Television's Golden Age - the '50s Quiz

Answer: Walter Denton

In 1952 Richard was 2 months short of 26 years old when he first appeared as high school student Walter Denton in "Our Miss Brooks." The school was Madison High School.

"Route 66" - Tod Stiles played by Martin Milner
"Sea Hunt" - Mike Nelson played by Lloyd Bridges
"The Amos 'n Andy Show" - Algonquin J. Calhoun played by Johnnie Lee

Answer: John Beresford Tipton

The money given away in the 206 episodes of "The Millionaire" would be worth over $1.7 billion in 2013 dollars. Thurston Howell III was stranded with Gilligan. Rich Uncle Pennybags is the top-hatted guy in the Monopoly game. I made up Randolph Trump.

Answer: Richard Boone

This highly regarded show was nominated for 12 Emmys during its run. Unfortunately, it was scheduled against the number one rated "I Love Lucy" which kept the ratings low and was cancelled after only 2 years. For the sake of authenticity actual doctors and operating room personnel were often used on the show.

Answer: Amos Jones

"The Amos 'n Andy Show" only lasted 2 years and ended when pressure from the NAACP persuaded Blatz Beer to end its sponsorship. Amos Jones was portrayed by Alvin Childress. Though Amos was one of the title characters, the show rarely revolved around him. Childress, however, did appear (however briefly) in all 78 episodes of the show.

Answer: Jim Backus

Jim Backus appeared in movies and TV shows including over 25 years as the voice of Mr. Magoo.
Joan Davis was a major radio star in the 40's but never really "caught on" on TV. Her show almost never cracked the Top 25 in the ratings and was cancelled after two years. Ms. Davis died of a heart attack in 1961 at the age of 53. Two years later her mother, daughter, and 2 grandchildren were killed in a house fire in Palm Springs, California.

Answer: Toast of the Town

"Toast" made its debut in 1948 with the unlikely host newspaper columnist Ed Sullivan. Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis were the headline attraction on the first episode. The show ran for over 20 years, finally ending in 1971.

Answer: The Life Of Riley

William Bendix starred as Chester A. Riley in the series which ran from 1953-1958. Martin Milner, who later became a TV star in "Route 66" and "Adam 12", appeared in several episodes of "The Life of Riley" as the boyfriend of Riley's daughter Babs.

Answer: Bud Collyer

From 1940-1949 Bud was the voice of Superman on radio. He also voiced the Man of Steel in the Max Fleischer cartoons of the 1940's. Garry Moore hosted "To Tell the Truth" from 1969-1978 (though, for some reason IMDB doesn't acknowledge it). George Reeves played Superman on the early TV series. Kirk Alyn played him in a 1948 movie serial.

Answer: Matt Dillon

Marshall Matt Dillon was, of course, played by James Arness (the brother of Peter Graves). Arness and Milburn Stone (Doc) were the only cast members to stay with the TV show for its entire 20 year run. "Gunsmoke" was originally a radio series that began in 1952 with William Conrad ("Cannon") starring as Marshall Dillon and Howard McNear (Floyd the Barber) as Doc.

The radio show lasted until 1961.

Answer: Phineas T. Bluster

"The Howdy Doody Show" ran from 1947 through 1960. In 2009, the U.S. Postal Service included "The Howdy Doody Show" on one of the stamps issued honoring early television shows.

Fulton J. Sheen was a Catholic Bishop who had a popular TV show.
Osgood Conklin was the principal of Madison High ("Our Miss Brooks")
Rootie Kazootie was the hand-puppet star of an early TV children's show.