A Variety of Early Television Variety Shows Quiz

Answer: The Dean Martin Variety Show

"Everybody Loves Somebody" was a Billboard Top 40 number one hit for Dean Martin in 1964 (who had 17 Top 40 Hits between 1955 and 1967, including "Memories Are Made of This," number one in 1955). Guests on his variety show included Frank Sinatra, Liberace, Dom DeLuise, Rodney Dangerfield, Les Brown, Kay Medford, and Tom Bosley.

After the show was cancelled, a series of "Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts" was produced from 1974 to 1984.

Answer: Broadway Open House

"Broadway Open House" featured Lester, Barbara Nichols, the vocal group The Meadowlarks, and Dagmar, who eventually took over as host from Lester, appeared on many other shows such as "Colgate Comedy Hour," had her own show "Dagmar's Canteen," and emerged as the first major female star on television. Guests on "Broadway Open House" included Lenny Bruce and Charlie Parker.

Answer: Texaco Star Theater

"Texaco Star Theater," the adaptation of a successful radio show under several names from 1938-1949, was telecast from 1948-1956. It was extremely successful, and is generally credited driving American sales of television sets and forming regular viewing habits of audiences.

Although Berle himself was undeniably the star and driving force, the show also had, at various times, Fatso Marc, Bobby Sherwood, Ruth Gilbert, Arnold Stang, Jackie Collins, and Milton Frome.

Answer: Your Show of Shows

"Your Show Of Shows" ran through June 5, 1954. It also featured Carl Reiner, Howard Morris, Judy Johnson, The Hamilton Trio, Bill Hayes, and Marguerite Piazza. Jose Ferrer was a frequent guest. Sketches (such as Caesar portraying a befuddled person trying to cope with existence, Coca playing a passion-ridden torch singer, or both exploring the marital problems of Doris and Charles Hickenlooper), were written by such authors as Mel Brooks, Neil Simon, Mel Tolkin, and Carl Reiner.

Answer: The Judy Garland Show

"The Judy Garland Show" managed to complete 26 episodes through March 29, 1964, and then was cancelled. During its run, the guests were top talent, including Mickey Rooney, Count Basie, Donald O'Connor, Barbra Streisand, Rich Little, Vic Damone, Liza Minnelli, and the Smothers Brothers. Apart from facing "Bonanza," the show failed far more because of the production problems and the format, than because of the star and guests.

Answer: The Andy Williams Show

"The Andy Williams Show" was a true variety show. It not only had as guests Bobby Darin, The Osmond Brothers, The Lennon Sisters, and The New Christy Minstrels, it also offered such performers as Jack Benny, Wally Cox, Bette Davis, Bob Hope, Flip Wilson, Phyllis Diller, and Jonathan Winters.

Answer: The Jackie Gleason Show

"The Jackie Gleason Show" was aired from 1952 to 1957, first on DuMont, then on CBS. It featured the June Taylor Dancers, and other characters by Gleason including the playboy Reginald Van Gleason III, the braggart Charlie Bratten, and the bombastic Rudy the Repairman.

The show is primarily known for "The Honeymooners" that featured Gleason as Ralph Cramden, a bus driver, Audrey Meadows as his wife Alice, Art Carney, a sewer worker, as his neighbor Ed Norton, and Joyce Randolph as Norton's wife Trixie.

Answer: The Ed Sullivan Show

"The Ed Sullivan Show" presented about every form of entertainment: opera singers, circus acts, comedians, ballet dancers, puppets, and vaudeville acts. It also broadcast the initial public television performances of Itzhak Perlman, Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and The Supremes.

Answer: The Red Skelton Show

"The Red Skelton Show" centered on comedy sketches involving characters created by Skelton, including: Deadeye, an inept old west sheriff; Freddie the Freeloader, a bum who cared for others; Cauliflower McPugg, a punch drunk former boxer; and Clem Kadiddlehopper, a country bumpkin. Guests included Jack Benny, John Wayne, Amanda Blake, George Raft, Carol Channing, The Rolling Stones, and The Supremes.

Answer: The Carol Burnett Show

"The Carol Burnett Show" produced 287 episodes, and led to the spin-offs "Carol Burnett and Company," "Eunice," and "Mama's Family." It also featured Harvey Korman. The show parodied several famous shows such as: "As The Stomach Turns" ("As The World Turns"); and "Went With The Wind" ("Gone With The Wind").