What happened in the 1940s besides WWII Quiz

Answer: United Nations

Although the United Nations Charter was signed by over 50 member countries on June 24, 1945, it did not come into effect until October 24, 1945 when ratified by the five original members being China, USA, France, United Kingdom and the Soviet Union. This was the founding document of the United Nations as we know it today. NATO ( North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) is a defence alliance which was signed on April 4, 1949.

The IMF (International Monetary Fund) came into effect on December 27, 1945.

The World Bank Group works towards a world free of poverty and came into effect on July 4, 1944.

Answer: Polaroid instant camera

Edwin Land(1909-1991) was an American scientist and inventor. He is the co-founder of the Polaroid Corporation and it was his invention and the launch in 1948 of the Polaroid instant camera that could take a photo and develop it in 60 seconds or less. Percy Spencer (1894-1970) an American physicist and inventor is credited as the inventor of the microwave oven.

He worked at Raytheon ( a contractor to the US Department of Defence) and through his invention Raytheon filed a patent in October 1945. The first commercial microwave oven named "Radarange" went on sale in 1947.

It stood six feet tall and weighed 750 pounds and cost about $5,000. Walter Morrison and Warren Franscioni began producing plastic discs (now known as Frisbees) in 1948. The idea had originally come to Morrison in 1937 but due to his WWII service he only got things together after the war. The Slinky ( a precompressed helical spring toy) was invented by a Richard James (1914-1974) who was a US naval engineer.

He developed the toy in 1943 and then gave a demonstration in public in Gimbels department store in Philadelphia in November 1945.

Answer: Lebanon

Lebanon was granted independence by France on November 22, 1943 which is celebrated as Independence Day annually. The region had been part of the Ottoman Empire from 1516-1918. After WWI it became the French Mandate of Lebanon. India was granted independence by Great Britain on August 15, 1947. Israel was declared independence on May 14, 1948 after the UN in 1947 adopted a Partition Plan for Palestine. When the Treaty of Manila was signed on July 4, 1946, it meant that the US relinquished sovereignty over the Philippines and therefore granted it independence.

Answer: Captained the first non-stop flight around the world

James Gallagher captained the B-50 "Lucky Lady II" to the first non-stop flight around the world from February 26 to March 2, 1949. There were 14 crew members on the flight which had to have four inflight refueling periods which required the looped hose method from support aircraft at different intervals during the voyage. Chuck Yeager became the first pilot to break the sound barrier on October 14, 1947.

The initial discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls took place between November 1946 to February 1947 by Bedouin shepherds in caves near the Dead Sea which was part of Jordan at the time.

It was the Norwegian Thor Heyerdahl (1914-2002) who sailed a hand built raft named "Kon Tiki" across 8,000kms from South American to the Polynesian Islands. This expedition was to prove the ancient stories and myths that South American natives had built rafts and sailed and settled in the Polynesian Islands

Answer: Veikko Huhtanen (Finland)

Veikko Huhtanen (1919-1976) was a Finnish gymnast who won five medals, being three gold, one silver and one bronze at the 1948 Olympics. Fanny Blankers-Koen (1918-2004) was a Dutch athlete who won four gold medals at the 1948 Olympics (100m, 200m, 80m hurdles and 4x100m relay).
Ann Curtis (1926-2012) was an American swimmer who won three medals at the 1948 Olympics ( two gold and one silver). Paavo Aaltonen (1919-1962) was a Finnish gymnast who won four medals at the 1948 Olympics (three gold and one bronze). He also won a gymnastic bronze medal at the 1952 Olympics.

Answer: Miracle on 34th Street

"Miracle on 34th Street" (1947) was a Christmas comedy starring John Payne, Maureen O'Hara and Natalie Wood. The movie was nominated for four Oscars, winning three. "Citizen Kane"(1941) was a mystery drama starring, produced and directed by Orson Welles. It was nominated in nine categories at the Oscars winning only one. "The Grapes of Wrath" (1940) was based on the novel and Pulitzer Award winner by John Steinbeck. The movie received seven nominations winning two. "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946) was nominated for five Academy Awards without being successful in any category.

Answer: Martin and Lewis

Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis performed on that first night in June, 1948 with composers Rodgers and Hammerstein, a female dance group called the Toastettes, another comedy duo, the American jazz singer Monica Lewis, a ballerina, a boxing referee and a singing fireman. "The Lone Ranger" TV series was first aired in September 1949 to 1957 starring Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels. "Hopalong Cassidy" became the first network western television series on June 24, 1949. Bud Abbott and Lou Costello first worked together in 1935 but during the 1940s and 1950s they were one of the premier comedy duos on radio, film and television.

Answer: Arthur Miller

Arthur Miller (1915-2005) was an American playwright who was popular during the 1940s- 1960s and at one time was married to Marilyn Monroe. He wrote a number of popular plays being "All My Sons", "A View from the Bridge", "The Crucible" and his most popular " Death of a Salesman".

The latter won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1949 plus the Tony Award for Best Play. Tennessee Williams (1911-1983) was an American playwright with his most famous plays being "A Steetcar Named Desire" (1947) and "A Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" (1955). Graham Greene (1904-1991) was an English novelist who wrote over 25 novels which included "The Third Man" (1949) and "The Power and the Glory" (1940). John Steinbeck (1902-1968) was an American author who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1962.

He is widely known for his numerous novels including "Cannery Row", "Of Mice and Men", "East of Eden" and " The Grapes of Wrath".".

Answer: Glenn Miller and His Orchestra

Glenn Miller and His Orchestra recorded the song in 1941 and the song featured in the 1941 movie "Sun Valley Serenade". The song was written by Mack Gordon and composed by Harry Warren. Glen Miller (1904-1944) was travelling to entertain US troops in France during WWII when his plane disappeared over the English Channel. Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra's biggest hit single was "I'll Never Smile Again" in 1940.

In 1940 Tommy Dorsey hired Frank Sinatra and between 1940-42 they recorded 80 songs together. Benny Goodman and His Orchestra had numerous hits in the 1930s and 2940s. Beeny Goodman was known as "The King of Swing". One of their biggest hits featured Peggy Lee "Why Don't You Do Right" from the movie "Stage Door Canteen" (1943). Harry James and His Orchestra also had many hits in the 1940s including "The Man With The Horne", "Sleepy Lagoon", "I've Heard That Song Before" and "Two O'Clock Jump".

Answer: Boston Braves

At 28 years of age Jackie Robinson made his MBL debut on first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers against the Boston Braves. The games was played at Ebberts Field in front of 26,623 with the Dodgers winning 5-3. Jackie batted three times that day with no hits but scored one run. Jackie Robinson (1919-1972) played for the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1947-1956 and finished his career with 137 home runs and was a World Series Champion in 1955.

He is still remembered to this day as in 1997 his uniform number 42 was retired by all MLB teams and on April 15 each year is known as "Jackie Robinson Day" when all players in all teams wear number 42. Sometimes forgotten is Larry Doby, who was the 2nd African-American to debut in MLB on July 5, 1947 with the Cleveland Indians.

He finished his 12 year career with 253 home runs and a World Series Championship in 1948. Dolby together with Satchel Paige they were the first African-Americans to win a World Series.