Remembering the 60s - 1962 Americana Quiz

Answer: Beverly Hills

Perhaps the constant threat of nuclear war drove American television viewers to a lighter fare. Seven of the top ten television series of 1962 were comedies. "The Beverly Hillbillies", the story of a mountain man that discovers oil on his land and moves his family to California, took television by storm and raced to number one in its first season.

Answer: Drug overdose

Still enormously popular over forty years after her death, mystery still shrouds the circumstances of her sudden demise. Romantically linked to both John and Robert Kennedy, many people believe that she was murdered by the mob in retaliation for Attorney-General Robert Kennedy's tough anti-crime stance.

Answer: James Meredith

After being denied admission to 'Ole Miss', Meredith filed, and won a lawsuit. Despite a court order from the U.S. Supreme Court, the governor of Mississippi continued to block Meredith's registration, and riots ensued on campus, necessitating the intervention of federal troops. On October 1, 1962, Meredith successfully attended his first class.

Answer: Diet Rite and Tab

Diet Rite was first introduced in 1958 by the Royal Crown Co., but was only marketed on a limited basis as a special dietary soft drink. After a successful trial run in select markets, Diet Rite Cola was introduced nationwide in 1962, and within 18 months it had become the No. 4 cola in the United States. Coca-Cola introduced its version of a diet cola "Tab" to compete.

Answer: John XXIII

When asked why, after almost 100 years, another Council was needed, Pope John opened a window and reportedly said, "I want to throw open the windows of the Church so that we can look out and the people can look in." John died before the completion of the Council, but his successor, Paul VI, almost immediately agreed to its continuation.

Answer: A satellite

The world was made a smaller place when, on July 10, 1962, the U.S. launched the Bell Laboratory-designed, AT&T-financed communications satellite, Telstar I. The era of real-time global communications began the next day, when a station in Pleumeur-Bodou, France received the first transatlantic transmission of a TV signal from a twin station in Andover, Maine.

Answer: Nike

Phil Knight, a former college track team member, was a certified public accountant with Price Waterhouse. He joined up with Bill Bowerman, the coach of the University of Oregon track team, to develop a better running shoe.

Answer: Dr. No

Directed by Terrence Young, and starring Sean Connery as the suave British spy, James Bond, "Dr. No" was the first of author Ian Fleming's novels to reach the big screen. To celebrate 40 years of Bond, 2002's "Die Another Day" made reference to each of the previous 19 Bond films.

In "Dr. No" there was a scene with the beautiful actress, Ursula Andress, walking out of the sea onto the beach in a bikini with a white belt and a diving knife. Halle Berry recreated this famous scene in "Die Another Day". "From Russia With Love" was the first filmed but he second released. "Dr. No" was the first released and shown in the cinema.

Answer: Russian spy

Rudolf Abel was the alias of William Fischer, who was born on July 11, 1903 in England, of German parentage. The highly trained espionage agent entered the U.S. through Canada in 1948 for the purpose of reorganizing the post-war Soviet spy network and developing a system of sabotage.

He was captured by the F.B.I. and convicted in 1957. On February 10, 1962 he was exchanged for American U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers. Fisher returned to Moscow as a hero and lived a privileged life until his death in 1971.

Answer: 3

Glenn's flight was cut short when it was discovered that the spacecraft's heatshield and compressed landing bag were not properly locked into position. At first Glenn thought he was seeing luminescent "fireflies" streaming past his spacecraft. Mercury Control Center engineers came up with a solution that allowed Friendship 7 to splash down safely in the Atlantic Ocean.

The film, "The Right Stuff", dramatized this historic event, and Glenn went on to serve in the U.S. Senate.