If You Recognize More Than 35 Of These Iconic Celebs, You're Probably A Baby Boomer

Estimated Completion Time
6 min
If You Recognize More Than 35 Of These Iconic Celebs, You're Probably A Baby Boomer
Image: Wiki Commons by Warner Bros.

About This Quiz

America was riding high on victory after WWII, enjoying a level of unprecedented patriotism, economic vitality and optimism. So of course, the returning GI's were coming home to their families, moving to the suburbs, and having a whole lot of kids to celebrate. In fact, birth rates spiked so much in the post-war period between 1945 and 1964 that this generation was labeled the baby boomers. While the sheer number of boomers is impressive on its own, one of the most fascinating things about this generation is the cultural changes that took place in society during their youth. 

Keep in mind that when the first members of this generation were born in the mid-'40s, most homes didn't have televisions, and music was mostly of the big band variety. By the time the final boomers were born in '64, almost every U.S. home had at least one TV, rock and roll was taking over the airwaves, and the countercultural movement was well underway. This cultural shift meant a whole new series of celebrities dominating the box office, music charts, television and headlines compared to the most famous stars of the previous generation. 

Think you can recognize the most famous celebs of the baby boomer era? Take our quiz to see how many you can name!

Doris Day
Wiki Commons
Before she had her own TV show in the late '60s, this bubbly blonde was a star in music and movies. Who is she?
Doris Day
Donna Reed
Marlo Thomas
Mary Tyler Moore
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Doris Day recorded hundreds of songs before trying her hand at Hollywood in the early '50s. Her blonde locks and bright smile were a perfect match for rom-coms, including "Pillow Talk," which co-starred Rock Hudson and earned Day an Oscar nomination. From 1968 through 1973, she starred on "The Doris Day Show," a sitcom in which she played a widow struggling to raise two sons.

Steve McQueen
Wiki Commons by United Artists
Who is this icon of the baby boomer era, who will always be remembered for that San Francisco car chase scene in "Bullitt?"
Bob Dylan
Mickey Mantle
Steve McQueen
Elvis Presley
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

For much of the '60s, there was simply no one cooler than Steve McQueen. After racing motorcycles to make a living as he struggled to make it as an actor, he hit it big as a bounty hunter in the TV series "Wanted: Dead or Alive." Parts in flicks like "The Magnificent Seven" and "The Great Escape" quickly followed, but McQueen will also be remembered for that iconic car chase scene in "Bullitt."

John Wayne
Wiki Commons
Born Marion Morrison, name this Hollywood icon nicknamed Duke.
Rock Hudson
John Wayne
Henry Fonda
Bing Crosby
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

John Wayne had a football scholarship to USC until a surfing accident cost him his place on the team. He reluctantly turned to film, and went on to become one of the most iconic western stars of all time. His big break came in 1939 with "Stagecoach," but it was the 1969 film "True Grit" that earned his his first Oscar.

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Yogi Berra
Wiki Commons by John Mathew Smith & Bowman Gum
Arguably the greatest catcher of all time, who is this Yankee who won 10 World Series?
Yogi Berra
Joe DiMaggio
Bob Clemente
Roger Maris
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A member of the New York Yankees from 1946 through 1963, Yogi Berra was one of the most famous MLB players during the boomer years. He went on to coach and manage the sport through the late '80s and also had three sons who all went on to play pro sports.

Marilyn Monroe
Wiki Commons by Modern Screen magazine, Bert Parry
Can you ID this icon who packed three husbands, a handful of memorable films and a Playboy cover into a tragically short life?
Jayne Mansfield
Audrey Hepburn
Ava Garner
Marilyn Monroe
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

One of the brightest and most recognizable stars of the '50s, Marilyn Monroe starred in films like "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" and "The Seven Year Itch." Despite her box office success, she is equally remembered for her bombshell style, which earned her the cover of the very first issue of "Playboy" in 1953.

Muhammed Ali
Wiki Commons
Known simply as "The Greatist," can you name this sports icon who won gold at the 1960 Olympics in Rome?
Sugar Ray Robinson
Floyd Patterson
Sonny Liston
Muhammad Ali
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Muhammed Ali is a celebrity who transcends generations, but it was the baby boomers who grew up idolizing the boxer in his prime. He won gold at the 1960 Olympics in Rome as Cassius Clay, then converted to Islam the next year and took on a new name. In 1964, Ali, stunned the sports world when he defeated Sonny Liston to become World Heavyweight Champion.

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Elizabeth Taylor
Wiki Commons by Olga
Choose the correct name for this icon, who made 11 films with Richard Burton ... one of her seven husbands.
Mia Farrow
Elizabeth Taylor
Jane Fonda
Lynda Carter
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A child star in the '40s, the violet-eyed Elizabeth Taylor won her first best actress Oscar in 1960 for "BUtterfield 8," then won another six years later for "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" She is famous not only for her acting, including earning a record $1 million to play Cleopatra, but for her wild personal life, which included seven husbands.

Ann-Margret
Wiki Commons
A natural brunette, who is this screen siren who became a redhead before starring alongside Elvis Presley and Steve McQueen?
Lucille Ball
Angie Dickinson
Ann-Margret
Julie Andrews
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

After leaving her native Sweden, Ann-Margret signed with both RCA Records and 20th Century Fox in 1961. She recorded some Elvis hits, including "Heartbreak Hotel," then starred alongside the King in the movie "Viva Las Vegas" in 1964. She is also remembered for her role as Melba in "The Cincinnati Kid" alongside Steve McQueen.

Frank Sinatra
Wiki Commons by 20th Century Fox
They called him Ol' Blue Eyes, and dubbed his friends the Rat Pack, but can you name this iconic crooner?
Frank Sinatra
Dean Martin
Bob Hope
David Cassidy
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

After releasing his debut album in 1946, Frank Sinatra went on to become one of the bestselling singers of all time, despite never learning to read music. He hit it big as a member of the Rat Pack during a '50s Vegas residency, and his marriage to actress Ava Gardner only made him more famous during the decade. He even tried his hand at acting, winning the best supporting actor Oscar for his role in "From Here to Eternity" in 1953.

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Marlon Brando
Wiki Commons by Havaa
His career stretched for decades, but his most memorable line might just be "STELLLLLAAAAA." Who is this legend?
Rock Hudson
Henry Fonda
Marlon Brando
Jimmy Stewart
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

As Stanley Kowalski in the 1951 film version of "A Streetcar Named Desire," Marlon Brando tore out his heart with his scream for Stella. He played it a lot cooler as Vito Corleone in "The Godfather" two decades later, which earned him his second Oscar for best actor.

James Dean
Wiki Commons
The earliest boomers fell in love with this icon, only to lose him far too young in a fiery car crash. Who is he?
Steve McQueen
Bob Keeshan
James Dean
Elvis Presley
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

James Dean was a rising star with unlimited potential after his role as Cal in "East of Eden" in 1955. Sadly, the 24-year-old died in a car accident in 1955, leaving two completed films, "Rebel Without a Cause" and "Giant" to cement his role as a Hollywood icon.

Ava Gardner
Wiki Commons by Svenskt Pressfoto
A turn as femme fatale Kitty Collins in "The Killers" made her a major star, while her marriage to Frank Sinatra made for gossip fodder. Who is she?
Katharine Hepburn
Rita Hayworth
Grace Kelly
Ava Gardner
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A young Ava Gardner wed Mickey Rooney in 1942, only to divorce a year later. After the 1947 film "The Killers" put her on the Hollywood A-list, she spent the '50s as Mrs. Frank Sinatra, and picked up an Academy Award nomination for her role in John Ford's "Mogambo" alongside Clark Gable and Grace Kelly.

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Dorothy Hamill
Olympic Channel via YouTube
Pretty much every young baby boomer lusted after this celebrity's bobbed hairstyle in the mid-'70s. Can you ID this Olympian?
Mary Lou Retton
Dorothy Hamill
Olga Korbut
Nadia Comaneci
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Dorothy Hamill won figure skating gold in 1976 then spent a decade touring with the Ice Capades. While her skating prowess certainly won her fans, it was her hairstyle that women really loved, and many sported Hamill-inspired bobs shortly after the skater's Olympic victory made her a star.

Paul Newman
Wiki Commons by Warner Bros.
Today his face is seen all over the grocery store, but he was also a huge Hollywood star in the '50s and '60s. Know the name of this movie legend?
Paul Newman
Gary Cooper
Robert Redford
Clint Eastwood
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Paul Newman made boomer fans proud. Not only did he blow audiences away with roles in "The Long Hot Summer" and "The Color of Money," but Newman also left a powerful legacy. All profits from his food line Newman's Own, which sports his smiling image, go straight to charity.

Rock Hudson
Wiki Commons
A B-list actor until his breakout role in "Magnificent Obsession," this actor died of an AIDS-related illness in the '80s. Who is he?
Rock Hudson
Gregory Peck
Kirk Douglas
Sean Connery
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Rock Hudson was a huge star of the '50s and '60s. He earned an Oscar nod for his work opposite James Dean in "Giant," and raked in the dollars at the box office for his role in "Pillow Talk" and other rom-coms with Doris Day. In 1985, he became one of the first major celebrities to die of AIDS-related causes at a time when the disease wasn't well understood.

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Julie Andrews
Wiki Commons by Friedman-Abeles
She brought us the sound of music and spoonfuls of sugar that sweetened her legacy. Can you name this star of stage and screen?
Audrey Hepburn
Julie Andrews
Doris Day
Sandra Dee
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Julie Andrews hit it big on Broadway and London's West End before moving to Hollywood in the '60s. She will live forever in fans' hearts as Maria von Trapp in "The Sound of Music," and generations of children have fallen in love with her as Mary Poppins, a role which won her the best actress Oscar. She is pictured here with Richard Burton in the original Broadway production of the musical "Camelot."

David Cassidy
ABC
There wasn't nearly enough room on that Mondrian-painted bus for all the fans who loved this star in his '70s heyday. Remember his name?
Davy Jones
Peter Noone
Bobby Sherman
David Cassidy
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

His long hair and good looks made girls swoon when he took on the role of oldest son Keith on "The Patridge Family." David Cassidy turned his role on the TV show about a singing family into a full-fledged empire, complete with world tours, bestselling albums and a Walmart worth of merchandise with his face on it. We understand if you think you love him, too.

Jackie Robinson
Wiki Commons by Library of Congress
Not only did he break the color barrier on April 15, 1947, but he was also named Rookie of the Year. Who is this MLB icon?
Willie Mays
Hank Aaron
Jackie Robinson
Wilt Chamberlain
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Not a single African American played in the MLB from the 1880s, when the Negro Leagues were developed, until Jackie Robinson stepped out onto the diamond in 1947. His historic place on the Brooklyn Dodgers changed the MLB forever, so it's no surprise that his #42 jersey was retired in his honor.

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Bob Dylan
Wiki Commons by Rowland Scherman
Name this artist whose early '60s songs served as the anthem for civil rights and anti-war demonstrations.
Johnny Cash
Jackson Browne
Paul Simon
Bob Dylan
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

With "Blonde on Blonde" and "Highway 61 Revisited," Bob Dylan produced some of the most celebrated albums of the '60s. Songs like "Blowin' in the Wind" and "The Times They Are A-Changing'" captured the feelings of a new generation, many of whom were ready to fight for equality and peace in a way many of their parents never did.

Diana Ross
Wiki Commons by General Artists Corporation / International Talent Management Inc.
Before she was part of The Supremes, seen here, she sang in a group called the Primettes. Who is this Motown legend in the center?
Patti LaBelle
Gladys Knight
Tina Turner
Diana Ross
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

From "Baby Love" to "Someday We'll Be Together," Diana Ross belted out some of Motown's most memorable tunes. After spending the '60s as part of The Supremes, she went solo in the '70s and arguably became even more famous. Not only did she top the music charts in the '70s, but she also took on film roles like Billie Holiday in "Lady Sings the Blues" and Dorothy in "The Wiz."

Wilt Chamberlain
Wiki Commons by Library of Congress
He is remembered nearly as much for his love of the ladies as for his NBA career ... think you can ID this basketball icon known as The Big Dipper?
Walt Bellamy
Wilt Chamberlain
Bill Russell
Kareen Abdul-Jabbar
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

At 7'1", Wilt Chamberlain was pretty much destined to play basketball. After a spin with the Harlem Globetrotters, he joined the NBA in the mid-'60s with teams like the Warriors, '76ers and Lakers. He was a four-time MVP who picked up his nickname Big Dipper because of the way he had to dip his head down to fit his tall frame under a doorway.

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Lynda Carter
ABC
A former pageant queen turned super hero, who is this actress who donned the Wonder Woman suit in the '70s?
Lee Meriwether
Julie Newmar
Lynda Carter
Eartha Kitt
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Lynda Carter was a relatively unknown actress in 1975 when she was cast to play the title character in the "Wonder Woman" TV series. The role, and her incredible beauty, made her a major star and led to commercials with Maybelline cosmetics and other brands over the decades.

Marlo Thomas
ABC
Can you remember which actress played "That Girl," a '60s show which showed a different path for a young woman to take beyond marriage and family.
Marlo Thomas
Elizabeth Montgomery
Sally Field
Patty Duke
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

As Ann Marie in "That Girl," Marlo Thomas embarked on a rare path for young women during the period. She moved on her own to the big city and took temp jobs to support herself as an actress. It was a huge inspiration for female baby boomers, who were more accustomed to seeing women in the role of housewife and mother.

Audrey Hepburn
Wiki Commons by Paramount / Bud Fraker
Pics of this celebrity wearing a little black dress in "Breakfast at Tiffany's" are among the most iconic images of the '60s. Can you name this icon?
Audrey Hepburn
Grace Kelly
Julie Andrews
Sophia Loren
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Audrey Hepburn won the best actress Oscar for one of her first big roles as Princess Ann in "Roman Holiday." She won more fans throughout the '50s in "Sabrina" and "Funny Face," but her most epic role is that of the quirky Holly Golightly in the Truman Capote-inspired "Breakfast at Tiffany's" in 1961.

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James Stewart
Wiki Commons by U.S. Air Force
One of the biggest and most versatile actors of the Golden Age, name this icon who also enjoyed a celebrated military career.
Gregory Peck
John Wayne
Gary Cooper
James Stewart
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In between serving in both WWII and the Vietnam War, Jimmy Stewart turned his "regular guy" persona into an incredible film career. He was George Bailey in the holiday classic "It's a Wonderful Life," won an Oscar for "The Philadelphia Story," wowed fans in Hitchcock movies like "Vertigo" and "Rear Window" and even found time to star in classic westerns.

Natalie Wood
Wiki Commons
Pick the correct name for this beloved actress who co-starred with James Dean in "Rebel Without a Cause."
Katharine Hepburn
Mia Farrow
Natalie Wood
Mary Tyler Moore
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Natalie Wood was just 16 when she won movie fans' hearts with her role in "Rebel Without a Cause" in 1955. She later found critical acclaim and even more box office success starring opposite Warren Beatty in "Splendor in the Grass." You may also remember a young Natalie Wood from the 1947 version of "Miracle on 34th St."

Jayne Mansfield
Wiki Commons by 20th Century Fox
Hired by 20th Century Fox to replace Marilyn Monroe, name this blonde bombshell who scandalously appeared nude in a 1963 movie.
Ann-Margret
Jayne Mansfield
Marilyn Monroe
Doris Day
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A major sex symbol of the '50s and '60s, Jayne Mansfield hit it big with "The Girl Can't Help It" and "Too Hot to Handle." As her star began to fade, she became the first actress to appear fully nude in a major film with the 1963 production "Promises! Promises!" Sadly, Mansfield was lost to a car crash in 1967 in New Orleans.

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Elvis Presley
Wiki Commons by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc.
This star's brand of hip swiveling was shameful to the older generation, but many young boomers loved his sound. Name this artist called The King.
Elvis Presley
Steve McQueen
James Dean
Bob Dylan
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Elvis Presley hit the airwaves in the early '50s with a sound known as rockabilly. After topping the charts with "Heartbreak Hotel" and the box office with "Love Me Tender," Presley was drafted into the Army in '58. He did a two-year stint before slipping right back into his music and movie career, then launched a Vegas residency in 1968.

Jane Fonda
Wiki Commons by Rob Mieremet, Dutch National Archives
The daughter of a legendary actor, who is this actress famous for both her activism and movie roles?
Donna Reed
Cher
Jane Fonda
Lucille Ball
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Henry Fonda was such a Hollywood icon that it made sense for his daughter Jane to try out the family trade. She won two best actress Oscars for "Klute" in 1971 and "Coming Home" in 1978. Her activism during the Vietnam War made her a controversial figure, but there are few among her generation who don't know her name.

Bob Keeshan
CBS
Kids were glued to their TVs to watch "Captain Kangaroo" from the '50s through the '80s. Know which actor played the title role in this series?
Fred Rogers
Bob Keeshan
Bob Ross
David Newell
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bob Keeshan spent 30 years as Captain Kangaroo on CBS. The children's series entertained generations of young people thanks to Keeshan, Mr. Green Jeans and plenty of ping-pong ball gags.

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Alfred Hitchcock
CBS
This director was almost more famous than his films, but can you pick his name from the following options?
John Ford
Sergio Leone
Alfred Hitchcock
Martin Scorsese
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Alfred Hitchcock did more than direct classic horror films like "Psycho," "Rebecca," "Vertigo" and "The Birds." He invented an entirely new style of filmmaking that put viewers themselves into the action. Hitchcock also hosted a successful anthology television program from 1955 through 1965 to bring his love for horror to a whole new audience.

Bing Crosby
Wiki Commons by CBS Radio
What is the name of this celebrity icon who has a whopping three different stars on the Walk of Fame to celebrate his work in film, music and radio?
Bing Crosby
Dean Martin
Frank Sinatra
Glenn Miller
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bing Crosby was already a huge radio star when his song "White Christmas" came out in the late '40s. He won an Oscar for his role in the 1944 film "Going My Way," made seven "Road to..." films with Bob Hope and was a natural choice to star in the film version of "White Christmas," which came out in 1958 and remains a holiday classic to this day.

Bob Hope
Wiki Commons by Library of Congress
"Thanks for the Memories" was this star's signature song. Who is this icon who died in 2003 at the age of 100?
George Burns
Mel Torme
Perry Como
Bob Hope
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It's hard to hear "Thanks for the Memories" and not think of entertainment icon Bob Hope. A versatile performer, he rose to fame in a series of TV specials in the '50s, made a beloved series of films with Bing Crosby and hosted the Oscars 19 times between the '30s and the '70s. One of his proudest accomplishments was his contribution to the military; Hope went on 57 USO tours over a 50-year period between 1941 and 1991.

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Mia Farrow
Wiki Commons by Angele Kaloventzos
This actress seemed as scared as her fans in the 1968 horror classic "Rosemary's Baby." Do you remember her name?
Mia Farrow
Lynda Carter
Susan Sarandon
Farrah Fawcett
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mia Farrow first found fame as Allison Mackenzie on "Peyton Place" in the '60s. By the time the series ended, the 21-year-old actress had wed Frank Sinatra, who was twice her age at the time. The pair split by '68, the same year Farrow gave birth to one terrifying infant in "Rosemary's Baby."

Patty Duke
ABC
If you remember the '60s show about identical cousins, you should be able to name this celebrity. Who is she?
Katharine Hepburn
Sally Field
Patty Duke
Natalie Wood
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Patty Duke became one of the youngest people to ever win an Oscar when she picked up the award for Best Supporting Actress in 1962 at the age of 16. She got her own show the next year, "The Patty Duke Show," in which she played a pair of identical cousins. She broke out of the good girl mold a few years later, when she played Neely in "Valley of the Dolls."

Mickey Mantle
Wiki Commons by New York Yankees
They called him the Commerce Comet, but can you name this iconic Yankees first baseman?
Yogi Berra
Joe DiMaggio
Babe Ruth
Mickey Mantle
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mickey Mantle was one of the biggest sports stars of the '50s and '60s. The switch hitter covered first base for the Yankees from 1951 through 1968, during which time he won seven World Series was a 20 time All-Star. Famous for his batting prowess, his record sits at 536 MLB career home runs.

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Cher
CBS
We believe you can name this icon of TV, film and music, but can you believe her last name used to be Sarkisian?
Annie Lennox
Cher
Barbra Streisand
June Carter Cash
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Born Cherilyn Sarkisian, this star needs only to introduce herself as Cher for people all over the world to recognize her. Famous for reinventing herself, she spent the early '60s as one half of Sonny and Cher, then went solo in '66 before continuing to entertain millions with her records, movies and a hugely successful Vegas residency in the '80s. Oh, and then there's that best actress Oscar, which she won for her role in the 1987 film "Moonstruck."

Henry Fonda
Wiki Commons by 20th Century Fox
This actor hit it big in 1940 with "The Grapes of Wrath," then shocked fans with his murderous rampage in "Once Upon a Time in the West." Who is he?
Henry Fonda
Charles Bronson
Robert Mitchum
Burt Lancaster
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sergio Leone succeeded with his plan to shock fans by casting their beloved Henry Fonda as a cold-blooded killer in "Once Upon a Time in the West." The western was just one of Fonda's countless movie roles, which also include flicks like "12 Angry Men," and "On Golden Pond," which earned him an Oscar for best actor.

Wilma Rudolph
Wiki Commons by the Dutch National Archives
This Olympic icon couldn't even walk without leg braces at age 12, but still won a bronze on the track at age 16. Who is this incredible athlete?
Jackie Joyner-Kersee
Debbie Thomas
Wilma Rudolph
Althea Gibson
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A bout of polio at age 5 forced Wilma Rudolph to use leg braces just to be able to walk until the age of 12. Just four years later, she won bronze at the 1956 Olympics. At the 1960 games in Rome, she picked up three gold medals. For dominating her sport against all odds, she became an icon, and her status as an African-American female celebrity helped to support the efforts of the civil rights movement.

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Mary Tyler Moore
CBS
She can turn the world on with her smile and throw a hat in the air like nobody's business, but can you name this beloved TV icon?
Valerie Bertinelli
Mary Tyler Moore
Carol Burnett
Marlo Thomas
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

After spending much of the '60s playing a wife and mother on "The Dick Van Dyke Show," this actress got her own series in 1970 with the debut of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." Moore played an independent woman who moved to Minneapolis and found a job after a divorce, letting all the women of her generation know that they, too, just might make it after all, no husband required.

You Got:
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Wiki Commons by Warner Bros.