge card, the Diners Club Card suddenly had two new competitior in the consumer credit business. One was American Express. What was the other charge card to debut in 1958? Hint

BankAmericard

Master Card

MasterCharge

Visa

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. What was the name given to the U.S. manned space-flight project in 1958? Hint

Project Mercury

Project Apollo

From the Earth to the Moon

Project Gemini

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Question 8 of 10

8. The Recording Industry Association of America awarded the very first 'Gold' record in 1958. Who received this award? Hint

Bing Crosby

Kate Smith

Perry Como

Elvis Presley

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which of these was a "Purple People Eater"? Hint

Sheb Wooley song

Bestselling novel

Dairy Queen special

Australian shark

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Question 10 of 10

10. In a classic 1958 television commercial, a young boy runs into his house shouting, "look Ma, _____". What was the youngster announcing to his mother?
Hint

All A's

I'm clean

I did my homework

No cavities

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The John Birch Society was formed in December of 1958 in Indianapolis, Indiana. What type of organization is it?

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.

2. Many Americans complained about a 1958 increase in the price of sending a letter by 1st class U.S. Mail. What was the new cost of a first class postage stamp?

Answer: 4 cents

Before the rate increase, postage had been 3 cents for 26 years. Hard to believe - only a penny increase in over two and half decades!

3. On March 11, 1958, America's most infamous game show contestant Charles Van Doren finally lost his television match. What was the name of the game show?

Answer: Twenty One

The following year, Van Doren admitted to a Congressional committee that he had been given questions and answers ahead of time. The story of the quiz show scandals was depicted in the 1994 movie "Quiz Show".

4. What were Alvin, Simon and Theodore?

Answer: Chipmunks

In December,1958 the Chipmunks, Alvin, Simon and Theodore, along with human David Seville, hit #1 on the music charts with the "Chipmunk Song".

5. An eighteen-year-old boy read a 1958 magazine article about a "pizza fad" among teenagers and college students, and opened the first Pizza Hut. In what American city did this take place?

Answer: Wichita, Kansas

Frank Carney saw a story in the "Saturday Evening Post" and borrowed $600 from his mother to opens his first Pizza Hut.

Answer: BankAmericard

BankAmericard later became Visa.

7. What was the name given to the U.S. manned space-flight project in 1958?

Answer: Project Mercury

Two and half years later, Project Mercury made astronaut Alan Sheppard America's first man in space. He was also the fifth human being to walk on the moon in the Apollo lunar landing program.

8. The Recording Industry Association of America awarded the very first 'Gold' record in 1958. Who received this award?

Answer: Perry Como

Perry Como's hit single, "Catch A Falling Star" has the distinction of being the first 'Gold' record. A few months later the soundtrack from the musical "Oklahoma" became the first official 'Gold' album.

9. Which of these was a "Purple People Eater"?

Answer: Sheb Wooley song

The "Purple People Eater" was the #1 song for 6 weeks in 1958. The "one-eyed, one-horned" flying creature from outer space was merely looking for a "job in a rock and roll band."

10. In a classic 1958 television commercial, a young boy runs into his house shouting, "look Ma, _____". What was the youngster announcing to his mother?

Answer: No cavities

Crest had only a few years earlier developed the first fluoride toothpaste. Their successful television ad campaign added a new phrase to the American vocabulary.

Source: Author rblayer

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