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TV Obscurum Trivia Quiz

Early TV questions on steroids, guaranteed to cook your average. Not for the faint of heart or feeble of mind.

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

Author
nutmeglad

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
184,364

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
2472

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 108 (5/10), Guest 45 (1/10), Guest 209 (4/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Jack Benny would occasionally visit the vault where he kept his money. Who or what was the final obstacle to the vault door? Hint

an old Confederate soldier

an electrified gate

crocodiles

poisonous snakes

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. During the golden age of hospital-based dramas, the early '60s, who starred in "The Nurses"? Hint

Zina Bethune

Elizabeth Montgomery

Mia Farrow

Katherine Chamberlain

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. "The Roaring Twenties" starred Dorothy Provine as a flapper. What night of the week was the show on? Hint

Saturday

Monday

Wednesday

Thursday

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. During the early '70s, NBC rotated a series of dramas on Sunday nights. Which show was NOT in the rotation? Hint

"Columbo"

"Hec Ramsey"

"McCloud"

"Medical Center"

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. "Man, woman, birth, death...infinity." What character started each show with these words? Hint

Dr. Zaeus

Rod Serling

Ben Casey

Dr. Zorba

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Who performed "Mammy's Little Baby Loves Shortnin' Bread" while visiting his/her home town? Hint

Steve Allen

Pinkie Lee

Ethel May Potter

Zasu Pitts

7. This stand-up comic introduced us to "insult comedy" while Don Rickles was still doing one-shots on "The Twilight Zone". He appeared often on the "Ed Sullivan Show". What was the name of this Borscht Belt favorite? Hint

London Lee

Mort Sahl

Lenny Bruce

Jack E. Leonard

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. "My World and Welcome To It" was an innovative sitcom loosely based on the life and works of cartoonist, James Thurber. William Windom played the lead (too easy) but what actress played his young daughter? Hint

Jodi Foster

Katy Bingham

Sharon Gless

Lisa Gerritsen

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Sure, everybody knows that Mickey Dolenz of "The Monkees" was the original "Circus Boy", but who played his uncle? Hint

Noah Beery, Jr.

Robert Horton

Jack Palance

Billy Barty

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. What was the name of the niece on "Bachelor Father"? Hint

Kelly

Kathy

Gidget

Kitten

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Most Recent Scores

Dec 17 2024 : Guest 108: 5/10
Nov 10 2024 : Guest 45: 1/10
Nov 08 2024 : Guest 209: 4/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Jack Benny would occasionally visit the vault where he kept his money. Who or what was the final obstacle to the vault door?

Answer: an old Confederate soldier

Benny made a career out of bad violin playing, never aging past 39 and being a tightwad in the extreme. His vault was in the basement and did include an alligator pit. But the last obstacle was always an ancient Confederate soldier, sleeping, covered in cobwebs and carrying a rusty old rifle.

2. During the golden age of hospital-based dramas, the early '60s, who starred in "The Nurses"?

Answer: Zina Bethune

"Ben Casey" and "Dr. Kildaire" went head-to-head for a while. "The Nurses" told the story from the RN's point of view. Bethune became a choreographer.

3. "The Roaring Twenties" starred Dorothy Provine as a flapper. What night of the week was the show on?

Answer: Saturday

"The Roaring Twenties" (ABC) ran opposite "Perry Mason" on CBS. Before the days of VCRs and TiVo, it was always difficult to decide which show to watch.

4. During the early '70s, NBC rotated a series of dramas on Sunday nights. Which show was NOT in the rotation?

Answer: "Medical Center"

"Medical Center" starred Chad Everett and was on CBS. "Hec Ramsey" was the last to join the collection. It starred Richard Boone. "McMillan and Wife" was also in the mix.

5. "Man, woman, birth, death...infinity." What character started each show with these words?

Answer: Dr. Zorba

Played by character actor, Sam Jaffe, Dr. Zorba would draw the symbols for each word on a chalkboard at the start of "Ben Casey".

6. Who performed "Mammy's Little Baby Loves Shortnin' Bread" while visiting his/her home town?

Answer: Ethel May Potter

In a classic "I Love Lucy" episode, Ethel (May) Mertz, nee Potter, performs at the request of the townfolk, leaving Lucy, Ricky and Fred out in the cold. To get even, the three of them do a bunch of vaudeville sight gags behind Ethel May as she sings this song.

Answer: Jack E. Leonard

"Fat Jack" Leonard (his nickname) was a rotund (obviously), bald stand-up who always wore a tux and cummerbund and always smoked a cigarette. His staccato delivery was imitated by Rickles and lots of other comics.

Answer: Lisa Gerritsen

Gerritsen played Lydia Monroe for the single season this show was on, 1969. She went on to play the role of Phyllis' daughter, Bess, on both "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and the spin-off, "Phyllis". Cute kid.

9. Sure, everybody knows that Mickey Dolenz of "The Monkees" was the original "Circus Boy", but who played his uncle?

Answer: Noah Beery, Jr.

Beery ended up playing Rocky, Jim Rockford's dad on "The Rockford Files." BTW, little person, Billy Barty, also was a regular on "Circus Boy".

10. What was the name of the niece on "Bachelor Father"?

Answer: Kelly

John Forsythe played the title character, a single man who must unexpectedly care for his teen-age niece. The show came complete with a stereotypical Chinese houseboy who sputtered and muttered in Mandarin - so NOT politically correct.

Source: Author nutmeglad

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ladymacb29 before going online.
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