Oh, Those '50s Gals! Quiz | Mixed People

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This gal was born June 19, 1950, the daughter of a mother who was a concert pianist and a father who was a former leader of the Marine Corps band. Music was a huge part of her life. But relationship trouble, substance abuse and her struggle with weight gain often overshadowed her brilliant singing career. Who had enough "heart" to last?

Answer: Ann Wilson

Ann Wilson, who achieved (chart) success and world-wide popularity, along with her younger sister, Nancy, initially as a part of the group Heart during the 1970s. Ann Wilson is a brilliant singer and talented musician - proficient and enchanting on the play of a variety of instruments.

Despite her struggles, her voice remained strong through the years. Evidence can be seen in her performance of her original arrangement of the Star Spangled Banner before the Thanksgiving Day game of the Dallas Cowboys on November 22, 2012. Watch it on video. Amazing!

2. Kathryn D. Sullivan was born October 3, 1951. As a NASA astronaut and a crew member of the Space Shuttle she achieved a noteworthy "first" for American women. What was it?

Answer: She was the first American woman to walk in space

Captain Sullivan was the first American woman to walk in space. She was a member of three different Space Shuttle missions that allowed her to log more than 500 hours in space. Since her retirement from NASA she continued to work in various capacities - never straying far from her love of science, particularly of geology.

By the way, she shares this birth year with another extraordinary American astronaut - Sally Ride.

3. Dr. Vandana Shiva was born November 5, 1952. She tells that her love, appreciation and respect for the earth came - initially - from those same strong feelings of both of her parents. She has achieved world wide recognition as an environmental activist and acclaimed author. Where was she born?

Answer: India

Dr. Shiva was born in Dehradun, India. To say that she was a non-traditionalist may be the understatement of the decade. And, not just for women who were born in India in the early 1950s. She excelled in areas of science - particularly physics - which were areas still rarely studied or pursued by women of her same age.

She combined her education with her own love for the earth and her relentless recognition for how things must change for both women and environment to fight for those changes. One of the organizations of much importance to her has been the International Forum on Globalization.

4. This Academy Award-winning American actress was born February 8, 1953. Obviously, a talented actress. She has been said to have been "discovered" by Jack Nicholson while she was working as a receptionist. But through the years she has received much attention as the best friend of Hillary Clinton and as the wife of actor, Ted Danson. Who is she?

Answer: Mary Steenburgen

Mary Steenburgen won an Academy Award (and a Golden Globe) for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the 1980 film, "Melvin and Howard". Most often appearing in the supporting role, she has achieved acclaim for many of her appearances. Together with her husband, Steenburgen has been very well regarded for her philanthropic work and contributions - many of those in her native state of Arkansas.

5. It may be incredible to learn that a woman who has achieved so much in the political forum had intentions - well into her early adulthood years - of becoming a concert pianist but that is the fact with the gal who was born November 14, 1954. Under President George W. Bush she became the first female African-American Secretary of State. Who is she?

Answer: Condoleezza Rice

Condoleezza Rice was the second woman appointed to Secretary of State (after Madeleine Albright) and the second African-American appointed Secretary of State (after Colin Powell) but the first African-American woman. Rice was recognized for many years as a valuable counselor, teacher and advisor.

Her tenure as National Security Advisor between 2001 and 2005 came during a very anxious time for America yet she served extremely well in that capacity. She has never strayed from her devotion to the fine arts and continues to not only offer her support to those areas but she often performs in public to the benefit of the arts as well.

Another first for her: In 2012, Rice was one of the two first women to be admitted to the Augusta National Golf Club - home of the Masters Golf Tournament.

6. The gal who was born March 28, 1955 is more than just a country music singer. She has shown her ability to lead and succeed in decision making roles that were often viewed as "for the boys" - those of creation, production and management, all the while accomplishing a multi-faceted career. Who is this Oklahoma native?

Answer: Reba McEntire

From the humble beginnings of entertaining the crowds at local rodeos Reba McEntire rose to become one of country music's best selling artists of all-time. But she did not stop there. She has to her credit film, television and Broadway acting appearances and awards, too. And all this happened at a time when Nashville was still very much a "boys' club". One quote I found from Reba was on bio.com.

It was a response to how she had managed to be so successful in a world previously dominated by men. It is: "As a woman, you don't complain, you work twice as hard and you do your job. You try to outsmart them, you try to outwork them and get there first. You help out, you volunteer, you're at the front of the line. That's what I learned from working on the cattle range, and it helped me in the music business." Not bad advice for anyone, I would think.

7. Mary Cathleen Collins was born November 10, 1956, the daughter of a mother who was a co-worker and friend of actress, Ann-Margret. With these roots and her own stunning, natural beauty she became not just any actress but one that was rated a perfect "10". Who is she better known to be?

Answer: Bo Derek

When Bo Derek ran along the beach in her tank style swim suit and her hair in braids in the 1979 movie "10" more of us than Dudley Moore were mesmerized. Few scenes from the movie industry have been as indelible in the minds on movie fans for as many years as that one was. Bo Derek was very young (only 20) when she became the third wife of movie director, John Derek but she has grown into a woman worthy of much recognition of her own achievement. Away from the movie industry, her love for animals has involved her in many animal rights issues.

She has given her time, money and efforts, in particular, to continue to discourage and prosecute illegal animal trafficking.

8. This respected American television journalist was the first female to anchor the CBS Evening News alone. She was born near Washington, D.C. on January 7, 1957. Also, her career has seen her as host of her own TV talk show, in various film and television appearances, doing voice-over work and as a best-selling author. Who is this perky gal?

Answer: Katie Couric

When it comes to (American) television journalism it seems that Katie Couric was ubiquitous during the 1990s and early 2000s. She has been correspondent for "ABC News". She contributed to network morning and evening news shows and to many primetime news specials.

She has reported for "60 Minutes", and for "Dateline NBC" and she has hosted "Today". According to wikipedia.com: "When CBS hired Couric she became the first solo female anchor of a weekday evening news program on one of the three traditional USA broadcast networks." Katie Couric has been very outspoken and active with her efforts to raise awareness of the prevention of colon cancer; possibly due to the death of first husband from complications of colon cancer.

He was only 42 year old. Katie Couric shares a birth year with another peppy, TV personality - alone in her spotlight of America's favorite letter turner - Vanna White.

9. We might never have known her had she not been the mother of two of the children of Michael Jackson. Sometimes, it truly is not what you know but who know that counts the most! Do you recall the name of this California native who was born December 6, 1958 and became The King of Pop's second wife?

Answer: Debbie Rowe

So many clich�s do come to mind with this "love story" but the one that rings loudest is the importance of being in the right place at the right time. Debbie Rowe worked, as a nurse, for the dermatologist who was treating Michael Jackson's skin condition when the two met.

She became his friend, his confidante, his partner and the mother of two of his three children. Although, many times Rowe has emphatically stated she and Jackson "never lived together as husband and wife", theirs seemed to be a compatible union - for a while. Jackson and Rowe did divorce just shy of their third wedding anniversary.

She relinquished all paternal rights to Jackson. Even after his (Michael Jackson's) death, reports differ as to how much, if any, time the children spend with their biological mother.

10. She married her "prince" (charming, well, maybe) but her life did not have the usual fairy tale storyline. Yet rather than wilt in harshness of the limelight of a royal family, she carved her own individuality for herself and for her children. Who is this royal gal who was born October 15, 1959 in London, England?

Answer: Sarah Ferguson

Sarah Ferguson was born into the upper classes and she had been acquainted with members of the British royal family by association from a very young age. She and her future husband, Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, had known each other since they were children before they married.

Theirs was not whirlwind romance, yet, it seemed very little time had passed between their marriage in 1986 and their separation in 1992. The couple did have two daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie. There have been some notable lacks of discretion on the part of the former Duchess of York, yet all things considered, she and the royal family, particularly her ex-husband, seemed to co-exist.

While finding her life beyond the royal family "Fergie", as the she is often called, has also been a children's book author, film producer, talk show host, philanthropist, and commercial endorser of various products.

Source: Author cowboybluedog

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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Oh, Those '50s Gals! Trivia Quiz

Most of us who were born in the decade of the 1950s would agree that we put the "BOOM" in Baby Boomers. And, these ten gals were NO exception - as they "exploded" into our lives.

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