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Quiz about Fifties TV Child Stars
Quiz about Fifties TV Child Stars

Fifties TV Child Stars Trivia Quiz


I was close to the same age as many of the child stars acting in TV shows in the 1950s. Do you remember these child stars?

A multiple-choice quiz by shvdotr. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
shvdotr
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
373,420
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
1198
Awards
Top 10% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 172 (5/10), Guest 175 (5/10), Guest 24 (9/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. "Dennis the Menace" was a TV series based on a popular cartoon. It ran from 1959 to 1963. Who played the title role, beginning the first season at eight years of age? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" had a good run, from 1952 to 1966. It was almost a 1950s reality show, in that the stars, Ozzie and Harriet and their two sons, were real people who used their real names. The younger of the two boys first appeared on the radio show of the same name, at the age of 8. From radio and TV in his parents' show, he then went on to a solid musical and acting career as an adult. Who was this teen sensation star? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. "Leave it to Beaver" was a popular family sitcom from 1957 to 1963, and the real identity of "the Beav" is a favorite question among fans of TV trivia. But I was always happy to see Wally's pal, the weaselly Eddie Haskell, come on the scene, a sure sign that mischief was about to be afoot. What was the real name of this actor who first appeared on the show at age 14? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Two popular 50s programs with canines as the title characters were "Lassie" and "Rin Tin Tin". The original Rin Tin Tin died in 1932 and the dog credited with the TV show, which ran from 1954 to 1959, was named Rin Tin Tin IV. Which of the following child actors played Rinty's pal, Rusty? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. From stories starring dogs, let's turn to a TV series whose title character was a horse. "Fury" ran from 1955 to 1960 and, in the words of each program's intro, was "about a horse and the boy who loved him." Who was the child actor in the role of Joey Clark Newton, adopted son of Peter Graves' character, Jim Newton? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. How about some child actresses? A family sitcom featuring the Anderson family, "Father Knows Best" ran from 1954 to 1960, starring Robert Young and Jane Wyatt as the parents of three children, two girls and a boy. Who played Kathy, the youngest child, also known as "Kitten", in the Anderson family? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. "The Donna Reed Show" featured a child actress who not only had a hit record while acting in the show, but went on to an excellent career in TV and movies. Who played Mary Stone as a 14-year-old in the first of her six seasons on the "The Donna Reed Show", which ran from 1958 to 1966? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. This actress was English-born and played Linda Williams on "The Danny Thomas Show" from 1957 to 1964, beginning at age 5. Although she was never on TV's "Bonanza", she did appear in 20 different TV series, including several seasons of "Lost in Space" and "My Three Sons". Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Although Walter Brennan won three Oscars in an outstanding acting career covering half a century, in my mind he'll always be Grandpa Amos McCoy in "The Real McCoys", which ran on television from 1957 to 1963. The very first episode of the series dealt with the upcoming fifteenth birthday of his granddaughter, Hassie. Which child actress played Hassie in all seven seasons? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. In addition to the dancing/singing Mouseketeers, "The Mickey Mouse Club" aired a pair of serials, made up of ten to fifteen minute segments, in 1955 and 1956. The first was commonly known as "Spin and Marty", while the second was "The Hardy Boys". One child actor appeared in both serials, beginning at the age of 15 as Spin Evans. Just before turning 19, he then began a five-year run on "My Three Sons". Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 27 2024 : Guest 172: 5/10
Mar 24 2024 : Guest 175: 5/10
Mar 24 2024 : Guest 24: 9/10
Mar 24 2024 : Guest 68: 10/10
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Mar 21 2024 : Guest 12: 7/10
Mar 20 2024 : Guest 174: 9/10
Mar 18 2024 : Guest 66: 10/10
Mar 14 2024 : Guest 50: 10/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. "Dennis the Menace" was a TV series based on a popular cartoon. It ran from 1959 to 1963. Who played the title role, beginning the first season at eight years of age?

Answer: Jay North

Born in 1951, North was already an experienced actor when he became Dennis the Menace in 1959, having made 14 other appearances on the small screen through that year.

In 1990 North joined fellow former child star Paul Peterson's organization, A Minor Consideration, which counsels child actors dealing with challenges and pitfalls which often occur in children's entertainment careers.
2. "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" had a good run, from 1952 to 1966. It was almost a 1950s reality show, in that the stars, Ozzie and Harriet and their two sons, were real people who used their real names. The younger of the two boys first appeared on the radio show of the same name, at the age of 8. From radio and TV in his parents' show, he then went on to a solid musical and acting career as an adult. Who was this teen sensation star?

Answer: Ricky Nelson

A member of both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, in addition to his singing career, Nelson made 16 TV appearances outside "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" and acted in 7 movies.

He had three songs reach #1: "Travelin' Man", "Poor Little Fool", and "Garden Party".

Rick Nelson died in a plane crash in 1985 while on tour.
3. "Leave it to Beaver" was a popular family sitcom from 1957 to 1963, and the real identity of "the Beav" is a favorite question among fans of TV trivia. But I was always happy to see Wally's pal, the weaselly Eddie Haskell, come on the scene, a sure sign that mischief was about to be afoot. What was the real name of this actor who first appeared on the show at age 14?

Answer: Ken Osmond

Osmond did a lot of acting in his youth, but in 1970 he became a police officer in Los Angeles. In 1980 he was hit by three bullets chasing a car thief suspect, but was not injured.

An early 1970s rumor resulting from a misunderstanding of a quote by Alice Cooper caused many to believe that Osmond and Cooper were the same person.

Tony Dow was Wally on the show and Frank Bank was Clarence Rutherford, better known as Lumpy. Rusty Hamer was on a different show.
4. Two popular 50s programs with canines as the title characters were "Lassie" and "Rin Tin Tin". The original Rin Tin Tin died in 1932 and the dog credited with the TV show, which ran from 1954 to 1959, was named Rin Tin Tin IV. Which of the following child actors played Rinty's pal, Rusty?

Answer: Lee Aaker

Born in 1943, Aaker was an active actor from age 8, when he appeared in "High Noon" and "The Greatest Show on Earth". Friends with Tommy Retting, Aaker also auditioned for the "Lassie" part that went to Rettig in 1954. His filmography shows 25 movie appearances and 17 TV appearances outside of the "Rin Tin Tin" series.
5. From stories starring dogs, let's turn to a TV series whose title character was a horse. "Fury" ran from 1955 to 1960 and, in the words of each program's intro, was "about a horse and the boy who loved him." Who was the child actor in the role of Joey Clark Newton, adopted son of Peter Graves' character, Jim Newton?

Answer: Bobby Diamond

Diamond had made 17 film and TV appearances before his role as Joey Newton, including on television in "Father Knows Best", "The Loretta Young Show", and "Code 3". He appeared in 19 more TV series by the time he was 30.

In 1972 he began practicing law in Los Angeles.
6. How about some child actresses? A family sitcom featuring the Anderson family, "Father Knows Best" ran from 1954 to 1960, starring Robert Young and Jane Wyatt as the parents of three children, two girls and a boy. Who played Kathy, the youngest child, also known as "Kitten", in the Anderson family?

Answer: Lauren Chapin

Despite a troubled childhood, Lauren Chapin won five Junior Emmys for Best Child Actress. Surviving domestic abuse, drug addiction, and an attempted suicide, Chapin would find religion and become an ordained Christian Evangelist. She has also been cited as an Honorary Mayor in three cities for her charity work and has raised over $2 million to help abused and underprivileged children.
7. "The Donna Reed Show" featured a child actress who not only had a hit record while acting in the show, but went on to an excellent career in TV and movies. Who played Mary Stone as a 14-year-old in the first of her six seasons on the "The Donna Reed Show", which ran from 1958 to 1966?

Answer: Shelley Fabares

"Johnny Angel" was sung by Fabares in a February, 1962, episode of the show and went on to reach #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Shelley's full name is Michele Ann Marie Fabares, and she is the niece of Nanette Fabares. She acted in 15 movies and appeared in over 50 TV broadcasts.
8. This actress was English-born and played Linda Williams on "The Danny Thomas Show" from 1957 to 1964, beginning at age 5. Although she was never on TV's "Bonanza", she did appear in 20 different TV series, including several seasons of "Lost in Space" and "My Three Sons".

Answer: Angela Cartwright

Originally titled "Make Room for Daddy", "The Danny Thomas Show" had a total run from 1953 to 1964, with the name change coming after the third season. Angela Cartwright first appeared in the fifth season as Kathy's daughter from a previous marriage. Kathy was played by Marjorie Lord, and she and Thomas' character, Danny Williams, were married before the start of season five. Jean Hagen, playing Danny's first wife, had left the show after the third season.

Cartwright also appeared in "The Sound of Music" and "Lost in Space" on the big screen, along with a few other features. Since the mid-1980s she has concentrated on a photography studio and business.
9. Although Walter Brennan won three Oscars in an outstanding acting career covering half a century, in my mind he'll always be Grandpa Amos McCoy in "The Real McCoys", which ran on television from 1957 to 1963. The very first episode of the series dealt with the upcoming fifteenth birthday of his granddaughter, Hassie. Which child actress played Hassie in all seven seasons?

Answer: Lydia Reed

Prior to her seven-year hitch as Hassie McCoy, Reed also appeared in two feature films, "The Seven Little Foys" in 1955 and "High Society" in 1956. But after her run in "McCoys", she left acting.

Elinor Donahue was in "Father Knows Best" as Betty, Kitty's older sister.

Robin Morgan played Dagmar in "Mama", a series that ran from 1949 to 1957.

Sandra Dee was a film actress who had gotten her start in modeling, not in a TV series.
10. In addition to the dancing/singing Mouseketeers, "The Mickey Mouse Club" aired a pair of serials, made up of ten to fifteen minute segments, in 1955 and 1956. The first was commonly known as "Spin and Marty", while the second was "The Hardy Boys". One child actor appeared in both serials, beginning at the age of 15 as Spin Evans. Just before turning 19, he then began a five-year run on "My Three Sons".

Answer: Tim Considine

In 1970's "Patton", which won seven Academy Awards, including Best Actor and Best Picture, Considine played one of the soldiers whom General Patton slapped, calling him a coward. In the credits Considine's character is identified as "Soldier Who Gets Slapped".

Today Tim Considine is an automobile historian and author.

Don Grady, an original Mouseketeer, was Robbie Douglas in "My Three Sons". Cubby O'Brien was another Mouseketeer. Ron Howard was Opie in "The Andy Griffith Show".
Source: Author shvdotr

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