50 Interesting 1950s Quiz Questions and Answers: How Much Do You Really Know about the Fifties?

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How much do you know about the 50s? It’s time to test your knowledge with this ultimate 1950s quiz.

The fifties were a very important decade and a lot happened then.

Between the cold war, Queen Elizabeth becoming Queen of England and the music industry completely changing, the 50s have a lot to be remembered for.

In this quiz about the 50s, you will find 5 rounds of questions and answers. This includes trivia, multiple choice as well as true or false.

Round 1: Easy 1950s Trivia Questions

1. Who was the US president at the beginning of the 1950s?
2. Snoopy, Charlie Brown and Lucy van Pelt are all characters from which 1950s cartoon strip?
3. Who ascended to the British throne in 1952?
4. Which almost 20-year South Asian conflict began in 1954?
5. Who triggered the Montgomery Bus Boycott by refusing to give up her bus seat for a white passenger?
6. Which iconic theme park opened in California in 1955?
7. What was the name of the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth, which was launched by the USSR in 1957?
8. Which 1959 broadway musical tells the story of the Von Trapp family and their governess Maria?
9. In 1959, Fidel Castro became leader of which country?
10. Which 1950s music icon released songs including ‘Jailhouse Rock,’ ‘Hound Dog’ and ‘Blue Suede Shoes’?

Round 1: Easy 1950s Trivia Questions and Answers

1. Who was the US president at the beginning of the 1950s? Harry Truman
2. Snoopy, Charlie Brown and Lucy van Pelt are all characters from which 1950s cartoon strip? Peanuts
3. Who ascended to the British throne in 1952? Queen Elizabeth II
4. Which almost 20-year South Asian conflict began in 1954? The Vietnam War
5. Who triggered the Montgomery Bus Boycott by refusing to give up her bus seat for a white passenger? Rosa Parks 
6. Which iconic theme park opened in California in 1955? Disneyland
7. What was the name of the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth, which was launched by the USSR in 1957? Sputnik 1
8. Which 1959 Broadway musical tells the story of the Von Trapp family and their governess Maria? The Sound of Music
9. In 1959, Fidel Castro became leader of which country? Cuba
10. Which 1950s music icon released songs including ‘Jailhouse Rock,’ ‘Hound Dog’ and ‘Blue Suede Shoes’? Elvis Presley 

Round 2: 1950s Multiple-Choice Questions

1. What generation does someone born in the 1950s belong to?
   1. The Forgotten Generation
   2. The Silent Generation
   3. The Baby Boomers
   4. Generation X
2. Which of the following scientific breakthroughs was not made in the 1950s?
   1. Discovery of DNA
   2. Invention of the contraceptive pill
   3. Invention of the laser
   4. Development of the polio vaccine
3. How many Communists did Senator Joseph McCarthy claim there were in the U.S. State Department in 1950? 
   1. 200
   2. 400
   3. 600
   4. 800
4. Which European city endured the ‘Great Smog of 1952’?
   1. Paris
   2. London
   3. Berlin
   4. Warsaw
5. The first successful organ transplant took place in 1954. What organ was transplanted?
   1. Kidney
   2. Liver
   3. Heart
   4. Lung
6. In 1954, Miss America was broadcast for the very first time. What state did winner Lee Ann Meriwether represent?
   1. Florida
   2. Michigan
   3. Pennsylvania
   4. California
7. Which movie gave Audrey Hepburn her first starring role and catapulted her to stardom?
   1. Breakfast at Tiffany’s 
   2. Roman Holiday
   3. Sabrina
   4. Funny Face
8. In 1955, the military occupation of West Germany ended. Which of the following powers did not control a portion of West Germany?
   1. Britain
   2. France
   3. United States
   4. Soviet Union
9. What was the name of the band that John Lennon founded in 1957 that would go on to become the Beatles?
   1. The Liverpool 5
   2. The Dovedales
   3. The Quarrymen
   4. The Good-humours
10. Though Sir Edmund Hillary is given all the credit for being the first man to conquer Everest, he wouldn’t have got up there without his guide Tenzing Norgay. How old was Norgay when the team began their ascent?
    1. 15
    2. 17
    3. 19
    4. 21

Round 2: 1950s Multiple-Choice Questions and Answers

1. What generation does someone born in the 1950s belong to? C. The Baby Boomers
2. Which of the following scientific breakthroughs was not made in the 1950s? C. Invention of the Laser
3. How many Communists did Senator Joseph McCarthy claim there were in the U.S. State Department in 1950?  A. 200
4. Which European city endured the ‘Great Smog of 1952’? B. London
5. The first successful organ transplant took place in 1954. What organ was transplanted? A. Kidney
6. In 1954, Miss America was broadcast for the very first time. What state did winner Lee Ann Meriwether represent? D. California
7. Which movie gave Audrey Hepburn her first starring role and catapulted her to stardom? B. Roman Holiday
8. In 1955, the military occupation of West Germany ended. Which of the following powers did not control a portion of West Germany? D. Soviet Union
9. What was the name of the band that John Lennon founded in 1957 that would go on to become the Beatles? C. The Quarrymen
10. Though Sir Edmund Hillary is given all the credit for being the first man to conquer Everest, he wouldn’t have got up there without his guide Tenzing Norgay. How old was Norgay when the team began their ascent? C. 19

Round 3: 1950s Quiz – True or False

1. WWII didn’t officially end until 1951.
2. President Eisenhower won the largest majority that any US president has ever had at the 1952 election.
3. The first TV dinner was introduced to consumers in 1953, and it consisted of a Thanksgiving-style turkey meal.
4. Grace was actually Grace Kelly’s middle name. Her first name was Patricia.
5. James Dean was just 24 when he died in 1955.
6. The Fiat 500 first hit the market in 1957.
7. Ben-Hur was the first film to win 11 Oscars, a record that is still unsurpassed today.
8. The Mamas & The Papas formed in 1958.
9. Alaska and Hawaii became states on the same day in August 1959.
10. Bill Haley and His Comets’(We’re Gonna) Rock Around the Clock / Thirteen Women was the most successful single of the 1950s.

Round 3: 1950s Quiz Answers – True or False

1. WWII didn’t officially end until 1951. True
2. President Eisenhower won the largest majority that any US president has ever had at the 1952 election. False
3. The first TV dinner was introduced to consumers in 1953, and it consisted of a Thanksgiving-style turkey meal. True
4. Grace was actually Grace Kelly’s middle name. Her first name was Patricia. False
5. James Dean was just 24 when he died in 1955. True
6. The Fiat 500 first hit the market in 1957. True
7. Ben-Hur was the first film to win 11 Oscars, a record that is still unsurpassed today. True
8. The Mamas & The Papas formed in 1958. False, they didn’t form until 1965
9. Alaska and Hawaii became states on the same day in August 1959. False, Alaska became a state in January 1959
10. Bill Haley and His Comets’(We’re Gonna) Rock Around the Clock / Thirteen Women was the most successful single of the 1950s. False, it was Elvis Presley’s Don’t Be Cruel/Hound Dog.

Round 4: Medium 1950s Trivia Questions

1. What household item did just 10% of Americans own in 1950, but by 1959 would feature in 85% of US homes?
2. What was the name of the Supreme Court case that ruled that racial segregation in schools was unconstitutional?
3. What year did the Suez Crisis begin?
4. Which musical duo wrote the songs for the smash-hit musical The King and I?
5. Which European empire did Tunisia become independent from in 1956?
6. Which country hosted the Summer Olympics in 1956?
7. Which Soviet Leader gave a ‘Secret Speech’?
8. Which film starring Alec Guinness and William Holden won 8 awards at the 1958 Oscars?
9. Which 1959 Miles Davies record includes the tracks ‘So What,’ Freddie Freeloader’ and ‘Blue in Green’?
10. Which controversial 1950s novel did Mark David Chapman say inspired him to murder John Lennon?

Round 4: Medium 1950s Trivia Questions and Answers

1. What household item did just 10% of Americans own in 1950, but by 1959 would feature in 85% of US homes? Television
2. What was the name of the Supreme Court case that ruled that racial segregation in schools was unconstitutional? Brown vs Board of Education
3. What year did the Suez Crisis begin? 1956
4. Which musical duo wrote the songs for the smash-hit musical The King and I? Rodgers and Hammerstein
5. Which European empire did Tunisia become independent from in 1956? French Empire
6. Which country hosted the Summer Olympics in 1956? Australia
7. Which Soviet Leader gave a ‘Secret Speech’? Nikita Khrushchev
8. Which film starring Alec Guinness and William Holden won 8 awards at the 1958 Oscars? Bridge on the River Kwai
9. Which 1959 Miles Davies record includes the tracks ‘So What,’ Freddie Freeloader’ and ‘Blue in Green’? Kind of Blue
10. Which controversial 1950s novel did Mark David Chapman say inspired him to murder John Lennon? The Catcher in the Rye

Round 5: Hard 1950s Trivia Questions

1. In what year did Maralyn Monroe star in 5 different films?
2. Which European city hosted the Winter Olympics in 1952?
3. What American TV Network did The Liberace Show air on?
4. Who succeeded Stalin as the leader of the Soviet Union?
5. Which 1950s child star voiced the titular character in Disney’s Peter Pan?
6. Which country became independent from Britain and Egypt on New Year’s Day 1956?
7. What was the B-Side on Elvis Presley’s Heartbreak Hotel single?
8. Sal Paradise is the narrator of which iconic 1957 novel?
9. Who was forced by the Soviet authorities to turn down the Nobel Prize for literature in 1958?
10. Who was the most successful team at the NFL championships during the 1950s, winning the title 3 times and being runner up 4 times?

Round 5: Hard 1950s Trivia Questions and Answers

1. In what year did Maralyn Monroe star in 5 different films? 1950
2. Which European city hosted the Winter Olympics in 1952? Oslo
3. What American TV Network did The Liberace Show air on? NBC
4. Who succeeded Stalin as the leader of the Soviet Union? Georgy Melenkov
5. Which 1950s child star voiced the titular character in Disney’s Peter Pan? Bobby Driscoll
6. Which country became independent from Britain and Egypt on New Year’s Day 1956? Sudan
7. What was the B-Side on Elvis Presley’s Heartbreak Hotel single? I Was The One
8. Sal Paradise is the narrator of which iconic 1957 novel? On the Road
9. Who was forced by the Soviet authorities to turn down the Nobel Prize for literature in 1958? Boris Pasternak
10. Who was the most successful team at the NFL championships during the 1950s, winning the title 3 times and being runner up 4 times? The Cleveland Browns

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