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1950s Trivia for Seniors

Rock and roll, hula hoops, TV dinners and sock hops. Twenty questions about the 1950s: the music, the television, the news and the fads that many of today’s seniors remember from childhood or their teenage years.

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1950s Trivia

Question 1 of 20

Which singer was called “the King of Rock and Roll”?

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Large print: 20 questions with A, B and C choices, answers on the last page.

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All 20 questions with answers

Which singer was called “the King of Rock and Roll”?
A. Perry ComoB. Frank SinatraC. Elvis Presley
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C. Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley’s 1956 hit was “Heartbreak ___.”
A. HotelB. HighwayC. Harbor
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A. Hotel
Which spinning plastic hoop became a craze in 1958?
A. FrisbeeB. Hula hoopC. Yo-yo
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B. Hula hoop
Who was President of the United States from 1953 to 1961?
A. Dwight D. EisenhowerB. John F. KennedyC. Harry S. Truman
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A. Dwight D. Eisenhower
What was the name of the first artificial satellite, launched in 1957?
A. TelstarB. SputnikC. Explorer
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B. Sputnik
Jonas Salk developed a vaccine against which disease?
A. PolioB. MumpsC. Measles
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A. Polio
Which TV comedy starring Lucille Ball began in 1951?
A. The HoneymoonersB. I Love LucyC. Leave It to Beaver
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B. I Love Lucy
In 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat in which city?
A. AtlantaB. ChicagoC. Montgomery
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C. Montgomery
Which band recorded “Rock Around the Clock”?
A. The DriftersB. Bill Haley & His CometsC. The Platters
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B. Bill Haley & His Comets
Which state joined the Union in January 1959?
A. AlaskaB. ArizonaC. Hawaii
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A. Alaska
What did teenagers call a casual dance held in a school gym?
A. Sock hopB. CotillionC. Barn raising
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A. Sock hop
Which full skirt often had a felt appliqué of a dog on it?
A. Hoop skirtB. Poodle skirtC. Pencil skirt
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B. Poodle skirt
In which year was the Korean War armistice signed?
A. 1949B. 1958C. 1953
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C. 1953
Who sang “Johnny B. Goode” in 1958?
A. Buddy HollyB. Chuck BerryC. Little Richard
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B. Chuck Berry
Which TV western set in Dodge City began in 1955?
A. BonanzaB. RawhideC. Gunsmoke
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C. Gunsmoke
Who drew the “Peanuts” comic strip, which began in 1950?
A. Walt DisneyB. Charles M. SchulzC. Norman Rockwell
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B. Charles M. Schulz
What frozen meal on a tray became popular in the 1950s?
A. TV dinnerB. Pizza rollC. Pot pie
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A. TV dinner
Who became Queen of the United Kingdom in 1952?
A. MaryB. VictoriaC. Elizabeth II
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C. Elizabeth II
Which actress starred in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (1953)?
A. Marilyn MonroeB. Doris DayC. Grace Kelly
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A. Marilyn Monroe
Which park opened in Anaheim, California, in 1955?
A. Coney IslandB. Six FlagsC. Disneyland
Show answer
C. Disneyland

Hosting tip

Play a little 1950s music before the quiz, such as Elvis Presley or Chuck Berry, and after each question ask who remembers it first-hand. Many players will have stories about their first TV set or a school dance.