The Baby Boomers are a breed of their own. Born in the economic and social boom after World War II, many of the things that Baby Boomers remember best about their childhoods have been replaced with new and improved technology, as well as major social change. Test your knowledge if you think you remember many things about a simpler time in American history. Warning: only true Baby Boomers (or expert historians) can get a passing score on this one! So take our quiz today, and be sure to share it with your friends for comparison.
What was the popular neighborhood game called that required an empty can?

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Kick the can was an outdoor children’s game that started during the Great Depression because it didn’t require any designated equipment. The game was widely popular in the 1960s and is remembered fondly by those who played it.
CBS
CBS
What was the popular neighborhood game called that required an empty can?
- Empties
- Rockets
- Kick the can
- Pop-ups
This device was known as a…

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After their development in 1954, transistor radios became the most popular communication device in history, with billions manufactured during the 1960s and ’70s. These portable radios gave people the capability to listen to music wherever they were.
This device was known as a…
- Transistor Radio
- 8 track player
- Walkie talkie
- Transmitter
At one point this was not allowed to be aired on television…

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Back in the day, in the first few decades, swearing was a big no-no on television. There were a few slip-ups here and there, but for the most part, producers kept things clean.
Robert W. Kelley The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Robert W. Kelley The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
At one point this was not allowed to be aired on television…
- Toddlers
- Swearing
- Guns
- Death
This talking doll was called…

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Chatty Cathy was a pull string “talking” doll made from 1959 to 1969. Later versions were released, including Chatty Baby, Tiny Chatty Baby, Tiny Chatty Brother, Charmin’ Chatty, and Singin’ Chatty.
cathieburkett/Pinterest
cathieburkett/Pinterest
This talking doll was called…
- Golden Age Collectible Dolls
- Barbie
- Cabbage Patch Kids
- Chatty Cathy
This was the packaging for what popular toy to help teach biology?

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Sea Monkeys was a kit of crustaceans that undergo cryptobiosis that was then sold as novelty aquarium pets that were developed in the United States in 1957 and were popular with kids.
voltronforlife/Reddit
voltronforlife/Reddit
This was the packaging for what popular toy to help teach biology?
- Fish Friends
- Water Buddies
- Sea Monkeys
- Grow ems’
What profession is this?

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Being a telephone operator was a popular job for women in the 1960s. It involved manual telephone switchboards. The operators connected calls by inserting phone plugs into the appropriate jacks.
What profession is this?
- Telephone operator
- Seamstress
- Accountant
- Disc jockey
If you were a Baby Boomer you remember exactly where you were when…

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John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas and it’s common for most Baby Boomers to remember exactly where they were when they heard about it.
If you were a Baby Boomer you remember exactly where you were when…
- The Vietnam War started
- The Cuban Missile Crisis
- We landed on the moon
- When JFK was assassinated
What type of jeans was widely popular during the 1960’s and 70’s?

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In the 1960s and through part of the 70s bell-bottom jeans were fashionable for both men and women. Usually made from denim, they flared out below the calf. This style comes back into popularity every few years.
What type of jeans was widely popular during the 1960’s and 70’s?
- Mid-rise
- Bootcut
- Bell-Bottoms
- Skinny
What kind of chemical was used frequently during the Vietnam War?

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Agent Orange is an herbicide and defoliant chemical used widely by the United States during the Vietnam War. This chemical had environmental and health-damaging effects on those who were exposed.
What kind of chemical was used frequently during the Vietnam War?
- Mustard Gas
- Agent Orange
- Chlorine
- Tear Gas
What time (EST) would you hear the National Anthem at night on the television?

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At one point, most television channels didn’t have enough content for 24 hours so they would “sign off” at 1 AM after the day’s programming had ended and play the National Anthem.
Camerique/Archive Photos/Getty Images
Camerique/Archive Photos/Getty Images
What time (EST) would you hear the National Anthem at night on the television?
- 10 PM
- 1 AM
- 2 AM
- Never
The seats on these bicycles were known as…

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With the wheelie bike’s (a stylized version of a children’s bicycle designed to look like a chopper) popularity, the matching seat was known as a banana seat. Schwinn Sting-Ray was one of the biggest manufacturers of these bikes and seats.
The seats on these bicycles were known as…
- Tandems
- Free riders
- Banana seats
- Long seats
What was the most iconic music festival that occurred in the 1960s?

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Woodstock was a legendary music and arts festival that attracted over 400,000 spectators in August of 1969. It is regarded as one of the most pivotal moments in popular music history.
What was the most iconic music festival that occurred in the 1960s?
- Lollapalooza
- Woodstock
- Glastonbury Festival
- Monterey Pop
What were these popular stickers called?

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Rickie Tickies were popular stickers that young people put on anything that they managed to get their hands on. The greatest part about these plastic decals is that they were reusable.
What were these popular stickers called?
- Sunshine Stickers
- Flower Pedal stickers
- Rickie Tickie Stickers
- Groovies
This is a board game played on the street known as…

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Scully was a street game with a painted or chalked course on the ground where players would try to traverse the course by flicking bottle caps. It was frequently played in rural areas.
This is a board game played on the street known as…
- Stomp to stomp
- Scully
- Flickers
- Caps
What dance move was made popular by Chubby Checker on American Bandstand?

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From 1959 to the early 1960s, the twist became a first worldwide dance craze though some believed that it was too provocative. The accompanying song was originally written by Hank Ballard and the Midnighters, and later covered by Chubby Checker.
What dance move was made popular by Chubby Checker on American Bandstand?
- The Twist
- The Jive
- The Skip
- The Waltz
These popular beads in late 1960s and early 70s were called…

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Love beads were given as gifts between friends and were typically made by someone and then given to a friend. They were most commonly worn on the wrist, neck, or even ankle.
These popular beads in late 1960s and early 70s were called…
- Love beads
- Buddha beads
- Special beads
- Groovy beads
What were these types of skirts called?

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Becoming more common during the age of women’s liberation, miniskirts reached the height of popularity around 1967. This style was especially popular during the “Swinging London” era of the 1960s.
What were these types of skirts called?
- Knickers
- Showers
- Show-em skirts
- Miniskirts
These high-legged boots are known as…

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Go-Go boots were created in 1965 by Andre Courreges and were worn by women throughout the country. Nancy Sinatra became the poster girl for Go-Go boots after her hit song “These Boots Are Made For Walking”.
These high-legged boots are known as…
- Thigh-high’s
- Go-Go boots
- Party boots
- Discos
These model planes were made out of…

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Balsa wood is extremely light but the wood made it heavy enough to be more effective than a typical paper airplane. Balsa model airplane kits are still popular with kids today.
These model planes were made out of…
- Oak
- Balsa
- Plastic
- Paper
These hip decorations were called…

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Lava lamps were invented by an accountant named Craven Walker in the mid-1960s and became widely popular. Heat from the light bulb caused a cool bubbling effect in the lamp’s liquid-filled base.
These hip decorations were called…
- Goo lights
- Lava lamps
- Blobbers
- Glow Worms
Which of these was the most well-known brand of TV dinners?

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During the 1950s Swanson dominated the TV dinner market. The first entree introduced by the company was a turkey dinner. Swanson sold an average of 13 million TV dinners annually by 1956.
Which of these was the most well-known brand of TV dinners?
- Easy Dinner
- Stouffer’s
- American Classic
- Swanson
This is an image of what game?

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Pong was a hit game that was released by manufacturer Atari in 1972. It was a table tennis-themed game that featured two-dimensional graphics, and two players competed against each other at the same time. One of the original Pong consoles is on display at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.
This is an image of what game?
- Score Board
- Pong
- Bounce Attack
- Ball Battle
These containers were made to hold what particular beverage?

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Tang is a fruit-flavored drink that was marketed in a powder form in 1959. It gained popularity after it was used by Mercury astronaut John Glenn during his experiments in orbit.
These containers were made to hold what particular beverage?
- Whiskey
- Tang
- Country Lemonade
- Gin
What was this toy called?

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The View-Master was a special-format stereoscope that has reels which allowed the user to view images in 3D and up-close. View-Masters were introduced in 1939 and the company is still active today with its View-Master Virtual Reality Viewer.
What was this toy called?
- Space Goggles
- View-Master
- A slider
- Reality Check
What was this kind of jewelry called?

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Mood rings were created in 1975 and were popular because they changed color based on the temperature of the wearer’s finger. The jewelry was supposed to reflect the wearer’s present mood.
What was this kind of jewelry called?
- Glammies
- Antiques
- Queen Rings
- Mood Rings
This popular toy was called…

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A slot car is a powered miniature car that is guided by a grooved track that it runs on. The user controls the speed. Today, slot car racing is a popular competitive hobby.
This popular toy was called…
- Slot Cars
- Electric Cars
- Zip Cars
- Speed Racer Mobiles
The extremely powerful bouncy balls were called…

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Super Balls were invented in 1964 by Norman Stingley. These fun toys were developed out of a special type of synthetic rubber that resulted in an abnormally bouncy ball. They’re still popular with kids today.
The extremely powerful bouncy balls were called…
- Super Balls
- Incredi Balls
- Moon Balls
- Space Balls
Growing up, it was typical for Baby Boomers to have how many phones in the house?

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It was relatively uncommon for families to have more than one telephone. Imagine that! Now, most baby boomers are likely to spend nearly as much time on their smartphones as millennials do.
Growing up, it was typical for Baby Boomers to have how many phones in the house?
- 4
- 1
- 2
What was the term used to describe the rise of the Beatles in the United States?

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Beatlemania was the fan frenzy surrounding the Beatles in the 1960s. It began in 1963 and continued even after they stopped performing publicly. Beatlemania ended after the band officially broke up in 1970.
What was the term used to describe the rise of the Beatles in the United States?
- Beatlefrenzy
- Beatlemania
- Beatletopia
- Beatlephobia
What is the name of this marionette puppet?

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Howdy Doody was the marionette in the children’s television program The Howdy Doody Show which ran from 1947 to 1960. This was one of the first TV shows to be taped at NBC in Rockefeller Center.
What is the name of this marionette puppet?
- Felix
- Bobby
- Krumpy
- Howdy Doody
Baby Boomers remember practicing what kind of drills in school?

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During the early days of the Cold War, schools performed drills in preparation for an atomic attack. They were known as duck and cover drills, and involved students hiding under their desks in protective positions.
Baby Boomers remember practicing what kind of drills in school?
- Tsunami
- Gas
- Tornado
- Atomic
Baby Boomers remember cars not having…

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For the most part, all vehicles had a manual transmission and required the driver to physically switch the gears of the car. To have an automatic car was a real luxury!
H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock/Getty Images
H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock/Getty Images
Baby Boomers remember cars not having…
- Automatic transmission
- Windows
- Trunks
- Taillights
What did you need to adjust these old strap-on skates?

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Ah, the good old sport of roller skating! Adjusting a pair of these was futile unless you had a skate key which fit the skate perfectly and allowed for precise sizing.
What did you need to adjust these old strap-on skates?
- Allan wrench
- Screwdriver
- Skate jack
- Skate key
What was this called?

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Church keys were used to open soda or beer cans before pull tab cans and twist-off bottles were invented. These church keys were sometimes given away for free with the purchase of a pack of canned beverages.
What was this called?
- Poke-through
- Topper
- Poker
- Church key
Who is the man on the right?

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Mr. Green Jeans, played by Hugh Brannum, was a character in the classic children’s television show Captain Kangaroo. The popular kid’s show starring Bob Keeshan ran from October 3, 1955 until December 8, 1984.
Who is the man on the right?
- The Green Man
- The Green Violinist
- Mr. Green Jeans
- Green Man Sam
What are these called?

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Green stamps were received with a gas or grocery purchase that could be redeemed for household goods. In the mid-1960s, green stamps programs reached their greatest popularity. Stamp programs declined with the recessions of the 1970s.
What are these called?
- Green notes
- Green stamps
- Green tickets
- Green tears
This popular hat worn mostly by boys was called a…

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Although associated with the frontiersman of the 18th and 19th centuries, replications of these hats became popular among young boys in the 1950s. This was thanks in large part to a television show called “Disneyland” that featured Davy Crockett as a character.
Robert Alexander/Getty Images
Robert Alexander/Getty Images
This popular hat worn mostly by boys was called a…
- Coonskin cap
- Bear cap
- Trapper hat
- Indian hat
What is this?

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A 45 adapter was a little plastic disk that allowed you to play 45-rpm records on a record player made for a different size. The first ones were made of solid zinc and were introduced by the Webster-Chicago Corporation.
What is this?
- Boomerang
- Television knob
- Sticker
- 45 adapter
When they did have paneled sides, what kind of paneling did station wagons have?

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It was not uncommon for a family station wagon to have wood paneling running along its sides. The last vehicle to use genuine wood in its panels was the 1953 Roadmaster Estate Wagon. Since then, the “wood look” has been fabricated from other materials such as metal.
When they did have paneled sides, what kind of paneling did station wagons have?
- Rubber
- Wood
- Copper
- Silver
How many colors of Crayola crayons were released in the late 1950s?

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The release of the 64 pack of Crayola crayons was regarded as one of the biggest upgrades for toys at the time. Notable colors included in the set were Mulberry, Cornflower, Raw Umber, and Aquamarine.
How many colors of Crayola crayons were released in the late 1950s?
- 64
- 28
- 164
- 100
What was the lowest price you could pay for gas at the time?

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Sometimes, gas was as low as twenty cents! We definitely miss those days. As of 2018, gas in Norway is the most expensive in the world ($7.82 per gallon). The average price per gallon in the United States is $2.99.
What was the lowest price you could pay for gas at the time?
- $1.00
- $0.50
- $2.50
- $0.20
What was a favorite Sunday pastime that people wouldn’t usually do today?

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There was nothing more delightful than loading the family into the car for a nice drive around town! These days, not too many people seem to enjoy facing traffic to take a drive “just for the heck of it!”
What was a favorite Sunday pastime that people wouldn’t usually do today?
- Grocery shop
- Play baseball
- Go for a drive
- Go to church
Where would you usually see this image?

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This was the “sign off” message that remained displayed on television when broadcasts would end for the day (at 1AM in most places). The National Anthem played during this time as well.
Where would you usually see this image?
- Car manuals
- Everywhere during nuclear bomb threats
- At a hospital
- On television
What was Richard Nixon doing here?

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Everyone watched Nixon sweat (and try to keep himself mopped off) during the first televised presidential debate. This didn’t help him beat JFK, who appeared to be much more calm, cool, and collected during the event.
What was Richard Nixon doing here?
- Sweating
- Crying
- Blowing his nose
- Smelling something bad
What was routinely delivered to doorsteps every morning that would be unusual to see delivered today?

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Remember when the milkman would deliver milk straight to your front door? In select areas of the country, milk delivery is still available but most of us have to go to the grocery store to pick ours up.
What was routinely delivered to doorsteps every morning that would be unusual to see delivered today?
- Breakfast
- Milk
- Newspaper
What are these?

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We used to play jacks on the sidewalk when we didn’t have marbles! All you need to play are a minimum of two people, a small rubber ball, and a set of jacks.
What are these?
- Pest control devices
- Weapons
- Dog toys
- Jacks
Who are these guys?

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The Monkees were a rock band. They were initially assembled for a television show about a fictitious band but soon became famous as musicians in real life. The band was active from 1966 to 1971.
Who are these guys?
- The Beatles before they were famous
- The Mermen
- The Monkees
- A male version of Charlie’s Angels
Which celebrity’s show was Mary Tyler Moore on before she had her own show?

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Mary Tyler Moore starred alongside Dick Van Dyke on The Dick Van Dykeshow. The popular sitcom earned a spot on TV Guide’s 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.
Which celebrity’s show was Mary Tyler Moore on before she had her own show?
- Johnny Carson
- Dick Van Dyke
- Cloris Leachman
- Red Skelton
What were school dances called back them?

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It was mostly just the girls who danced at sock hops. Sock hops started out as WWII fundraisers held by the American Junior Red Cross beginning in 1944. Sock hops became popular again in 1980s Britain thanks to a rockabilly comeback.
What were school dances called back them?
- Gym Parties
- Dances
- Social Hours
- Sock Hops
What weird thing did you have to do if you attended a sock hop?

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You had to take off your shoes so you didn’t mess up the gymnasium floor, hence the name “sock hop”! They were also referred to as “sox hops” or “record hops.”
What weird thing did you have to do if you attended a sock hop?
- Take off your shoes
- Be quiet
- Mandatory dance with opposite gender at least once
- Donate $0.10 to the school
What were these haircuts called?

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These ducktail haircuts could get pretty greasy. The look was achieved with a v-shaped cut in the hair at the back of the head, with the sides of the hair swept back.
What were these haircuts called?
- Smooth tops
- Ducktail
- Shiny tops
- Greaser cuts
What was the only immediate way you could contact someone if you weren’t at home?

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You could easily make a call at a payphone. The majority of them are gone now, but CNN reported in 2018 that about 100,000 remain. Most of those are in New York City.
What was the only immediate way you could contact someone if you weren’t at home?
- Send a note to police
- Send a note from the post office
- You didn’t contact anyone
- Payphones
Also, who was this woman?

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Ball and her husband Desi Arnaz created “I Love Lucy.” She also starred in “The Lucy Desi Comedy Hour,” “The Lucy Show,” “Here’s Lucy,” and “Life with Lucy.” Lucille Ball is one of the most beloved comedians of all time.
Also, who was this woman?
- Lucille Ball
- Vivian Vance
- Cloris Leachman
- Kim Novak
There was no Google back then, so how did you look up new information?

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Encyclopedias (sets of reference books) are still around today, but the Internet has rendered them pretty much useless for many people. Luckily, you can still find encyclopedias at most libraries.
There was no Google back then, so how did you look up new information?
- Encyclopedias
- Call the operator
- Wikipedia
- You had to ask about it at school
Do you remember this person?

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“America’s Sweetheart” starred in The Donna Reed Show and had a groundbreaking sense of humor. Her acting career lasted more than 40 years and she received many awards for it.
Do you remember this person?
- Norma Cook
- Grace Kelly
- Donna Reed
- Jayne Mansfield
Why would kids have been afraid of soap?

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Sometimes when kids mouthed off, they were forced to wash their mouths out with soap. President George W. Bush once famously reported that his mother Barbara had washed his mouth with soap when he “got fresh” with her as a youngster.
Why would kids have been afraid of soap?
- They had to wash their mouths with it
- The soap caused rashes
- It had a foul smell
- They hated baths
Where did everyone start moving during the baby boom?

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After WWII, developers started buying land on the outskirts of cities and building tract homes that were cheap for new families to move into. William Levitt was one of the most famous suburban developers of the time.
Marlin Levison/Star Tribune via Getty Images
Marlin Levison/Star Tribune via Getty Images
Where did everyone start moving during the baby boom?
- The suburbs
- The country
- The wilderness
- The city
What was the name of the satellite that the Soviet Union launched into orbit in 1957?

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Americans were shocked when Sputnik was launched because propaganda had them believe that the U.S. was technologically superior to the Soviet Union. Sputnik orbited Earth for three weeks, until its batteries died.
What was the name of the satellite that the Soviet Union launched into orbit in 1957?
- Vladimir
- Sputnik
- Soviet Satellite
- Kremlin
What was the name of this turtle?

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Bert the Turtle was the spokesperson in the “Duck and Cover” safety film shown in schools in the 1950s. The film was created by the US Federal Civil Defense Administration.
What was the name of this turtle?
- Kurt
- Bert
- Jeffrey
- Tommy
What was this?

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This is a pogo stick, one of those springy toys that were all the rage during the Baby Boomer era. Two Germans named Max Pohlig and Ernst Gottschall (get it — Po Go?) invented what we consider the modern pogo stick in 1920.
Frances McLaughlin-Gill/Condé Nast via Getty Images
Frances McLaughlin-Gill/Condé Nast via Getty Images
What was this?
- A hunting device
- Playground equipment
- Pogo stick
- A toy wizard wand