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Quiz about Swashbucklers  Shoot Em Ups Early TV Adventures
Quiz about Swashbucklers  Shoot Em Ups Early TV Adventures

Swashbucklers & Shoot 'Em Ups: Early TV Adventures Quiz


A lot of early television aimed at kids in both the US and Britain involved either swordplay or gunplay. How many of these potboilers do you remember?

A multiple-choice quiz by wilbill. Estimated time: 6 mins.
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Author
wilbill
Time
6 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
353,224
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
8 / 10
Plays
703
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. In 1958-59 "Ivanhoe" aired on ITV in Britain and was syndicated in the US. What "Saintly" future 007 starred as Sir Walter Scott's 12th century hero? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Swashbuckling was the order of the day in British television during the 1950s and '60s. Heroes generally had sword in hand. Edmund Purdom had a three year run as Marco del Monte in Sapphire Films' "Sword of Freedom". Marco was a "Republican" in 16th century Florence, defending freedom against the tyrannical head of what noble house? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Tod Andrews portrayed Confederate Colonel John Singleton Mosby in syndication during the 1957-58 season. Mosby's batallion of partisan cavalry raiders conducted operations behind Union lines. Their adventures provided exciting stories for the television series. This historical shoot 'em up was known as "The Gray _______"

Answer: (1 word, an apparition )
Question 4 of 10
4. Conrad Phillips starred as Switzerland's greatest folk hero in 39 episodes aired on ITC in Britain during 1958-59. This show was complete with lyrics written for Rossini's overture. In the US, NTA Films syndicated "The Adventures of _______
____".

Answer: (2 words, put an apple on your head.)
Question 5 of 10
5. Kirby Grant starred as Arizona rancher/pilot Schuyler King for 8 years on NBC, ABC and syndication. King and his niece Penny, a skilled air-racer, fought crime from the air in his twin-engine Cessna, The Songbird. What show was introduced with, "Out of the blue of the Western sky comes ____
______!"

Answer: (2 words, 3 and 4 letters)
Question 6 of 10
6. Possibly the most successful TV swashbuckler of all was another Sapphire Films product starring Richard Greene. It ran from 1955-59 on ITV, in Britain and on CBS in the US, followed by lengthy syndication. Who gave to the poor in 154 monochrome episodes? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. An orphaned boy, being raised on a cavalry post, and his German Shepherd dog were the stars of this Saturday morning staple which aired 166 episodes from 1954-59 on ABC. One of the stars was called "Rusty" and the other "Rinty". Which one barked?

Answer: (1 word, five letters)
Question 8 of 10
8. Walt Disney brought swordplay to ABC in 1957 with the black-masked "fox so cunning and free". Zorro was a pulp fiction character and had been featured in books and movie serials, but the Zorro remembered by baby-boomers appeared Thursday nights on ABC and was played by what future Professor John Robinson of "Lost In Space"? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Kirk Douglas' production company used leftover costumes, boats and props from the 1958 movie "The Vikings" to film "Tales Of The Vikings", a one season syndicated adventure starring Jerome Courtland as what famous Viking? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. "Boots And Saddles" was a western adventure syndicated in 1957-58. It told the story of the US Cavalry keeping the peace and fighting Indians in 19th century Arizona Territory.
Did the name "Boots And Saddles" come from a novel by Zane Grey?



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. In 1958-59 "Ivanhoe" aired on ITV in Britain and was syndicated in the US. What "Saintly" future 007 starred as Sir Walter Scott's 12th century hero?

Answer: Roger Moore

Of wearing full armor and a plumed helmet in many scenes, the star said, "I felt like a medieval fireman." An uptick in Moore's movie career put an end to "Ivanhoe".
2. Swashbuckling was the order of the day in British television during the 1950s and '60s. Heroes generally had sword in hand. Edmund Purdom had a three year run as Marco del Monte in Sapphire Films' "Sword of Freedom". Marco was a "Republican" in 16th century Florence, defending freedom against the tyrannical head of what noble house?

Answer: Duke of Medici

Edmund Purdom's career began on stage, including a stint at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre at Stratford-on-Avon. In the mid '50s he was cast in major roles in several of MGM's major films, but his film career never flowered after that. Purdom spent several years acting and dubbing dialogue in the Italian film industry.
3. Tod Andrews portrayed Confederate Colonel John Singleton Mosby in syndication during the 1957-58 season. Mosby's batallion of partisan cavalry raiders conducted operations behind Union lines. Their adventures provided exciting stories for the television series. This historical shoot 'em up was known as "The Gray _______"

Answer: Ghost

The real Major John Mosby was a thorn in the Union side throughout the war. Riding as far as Fairfax County, adjacent to Washington, DC, Mosby captured several Union officers, including a Brigadier General. After the war, Mosby supported his former enemy, Ulysses Grant for President and served in his Justice Department.
4. Conrad Phillips starred as Switzerland's greatest folk hero in 39 episodes aired on ITC in Britain during 1958-59. This show was complete with lyrics written for Rossini's overture. In the US, NTA Films syndicated "The Adventures of _______ ____".

Answer: William Tell

Producer Ralph Smart chose to shoot exterior shots near Snowdonia in Wales, at a site not accessible to vehicles. Outdoor scenes in later episodes generally were without dialogue to minimize crew size. Some shots, though, did include autos passing on the road across a nearby lake.
5. Kirby Grant starred as Arizona rancher/pilot Schuyler King for 8 years on NBC, ABC and syndication. King and his niece Penny, a skilled air-racer, fought crime from the air in his twin-engine Cessna, The Songbird. What show was introduced with, "Out of the blue of the Western sky comes ____ ______!"

Answer: Sky King

Although he didn't fly The Songbird during filming, Kirby Grant was an accomplished small plane pilot. He died in an auto accident in 1985 while on his way to watch the launch of the space shuttle Challenger on its final successful mission.
6. Possibly the most successful TV swashbuckler of all was another Sapphire Films product starring Richard Greene. It ran from 1955-59 on ITV, in Britain and on CBS in the US, followed by lengthy syndication. Who gave to the poor in 154 monochrome episodes?

Answer: Robin Hood

Greene was an up-and-coming star for 20th Century Fox in the late '30s. Following distinguished service in the 27th Lancers during WWII, his film career faltered and he signed on as Robin Hood. One reason for the program's success was that its writing was above average for the genre. Producers hired several notable American writers blacklisted in the US "Red Scare", crediting them under pseudonyms.
7. An orphaned boy, being raised on a cavalry post, and his German Shepherd dog were the stars of this Saturday morning staple which aired 166 episodes from 1954-59 on ABC. One of the stars was called "Rusty" and the other "Rinty". Which one barked?

Answer: Rinty

Rusty sent his dog into action by shouting, "Yo, Rinty", short for Rin Tin Tin. This famous Alsatian has been a star of movies and television since 1922. His popular silent films are often credited with saving Warner Brothers studio from bankruptcy.
8. Walt Disney brought swordplay to ABC in 1957 with the black-masked "fox so cunning and free". Zorro was a pulp fiction character and had been featured in books and movie serials, but the Zorro remembered by baby-boomers appeared Thursday nights on ABC and was played by what future Professor John Robinson of "Lost In Space"?

Answer: Guy Williams

Williams was already an amateur fencer when he took on the Zorro role and took further lessons during filming. "Z" graffiti briefly became a problem in American schools while the program aired.
9. Kirk Douglas' production company used leftover costumes, boats and props from the 1958 movie "The Vikings" to film "Tales Of The Vikings", a one season syndicated adventure starring Jerome Courtland as what famous Viking?

Answer: Leif Ericson

Prior to his Norse adventures, Jerome Courtland starred in the little-remembered Disney miniseries "The Saga of Andy Burnett". Later, he narrated and produced several Disney features and movies. Surprisingly, Ingvar The Far-Travelled and Ivar The Boneless are actual Viking leaders who did not appear on the program.
10. "Boots And Saddles" was a western adventure syndicated in 1957-58. It told the story of the US Cavalry keeping the peace and fighting Indians in 19th century Arizona Territory. Did the name "Boots And Saddles" come from a novel by Zane Grey?

Answer: No

"Boots And Saddles" was a US Army bugle call used to tell troops to mount up. The British Army still uses it as a parade call.
Source: Author wilbill

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Gamemaster1967 before going online.
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