Pop Culture Trivia Quiz: 1950

What Happened In 1950?

50 Trivia Questions and Answers for 1950 History

(answers)

1. This comic strip character is best described as a lazy American soldier. It continued after its creator, Mort Walker, ‘s death in 2018. Name that apathetic soldier.

2. How many people lived in the United States in 1950?

3. How many people lived in the World in 1950?

4. Who won the Stanley Cup in 1950?

5. What was the Biggest Number One Song of 1950?

6. Who was the President of the United States in 1950?

7. Name the first racehorse in history to earn one million dollars.

8. According to the US Census, what was the average family income in 1950?

9. To the nearest quarter, what was the average movie theater ticket price in 1950?

10. On January 17, 1950, some people called it “the crime of the century” when $2.77 million was stolen in Boston Massachusettes. What is the more famous name of the theft?

11. What was the highest-grossing film of 1950?

12. Sometimes called F1, this is the highest class of international single-seater auto racing. What do most people call it today?

13. The first animated TV series debuted in the United States on August 1, 1950. The show was named after the lead character. Name that cartoon.

14. What was the Bestselling Fiction Book in 1950?

15. How much did a Loaf of Bread cost in 1950?

16. How much did a Gallon of Milk cost in 1950?

17. In his encyclical Humani Generis, Pope Pius XII declared WHAT a serious hypothesis that does not contradict essential Catholic teachings.

18. At 22, this Hollywood starlet announced her retirement from the film industry. Who was she?

19. The first charge card (credit card) was used in New York. What was the name of the charge card company?

20. In 1950, what was the average life expectancy in the United States?

21. This studio in Rockefeller Plaza was one of the largest radio studios in the world before it was converted to television in 1950. It has hosted Saturday Night since 1975. Name that NBC studio.

22. Name the recording company started by Sam Phillips at 706 Union Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee…

23. Which artist never recorded at Sun Studios: Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Buddy Holly, or Jerry Lee Lewis?

24. Based on a story from Charles Perrault, Disney released its 12th animated film. Name that film.

25. Disney also released its first live-action film in 1950, based on Robert Lewis Stevenson’s novel of the same name. What is the title of the film?

26. Name the Nat King Cole song about a famous painting that was number one on the Billboard charts for eight weeks.

27. The Hank McCune Show on NBC was the first program to use this technology to “sweeten” the television broadcast. Name that technology.

28. How much did a gallon of gas cost in 1950?

29. Thomas J. Pickard and Louis Freeh were born on January 6, 1950. They also both held a high-profile job in Washington, DC. What position did they both hold?

30. Which celebrity was NOT born in 1950: John Candy, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Tom Petty, or Nora Roberts?

31. This movie star singing cowboy and his horse, Champion, had his own TV on CBS from 1950 to 1956. Name that cowboy.

32. What was the first-named tropical cyclone in the Atlantic hurricane database and the first of six major hurricanes in the 1950 Atlantic hurricane season?

33. What automobile company used the slogan: “Grace…Space…Pace”?

34. What term was first used in English by Edward Hunter in 1950 to describe how the communist Chinese government appeared to make people cooperate with them?

35. New York City was the most populated area in the world, with over 12 million people in the metropolitan area. What was the second most populated city in the world in 1950?

36. Name the United States government-funded organization that began broadcasting news, information, and analysis to Eastern European countries.

37. Who was the Pope in 1950?

38. Featuring the song There’s No Business Like Show Business, this Broadway Technicolor musical comedy debuted on movie screens on July 17, 1950. Name it.

39. How much did a dozen eggs cost in 1950?

40. On May 6, 1950, 18-year-old Elizabeth Taylor got married for the first time. She eventually married 8 times. Who was her first husband?

41. What team won the FIFA World Cup in 1950?

42. To make the US Postal Service more cost-effective, U.S. Postmaster General Jesse M. Donaldson limited the carriers to an eight-hour day, and what other major change?

43. Who won the 1950 World Series?

44. Bank robber and murderer Thomas James Holden is the first person on this famous list. What list?

45. What company used the slogan: “You’re in Good Hands”?

46. What company used the slogan: “The Champagne of Bottle Beer”?

47. The third Christmas song reached the Billboard # 1 chart position. Name that song.

48. Although initially published in only seven newspapers, this comic strip became one of the most popular.
Hint: “Good Grief”

49. Who was the Time Magazine Man of the Year in 1950?

50. Who was the founder of Scientology?

Trivia Team Bonus Questions:

1. What was the name of L. Ron Hubbard’s book introducing Scientology? They call it ‘Book One”.

2. What Horse won the Kentucky Derby in 1950?

3. This comedy film series about an animal, starring Donald O’Connor, Patricia Medina, and the voice of Chill Wills, went on to seven films by 1956. Name the primary character of those films.

4. Who were the 1950 NFL Champions?

5. This accused communist spy, once a United States official, was convicted on two counts of perjury.

6. Who was the American Vice-President in 1950?

7. They call it ‘the world’s longest-running radio soap opera,’ and it began airing on the BBC on May 29, 1950. Name that radio programme.

8. This naturally mummified corpse of a man living in the 4th century BC was found in a Denmark bog. The body was so well preserved they thought he was a recent murder victim. What have we named that man?

9. Who were the 1950 NBA Champions?

10. In East Germany, this group acted as the secret police until 1990.

The Answers:

50 Trivia Questions and Answers for 1950 History

1. This comic strip character is best described as a lazy American soldier and continued after his creator, Mort Walker’s death in 2018. Name that apathetic soldier.
Beetle Bailey

2. How many people lived in the United States in 1950?
The population was an estimated 150,697,361 people.

3. How many people lived in the World in 1950?
The estimated world population in 1950 was 2,525,149,000 people.

4. Who won the Stanley Cup in 1950?
In 1950, The Detroit Red Wings won over the New York Rangers (4 games to 3)

5. What was the Biggest Number One Song of 1950?
The Tennessee Waltz by Patti Page (very close second place was Goodnight Irene by The Weavers)

6. Who was the President of the United States in 1950?
Harry S. Truman (April 12, 1945January 20, 1953)

7. Name the first racehorse in history to earn one million dollars.
Citation

8. According to the US Census, what was the average family income in 1950?
$3,300

9. To the nearest quarter, what was the average movie theater ticket price in 1950?
50 cents

10. On January 17, 1950, some people called it “the crime of the century” when $2.77 million was stolen in Boston Massachusettes. What is the more famous name of the theft?
The Great Brinks Robbery

11. What was the highest-grossing film of 1950?
King Solomon’s Mines

12. Sometimes called F1, this is the highest class of international single-seater auto racing. What do most people call it today?
Formula One (Racing)

13. The first animated TV series debuted in the United States on August 1, 1950. The show was named after the lead character. Name that cartoon.
Crusader Rabbit

14. What was the Bestselling Fiction Book in 1950?
The Cardinal by Henry Morton Robinson

15. How much did a Loaf of Bread cost in 1950?
14 cents

16. How much did a Gallon of Milk cost in 1950?
82 cents

17. In his encyclical Humani Generis, Pope Pius XII declared WHAT a serious hypothesis that does not contradict essential Catholic teachings.
The Theory of Evolution

18. At 22, this Hollywood starlet announced her retirement from the film industry. Who was she?
Shirley Temple

19. The first charge card (credit card) was used in New York. What was the name of the charge card company?
Diner’s Club

20. In 1950, what was the average life expectancy in the United States?
Men – 65.6 years, Women – 71.1 years.

21. This studio in Rockefeller Plaza was one of the largest radio studios in the world before it was converted to television in 1950. It has hosted Saturday Night since 1975. Name that NBC studio.
Studio 8H

22. Name the recording company started by Sam Phillips at 706 Union Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee…
Sun Studio (originally called Memphis Recording Service)

23. Which artist never recorded at Sun Studios: Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Buddy Holly, or Jerry Lee Lewis?
Buddy Holly (September 7, 1936February 3, 1959)

24. Based on a story from Charles Perrault, Disney released its 12th animated film. Name that film.
Cinderella

25. Disney also released its first live-action film in 1950, based on Robert Lewis Stevenson’s novel of the same name. What is the title of the film?
Treasure Island

26. Name the Nat King Cole song about a famous painting that was number one on the Billboard charts for eight weeks.
Mona Lisa

27. The Hank McCune Show on NBC was the first program to use this technology to “sweeten” the television broadcast. Name that technology.
The Laugh Track

28. How much did a gallon of gas cost in 1950?
$0.27 per gallon

29. Thomas J. Pickard and Louis Freeh were born on January 6, 1950. They also both held a high-profile job in Washington, DC. What position did they both hold?
They were both directors of the FBI; Louis Freeh (1993 to 2001). Thomas J. Pickard was Acting FBI Director from June 25 to September 4, 2001.

30. Which celebrity was NOT born in 1950: John Candy, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Tom Petty, or Nora Roberts?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (born April 16, 1947)

31. This movie star singing cowboy and his horse, Champion, had his own TV on CBS from 1950 to 1956. Name that cowboy.
Gene Autry

32. What was the first-named tropical cyclone in the Atlantic hurricane database and the first of six major hurricanes in the 1950 Atlantic hurricane season?
Hurricane Abel. Before naming, they were numbered.

33. What automobile company used the slogan: “Grace…Space…Pace”?
Jaguar

34. What term was first used in English by Edward Hunter in 1950 to describe how the communist Chinese government appeared to make people cooperate with them?
Brainwashing

35. New York City was the most populated area in the world, with over 12 million people in the metropolitan area. What was the second most populated city in the world in 1950?
London, England.

36. Name the United States government-funded organization that began broadcasting news, information, and analysis to Eastern European countries.
Radio Free Europe

37. Who was the Pope in 1950?
Pope Pius XII, March 2, 1939October 9, 1958

38. Featuring the song There’s No Business Like Show Business, this Broadway Technicolor musical comedy debuted on movie screens on July 17, 1950. Name it.
Annie Get Your Gun

39. How much did a dozen eggs cost in 1950?
60 cents

40. On May 6, 1950, 18-year-old Elizabeth Taylor got married for the first time. She eventually married eight times. Who was her first husband?
Conrad Hilton, Jr.

41. What team won the FIFA World Cup in 1950?
Uruguay

42. To make the US Postal Service more cost-effective, U.S. Postmaster General Jesse M. Donaldson limited the carriers to an eight-hour day, and what other major change?
He stopped twice-a-day deliveries.

43. Who won the 1950 World Series?
In 1950, The New York Yankees won, beating the Philadelphia Phillies (4 games to 0)

44. Bank robber and murderer Thomas James Holden is the first person on this famous list. What list?
The FBI’s Ten Most Wanted

45. What company used the slogan: “You’re in Good Hands”?
Allstate

46. What company used the slogan: “The Champagne of Bottle Beer”?
Miller Beer

47. The third Christmas song reached the Billboard # 1 chart position. Name that song.
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (by Gene Autry)

48. Although initially published in only seven newspapers, this comic strip became one of the most popular.
Hint: “Good Grief”
Peanuts

49. Who was the Time Magazine Man of the Year in 1950?
The American Fighting-man

50. Who was the founder of Scientology?
L. Ron Hubbard

Trivia Team Bonus Questions:

1. What was the name of L. Ron Hubbard’s book introducing Scientology? They call it ‘Book One”.
Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health

2. What Horse won the Kentucky Derby in 1950?
Middleground

3. This comedy film series about an animal, starring Donald O’Connor, Patricia Medina, and the voice of Chill Wills, went on to seven films by 1956. Name the primary character of those films.
Francis the Talking Mule

4. Who were the 1950 NFL Champions?
Cleveland Browns

5. This accused communist spy, once a United States official, was convicted on two counts of perjury.
Alger Hiss (November 11, 1904November 15, 1996). He and his family proclaimed his innocence.

6. Who was the American Vice-President in 1950?
Alben W. Barkley (January 20, 1949 – January 20, 1953)

7. They call it ‘the world’s longest-running radio soap opera,’ and it began airing on the BBC on May 29, 1950. Name that radio programme.
The Archers

8. This naturally mummified corpse of a man living in the 4th century BC was found in a Denmark bog. The body was so well preserved they thought he was a recent murder victim. What have we named that man?
The Tollund Man

9. Who were the 1950 NBA Champions?
For the 1949-50 Season, Champion Minneapolis Lakers won 4 games to 2 over the Syracuse Nationals

10. In East Germany, this group acted as the secret police until 1990.
The Stasi (Ministerium fur Staatssicherhetsdienst)