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What Happened In 1984? |
1984 Trivia: How Well Do You Remember This Defining Year in Pop Culture?Table of Contents 1984 was a landmark year that brought unforgettable movies, chart-topping music, and cultural milestones that still resonate today. From the silver screen to the radio waves and beyond, this was a year that shaped the entertainment landscape for generations to come. Are you ready to test your knowledge of one of the most iconic years of the 1980s? Challenge yourself with questions like: What movie about a paranormal team battling ghosts became an instant classic? Which artist dominated the airwaves with a record-breaking album? What video game hit arcades and cemented its place in gaming history? And which event in 1984 brought the world together in a global celebration of athleticism? Here’s some bonus trivia to set the mood:
1984 wasn’t just about entertainment—it was a year of technological innovation and cultural shifts. Apple launched its famous “1984” commercial during the Super Bowl, introducing the Macintosh computer and redefining marketing forever. Meanwhile, MTV continued to dominate with music videos that changed how we consumed music. Whether you’re preparing for trivia night or reminiscing about the glory days of the ’80s, this page is packed with questions to challenge your memory and celebrate the unforgettable events of 1984. From blockbuster movies to global milestones, this year truly had it all. How much do you really know about 1984? Take the quiz now and relive the excitement of this iconic year! 84 Trivia Questions For 1984 History(answers) 1. Edward, Henry, Gordon, James, Percy, and Toby were all characters on what Children’s television show? 2. Who did Hulk Hogan defeat to win his first World Wrestling Federation Championship? 3. The final original episode of Captain Kangaroo was on December 8, 1984. Who played the role of Captain Kangaroo? 4. Bob Keeshan previously worked as a clown on another children’s program. Name the clown or the show. 5. Who were the NBA Champions in 1984? 6. Technology, Entertainment, and Design Conferences began in 1984. What are they commonly called? 7. Name the four Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. You get one point for each. 8. Who was the Turtles’ sensei? 9. Launched on February 1, 1984, this basic cable channel features programming geared toward women or featuring women in lead roles. What channel? 10. Name the 80s television show that featured the characters “Sonny” Crockett and Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs. 11. Who wrote the Miami Vice Theme? 12. The first film in this comedy franchise included Steve Guttenberg, Kim Cattrall, and G. W. Bailey. 13. Name the comedy film that gave us the phrase “Up to eleven.” 14. The phrase “Wikki wikki wikki wikki” came from a well-known song. Name that tune. 15. In 1984, the band Yes created 18 different versions of the music video for their latest song, which was played in a marathon on MTV. Name that tune. 16. During a Space Shuttle mission on February 7, 1984, who made the first untethered spacewalk as he flew some 300 feet from the Shuttle? 17. Name the ring announcer who owns the phrase “Let’s get ready to rumble!” 18. Where were the 1984 Summer Olympics held? 19. This sitcom starred Susan Saint James and Jane Curtin as two divorced mothers who decide to live together in the same home. 20. What is the name of the pizza delivery company founded by John Schnatter? 21. Who was the President in 1984? 22. On TV, according to the theme song, who was in charge “of our days and our nights”? 23. What was the name of Bruce Springsteen’s 7th album? 24. Springsteen’s biggest hit peaked at #2 on the Billboard charts. What was it? 25. Prince’s 6th album came out on 1984. What was it called? 26. Purple Rain produced two number-one hits. You get one point for each you can name. 27. Who are the “good guy” Transformers? 28. Who are the “bad guy” Transformers? 29. What primetime television show featured Clair, Cliff, Denise, Sondra, Theodore, and Rudy? 30. Who’s hair caught fire while recording a commercial for Pepsi? 31. Name the computer listed in the Guinness World Records as the highest-selling single-computer model of all time. 32. Who were the original four Ghostbusters? 33. In 1984, the U.S. Army gave a carton character an honorable discharge in honor of his military service for appearances in WWII cartoons. Name that character. 34. This 1984 film, starring Robert Redford, was loosely based on the shooting incident and subsequent comeback of Philadelphia Phillies player Eddie Waitkus. Name that film. 35. Who was NOT born in 1984? 36. This Ron Howard film involves a young man who falls in love with a mysterious woman who is secretly a mermaid. Name it. 37. Played by Daryl Hannah, what was the mermaid’s chosen name? 38. Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous was a program hosted by whom? 39. Who did Republican President Ronald Reagan defeat in the 1984 Presidential election? 40. What was the price of a first-class postage stamp in 1984? 41. What was the name of the IBM PC-compatible home computer systems produced by the Tandy Corporation for sale in its Radio Shack stores in 1983? 42. This romantic comedy (and adventure) film featured Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito. Name that film. 43. Name the Autobiography, the best-selling non-fiction book of 1984. 44. Who was the original mogwai in Gremlins? 45. You get one point for each thing you should NOT do with a Mogwai. 46. Gremlins and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom are responsible for an addition to the MPAA movie rating system. What did they cause? 47. What was the first major film to get the PG-13 rating? 48. Name the actor who portrayed the 6th Doctor on Doctor Who. 49. What was Duran Duran’s first number-one single in the US? 50. Name the Space Shuttle that landed the first shuttle at the Kennedy Space Center. 51. Who is the main protagonist of the Dragon Ball manga series created by Akira Toriyama? 52. Although this show only lasted 13 episodes on NBC, it was Jim Carrey’s first lead role in a Hollywood production. Name that show. 53. This Saturday morning cartoon featured Nanny watching over Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Scooter, Skeeter, Rowlf the Dog, and Gonzo. Name that show. 54. This film tells the story of Ren McCormack, a teenager from Chicago who moves to a small town that bans dancing. Name the film. 55. Who played the role of Ren McCormack in Footloose? 56. Who played the role of Rev. Shaw Moore in Footloose? 57. This 12-issue Marvel comic book series was tied with a similarly-named toy line from Mattel and a role-playing game from TSR. What was it called? 58. Name the hit coming-of-age teen comedy film starring Molly Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling, and Anthony Michael Hall. 59. What film was John Hughes’ directorial debut? 60. This television sitcom featured characters like Harry T. Stone, Bull Shannon and Dan Fielding. Name that show 61. What team won the Super Bowl in 1984? 62. This daytime soap opera revolved around the eventful lives of the wealthy Capwell family in California. Name it 63. The fictitious movie AI Skynet created The Terminator, but who created Skynet? 64. In this 1984 cult sci-fi classic film, Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems in New Jersey caused havoc, thanks to Dr. Emilio Lizardo. 65. Although he never earned it, who coined the phrase EGOT, an acronym for winning the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards. 66. Who famously said, “You like me… right now… you like me!” at the Oscars? 67. Who introduced the phrase “Shrimp on the Barbie”? 68. This 1984 film featured characters like Lewis Skolnik, Booger Dawson, Gilbert Lowe, and Lamar Latrelle. Name that fil 69. Name the charity recording to raise money to combat the famine in Ethiopia 70. This show featured Angela Lansbury as a mystery writer and amateur detective. Name the show and her character. 71. Who was the Pope in 1984? 72. Name the supernatural slasher film written and directed by Wes Craven and starring Robert Englund. 73. A Nightmare on Elm Street included the feature film debut of a 1990s and 2000s film star. Name that actor. 74. Name the actor in the title role of Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer. 75. Mike Hammer’s title theme was an old jazz classic written in 1939. What was it? 76. Who were the Stanley Cup Champions in 1984? 77. A World’s Fair was held in New Orleans. What was it called? 78. Who was the Vice-President in 1984? 79. Michael Jackson’s Thriller album had two songs reaching number one. Name them. 80. Who was the biggest musical artist of 1984? 81. What did Clara Peller ask for Wendy’s? 82. Who won the World Series in 1984? 83. Name the film that originated the phrase “I reject your reality and substitute my own.” 84. Who was the leader of the Dinobots? Trivia Team Bonus Questions: 1. Transformers leader Optimus Prime had another name when he was younger. What was it? 2. Reed Richards is the leader of the Fantastic Four. Who is Reed’s father? 3. Name the pair who hosted the first MTV Video Music Awards at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall. You get one point for each, which you can name. 4. Who was the first American woman to perform a space walk? 5. Mike Hammer’s TV title theme was an old jazz classic written in 1939. What was it? 6. Name the last European country to grant women the right to vote. 7. Who is the superhero from Tromaville? 8. Name the device that allows an object to pass through solid matter in Buckaroo Banzai. 9. What was the commercial name that only aired once from Apple Computer during Super Bowl XVII? 10. What was the name of the Chicago Morning Show that eventually kicked off Oprah’s career? 84 Trivia Answers For 1984 History1. Edward, Henry, Gordon, James, Percy, and Toby were all characters on what Children’s television show? 2. Who did Hulk Hogan defeat to win his first World Wrestling Federation Championship? 3. The final original episode of Captain Kangaroo was on December 8, 1984. Who played the role of Captain Kangaroo? 4. Bob Keeshan previously worked as a clown on another children’s program. Name the clown or the show. 5. Who were the NBA Champions in 1984? 6. Technology, Entertainment, and Design Conferences began in 1984. What are they commonly called? 7. Name the four Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. You get one point for each. 8. Who was the Turtles’ sensei? 9. Launched on February 1, 1984, this basic cable channel features programming geared toward women or featuring women in lead roles. What channel? 10. Name the 80s television show that featured the characters “Sonny” Crockett and Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs. 11. Who wrote the Miami Vice Theme? 12. The first film in this comedy franchise included Steve Guttenberg, Kim Cattrall, and G. W. Bailey. 13. Name the comedy film that gave us the phrase “Up to eleven.” 14. The phrase “Wikki wikki wikki wikki” came from a well-known song. Name that tune. 15. In 1984, the band Yes created 18 different versions of the music video for their latest song, which was played in a marathon on MTV. Name that tune. 16. During a Space Shuttle mission on February 7, 1984, who made the first untethered spacewalk as he flew some 300 feet from the Shuttle? 17. Name the ring announcer who owns the phrase “Let’s get ready to rumble!” 18. Where were the 1984 Summer Olympics held? 19. This sitcom starred Susan Saint James and Jane Curtin as two divorced mothers who decide to live together in the same home. 20. What is the name of the pizza delivery company founded by John Schnatter? 21. Who was the President in 1984? 22. On TV, according to the theme song, who was in charge “of our days and our nights”? 23. What was the name of Bruce Springsteen’s 7th album? 24. Springsteen’s biggest hit peaked at #2 on the Billboard charts. What was it? 25. Prince’s 6th album came out on 1984. What was it called? 26. Purple Rain produced two number-one hits. You get one point for each you can name. 27. Who are the “good guy” Transformers? 28. Who are the “bad guy” Transformers? 29. What primetime television show featured Clair, Cliff, Denise, Sondra, Theodore, and Rudy? 30. Who’s hair caught fire while recording a commercial for Pepsi? 31. Name the computer listed in the Guinness World Records as the highest-selling single-computer model of all time. 32. Who were the original four Ghostbusters? 33. In 1984, the U.S. Army gave a carton character an honorable discharge in honor of his military service for appearances in WWII cartoons. Name that character. 34. This 1984 film, starring Robert Redford, was loosely based on the shooting incident and subsequent comeback of Philadelphia Phillies player Eddie Waitkus. Name that film. 35. Who was NOT born in 1984? 36. This Ron Howard film involves a young man who falls in love with a mysterious woman who is secretly a mermaid. Name it. 37. Played by Daryl Hannah, what was the mermaid’s chosen name? 38. Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous was a program hosted by whom? 39. Who did Republican President Ronald Reagan defeat in the 1984 Presidential election? 40. What was the price of a first-class postage stamp in 1984? 41. What was the name of the IBM PC-compatible home computer systems produced by the Tandy Corporation for sale in its Radio Shack stores in 1983? 42. This romantic comedy (and adventure) film featured Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito. Name that film. 43. Name the Autobiography, the best-selling non-fiction book of 1984. 44. Who was the original mogwai in Gremlins? 45. You get one point for each thing you should NOT do with a Mogwai. 46. Gremlins and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom are responsible for an addition to the MPAA movie rating system. What did they cause? 47. What was the first major film to get the PG-13 rating? 48. Name the actor who portrayed the 6th Doctor on Doctor Who. 49. What was Duran Duran’s first number-one single in the US? 50. Name the Space Shuttle that landed the first shuttle at the Kennedy Space Center. 51. Who is the main protagonist of the Dragon Ball manga series created by Akira Toriyama? 52. Although this show only lasted 13 episodes on NBC, it was Jim Carrey’s first lead role in a Hollywood production. Name that show. 53. This Saturday morning cartoon featured Nanny watching over Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Scooter, Skeeter, Rowlf the Dog, and Gonzo. Name that show. 54. This film tells the story of Ren McCormack, a teenager from Chicago who moves to a small town that bans dancing. Name the film. 55. Who played the role of Ren McCormack in Footloose? 56. Who played the role of Rev. Shaw Moore in Footloose? 57. This 12-issue Marvel comic book series was tied with a similarly-named toy line from Mattel and a role-playing game from TSR. What was it called? 58. Name the hit coming-of-age teen comedy film starring Molly Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling, and Anthony Michael Hall. 59. What film was John Hughes’ directorial debut? 60. This television sitcom featured characters like Harry T. Stone, Bull Shannon and Dan Fielding. Name that show. 61. What team won the Super Bowl in 1984? 62. This daytime soap opera revolved around the eventful lives of the wealthy Capwell family in California. Name it. 63. The fictitious movie AI Skynet created The Terminator, but who created Skynet? 64. In this 1984 cult sci-fi classic film, Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems in New Jersey caused havoc, thanks to Dr. Emilio Lizardo. 65. Although he never earned it, who coined the phrase EGOT, an acronym for winning the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards. 66. Who famously said, “You like me… right now… you like me!” at the Oscars? 67. Who introduced the phrase “Shrimp on the Barbie”? 68. This 1984 film featured characters like Lewis Skolnik, Booger Dawson, Gilbert Lowe, and Lamar Latrelle. Name that film 69. Name the charity recording to raise money to combat the famine in Ethiopia. 70. This show featured Angela Lansbury as a mystery writer and amateur detective. Name the show and her character. 71. Who was the Pope in 1984? 72. Name the supernatural slasher film written and directed by Wes Craven and starring Robert Englund. 73. A Nightmare on Elm Street included the feature film debut of a 1990s and 2000s film star. Name that actor. 74. Name the actor in the title role of Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer. 75. Mike Hammer’s title theme was an old jazz classic written in 1939. What was it? 76. Who were the Stanley Cup Champions in 1984? 77. A World’s Fair was held in New Orleans. What was it called? 78. Who was the Vice-President in 1984? 79. Michael Jackson’s Thriller album had two songs reaching number one. Name them. 80. Who was the biggest musical artist of 1984? 81. What did Clara Peller ask for Wendy’s? 82. Who won the World Series in 1984? 83. Name the film that originated the phrase “I reject your reality and substitute my own.” 84. Who was the leader of the Dinobots? Trivia Team Bonus Questions: 1. Transformers leader Optimus Prime had another name when he was younger. What was it? 2. Reed Richards is the leader of the Fantastic Four. Who is Reed’s father? 3. Name the pair who hosted the first MTV Video Music Awards at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall. You get one point for each, which you can name. 4. Who was the first American woman to perform a space walk? 5. Mike Hammer’s TV title theme was an old jazz classic written in 1939. What was it? 6. Name the last European country to grant women the right to vote. 7. Who is the superhero from Tromaville? 8. Name the device that allows an object to pass through solid matter in Buckaroo Banzai. 9. What was the commercial name that only aired once from Apple Computer during Super Bowl XVII? 10. What was the name of the Chicago Morning Show that eventually kicked off Oprah’s career? |
