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The Firesign Theatre Trivia Quiz

Memorable for writing comedy specifically for the stereo player, the intricate (and not-so-intricate) comedy of the Firesign Theatre has been a major influence in American comedy for over 30 years.

A multiple-choice quiz by Oddball. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
Oddball

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
3,374

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
7 / 15

Plays
399

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. Why, 'Firesign'? Hint

They were former arsonists

It's a play on the word 'neon'.

They liked FDR's 'fireside chats'

All the members were born under the astrological element of fire

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Question 2 of 15

2. Some of their influences include, but are not limited to: Hint

Classic literature

Hopi Indian culture

Anything and Everything

British comedy

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Question 3 of 15

3. What is NOT an example of the 'Five Lifestyles of Man'? Hint

Berzerkers

Beaners

Bozos

Goonies

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Question 4 of 15

4. 'If you push something hard enough it will fall over' is an example of this: Hint

Coyote's Corollary

Porky's Theory

Daffy's Definition

Fudd's Law

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Question 5 of 15

5. Who is the constant foil of Nick Danger, Third Eye? Hint

Lt. Bradshaw

Nancy

Dan Catherwood

the SFX man

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Question 6 of 15

6. Which is not an alias of 'Nancy'? Hint

Ida Lupino

Betty Joe Bialowski

Susan Underhill

Audrey Farber

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Question 7 of 15

7. Many of the Firesign Theatres' recordings featured a nameless 'Everyman' character that was the focal point of the comedy, Which one of these was not a reference for this person? Hint

Ace

Clem (or UhClem)

Babe

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Question 8 of 15

8. Which is not the title of a Firesign Theatre album? Hint

Waiting For The Electrician Or Someone Like Him

How Can You Be In Two Places At Once When You're Not Anywhere At All?

Don't Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me The Pliers

Still Smokin'

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Question 9 of 15

9. 'It's in the water...that's why it's yellow!' describes what FT product? Hint

Loosner's Caster Oil Flakes

Squirrel Squares from Road-Ready Flatsnax

Rat In A Box

Bear Whiz Beer

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Question 10 of 15

10. What disease was not diagnosed in 'Beat The Reaper'? Hint

Yaws

Pneumonia

Dysentery

Dengue Fever

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Question 11 of 15

11. Which pyramid opened after our hero read the hieroglyphics? Hint

The one with the ever-widening hole in it

The middle one

The left one

The one on the far right

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Question 12 of 15

12. Which FT character ran for President on the campagn slogan that he's 'Not Insane!'? Hint

Flotsam Jetsam

George Tirebiter

Papoon

Ralph Spoilsport

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Question 13 of 15

13. What does Nick Danger see on the glass of his office door? Hint

A sillhouette of Nancy

'regnaD kciN'

Pickle-On-A-Rope

The Electrician

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Question 14 of 15

14. When not together as the FT, the members (particularly Phil Proctor)have often lent their vocal talents to some animated shows. Which show does not have a Firesign member in the cast? Hint

The Tick

Histeria

Rugrats

The Smurfs

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Question 15 of 15

15. Procter and Peter Bergman have also written for several motion pictures. Which of these was NOT a Procter or Bergman script? Hint

Kentucky Fried Movie

Americathon

J-Men Forever

Zachariah

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Why, 'Firesign'?

Answer: All the members were born under the astrological element of fire

Members Phil Austin, David Ossman, Phil Proctor and Peter Bergman first met at a California radio station in 1966 in a show called, 'Radio Free Oz'.

2. Some of their influences include, but are not limited to:

Answer: Anything and Everything

In a recent interview, Phil Procter also lists, 'Bob and Ray, Stan Freberg, Laurel and Hardy, the Amish, Spike Jones, Ish Kabibble, Ogden Nash, Robert Benchley, silent comedies, old radio, new radio, etc.'

3. What is NOT an example of the 'Five Lifestyles of Man'?

Answer: Goonies

The five lifestyles are: BEZERKERS (anyone with a gun or acts like one), ZIPS (those with thin moustaches and are fashionable), BOZOS (band together for fun and profit), BOOGIES (take it easy and don't clone) and BEANERS (those outside the law of gravity, often on color TV)

4. 'If you push something hard enough it will fall over' is an example of this:

Answer: Fudd's Law

Other rules first enunciated by Sir Sidney Fudd are, 'If you dig a hole deep enough, everyone will want to jump into it' and 'If you give the people a light, they'll follow it anywhere'. However, it was the first law of opposition that gave rise to the phrase, 'He's no fun, he fell right over'.

5. Who is the constant foil of Nick Danger, Third Eye?

Answer: Lt. Bradshaw

Lt. Alvin Bradshaw (played by Harry Ames), was loosely based on Officer Bradshaw from the TV series,'Highway Patrol'. He not only pesters Danger, but his Javanese counterpart, Young Guy, Motor Detective.

6. Which is not an alias of 'Nancy'?

Answer: Ida Lupino

The other alias was 'Melanie Haber'. 'The Further Adventures of Nick Danger, Third Eye' is particularly full of Beatles references including this, a take on 'Rocky Racoon'(everyone knew her as Nancy). From 'Two Places'.

7. Many of the Firesign Theatres' recordings featured a nameless 'Everyman' character that was the focal point of the comedy, Which one of these was not a reference for this person?

Answer: Ace

'P' was a reference to Franz Kafka's 'K' from 'Electrician', Babe was on the 'Two Places' album and Clem toured Future Fair in 'Bozos'. Another reference was 'Player' on the 'Eat Or Be Eaten' album and George Tirebiter on 'Dwarf'.It was Tirebiter who called Nick Danger asking for the 'pizza to go and no anchovies'. The other side of the conversation is on the 'Dwarf' album.

8. Which is not the title of a Firesign Theatre album?

Answer: Still Smokin'

Too easy, was it? Others include, 'Everything You Know Is Wrong', Give Me Immortality Or Give Me Death' and 'I Think We're All Bozos On This Bus'.

9. 'It's in the water...that's why it's yellow!' describes what FT product?

Answer: Bear Whiz Beer

Other products include October Blind, the duck flavored coffee, Napalmolive, Edible steering columns, Dead Cat Soap, Erzats Bros. Coffee and Coke ('I understand it comes in bottles in this country...')

10. What disease was not diagnosed in 'Beat The Reaper'?

Answer: Dysentery

A gameshow where the contestant was injected with a disease and has to identify it before it kills him. Our hero made it to Symptom Seven before losing by misdiagnosing the Plague. From 'Electrician'.

11. Which pyramid opened after our hero read the hieroglyphics?

Answer: The one with the ever-widening hole in it

The hieroglyphics included 'the body of a lion, paws (pause) that refreshes, a tail (tale) told by idiots and the head of a fox'. From 'Two Places'.

12. Which FT character ran for President on the campagn slogan that he's 'Not Insane!'?

Answer: Papoon

From 'Not Insane Or Anything You Want To', a parody on Thomas Eagleton, a real-life running mate to George McGovern who was removed from the 1972 ticket after it was disclosed he had psychiatric help.

13. What does Nick Danger see on the glass of his office door?

Answer: 'regnaD kciN'

His name spelled backwards.

14. When not together as the FT, the members (particularly Phil Proctor)have often lent their vocal talents to some animated shows. Which show does not have a Firesign member in the cast?

Answer: Histeria

Proctor currently has a regular role in 'Rugrats' as Howard DeVille, father of twins Phil and Lil (Kath Soucie).

15. Procter and Peter Bergman have also written for several motion pictures. Which of these was NOT a Procter or Bergman script?

Answer: Kentucky Fried Movie

'J-Men Forever' used black and white film of the members intersperced with footage of classic B-mystery serials in a remarkable spoof, 'Americathon', based on a play by Procter, was produced by Neil Isreal, who went on to produce the 'Police Academy' series. 'Zachariah' was an early Western outing for a young Don Johnson.

Source: Author Oddball

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