Classic TV shows from 1950 through 1959 Part 2 Quiz

Answer: Captain Gallant of the Foreign Legion

This short lived program that lasted only from 1955 through 1957 starred Buster Crabbe as Capt. Michael Gallant and Cullen Crabbe as his son Cuffy. The setting was a foreign legion outpost in N. Africa. The first season of this show was filmed on location in Morocco, using some of the French colonial troops and real legionnaires. Later, after political unrest reared its ugly head in Morocco, filming was done back in California.

Answer: Rawhide

Cattle was driven to the railroad terminus at Sedalia, Missouri, where they were loaded onto cattle cars and shipped back east to the packing plants. As the railroad was extended further west the cattle drives would change their final destination. Although he appeared in several movies and television programs prior to 'Rawhide' this is the program that launched Clint Eastwood into stardom.

Answer: The Lone Ranger

From 1949 to 1957 the youth of America, particularly young boys, waited to hear "A fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty 'Hi Yo Silver!'" knowing they would soon be watching the adventures of the Lone Ranger and his faithful companion, Tonto.

The Lone Ranger was played by Clayton Moore and Tonto was played by Jay Silverheels. Another interesting fact is that the theme song was actually the 'William Tell Overture' composed by Gioachino Rossini in 1829.

Answer: The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show

Ernie Ford was a gifted composer and singer with a rich, deep voice. His most famous song was 'Sixteen Tons' and is credited as being the first rock & roll big hit, kicking off the rock and roll era of the 1950s. 'The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show' ran from 1956 through 1961. He ended each show with his now famous catch phrase "Bless your pea pickin' hearts."

Answer: Sergeant Preston of the Yukon

This program aired in the time when there were no gray areas. The good guys were good and bad guys were bad. Sergeant Preston, played by Dick Simmons, was aided by his trusty dog, King, and his horse, Rex. Sergeant Preston of the Yukon aired from 1955 through 1958. In our young minds, he WAS the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police).

Answer: Hoss

Ben Cartwright was widowed three different times. He fathered his three sons; Adam, Eric/Hoss and Little Joe, each by a different wife. This helps explains the difference in physical appearance of Hoss , Adam and Little Joe. Dan Blocker died in 1972 of a pulmonary embolism. The show, 'Bonanza' lasted only one season after Blocker's death, although it lives on today in reruns.

Answer: Tom Terrific

Tom Terrific could change his shape into different objects that aided him and his trusty dog, Manfred the Wonder Dog, in fighting villains. You could always identify Tom finding his eyes and his funnel/hat on an item in the scene. 'Tom Terrific' was a cartoon that originally aired on 'Captain Kangaroo'. All voices on the show were done by Lionel Wilson.

There were a total of 26 stories produced and each of these was split into five parts for 'Captain Kangaroo'. The episodes were re-edited into two parts and shown on Saturday mornings in 1957 and 1958.

Answer: Mr. Wizard

'Watch Mr. Wizard' aired in the U.S.A. from 1951 through 1972, 'Mr. Wizard' aired in Canada from 1971 through 1975 and 'Mr. Wizard's World' aired in the U.S.A. from 1983 through 1991. With little flash and pizazz, Mr. Wizard wowed us with the experiments he and his juvenile helpers performed. Many of today's science teachers developed an interest in science from watching Mr. Wizard.

Answer: Whirlybirds

'Whirleybirds' aired from 1957 through 1960. Two pilots, Chuck and P.T., owned a helicopter company and were constantly giving aid to whomever needed it. The helicopters used in this show were the bubble topped Bell 47 in the early episodes and the fancier Bell 47J in later episodes.

Answer: You Bet Your Life

The quiz show, 'You Bet Your Life' with host Groucho Marx aired from 1950 through 1961. Sometime during the show, if a contestant said the "secret word," a rubber duck would drop from the ceiling with prize money in its bill. This show was what introduced many of the children of the 1950s to Groucho.

The author, William Peter Blatty, once won $10,000 on the show. When asked by Groucho what he intended to do with the money, Blatty replied "Work on a novel." That novel was 'The Exorcist'.

Answer: Bonanza

Hop Sing was the Chinese cook on the Ponderosa Ranch, played by Victor Sen Yung. The character of Hop Sing appeared in 97 of the over 400 episodes between 1959 and 1973.

Answer: Chester Goode

When the producers of 'Gunsmoke' wondered if viewers would question why a handsome, leading-man-type would come to Marshall Dillon's aid and never carried a gun, Dennis Weaver created Chester's famous limp to help validate his nonviolent life in Dodge. Weaver appeared in 165 of the over 600 episodes of 'Gunsmoke' from 1955 through 1964.

Answer: Jeff Miller and Timmy Martin

Jeff Miller, with his widowed mother and grandfather, were Lassie's first owners. When George Cleveland, who played Gramps, died, the producers decided Tommy Rettig, who played Jeff, was too old for the show at 15. They then decided Ellen Miller would sell the farm and move into an apartment in the city, which was no place for a Collie. Enter the new owners, Timmy Martin played by Jon Provost and his mother Ruth, first played by Cloris Leachman (two episodes) and later by June Lockhart.

Answer: The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin

The original Rin Tin Tin was an orphaned pup found in France in World War I. After being brought back to the U.S.A. following the war, Rinty was discovered by a Hollywood producer. The original Rin Tin Tin, or Rinty, died in 1932. In the TV series, Rusty, played by Lee Aaker, was orphaned in an Indian raid.

He, and his dog Rin Tin Tin, played by Rin Tin Tin IV, were taken in by the cavalry soldiers at Ft. Apache, AZ. Rin Tin Tin IV was one of four dogs used in filming the series: Rin Tin Tin II, Rin Tin Tin IV, Hey You and a dog belonging to Frank Barnes named JR. Rin Tin Tin IV was the lead dog.

The bloodline continued with the birth of Rin Tin Tin X in 2003.

Answer: a cat

Kitty Russel, or Miss Kitty, was played by Amanda Blake on 'Gunsmoke' from 1955 through 1974. She appeared in 337 of the over 600 episodes. Since Blake played Miss Kitty, that became the cat's official name.