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Quiz about Teen Screen Idols of the Fifties and Sixties
Quiz about Teen Screen Idols of the Fifties and Sixties

Teen Screen Idols of the Fifties and Sixties Quiz


This is a quiz about how some of the teen idols of the sixties got their start in films.

A multiple-choice quiz by shanteyman. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
shanteyman
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
284,112
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
5 / 10
Plays
2240
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 73 (9/10), Guest 66 (6/10), Guest 70 (9/10).
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. Which teen idol made his film debut in 1959's "Hound Dog Man"? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. "Jamboree" was a black and white rock and roll revue which featured the screen premier of which teen idol actor? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Who portrayed Hugo Peabody in the 1962 movie version of "Bye Bye Birdie" with Ann Margret and Dick Van Dyke? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. "Rumble on the Docks" was a movie about corruption released on the heels of "On the Waterfront". It was the premier film for which up and coming teen singer and actor? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Which teen singer made his first big screen appearance in 1959 as gunfighter Colorado Ryan with John Wayne, Dean Martin and Walter Brennan in "Rio Bravo"? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Which heart-throb got his start in films playing Frank O'Brien in the "The Lawless"? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Which actor received his first credited movie role in 1958 in the aviator film "The Tarnished Angels"? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Pat Boone played a college student in his first movie. What was the name of the 1957 film? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. "Sing, Boy, Sing" was the 1958 debut film for which teen idol? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Which singer-turned-actor had his first movie role on location in Italy in the movie "Come September" in 1961? Hint



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quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Which teen idol made his film debut in 1959's "Hound Dog Man"?

Answer: Fabian

Fabian was born Fabiano Anthony Forte on February 6, 1943. One of his 1959 recordings was also called "Hound Dog Man". He paired with Carol Lynley in the coming-of-age film that took place in early rural America. Fabian and his older brother went on a hunting trip and met some girls. Of course they got in trouble with the girls' parents and had other misfortunes before returning home. Stuart Whitman, Dodie Stevens and Dennis Holmes also appeared in the flick. Dodie recorded a song in 1959 called "Pink Shoe Laces". Stuart Whitman played Marshal Jim Crown in the TV series "Cimarron Strip" (1967). Dennis also appeared in "A Woman Obsessed" in 1959. Former model Carol Lynley went into acting after appearing on the cover of Life magazine at age 15. Frankie Avalon went on to star in a series of beach blanket movies.
2. "Jamboree" was a black and white rock and roll revue which featured the screen premier of which teen idol actor?

Answer: Frankie Avalon

By the time he was 12, Avalon was making television appearances playing the trumpet. As a teenager he played with Bobby Rydell in a band known as Rocco and the Saints. In 1959 his recordings "Venus" and "Why" both hit number one. Before Frankie was The Big Kahuna in beach movies with Annette, he was in "Jamboree".

The film was a black and white rock 'n' roll motion picture directed by Roy Lockwood released in 1957. It concerned a boy and girl who became overnight sensations as a romantic singing duo then ran into trouble when their managers tried to make them solo acts. Kay Medford played his girlfriend.

The film was notable because of the appearance of such artists as Fats Domino, Buddy Knox, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins. Dick Clark had a role as a show host. James Darren had rock hits in the sixties and Tommy Kirk appeared in several Disney movies.
3. Who portrayed Hugo Peabody in the 1962 movie version of "Bye Bye Birdie" with Ann Margret and Dick Van Dyke?

Answer: Bobby Rydell

Robert Louis Ridarelli was singing on the "Paul Whiteman Show" (1949-1952) before he was a teenager. As a teenager renamed Bobby Rydell he signed with Cameo records and had a string of 19 hits beginning in the late fifties. His first hit was "Kissing Time".

He also recorded "Wildwood Days", "Volare" and his last top twenty hit, 1963's "Forget Him". His biggest hit was "Wild One", which reached number two. "Bye Bye Birdie" centered around a rock star who was getting drafted. In both the Broadway musical and film "Grease" (1978) the high school was named Rydell High after Bobby. Jesse Pearson played Conrad Birdie in the movie. Bobby Darin was enjoying chart success during the same period and Pat Boone has been recording pop songs and movie themes since the early fifties.
4. "Rumble on the Docks" was a movie about corruption released on the heels of "On the Waterfront". It was the premier film for which up and coming teen singer and actor?

Answer: James Darren

Born James William Ercolani in 1936, James Darren also had a string of teen idol hits beginning in 1959. Before acting in the movie "Gidget" in 1959 opposite Sandra Dee he starred in "Rumble on the Docks". The 1956 movie concerned waterfront corruption and was no doubt inspired by "On the Waterfront". James played Jimmy Smigelski, a juvenile delinquent who was hired by union leader named Brindo, played by Michael Granger.

He was kicked out of his house by his father and came to consider Brindo as a surrogate dad.

He finally realized that Brindo was really corrupt. Darren also played Officer James Corrigan on "T.J. Hooker" from 1983-1986. Hard-core fans of animation may recognize Darren singing "Ven-e, Ven-o, Ven-a" as the singing voice of Yogi Bear in the 1964 animated film "Hey There, It's Yogi Bear!". Ricky Nelson starred as himself in "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" from 1952 to 1966 and Cliff Richard is a British rocker who also appeared in movies.
5. Which teen singer made his first big screen appearance in 1959 as gunfighter Colorado Ryan with John Wayne, Dean Martin and Walter Brennan in "Rio Bravo"?

Answer: Ricky Nelson

On his 21st birthday, May 8, 1961, Eric Hilliard Nelson officially changed his recording name from Ricky Nelson to Rick Nelson. Starting in 1957 with a cover of the Fats Domino song "I'm Walking", he went on to have over 30 top twenty hits. His recording of "Traveling Man" reached number one in 1961.

He became known to American households from his family's show "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" from 1952 to 1966. In "Rio Bravo" Ricky played a baby-faced gunfighter. He sang a brief version of "Get Along Home, Cindy" accompanied by Dean Martin and Walter Brennan in the film. Ricky was also in "The Wackiest Ship In the Army" in 1960 and "Love and Kisses" in 1965. Johnny Crawford played the son on "The Rifleman" (1958-1963). Troy Donahue was a teen idol who also appeared in "The Godfather Part II" (1974). Frank Faylen was a character actor known for his role in "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946).
6. Which heart-throb got his start in films playing Frank O'Brien in the "The Lawless"?

Answer: Tab Hunter

Tab Hunter was born Arthur Andrew Kelm in New York City. He received a name change by Warner Brothers when he signed his first movie contract. He acted in several minor flicks until he landed the role of Danny, a marine in the 1955 WWII drama "Battle Cry". Released earlier in In 1955, "The Lawless" concerned a newspaper editor in a small agricultural town who found himself going against the the townsfolk when he got involved in the plight of the area's Mexican fruit pickers.

The editor was played by Macdonald Carey who went on to be on the soap opera "Days of Our Lives" beginning in 1965. Russ Conway also had a role in the film.

In addition to releasing pop records in the late fifties such as 1957's number one Young Love", Tab went on to star in over 30 films such as "Damn Yankees" in 1958 and "Polyester" in 1981. Johnny Sands was another teen actor and singer.
7. Which actor received his first credited movie role in 1958 in the aviator film "The Tarnished Angels"?

Answer: Troy Donahue

Born Merle Johnson, Jr., Donahue was a journalism student at Columbia University before deciding to become an actor. He had uncredited roles in the 1957 films "The Monolith Monsters", "Man of a Thousand Faces" and "Man Afraid". He went on to bigger success by 1959 opposite Sandra Dee in "A Summer Place".

He was a regular on television's "Surfside 6" from 1960-1962 and made appearances on several other TV shows including the crime dramas "77 Sunset Strip" with Edd Byrnes between 1958 and 1964 and "Hawaiian Eye" from 1959 to 1963 with Robert Conrad. "The Tarnished Angels" was about a barnstorming ace in the 1930s. Troy starred as Frank Burnham with Robert Stack, Alan Reed, Dorothy Malone and Rock Hudson also in the cast.

His last film appearance was in "The Boys Behind the Desk" in 2000.
8. Pat Boone played a college student in his first movie. What was the name of the 1957 film?

Answer: Bernardine

Florida native Pat Boone started recording in 1954 with a cover of "Ain't That A Shame". In "Bernardine" Pat played Arthur Beaumont, who was part of a prank by college kids to enter a fictional girl named Bernardine in a contest. Of course she won and it caused problems for the boys. Pat was in "Journey to the Center of the Earth" in 1959 and "All Hands on Deck" in 1961.

He got his first on-screen kiss in 1962 in "State Fair". He had a clean-cut image, and refused to give co-star Shirley Jones a kiss in the 1957 movie "April Love" because she was married.

He may not have gotten a kiss, but he got a Grammy nomination for singing the theme song from the film. In 1997 Boone released "In a Metal Mood: No More Mr. Nice Guy", a collection of heavy metal covers.

It was quite a departure for him and caused concern among his followers.
9. "Sing, Boy, Sing" was the 1958 debut film for which teen idol?

Answer: Tommy Sands

Tommy was only 15 when Colonel Tom Parker signed him to RCA Records. In early 1957 he starred in an episode of "Kraft Television Theatre" where he played the part of a singer who was very similar to Elvis Presley, complete with guitar, bouffant hair and excitable teenage fans.

He sang a Joe Allison composition called "Teenage Crush" which was released as a single and went to number three. Sands' sudden fame brought an offer to sing at the Academy Awards show and landed him a motion-picture contract.

In 1960 he married Nancy Sinatra. Sands was in several other films including "Babes in Toyland" in 1961, "The Longest Day" in 1962 and "Ensign Pulver" in 1964. "Sing, Boy, Sing" centered around Tommy's character, Virgil Walker, who pursued a singing career in spite of the objections of his religious family and community.

It also starred a young Nick Adams who went on to star in TV's "The Rebel" (1959). Jerry Paris was also in the movie. He went on to play Dick Van Dyke's neighbor on Dick's show between 1961-1966.
10. Which singer-turned-actor had his first movie role on location in Italy in the movie "Come September" in 1961?

Answer: Bobby Darin

Bobby was already a top-selling recording artist when he made the transition to movies. Bobby met his wife, Sandra Dee, while appearing with her in this Rock Hudson movie. In the movie Rock was the owner of an Italian villa which got appropriated by his house-sitters as a resort in his absence.

In 1960 Darin was the only actor ever to be signed to five Hollywood studios. He wrote music for several of the films as well as acting. He took on more meaningful movie roles, and in 1962 he won a Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Male Newcomer for his part in "Pressure Point".

In 1963 he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as a shell-shocked soldier in "Captain Newman, M.D.". Paul Anka appeared in 1962's "The Longest Day" along with Sal Mineo and Jeffery Hunter.
Source: Author shanteyman

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