FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!
Quiz about Classic Radio Soap Operas
Quiz about Classic Radio Soap Operas

Classic Radio Soap Operas Trivia Quiz


Television daytime drama holds a debt of gratitude to the daytime drama from the Golden Age of Radio. How many of these do you remember?

A multiple-choice quiz by Rehaberpro. Estimated time: 5 mins.
  1. Home
  2. »
  3. Quizzes
  4. »
  5. Entertainment Trivia
  6. »
  7. Radio
  8. »
  9. US Old Time Radio

Author
Rehaberpro
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
321,935
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
266
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. I was left as a young single mother trying to raise my two children. I opened a tea shop that was the main setting for my stories. What was the name of my daytime drama? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. My name is Mary Noble. I got more than I bargained for when I married one of America's matinee idols. I grew up in a small town in Iowa and had no idea of how to be the wife of a man so many other women admired. I had to work hard to keep the marriage solid. What was the name of my story? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. I was a barber in a small town. I could always be depended upon to help my customers and friends with their many troubles. I tried to use just plain common sense. What was my program called? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. I operated a lumber yard in Rushville Center. As time passed I became the radio personality most associated with giving sage advice to people of the town in crises. What was my radio name? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. I guess I was always a dreamer. When I was not at my auto mechanic job, I was at home working on my several inventions. My wife, Belle, both supported me and was a steadying influence and is more practical than I. My name is the same as the show. Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. As a fictional character I was first given life as a novel and later a stage play. In both 1915 and 1934 I was made into a movie, the latter starring Will Rogers. My radio show lasted from 1936 till 1951. What is my name? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. My show always began with these words: "Can this girl from the little mining town in the West find happiness as the wife of a wealthy and titled Englishman?" I was raised in a small mining town in Colorado and had to deal with the prim and proper aristocracy of Great Britain. My husband, Lord Brinthrope, survived our struggles. Although I was addressed as Lady Brinthrope, what was the name radio audiences knew me by? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. When my daughter Laurel married into wealth and prosperity, I felt that my humble status would be demeaning to her and her marriage. So I drew apart from her life but adored her from afar. This was difficult for me and my name has become synonymous with self-sacrifice. Who am I? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. My program went through several format and personnel changes but was one of the more successful daytime radio drama. In essence it was the story of growing up in a small town and how high school kids grew and matured into adults, from high school crushes to adult issues. What was the name? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. I went on for many years proving that just because a woman is over thirty-five, she need not give up the dream of love. I was a fashion designer in Hollywood. My male friend, Gil, was with me all the years that I was on the airwaves. What was my program called? Hint



(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

arrow Select a User ID:
arrow Choose a Password:
arrow Your Email:




Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. I was left as a young single mother trying to raise my two children. I opened a tea shop that was the main setting for my stories. What was the name of my daytime drama?

Answer: Young Widder Brown

"Young Widder Brown", voiced by Florence Freeman and Wendy Drew on NBC, lasted from 1938 to 1956. Bud Collyer was frequently heard as Ellen Brown's suitor.
2. My name is Mary Noble. I got more than I bargained for when I married one of America's matinee idols. I grew up in a small town in Iowa and had no idea of how to be the wife of a man so many other women admired. I had to work hard to keep the marriage solid. What was the name of my story?

Answer: Backstage Wife

"Backstage Wife" lasted from 1935 to 1959. Mary was faced with a series of hussies and Jezebels because of her sometimes fickle husband Larry Nobel.
3. I was a barber in a small town. I could always be depended upon to help my customers and friends with their many troubles. I tried to use just plain common sense. What was my program called?

Answer: Just Plain Bill

"Just Plain Bill" ran from 1932 to 1955. Although it had a similar format to other daytime dramas of its day, it relied a great deal more on mystery and suspense in its stories.
4. I operated a lumber yard in Rushville Center. As time passed I became the radio personality most associated with giving sage advice to people of the town in crises. What was my radio name?

Answer: Ma Perkins

Virginia Payne played Ma Perkins for the entire run of the series from 1933 to 1960--a total of 7065 performances. Payne was only 23 when she took on the role so for publicity pictures she had to wear old fashion dresses, a wig and spectacles so as not to disappoint her audience.

When the cast members name were read at the end of an episode, she was never mentioned but only as 'Ma Perkins'.
5. I guess I was always a dreamer. When I was not at my auto mechanic job, I was at home working on my several inventions. My wife, Belle, both supported me and was a steadying influence and is more practical than I. My name is the same as the show.

Answer: Lorenzo Jones

Lorenzo inventions included an automatic foot warmer, an outdoor vacuum cleaner, a three-spouted tea pot for strong, medium, and week tea, and a rocket ship he built in his basement. This daytime drama played it for laughs from 1937 to 1955.
6. As a fictional character I was first given life as a novel and later a stage play. In both 1915 and 1934 I was made into a movie, the latter starring Will Rogers. My radio show lasted from 1936 till 1951. What is my name?

Answer: David Harum

The David Harum radio show is reported to be one of the most aggressive in promoting its sponsor's products. Characters on the show in a dramatic scene would intersect verbiage promoting a special sale or premium. The show's appeal was in David Harum's common sense philosophy and his interest in helping people
7. My show always began with these words: "Can this girl from the little mining town in the West find happiness as the wife of a wealthy and titled Englishman?" I was raised in a small mining town in Colorado and had to deal with the prim and proper aristocracy of Great Britain. My husband, Lord Brinthrope, survived our struggles. Although I was addressed as Lady Brinthrope, what was the name radio audiences knew me by?

Answer: Our Gal Sunday

This show ran from 1937-1959. The plot often consisted of infidelity or near infidelity on the part of two Brinthropes, more he than she.
8. When my daughter Laurel married into wealth and prosperity, I felt that my humble status would be demeaning to her and her marriage. So I drew apart from her life but adored her from afar. This was difficult for me and my name has become synonymous with self-sacrifice. Who am I?

Answer: Stella Dallas

"Stella Dallas" was a novel by Olive Prouty published in 1920. Three times it has been filmed starring Belle Bennett in 1925, Barbara Stanwyck in 1937, and 1990 with Bette Midler. The radio version ran from 1937 to 1955 with Anne Elstner playing Stella in every episode. This is the classic 'chick flick' alias 'radio soap opera' alias 'tear jerker'.
9. My program went through several format and personnel changes but was one of the more successful daytime radio drama. In essence it was the story of growing up in a small town and how high school kids grew and matured into adults, from high school crushes to adult issues. What was the name?

Answer: Pepper Young's Family

In the early days there were a number of name changes. First it was "Red Adams" but was changed to "Red Davis" due to sponsorship issues. A third change was "Forever Young". But for the last twenty or so years of it was "Pepper Young's Family". The plot often revolved around Larry 'Pepper' Young as a newspaper reporter which gave a convenient entree to various plot twists. Burgess Meredith was an early voice to the series.
10. I went on for many years proving that just because a woman is over thirty-five, she need not give up the dream of love. I was a fashion designer in Hollywood. My male friend, Gil, was with me all the years that I was on the airwaves. What was my program called?

Answer: The Romance of Helen Trent

Helen Trent gave hope to all unmarried females through the years. But Helen in the end she is dumped by attorney Gil Whitney for the vamp Margo Brooks. The series ran from 1933 to 1960. In the last episode you are left with the impression that Gil is returning to her.
Source: Author Rehaberpro

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor kyleisalive before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
3/29/2024, Copyright 2024 FunTrivia, Inc. - Report an Error / Contact Us