What Happened In 1962?
62 Trivia Questions and Answers for 1962 History
1. What was the Biggest Number One Song of 1962?
I Can’t Stop Lovin’ You by Ray Charles
2. Where did the cartoon character Yogi Bear live?
Jellystone Park
3. This company used the advertising line “We Try Harder” – name the company.
Hertz Rent-a-car. (They were #2 to Avis, the largest company)
4. Name the fictional town in which the musical, The Music Man, takes place.
River City (Iowa)
5. In 1962, what was the average life expectancy in the United States?
Men – 66.8 years, Women – 73.4 years.
5. What was the Bestselling Fiction Book in 1962?
Ship of Fools by Katherine Anne Porter
6. What was the highest-grossing film of 1962?
The Longest Day (2nd place: Lawrence of Arabia)
7.What company used the slogan: “We try harder”?
Avis
8. Can you tell us the name Cocoa Puffs cereal mascot?
Sonny the Cuckoo Bird
9. Who was President of the United States in 1962?
John F. Kennedy (January 20, 1961 – November 22, 1963)
10. 1962 Catchphrase: Who said, “Here’s Johnny”?
Ed McMahon on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
11. Who won the Stanley Cup in 1962?
In 1962, The Toronto Maple Leafs won over the Chicago Black Hawks (4 games to 2)
12. What was the Top-Rated TV Show in the 1961/1962 season?
Wagon Train (NBC)
13. How much did a Loaf of Bread cost in 1962?
21 cents
14. How many people lived in the United States in 1962?
The population was an estimated 186,537,737 people.
15. How many people lived in the World in 1962?
The estimated world population in 1962 was 3,141,071,531 people.
16. To the nearest quarter, what was the average movie theater ticket price in 1962?
75 cents
17. Created by Bob Kane as a spoof of his earlier creations, Batman and Robin, can you name this cartoon crime-fighting duo?
Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse. They lived in the Cat Cave.
18. Who was the regular host of The Tonight Show before Johnny Carson took over on October 1, 1962?
Jack Parr
19. What record label executives were quoted to have said that “guitar groups are on the way out” and “the Beatles have no future in show business”?
Decca Records
20. Who won the 1962 World Series?
In 1962, The New York Yankees won, beating the San Francisco Giants (4 games to 3)
21. Although she died at the age of 36 on August 4, 1962, Marilyn Monroe was born with another name. What was Marilyn’s real name?
Norma Jeane Mortenson
22. Founded in 1962 in Minnestoa, this consumer chain is considered a discount-chic shopping experience. Name that retailer.
Target
23. What was the name of the robot maid on The Jetsons?
Rosie
24. What country claims to be the birthplace of the “Hawaiian pizza”?
Canada
25. Name the first actor to be paid $1,000,000 for a single film.
Marlon Brando was the first actor to command a $1 million salary, for his starring role in 1962’s Mutiny on the Bounty.
26. Who did Sonny Liston defeat to become the World Heavyweight Boxing Champion in 1962?
Floyd Patterson
27. This sandwich was first brought to the McDonald’s menu in 1962.
Filet-O-Fish
28. How much was a Gallon of Milk in 1962?
$1.04
29. Where did The Beatles record almost all of their studio material?
Abbey Road Studios in London
30. This science fiction-themed trading card series, first released in 1962 by Topps, was the basis for a 1996 film starring Jack Nicholson, and a host of Hollywood guest stars.
Mars Attacks!
31. Who was the Time Magazine Man of the Year in 1962?
Pope John XXII
32. First appearing in 1961, this flying kaiju (giant monster) made her debut, along with 2 fairies, who spoke and sang for her.
Mothra
33. At a White House dinner, who said “I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge ever gathered at the White House, with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.”?
President John F. Kennedy
34. This comic book character, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1952, was inspired by a combination of Frankenstein and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Name him.
(The Incredible) Hulk, civilian id: Dr. Bruce Banner.
35. He was later called “the most trusted man in America” and on April 16, 1962, he became the anchor for The CBS Evening News. Who was he?
Walter Cronkite (November 4, 1916 – July 17, 2009)
36. California native Glen Bell began the restaurant chain in Downey, California. It is still around today. Name that fast food restaurant.
Taco Bell
37. 1962 Catchphrase: In what movie did James first say “The name is Bond, James Bond”?
Dr. No
38. On March 2, 1962, who scored a record 100 points an NBA game in Hershey, Pennsylvania?
Wilt Chamberlain, for the Philadelphia Warriors, against the New York Knickerbockers.
39. How much did a gallon of gas cost in 1962?
$0.31 per gallon
40. What was the topic of Andy Warhol’s earliest silkscreen paintings?
Campbell’s Soup Cans (aka 32 Campbell’s Soup Cans) produced between November 1961 and March/April 1962.
41. This very popular show became the number one sitcom within 3 weeks of its debut in 1962. Name that comedy.
The Beverly Hillbillies
42. Name the two Major League Baseball expansion teams that started playing in the 1962 season.
Houston Colt .45s (Astros) and the New York Mets.
43. Originally a serialization in The New Yorker, this book is often credited for the rise to the modern environmentalist movement.
Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
44. The 606 foot tall Space Needle building has become a symbol of Seattle. Why was it built?
Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World’s Fair)
45. Who was the Pope in 1962?
Pope John XXIII, from October 28, 1958 – June 3, 1963
46. What was the name of Rob Petrie’s wife on the Dick Van Dyke Show, and who played her?
Laura (Mary Tyler Moore)
47. Who was the first African-American to be elected to the Baseball Hall Of Fame, in Cooperstown, New York.
Jackie Robinson (January 31, 1919 – October 24, 1972)
48. What beverage company used the slogan: “Schh…You Know Who”?
Schweppes
49. United States Navy SEALs were founded in 1962, how did they come up with their name?
United States Navy’s Sea, Air, and Land teams
50. Catchphrase: Who said “Ruh-roh”? (Before Scooby-Doo!)
Astro on The Jetsons
51. Where did cartoon character Yogi Bear like to find his food?
Picnic baskets (“pic-a-nic baskets”)
52. Some people call him the fifth Beatle. Other people know he was The Beatles’ drummer before Ringo Starr. Name that drummer.
Pete Best
53. Which celebrity was NOT born in 1962: Jim Carrey, Axl Rose, Garth Brooks, or George Clooney?
George Clooney (born May 6, 1961)
54. This meeting, taking place between 1962 and 1965, addressed relations between the Catholic Church and the modern world.
Second Vatican Council (aka Vatican II)
55. This Broadway play by Edward Albee examines the complexities of the marriage of a middle-aged couple, Martha and George. It was first staged on October 13, 1962.
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
56. Trinidad and Tobago gained its independence from WHERE on August 31, 1962?
The United Kingdom
57. On The Lucy Show, which ran from 1962 through 1968, what was Lucy’s surname?
Lucy Carmichael
58. This was the world’s first commercial communications satellite. It was also the title of a Billboard number one instrumental song by The Tornados.
Telstar
59. Founded in 1962, this hospital is a pediatric treatment and research facility focused on children’s catastrophic diseases, particularly leukemia and other cancers, but patients are not charged for their care. Name that famous hospital.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
60. What unusual headgear did Beany wear in the cartoon Beany and Cecil?
A propeller beanie cap that allowed him to fly (the “Beanycopter”)
61. Who is considered the protagonist in To Kill a Mockingbird?
The protagonist is Jean Louise “Scout” Finch
62. Airing on ABC, McHale’s Navy took place during what war?
World War II
Trivia Team Bonus Questions:
1. This instrumental recording was the first Britsh recording to reach the number one position on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart. Name that song.
Stranger on the Shore by Mr. Acker Bilk
2. Mutiny on the Bounty is a fictionalized 1962 movie of the real-life mutiny led by Fletcher Christian against William Bligh. What year did the actual event take place?
1789
3. Who was the American Vice-President in 1962?
Lyndon B. Johnson (January 20, 1961 – November 22, 1963)
4. What book was the film Lawrence of Arabia based on?
Seven Pillars of Wisdom by T. E. Lawrence
5. Who were the 1962 NBA Champions?
For the 1961-62 Season, Champion Boston Celtics won 4 games to 3 over the Los Angeles Lakers
6. What team won the FIFA World Cup in 1962?
Brazil
7. Yogi Bear’s personality was based on another, but live-action, character. Name the character or the actor who played him.
Ed Norton, from The Honeymooners, played by Art Carney.
8. What Horse won the Kentucky Derby in 1962?
Decidedly
9. What was the name of Rob Petrie’s son on the Dick Van Dyke Show?
Ritchie Petrie (played by Larry Mathews)
10. Who were the 1962 NFL Champions?
Green Bay Packers
