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What Happened In 1950? |
Table of Contents 1950 Pop Culture Highlights and Fun Facts1950 began a transformative decade in history, pop culture, and entertainment. As the post-World War II era gave way to a period of optimism and innovation, the 1950s introduced iconic trends, memorable music, groundbreaking films, and fascinating historical events. From the first TV sitcoms to unforgettable sports milestones, 1950 set the stage for a cultural revolution that continues to influence us today. In 1950, television was starting to become a household staple, revolutionizing how families consumed entertainment. Classic shows began to shape prime-time viewing habits, while moviegoers flocked to theaters for thrilling Westerns and captivating dramas. At the same time, the music industry witnessed the early sparks of rock ‘n’ roll, with popular artists setting the stage for the decade’s upcoming cultural shifts. It was also the year certain toys, fashion trends, and inventions became must-haves in American households. Sports fans also had plenty to cheer for in 1950, with major events defining their favorite games for years. Meanwhile, significant scientific discoveries and political milestones kept the world abuzz, blending innovation with intrigue. Whether you’re a trivia buff or just curious about this pivotal year, exploring the pop culture of 1950 reveals a tapestry of stories and moments that remain timeless. 50 Trivia Questions 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. 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. |
50 Trivia Answers for 1950 History1. 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. 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 eight 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. 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. |
