Trivia Questions and Answers
photo of The 1970s

110 1970s Entertainment Trivia Questions, Answers, and Fun Facts

How much do you know about 1970s Entertainment? This category is for trivia questions and answers related to 1970s Entertainment (Entertainment). Each one is filled with fun facts and interesting information.
Related Questions & Answers:   1970s TV (TV By Year)   1970s Movies (Movies by Year)   1970s Nostalgia   The 1980s    MLB in the 1970s (MLB by Season)  
1 Before blogs and tweets, people read books. Which of the following, written by the loquacious Tom Wolfe, was a best-selling nonfiction book from the 1970s?
Answer: The Right Stuff

Tom Wolfe published "The Right Stuff" in 1979; it depicts space programs and exploration. Wolfe, born in Virginia, has written nonfiction, novels, art critiques, and essays. He has earned a wide variety of awards, including National Book Award for Nonfiction, the John Dos Passos Award, and the National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.
    Your options: [ The Postmodern Condition ] [ The Feminine Mystique ] [ The Diary of Anaïs Nin ] [ The Right Stuff ]
  From Quiz: What Did You Do In the 1970s?
2 David Mancuso is credited with opening the first disco club. It was a private club in his home and was established in 1970. What was its name?
Answer: Loft

The Loft was the first disco club opened. Disco was a fusion of African-American and Latin rhythms and was thought to be a reactionary movement to the dominance of rock and roll.
  From Quiz: A Night at the Disco
3 One of my favourite childhood television shows was "Fingerbobs" - I knew all the words to the songs, and joined in with gusto. Can you remember the name of the cute little paper-shelled tortoise who featured in the show?
Answer: Flash

Originally made as part of the iconic "Watch With Mother" series, "Fingerbobs" was created by Joanna Cole who also wrote the "Magic Schoolbus" stories. It first aired in 1972, and just thirteen episodes were made.
  From Quiz: When I Was Very Young...
4 A form of entertainment popular through the '50s and '60s was the variety show. These continued into the 1970s, but lost much of their appeal towards the end of the decade. Which of these television variety shows did not air during the 1970s (not counting syndication)?
Answer: The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour

"The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" aired from 1967 until 1969, featuring brothers Thomas and Richard Smothers.

"The Ed Sullivan Show" aired from 1948 to 1971; "The Sonny & Sher Comedy Hour" ran from 1971 until 1976; and "The Carol Burnett Show" lasted from 1967 to 1978.

While variety shows had existed prior to the advent of television, they truly hit their stride with the mass exposure that only television could provide.
    Your options: [ The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour ] [ The Carol Burnett Show ] [ The Ed Sullivan Show ] [ The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour ]
  From Quiz: The 'Me' Decade (1970s)
5 Who won the Grammy in 1978 for Album of the Year?
Answer: Fleetwood Mac - "Rumours"

"Rumours" is the eleventh studio album by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac. In 2004, "Rumours" was remastered and reissued with the addition of an extra track and a bonus CD of outtakes from the recording sessions.
  From Quiz: 1978 - The Winners
6 In 1970, who won the Grammy for 'Record of the Year'?
Answer: "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" - The Fifth Dimension

"Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" are two songs combined from the Broadway musical "Hair".
  From Quiz: The '70s was a Groovy Time
7 It's April 22, 1970, and I'm listening to "American Woman". Today is a very special day for us tree-huggers. Today is the first celebration of what?
Answer: Earth Day

Initiated by Senator Gaylord Nelson, Earth Day led to a huge increase in recycling, environmental consciousness and ecological conservation. On the first Earth Day, dozens of gas-guzzling cars were burned ceremoniously.
Released by the Guess Who on the same-titled album in January of 1970, "American Woman" was released as a single in March, and eventually rose to number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 List.
  From Quiz: Where Did My Bellbottoms Go?
8 In the 1970s entertainment world who or what was Travis Bickle?
Answer: Robert De Niro's character from "Taxi Driver" who said "You talkin' to me?"

"Taxi Driver" (1976) was directed by Martin Scorsese and also starred Jodie Foster, Harvey Keitel, Peter Boyle and Cybill Shepherd.
  From Quiz: 1970s All American Entertainment
9 Who won the Grammy in 1977, for the record of the year?
Answer: " Hotel California" , The Eagles

The Eagles backed out of a performance on the Grammy's that year at the last minute. They claimed they were hard at work on their next album, 1979's "The Long Run", in Malibu.
  From Quiz: 1977 - The Winners in Movies, Music, Sports etc.
10 This television series had a person who was the epitome of "cool." One snap of his fingers and girls would magically appear. What was the name of this television series?
Answer: Happy Days

"Happy Days" premiered in 1974, and was directed by Garry Marshall. The sitcom was about growing up in the 1950s. It had a greaser named Arthur Fonzarelli, who was so cool that one snap of his fingers and girls magically appeared. This guy was so tough that everyone was afraid of him. Yet, the Fonz had a very kind heart, which he didn't like to show all the time. "Happy Days" starred Ron Howard, Tom Bosley, Erin Moran, Marion Ross, Anson Williams, Pat Morita, Al Molinaro, Don Most, Scott Baio, Lynda Goodfriend, Cathy Silvers, and Henry Winkler. The show ended in 1984.
  From Quiz: 1970 Something
11 Many 70s children loved this little rabbit, who appeared in many books, as well as having a range of stationery and toys. What was the rabbit's name?
Answer: Miffy

Miffy was created in 1955 by Dutch author Dick Bruna, but was especially popular through the 60s and 70s. Bruna wrote over 100 books, which have been translated into dozens of languages. Miffy has made a bit of a comeback in recent years, with many new Miffy products available.
  From Quiz: Child of the 70s
12 Fiction reading was also a popular pastime. What was the name of Colleen McCullough's best seller about star-crossed lovers in Australia?
Answer: The Thorn Birds

"The Thorn Birds," the Australian-set romance of the handsome priest and his young mentor hit the best-seller lists almost immediately. McCullough was born and raised in Australia, though she lived in the U.K. and was a research associate at Yale's Department of Neurology while she also wrote. Her success allowed her to retire and move permanently with her husband to the beautiful Norfolk Island, a lush Australian territory with a mild climate.
  From Quiz: What Did You Do In the 1970s?
13 Which movie epitomized the disco era and starred John Travolta in a white suit, one hand pointed to the sky?
Answer: Saturday Night Fever

"Saturday Night Fever" starring John Travolta was a movie that epitomized the disco era. Tony Manero, a factory worker by day, became a disco giant at night. White suits, gold chains and a macho strut made the man.
    Your options: [ Airplane ] [ For Whom the Bell Tolls ] [ Saturday Night Fever ] [ Star Wars ]
  From Quiz: A Night at the Disco
14 One toy which I coveted desperately during my childhood in the 1970s was a Chopper bicycle. With the shiny gear stick, odd sized wheel rims, 'ape-hanger' handle bars, and shiny yellow paint, they were truly a thing of beauty to my childish eyes. Which company marketed the Chopper in the UK, from 1970 onwards?
Answer: Raleigh

Sadly my parents never caved in to my plaintive requests and I was forced to beg my little friends for a sneaky turn on their Choppers when mum and dad weren't looking!
The Raleigh Chopper has become a true cultural icon over the years and was relaunched in 2004, with some small design changes to allow for modern safety requirements. The original design was prone to various mishaps in the hands of young riders, most of which could be blamed on the design.
    Your options: [ Rally ] [ Mitchum ] [ Halfords ] [ Raleigh ]
  From Quiz: When I Was Very Young...
15 HBO first hit the airwaves in 1972, becoming the first pay-TV channel. Three years later they made another first by being the first to deliver continuous signal via satellite with the airing of the "Thrilla in Manila" - a fight between which two heavyweight boxers?
Answer: Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier

The "Thrilla in Manila" was the third and final match between Ali (The Greatest) and Frazier (Smokin' Joe). It took place on October 1st, 1975 at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City (part of the Manila metropolitan area), Philippines.

Ferdinand Marcos arranged for the fight to happen in Manila to try to draw attention away from the social turmoil that had been happening in the country and fight organizer Don King liked the idea.
    Your options: [ Muhammad Ali and George Foreman ] [ Muhammad Ali and Floyd Patterson ] [ Muhammad Ali and Ken Norton ] [ Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier ]
  From Quiz: The 'Me' Decade (1970s)
16 What team won the 1978 World Series?
Answer: The New York Yankees

The 1978 New York Yankees season was the 76th season for the Yankees. The team finished with a record of 100-63 and won the World Series two years in a row.
  From Quiz: 1978 - The Winners
17 What movie won the 1972 Oscar for 'Best Picture'?
Answer: The Godfather

Marlon Brando also won for "The Godfather" as Best Actor but refused to accept the award.
  From Quiz: The '70s was a Groovy Time
18 I've got my hot pants and tube top on, and I'm watching "All in the Family". A celebrity just kissed Archie Bunker! Who was that?
Answer: Sammy Davis, Jr.

Based on a British sitcom titled "Till Death Do Us Part", "All in the Family" broke numerous barriers in American television and broached such previously taboo subjects as racism, abortion, and homosexuality among others. The year after Sammy Davis, Jr., playing himself, kissed Archie, the Jeffersons were introduced on the show.
In 1972, Edith's cousin Maude (played by Bea Arthur) starred in a spin off titled "Maude".
  From Quiz: Where Did My Bellbottoms Go?
19 In 1971 NBC innovated a new format of recurring programs that were shown on a rotating basis under the title "The NBC Mystery Movie." Through its run from 1971-1977 several shows were launched but it was the three original programs that proved to be the most popular. They were "Columbo", "McMillan and Wife" and which other cop show?
Answer: "McCloud"

Dennis Weaver starred as "McCloud" after a stint on "Gunsmoke." The "Mystery Movie" launched other shows as the fourth segment in the rotation, including as "Heck Ramsey", "Amy Prentice" and "Lanigan's Rabbi." None caught fire until 1976's "Quincy, M.E." with Jack Klugman which was spun-off into its own program in 1977.
    Your options: [ "Kojak" ] [ "McCloud" ] [ "Police Woman" ] [ "Get Christie Love" ]
  From Quiz: 1970s All American Entertainment
20 Which Team won the World Series in 1977?
Answer: The New York Yankees

The New York Yankees won the 1977 World Series in 6 games. In that last winning game Reggie Jackson hit 3 home runs.
    Your options: [ The New York Mets ] [ The Los Angeles Dodgers ] [ The Cincinnati Reds ] [ The New York Yankees ]
  From Quiz: 1977 - The Winners in Movies, Music, Sports etc.
21 There were two kinds of bell bottom pants. One was called Bell Bottoms, but what was the other kind called?
Answer: Elephant Ears

Bell Bottom pants were shaped sort of like a bell. Elephant Ears were far larger than bells, and were called Elephant Ears because of the largeness and because they flapped when you walked, like an elephant's ears.
  From Quiz: 1970 Something
22 Nowadays Saturday morning kids' TV is taken for granted. But in the early 1970s there was no such thing. The BBC's first Saturday morning children's show was Noel Edmonds' "MultiColoured Swap Shop". Who did NOT present "Swap Shop"?
Answer: Chris Tarrant

The brilliant idea of getting kids to phone in and offer to swap their old Sindy horse for a shiny new bike, kept the show on BBC1 for years. There was more to the show than just swapping though - John Craven read the news, Noel Edmonds interviewed pop stars, and Keith Chegwin stood in the rain surrounded by screaming kids. Chris Tarrant presented rival show "TISWAS".
  From Quiz: Child of the 70s
23 With fewer screens available, movies would have greater impact. What 1975 movie, one of Steven Spielberg's, earliest, made people afraid to go into the water?
Answer: Jaws

"Jaws" hit theaters in 1975 and was a critical and commercial success. Audiences seemed to love the thrilling storyline of a killer great white, and critics praised Spielberg's craft and vision. It won three Academy Awards: Best Film Editing, Best Original Dramatic Score, and Best Sound.
  From Quiz: What Did You Do In the 1970s?
24 Hanging from the ceiling of many discos and quite a few basements was a multicolored light show that sprayed the gyrating crowd with shards of light. What was this icon of the disco era called?
Answer: disco ball

The disco ball was a rotating ball covered with multiple mirrors that reflected a light shone on it and onto the crowd. It was mesmerizing to note the patterns the lights made over your partner.
  From Quiz: A Night at the Disco
25 1977 saw the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, and the UK celebrated. One somewhat dubious 'tribute' was the song "God Save the Queen" which was banned by the BBC, and refused airplay. Which iconic punk band sang it?
Answer: Sex Pistols

The BBC and 'the Establishment' were outraged at the song, and deemed it offensive and disrespectful. It was banned and denied airtime on all the BBC stations. It was popular with teenagers however, and made it to number two in the UK Singles Charts in spite of, if not because of the ban. The media furore served to gain the Pistols extra publicity, and boost their record sales.
    Your options: [ Generation X ] [ The Clash ] [ Angelic Upstarts ] [ Sex Pistols ]
  From Quiz: When I Was Very Young...
26 First, it was a 1963 film starring Peter Sellers, then it became a franchise that spawned multiple sequels (three filmed in the '70s). More importantly, it became a cartoon show that ran from 1969 until 1979. What completes the title, "The _____ _____ Show"?
Answer: Pink Panther

The animated Pink Panther first appeared in the opening title sequence in the original 1963 film, as well as in the closing credits. In fact, the cartoon panther appeared in all of the films in the series with the exception of "A Shot in the Dark" and "Inspector Clouseau."

Perhaps even more iconic than the Pink Panther himself is the music that accompanied the films and cartoons: "The Pink Panther Theme" written by Henry Mancini.
  From Quiz: The 'Me' Decade (1970s)
27 What film won the Oscar for Best Picture in 1978?
Answer: "The Deer Hunter"

The "Deer Hunter" had nine nominations and won five awards. Christopher Walken, as Cpl. Nikanor "Nick" Chebotarevich, won his first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
  From Quiz: 1978 - The Winners
28 Streaking, the act of running naked in public became a Fad in the 70s. Who wrote and performed a hit song in 1974 called "The Streak" about this fad?
Answer: Ray Stevens

"The Streak" was number 1 for three weeks in 1974 on the Billboard charts.
  From Quiz: The '70s was a Groovy Time
29 "School's Out", and I'm looking through a catalog, wishing for a pair of groovy shoes. Which should I buy?
Answer: platform shoes

With soles measuring up to seven inches high, and extreme models holding water and goldfish, 'Consumer Reports' rated platform shoes as health hazards.
And, "School's Out" was by Alice Cooper (nee Vincent Furnier) in 1972.
    Your options: [ platform shoes ] [ saddle shoes ] [ sneakers ] [ penny loafers ]
  From Quiz: Where Did My Bellbottoms Go?
30 Which film of the 1970s was NOT based on a best-selling book?
Answer: "Chinatown"

"Chinatown" won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay in 1974 for writer Robert Towne.
    Your options: [ "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" ] [ "Chinatown" ] [ "A Clockwork Orange" ] [ "Jaws" ]
  From Quiz: 1970s All American Entertainment
31 What film won the Oscar for best picture in 1977?
Answer: "Annie Hall"

Diane Keaton, who played Annie Hall, won the Oscar for best actress for this movie.
  From Quiz: 1977 - The Winners in Movies, Music, Sports etc.
32 This movie was about a young man who wanted to be the king of the disco floor, and showed what the 1970s was all about. What is the name of this movie?
Answer: Saturday Night Fever

"Saturday Night Fever" was released in 1977, and directed by John Badham. It was about a young man, Tony Manero, who wanted to be someone special. To that end, he worked hard to become king of the disco floor. The movie starred Lisa Peluso, Karen Lynn Gorney, Donna Pescow, and John Travolta.
  From Quiz: 1970 Something
33 This was a really popular toy in the late 70s. It had four large, coloured buttons, that flashed and made a particular sound. The aim was to repeat the pattern made by the toy itself, a pattern that got progressivly harder. What was the toy's name?
Answer: Simon

Simon was fab! The regular version was about the size of a vinyl record, but there was also a smaller pocket version. It was released at Christmas 1978 and was an instant hit. Go to Amazon to buy your very own replacement for your old Simon!
  From Quiz: Child of the 70s
34 Another major movie from the 1970s was the inspiring story of a determined boxer from Philadelphia. What was the name of this film, the first in what became a large franchise?
Answer: Rocky

"Rocky" was a huge hit when it appeared in theaters in 1976; the rise of the underdog was a beloved story arc for audiences, and the soundtrack was exhilarating. It was nominated for many awards, and won three Oscars: Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Film Editing.
  From Quiz: What Did You Do In the 1970s?
35 Who was at the center of the disco sound system pounding out the beat and crafting together sets of songs for the patrons?
Answer: DJ

The Disc Jockey or DJ put together the musical sets, stringing songs together so that the beats would match exactly when they segued together. One of the methods of starting a new song was to hold a record still on the turntable until it was ready to spin. Electronic mixers eventually became available making the art of the DJ more elegant.
  From Quiz: A Night at the Disco
36 Video games have come a long, looooong way since the 1970s. What was the name of the first commercially available video game console, released in 1972?
Answer: Magnavox Odyssey

The Magnavox Odyssey predated its earliest competition by two years. It was created by Ralph Baer, who stated that he first came up with the idea of an interactive television in 1951. By 1966 he was able to develop a simple two-player video game called "Chase" where two dots chased each other around the screen. Demonstrating that game to the Research and Development section of the company for which he was working (Sanders Associates) was all it took to get funding for further development. The rest is history.
  From Quiz: The 'Me' Decade (1970s)
37 What show won the Emmy for Best Comedy Series for the 1978 season?
Answer: "Taxi"

Altogether "Taxi" won eighteen Emmy Awards in its five year run. The show focuses on the employees of the Sunshine Cab Company. The setting is the company's garage in Manhattan.
  From Quiz: 1978 - The Winners
38 What did daredevil Evel Knievel attempt to jump on September 8th, 1974?
Answer: Snake River Canyon

While attempting to jump Snake River Canyon, the parachute deployed and it caused enough drag that the wind caught the chute, which sent him back to the same side that he launched from. He landed only a few feet from the water. If he had landed in the water, he would have drowned due to a malfunction in the harness that had him still strapped in the vehicle. He survived with minor injuries.
  From Quiz: The '70s was a Groovy Time
39 "The Dark Side of the Moon" is playing on my Dodge Charger's radio as I'm peeling out to see "White Lightning" at the drive-in theater. But, who's the star of this new movie?
Answer: Burt Reynolds

Burt Reynolds had several box-office successes in the 1970s, including "Deliverance", "The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing", "The Longest Yard" and "Smokey and The Bandit".
Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" is the band's most commercially successful album, and the best selling album worldwide.
  From Quiz: Where Did My Bellbottoms Go?
40 This artist had the second posthumous #1 hit of the 70s (the first being Janis Joplin's "Me and Bobby McGee" in 1971) with the song "Time in a Bottle." Who was it?
Answer: Jim Croce

Jim Croce died in a plane crash just as his career was hitting full stride in 1973. Ricky Nelson also died in a plane crash, in 1985. Harry Chapin was killed in a 1983 car accident. Minnie Riperton, mother of "Saturday Night Live" comedienne Maya Rudolph, succumbed to breast cancer in 1979.
  From Quiz: 1970s All American Entertainment
The rest of the questions and answers can be found in our quizzes here:
1970s Entertainment Quizzes