More Sidekicks--Comical and Otherwise Quiz

Answer: Mary Livingstone

She was born Sadie Marks and her family was related to both Al Shean of Gallager and Shean and the Marx Brothers. She met Benny, who was 13 years her senior, several times but a romance did not develop for several years. One version of their relationship was that Benny came in the May Company so often that he helped her to set a sales record in the lingerie department.

She took part in Benny's vaudeville act and later his radio show. Their relationship on the program was platonic. She became known for her wisecracks and her not too subtle put-downs of Benny's radio persona. When Benny went into television, she more or less retired. Benny arranged for a rose to be delivered to her each day after his death.

Answer: Margo Lane

Lamont Cranston was the name of The Shadow in most media. The character developed from pulp fiction and spun out into comic books, radio, and seven full length movies and and one serial, and a television series. Cranston has learned the ability to "cloud men's minds", hence he was invisible at crucial times when fighting crime.

Margo Lane (sometimes Margot Lane) was his 'friend and companion' although the full extent of their relationship is never revealed. Actors playing Cranston and Lane varied. Orson Wells, Victor Jory, and Alec Baldwin are some the more recognized names. Agnes Morehead and Penelope Ann Miller played Margo Lane at various times.

Answer: Robert Kennedy

Kennedy appointed his brother Robert (Bobby) to be Attorney General and Bobby became his principle adviser. After John's assassination, Bobby became a Senator from New York and a front running candidate for President until he too was assassinated.

Answer: Clyde Tolson

Hoover was often a feared person. Presidents were reluctant to fire him allegedly because he knew too much about their foibles and indiscretions. Tolson was his right hand man and you could only get to Hoover through Tolson. Reports differ on the nature of Hoover and Tolson relationship some saying that it was more like brother-to-brother but some allege that they had a gay relationship.

There are reports that Hoover had relations with Dorthy Lamour and Ginger Rogers but these are unconfirmed. Also unconfirmed are rumors of Hoover cross-dressing at times.

Historians and biographers have come to several divergent conclusions about Hoover.

Answer: Nightwing

Comic books are by nature episodic. Tracing the character Nightwing is a twisting tale as the character was used many different ways. Superman once pretended to be Nightwing.

However,an effort has made to identify Dick Grayson(formally Robin) as Nightwing. A new Robin was given to Batman who had a lot of similarities to the old Robin.

Answer: Rodney Dangerfield

Although Dangerfield often played Las Vegas, he was never identified with the 'Rat Pack'. In addition to those mentioned Dean Martin was a prominent member. Although they are not noted as one of the original five, several women were closely associated with the 'Pack' such as Shirley Maclaine, Lauren Bacall, and Judy Garland. Bacall is given credit for naming the group.

Answer: Joseph

The other nine are Peter (known as Simon), Andrew, James of Zebedee, Philip, Matthew, Thomas, James of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot.

Answer: Kukla and Ollie

Fran Allison, a comedian and actress, presided over the gaggle of puppets. It began as a local show in Chicago in 1947 and went national on NBC in 1949. It ran until 1957. It was generally aired at about six PM, hence had an adoring adult audience as well.

Answer: Big Bird

Clarabelle was the clown on the show. He was played by Bob Keeshan who later went on to become Captain Kangaroo. Princess Summerfall Winterspring added some beauty to the show. Flub-a-dub was a puppet made up of eight different animals.

Big Bird was a Sesame Street denizen.

Answer: Buddy Ebsen

Although the program had a significant impact on pop culture of the 1950s, the Davy Crockett series ran only five episodes. It was what we would call today a mini-series and was part of the Wonderful World of Disney anthology series. The first was aired in December 1954 and the last in December 1955.

It made Fess Parker a household name and got him another series of the same ilk, Daniel Boone. It did even better for Epsen who was known mostly as a song and dance man in movies but became the classic Jed Clampett and later Barnaby Jones. Epsen was the original Tinman in the Wizard of Oz but an allergy to the powder used to put on the Tinman costume caused him to be replaced by Jack Haley.

He had prerecorded most of the songs and some were used in the final cut.