Can you tell what's older than Betty White?

By: Jody Mabry
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Can you tell what's older than Betty White?
Image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fd/Betty_White_1988_Emmy_Awards_2.jpg

About This Quiz

Betty White, a national entertainment treasure, has been around longer than most people can remember. But was she around before sliced bread? Take this quiz to find out!
Beatles formed
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Is the legendary rock group, the Beatles, older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
The Beatles took on the world and changed rock and roll as we knew it. Popular with the younger and growing hippie movement, the Beatles were one of the most successful bands in history, formed in 1960. Betty was pushing close to 40 by then.
Older
TV
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Is the television older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
It's hard to imagine a time before TV was around, but Betty White saw it first-hand. The TV was created in 1925 and in 1927 the first American network program was broadcast on NBC.
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San Francisco earthquake
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Is the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
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The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake killed nearly 3,000 people and destroyed about 80% of the city. Thankfully, Betty White was safe as she wouldn't be born for another 16 years.

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Celebrities red carpet
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Is Hollywood's first red carpet older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
Hollywood's first red carpet was laid out by Sid Grauman in front of Grauman's Egyptian Theatre for the premiere of "Robin Hood" on October 18, 1922. Betty White was born earlier in the year - on January 17.
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The Wizard of Oz movie
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Is the first "Wizard of Oz" movie older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
The original technicolor version of "The Wizard of Oz" was released in 1939, when Betty White was 17 years old. While considerably different than the book written in 1900, the movie was an instant success and continues to be a favorite.
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3D Movies
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Are 3D movies older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
Want to hear a surprising fact? 3-D movies were around before audio in movies. They were created using those red and blue glasses people remember from their childhood. And Betty White was born in the same year, about eight months before "The Power of Love" was shown.
Older

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UFO
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Is the Roswell UFO incident in 1947 older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
The story of Roswell, New Mexico, is one of the most famous and curious stories of extraterrestrials in the world. Life was quiet in his small rural town before the crash occurred. However, now it is a haven for those who believe in alien life forms. Betty White may have read about the incident in newspapers when she was 25 years old.
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Jukebox
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Is the modern jukebox older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
A little head bop and dance? The Jukebox was invented in 1927, five years after Betty White was born.
Older
Black Sox baseball scandal
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Is the Black Sox baseball scandal of 1919 older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
Older
In 1919, three years before Betty White's birth, the Chicago White Sox were caught up in the Black Sox scandal. Shoeless Joe Jackson, implicated with his team at the time, is now assumed to be innocent.

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Prohibition
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Is Prohibition older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
Older
Prohibition may be the most regrettable ban the United States has ever had. It led to the rise of gangsters, such as Al Capone, and was responsible for hundreds of deaths. Although Prohibition lasted from 1919 to 1933, few people went dry during this time. Betty was born after Prohibition began, but much of her childhood would have been indirectly affected by it.
Hollywood sign
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Is the Hollywood sign older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
The Hollywood sign is synonymous with fame and film. However, the sign was initially installed for new housing construction, and it read "Hollywoodland." The sign was installed one year after Betty White was born.
Older
Wall Street's Great Crash
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Is Wall Street's Great Crash older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
So many rumors persist about the great Wall Street Crash of 1929 that the event is almost mythical in nature. However two things are clear: It was the most devastating market crash in U.S. history, and Betty White was 7 years old when it occurred.
Older

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First feature film with recorded sound The Jazz Singer
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Is the first feature film with synchronized recorded sound, "The Jazz Singer," older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
Believe it or not, movies did not always have recorded sound. Hollywood has come a long way since then and so has Betty White, who was five years old when "The Jazz Singer" was released as the first feature film with synchronized recorded sound.
Older
Velcro
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Is Velcro older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
You can thank those annoying burrs that catch your leg for inspiring the invention of Velcro. While George de Mestral began contemplating the idea of Velcro in 1941, it wasn't until 1956 that it became a commercial success. Betty White was 34 years old.
Older
Black Dahlia murder
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Is the Black Dahlia murder older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
Elizabeth Short, "The Black Dahlia," was born two years after Betty White, and her murder in 1947 remains unsolved. Her death and moniker have been the subject of dozens of books and films.
Older

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Lou Gehrig Luckiest Man speech
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Is Lou Gehrig's "Luckiest Man" speech older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
Perhaps one of the greatest speeches in American history was Lou Gehrig's "Luckiest Man in the World." This Yankee is one of baseball's best, and one of Hollywood's best was 17 when she could have heard his speech.
Older
Stagecoach
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Is the last stagecoach robbery in the Old West older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
Older
When people think of stagecoach robberies, they likely picture a Wells Fargo stage racing through a desert in the 1800s. However, the last robbery, the Jarbidge Stage Robbery, happened in 1916, only six years before Betty White was born.
Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid killed
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Are Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid's deaths older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
Older
The early 1900s were ending one of the most dramatic periods in U.S. history - the Wild West. In 1908, two of America's most famous outlaws were reportedly killed in a Bolivian shootout with authorities. However, rumors persist that Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid survived the encounter. In any case, Betty White was born 16 years after their presumed death date.

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Play-doh used as child's toy
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Is Play-Doh's use as a toy older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
Initially used as a wallpaper cleaner, Play-Doh soon became a favorite children's art project. While she wouldn't have played with the compound as a child, Betty White has likely done a little personal sculpting since it became mass-produced in 1956.
Older
Franklin Roosevelt elected president
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Is Franklin Roosevelt's election older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
FDR accomplished a great deal in his four elected terms as president. He pulled the country out of the Great Depression, led the U.S. against the Nazis in World War II and was critical to the alliance between Britain and the Soviet Union. He died in 1945, early in his fourth term. He was president from Betty White's pre-teen years through her early twenties.
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Sliced Bread
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Is sliced bread older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
There is a lot to the saying, "better than sliced bread." Sliced bread came along in 1928. The process increased the amount of bread being eaten, as well as a massive increase in bread spreads, such as jam and a variety of butters. And guess what? Betty White was six years old when sliced bread first became available.
Older

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Erol Flynn stars in Captain Blood
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Is Erol Flynn's starring role in "Captain Blood" older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
Errol Flynn was one of Hollywood's first stars. He was a popular action actor, featured in the 1935 movie, "Captain Blood." Coincidentally, the novel that the movie was based on came out in 1922, the same year Betty White was born.
Older
Ford Model T
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Is the Model T older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
Older
The Ford Model T boasted the longest production run for a vehicle until it was surpassed by the VW Beetle. However, Betty White would have only seen the end of that run, as production began 14 years before she was born. That 19-year run would produce over 15 million Model T cars.
Jim Thorpe Olympics
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Is Jim Thorpe's Olympic win older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
Older
Jim Thorpe was a living legend at the time of the Stockholm Olympics where he won the gold in the Decathlon and Pentathlon. However, since he didn't use an alias (common at the time) while playing professional baseball two years prior, he lost his medals since he was not technically an amateur athlete. Betty White would not be born for ten years after his Olympic feats.

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Red Baron's death
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Is the Red Baron's death older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
Older
The Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen, was a German World War I fighting Ace, officially credited with 80 victories. He died in 1918, shot in mid-air, coming to the rescue of his cousin who was also flying that day. He likely died instantly, four years before Betty White was born.
Tupperware
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Is Tupperware older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
Tupperware plays a vital role in most people's kitchens, either the product itself or a knock-off. When Tupperware was invented it allowed for the easy storage of food in the refrigerator, freezer, and shelves. Betty White surely took advantage of this new invention, since it came out when she was 23.
Older
Sunglasses invented
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Is the invention of sunglasses older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
Squinting is a part of everyday life. That is until you have a pair of sunglasses handy. But they haven't always been around. It wasn't until 1929, seven years after Betty White was born, that they really hit their stride.
Older

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Ford Assembly Line
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Is Ford's assembly line older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
Older
The Ford assembly line changed manufacturing forever. Prior to Ford's process, vehicles and most manufactured goods were produced one at a time. His assembly line process is still in use today. At the time, this innovation improved the speed of building a vehicle from 12 hours to two and a half hours. Betty White would not be assembled for nine more years.
Al Capone became mob boss
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Is Al Capone's mob boss title older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
Al Capone was a mob boss in Chicago. Since Capone left such a powerful impression on American history, few people realize his reign only lasted from 1925 to 1931, when he was taken down for tax evasion. Young Betty White would have been there to see it all, as she was three years old when the Prohibition kingpin became the boss.
Older
Tea Bag
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Are tea bags older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
Older
Tea bags, like many inventions, were built from a mistake. Thomas Sullivan began sending tea samples to customers in silken bags. The customers assumed the bags were to be used like infusers. And voila! tea bags were born. At least Betty White wouldn't have to wait for this invention to come along. It arrived about 18 years before she was born.

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Traffic signal
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Are traffic signals older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
Older
Though there are a handful of examples of traffic signals in Europe as early as the 1800s, the first traffic signal system in America was installed in 1914 in Cleveland, Ohio.
Arizona becomes a state
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Is Betty White older or younger than Arizona's statehood?
Younger
Arizona has had a rough history and it wasn't until 1912 when it became a state. This was only 10 years before Betty White was born.
Older
Hindenburg disaster
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Is the Hindenburg disaster older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
One of the first catastrophic air disasters, the German airship Hindenburg caught fire, killing 36 people in New Jersey. Betty White would have been 15 years old and may well recall the news coverage and subsequent films of the event.
Older

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Instant coffee
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Is Instant coffee older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
Older
Who doesn't like a fresh pot of brewed coffee when they wake up in the morning? While initially instant coffee was a bit off-putting, it eventually became indispensable for soldiers in the field. Instant coffee had been around since the 1700's, but in 1910 it was finally packaged and sold - 10 years before Betty White was born.
A Farewell to Arms
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Is "A Farewell to Arms" older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
Ernest Hemingway would become one of the most famous writers in the world in 1929, when his book "Farewell to Arms" was published. Betty White probably didn't read it when she was only seven. The movie came out in 1932.
Older
Theory of general relativity
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Is the theory of general relativity older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
Older
In 1915 the Theory of General Relativity was defined by Albert Einstein. It has been one of the most influential equations physics has ever seen. Betty White was born seven years later.

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Modern zipper
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Is the modern zipper older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
Older
Straps, buttons and snaps are common ways to hold your clothes, bags and nearly any other fabric together. But, it was the modern zipper that changed fashion. Betty White was born five years after Gideon Sundback patented the zipper in 1917.
Vasoline
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Is Vasoline older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
Older
Vasoline, otherwise known as petroleum jelly, was discovered by accident when a doctor found oil workers applying the oil byproduct to their wounds. He also noticed how few infections these men had, compared to others who received cuts. Vaseline was patented in 1872, and Betty White wouldn't be born for another 50 years.
Jackie Robinson breaks color barrier
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Is Jackie Robinson's debut in the major leagues older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
Jackie Robinson wasn't the first major leaguer to play professional baseball, but he is considered the first to break through the color barrier and lead the way for baseball integration. Betty White was 25 when Jackie Robinson stepped into legendary status.
Older

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Toaster
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Is the pop-up toaster older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
Older
Did you know that the pop-up toaster was invented eight years before pre-sliced bread? Few inventions affect our morning breakfasts more than the pop-up toaster. Betty White was born three years later.
Penicillin
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Is Penicillin older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
Why don't people die as early as they used to? Thank penicillin and its discovery in 1928. Betty White was six when this bacteria killer was discovered. Send a big thanks to Alexander Fleming.
Older
Alaska become a state
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Is Betty White older or younger than Alaska's statehood?
Younger
Older
Alaska didn't become a state until 1959, when Betty White was 37 years old. Surprised? Hawaii was made a state eight months later.

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Ballpoint pen
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Is the ballpoint pen older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
Ballpoint pens seem like they would be a modern invention, however, they've been around since 1938, when a young Betty White was 16.
Older
Trampoline
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Is the trampoline older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
Originally called the bouncing rig, a 16-year-old George NIssen invented what would eventually become the trampoline after he watched trapeze artists fly through the air. Betty White, along with millions of other kids in 1934, probably couldn't wait to take her turn on this new jumping apparatus.
Older
First Superman comic appearance
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Is the first Superman comic appearance older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
Superman may be America's greatest Superhero, but did you know that Betty White is older than him by 16 years? Now who's the superhero?
Older

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War of the Worlds radio incident
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Is the "War of the Worlds" radio incident older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
The "War of the Worlds" music radio show is one of the most controversial radio shows of all time, due to some listener's mistaken belief that alien beings were attacking the world. Betty may have been listening to it in 1938, when she was 16.
Older
India
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Is India's independence older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
India was a colony of Britain centuries before its independence, along with Pakistan, in 1947. At 25, Betty White would have likely seen the stories of India's freedom in newspapers and on television.
Older
Bonnie and Clyde Killed
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Are Bonnie and Clyde's deaths older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
Bonnie and Clyde were two of the most notorious outlaws in America at the time of their death. A trusted friend led them to their ambush that resulted in Clyde Barrow being shot 17 times and Bonnie Parker 26. This would have been exciting news for the 11-year-old Betty White.
Older

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Silly Putty
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Is Silly Putty older or younger than Betty White?
Younger
Silly Putty had a wild ride. Initially, it was a utilitarian tool that would have gone in the family toolbox, but it soon became one of America's most beloved children's toys. Betty White would have been there to see it all as she was 21 years old when it was invented.
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You Got:
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https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fd/Betty_White_1988_Emmy_Awards_2.jpg