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Quiz about Sitcoms of the 1950s
Quiz about Sitcoms of the 1950s

Sitcoms of the 1950's Trivia Quiz


I grew up in the 1950's enjoying the many great sitcoms on American TV during that era. They still linger in the memory.

A multiple-choice quiz by chessart. Estimated time: 3 mins.
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Author
chessart
Time
3 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
372,245
Updated
Aug 24 23
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
8 / 10
Plays
1344
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 172 (6/10), Guest 24 (10/10), Guest 68 (8/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. Which sitcom was the first scripted TV program to be filmed before a studio audience? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Which cigar-smoking comedian used to break the so-called "fourth wall" by talking directly to the viewer while watching his wife's shenanigans on a TV in his study? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Which sitcom starred not only a real-life husband and wife, but also starred the couple's real-life sons? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Many of the '50's sitcoms featured children in supporting roles, but which show, which debuted in 1959, was the first American TV series to feature teenagers as the lead characters? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. "Father Knows Best" had a successful run from 1954 to 1960. Which actor, who later played the title character on "Marcus Welby, MD", played the role of the understanding father who always had good advice for one of his kids toward the end of each episode? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. "The Phil Silvers Show" was a popular CBS sitcom from 1955 to 1959. What was the setting for this show? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Which of the following was NOT a running gag about the Jack Benny character on "The Jack Benny Program"? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. How many (stand-alone) episodes of "The Honeymooners" were made? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. In which sitcom did the main character's wife die after the third season, with that character then remarrying by the start of the fifth season? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. "The Ann Sothern Show" had a three-year run on CBS starting in 1958. What was the setting for this sitcom? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 27 2024 : Guest 172: 6/10
Mar 24 2024 : Guest 24: 10/10
Mar 24 2024 : Guest 68: 8/10
Mar 22 2024 : Guest 209: 7/10
Mar 21 2024 : Guest 12: 8/10
Mar 20 2024 : Guest 174: 8/10
Mar 20 2024 : nightingale330: 8/10
Mar 18 2024 : Guest 94: 0/10
Mar 17 2024 : Guest 23: 8/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Which sitcom was the first scripted TV program to be filmed before a studio audience?

Answer: I Love Lucy

The original "I Love Lucy" show ran for six years, from 1951 to 1957, and finished first in the Nielsen Ratings for four of those six years. It was followed by a less successful hour-long show, called "The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show". Their marriage deteriorated during this time, and the day after the last episode of this latter show aired in 1960, Lucy filed for divorce from Desi.
2. Which cigar-smoking comedian used to break the so-called "fourth wall" by talking directly to the viewer while watching his wife's shenanigans on a TV in his study?

Answer: George Burns

"The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show" debuted on TV in 1950, following a successful run on radio. Its TV run ended in 1958, but only because Gracie grew tired of performing and wanted to retire.
3. Which sitcom starred not only a real-life husband and wife, but also starred the couple's real-life sons?

Answer: The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet

"The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" ran on ABC for fourteen seasons, from 1952 to 1966. Its fourteen-year run makes it the longest-running show of the 1950s-era sitcoms. The Nelsons' younger son, Ricky, made his singing debut on the show in a 1957 episode, and by the following year, Ricky had become a big recording star with his number-one hit single, "Poor Little Fool".
4. Many of the '50's sitcoms featured children in supporting roles, but which show, which debuted in 1959, was the first American TV series to feature teenagers as the lead characters?

Answer: The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis

"The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis" had a four-year run on CBS, with 147 episodes being made. The beatnik character of Maynard G. Krebs, played by Bob Denver, was the most memorable character from the show, overshadowing the title character played by Dwayne Hickman. After "Dobie Gillis" ended, Denver went on to play the title role in "Gilligan's Island".
5. "Father Knows Best" had a successful run from 1954 to 1960. Which actor, who later played the title character on "Marcus Welby, MD", played the role of the understanding father who always had good advice for one of his kids toward the end of each episode?

Answer: Robert Young

Hugh Beaumont played Ward Cleaver, the understanding father on "Leave it to Beaver. Jackie Gleason did not have any children on "The Honeymooners"; Danny Thomas had kids on his show but it was not "Father Knows Best".
6. "The Phil Silvers Show" was a popular CBS sitcom from 1955 to 1959. What was the setting for this show?

Answer: an army base

Phil Silvers played Sgt. Ernest G. Bilko, who was usually trying to make some easy money with his latest harebrained get-rich-quick scheme. The show was set in Fort Baxter, an army base in the fictional town of Roseville, Kansas.
7. Which of the following was NOT a running gag about the Jack Benny character on "The Jack Benny Program"?

Answer: his feud with George Burns

Jack Benny did have a famous feud, but it was with Fred Allen, not George Burns. Both were good friends of Jack, and the "feud" with Fred Allen was purely fictional.
8. How many (stand-alone) episodes of "The Honeymooners" were made?

Answer: 39 (one year)

"The Honeymooners" began in 1951 as a short sketch on Gleason's variety show. It was a stand-alone show for only one year, from 1955 to 1956. Gleason agreed to terminate the show, leaving $7 million on the table which CBS still owed to him under the lucrative contract he and the network had signed.
9. In which sitcom did the main character's wife die after the third season, with that character then remarrying by the start of the fifth season?

Answer: The Danny Thomas Show

"The Danny Thomas Show" ran from 1953 to 1964. Actress Jean Hagen, who played Danny's first wife, left the show after the third season due to unhappiness with her role. The writers explained her absence at the start of the fourth season by saying that she had died suddenly. Actress Marjorie Lord became a regular during the fourth season as a nurse hired to take care of Danny's sick son, and the two fell in love and were married by the start of the fifth season.
10. "The Ann Sothern Show" had a three-year run on CBS starting in 1958. What was the setting for this sitcom?

Answer: a hotel

Ann Sothern played the assistant manager of The Bartley House, a posh New York City hotel. The stories usually were about the personal lives of the staff and guests.
Source: Author chessart

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ladymacb29 before going online.
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