 |
What Happened In 1983?1983 Trivia: Relive the Pop Culture Moments of This Exciting Year!1983 was a defining moment for pop culture, with groundbreaking movies, chart-topping music, and memorable TV debuts that left an indelible mark. Do you think you know everything about the early ’80s? This trivia page is your chance to put your knowledge to the test with questions that span the biggest hits, trends, and moments of 1983. Challenge yourself with questions like: What blockbuster sci-fi sequel dominated the box office? Which pop icon cemented their superstardom with an iconic album? What major TV finale set viewership records? And can you name the revolutionary video game that took arcades by storm? Here’s some bonus trivia to kick things off:
1983 was also the year of high-tech innovation, with the release of the Apple Lisa, one of the first personal computers with a graphical user interface, paving the way for the modern computer age. Whether you’re here to prep for a trivia showdown or relive the excitement of this unforgettable year, this page will take you back to the highlights of 1983. There’s something for everyone, from epic movies to tech breakthroughs and pop culture firsts. So, are you ready to tackle the ultimate 1983 trivia challenge? Dive in and see if you can outscore your friends with your knowledge of this legendary year! |
83 Trivia Questions For 1983 History(answers) 1. Actor and executive producer LeVar Burton hosted this PBS show. Name that program. 2. Name the film that asked, “Shall we play a game?” 3. Kevin Costner was seen in this film briefly as a corpse. Name that film. 4. This primetime concert special introduced Michael Jackson’s moonwalk. Name that event 5. Name the TV show that featured Gobo, Mokey, Wembley, Boober, and Red 6. This film featured Debra Winger, Shirley MacLaine, Jack Nicholson, Danny DeVito, Jeff Daniels, and John Lithgow and won five Oscars. Name that film 7. Who plays the role of Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop? 8. Who plays the role of Detective Billy Rosewood in Beverly Hills Cop? 9. The game’s name comes from a Swahili word that means ‘to build or construct.’ Name the game. 10. Who hosted Star Search from 1983 to 1995? 11. What team won the Super Bowl in 1983? 12. Nancy Reagan appeared on this show to kick off her “Just Say No” anti-drug campaign. What show? 13. Who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983? 14. On what planet do the Ewoks live? 15. Name the Star Wars character who famously said, “It’s a trap!” 16. What was the biggest song of 1983? 17. When was Lake Mead, the reservoir behind Hoover Dam in Nevada/Arizona, last at peak capacity? 18. Who sang “The kid is not my son” in a number-one hit in 1983? 19. This dance/drama film was about Alex Owens, an eighteen-year-old welder at a steel mill in Pittsburgh. Name that film 20. Flashdance produced two number-one hits. You get one point for each, which you can name 21. Who was the biggest musical artist of 1983? 22. What was the name of Bob Ross’s show? 23. This 1983 film was a sequel to Saturday Night Fever. Name that film. 24. Staying Alive starred John Travolta, but who directed it? 25. This company launched in 1983 as the Control Video Corporation. It changed its name and was the biggest home internet service in the world by the mid-1990s. Name the company. 26. Starring Burt Reynolds, this film was adapted from the 1973 novel Stand on It, an autobiography of a fictional driver. Name the film. 27. Thomas Sullivan Magnum IV was a private investigator on this CBS program. Name the show 28. Today, this company, founded in 1983, includes QuickBooks, Credit Karma, and Mailchimp among its products. Name that company. 29. More than 125 million people watched the finale of this show. Name it. 30. This sitcom television series was a spin-off and continuation of M*A*S*H. It lasted 2 seasons. Name that show. 31. Who was the President in 1983? 32. This show starred Kate Jackson and Bruce Boxleitner as divorced housewife Amanda King and top-level “Agency” operative Lee Stetson; it aired from 1983 to 1987. Name that show. 33. Name the 1983 film considered to be Tom Cruise’s breakout role. 34. Who was Tom Cruise’s female co-star in Risky Business? 35. President Reagan proposed a missile defense system that was “decades away from reality.” What was it commonly called? 36. Which products were NOT (average) priced at 99 cents per pound in 1983? 37. This film comedy featured the characters Louis Winthorpe III and Billy Ray Valentine. 38. What was the DynaTAC 8000X? 39. Space Shuttle Challenger carried the first African-American astronaut into space. Name him. 40. Introduced in 1983, this has become one of The Price Is Right’s most popular pricing games. Name it. 41. One word: Norm! Name the show. 42. In A Christmas Story, what did Ralphie want for Christmas? 43. Multi-Tool Word for Xenix systems was first released in October 1983, but it was better known by what other name? 44. Who were the NBA Champions in 1983? 45. Who was the host of Reading Rainbow on PBS? 46. Who was the Vice-President in 1983? 47. What was the best-selling fiction book of 1983 48. Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney had two songs together that ruled the pop charts in 1983. You get one point for each, which you can name 49. This TV show featured orphan Webster Long and his adoptive parents, George and Katherine Papadopoulos. Name that sitcom. 50. Who played the role of Webster? 51. Who were the Stanley Cup Champions in 1983? 52. This TV show, which ran for 130 episodes, was a spin-off from a Carol Burnett Show sketch. Name the show 53. Who was NOT born in 1983? 54. Name the film that gave Michael Keaton his first leading role. 55. What was the second-best-selling album of 1983 56. What was the Third-best-selling album of 1983 57. AT&T was broken up in an antitrust action, forming seven smaller companies. You get one point for each, which you can name. 58. What was the last film to feature all six Python members before Graham Chapman’s death 59. Chrysler introduced one of the first minivans in 1983. What was it called? 60. This cartoon featured a police inspector with various bionic parts built into his body. His nemesis, Dr. Claw, sent him on missions to thwart plans. Name that law enforcement officer 61. Name the woman on the Space Shuttle Challenger, which lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center on June 18, 1983. 62. Who played the role of Sheriff Buford T. Justice of Texas? 63. This chicken-based McDonalds food has become a staple on their menu. What are they called? 64. These toys caused retail riots for Christmas shoppers in 1983. What were they? 65. Name the Disney classic re-released in 1983 and made $30 million at the box office 66. What was the best-selling 12-inch single of all time? 67. Name the first man-made object to leave the solar system. 68. Who was the first African American to be crowned Miss America? 69. This was Natalie Woods’ final film, released two years after her death. Name the film. 70. This television crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn’t commit. Who were they 71. Name the book series about identical twins Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield living in the fictional Sweet Valley, California. 72. Who was the Pope in 1983? 73. Name the James Bond films released in 1983. 74. Name the 1983 American neo-noir action thriller film, the fourth in the Dirty Harry series 75. Sudden Impact gave us a phrase still used today. Say that phrase. 76. On the third Monday in January, this was declared a Federal Holiday. What is that special day? 77. This “high-brow” monthly magazine of popular culture, fashion, and current affairs is published by Condé Nast. Name that periodical 78. What 1983 film included Clark, Ellen, Audrey, and Rusty Griswold? 79. Who was the television character who said, “I love it when a plan comes together.” 80. On what continent was the world’s lowest-ever natural temperature, -128.6 °F recorded? 81. Who won the World Series in 1983? 82. The language these creatures speak in Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983) is a mixture of Tibetan and Nepalese languages. Name that species. 83. James Earl Jones provided the voice for Darth Vader. Who provided the physical body? Trivia Team Bonus Questions: 1. While making Return of the Jedi, they used a working title to throw journalists and fans off. What was the working title? 2. Superman restores the Leaning Tower of Pisa at the end of this film. Name that film. 3. Cujo is a 1983 American horror film based on Stephen King’s 1981 novel. What type of dog is Cujo? 4. Name the Newspaper that published the headline “Headless Body in Topless Bar” in 1983. 5. Who were Time Magazine’s “Men of the Year” 1983? 6. Name a 1983 film that included Nicolas Cage, Deborah Foreman, and Elizabeth Daily as teens in the San Fernando Valley. 7. Who was the first woman to serve as the transportation secretary? 8. The cast in this 1983 film danced in the kitchen to “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” by The Temptations. Name that film. 9. Released in 1983, this font was widely used in the 2009 film, Avatar. Name that font. 10. What product did the Duke Brothers want to “corner the market” in the film Trading Places? 83 Trivia Answers For 1983 History1. Actor and executive producer LeVar Burton hosted this PBS show. Name that program. 2. Name the film that asked, “Shall we play a game?” 3. Kevin Costner was seen in this film briefly as a corpse. Name that film. 4. This primetime concert special introduced Michael Jackson’s moonwalk. Name that event. 5. Name the TV show that featured Gobo, Mokey, Wembley, Boober, and Red 6. This film featured Debra Winger, Shirley MacLaine, Jack Nicholson, Danny DeVito, Jeff Daniels, and John Lithgow and won five Oscars. Name that film. 7. Who plays the role of Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop? 8. Who plays the role of Detective Billy Rosewood in Beverly Hills Cop? 9. The game’s name comes from a Swahili word that means ‘to build or construct.’ Name the game. 10. Who hosted Star Search from 1983 to 1995? 11. What team won the Super Bowl in 1983? 12. Nancy Reagan appeared on this show to kick off her “Just Say No” anti-drug campaign. What show? 13. Who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983? 14. On what planet do the Ewoks live? 15. Name the Star Wars character who famously said, “It’s a trap!” 16. What was the biggest song of 1983? 17. When was Lake Mead, the reservoir behind Hoover Dam in Nevada/Arizona, last at peak capacity? 18. Who sang “The kid is not my son” in a number-one hit in 1983? 19. This dance/drama film was about Alex Owens, an eighteen-year-old welder at a steel mill in Pittsburgh. Name that film. 20. Flashdance produced two number-one hits. You get one point for each, which you can name. 21. Who was the biggest musical artist of 1983? 22. What was the name of Bob Ross’s show? 23. This 1983 film was a sequel to Saturday Night Fever. Name that film. 24. Staying Alive starred John Travolta, but who directed it? 25. This company launched in 1983 as the Control Video Corporation. It changed its name and was the biggest home internet service in the world by the mid-1990s. Name the company. 26. Starring Burt Reynolds, this film was adapted from the 1973 novel Stand on It, an autobiography of a fictional driver. Name the film. 27. Thomas Sullivan Magnum IV was a private investigator on this CBS program. Name the show. 28. Today, this company, founded in 1983, includes QuickBooks, Credit Karma, and Mailchimp among its products. Name that company. 29. More than 125 million people watched the finale of this show. Name it. 30. This sitcom television series was a spin-off and continuation of M*A*S*H. It lasted 2 seasons. Name that show. 31. Who was the President in 1983? 32. This show starred Kate Jackson and Bruce Boxleitner, as divorced housewife Amanda King and top-level “Agency” operative Lee Stetson; it aired from 1983 to 1987. Name that show. 33. Name the 1983 film considered to be Tom Cruise’s breakout role. 34. Who was Tom Cruise’s female co-star in Risky Business? 35. President Reagan proposed a missile defense system that was “decades away from reality.” What was it commonly called? 36. Which products were NOT (average) priced at 99 cents per pound in 1983? 37. This film comedy featured the characters Louis Winthorpe III and Billy Ray Valentine. 38. What was the DynaTAC 8000X? 39. Space Shuttle Challenger carried the first African-American astronaut into space. Name him. 40. Introduced in 1983, this has become one of The Price Is Right’s most popular pricing games. Name it. 41. One word: Norm! Name the show. 42. In A Christmas Story, what did Ralphie want for Christmas? 43. Multi-Tool Word for Xenix systems was first released in October 1983, but it was better known by what other name? 44. Who were the NBA Champions in 1983? 45. Who was the host of Reading Rainbow on PBS? 46. Who was the Vice-President in 1983? 47. What was the best-selling fiction book of 1983? 48. Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney had two songs together that ruled the pop charts in 1983. You get one point for each, which you can name. 49. This TV show featured orphan Webster Long and his adoptive parents, George and Katherine Papadopoulos. Name that sitcom. 50. Who played the role of Webster? 51. Who were the Stanley Cup Champions in 1983? 52. This TV show, which ran for 130 episodes, was a spin-off from a Carol Burnett Show sketch. Name the show. 53. Who was NOT born in 1983? 54. Name the film that gave Michael Keaton his first leading role. 55. What was the second-best-selling album of 1983? 56. What was the Third-best-selling album of 1983? 57. AT&T was broken up in an antitrust action, forming seven smaller companies. You get one point for each you can name. 58. What was the last film to feature all six Python members before Graham Chapman’s death? 59. Chrysler introduced one of the first minivans in 1983. What was it called? 60. This cartoon featured a police inspector with various bionic parts built into his body. His nemesis, Dr. Claw, sent him on missions to thwart plans. Name that law enforcement officer. 61. Name the woman on the Space Shuttle Challenger, which lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center on June 18, 1983. 62. Who played the role of Sheriff Buford T. Justice of Texas? 63. This chicken-based McDonalds food has become a staple on their menu. What are they called? 64. These toys caused retail riots for Christmas shoppers in 1983. What were they? 65. Name the Disney classic re-released in 1983 and made $30 million at the box office. 66. What was the best-selling 12-inch single of all time? 67. Name the first man-made object to leave the solar system. 68. Who was the first African American to be crowned Miss America? 69. This was Natalie Woods’ final film, released two years after her death. Name the film. 70. This television crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn’t commit. Who were they? 71. Name the book series about identical twins Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield living in the fictional Sweet Valley, California. 72. Who was the Pope in 1983? 73. Name the James Bond films released in 1983. 74. Name the 1983 American neo-noir action thriller film, the fourth in the Dirty Harry series. 75. Sudden Impact gave us a phrase still used today. Say that phrase. 76. On the third Monday in January, this was declared a Federal Holiday. What is that special day? 77. This “high-brow” monthly magazine of popular culture, fashion, and current affairs is published by Condé Nast. Name that periodical 78. What 1983 film included Clark, Ellen, Audrey, and Rusty Griswold? 79. Who was the television character who said, “I love it when a plan comes together.” 80. On what continent was the world’s lowest-ever natural temperature, -128.6 °F recorded? 81. Who won the World Series in 1983? 82. The language these creatures speak in Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983) is a mixture of Tibetan and Nepalese languages. Name that species. 83. James Earl Jones provided the voice for Darth Vader. Who provided the physical body? Trivia Team Bonus Questions: 1. While making Return of the Jedi, they used a working title to throw journalists and fans off. What was the working title? 2. Superman restores the Leaning Tower of Pisa at the end of this film. Name that film. 3. Cujo is a 1983 American horror film based on Stephen King’s 1981 novel. What type of dog is Cujo? 4. Name the Newspaper that published the headline “Headless Body in Topless Bar” in 1983. 5. Who were Time Magazine’s “Men of the Year” 1983? 6. Name a 1983 film that included Nicolas Cage, Deborah Foreman, and Elizabeth Daily as teens in the San Fernando Valley. 7. Who was the first woman to serve as the transportation secretary? 8. The cast in this 1983 film danced in the kitchen to “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” by The Temptations. Name that film. 9. Released in 1983, this font was widely used in the 2009 film, Avatar. Name that font. 10. What product did the Duke Brothers want to “corner the market” in the film Trading Places? |
