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The Shadow Knows! Trivia Quiz

The Shadow began as the introducer of "True Detective Mysteries" on radio. To copyright the character, Street and Smith hired an author to write a novel based on "The Shadow". The wild success of The Shadow Magazine led to The Shadow "appearing".

A multiple-choice quiz by GammaRho. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
GammaRho

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
273,441

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
391

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Who was the first actor to portray The Shadow as an actual character on network radio? Hint

Bill Johnstone

Orson Welles

John Archer

Bret Morrison

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Question 2 of 10

2. The man chosen to write "The Shadow" novels for Street and Smith also wrote books on other topics. What was another such topic? Hint

All of these

Pinochle

Stage Magic

Gardening

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Question 3 of 10

3. What was the actual name of the author of over two hundred novels featuring The Shadow? Hint

Lester Dent

Maxwell Grant

Walter Gibson

Kenneth Robeson

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Question 4 of 10

4. On the radio The Shadow was "...in reality Lamont Cranston, wealthy young man about town." Who was the pulps "Shadow" ultimately revealed to be? Hint

Ralph Weston

Lamont Cranston

Kent Allard

Clyde Burke

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Question 5 of 10

5. The character Margot Lane (the "t" is correct!) was introduced on radio because of a listener complaint. What was the complaint? Hint

They could not distinguish among the male voices of The Shadow and his agents

They wanted someone whom The Shadow could rescue week after week

They wanted a woman on the program

They didn't like the implications of The Shadow having a male friend and companion

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Question 6 of 10

6. What was the title of the first network "Shadow" episode? Hint

The Shadow Returns

Death in a Minor Key

The Shadow Challenged

The Death House Rescue

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Question 7 of 10

7. How frequently were the first few Shadow pulp novels published? Hint

Bi-weekly

Monthly

Quarterly

Bi-monthly

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Question 8 of 10

8. What words began the first network broadcast of "The Shadow"? Hint

He who sows evil reaps evil

Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?

The Shadow knows!

The weed of crime bears bitter fruit

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Question 9 of 10

9. What was a major difference between the pulp version of The Shadow and the radio version. Hint

The pulp shadow could be seen

All of these

The pulp Shadow had over a dozen agents who assisted him continually

The pulp Shadow had enemies some of whom appeared more than once

10. The Shadow's famous laugh on radio was performed in the early network broadcasts by Frank Readick who had played the narrator on "True Detective Mysteries". Readick appeared as a villain in one "Shadow" broadcast. What was its title? Hint

The Shadow in Danger

Death Stalks The Shadow

The Temple Bells of Niban

The Shadow Challenged

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Who was the first actor to portray The Shadow as an actual character on network radio?

Answer: Orson Welles

After the great "War of the Worlds" panic catapulted Welles to international celebrity he abruptly left "The Shadow" to concentrate on "Mercury Theater of the Air". Bill Johstone replaced him. John Archer portrayed The Shadow for part of one season. Bret Morrison portrayed The Shadow for many years until the program left the air. Frank Readick portrayed The Shadow as the introducer of "True Detective Mysteries" but not as a character in the program.

2. The man chosen to write "The Shadow" novels for Street and Smith also wrote books on other topics. What was another such topic?

Answer: All of these

He was a professional stage magician with many side interests.

3. What was the actual name of the author of over two hundred novels featuring The Shadow?

Answer: Walter Gibson

Walter Gibson unbelievably produced two Shadow novels per month for over ten years. Ignoring literary quality, I do not think many human beings could produce two coherent novels per month even once! Maxwell Grant was a Street and Smith house name which Gibson was forced to use. Kenneth Robeson was the house name used for the author of the "Doc Savage" novels. Lester Dent was the real name of the author of most of the "Doc Savage" novels. Dent actually wrote one Shadow novel.

4. On the radio The Shadow was "...in reality Lamont Cranston, wealthy young man about town." Who was the pulps "Shadow" ultimately revealed to be?

Answer: Kent Allard

The Shadow posed as Lamont Cranston on occasion (with the permission of the real Cranston) to hobnob with society. Clyde Burke was a newspaper reporter who was one of The Shadow's many agents. Ralph Weston was the police commissioner in the pulps and on the radio version of The Shadow.

By the way,if you combine Doc Savage's true first name with The Shadow's true first name you obtain the well-known name Clark Kent.

5. The character Margot Lane (the "t" is correct!) was introduced on radio because of a listener complaint. What was the complaint?

Answer: They could not distinguish among the male voices of The Shadow and his agents

The name Margot was chosen because Margot Stephenson was the producers friend and companion. Walter Gibson hated the character and resisted putting her into the pulp stories. When he finally did include her he changed her name to Margo and depicted her as whiny and incompetent.

6. What was the title of the first network "Shadow" episode?

Answer: The Death House Rescue

All four choices were the titles of actual episodes.

7. How frequently were the first few Shadow pulp novels published?

Answer: Quarterly

The popularity of "The Shadow Magazine" led Street and Smith to order monthly issues after the first year of publication. Within another year the publication frequency was changed to biweekly. Walter Gibson needed the money during the depression but the biweekly schedule killed his career on stage and bit into his social life.

8. What words began the first network broadcast of "The Shadow"?

Answer: The Shadow knows!

"The Shadow knows" was a holdover from the introduction to "True Detective Mysteries". The more famous introduction "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?" began in the second network year. "The weed of crime..." was the start of the closing of each episode. The phrase "He who sows evil reaps evil. The Shadow knows!" was used exactly once as a closing.

9. What was a major difference between the pulp version of The Shadow and the radio version.

Answer: All of these

The pulp Shadow dressed in black and blended with the darkness to make him difficult to see. His primary agent, Harry Vincent, was introduced in the first Shadow novel and stayed with him over the years. Harry appeared in the first network episode but was dropped in favor of Margot Lane. Reappearing villains in the pulp novels included Shiwan Khan, The Wasp, and The Voodoo Master.

Answer: The Shadow Challenged

In "The Shadow Challenged" a museum curator learns the secret of"...clouding men's minds so they cannot see him". He commits crimes posing as The Shadow. When Lamont Cranston faces him down the inmposter loses the ability to become invisible and, as is the custom, dies very shortly thereafter. Frank Readick played the villain.

Source: Author GammaRho

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