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'Thunderbirds': Behind the TV Trivia Quiz

This quiz will not center on the episodes but the work that went into creating a television series ahead of its time.

A multiple-choice quiz by pollucci19. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
pollucci19

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
283,294

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
468

Awards
Top 10% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 86 (7/10), Guest 86 (6/10), red_and_blue (6/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The creation of the 'Thunderbirds' TV series was inspired by a German mining disaster, however, what was the inspiration behind the names of the pilots of the actual 'Thunderbirds'? Hint

The names of the male members of Enid Blyton's "Secret Seven"

Selected soccer players from Manchester United's 1962 line-up

Names of the astronauts from the Mercury space project

Lord Lew Grade's dog (VeeJAGS)

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. We have the inspiration for the 'Thunderbirds', now we need to figure out where we set the storyline. How far into the future is the series set beyond the date that it was first put to air (1965)? Hint

50 years (2015)

160 years (2125)

20 years (1985)

100 years (2065)

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Now it's time to create the craft that will make up the Thunderbird fleet. Thunderbird One was designed to use what kind of fuel? Hint

All of these

Rocket Propellant

Atomic Power

Turbo Jet Fuel

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Question 4 of 10

4. We now seek a medium through which we will bring the 'Thunderbird' characters to life. Gerry and Sylvia Anderson created a form of puppetry to tell their stories. What name did they give to their original form of puppetry? Hint

Supermacromation

Supermarionation

Supercrappymation

Hypermarionation

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. For the special effects on the 'Thunderbirds' TV series the extraordinary talents of Derek Meddings were called upon. Derek was to later win an Academy Award (Oscar) for his work on which of the following movies? Hint

Batman (1989)

The Land that Time Forgot (1975)

Superman (1979)

Moonraker (1980)

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Music is an important component of television and the "Thunderbird March" is certainly one of the most recognizable themes created for the small screen. During the 1980's a British band was to adopt this theme into the opening of their stage show. Who was this band? Hint

Style Council

Loose Ends

Happy Mondays

Level 42

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. The 'Thunderbird' puppets (characters) needed voices. Here there was a strong Australian connection. Which of the following actors was **NOT** an Australian actor? Hint

Charles (Bud) Tingwell

Ray Barrett

David Graham

John Tate

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. One of the settings in the 'Thunderbirds' is Lady Penelope's residence. She was reported to live in Kent, however, the house is a miniature copy of which real life property? Hint

Polesden Lacey in Surrey

Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire

Stourhead House in Wiltshire

Belton House in Lincolnshire

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. In the 'Thunderbirds' television series, what is the colour of FAB1, the Rolls Royce owned by Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward? Hint

Silver and Black

Cream

Pink

White

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. "Trapped in the Mine" was the name of the first 'Thunderbirds' episode to be screened.

True

False

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 07 2024 : Guest 86: 7/10
Mar 22 2024 : Guest 86: 6/10
Feb 28 2024 : red_and_blue: 6/10
Feb 25 2024 : turaguy: 6/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The creation of the 'Thunderbirds' TV series was inspired by a German mining disaster, however, what was the inspiration behind the names of the pilots of the actual 'Thunderbirds'?

Answer: Names of the astronauts from the Mercury space project

The Mercury astronauts that inspired the names were SCOTT Carpenter, VIRGIL Grissom, ALAN Shepard, GORDON Cooper and JOHN Glenn.
The "Secret Seven" were Peter, Janet, Jack, Barbara, George, Pam and Colin (and Scamper, the dog).

For the record, any relationship to names of Manchester United soccer players is purely co-incidental and I could not find any record of Lord Grade owning a dog, let alone calling it 'VeeJAGS'.

Answer: 100 years (2065)

In the first episode we are shown the airport hosting an aircraft that look similar to the Concorde Supersonic Transport of the mid 1970's. This future (TV) version could reach an air-speed of Mach 6.5.

3. Now it's time to create the craft that will make up the Thunderbird fleet. Thunderbird One was designed to use what kind of fuel?

Answer: All of these

Thunderbird One has the capacity to reach speeds of 15,000 miles per hour.

Answer: Supermarionation

Supermarionation was a combination of "super" (higher in quality), "marionette" (puppet moved by strings or hand) and "animation" (adding life). Supermacromation was an improvement on supermarionation by the Andersons. Hypermarionation went a step further using CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) and motion capture techniques to add further realism. Supercrappymation was a term coined by the creators of 'South Park', Trey Parker and Matt Stone and applied to their version of puppetry when they made the movie 'Team America, World Police'. With tongue planted firmly in cheek, they used thick string instead of fine wire so that it was obvious on-screen.

Answer: Superman (1979)

Whilst Derek worked on all four movies, he received a Special Achievement Oscar for making us believe that 'a man could fly'. He was also nominated for a BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Award) for his work on 'Batman', 'Moonraker' and (post-humously) 'Goldeneye'.

Answer: Level 42

What is not commonly known is that Barry Gray (the composer of the theme) had written an alternative theme song, complete with lyrics, called 'Flying High'. This was thrown out for the 'March' only weeks before the series went to air.

7. The 'Thunderbird' puppets (characters) needed voices. Here there was a strong Australian connection. Which of the following actors was **NOT** an Australian actor?

Answer: David Graham

David is a British actor who provided the voices for Gordon Tracy, Brains, Parker, Kyrano and some of the minor characters within the program. He was also to provide the voice for the 'Daleks' in the early days of the 'Dr Who' TV series. He appeared (physically) in numerous British television programs, including 'Callan', 'The Saint' and 'The Avengers'.

8. One of the settings in the 'Thunderbirds' is Lady Penelope's residence. She was reported to live in Kent, however, the house is a miniature copy of which real life property?

Answer: Stourhead House in Wiltshire

Stourhead is a large estate, 2650 acres, that has been owned by the National Trust since 1946.

9. In the 'Thunderbirds' television series, what is the colour of FAB1, the Rolls Royce owned by Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward?

Answer: Pink

O.K. so it is not a 'behind the scenes' question but I wanted to use it to lead into the contribution from Rolls Royce. The motor company supplied both the radiator grill and the 'Spirit of Ecstasy' for the studio to use when filming close up shots of the car.
It seems strange then that they did not wish to be associated with the making of the 'live action' movie of the 'Thunderbirds' in 2004. Unfortunately, the Rolls Royce was replaced with a (Ford) Thunderbird.

10. "Trapped in the Mine" was the name of the first 'Thunderbirds' episode to be screened.

Answer: False

The first episode screened was 'Trapped in the Sky'.
It was said that Lord Grade had gotten so excited when he viewed the pilot episode that he requested that all the remaining episodes be expanded from their original twenty five (25) minute format to fifty (50) minutes.

Hope you have enjoyed doing this quiz.

Source: Author pollucci19

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