"The Streets of San Francisco" Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The pilot episode of "The Streets of San Francisco" was based on the novel "Poor, Poor Ophelia", written by which author?

Answer: Carolyn Weston

"Poor, Poor Ophelia" was the first of several books that Weston wrote, featuring Casey Kellog (and in later books Al Krug) of the Santa Monica Police Department. The pilot episode based on that novel aired on ABC on September 16, 1972. Weston's name continued to appear in the closing credits of every episode.

2. Which prolific producer was responsible for bringing "The Streets of San Francisco" to television?

Answer: Quinn Martin

The first season of "The Streets of San Francisco" (1972-73) was produced by QM Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television. The show proved to be very successful, adding to a string of hits that Martin had during the 1960s and 1970s, including "The Fugitive", "The F.B.I." and "Barnaby Jones". Quinn Martin died of a heart attack at his California home in September, 1987.

3. Which well-known composer was responsible for the iconic theme music for "The Streets of San Francisco"?

Answer: Pat Williams

A prolific composer who has won multiple Grammy Awards and Emmy Awards during his career, Patrick Williams--he was billed as "Pat Williams" in the show's credits--has worked on numerous motion pictures and television shows. In addition to his work on "The Streets of San Francisco", he also composed the themes for "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", "Lou Grant", and "Monk".

He received an Oscar nomination in 1980 for his work on the movie "Breaking Away".

4. A number of actors who would later go on to become famous in other roles appeared on "The Streets of San Francisco" during its run. Which actor, who would later go on to play a good police officer on another series, played a bad cop in the episode entitled "Hall of Mirrors"?

Answer: David Soul

Originally aired November 4, 1972, "Hall of Mirrors" centered on Inspector James Martin (Soul), who aid Stone and Keller in tracking down a murderer. Martin, ashamed of his Hispanic heritage, allows his anger to seep through, bringing trouble as the investigation unfolds.

5. The episode "A Trout In The Milk" (originally aired January 6, 1973) focused on the murder of a struggling artist. Which well-known African-American actor played a popular poet and the father of the primary suspect?

Answer: Roscoe Lee Browne

In "A Trout In The Milk", poet Yale Courtland Dancy (Browne) tells Stone and Keller that he murdered the struggling artist, to get them off the trail of his estranged daughter (played by Brenda Sykes). Dancy's daughter understands the depth of his love for her, despite their differences.

6. In the episode "A Collection of Eagles" (originally aired February 1, 1973), which future TV mom played a young woman who is in on a scheme to switch rare gold coins with expert fakes?

Answer: Belinda Montgomery

The late Joseph Cotten starred in this episode as a man who possessed a bevy of rare gold coins. Montgomery's character teamed up with a dapper coin collector (played by veteran character actor John Saxon) to steal away the loot. Montgomery, of course, is best known for playing mom to Neal Patrick Harris (and wife to James B. Sikking) on the hit TV series "Doogie Howser, M.D.".

7. Lieutenant Mike Stone (played by Karl Malden) was a widower whose pride and joy was his daughter. What was his daughter's name?

Answer: Jeannie

In the episode "Beyond Vengance" (originally aired March 8, 1973), Jeannie Stone has come home from college to spend some time with her dad. Little does she know that a man her dad put in jail (played by future TV cop Joe Don Baker) is out to get her. Veteran actor Ken Swofford also made an appearance in this episode as a long-distance bus driver.

8. In the episode "In The Company Of Strangers" (originally aired November 25, 1972), a thief named Dennis Hailey and his band of men accidentally kill a high-profile San Francisco city councilman, after a robbery goes bad. Which well-known actor played the devious Hailey?

Answer: Robert Foxworth

Among Hailey's victims was Wally Sensibaugh (played by David Wayne) a humble San Francisco newspaper salesman who gets robbed of $3,000--enough money at that time to get him and his wife (played by Louise Latham) to Italy. A young Deidre Hall (of "Days Of Our Lives" fame) plays the teller who helps Wally at the bank. Foxworth, of course, is best known for playing Chase Gioberti in the long-running series "Falcon Crest", which itself was set near San Francisco.

9. During the final season of "The Streets of San Francisco", Michael Douglas left to pursue a career in the movies. What, then, supposedly happened to his character, Inspector Steve Keller?

Answer: Keller went to teach at a local college

Unlike co-star Karl Malden, who had made it big in films (and had a Best Supporting Oscar under his belt) before coming to "The Streets of San Francisco", Michael Douglas got his big break in film when he produced "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" in 1975--three years after "The Streets of San Francisco" premiered. In addition to sharing the Oscar for Best Picture with Saul Zaentz for "Cuckoo's", Douglas also won a Best Actor Oscar for his turn in "Wall Street".

Douglas also directed an episode of "The Streets of San Francisco" entitled "Spooks for Sale" (originally aired December 11, 1975), which featured Tom Selleck (of "Magnum, P.I." fame) and Fritz Weaver (from the movies "Fail Safe" and "Black Sunday").

10. During most of the final season, Mike Stone was teamed up with Inspector Dan Robbins, who replaced Steve Keller. Which actor played Inspector Robbins?

Answer: Richard Hatch

Not to be confused with the "Survivor" champion, actor Richard Hatch is even better known for playing Captain Apollo, the son of Commander Adama, on another hit ABC series, "Battlestar Galactica". Hatch appeared in the final 22 episodes of "The Streets of San Francisco" during the 1976-77 season.

John Amos, best known for playing James Evans on the CBS sitcom "Good Times", portrayed a cop (opposite Ernest Borgnine) in the short-lived TV series "Future Cop". He also appeared on early episodes of the long-running "Hunter".

David Birney played stand-up cop Frank Serpico in the short-lived TV series based on Peter Maas's book.

And Dirk Benedict, who played Lieutenant Starbuck opposite Hatch's Apollo on the original "Galactica", is well known for playing "Face" Peck on the hit series "The A-Team".

Source: Author cag1970

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ladymacb29 before going online.
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A popular crime drama from the 1970s, "The Streets of San Francisco" is the subject of this quiz.

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