John Avery Whittaker Trivia Quiz

Answer: Whit's Flop

Davey Holcomb is always making mistakes, to the point he gives up. The neighborhood children make fun of him because nothing he seems to do works. However Whit convinces Davey to help him repair an old copier that they transform into a pizza oven. However when they demonstrate it, the pizza oven blows a fuse. Davy runs away but Whit finds him later and gives him a slice of pizza that the other children are enjoying back at Whit's end. Whit shows Davey that we can learn from mistakes and transform them into something that's better.

In many Odyssey situations, Whit has reflected on his own mistakes in the past to give wisdom to others.

Answer: Whit's wife, Jenny

Before her death, Jenny Whittaker fought hard to save the Filmore Recreation Center from being torn down. A councilman had wanted to wreck the old building to build a mall, but Jenny insisted that the place could be recreated for the sake of the memories it had for the townspeople.

She wanted it to be a place where "kids could be kids" and use their imagination, unlike the entertainment video arcades in the mall would provide. Jenny never got to finish her fight because she fell ill during one of the debates and was rushed to the hospital.

She died a short time later. Whit at first didn't pick up her dream until he was encouraged by another councilman. Whit made an offer for the recreation center, bought it, and made it formally Whit's End, a discovery emporium "where kids could be kids".

It since has become the most famous building in Odyssey.

Answer: Universal Press Foundation

Whit started writing an encyclopedia while he was raising his own children. From that, Whit has always had a mindset that there are new things to discover and teaches children at Whit's End. His encyclopedia turned into a company know as the Universal Press Foundation, which has aided missionaries, stood for Christian rights, and has been dedicated to teaching children the truths of God's Word.

When Philip Glossman tried to tear down the town recreation center, Whit stepped in as a representative from Universal Press to buy it and make it Whit's End. Later when Tom Riley tells the story to Connie, he reveals that Whit is the chairman and founder of the company.

Answer: she was blind from a riding accident when Whit was a boy

Fiona Donald became apart of Whit's life after his real mother died. At first Whit and his stepmother did not get along, but later they became best friends. One day when they were racing together, Whit's stepmother did not see a branch and fell off the horse.

The accident blinded her and Whit did not understand why his stepmother was not angry at the situation or at God. Whit's stepmother's attitude and faith eventually led him to be a Christian. (Episode: "Thank You, God")

Answer: True

Whit has learned most of his wisdom from his struggles with his own family. His relationships with his own children and grandkids at the beginning of "Adventures in Odyssey" are very rough. For awhile his daughter Jana fights with Whit when Whit tries to teach his grandkids moral principals. Whit discovers later it is a deeper wound from when he didn't spend time with his own family when his son and daughter were kids. Whit however becomes closer with his son Jason, who eventually comes to help out at Whit's end.

Answer: World War II

Whit saved an Englishman, Reginald Duffield, during an attack in World War II. He was wounded in action during this instance and had to have his ear and leg fixed. Whit was noted for always praying and reading his Bible daily. His strong faith in God during the war eventually led Reginald Duffeild to become a Christian and a pastor later on in life. Reginald Duffeild later comes back to Odyssey to thank Whit. (Episodes "Operation Digout" and "Rescue from Manatugo Point")

Answer: Jerry

In the episode "Memories of Jerry", Whit's younger son tells about his older brother Jerry who died in the Vietnam War. Jerry believed so strongly in honoring God and his country that when his younger brother and his best friend tried to convince him to run away to Canada to avoid the war, Jerry refused.

He told his younger brother God is with him. Five months later on November 12, 1971, Whit and his wife had received the visit that Jerry, his oldest son, was killed in a Vietnam skirmish.

Answer: Clara

Whit and Jack were college buddies and at one time both like Jenny, who became Whit's wife. After college Jack became the manager of an orphanage and helped kids find homes. Whit became very attached to a girl named Clara, who was adopted before he was able to make her his family. Whit had told Jack he never wanted to see Jack again when Clara was adopted by a very loving family.

She later writes Whit about how she has grown up into a beautiful young lady. Whit forgives Jack, who moves to Odyssey and sets up his own antique business.

Answer: the Q document

Whit while on an undercover mission, found the "Q" document which was thought to be as old as the dead sea scrolls. He sent a message to Jason and Eugene which lead them on a hunt to find Mr. Whittaker before someone else evil could. It was believed that this document could've been written by Judas, or disprove that Jesus didn't rise from the dead. Eugene questions his faith, but later the document was revealed to have been an effort from the Sadducee's to suppress the Christian movement.

It was never published because Rome came and crushed the place they had been hiding before they could spread the document.

Answer: Hal Smith

Hal Smith is more well known for playing the role of Otis, the town drunk, on the Andy Griffith show. However Hal Smith regarded his role as playing "Whit" on "Adventures in Odyssey" one of the most gratifying accomplishments of his life. Hal brought the show to life as "Whit" and because of his acting fame he attracted many more voice actors to the show.

He continued recording and playing the role of "Whit" right up to his death in 1994. As a tribute to Hal, Adventures in Odyssey put tidbits of Andy Griffith in some episodes for Whit, such as the autographed photo of Andy Griffith, locked in Whit's safe.