Greatest Christmas Hits 1935-1954 Online Trivia | Music

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This Irving Berlin song was introduced in the 1942 film "Holiday Inn". Bing Crosby sang it along with help from the Ken Darby Singers and John Scott Trotter's Orchestra. What was the song's title?

Answer: White Christmas

"White Christmas" by Bing Crosby is the right answer. The song won an Academy Award and went on to be the best selling Christmas single with over 30 million copies sold. Crosby rerecorded the song in 1947 and it went on to chart for an amazing 20 straight Christmas seasons.

2. Vaughn Monroe sang released this record in 1945. Which song opens with the following lyrics " Oh the weather outside is frightful, But the fire is so delightful, And since we've no place to go..."?

Answer: Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

"Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" was written by Sammy Cahn and Jules Stye. Monroe's baritone vocal was accompanied by his own orchestra and the Norton Sisters. Monroe's distinctive voice earned him the nickname of "Old Leather Tonsils". His biggest hits,( including "Let it Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!"), were "There I Said It Again" in 1945 and "Riders In The Sky" in 1949.

3. A book by Robert L. Mays was set to music by songwriter Johnny Marks. Cowboy star Gene Autry recorded the song which was released in 1949. What is this song about "the most famous reindeer of all"?

Answer: Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer

"Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" is the correct answer. The song debuted December 3, 1949 and recharted in four straight Christmas seasons. It spawned a popular TV special in 1964. In the prerock era, (prior to 1955) "Rudolph" is the second biggest selling single to Bing Crosby's "White Christmas". Songwriter Johnny Marks also wrote Brenda Lee's Christmas classic "Rocking Around The Christmas Tree".

4. Nat "King" Cole scored a hit with this song in 1946. The song is popularly known by its opening line "Chestnuts Roasting Over An Open Fire". What is the actual name of this song?

Answer: The Christmas Song

The song's actual name is "The Christmas Song". The song was written by Mel Torme and Robert Wells. It debuted November 30, 1946 and went on to sell a million copies. Nat "King" Cole is remembered best today for his smooth pop vocal hits including "Mona Lisa", "Unforgettable" and "Rambling Rose" among others.

5. Spike Jones and His City Slickers released this novelty hit in 1948. The song featured bells, whistles and vocals by George Rock. Can you sink your teeth into it and name that tune?

Answer: All I Want for Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)

The correct answer is "All I Want For Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)". The record sold over a million copies and charted again the following Christmas.
Spike Jones began his career as a jazz and radio session drummer playing with top drawer stars such as Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby. Jones in fact can be heard playing the wire brushes on Bing Crosby's recording of "White Christmas". He eventually formed his own band and had a long career doing comedy and parody music.

6. Twelve year old singer Jimmy Boyd scored a hit in 1952 with this song about something going on "under the mistletoe". Can you name it?

Answer: I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

"I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" is the correct answer. Jimmy Boyd first was noticed on Frank Sinatra's variety show in 1952. Columbia Records signed him to a contract and paired him up with Norman Luboff's Chorus and Orchestra. Jimmy Boyd became the youngest person to score a number one pop song with this record. The record sold over two million copies in ten weeks. Boyd went on to record other hits such as "Dennis The Menace" with Rosemary Clooney and several duets with Frankie Laine such as "Tell Me A Story".

He also had an acting career appearing in the tv series "Bachelor Father" with John Forsythe. He also was in the film "Inherit The Wind" with Spencer Tracy. He was married to Yvonne Craig,(TV's Batgirl from the Batman series) whom he met while filming the Bing Crosby film "High Time". Jimmy Boyd passed away from cancer in March 2009.

7. The Andrews Sisters teamed with Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadian Orchestra for a two sided hit in 1946. The A side "Winter Wonderland" was followed by this song one week later and went to #7 on the Billboard charts. What was the location The Andrews Sisters asked if you would like to spend Christmas at,(take in mind the category this question is in)?

Answer: Christmas Island

The correct answer is "Christmas Island". The Andrews sisters,(Patty, Maxine, and Laverne), were the most successful female vocal group during the first 50 years of the 20th century. They were noted for their close harmonies and scored an astonishing 113 chart records between 1938-1951.

Their signature song was "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy". LaVerne Andrews passed away in 1967. Maxine passed away in 1995.

8. Bing Crosby scored a Christmas hit in 1935 with this song written by Franz Gruber in 1818. The German title is "Stille Nacht, Hellige Nacht". What is the English title?

Answer: Silent Night

The answer of course is "Silent Night". Crosby rerecorded the song with John Scott Trotter's Orchestra along with Max Terr's Mixed Chorus in 1947 and it charted for an additional 3 Christmas seasons.

9. Gene Autry co-wrote this song which he recorded in 1947. Can you name this song in which Gene sings "Hang your stockings and say your prayers cause Santa Claus Comes tonight"?

Answer: Here Comes Santa Claus

"Here Comes Santa Claus" by Gene Autry peaked at #9 and would go on to sell a million copies. It would rechart the next two holiday seasons. Gene Autry's career covered movies, television and recordings. He made 93 movies and cut over 300 records between 1929 and 1964 making millions of dollars.

His 1940 recording of "Blueberry Hill" was a hit 16 years before Fats Domino recorded it. Autry used the money earned from his career to buy up tv stations a studio, and his own production company which produced his TV show. Autry in the late '50s gradually receded from public life to run his business interests.

He died in 1998.

10. Multi-talented Eartha Kitt scored the biggest hit of her career with this Christmas single from 1953.Can you name it?

Answer: Santa Baby

"Santa Baby" is the correct answer. Eartha Kitt was best known for her sultry nightclub act but also acted on Broadway and television. She is remembered today best probably for her turn as Catwoman on the Batman TV series, (having replaced Julie Newmar).

She endured a ten year blacklisting for her outspoken comments on the Vietnam war while visiting Lyndon Johnson's White House. "Santa Baby' was remade by Madonna for the "Very Special Christmas" series of records benefiting Special Olympics. Eartha Kitt passed away from colon cancer in 2008.

Source: Author conundrum49

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Dalgleish before going online.
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Greatest Christmas Hits 1935-1954 Quiz

These are American recordings that reached the Billboard charts between the years 1935-1954. How many of these mostly standards can you name?

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