The Time Capsule | Roy Marshall

This column presents an occasional quiz, which have prompted an occasional comment. A memorable one came in the form of a card sent a couple of years ago by Ruby from Villisca, who shared an opinion about the questions. 

I saw Ruby shopping in one of our fine local grocery stores a few days ago, was reminded of the quiz, and decided to cap off the holidays with one on a pleasant feature of the season: food. Ruby may find these easy. Others will miss one or two, and only a weasel would ask google. 

1. Q: Mrs. Olson commercials, which ran from 1965 to 1986, are generally credited with making Folgers the nation’s bestselling coffee. Which brand did Folgers displace? (a) Butternut, (b) Maxwell House, (c) Hills Bros., (d) Nescafe 

2. Q: The green bean casserole was created in 1955 by: (a) Dorcas Reilly, (b) Julia Child (c) James Beard (d) Ian Campbell

3. Q: The original recipe, which called for Campbell’s Soup, frozen green beans and French’s Fried Onions, is also known as: (a) The Holy Trinity, (b) the Lutheran Binder, (c) La Beans tres bein (d) Swedish pizza 

4. The first successful frozen TV dinner was marketed by: (a) Swanson, (b) Morton, (c) Banquet, (d) Stouffer’s 

5. “Spam” is a derivative of the words: (a) shoulder of pork and ham (b) scientifically processed animal matter, (c) squirrels, possums and mice, (d) none of the above 

6. The first pizzeria in southwest Iowa was opened by: (a) Clyde Herring in Red Oak, (b) Al “Anchovy” Zano in Elliott, (c) Jimmy “Breadeaux” Baker in Corning, (d) Effie Bean in Atlantic

7. Who said “You better cut the pizza in four pieces, because I’m not hungry enough to eat six”? (a) Twiggy, (b) Yogi Berra, (c) Fred Flintsone, (d) Barney Fife 

8. The “Frito Bandito” was initially replaced by: (a) W.C. Frito, (b) J. Edgar Frito, (c) Speedy Frito Gonzales, (d) The Muncha Buncha 

9. “Charcuterie” refers to: (a) expensive cutlery, (b) basting with wine, (c) cured meat, (d) an Indian dessert 

10. “Where’s the beef?” was the advertising slogan of: (a) Burger King, (b) Wendy’s, (c) McDonald’s, (d) Hardee’s

11. The “Oleo Wars” were about: (a) Germany’s invasion of Oleovacka, (b) the color of margarine, (c) Ole Ossian’s lawsuit against the FDA, (d) charges that Blue Bonnet stole Parkay’s formula 

12. The Pepsi jingle that included the line “12 full ounces, that’s a lot,” contrasted the nickel bottle of Pepsi with the nickel bottle of Coke. The latter contained only: (a) 5 ounces, (b) 6.5 ounces, (c) 8 ounces, (d) 10 ounces

13. The nation’s first radio cooking show was hosted by: (a) Betty Crocker, (b) Leanna Field Driftmier (c) James Beard, (d) Mrs. Sarah Rorer 

14. The first living trademark of a food product was (a) Uncle Ben, (b) Jim Beam, (c) Aunt Jemima, (d) the Gerber baby

15. The “flatiron steak” is a result of: (a) the beef check-off program, (b) crossbreeding, (c), renaming what was formerly called a porterhouse, (d) aging for thirty days 

16. Referring to changes made after he sold his corporation, Colonel Harland Sanders famously said the gravy was: (a) “not worthy of a biscuit,” (b) “Mississippi swamp water,” (c) “yucky,” (d) “wallpaper paste”

Answers next week. And I’ll give a one-year Express subscription to the sender of the earliest postmarked letter containing all correct answers derived without using google and arriving in my personal mailbox not later than 4 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 2. Get with it, Ruby. 

Roy Marshall is a local historian and columnist for the Red Oak Express. He can be contacted at news@redoakexpress.com.