What Happened In 1955?

55 Trivia Questions for 1955 History

(answers)

1. What was the highest-grossing film of 1955?

2. This actor, who died in 1955, was the first to receive a posthumous Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Who was he?

3. In 1955, what was the average life expectancy in the United States?

4. Ray Kroc’s first restaurant opened in Des Plaines, Illinois, on April 15, 1955. What do we call his fast-food restaurant chain today?

5. West Germany was admitted into NATO on May 9, 1955. In response, the Soviet Union countered with the formation of what other organizations?

6. Who was Elvis Presley’s manager?

7. What was the Biggest Number One Song of 1955?

8. How much did a Loaf of Bread cost in 1955?

9. 1955 Catchphrase: Who said, “Baby, you’re the greatest”?

10. Considered one of the brightest minds of modern times, this man died in 1955. Who was he?

11. What did a pound of Chuck Roast cost in 1955?
50 cents

12. Who won the Stanley Cup in 1955?
In 1955, The Detroit Red Wings won over the Montreal Canadiens (4 games to 3)

13. How many people lived in the United States in 1955?
The population was an estimated 165,931,202 people.

14. How many people lived in the World in 1955?
The estimated world population in 1955 was 2,761,650,981 people.

15. The Broadway musical version of what show was presented on television for the first time on NBC-TV, with its original cast?
Peter Pan

16. Who won the 1955 World Series?
In 1955, The Brooklyn Dodgers won, beating the New York Yankees (4 games to 3)

17. Released in 1955, name the 15th animated Disney film.
Lady and the Tramp

18. Who was the President of the United States in 1955?
Dwight D. Eisenhower (January 20, 1953 – January 20, 1961)

19. What was the average household income in 1955?
$4,400

20. What was the Bestselling Fiction Book in 1955?
Marjorie Morningstar by Herman Wouk

21. The long-running Western television series debuted in 1955 on CBS. Name that show
Gunsmoke (1955–1975)

22. This children’s show aired intermittently on ABC, syndication, and cable, from 1955 to 1996, featuring teen performers.
The Mickey Mouse Club

23. This actress started as an original Mouseketeer but became a star in various “Beach Party” movies from 1963 through 1967. Name her.
Annette Funicello (October 22, 1942 – April 8, 2013)

24. This 1955 James Bond novel by Ian Fleming was the third in the book series and the eleventh film. Name that novel and film title.
Moonraker

25. Jim Henson introduced the first version of what muppet in the premiere of his puppet show Sam and Friends on WRC-TV in Washington, DC?
Kermit (a lizard, later a frog)

26. This automobile was created to compete with the Chevrolet Corvette and a personal luxury car. Over 4.4 million were produced. Name that car.
Ford Thunderbird (T-Bird)

27. How much did a gallon of gas cost in 1955?
$0.29 per gallon

28. What was the Top-Rated TV Show in the 1954/1955 season?
I Love Lucy (CBS)

29. Name the 1955 film in which Marilyn Monroe stands on a New York City Subway grating as her white dress is blown above her knees.
The Seven Year Itch

30. Opened in July 1955, name the most popular amusement park in Anaheim, California, and possibly the world.
Disneyland

31. A Hollywood couple nicknamed “America’s Sweethearts” were married on September 26, 1955. Carrie Fisher was their daughter. Name that couple.
Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds

32. This 1955 American musical film was based on the 1943 musical of the same name by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. Name that show!
Oklahoma!

33. This pitcher has held or holds MLB records for the most career wins, with 511, and most career innings pitched, games started, and complete games. He passed away at age 88. They named an award after him in 1956.
“Cy” Young (March 29, 1867 – November 4, 1955)

34. The AFL-CIO resulted from the merger of what labor organizations?
The American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations

35. Name the celebrity psychologist who won the “$64000 question” on boxing.
Joyce Brothers (later Doctor Joyce Brothers)

36. This cartoon hero came to save the day every Saturday on CBS from 1955 through 1967.
Mighty Mouse (in Mighty Mouse Playhouse)

37. Mighty Mouse debuted as The Mouse of Tomorrow in a cartoon short on October 16, 1942, as a parody of Superman. What was Mighty Mouse called in his first animated appearance?
Super Mouse

38. Who was the Time Magazine Man of the Year in 1955?
Harlow Curtice

39. They were initially called “Froffles,” but in 1955, they changed their name to what we still call them today. Name that breakfast food.
Eggos

40. This invention (patent #2,717,437) was inspired by burrs that stuck to George de Mestral’s dog’s fur.
Velcro

41. Which of these actors never lived with the others?: Robert Duvall, Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, and Dustin Hoffman.
Clint Eastwood never roomed any with the other three.

42. To the nearest quarter, what was the average movie theater ticket price in 1955?
50 cents

43. In April 1955, who resigned as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom due to ill-health at 80?
Sir Winston Churchill (November 30, 1874 – January 24, 1965). He was replaced the next day by Anthony Eden.

44. What British government declared the British city as Wales’s capital on December 20, 1955?
Cardiff

45. Which performer or science guy was NOT born in Rowan Atkinson, Mr. T, Billy Idol, or Bill Nye?
Mr. T (Lawrence Tureaud, born May 21, 1952)

46. What was Mr. T’s catchphrase?
“I pity the fool!”

47. This popular American TV game show was broadcast from 1955 to 1958 but became embroiled in the 1950s quiz show scandals. Name that program.
The $64,000 Question (although much of the scandal focused on Twenty-One, 1956-1958)

48. They call it the best-selling copyrighted book of all time, and the first English-language edition came out in 1955. Name that book.
The Guinness Book of (World) Records

49. Injuring over 100 people and killing 83 spectators and driver Pierre Levegh, it was the most catastrophic crash in motorsport history. At what racing event did it happen?
The 1955 Le Mans disaster occurred during the 24 Hours of Le Mans motor race at Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France.

50. Name the movie based on Evan Hunter’s 1954 book of the same name, which featured Bill Haley’s Rock Around The Clock.
The Blackboard Jungle

51. What type of car was James Dean driving when he was killed?
His Porche 550 Spyder crashed near Paso Robles, California.

52. What long-running television western debuted on (CBS) on September 10, 1955?
Gunsmoke

53. Name the first nuclear-powered submarine, first put to sea from Groton, Connecticut.
The USS Nautilus

54. 1955 Catchphrase: Who said: “Bang, zoom, straight to the moon”?
Ralph Kramden on The Honeymooners

55. What popular (CBS) children’s show debuted on October 3, 1955?
Captain Kangaroo

Trivia Team Bonus Questions:

1. Who were the 1955 NBA Champions?
For the 1954-55 Season, Champion Syracuse Nationals won 4 games to 3 over the Fort Wayne Pistons

2. Held in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, how many medals did the US win in the 1956 Winter Olympics?
7.
2 Gold, 3 Silver, 2 Bronze.

3. Held in Melbourne/Stockholm (Australia/ Sweden), how many medals did the US win in the 1956 Summer Olympics?
74.
32 Gold, 25 Silver, 17 Bronze.

4. What Horse won the Kentucky Derby in 1955?
Swaps

5. Who was the first African-American singer to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City?
Marian Anderson

6. Who were the 1955 NFL Champions?
Cleveland Browns

7. Who was the Pope in 1955?
Pope Pius XII, March 2, 1939 – October 9, 1958

8. Can you name the program that Elvis Presley made his debut on, carried by KSLA-TV Shreveport in the United States?
“Louisiana Hayride”

9. Who was the American Vice-President in 1955?
Richard Nixon (January 20, 1953 – January 20, 1961)

10. The New York publication is the country’s first alternative newsweekly paper.
The Village Voice

The Answers:

55 Trivia Questions and Answers for 1955 History

1. What was the highest-grossing film of 1955?
Cinerama Holiday

2. This actor, who died in 1955, was the first to receive a posthumous Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Who was he?
James Dean (February 8, 1931 – September 30, 1955)

3. In 1955, what was the average life expectancy in the United States?
Men – 66.7 years, Women – 72.8 years.

4. Ray Kroc’s first restaurant opened in Des Plaines, Illinois, on April 15, 1955. What do we call his fast-food restaurant chain today?
McDonald’s

5. West Germany was admitted into NATO on May 9, 1955. In response, the Soviet Union countered with the formation of what other organizations?
The Warsaw Pact, WO (aka Warsaw Treaty Organization, WTO, dissolved in 1991)

6. Who was Elvis Presley’s manager?
Colonel Tom Parker

7. What was the Biggest Number One Song of 1955?
Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White by Perez Prado

8. How much did a Loaf of Bread cost in 1955?
61 cents

9. 1955 Catchphrase: Who said, “Baby, you’re the greatest”?
Ralph Kramden on The Honeymooners

10. Considered one of the brightest minds of modern times, this man died in 1955. Who was he?
Albert Einstein (March 14, 1879 – April 1955)

11. What did a pound of Chuck Roast cost in 1955?
50 cents

12. Who won the Stanley Cup in 1955?
In 1955, The Detroit Red Wings won over the Montreal Canadiens (4 games to 3)

13. How many people lived in the United States in 1955?
The population was an estimated 165,931,202 people.

14. How many people lived in the World in 1955?
The estimated world population in 1955 was 2,761,650,981 people.

15. The Broadway musical version of what show was presented on television for the first time on NBC-TV, with its original cast?
Peter Pan

16. Who won the 1955 World Series?
In 1955, The Brooklyn Dodgers won, beating the New York Yankees (4 games to 3)

17. Released in 1955, name the 15th animated Disney film.
Lady and the Tramp

18. Who was the President of the United States in 1955?
Dwight D. Eisenhower (January 20, 1953 – January 20, 1961)

19. What was the average household income in 1955?
$4,400

20. What was the Bestselling Fiction Book in 1955?
Marjorie Morningstar by Herman Wouk

21. The long-running Western television series debuted in 1955 on CBS. Name that show
Gunsmoke (1955–1975)

22. This children’s show aired intermittently on ABC, syndication, and cable, from 1955 to 1996, featuring teen performers.
The Mickey Mouse Club

23. This actress started as an original Mouseketeer but became a star in various “Beach Party” movies from 1963 through 1967. Name her.
Annette Funicello (October 22, 1942 – April 8, 2013)

24. This 1955 James Bond novel by Ian Fleming was the third in the book series and the eleventh film. Name that novel and film title.
Moonraker

25. Jim Henson introduced the first version of what muppet in the premiere of his puppet show Sam and Friends on WRC-TV in Washington, DC?
Kermit (a lizard, later a frog)

26. This automobile was created to compete with the Chevrolet Corvette and a personal luxury car. Over 4.4 million were produced. Name that car.
Ford Thunderbird (T-Bird)

27. How much did a gallon of gas cost in 1955?
$0.29 per gallon

28. What was the Top-Rated TV Show in the 1954/1955 season?
I Love Lucy (CBS)

29. Name the 1955 film in which Marilyn Monroe stands on a New York City Subway grating as her white dress is blown above her knees.
The Seven Year Itch

30. Opened in July 1955, name the most popular amusement park in Anaheim, California, and possibly the world.
Disneyland

31. A Hollywood couple nicknamed “America’s Sweethearts” were married on September 26, 1955. Carrie Fisher was their daughter. Name that couple.
Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds

32. This 1955 American musical film was based on the 1943 musical of the same name by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. Name that show!
Oklahoma!

33. This pitcher has held or holds MLB records for the most career wins, with 511, and most career innings pitched, games started, and complete games. He passed away at age 88. They named an award after him in 1956.
“Cy” Young (March 29, 1867 – November 4, 1955)

34. The AFL-CIO resulted from the merger of what labor organizations?
The American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations

35. Name the celebrity psychologist who won the “$64000 question” on boxing.
Joyce Brothers (later Doctor Joyce Brothers)

36. This cartoon hero came to save the day every Saturday on CBS from 1955 through 1967.
Mighty Mouse (in Mighty Mouse Playhouse)

37. Mighty Mouse debuted as The Mouse of Tomorrow in a cartoon short on October 16, 1942, as a parody of Superman. What was Mighty Mouse called in his first animated appearance?
Super Mouse

38. Who was the Time Magazine Man of the Year in 1955?
Harlow Curtice

39. They were initially called “Froffles,” but in 1955, they changed their name to what we still call them today. Name that breakfast food.
Eggos

40. This invention (patent #2,717,437) was inspired by burrs that stuck to George de Mestral’s dog’s fur.
Velcro

41. Which of these actors never lived with the others?: Robert Duvall, Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, and Dustin Hoffman.
Clint Eastwood never roomed any with the other three.

42. To the nearest quarter, what was the average movie theater ticket price in 1955?
50 cents

43. In April 1955, who resigned as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom due to ill-health at 80?
Sir Winston Churchill (November 30, 1874 – January 24, 1965). He was replaced the next day by Anthony Eden.

44. What British government declared the British city as Wales’s capital on December 20, 1955?
Cardiff

45. Which performer or science guy was NOT born in Rowan Atkinson, Mr. T, Billy Idol, or Bill Nye?
Mr. T (Lawrence Tureaud, born May 21, 1952)

46. What was Mr. T’s catchphrase?
“I pity the fool!”

47. This popular American TV game show was broadcast from 1955 to 1958 but became embroiled in the 1950s quiz show scandals. Name that program.
The $64,000 Question (although much of the scandal focused on Twenty-One, 1956-1958)

48. They call it the best-selling copyrighted book of all time, and the first English-language edition came out in 1955. Name that book.
The Guinness Book of (World) Records

49. Injuring over 100 people and killing 83 spectators and driver Pierre Levegh, it was the most catastrophic crash in motorsport history. At what racing event did it happen?
The 1955 Le Mans disaster occurred during the 24 Hours of Le Mans motor race at Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France.

50. Name the movie based on Evan Hunter’s 1954 book of the same name, which featured Bill Haley’s Rock Around The Clock.
The Blackboard Jungle

51. What type of car was James Dean driving when he was killed?
His Porche 550 Spyder crashed near Paso Robles, California.

52. What long-running television western debuted on (CBS) on September 10, 1955?
Gunsmoke

53. Name the first nuclear-powered submarine, first put to sea from Groton, Connecticut.
The USS Nautilus

54. 1955 Catchphrase: Who said: “Bang, zoom, straight to the moon”?
Ralph Kramden on The Honeymooners

55. What popular (CBS) children’s show debuted on October 3, 1955?
Captain Kangaroo

Trivia Team Bonus Questions:

1. Who were the 1955 NBA Champions?
For the 1954-55 Season, Champion Syracuse Nationals won 4 games to 3 over the Fort Wayne Pistons

2. Held in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, how many medals did the US win in the 1956 Winter Olympics?
7.
2 Gold, 3 Silver, 2 Bronze.

3. Held in Melbourne/Stockholm (Australia/ Sweden), how many medals did the US win in the 1956 Summer Olympics?
74.
32 Gold, 25 Silver, 17 Bronze.

4. What Horse won the Kentucky Derby in 1955?
Swaps

5. Who was the first African-American singer to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City?
Marian Anderson

6. Who were the 1955 NFL Champions?
Cleveland Browns

7. Who was the Pope in 1955?
Pope Pius XII, March 2, 1939 – October 9, 1958

8. Can you name the program that Elvis Presley made his debut on, carried by KSLA-TV Shreveport in the United States?
“Louisiana Hayride”

9. Who was the American Vice-President in 1955?
Richard Nixon (January 20, 1953 – January 20, 1961)

10. The New York publication is the country’s first alternative newsweekly paper.
The Village Voice