There’s nothing quite as dazzling as New Year’s Eve in Times Square—except maybe the feeling of acing our Yesteryear Quiz!
Celebrate your knowledge of this iconic American tradition and see how you did by checking your quiz answers below. Get ready to light up your history game like the famous ball drop at midnight on New Year’s Eve!
1. Which broadcasting company was the first to nationally televise the Times Square ball drop?
- NBC
- CBS
- ABC
- FOX
Answer: NBC
This broadcast on December 31, 1945, of the Times Square New Year’s celebration is the first known to be televised.
The NBC New York station, WNBT-1, provided several live Times Square pickups between 9:40 pm up to after midnight.
2. What year did this broadcast company air the first-ever coast-to-coast ball drop? ___________________________
Answer: 1952
NBC’s first television broadcast in 1945 was only available in New York City and the surrounding area. This is due to the network only having one station at the time.
By 1951, NBC had established a television network that stretched from coast to coast.
3. What television show, hosted by Dick Clark, became popular in the 1970s and is known for broadcasting the Times Square ball drop on New Year’s Eve?
- American Bandstand
- New Year’s Rockin’ Eve
- The Midnight Special
- Countdown to 2000
Answer: New Year’s Rockin’ Eve
Dick Clark first hosted it for the countdown to 1973, and it became the New Year’s Eve show people tuned into for the Times Square ball drop.
More About the Answer Choices:
American Bandstand:
Also hosted by Dick Clark, this music and dance show was incredibly popular from the 1950s through the 1980s, but it wasn’t related to New Year’s Eve.
The Midnight Special:
This was a late-night musical variety show that aired from 1972 to 1981, featuring live performances. It wasn’t associated with New Year’s Eve but is often remembered by those who grew up in the 70s.
Countdown to 2000:
This show was part of ABC’s New Year’s Eve special lineup leading up to the millennium change, but it wasn’t specifically a Dick Clark program.
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