The 1950s - 9 - Answers

Published: Friday 30th January 2026A free history quiz covering the people and events of the 1950's.
  1. Who featured as the first centrefold of Playboy magazine in December 1953? Marilyn Monroe.
  2. What caused a "Blue Sun" to be seen over Europe in December 1951? Ash from Canadian forest fires in May.
  3. Which singer spent a total of 27 weeks at the UK number one spot in 1953? Frankie Laine.
  4. Who starred as Moses in Cecil B DeMille's 1956 movie "The Ten Commandments"? Charlton Heston.
  5. Who were the presenters of BBC's "Blue Peter" when it first aired in October 1957? Christopher Trace & Leila Williams.
  6. Which country won the 1950 FIFA World Cup defeating the hosts Brazil in the final? Uruguay.
  7. What play first opened at the Ambassadors Theatre in London's West End on November 20th 1952? The Mousetrap.
  8. The novel "Lord of the Flies" was first published in 1954, who was the author? William Golding.
  9. Which movie released in 1957 was the first colour film to star Elvis Presley? "Loving You".
  10. Which actor was denied re-entry to the USA after attending the 1952 London premier of "Limelight"? Charlie Chaplin.
  11. Who was elected Prime Minister of France in June 1958 prior to becoming President the following year? Charles DeGaulle.
  12. In which year of the 1950s did ITV first start broadcasting? (September 22nd) 1955.
  13. What became the 50th State of the USA in August 1959? Hawaii.
  14. Invented by Walter Morrison and originally named the "Pluto Platter", what toy was first sold in 1957? Frisbee.
  15. What exams were replaced by A Levels in 1951? Higher School Certificates.
  16. Which team in 1955 became the first British side to compete in football's European Cup? Hibernian.
  17. What was stolen from Westminster Abbey by students in December 1950? The Stone of Scone.
  18. The first US passenger jet took to the skies in 1954, what was it called? Boeing 707.
  19. Which waterway completed in 1959 links the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean? St Lawrence Seaway.
  20. In which British town did the first double-yellow no parking lines appear in 1956? Slough.

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