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Old Time Radio Drama Trivia Quiz

'The theatre of the mind', Old Time Radio was filled with various types of drama, comedy, mystery, horror, and variety shows. The forerunner to TV, it now is nostalgia for some, and history for others. I just find it fun! How much do you remember?

A multiple-choice quiz by alexcooper79. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
alexcooper79

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
79,853

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
2492

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

Last 3 plays: snhha (10/10), Bowler413 (6/10), PurpleComet (7/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. This radio show, hosted by 'The Man In Black', billed itself as 'radio's outstanding theatre of thrills' ? Hint

Escape

Suspense

Gunsmoke

Dragnet

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. This show started with this question: 'Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men'? Hint

The Whistler

The Shadow

The Green Hornet

The Mysterious Traveler

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. This show, hosted by a bad punster named Raymond, welcomed you every Tuesday night at 9.00pm, 'through the squeaking door' ? Hint

Inner Sanctum

Dark Fantasy

The Sealed Book

The Haunting Hour

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. This show warned its audience before every show: 'If you frighten easily, turn off your radio now!' ? Hint

Lights Out

The Hermits Cave

Murder At Midnight

Murder by Experts

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. This show was based on true crime reports from the LAPD. 'Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent' ? Hint

Dragnet

Gangbusters

Box 13

This is Your F.B.I.

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. This show about a 'hard boiled private eye' began with a phone call to his secretary, Effie Perrine, and a dictation to her of his most recent 'Caper' ? Hint

Nero Wolfe

Phil Marlowe

Sam Spade

Philo Vance

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. Before she became the biggest female TV star in the 1950s, Lucille Ball had a radio show which in essence evolved into 'I Love Lucy' on TV. What was it called? Hint

Our Miss Brooks

My Favorite Husband

Fibber McGee and Molly

The Bickersons

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. With a supporting cast of characters such as Mel Blanc, Phil Harris, Dennis Day, and Rochester, this comedian provided laughs and the worst violin on radio for 30 years? Hint

Edgar Bergen

Fred Allen

Jack Benny

Red Skelton

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. October 30th, 1938 was the broadcast date of what was inarguably the most famous single broadcast of radio theatre. What was the show?

Answer: ( Five Words .. the first word is 'The')

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. The most requested show 'Suspense' ever aired was also the only radioplay ever adapted into a movie? Hint

The Hitchhiker

Sorry, Wrong Number

Donovan's Brain

On A Lonely Road

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 10 2024 : snhha: 10/10
Mar 08 2024 : Bowler413: 6/10
Feb 22 2024 : PurpleComet: 7/10
Feb 19 2024 : Guest 108: 7/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This radio show, hosted by 'The Man In Black', billed itself as 'radio's outstanding theatre of thrills' ?

Answer: Suspense

'Suspense' was indeed, radio's outstanding theatre of thrills, attracting some of the biggest names from Hollywood as repeat guest stars over a 20 year period (1942-1962).

2. This show started with this question: 'Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men'?

Answer: The Shadow

The Shadow knows ... heh heh heh heh! Now if the Shadow has the ability to cloud men's minds (and he does!) how did Hollywood figure out that he really looks like Alec Baldwin?

3. This show, hosted by a bad punster named Raymond, welcomed you every Tuesday night at 9.00pm, 'through the squeaking door' ?

Answer: Inner Sanctum

There was another show called 'The Creaking Door' which came out in the 1960s. I was going to include that as an option but didn't think it would be fair, heehee. 'Inner Sanctum' was one of the bloodiest shows and often had Peter Lorre or Boris Karloff as guest performers. Classic stuff!

4. This show warned its audience before every show: 'If you frighten easily, turn off your radio now!' ?

Answer: Lights Out

Like 'Inner Sanctum', 'Lights Out' liked to go straight for the gore, 1940s style. I love this stuff! In 30 minutes Arch Obler (the director) would destroy the world with a chicken heart that couldn't be killed or with some chemical that ate through everything!

5. This show was based on true crime reports from the LAPD. 'Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent' ?

Answer: Dragnet

I'm sure many of you remember the TV show and Joe Friday. Jack Webb played him on TV and radio. Dan Akyroid played him in the movie. Just the facts, 'mam!

6. This show about a 'hard boiled private eye' began with a phone call to his secretary, Effie Perrine, and a dictation to her of his most recent 'Caper' ?

Answer: Sam Spade

Howard Duff was a great Spade! And yes, I say this as a big fan of Humphrey Bogart too. I wish Duff had played Spade in a movie version. Produced by William Spear, 'The Adventures of Sam Spade' rank with the best of Suspense (also produced by Spear).

7. Before she became the biggest female TV star in the 1950s, Lucille Ball had a radio show which in essence evolved into 'I Love Lucy' on TV. What was it called?

Answer: My Favorite Husband

Lucille Ball not only did comedy but also guest starred on many dramas and mysteries as well.

8. With a supporting cast of characters such as Mel Blanc, Phil Harris, Dennis Day, and Rochester, this comedian provided laughs and the worst violin on radio for 30 years?

Answer: Jack Benny

The Jack Benny Program was so popular that nearly every one of his 'cast of regulars' got their own spinoff radio show at some point in time. Their success on their own varied, but when they were all together with Jack, they were hilarious.

9. October 30th, 1938 was the broadcast date of what was inarguably the most famous single broadcast of radio theatre. What was the show?

Answer: The War Of The Worlds

The 'panic' that followed this famous broadcast of the Martian invasion had several causes. The main one, and the simplest, was that most people missed the beginning of the show when it was clearly stated that the broadcast was of H.G. Wells' War of The Worlds. Those that 'dial changed' from the Edgar Bergen Show or some other show missed the introduction and thought they were actually hearing news interuptions of the invasion. Princeton University issued a very detailed study on this 'national panic', as the press dubbed it the next day (Halloween).

10. The most requested show 'Suspense' ever aired was also the only radioplay ever adapted into a movie?

Answer: Sorry, Wrong Number

Agnes Morehead starred as the bedridden housewife who overhears a murder plot(through a faulty phone connection) which turns out to be her own. Still a chilling story. I mentioned that this is the only radioplay to be made into a movie. This is true. The Alec Baldwin 'Shadow', and Tom Hanks 'Dragnet', etc. were screenplays based on OTR.

Many movies were done in abbreviated radio format, (Donovan's 'Brain' is one of the best!) but ONLY 'Sorry, Wrong Number' was written specifically for radio, by Lucille Fletcher, and was then turned into a movie with little alteration. I, however, prefer the 'theatre of the mind' over the movie theatre!

Source: Author alexcooper79

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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