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Quiz about Televisions Golden Age  the 50s  II
Quiz about Televisions Golden Age  the 50s  II

Television's Golden Age - the '50s II Quiz


Just a handful of TV stations... and most signed off at around midnight. No matter. There was a lot of great television created "back in the day." Perhaps you remember these.

A multiple-choice quiz by JRooowe. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
JRooowe
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
343,917
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
1011
Last 3 plays: Guest 73 (9/10), DHANI12 (6/10), twlmy (10/10).
Question 1 of 10
1. He was badly wounded... the only survivor of the ambush of his detachment of Texas Rangers. After Tonto nursed him back to health he went on to become "The Lone Ranger." What gang was responsible for that massacre? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Though best remembered for "The Honeymooners" Jackie Gleason actually made his first venture into series TV playing this title character. Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Sgt. Joe Friday and Frank Smith wasn't TV's only tough police duo - there was also Det. Lt. Ben Guthrie and Inspector Matt Greb. On what show would we find them tracking down the criminals of the day? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Lots of great westerns back then. Maybe the best of them was "Gunsmoke." Marshall Dillion, Doc Adams, Kitty Russell and Chester.... say, what was Chester's last name anyway? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. One of the best loved shows of the early '50s was "Mama" (aka "I Remember Mama"). It followed the lives of a Norwegian family in 1910s San Francisco. Along with Mama and Papa there were the children Katrin, Dagmar, and Nels. What future TV star portrayed Nels? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. "The Liberace Show" was reportedly attracting as many as 30 million viewers in the mid-50s. Along with his musical expertise, Liberace was also known for his glamor, glitz, clever repartee, and this item which always occupied a spot on his piano. Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" ran from 1952 to early 1966. This rather bland comedy series supposedly traced the life of Ozzie Nelson, wife Harriet and sons David and Ricky. Who played their son Ricky? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. The pleasant family comedy "December Bride," starring Spring Byington, ran for five years in the mid-'50s. When the show ended there was a show spun off. What was it? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Lord Athol Layton, Lord James Blears, and Baron Michelle Leone made frequent appearances on television during the '50s. Where would you find these gentlemen? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. "Plunk your magic twanger, Froggy!" On what show would you hear such a strange request? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Oct 21 2024 : Guest 73: 9/10
Oct 20 2024 : DHANI12: 6/10
Oct 19 2024 : twlmy: 10/10
Oct 17 2024 : Guest 98: 7/10
Sep 30 2024 : Guest 24: 10/10
Sep 24 2024 : Guest 69: 9/10
Sep 23 2024 : Guest 64: 8/10
Sep 19 2024 : Minerva928: 5/10
Sep 10 2024 : Guest 71: 6/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. He was badly wounded... the only survivor of the ambush of his detachment of Texas Rangers. After Tonto nursed him back to health he went on to become "The Lone Ranger." What gang was responsible for that massacre?

Answer: The Cavendish Gang

In 1952, due to a dispute over pay, Clayton Moore was replaced as The Lone Ranger for 52 episodes by John Hart. The Ames Brothers were a popular singing group and probably never massacred anyone.
2. Though best remembered for "The Honeymooners" Jackie Gleason actually made his first venture into series TV playing this title character.

Answer: The Life of Riley

The first "round" of "The Life of Riley" ran from 1949-1950 with Jackie as Chester A. Riley. In 1953 the show was resurrected starring William Bendix and a whole new cast. It was a perfect role for Bendix and the show lasted for five years. Bendix had played Riley on the radio and starred as Riley in a 1949 theatrical film release. How Gleason got the initial nod for the TV show is a mystery to me.
3. Sgt. Joe Friday and Frank Smith wasn't TV's only tough police duo - there was also Det. Lt. Ben Guthrie and Inspector Matt Greb. On what show would we find them tracking down the criminals of the day?

Answer: The Lineup

When "The Lineup" went into syndication the name was changed to "San Francisco Beat." Running for six seasons (from 1954-1960) the show featured the same no-nonsense, realistic approach to police work as "Dragnet." In the 1960s Warner Anderson (Ben Guthrie) was the narrator for the TV prime-time soap opera "Peyton Place."
4. Lots of great westerns back then. Maybe the best of them was "Gunsmoke." Marshall Dillion, Doc Adams, Kitty Russell and Chester.... say, what was Chester's last name anyway?

Answer: Goode

On the long running "Gunsmoke" radio show Chester's last name was Proudfoot. It was changed for the TV show.
Chester Conklin was a (mostly) comedic actor whose screen career spanned over 50 years.
Chester Morris was an actor best known for his movie portrayal of detective Boston Blackie. He played Blackie in 14 films.
5. One of the best loved shows of the early '50s was "Mama" (aka "I Remember Mama"). It followed the lives of a Norwegian family in 1910s San Francisco. Along with Mama and Papa there were the children Katrin, Dagmar, and Nels. What future TV star portrayed Nels?

Answer: Dick Van Patten

The show ran from 1949 thru 1957. It was performed "live" for most of that time and very few episodes exist. Patty McCormick ("The Bad Seed") was in several episodes as Cousin Ingeborg. Nels Hansen died in WWI... George Patton died shortly after WWII.
6. "The Liberace Show" was reportedly attracting as many as 30 million viewers in the mid-50s. Along with his musical expertise, Liberace was also known for his glamor, glitz, clever repartee, and this item which always occupied a spot on his piano.

Answer: a candelabra

Along with Ebenezer and Rumpelstiltskin you don't run into many people named Gig anymore.

In 1985, Liberace appeared as the "guest timekeeper" for the main event of the first "WrestleMania."
7. "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" ran from 1952 to early 1966. This rather bland comedy series supposedly traced the life of Ozzie Nelson, wife Harriet and sons David and Ricky. Who played their son Ricky?

Answer: Ricky Nelson

OK... if you missed this one I give up. Ricky went on to become a major rock and roll star with 18 Top 10 records on the Billboard charts. Rickie Lee Jones had a hit record in 1979 with "Chuck E.'s In Love." "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" began on the radio in 1944 and ran for ten years.
8. The pleasant family comedy "December Bride," starring Spring Byington, ran for five years in the mid-'50s. When the show ended there was a show spun off. What was it?

Answer: Pete and Gladys

A running gag during the five year run of "December Bride" was neighbor Pete Porter's (Harry Morgan) complaints about his never seen wife Gladys. Cara Williams played Gladys in the spin-off but the show was never much more than an "I Love Lucy" clone; it only lasted two seasons. In 1964 Cara starred in "The Cara Williams Show"... but that only lasted one season.
9. Lord Athol Layton, Lord James Blears, and Baron Michelle Leone made frequent appearances on television during the '50s. Where would you find these gentlemen?

Answer: Professional Wrestling

Inexpensive to present and perfectly suited for the small screens of the day, Professional Wrestling proved wildly popular during the early days of television. The three fellows named were all wrestlers; none of them was actually "royalty." George Wagner aka "Gorgeous George" was TV wrestling's first superstar with his sissified performances drawing huge TV audiences and ticket sales for non-televised events.
10. "Plunk your magic twanger, Froggy!" On what show would you hear such a strange request?

Answer: Andy's Gang

I can't imagine Frank Smith turning to Joe Friday and saying such a thing... but I digress. When show host Andy Devine said these words Froggy the Gremlin would appear in a puff of smoke. The show was originally "Smilin' Ed McConnell and His Buster Brown Gang." When McConnell died in 1954 Andy stepped in and the show continued with basically the same (some say bizarre) format. Andy hosted the show from 1955 to 1960. Never an explanation what the "magic twanger" was. Maybe it's better that way...
Source: Author JRooowe

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ladymacb29 before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
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