FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Quizzes, Trivia

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Trivia

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Trivia Quizzes

  1. Home
  2. »
  3. Quizzes
  4. »
  5. Humanities Trivia
  6. »
  7. Musicals H-N

Fun Trivia
Come along and enjoy watching young J. Pierrepont Finch progress from window washer to chairman of the board, with the help of his handy dandy guide to success. The musical won seven Tony Awards (including Leading Actor in a Musical for Robert Morse, who reprised his role in the 1967 film adaptation) and the 1962 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
2 quizzes and 20 trivia questions.
1.
  "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is a great musical that's all business! Do you know 'How to Succeed'?
Average, 10 Qns, hollyberry11486, Sep 16 11
Average
hollyberry11486
629 plays
2.
  How To Succeed in Taking This Quiz!    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
How well do you know the show, "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"? Can you work your way to the top of the corporate ladder, or will you be stuck in the mailroom forever?
Tough, 10 Qns, sissymcl, Jul 14 05
Tough
sissymcl
363 plays

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Trivia Questions
1. At the start of the show, what is Finch's job?

From Quiz How To Succeed in Taking This Quiz!

Answer: window washer

The show opens with Finch washing windows as he reads the book, "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying." He then steps into the office lobby and starts his way up the corporate ladder.

2. What's the name of the young fellow that wants to climb the ladder of success in big business?

From Quiz "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"

Answer: Pierrepont Finch

Finch begins as a window washer, but eventually finds himself constantly being promoted to the head of the World Wide Wicket organization.

3. Who is the personnel manager at the start of the show?

From Quiz How To Succeed in Taking This Quiz!

Answer: Bratt

Bert Bratt is the advertising manager at the beginning of the show. At the end, he is promoted to being "vice president of personnel morale and psycological adjustment." When he meets Pierpont Finch, he jokes saying, "Maybe it should be J. Pierpont Finch." Finch replies, "It is." This plays off of John Pierreponte Morgan's name and company, J. P. Morgan & Co.

4. What is the title of the song sung by the company with the line: "That office light doesn't have to be fluorescent, I'll get no pains in the head."

From Quiz "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"

Answer: Coffee Break

Great, upbeat song with fun lyrics, such as, "If I can't take my coffee break, something within me dies!"

5. What is J.B. Biggley's wife's name?

From Quiz How To Succeed in Taking This Quiz!

Answer: Gertrude

Biggley is married to Gertrude. He speaks on the phone to her, but she never actually is heard or seen on stage. Gertrude is Bud Frump's aunt. Whenever Bud complains to his mother, she calls her sister Gertrude, who then calls Mr. Biggley. Bud uses this cycle to get promoted in the company.

6. Who's the sex-kitten hired by Mr. Biggley to be a secretary?

From Quiz "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"

Answer: Hedy LaRue

Hedy is a bombshell, can't take two steps without being gawked at. But as the cliche goes: she's gorgeous, but a little dimwitted.

7. "The secretary you've got is definitely not employed to do a _________, or you know what."

From Quiz How To Succeed in Taking This Quiz!

Answer: gavotte

The song, "A Secretary Is Not a Toy" addresses the issue of harassment in the business world that was so particularly common during the 1960's. The musical's response to the issue won itself a Pulitzer Prize. This song particularly portrays the secretaries dealing with the advances of their bosses.

8. According to Mr. Bratt, "A secretary is not ..." what?

From Quiz "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"

Answer: a toy

A great song - shows just how valuable those secretary gals are. "A secretary is not! Definitely not! A toy!"

9. Where did J.B. Biggley go to college?

From Quiz How To Succeed in Taking This Quiz!

Answer: Old Ivy & Old Ivy College

Biggley went to Old Ivy. Old Ivy's mascot is the groundhog. Finch pretends that he went to Old Ivy, so that he might get to know Biggley better. Biggley is very pleased that Finch was a groundhog. Old Ivy's enemy is Northern State, home of the chipmunks.

10. What is the mascot of Mr. Biggley's alma mater, Old Ivy?

From Quiz "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"

Answer: Groundhogs

"Grrrrroundhog! Grrrrroundhog! Stand, Old Ivy, stand firm and strong. Grand Old Ivy, hear the cheering throng. Stand, Old Ivy, and never yield. Rip, rip, rip the chipmunk off the field!"

11. According to the song "Cinderella Darling", what is Rosemary the symbol of?

From Quiz "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"

Answer: Glorified unemployment

The gals of the office are trying to tell Rosemary how lucky she would be to marry a wealthy businessman.

12. What was Ovington's college mascot?

From Quiz How To Succeed in Taking This Quiz!

Answer: chipmunk

Benjamin Burton Daniel Ovington was a chipmunk, and Biggley fired him because of it. Ovington's name was a 1960's business joke. In the show, the businessmen joke about "BBDO." BBDO, or Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn is one of the leading advertising companys in New York.

13. What is Hedy's part of the treasure hunt television program?

From Quiz "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"

Answer: She's the "World Wide Wicket Treasure Girl"

In her very revealing pirate costume, she's the Treasure Girl who gives the clues to the viewing public, with much style and class, of course.

14. "On from Bergdorf Goodman...to Elizabeth Arden...in the station wagon...Hurry from Twenty-One...to the __________ PTA." Fill in the missing word.

From Quiz How To Succeed in Taking This Quiz!

Answer: Tarrytown

This quote comes from the song, "Cinderella, Darling." The song plays off of the fact that all the secretaries dream of marrying an executive. In the 1995 revival of "H2$" on Broadway, this song was cut and was replaced by a reprise of "How to Succeed." The lyrics to the reprise were changed so that the song was about the secretaries trying to find out how to "hook a tycoon," how to meet his parents, etc.

15. Finish the line: "Supposing the company thinks ____________________!" ("The Company Way")

From Quiz "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"

Answer: I think so too

Finch and Twimble sing in the mailroom about how important it is to play it the Company Way. But no matter what, "Whoever the company fires, I will still be here!"

16. When the disaster occurs, Wally Womper tries to decide who to fire for it. Who does he end up firing?

From Quiz How To Succeed in Taking This Quiz!

Answer: Bud Frump & Bud & Frump

Bud Frump, J.B. Biggley's nephew, gets fired from the World-Wide Wicket Company. During the Finale, the audience sees Bud Frump washing windows.

17. Why is Finch so accepted, and made the Chairman of the Board, by Wally Womper, the original Chairman of the Board?

From Quiz "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"

Answer: Womper started as a window washer too

Womper is pleased to hear that Finch was a window washer too. He makes Finch the Chairman of the Board after Finch convinces him to be merciful to his dealings with the employees, since all men are brothers.

18. In the end, who does Hedy LaRue marry?

From Quiz How To Succeed in Taking This Quiz!

Answer: Wally Womper

The Chairman of the Board, Wally Womper, marries Hedy LaRue. Finch announces that Womper is retiring from the company. Finch is then given Womper's former position.

19. According to Finch, at the end of the show, the men should be proud to be in what?

From Quiz "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"

Answer: the Brotherhood of Man

So he proudly sings, "Oh aren't you proud to be, in that fraternity, the great, big brotherhood of man!"

This is category 13666
play trivia = Top 5% Rated Quiz, take trivia quiz Top 10% Rated Quiz, test trivia quiz Top 20% Rated Quiz, popular trivia A Well Rated Quiz
new quizzes = added recently, editor pick = Editor's Pick editor = FunTrivia Editor gold = Gold Member

Teachers / educators: FunTrivia welcomes the use of our website and quizzes in the classroom as a teaching aid or for preparing and testing students. See our education section. Our quizzes are printable and may be used as question sheets by k-12 teachers, parents, and home schoolers.

 ·  All questions, answers, and quiz content on this website is copyright FunTrivia, Inc and may not be reproduced without permission. Any images from TV shows and movies are copyright their studios, and are being used under "fair use" for commentary and education.