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Quiz about 1970s All American Entertainment

1970s All American Entertainment Quiz

This is a follow-up to my quiz on American-specific entertainment in the 60s. Can you say "You talkin' to me"?

A multiple-choice quiz by brewster76. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
brewster76

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
297,758

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
7304

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

Last 3 plays: flynnmcalnis (6/10), brenda610 (8/10), Guest 174 (8/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. In the 1970s entertainment world who or what was Travis Bickle? Hint

Robert De Niro's character from "Taxi Driver" who said "You talkin' to me?"

Real name of country singer Randy Travis

Oscar-winning cinematographer of "Star Wars" and "The French Connection"

Common pseudonym taken by screenwriters who knew they were writing a born turkey

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Question 2 of 10

2. 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? Hint

"McCloud"

"Police Woman"

"Kojak"

"Get Christie Love"

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which film of the 1970s was NOT based on a best-selling book? Hint

"Jonathan Livingston Seagull"

"Chinatown"

"A Clockwork Orange"

"Jaws"

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Question 4 of 10

4. 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? Hint

Ricky Nelson

Jim Croce

Harry Chapin

Minnie Riperton

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Question 5 of 10

5. In 1970 Oakland disc jockey Casey Kasem launched a weekly syndicated radio show featuring the top hits from Billboard Magazine's Hot 100 chart. What was the program's name? Hint

The Casey Kasem Show

American Top 40

Billboard Hot List

This Week's Top Rock

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Question 6 of 10

6. Who, incredible as it may now seem, was the Country Music Association's Female Vocalist of the Year in 1974? Hint

Olivia Newton-John

Diana Ross

Karen Carpenter

Patti Smith

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Question 7 of 10

7. The last television advertisement for which product ran on the "Tonight Show with Johnny Carson" on January 1, 1971? Hint

Guns

Liquor

Cigarettes

Condoms

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Question 8 of 10

8. An astonishing 5 of the 8 best selling songs of 1978 were released by siblings with what last name? Hint

Osmond

Gibb

Jackson

Ramone

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Question 9 of 10

9. The musical "Godspell", based on the gospel of St. Matthew, opened on Broadway May 17, 1971 and featured a song that reached #13 on the Billboard charts in 1972. Which song was it? Hint

Easy to Be Hard

I Don't Know How to Love Him

Everything is Beautiful

Day By Day

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Question 10 of 10

10. On October 11, 1975 comedian Andy Kaufman made the first of many appearances on "Saturday Night Live." What did Kaufman's act consist of? Hint

Lip synching one line from the theme song of "Mighty Mouse"

He was in character as Latka Gravas, who he would later portray on "Taxi"

Wrestling a woman

Impersonating Elvis Presley

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 29 2025 : flynnmcalnis: 6/10
Apr 28 2025 : brenda610: 8/10
Apr 22 2025 : Guest 174: 8/10
Apr 22 2025 : BarbaraMcI: 10/10
Apr 20 2025 : Guest 150: 8/10
Apr 20 2025 : Upstart3: 9/10
Apr 17 2025 : Guest 50: 6/10
Apr 17 2025 : krboucha: 5/10
Apr 16 2025 : Guest 147: 6/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. 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.

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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. In 1970 Oakland disc jockey Casey Kasem launched a weekly syndicated radio show featuring the top hits from Billboard Magazine's Hot 100 chart. What was the program's name?

Answer: American Top 40

Since its inception other hosts of "AT40" have included Shadoe Stevens and Ryan Seacrest.

6. Who, incredible as it may now seem, was the Country Music Association's Female Vocalist of the Year in 1974?

Answer: Olivia Newton-John

Aussie Newton-John's songs "Let Me Be There" and "If You Love Me Let Me Know' scored big on the country charts but was disparaged by purists of the genre, particularly because she hadn't ever lived in the US at the time. In her CMA win she beat out country legends Dolly Parton, Tanya Tucker and Loretta Lynn. Ouch!

7. The last television advertisement for which product ran on the "Tonight Show with Johnny Carson" on January 1, 1971?

Answer: Cigarettes

At 11:59 pm on January 1, 1971 the Virginia Slims brand was the last cigarette commercial to air on television. Congress had passed the Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act banning the advertising of cigarettes on television and radio starting on January 2, 1971.

8. An astonishing 5 of the 8 best selling songs of 1978 were released by siblings with what last name?

Answer: Gibb

Singer Andy Gibb took the top spot for 1978 with his single "Shadow Dancing" as well #8 with "Thicker Than Water." His brothers Robin, Maurice and Barry, better known as the Bee Gees (short for 'Brothers Gibb'), had hits with "Night Fever", "Stayin' Alive" and "How Deep is Your Love", #'s 2, 4 and 6, respectively. Information is from musicoutfitters.com

9. The musical "Godspell", based on the gospel of St. Matthew, opened on Broadway May 17, 1971 and featured a song that reached #13 on the Billboard charts in 1972. Which song was it?

Answer: Day By Day

'Easy to Be Hard' is a song from "Hair" that was later a hit for Three Dog Night; 'I Don't Know How to Love Him' was sung by Yvonne Elliman in both the stage and film versions of "Jesus Christ Superstar". Ray Stevens had a Grammy winning hit with 'Everything is Beautiful' in 1970.

10. On October 11, 1975 comedian Andy Kaufman made the first of many appearances on "Saturday Night Live." What did Kaufman's act consist of?

Answer: Lip synching one line from the theme song of "Mighty Mouse"

Kaufman is said to have not cared for being characterized as a comedian and called himself a 'song and dance man.' He died of lung cancer in 1984. Or did he?

Source: Author brewster76

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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