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Looking for Bumper Stumpers? Click on the Music link above. Want to see the answers to the questions we asked in 2009? Click here. Want 2011 Trivia answers? Click here.
FRIDAY NIGHT TRIVIA ANSWERS 2010 |
FRIDAY DECEMBER 31, 2010 In 1967, the motion picture industry enjoyed its most prosperous year in over a decade. What the public got in 1967, and in great abundance, were films that featured this. What? Violence.
FRIDAY DECEMBER 24, 2010 Time Magazine called this “the most resounding industrial flop of 1956”. What was it? Color television.
FRIDAY DECEMBER 17, 2010 Even the French, the fathers of the metric system, were using customary units in some building projects—1.2 meters, rather than a meter. Why? Because it was divisble into subunits of 200 300 400 and 600 milimeters. As far as any public knowledge goes, the first time this crime was reported in the US was in 1874. What crime? Kidnapping. Little Charley Ross was lured into a wagon in Germantown, Philadelphia by two men who demanded $20,000. It got worldwide news coverage and was the first for ransom on record. In 1974, the price of this car was cut by $150 making it the lowest priced car American made car. What was it? The Ford Pinto In 1974, the government abolished this and GM said car prices went down by $13 each. Abolished what? The seat belt-ignition interlock system. 1974 will be remembered as the year mass audiences came back to BLANK. Fill in the blank. To the movies. The motion picture industry wondered whether it was disenfranchisement with television, new movie complexes in shopping centers with convenient parking or escape from the fearful ecoomic times. Ultimately it was decided that it was the movies themselves. One in particular. Which one? The Exorcist. The year’s other blockbuster was what? The Sting.
FRIDAY DECEMBER 10, 2010 Seductive advertising, distasteful to some buyers became commonplace in the US in 1980. So may advertisers used the tactic that the Wall Street Journal called 1980 “The year of the BLANK” Fill in the blank. Leer. In 1981, more movies than usual were directed at mature audiences. But as for box office hits, all but 2 were aimed at a youthful audience. Name one of the two aimed at older adults: “Arthur” (Dudley Moore & Liza Minelli) and “The Four Seasons,” (a domestic comedy written by Alan Alda starring Carol Burnett).
FRIDAY DECEMBER 3, 2010 Looking at American life in 1970, the World Book Encyclopedia concluded that this pollutant “threatens the heart itself, increases the stomach’s flow of acid, provokes our emotions.” What pollutant? Noise. (“Television, the whir of a vacuum cleaner, the ventilating fan, the clatter of motor traffic…” In 1969, President Kennedy’s famous line was remade for an award winning print advertising campaign against pollution: “What have you done for your country lately?” The sponsor, a well known advertiser told Americans not drop cigarette butts, gum wrappers, and candy paper in the wrong places like somebody else’s lawn, the gutter or highway. They suggested that the public should make a deposit at their locations. “It’s a great way to save. The landscape.” What advertiser was suggesting Americans drop their trash in their cans? Shell Oil. “Now you can visit your Shell dealer when your tank is empty or your ash tray is full.” A new Seattle bank opened in 1970 to cater to a specific clientele. Within 70 days they had amassed over a million dollars in deposits from them. What group of consumers did the Seattle bank target? African Americans. (Liberty Bank was black owned and operated—in Seattle.) For the 1970 model year cars, imports caused American manufacturers to introduce this. What? A new line of smaller cars, the ‘sub compacts’. In addition to new car sizes in 1970, there was talk of new engines. One millionaire industrialist finally threw in the towel on his struggle to develop an engine running on this. What? Steam. (William Lear gave up but still pushed for lower polluting engines, focusing on the gas turbine.)
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2010 Between 1995 and 2000 what large American City experienced the biggest population growth? Fresno, (followed by Virginia Beach, Austin, El Paso, Charlotte). A very strange car was slated to debut in 1997, but stranger yet was the joint venture. One party wasn’t even a car manufacturer. What 2 companies were involved? Mercedes Benz and Swatch (They teamed up to make the Swachmobilie.) In 1973, the FTC continued to push for corrective advertising when products were misrepresented. When one company claimed it’s product was better for the consumer than two other products, 25% of their commercials had to be devoted to setting the record straight. What product was improperly advertised? Cranberry Juice. (Ocean Spray said it was more nutritious than orange or tomato juice.) The first electric blank was marketed in 1957. Electric what? Watch. (Battery-powered, it required no winding.)
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2010 In 1973 Prison guards in Baltimore walked off the job after the governor’s decision not to do this. Not to do what? Punish prisoners for rioting over living conditions. (The guards, 3 of whom were injured, though it would make things worse.) Car manufacturers declared that 1973 would be the year of over 11 million vehicle sales—a new record. But they added that would only be the case if this didn’t happen. What didn’t happen? If the UAW went on strike. (It was concern as the 3 year contract was coming up for renewal in September.) In 1976, the Council on Policy Studies in Higher Education thought there should be cut backs in funding for this area of study because the profession was overcrowded. What field was overcrowded? Medicine. (Too many doctors!) Rubber sales zoomed in 1976 in the automotive industry. Why? It was better than synthetics for radial tires. For the first time ever, in 1976 Californians got a new right. A law passed gave them the right to BLANK. Fill in the blank: die. (It was the first right-to-die law establishing living wills.)
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 5,2010 When small car sales slumped in 1977, AMC dropped the cost of the Gremlin by $235. Its new $2,995 price made it the least expensive American built car. It undercut one car by $4. What car? The Chevy Scooter. In 1973, the FTC brought a formal complaint against four manufacturers they thought were illegally monopolizing sales of their product through their advertising. What was the product? Breakfast cereal. (Kellogg, GM, GF and Quaker Oats controlled 91 percent of the cereal market.) In 1976, when Gerald Ford sought the Republican nomination for president, even though he occupied the office, he knew Ronald Reagan was a formidable opponent. Because of that he decided to directly target conservative support by coming out against three things. Name them: court ordered bussing, abortion, gun control.
FRIDAY OCTOBER 29, 2010 In 1996, this American car manufacturer decided the best way to fight foreign imports was to have their own. They came up with an American version of a foreign car. With a V-6 engine, leather seats and air conditioning, they billed it as “European Style”. Really? They added the ride was “comfortably soft” which to some wasn’t a selling feature. What’s the car? The Cadillac Catera. In 1970, Richard Nixon proposed a major realignment of federal agencies to better manage this. What? The environment In 1970, North Carolina set out to prove the altered behavior of those under the influence of drugs. Subjects other than human were used. In one example, the erratic result of this common task undertaken regularly by one species was on display. What task? Building a spider web. (A stoned spider builds a very erratic web.) In 1970 a study in Westchester county showed that 2/3rds of kids between 3 and 18 have this in common. What? Emotional impairment. In 1981, Reagan urged quick approval of this so that Americans would have greater choice and direct access. Approval of what? DBS, Direct Broadcast Satellite. In 1964, more than half the world’s total blank were found in America. Over 82 million of them. What? Automobiles (including trucks and busses)
FRIDAY OCTOBER 22, 2010 For the car model years 1967 and ’68, this car was billed as “a full sized muscle monster”. What was it? The SS427 Impala. In 1959, this car was called “an unparalleled level of opulence”. What was it? The Lincoln Continental Mark IV. In 1963, airline passenger complaints over this escalated dramatically. Their concerns were well founded. What was the gripe? Long walks to the terminal gates. The first master plan for a metropolitan area to be supported officially by a large city government in North America was unveiled in 1963. What was the city? Winnipeg
FRIDAY OCTOBER 15, 2010 In 1968, this artist was in Memphis to do some sessions with Jerry Wexler of Atlantic Records. He chose the location because he didn’t want the records to sound like the stuff he produced in New York. He told the press that while everyone expected he was going to take the artist in the route of Aretha Franklin, he intended to go in another direction. “We’re loaded with songs. For the past few weeks we’ve done nothing but send them” (to the artist who Wexler admitted was picky, choosey and highly critical, but he quickly added that he wouldn’t want it any other way). Who was the artist? Dusty Springfield. (Wexler used the rhythm and string sections used for The Box Tops—far from Aretha in sound.) Another one of the World’s Worst cars had a rather worrying habit of bursting into flames without warning. The brochure for it had a cover with acres of blank space, and only a tiny picture of the car. It’s almost as if they were ashamed of it. They should have been. Sold in the US from 1982 to 1985, it was billed as a sports car, but was hardly a ball of fire. There was nothing sporty about its chassis either, which was prone to rust among other things. It didn’t look cool, but it didn’t stop it from getting parts in two Bond movies. What was it? The Renualt Fuego. 1966 prices were both inflating or deflating depending on the item in question. Some food items went up like pork & bread, some went down like poultry and coffee, but two non food items surveyed went way up. Name one? Auto Insurance and Hospital rooms. Doing this has become a way of life in the United States from childhood to retirement says World Book Encyclopedia in 1972. Doing what? Taking tests (school, driving, aptitude, proficiency, mental acuity and so forth, we never stop taking tests). What car broke the Model T’s record for most cars produced? The VW Beatle.
FRIDAY OCTOBER 8, 2010 By the close of the ‘50s, this car took America by storm. It was as loud as Little Richard and as sexy as Jayne Mansfield according to one critic who proclaimed this car wowed god-fearing America. What was it? The Plymouth Fury (which catapulted Plymouth into the third place seller in 1959). In 1968, President Johnson proclaimed this senate action “historically and constitutionally tragic”. What did the senate do? Refused to confirm Abe Fortas as chief justice succeeding Earl Warren on the Supreme Court. (It happened through a filibuster.) A 1966 report of the state of medicine noted that one of the growing fears among doctors was the fear of disease caused by this. What? Pharmaceuticals. (Iatrogenic disease). In 1966, a super strength steel created for the space program was being put to use in humans. For what? Dental bridgework and caps. FRIDAY OCTOBER 1, 2010 What was the first car in the world to have a remote keyless entry? Renault Fuego, 1983. In early version of chem trails in 1966, the air forced sprayed American cities with chemicals to do this. What? Kill mosquitoes. (Dallas had an epidemic of encephalitis.) Three months after Medicare took effect in 1966, the biggest complaint was universal. Everyone was upset over this. What? Too many forms to fill out. In 1957, the US and Canada prohibited hunters from using this. The logic was that use of this would create overkills. Use of what? Electronic bird calls (which were said to be deadly effective). In 1957, throughout America there was a call for a federal department of blank to address city problems. What was the name of the department? Urbiculture, headed by a cabinet officer for urban affairs. In 1954, this went mobile. One company installed a fully equipped offices in busses to server outlying areas of large cities. What went mobile? Wall Street. (Merrill Lynch designed rolling brokerage offices.)
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 2010 Considered one of the world’s worst cars, it looked awfully good in the latter 1960s. It was the biggest car (in size) for this manufacturer at the time and by far its most practical. But you needed the biceps of a shot-putter to be able to corner at any speed. There was no method or logic to the interior lay out. You had to reach across to the passenger side to turn on the headlights. No matter as after a few years most of the switches stopped working. But there was nothing wrong under the hood. Its amazing powerplant was it’s most glorious feature. What was it? The Lamborghini Espada In 1966, a federal court in the US ruled that a loyalty oath required by applicants for this was found unconstitutional. Applicants for what? Medicare! (Mrs. ALda T. Reed, A Los Angeles housewife represented by the ACLU declined to answer as a matter of conscience and constitutional right. A 3 judge panel agreed with her.)
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 17, 2010 A 1964 Department of Commerce study showed that 1 out of every 7 Americans was employed in this field. What? Automotive. (1 out of every 6 US businesses was tied to it.) In 1981, Great Britian announced the use of microprocessors for this. For what? Making change at pay phones. In 1981 30% of all US households had this. It was predicted that by 1990, 90% would have it. What? Cable television. In 1981, more than 500 colleges said they’d offer academic credits to adults for this. For what? Televised classes (on PBS) In 1981, this was nothing short of a sensation, captivating billions around the world. What? The Rubik’s cube. (Invented by Emo Rubik, there were 42 quintillion possible configurations.) In 1981, 13 states enacted laws against stores known as BLANK BLANK without any proof that illegal activity was taking place. Fill in the blank: Head Shops.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 10, 2010 Front seat seatbelts became standard equipment on January 1, 1964. One car line though had already included the belts on all its 1963 models. What car line? Studebaker. The big economic news internationally in 1964 surrounded “The Chicken War”. Ultimately the United States won, but what was it? The EEC (European Economic Community) imposed still tariff’s on frozen chickens from US poultrymen. (A GATT panel sided with the US, saying damage was $26 million.) In 1964, President Johnson spearheaded a bill for Vocational Aid. Congress passed it to the tune of 225 billion dollars a year. Previously it had gone to home economics and farm training. Now it would go to more critically needed training. Two areas were mentioned. Name one of them. Office Work and Automation.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 3, 2010 A 1987 in depth look at Islam by the World Book encyclopedia notes that of all the prohibitions placed on followers, this one is routinely ignored by various country governments. What prohibition? Charging interest on a loan. (The Bank of Bahrain was mentioned as an example). A 1987 public service campaign featured Phylicia Rashad from the Cosby show urging Americans to do this. Do what? Read. (It was produced by the American Library Assn.) In 1987 perhaps the biggest advertising pitchman wasn’t a person at all. What was it? Max Headroom (for Coca-cola). In 1987, a record 58.9 million Americans did this. What? Fished, (according to the US Fish & Wildlife Service.) In 1987, Finland started a campaign to get school kids to study this because less than 1% of Finnish kids did. What did the government want them to study? Russian. (Most kids had a negative opinion of neighboring Soviet Union. It was the “know your neighbor” campaign.) In 1957, Ethiopia countered illiteracy in its elections by having voters do what? Drop blank ballots into the box bearing the picture of the candidate they liked.
FRIDAY AUGUST 27, 2010 Considered one of the world’s worst, this car was made from 1995 through 2002. Buyers weren’t fooled by the name nor were they wooed by the car’s prominent under-steering. IT was so awful that the model was practically given away to rental car companies in an attempt to keep them off a flooded second-hand market. Thanks to an order from Avis, it was the best selling car in Malta in 1997, but individuals weren’t as quick to buy them anywhere. Changing gears was a demoralizing experience. The lever felt like it was mounted on a sponge and it was impossible to find the gears without stirring the lever around in an animated circular motion between each change. As a means of transportation it was marginally more attractive than taking a bus though walking is more pleasant if you have the time said one critic. What was it? The Ford Apsire. In 1963 a study of medicine by the National Health Education Committee showed a decrease in several death causes including an 81 percent decrease in death from this. What? Appendicitis. In 1981, his was considered the most significant development in the communications industry. What? The growth of Cable Television. In 1954, some geological researchers concluded from the magnetism in certain rocks, that 700 million years ago, this area was the geographic north poll. What? The state of Arizona. (After that time, it was thought that the the Marshall Islands, a city in Japan and eastern Siberia all held the same distinction.)
AUGUST 20, 2010 In 1954, general motors tested a gas turbine engine in an experimental car called what? Firebird (The XP-21 firebird) This 1970s car was considered one of the world’s worst. Using the psychedelic imagery of the era, the advertisers attempted to portray it as a colorful wacky option for the discerning driver. That didn’t work. It never ran properly and it was mind-numbingly slow. It was made worse by bad styling decisions. Complying with American safety laws made it worse still. Rust was a problem too, pretty much everywhere. What was it? The Plymouth Cricket (1973-1980). In 1954, a UNICEF food exhibit included flour made from this. What? Fish. (It was hoped that fish plentiful undeveloped countries could use the process to make bread and pastries.) In 1954, the chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission said atomic tests showed this removes calcium from the body What? Spinach. (Others rose to the defense of spinach.) In 1954, the housing industry was one of the major reasons American prosperity continued. The new housing law allowed lower down payments (as little as 10 percent) and lengthened the time to repay the loan. But curbs were put on this to prevent windfall profit, after an FHA investigation exposed the lucrative gains. Profits from this were limited to 10%. Profits on what? Apartment house building. This was considered to be the first industry in the US in 1981 affected by Ronald Reagan’s election. What? Advertising. (Reagan and other conservative candidates wanted television cleaned up and advertisers were threatened with boycotts. Rather than deal with it, advertisers pulled sponsorship of programs conservative groups found objectionable.)
AUGUST 13, 2010 During the IGY, the USSR beat the USA in the satellite phase by being the first to launch a bird, Sputnik I. It was dubbed the first man-made blank. Fill in the blank. Moon. In 1957, this became insurable for the first time. What? A dog’s life. The Animal Insurance Company of America used nose prints to identify the animals. Randy, a boxer, put his legal signature on a $5,000 policy. Nose prints are as distinctive as fingerprints. A scandal rocked the international championship games for this in 1965. Members of one team were accused of cheating. They denied it, though it was mostly moot as another team won anyway. What sport? Bridge. (The world contract bridge championship in Buenos Aires was rocked by news that British players were using hand signals to tip each other off to their hands. The Italians won.) A 1972 print public service ad admonished “if You Don’t Nourish Them, Nothing Will Grow.” What were they asking Americans to do? Donate to the college of their choice. In 1987, for the first time, a commercial unrelated to the movie appeared at the start of a videocassette. What was the movie and what was the product? Pepsi in Top Gun.
JULY 23, 2010 In 1981, the Journal of the American Medical Association listed 6 reasons why women live longer than men. Name one: 1. More males than females are born dead. 2. The death rate is higher among males shortly after birth. 3. Fewer women commit suicide. 4. The death-rate from childbirth has dropped significantly. 5. Lung cancer has increased much more among men than women. 6. Most diseases cause more deaths among men than women.
JULY 16, 2010 In 1966, it was thought that this man was the leading contender for the republican nominee for president in 1968. What man? Michigan Governor, George W. Romney. Other major republican hopefuls included Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and who? Charles H. Percy (a 47 year old self-made millionaire who became a senator of Illinois). In 1966, a trade organization publicized a need for these workers. It was hoped with more teaching facilities, the need could be met by 1972. What occupation? Dentists. (The ADA publicized the need.) In 1966, the FDA filed suit against a spaghetti manufacturer for misleading claims. What did the spaghetti manufacturer say about its product? Low in calories, high in protein and a significant value in reducing weight. In 1966, the US ended this savings program because it “outlived its usefulness”. At the time of its closing there was $147 million still on deposit. What savings program? Postal saving system (which started in 1911, paid 2% interest). In 1954, a government official stated that ‘our children will enjoy in their homes electrical energy too cheap to meter.’ Why? Because all power would be atomic. In 1954 the world’s largest BLANK plant was opened in British Columbia. What? Aluminum. This 1930s car was known as the goose that laid the golden egg. It was a disaster in its time but it’s legacy remains in the styling of every car since. It was the first car to be aerodynamically styled—even so it got lousy gas mileage, and it’s styling wasn’t in keeping with the exquisite details of the 30s. What was it? The Chrysler Airflow This 1970s car seemed like a special team had been drafted in to remove every last trace of driver appeal. Even the interior was horrible with plastic seats looking like thye’d been stolen from a roadside diner. It was supposed to be sporty but it looked like any boring 2-door sedan. The ads said ‘boredom zero’ and the critics said ‘Who are they kidding?’ What was it? The Mustang II This car, built from 1975 to 1986 was dubbed “The most forgettable car ever built. It’s turbo-diesel engine paved the way for today’s diesel-powered motors, but the fact that nobody can remember from whence it came tells you how forgettable the car really was. It provided stalwart service to many a taxi driver, but for the rest of us, to make sure it had a nice ride, the suspension was deliberately made to be very soft to aid in shock absorption. In reality it made it bouncy and the handling was indifferent. It did have the rear leg room of a Rolls Royce however. What was it? The Peugeot 604 This car debuted in 1969 and critics said it “kicks sand in the face of good taste.” The one saving grace was the quality of its standard equipment. It was a shame that it was hard to find among all the gadgets and dimpled plastic upholstery. Styling is essential to luxury cars but it looked like no one told the manufacturer of this disaster. What? The Cadillac Seville.
JULY 9, 2010 1963 was a year or economic expansion. There were two things about it that differed from previous recoveries. One was that inflation did not fuel the increases. The other was that this did not either? What? Government infusion of cash and programs. In 1957 the Automobile Manufacturers Association agreed to stop advertising this. What? Speed and horsepower—(they’d stop participating in racing competitions). Edsel appeared in the 1958 automobile year. Two other models left the market what? Nash and Hudson. A West German repellant manufacturer developed a strong mixture in 1957 to stop this. What? Hippos from damaging sugar cane crops in South Africa. It was called Lion 4. In 1957, a chemist at Oregon state college said this would eventually be used as cattle feed. What? Sawdust. (Exposure of sawdust to atomic rays allows cellulose, the sugar in sawdust to be converted to body sugar in cattle.) Child Guidance Workers in America shifted their emphasis in 1957 from the physical fitness of American youth to this. What? The needs of the “gifted” child. (After the Soviets launched two earth satellites, the feeling was that gifted kids needed to be nurtured early and given more scientific studies in high school.) Way back before cigarette advertising on television was stopped, the FTC in 1954, banned cigarette makers from health claims or mentioning this. What? References to parts of the body such as throat, nose and lungs. In 1955, Readers Digest printed this in its magazine for the first time. What? Advertisements.
JULY 2, 2010 In 1954, advertising was littered with sales events for countless things, all termed BLANK BLANK sales. Fill in the blank. Biggest Ever. In 1954, the FTC accused this industry of misleading advertising. What industry? (Be specific—instead of saying transportation, for instance, say automobile, or airplane.) Health Insurance. In 1954, Charles Murphy, a NYC judge was named the Comic Book Czar. It wsa his job to adminiter a new coe of ethics. He said his first job in the cleanup campaign would be this. What? To read all the comic books. In 1954, Chicago proclaimed the end of an era. The last of its kind were gone. What? Gas lamps, the last 18 were removed and replaced with electric lights. The first gas lamps were installed in 1853. In 1966, the problems of having a blank economy smeared the magnificent boom. War-fueled economy—prolonged since the end of WW2. A post WW2 record for this unfortunate occurrence was set in 1985. It happened 120 times. What. Banks failed. In 1973 Canada became the first nation in the world to use this advanced technology domestically. The USA certainly could have been first but by the time Canada did it, we were still mired in bureaucracy debating it. What technology did Canada employ for domestic use? Satellite. (They launched the first domestic communications satellite to facilitate the transmission of telephone, telegraph, even television data, Anik.)
JUNE 25, 2010 In 1966, a headline said our BLANK filled life is a health-threat. What? Pill (prescription and over the counter) A Times Square landmark came down in 1966. What was it? A billboard blowing smoke-rings for Camel Cigarettes. In 1966, the government came up with the 14 most frequent causes of auto injury. NOT of auto crashes, but what was responsible for the actual injuries. Be specific The two major themes for the 1967 car line were blank and blank. Safety and sportiness. In 1981, Teenage Brooke Shields lent her beauty to a public service campaign about this. What? Not smoking. In 1974, the US government made this the symbol of energy conservation in the savenergy print campaign. What? Snoopy (sleeping on his dog house saying ‘I believe in conserving energy.”) JULY 18, 2010 A landmark decision was handed down when two big players tried to merge and the Supreme Court forbade it citing the Clayton anti-trust act for the first time when it came to this industry. What industry? Banking. (The two Philadelphia banks together would have controlled 30% of commercial banking in the market.) Advertising shifted in 1963. David Ogilvy championed the change. It was hardly universal, but the move was on toward doing this. Doing what? Using a soft cell approach. (Ogilvy in “Confessions of an Advertising Man” said the consumer isn’t a moron, she’s your wife. You insult her intelligence when you think she’ll be swayed by a few vapid adjectives.) Henry Ford’s first prototype was a quadricycle. When he was ready to When he was ready to field test it, there was an unexpected hour delay due to this. Due to what? He built it indoors and the door was too small, so he had to widen the opening to get it out. JULY 11, 2010 In vitro fertilzation was in the news in 1987. The world’s first test tube BLANK were born in April. Test tube what? Kittens. In 1987 a Georgia company introduced a low cost computer peripheral able to do this. Do what? Send faxes. ($395 for the JT Fax for IBM PCs and clones.) In 1987 when Chrysler bought AMC, what company was AMC’s largest stockholder? Renault. (They purchased the majority share in 1980.) A 1972 print public service ad suggested employers set up an “Employee Saving Program”. It had nothing to do with money. What was being set up? A defensive driving course, to save employee lives. In 1972, a woman was hired as this for the first time ever. What was the job? Organized baseball’s first woman umpire. 1954 saw early test flights for this $15 billion dollar plane. What? The Boeing 707. America’s first jet transport tanker. JUNE 4, 2010 The big surprise for the 1980 census was the growth of this. What? Rural residents. (For the first time since 1820 their numbers were increasing.) To try and improve conditions in a Chicago high crime housing project, Mayor Jane Byrne did this in 1981. What? Moved in. In order to improve customer satisfaction, AMC for the 1973 model car years offered this, free of charge. What? An allowance of $150 for food and lodging if a car is kept overnight at a dealer over 150 miles from the motorists home. MAY 28, 2010 In 1973, AMC’s major goal was this. What? Customer satisfaction. In 1972 this magazine was introduced quote- for the man of the world – unquote. What magazine was it? Oui In 1972 this magazine for women debuted among controversy. What was it? Ms, IN 1972, a new kind of blank debuted in Chicago. Five new pocket sized models 1 inch thick were introduced. New models of what? Cameras. (Kodak introduced the Instamatic line.) 1972 rock music concerts included fireworks and startling effects in a return to theatrics. Along with glamourous imagery and glittering costumes was a bizarre quality characterized by some critics and “rock n BLANK” fill in the blank. Rouge, (referring to the bisexual overtones of David Bowie & Alice Cooper.) MAY 21, 2010 In 1985, marketers speculated that Procter & Gamble, while still the nation’s biggest advertiser, would likely be dethroned in the near future because of this. Because of what? Mergers. (RJR/Nabisco announced a merger in 1985. Had they done it a year earlier, their combined ad expenditures would have far exceeded P&G at over a billion dollars.) A Bulgarian airline official was arrested in Rome for this crime in 1985. During his trial, he was placed in a cage. What were the charges? Plotting to kill the pope (Sergei Ivanov Antonov was acquitted of his involvement in a KGB plot.) In addition to GM’s Saturn and Ford’s Project Alpha, Chrysler said it was working on Project Liberty. What were they? Alpha was Ford’s research project to economize and streamline every car line, and Liberty was Chrysler study for implement a Saturn competitor. MAY 14, 2010 Long advocated as a key to basic car safety, this feature became closer to reality in 1970. Manufactured in Boston, it was seen as a potential life saver. The device cost $800-- it was expected to be as little as $200 per car if mass produced. We’re still waiting. What was it? Radar controlled breaks (that would force cars to maintain distance from one another). In 1968, a motorcycle brand disappeared from the US market. What was it and why? Puch (available at Sears. It was made in Czechezlovakia and when Russia invaded, they stopped exporting to the US—including parts for those who already had the bikes.) The first criminal conviction of a US Congressman in 15 years occurred in 1972 when a Texas representative was sentenced to 18 months in prison and a $25,000 fine for accepting a $25,000 bribe to block a DOJ probe into a private company in this industry. What industry? Home improvements. (It was a Maryland firm that paid him off.) A new type of telephone was being tested in select New York City phone booths in 1970. What was it? A speakerphone. (The hope was that the system without a visible receiver or speaker would thwart vandals, and the speakerphone aspect would promote group conversations.) In 1972, at a dental research meeting in Las Vegas, a device was unveiled that when claimed to a tooth would serve as a concealed what? Hearing aid. (It was a wireless intra oral transducer that coverts sound into vibrations transmitted through the teeth to the hearing center of the brain where they’re converted back to sounds again.) MAY 7, 2010 Name the 5 things: fuel tank, lighting system, door locks, exhaust, cooling. In 1974, the government made it illegal to advertise this on television. What? Little cigars. In the summer of 1974, Procter & Gamble launched a new product with a $15 million advertising campaign. What product? Sure antiperspirant. In 1974, TWA flight attendants went on strike. They wanted better wages and working conditions. Their union was also incensed about a clause that affected all airlines facing a strike. What did that clause allow TWA to do? Receive the excess revenues earned by other airlines because of the strike. (It was a mutual aid pact that lessened the impact of a strike on the carrier involved.) In 1974, a facility larger than Manhattan Island opened become the largest and most expensive ever built. What was it? Dallas-Ft. Worth airport. In 1966, this item sold so quickly that manufacturers had difficulty keeping up. What? Color television. Once considered the conscience of the Republican party, it died in 1966. What was it? New York Herald Tribune Newspaper APRIL 30, 2010 In 1966, automotive news included the unveiling of a new product. It was expected to come to market in 2 years. It didn’t. What was it? Electric cars About 30% of 1966 model cars had this item. What? Air conditioning In 1966, 250,000 of these were found in cars. What? 8 track players In 1966, this artist was the leading American album seller. 4 albums were all million sellers. Who was it? Bill Cosby From 1960 to 1964 the automotive industry grew significantly but this industry greatly outpaced it What? Pharmaceuticals APRIL 23, 2010 While Spielberg’s films were successful, it was a holiday movie that caused an even bigger outrage over violence. Released just before Thanksgiving, the reaction was so over the top bad that the studio pulled it from release. What was it? “Silent Night, Deadly Night,” (featuring a crazed mass murderer in a Santa Claus suit stabbing victims while reciting verses of ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas.”) In the 1980s, this advertising slogan was said to be the biggest question since “To be or not to be?” What was it? “Where’s the beef?” (Clara Peller for Wendy’s.) Commercial clutter was in the news in 1978 when television stations were upset with Procter and Gamble for doing this to their commercials. Doing what? Using odd lengths for their spots. (For instance instead of a 60 second ad , they might feature a 45 second and a 15 second ad together, or even 4 15 second ads The TV stations said it made it appear like more commercials were running.) The advertisers shot back blaming the clutter on this. What ? Too many in-house promotional announcements (for programming on the station) In 1969, the FTC came down on gas stations and grocery stores saying they deceived the customers by doing this. One commissioner wanted to ban it out right. They still allowed gas and grocery stores to do it, but forced them to clearly disclose the facts about it. What? lottery games imposing a number of restrictions and astronomically poor odds against winning, often a million to one. In 1969, this novel was all the rage initially and later the outrage when the public found out the truth behind it. What novel? “Naked Came The Stranger” which was not written by Penelope Ashe, but several journalists in an attempt to prove in the Harold Robbins/Jacqueline Susann world, that any trash would sell if enough sex were in it. In 1972, the Supreme Court ruled that the Amish need not do this—though other Americans were forced to do it. What? Send their children to public school beyond the 8th grade. APRIL 16, 2010 The approval for the Delta-Northeast merger was granted under extreme financial need in 1972. The CAB allowed one more merger that year for the same reason. What were the airlines involved? Allegheny and Mohawk. In 1969, Shell Oil ran an award winning public service print ad telling Americans not to do this. Do what? Litter. (“What have you done to your country lately,” was the theme with drivers dumping ashtrays and such out of cars.) One of the most effective uses print advertising came from Volkswagen. Comparing the Beetle to this, the slogan was It’s ugly but it gets you there. What were they comparing their compact car to in 1969? The lunar module, Eagle from the 1969 manned moon landing. A newly built city hall in America won the AIA, American Institute of architects’ honor award in 1969. Where was it? Boston In 1969, an early computer, looking like a hybrid between a tv, typewriter and duplicating machine was used for what purpose? For congress to search state statutes. (All 50 states were included and a bill could be printed within 15 seconds.) Quasars were discovered in 1960. The name is a contraction. What is the full name of the objects that look like stars but are rapidly moving away from us. Quasi-stellar. In 1969, a rare copy of this sold for $404,000 making it the highest price ever paid for a document or manuscript. What was it? The Declaration of Independence. APRIL 9, 2010 In 1978, the government gave the green light for corporations to do this. The IRS though said if they did, the expenses involved would not be tax deductible. Do what? Sponsor issue oriented advertising (such as promoting ecology or energy savings. They were still prohibited from endorsing specific candidates however.) A public service campaign in 1978 said Americans should support higher education because “We can’t afford to run out of blank” Fill in the blank. Ideas. In 1978, the Federal Reserve authorized banks to do two things for the first time. What? Make automatic transfers from savings accounts to checking accounts that would otherwise be overdrawn & Pay interest on checking accounts. In 1978 Sesame Street’s Big Bird was on hand to celebrate the 25th anniversary of this government creation. What? The Federal department of Health Education and Welfare. He posed with HEW secretary Joseph Califano. APRIL 2, 2010 The claims in the Vega commercial were responsible for one of the two initial actions taken against an advertiser in the FTCs new documentation program. The government said there was no reasonable basis to support that claim. The other action was also taken against GM for a misleading ad. What was advertised and what claim about it was made? The Buick Opel’s chasis never needed lubrication. In 1970 and 1971 merger was the word most bandied about in the airline industry. Carriers even considered holding companies to facilitate consolidation. Two separate big mergers were announced but neither came to pass. At the time there was excitement that Northwest would merge with what carrier? Northeast. In 1972, a marketing campaign proudly dubbed this “100 years without progress.” What? Yellowstone National Park. MARCH 26, 2010 The EPA disputed both claims from the GM head for freezing emission standards—one being cost, GM was already up to $340 per vehicle, what was the other? That current standards would lead to the production of up to 30% more fuel efficient engines without increased standards. A big public service campaign in several magazines in 1975 proclaimed: “Blank stalks millions. Who cares?” Fill in the blank. Starvation. In 1982 for the first time ever the FBI used this technique to catch their man. What? Billboards (advertising one of the top 10 Most Wanted criminals.Along with their face and name was the promise of “no testimony required”.) In 1979 the EPA developed a cost effective way to control air pollution. Three years later the appeals court in DC threw it out. The EPA contended the court decision blocked 100 proposals for this method and thus industry in America lost an aggregate savings of up to $1 billion. What was the EPA method that the court threw out? The Bubble Method (whereby an imaginary bubble was place over all the industrial plants in an area. When one plantshut down, the others could emilt the same amount of pollution that the idled plant had spewed. No word on what was supposed to happen when one was added. 28 years later we’re revisiting the concept with Cap & Trade, aren’t we?) IN 1982, AT&T agreed to divest itself of it’s 22 Bill System local companies. The Chesapeake & Potomoc Telephone Companies accounted for four of them in Virginia and Maryland, so we’ll leave that out. The others were individually known by their own names. Name four of them: MARCH 19, 2010 In 1970 there were 270 million of these in use world wide. What? Telephones. MARCH 12, 2010 Another improvement for 1955 cars was this. It was touted as aiding visibility. What? Wrap around windshields. 1954 saw many aviation firsts including the first US commercial turboprop airliner. For whom was it built? General Motors (it was a research plane driven by gas turbines for its Allison Division built by Consolidated Vultee). In 1973, MIT used computerization for this and cut down the waiting period from 2 days to 2 hours for this. What? Blood tests (to determine what drugs a person had ingested). In 1963, this was said to be a “curse to society”. Some saw it as advance, others saw it as their downfall. What? Automation. (George Meany of the AFL-CIO was particularly vocal and unemployment figures higher than anticipated buoyed his position.) MARCH 5, 2010 In 1973, the first computerized BLANK was built. Computerized what? Gas station (built by Atlantic Richfield in Lawndale, CA). In 1973, this was automated for the first time. What? Toll taking (on the Ohio turnpike). In 1973, the FDA charged 10 manufacturers of this with false and misleading claims. Those charged were ordered to devote 25% of their advertising budget for the next two years to properly informing the public that their products were not better than plain BLANK. Plain what? Aspirin. (Those charged included Bufferin, Excederin, Bayer Aspirin, Vanquish and Midol. At the end of the year the issue was in the courts with no decision.) FEBRUARY 26, 2010 In 1980 3 television shows were able to get $150,000 for a 30 second commercial. MASH and Dallas were two of them—in fact Dallas got $200,000 or more per spot for the November 21, 1980 where we found out who really shot JR. But what was the third show? 60 Minutes. In 1992 the first plant of this type opened in America. What? HINT The end product was touted as protecting the health of Americans. The first food irradiation plant, (in Mulburry Florida). In 1963, this was said to be a “curse to society”. Some saw it as advance, others saw it as their downfall. What? Automation. George Meany of the AFL-CIO was particularly vocal and unemployment figures higher than anticipated buoyed his position. RADIOLOGOLAND.COM QUESTION FEBRUARY 12, 2010 In 1975 P&G remained America’s top advertiser, spending $335 million touting their products. A lot of it was spent on a newly released product in addition to many established products like Pampers, Tide & Crest. What was the new product? Era liquid laundry detergent. In 1975, this product was widely advertised as identical to Tylenol but a dollar cheaper. What product? Bristol-Myers’ Datril. (As soon as the ads hit, J&J dropped the price of Tylenol.) In 1964, this is touted as “no finer car in the medium-price field”. What is it? Mercury. RADIOLOGOLAND.COM QUESTION FEBRUARY 5, 2010 June 30, 1963 marked the official end of this which was preserved on 947 miles of microfilm. What? The 1960 census. In 1963, pressure was on unions to do this. The official position was that it was impossible to find skilled help. Do what? Accept blacks. Many unions still barred African Americans from membership and their logic, that few if any were skilled enough was met with plans for government training for minorities. RADIOLOGOLAND.COM QUESTION JANUARY 29, 2010 1985 was one of the worst financial years for movies. Ticket sales were the lowest since 1968, gross receipts were the lowest since 1980. Obviously the movies weren’t well received. Many critics said this was a major problem. What? The studios made a glut of movies aimed at teens but they underestimated their audience. (At least 10 movies that summer dealt with oversexed teens involved in such things as dating rituals or science projects which appealed to no audience group.) RADIOLOGOLAND.COM QUESTION JANUARY 22, 2010 In 1956, cash contributions flowed into Gunnison Colorado to finance rescue operations for this. For what? a snowbound pack horse caught alone in the wilderness. In 1965, the congress formally declared “That the general welfare and security of the nation and the health and living standards of the people require (this), as a matter of national purpose..” Require what? City Planning (“…sound development of the nation’s communities and metropolitan areas in which the vast majority of its people live and work”). RADIOLOGOLAND.COM QUESTION JANUARY 15, 2010 In 1989, the government announced a new labeling program to inform consumers about the effectiveness of this. Effectiveness of what product? Sunglasses (The amount of UV light transmitted through sunglasses was now required on labels.) RADIOLOGOLAND.COM QUESTION: JANUARY 8, 2010 In 1989 the auto industry’s biggest problem world wide was overcapacity. Why? Too many car factories. (The rise of Asian plants in the 70s and 80s led to an overabundance of auto factories capable of producing far greater numbers of vehicles than could ever be sold. A study by GM predicted that by the early ‘90s the auto industry world wide would be able to produce 6 million more vehicles than it could find buyers for. This would create life and death combat between companies said a GM exec.) RADIOLOGOLAND.COM QUESTION JANUARY 1, 2010 In 1960, the president of Argentina issued a decree that the union of civil servants said was “a danger to health”. What did the president decree? That government employees would have only a half hour lunch break (down from an hour) and an eight hour workday (including the 30 minute lunch) up from six hours. In 1957, the president of Brazil made worldwide news for being in the hospital. Why was he there? The former practicing doctor assisted in the country’s first surgery implanting an artificial heart. RADIOLOGOLAND.COM QUESTION Want to see previoustrivia answers? June - December 2009 is here. As for everything prior to that, they're buried in the blogs, generally under a Saturday entry. (Click on "Blog" on the navigation bar and start scrolling backwards. You should easily find another year's worth, though it won't be worth the effort.) |