Which Decade? – Retro Quiz
Time to test your retro trivia skills.
Can you guess which decade these facts come from?
The answer to each question will be one of the following:
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
Scroll down for the answers and an intriguing fact about each.
Round 1: Music & Tech
Which decade did the first Walkman hit the market?
Round 2: Television Firsts
What decade did color TV become widely available in homes?
Round 3: Gaming Goes Home
What decade saw the release of the original Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in North America?
Round 4: Rock ’n’ Roll Begins
When did Elvis Presley release his first hit single, “Heartbreak Hotel”?
Round 5: Fashion Flashback
When were bell-bottom pants at peak popularity?
Round 6: Texting Is Born
When was the first SMS (text message) sent?
Round 7: Movie Milestone
What decade did Jaws hit theaters and launch the summer blockbuster trend?
Round 8: The Beatles Take Over
When did The Beatles make their famous U.S. television debut on The Ed Sullivan Show?
Round 9: The CD Arrives
When did compact discs (CDs) first hit the market and begin replacing vinyl and cassettes?
Round 10: Tech Throwback
Which decade saw the first mobile phone call?
ANSWERS
1) Which decade did the first Walkman hit the market?
Answer: 1970s
Sony released the first Walkman in 1979 — changing how we listened to music forever. Portable tunes? Mind blowing.
2) What decade did color TV become widely available in homes?
Answer: 1960s
Color TV broadcasts started in the ’50s, but it wasn’t until the ’60s that most households had one. Watching The Wonderful World of Disney in color? Magical.
3) What decade saw the release of the original Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in North America?
Answer: 1980s
The NES launched in 1985 and helped revive the home video game industry after the early '80s crash.
4) When did Elvis Presley release his first hit single, “Heartbreak Hotel”?
Answer: 1950s
"Heartbreak Hotel" came out in 1956 and launched Elvis into stardom, kicking off the rock 'n' roll revolution.
5) When were bell-bottom pants at peak popularity?
Answer: 1970s
Bell-bottoms were the look for the disco generation. Platform shoes optional (but highly encouraged).
6) When was the first SMS (text message) sent?
Answer: 1990s
The very first text message was sent in 1992 — it simply said, “Merry Christmas.”
7) What decade did Jaws hit theaters and launch the summer blockbuster trend?
Answer: 1970s
Jaws premiered in 1975 and it wasn’t just a hit; it changed how movies were released and marketed.
8) When did The Beatles make their famous U.S. television debut on The Ed Sullivan Show?
Answer: 1960s
The Beatles debuted in 1964 to a record-breaking American audience, sparking Beatlemania across the country.
9) When did compact discs (CDs) first hit the market and begin replacing vinyl and cassettes?
Answer: 1980s
CDs debuted in 1982, and within a decade, they became the go-to music format.
10) Which decade saw the first mobile phone call?
Answer: 1970s
In 1973, a Motorola exec made the very first mobile phone call on a device the size of a brick. And you thought your first cell phone was bulky!