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Issue Date: December 7, 2008
Test your knowledge as the Smithsonian reopens the National Museum of American History.
By Brian Truitt
The Indiana Jones of American pop culture is in residence in the nation's capital. And there's a whip and fedora to prove it. More than 3 million artifacts are housed in the collection at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History in Washington. It reopened in November after a two-year, $85 million architectural renovation, and people can again flock to see the original "Star-Spangled Banner" flag, an enormous early 20th-century steam locomotive and an array of truly one-of-a-kind pop-culture items.
Judy Garland's size-5 ruby slippers from "The Wizard of Oz" -- one of the most popular attractions in the entire museum -- will be on display, of course. But the shoes are just a sampling of the 160,000 artifacts collected over the years by Dwight Blocker Bowers, curator of the entertainment collections, and his staff -- from newly acquired "X-Files" badges to Harrison Ford's iconic accessories from "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade."
The ultimate pop-culture museum Pop Quiz
1. Joe Louis' boxing gloves from a 1936 fight against Max Schmeling. Louis lost that match and famously beat him two years later, but whom did he defeat in the meantime for the heavyweight championship?
A Jack Sharkey
B John Henry Lewis
C Max Baer
D James J. Braddock
2. Julie Newmar's made-to-size mannequin and Catwoman gloves from the 1960s "Batman" TV series. Which of the following Catwomen never played that character in a feature film?
A Lee Meriwether
B Eartha Kitt
C Michelle Pfeiffer
D Halle Berry
3. Phyllis Diller's file cabinet with more than 50,000 jokes. There is a whole section of jokes about her fictional husband. What's his name?
A Bob
B Max
C Fang
D Frank
4. Sesame Street-era Kermit the Frog. Kermit first appeared in 1955 on "Sam and Friends," a Washington, D.C., puppet show. What had creator Jim Henson used to make him?
A A green cloth his dad used to clean a motorcycle
B A dress he had bought his girlfriend at the time
C A spring coat his mother wore
D Fabric left over after he created Oscar the Grouch
5. Ric Flair's signature sequined robe from his last match at WrestleMania XXIV. One of the most famous professional wrestlers ever, the "Nature Boy" lost to which rival in his final match in March?
A Shawn Michaels
B Hulk Hogan
C Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson
D "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
6. June Lockhart's 1948 Tony Award for her role in "For Love or Money." In that second year of those awards -- before medallions were given out -- female honorees received a bracelet and charm. What did male winners get?
A A money clip
B Gift certificate to Morton's
C A trophy
D Cuff links
7. The Pittsburgh Pirates uniform and batting helmet worn by Roberto Clemente. Clemente was a cultural icon throughout Latin America. Where was he born?
A Nicaragua
B Puerto Rico
C Dominican Republic
D Cuba
8. The ruby slippers from "The Wizard of Oz." In L. Frank Baum's original book and early movie scripts, the slippers were actually silver. Why the color change?
A Judy Garland hated silver.
B Director Victor Fleming thought they clashed with the Tin Man.
C There weren't any silver shoes in the costume department.
D Ruby-colored shoes looked better in Technicolor.
9. The "puffy shirt" from "Seinfeld."
In the episode from the fifth season, what morning show does Jerry Seinfeld appear on while wearing the infamous top?
A "Good Morning America"
B "The Early Show"
C "Today Show"
D "Fox & Friends"
10. Grandmaster Flash's original Technics turntable.
Urban icon Grandmaster Flash led the first hip-hop/rap group inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. What was the name of this group from the late 1970s and early '80s?
A Fantastic Five
B Furious Five
C Funkalicious Five
D Flavorful Five
See how well you know some of the museum's items: Joe Louis' boxing gloves; ruby slippers; Kermit; and museum photos: Smithsonian National Museum of American History
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Answers: 1. D; 2. B; 3. C; 4. C; 5. A; 6. A; 7. B; 8. D;9. C; 10. B.
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