- In 1991, George H. W. Bush was President of the United States, and Dan Quale was Vice-President.
- The U.S. unemployment rate averaged 5.6%.
- The rate of inflation was 4.2%.
- In 1991, a pound of bacon cost $1.95, a gallon of milk was $2.80, and a dozen eggs were $1.01.
- The average price for a gallon of gas was $1.14, down from $1.16 the year before.
- A first-class stamp cost 29 cents.
- The median household income was $30,126, up from $29,943 in 1990.
- Americans paid an average of $15,473 for a new car.
Generally suitable for all age groups, sports questions are a welcome addition to any trivia night quiz.
- Kentucky Derby: Strike The Gold
- NBA Champions: Chicago Bulls
- NCAA Basketball Champions: Duke
- NCAA Football Champs: Miami and Washington were the two national champions.
- Orange Bowl: Colorado
- Rose Bowl: Washington
- Stanley Cup Champs: Pittsburgh Penguins
- Sugar Bowl: Tennessee
5. Miscellaneous Fun Facts, Trivia, and Pop Culture Trends
PBS.org explains that pop culture is that loose blend of books, music, fashion and other daily ephemera that contributes to the identity of a society at a particular point in time. In the 1990s, radio, film, television, books, and the internet defined the essence of American pop culture.
- In 1991, the most popular baby names were Michael, Christopher, Matthew, Joshua, Ashley, Jessica, Brittany, and Amanda.
- The average life expectancy at birth in the United States was 75.37 years.
- The cost of a 30-second Super Bowl ad was $800,000.
- Favorite holiday gifts included the Super Nintendo Entertainment System ($199.95), autographed baseballs ($39.99-$89.99), and the Michelle Doll ($23.99).
- Popular Halloween costumes were The Terminator (from the science fiction film with the same name), Freddy Krueger, and Scarlett O’Hara.
- Fashion trends in 1991 were crop tops, platform shoes, parachute pants, windbreakers, and denim.
- The bowl haircut made a comeback. A bowl cut, also known as a mushroom cut, “is a haircut where the hair is cut short on the sides and back and long on the top. It is named so because it looks as though someone were to place a bowl on the head and cut off or trim all of the hair to a short length.”
- Time Magazine’s “Person of the Year” was Ted Turner, who founded the Cable News Network (CNN).
- Michael Jordan was named the NBA’s “Most Valuable Player” for the second time.
- Whitney Houston remade The Star-Bangled Banner for Super Bowl XXV.
- Bounty coined the slogan “quicker picker-upper” in its marketing campaign for paper towels.
- In 1991, salsa sales surpassed ketchup sales for the first time.
9. Highest-Grossing Films
This film trivia has been made available courtesy of BoxOfficeMojo.com.
- Terminator 2: Judgement Day
- Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
- Beauty and the Beast
- Silence of the Lambs
- City Slickers
- Hook
- The Addams family
- Sleeping With The Enemy
- Father of the Bride
- The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear
10. Entries Into the National Film Registry
According to CBSNews.com, the National Film Registry is a “compendium of motion pictures that have been judged to be culturally, aesthetically[,] or historically important and worthy of preservation for future generations. In addition to Hollywood studio classics and box office hits, the Registry also protects independent films, documentaries, experimental works, cartoons, music videos, educational and training films, ads, and even home movies.” Courtesy of the Library of Congress, here are the 1991 additions to the National Film Registry:
- 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
- A Place in the Sun (1951)
- Chinatown (1974)
- City Lights (1931)
- David Holzman’s Diary (1968)
- Frankenstein (1931)
- Gertie The Dinosaur (1914)
- Gigi (1958)
- Greed (1924)
- High School (1969)
- I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)
- King Kong (1933)
- Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
- My Darling Clementine (1946)
- Out of the Past (1947)
- Shadow of a Doubt (1943)
- Sherlock, Jr. (1924)
- Tevye (1939)
- The Battle of San Pietro (1945)
- The Blood of Jesus (1941)
- The Italian (1915)
- The Magnificent Ambersons (1942)
- The Poor Little Rich Girl (1917)
- The Prisoner of Zenda (1937)
- Trouble in Paradise (1932)
11. Horror Movies From 1991
Horror films from 1991 included The People Under the Stairs, Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare, Silence of the Lambs, Body Parts, The Pit and the Pendulum, Popcorn, Sometimes They Come Back, Children of the Night, The Resurrected, Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker, Campfire Tales, The Boneyard, Omen IV: The Awakening, Child of Darkness, Child of Light, Servants of Twilight, Alligator II: The Mutation, and The Borrower.
12. Biggest Pop Music Artists
This information has been made available courtesy of Billboard.com.
Favorite musical artists in 1991 were Amy Grant, Bryan Adams, Bryan Adams, C&C Music Factory, Cathy Dennis, Color Me Badd, En Vogue, Extreme, Freddie Jackson, Janet Jackson, Karyn White, Keith Sweat, Keith Washington, Luther Vandross, Mariah Carey, Michael Bolton, Paula Abdul, Peabo Bryson, Phil Perry, Ralph Tresvant, Snoop Dogg, Tevin Campbell, Tracie Spencer, Whitney Houston, and Vanessa Williams.
13. Top 40 Songs for the Year
This pop music trivia has been made available courtesy of MusicOutfitters.com. How many of these songs do you remember?
1. (Everything I Do) I Do It for You: Bryan Adams
2. I Wanna Sex You Up: Color Me Badd
3. Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now): C+C Music Factory
4. Rush, Rush: Paula Abdul
5. One More Try: Timmy T
6. Unbelievable: EMF
7. More Than Words: Extreme
8. I Like the Way (The Kissing Game): Hi-Five
9. The First Time: Surface
10. Baby, Baby: Amy Grant
11. Motownphilly: Boyz II Men
12. Because I Love You (The Postman Song): Stevie B
13. Someday: Mariah Carey
14. High Enough: Damn Yankees
15. From a Distance: Bette Midler
16. All the Man That I Need: Whitney Houston
17. Right Here Right Now: Jesus Jones
18. I Adore Mi Amor: Color Me Badd
19. Love Will Never Do (Without You): Janet Jackson
20. Good Vibrations: Marky Mark and The Funky Bunch featuring Loleatta Holloway
21. Justify My Love: Madonna
22. Emotions: Mariah Carey
23. Joyride: Roxette
24. Romantic: Karyn Whit
25. I Don't Wanna Cry: Mariah Carey
26. Hold You Tight: Tara Kemp
27. You're In Love: Wilson Phillips
28. Every Heartbeat: Amy Grant
29. Sensitivity: Ralph Tresvant
30. Touch Me (All Night Long): Cathy Dennis
31. I've Been Thinking About You: Londonbeat
32. Do Anything: Natural Selection
33. Losing My Religion: R.E.M.
34. Coming Out of the Dark: Gloria Estefan
35. Here We Go, Let's Rock & Roll: C+C Music Factory
36. It Ain't Over Til It's Over: Lenny Kravitz
37. Where Does My Heart Beat Now: Celine Dion
38. Summertime: D.J. Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince
39. Wind of Change: Scorpions
40. P.A.S.S.I.O.N.: Rhythm Syndicate
Bryan Adams: (Everything I Do) I Do It for You
14. Favorite Video Games
Popular video games in 1991 included Street Fighter II: The World Warrior, Sonic the Hedgehog, A Link to the Past, Final Fantasy IV, Lemmings, Mega Man 4, Another World, Alien Breed, The Simpsons, Captain Commando, Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts, Civilization, Sunset Riders, Home Alone, Joe and Mac, Back to the Future Part III, Streets of Rage, Road Rash, The Little Mermaid, and Bill and Ted's Excellent Video Game Adventure.
15. Food and Beverage Trivia
Here are some foods and beverages that were popular in 1991:
- Arizona Ice Tea
- Bagel Bites
- Beefaroni
- Betty Crocker Dunk-a-Roos (snack food)
- Bologna
- Capri Sun
- Chicken Caesar salad
- Clearly Canadian (sparkling water beverage)
- Creme brûlée
- Ellio’s Pizza
- Fla-Vor-Ice (A freezie that was eaten out of a plastic tube.)
- Frozen corn dogs
- General Mills French Toast Crunch Cereal
- Gorton’s Fish Sticks
- Gushers (fruit candy snacks)
- Hawaiian Punch
- Hi-C fruit drinks (for example, Blazin' Blueberry, Boppin’ Strawberry, Strawberry Kiwi Kraze, Orange Lavaburst, and Wild Cherry)
- Hot Pockets (A hot pocket is a microwaveable turnover and a pocket burrito that contains one or more types of cheese, meat, or vegetables.)
- Keebler Fudge Stripes
- Lunchables
- Molten chocolate cake (Paula Kashtan tells us that “Known for its warm, runny center, this dessert started popping up on restaurant menus all over the country throughout the '90s.”)
- Pillsbury Toaster Strudel
- Pizza bagels
- Planters Cheez Balls
- SlimFast
- SpaghettiOs
- Sunny Delite
- Totino's Stuffed Nachos
- Totino’s Pizza Rolls
- Viennetta (This British ice cream product is made from layers of vanilla ice cream that are topped by layers of compound chocolate.)
16. Famous Weddings
This information has been made available courtesy of OnThisDay.com.
- On February 9, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber married equestrian Madeleine Gurdon.
- On February 14, actress Meg Ryan wed actor Dennis Quaid.
- On February 15, MLB legend George Brett married Leslie Davenport.
- On February 22, actor Bill Bixby wed Laura Michael.
- On March 18, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs married Laurene Powell.
- On June 1, actress Roseanne Barr and actor Tom Arnold remarried.
- On June 9, singer and songwriter Bruce Springsteen wed his backup singer Patty Scialfa.
- On June 28, scientist and oceanographer Jacques Cousteau married Francine Triplet.
- On September 5, actor John Travolta wed actress Kelly Preston.
- On September 15, NBA legend Magic Johnson married Earletha "Cookie" Kelly.
- On September 16, country singer Willie Nelson wed Annie D'Angelo.
- On September 29, actress Kate Jackson married entrepreneur Tom Hart.
- On October 6, actress Elizabeth Taylor wed Larry Fortensky.
- On October 12, director Steven Spielberg married Kate Capshaw.
- On October 19, documentary filmmaker Michael Moore wed movie producer Kathleen Glynn.
- On December 12, actor Richard Gere married supermodel Cindy Crawford.
- On December 21, actress Jane Fonda wed CNN founder Ted Turner.
17. Well-Known People Who Died in 1991
- January 11: Carl David Anderson (American physicist)
- January 28: Harold "Red" Grange (football's galloping ghost)
- January 30: John Bardeen (American physicist, electrical engineer, and the co-inventor of the transistor)
- March 1: Edwin Land (American inventor of instant photography and the co-founder of the Polaroid Corporation)
- March 7: James "Cool Papa" Bell (American baseball player)
- April 3: Graham Greene (British author)
- April 16: David Lean (film director who directed Doctor Zhivago and Lawrence of Arabia)
- August 5: Paul Brown (NFL Hall of Fame coach)
- August 6: Harry Reasoner (American newscaster)
- September 3: Frank Capra (American film director who directed It's a Wonderful Life)
- September 24: Dr. Seuss (American children's author)
- September 28: Miles Davis (jazz trumpeter)
- October 7: Leo Durocher (American baseball legend)
- November 6: Gene Tierney (American actress)
- December 11: Robert Q. Lewis (American TV host)
18. America’s Largest Corporations
This corporate trivia has been made available courtesy of Fortune.com.
- General Motors
- Exxon Mobil
- Ford Motor
- IBM
- Mobil
- General Electric
- Altria Group
- Texaco
- DuPont
- ChevronTexaco
19. American Companies That Were Launched
- Ashley Stewart: Women’s plus-size clothing company
- Bob’s Discount Furniture: Furniture retailer
- Calera Capital: Private equity firm
- Citizens First Bank: Community bank
- Consol Energy: Energy company
- Corner Bakery Cafe: Coffeehouse chain
- Delta Shuttle: Delta Airlines’ air shuttle service in the northeastern U.S.
- Dollar Tree: Discount variety-store chain
- Epic Games: Video game developer
- Holiday Inn Express: Mid-priced hotel chain
- Hotels.com: Website for booking hotel rooms online
- J. G. Wentworth: Financial services company
- Joe’s Crab Shack: Beach-themed restaurant chain
- Renaissance Capital: Capital market company
- Sony Pictures: Entertainment company
- Southpole: Wholesale clothing
- TeamQuest Corporation: Software company
- Turner Pictures: Multimedia company founded by Ted Turner
- ULTRA Diamonds: Seller of fine jewelry in factory outlet centers
- United Talent Agency
- Vision Source: Vision care network
- Warner Bros. Studio Store: Retail chain that sells merchandise based on Warner Bros. films, and similar to the Disney Store.
- Warner Music Vision: Music video company
- Western Heritage Furniture: Manufacturer of custom furniture
- Yankee Bicycle Company: Bicycle manufacturer
16. Famous Weddings
This information has been made available courtesy of OnThisDay.com.
- On February 9, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber married equestrian Madeleine Gurdon.
- On February 14, actress Meg Ryan wed actor Dennis Quaid.
- On February 15, MLB legend George Brett married Leslie Davenport.
- On February 22, actor Bill Bixby wed Laura Michael.
- On March 18, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs married Laurene Powell.
- On June 1, actress Roseanne Barr and actor Tom Arnold remarried.
The Quotes" |
"Hello Clarice" "A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti." - Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs "I crap bigger than you" - Jack Palance in City Slickers "The few, the proud, the Marines" - United States Marines ad "The quicker picker-upper" -Bounty paper towels "Hasta La Vista Baby" - Arnold Schwarzenegger, in Terminator 2: Judgement Day Diff'rent Strokes star Dana Plato was arrested for robbing a video store in 1991. The store clerk recognized her and told the 911 operator "I've just been robbed by the girl who played Kimberly on Diff'rent Strokes." The saying in the stained glass at the beginning of the Beauty and the Beast, "vincit qui se vincit" translates to "he conquers who conquers himself". |
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1991 Pop Culture History |
In 1991, Bill Gates borrowed a business book, Business Adventures by John Brooks, from Warren Buffett. He never returned it. In 1990, the high school dropout rate in Sevierville, Dolly Parton’s hometown in Sevier County, TN, was over 30%. In 1991, she launched The Buddy Program, offering 7th and 8th graders $500 if they graduated. The dropout rate for those classes dropped to 6%, and has generally retained that average to this day. In 1991 a supermarket gave away 10,000 tickets to a Texas Rangers game. It tuned out to be the night Nolan Ryan threw his 7th and final no-hitter. |
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TOP SONGS OF 1991
Ratings are based on Hot 100 Charts from third week of Nov. 1990 – third week of Nov. 1991 ranking by Billboard
No. 1. Song of 1991 – “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You” Bryan Adams
2. “I Wanna Sex You Up” Color Me Badd
3. “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)” C+C Music Factory
4. “Rush Rush” Paula Abdul
5. “One More Try” Timmy T
6. “Unbelievable” EMF
7. “More Than Words” Extreme
8. “I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)” Hi-Five
9. “The First Time” Surface
10. “Baby Baby” Amy Grant
11. “Motownphilly” Boyz II Men
12. “Because I Love You (The Postman Song)” Stevie B
13. “Someday” Mariah Carey
14. “High Enough” Damn Yankees
15. “From a Distance” Bette Midler
16. “All the Man That I Need” Whitney Houston
17. “Right Here, Right Now” Jesus Jones
18. “I Adore Mi Amor” Color Me Badd
19. “Love Will Never Do (Without You)” Janet Jackson
20. “Good Vibrations” Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch featuring Loleatta Holloway
21. “Justify My Love” Madonna
22. “Emotions” Mariah Carey
References
- Fall of the Soviet Union - HISTORY
On Christmas Day 1991, the Soviet flag flew over the Kremlin in Moscow for the last time. Representatives from Soviet republics (Ukraine, Georgia, Belarus, - What Happened in 1991 inc. Pop Culture, Prices and Events
1991 Prices including Wages, Houses, Food and Gas, Events include Operation Desert Storm UN Coalition force Iraq out of Kuwait, Apartheid dismantled South Africa, Jeffrey Dahmer Arrested and Charged, Lech Walesa elected Polish President... - 1991 History, Trivia and Fun Facts
1991 History, Pop Culture, Trivia and Fun Facts. - Computer History for 1991
- Food Timeline: 1991 to 1995 - Food History Events
1991 to 1995 Food Timeline - Events in the History of Food & the Culinary Arts: Inventions and Patents, Births and Deaths, Firsts and Lasts, Discoveries, Agriculture, Cost of Living - Top Grossing Broadway Shows of 1991
Check out the Top Grossing Broadway Shows of 1991 - 1991 | Morris County Library
Historic prices in Morristown, as printed in the Daily Record, for the year 1991. - 1991 Yearly Box Office Results - Box Office Mojo
Yearly box office results for 1991. - 37 snacks that will take you back to the '90s
- 16 Foods '90s Kids Grew Up Eating
Foods people were obsessed with in the '90s. - The Ultimate Guide To 90s Food Nostalgia: 26 Food Items We Totally Miss
Let's jump in a time capsule and take a quick trip back to the 90s for the ultimate in food recaps. - All '90s Babies Will Remember These 25 Nostalgic Foods
Try getting through this without buying Lunchables. - https://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1991.htm
Top 100 songs for the year 1991 from the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 charts. - Complete National Film Registry Listing | Film Registry | National Film Preservation Board | Program
- 1991 - Famous Weddings & Divorces - On This Day
Famous weddings and divorces in 1991. See which famous celebrities and historical figures married and divorced in 1991.
© 2019 Gregory DeVictor