OK boomers: in 2026, the vanguard of a 鈥渞ock n’ roll鈥� and 鈥淭V age鈥� generation that left an imprint on popular culture like no other.
During the 18 years of the 鈥渂aby boom鈥� from 1946 to 1964, around 76 million Americans were born. The spike in births was magnified by couples reuniting after World War Two and the postwar prosperity that followed. Better educated and wealthier than previous generations, boomers made popular culture more inclusive and helped grow a consumer-driven economy.
Here are 20 questions to see how well you know 鈥� or remember 鈥� about the indelible imprint made on pop culture by baby boomers and those who catered to their tastes. No Google or ChatGPT allowed. You don’t have to be a boomer to get them right, but it doesn’t hurt.
1. What was in the first Swanson TV dinner?
2. What two other 鈥渏unk food鈥� favorites were created by the inventor of the orange, powdered drink Tang?
3. Name all three astronauts who were part of the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969?
4. Who is 鈥渢he cat who won’t cop out when there’s danger all about?鈥�
5. What did Simon and Garfunkel call themselves before adopting their eponymous name?
6. What TV show teased, 鈥淭he thrill of victory … and the agony of defeat?鈥�
7. What was the name of the feminist magazine activist Gloria Steinem helped found?
8. Actor and martial artist Bruce Lee died just before the release of which of his films?
9. Which girl group did Darlene Love sing for?
10. What was comedian Freddie Prinze’s catchphrase from the 1970s TV show, 鈥淐hico and the Man?鈥�
11. In which country did the 鈥淩umble in the Jungle鈥� take place?
12. How many castaways can you name from the TV show 鈥淕illigan鈥檚 Island?鈥�
13. What TV sitcom star from the 1970s once washed dishes at a Harlem eatery with Malcolm X?
14. In what city was baby boomer singer Gloria Estefan born?
15. What was the last Beatles album to be released?
16. What legendary TV shows were mainstays on Saturday nights for CBS in 1973 in what some call the greatest network TV lineup ever?
17. In what year did boxer Cassius Clay change his name?
18. What toy became a worldwide sensation when it was popularized by Wham-O in 1957?
19. Who was tennis player Billie Jean King’s opponent in the 鈥淏attle of the Sexes?鈥�
20. What was the real name of 鈥淒r. Seuss?鈥�
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Answers:
1. Turkey, dressing, potatoes and peas. 2. William A. Mitchell also invented Pop Rocks and Cool Whip. 3. Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins. 4. John Shaft. 5. Tom and Jerry. 6. ABC鈥檚 鈥淲ide World of Sports.鈥� 7. Ms. 8. 鈥淓nter the Dragon.鈥� 9. Trick question: She was lead singer of The Blossoms, but she also sang songs that were credited to The Crystals. 10. 鈥淟ooking good!鈥� 11. Zaire. 12. Gilligan, The Skipper, Ginger, The Professor, Mary Ann, Thurston Howell III and Eunice 鈥淟ovey鈥� Howell. 13. 鈥淪anford and Son鈥� star Redd Foxx. 14. Havana, Cuba. 15. 鈥淟et It Be,” though 鈥淎bbey Road鈥� was the last they recorded together. 16. 鈥淎ll in the Family,鈥� 鈥淢ASH,鈥� 鈥淭he Mary Tyler Moore Show,鈥� 鈥淭he Bob Newhart Show鈥� and 鈥淭he Carol Burnett Show.鈥� 17. 1964. 18. The Hula Hoop. 19. Bobby Riggs. 20. Theodor Geisel.
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Scott Stroud in Nashville and Terry Spencer in Fort Lauderdale contributed to this report.
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