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

Television's Golden Age - the '50s Quiz


No HD... black and white... no remote control... Then there was the aggravating vertical roll! Still.. it was lots of entertainment right in your own living room. Some of it was pretty good. 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 #
376,839
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
1213
Last 3 plays: Upstart3 (2/10), Guest 73 (10/10), DHANI12 (3/10).
Question 1 of 10
1. Richard Crenna's career in TV and movies spanned over five decades. During that time he appeared as star or co-star in several TV series. In his first series, he appeared in 92 episodes as this guy. Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. A million tax-free dollars was quite a lot of money in the 1950s. Beginning in 1955, and continuing for six years, people received this anonymous gift from "The Millionaire." Who was their mysterious benefactor? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Before TV gave us Dr. Kildare and Marcus Welby, there was "Medic." Hosting this medical anthology series was Dr. Konrad Styner who also appeared in several of the stories. Who, actually, was the actor who played Dr. Styner? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. One of the funniest shows of early television was "The Amos 'n Andy Show." Which one of the gang drove a cab? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. One of the better "I Love Lucy" clones was "I Married Joan" starring the popular comedienne Joan Davis. When that series ended in 1955, the actor playing Davis' TV husband appeared in hundreds of TV shows... including the role of Mr. Dithers in 13 episodes of "Blondie." Who was that guy? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Before being renamed "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1958, the popular variety show ran for several years under another title. What was it? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. From what long-running series did we get the catch phrase "What a revoltin' development this is?" Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Long before becoming host of the popular game show "To Tell The Truth," he starred on radio as the voice of Superman. Look! Up In the sky! It's a bird... it's a plane... say, who was that guy? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. TV viewers were shocked when, in the very first episode of this guy's show, he was outdrawn and shot down in the street. He survived though. Who was this western hero? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Probably the most famous children's TV show of all time is "The Howdy Doody Show." We all remember Howdy, Buffalo Bob, and the Peanut Gallery... but who was the cantankerous mayor of Doodyville? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Oct 28 2024 : Upstart3: 2/10
Oct 21 2024 : Guest 73: 10/10
Oct 20 2024 : DHANI12: 3/10
Oct 19 2024 : Guest 98: 8/10
Oct 19 2024 : twlmy: 9/10
Sep 30 2024 : Guest 24: 9/10
Sep 25 2024 : Guest 69: 9/10
Sep 23 2024 : Guest 64: 7/10
Sep 15 2024 : Guest 73: 9/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Richard Crenna's career in TV and movies spanned over five decades. During that time he appeared as star or co-star in several TV series. In his first series, he appeared in 92 episodes as this guy.

Answer: Walter Denton

In 1952 Richard was 2 months short of 26 years old when he first appeared as high school student Walter Denton in "Our Miss Brooks." The school was Madison High School.

"Route 66" - Tod Stiles played by Martin Milner
"Sea Hunt" - Mike Nelson played by Lloyd Bridges
"The Amos 'n Andy Show" - Algonquin J. Calhoun played by Johnnie Lee
2. A million tax-free dollars was quite a lot of money in the 1950s. Beginning in 1955, and continuing for six years, people received this anonymous gift from "The Millionaire." Who was their mysterious benefactor?

Answer: John Beresford Tipton

The money given away in the 206 episodes of "The Millionaire" would be worth over $1.7 billion in 2013 dollars. Thurston Howell III was stranded with Gilligan. Rich Uncle Pennybags is the top-hatted guy in the Monopoly game. I made up Randolph Trump.
3. Before TV gave us Dr. Kildare and Marcus Welby, there was "Medic." Hosting this medical anthology series was Dr. Konrad Styner who also appeared in several of the stories. Who, actually, was the actor who played Dr. Styner?

Answer: Richard Boone

This highly regarded show was nominated for 12 Emmys during its run. Unfortunately, it was scheduled against the number one rated "I Love Lucy" which kept the ratings low and was cancelled after only 2 years. For the sake of authenticity actual doctors and operating room personnel were often used on the show.
4. One of the funniest shows of early television was "The Amos 'n Andy Show." Which one of the gang drove a cab?

Answer: Amos Jones

"The Amos 'n Andy Show" only lasted 2 years and ended when pressure from the NAACP persuaded Blatz Beer to end its sponsorship. Amos Jones was portrayed by Alvin Childress. Though Amos was one of the title characters, the show rarely revolved around him. Childress, however, did appear (however briefly) in all 78 episodes of the show.
5. One of the better "I Love Lucy" clones was "I Married Joan" starring the popular comedienne Joan Davis. When that series ended in 1955, the actor playing Davis' TV husband appeared in hundreds of TV shows... including the role of Mr. Dithers in 13 episodes of "Blondie." Who was that guy?

Answer: Jim Backus

Jim Backus appeared in movies and TV shows including over 25 years as the voice of Mr. Magoo.
Joan Davis was a major radio star in the 40's but never really "caught on" on TV. Her show almost never cracked the Top 25 in the ratings and was cancelled after two years. Ms. Davis died of a heart attack in 1961 at the age of 53. Two years later her mother, daughter, and 2 grandchildren were killed in a house fire in Palm Springs, California.
6. Before being renamed "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1958, the popular variety show ran for several years under another title. What was it?

Answer: Toast of the Town

"Toast" made its debut in 1948 with the unlikely host newspaper columnist Ed Sullivan. Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis were the headline attraction on the first episode. The show ran for over 20 years, finally ending in 1971.
7. From what long-running series did we get the catch phrase "What a revoltin' development this is?"

Answer: The Life Of Riley

William Bendix starred as Chester A. Riley in the series which ran from 1953-1958. Martin Milner, who later became a TV star in "Route 66" and "Adam 12", appeared in several episodes of "The Life of Riley" as the boyfriend of Riley's daughter Babs.
8. Long before becoming host of the popular game show "To Tell The Truth," he starred on radio as the voice of Superman. Look! Up In the sky! It's a bird... it's a plane... say, who was that guy?

Answer: Bud Collyer

From 1940-1949 Bud was the voice of Superman on radio. He also voiced the Man of Steel in the Max Fleischer cartoons of the 1940's. Garry Moore hosted "To Tell the Truth" from 1969-1978 (though, for some reason IMDB doesn't acknowledge it). George Reeves played Superman on the early TV series. Kirk Alyn played him in a 1948 movie serial.
9. TV viewers were shocked when, in the very first episode of this guy's show, he was outdrawn and shot down in the street. He survived though. Who was this western hero?

Answer: Matt Dillon

Marshall Matt Dillon was, of course, played by James Arness (the brother of Peter Graves). Arness and Milburn Stone (Doc) were the only cast members to stay with the TV show for its entire 20 year run. "Gunsmoke" was originally a radio series that began in 1952 with William Conrad ("Cannon") starring as Marshall Dillon and Howard McNear (Floyd the Barber) as Doc.

The radio show lasted until 1961.
10. Probably the most famous children's TV show of all time is "The Howdy Doody Show." We all remember Howdy, Buffalo Bob, and the Peanut Gallery... but who was the cantankerous mayor of Doodyville?

Answer: Phineas T. Bluster

"The Howdy Doody Show" ran from 1947 through 1960. In 2009, the U.S. Postal Service included "The Howdy Doody Show" on one of the stamps issued honoring early television shows.

Fulton J. Sheen was a Catholic Bishop who had a popular TV show.
Osgood Conklin was the principal of Madison High ("Our Miss Brooks")
Rootie Kazootie was the hand-puppet star of an early TV children's show.
Source: Author JRooowe

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ladymacb29 before going online.
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