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Quiz about ZIV Television Syndicated Memories Of The 50s
Quiz about ZIV Television Syndicated Memories Of The 50s

ZIV Television: Syndicated Memories Of The '50s Quiz


In TV's infancy, stations had lots of time to fill and very little programming available with which to fill it. Frederick Ziv saw the need and began producing half hour dramas for syndication. Early baby boomers will recall these "ZIV" productions.

A multiple-choice quiz by wilbill. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
wilbill
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
351,876
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
920
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 172 (7/10), Guest 174 (7/10), Guest 209 (5/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. Ziv Television Programs' first product entered syndication in 1950. Duncan Renaldo starred along with his humorous sidekick played by Leo Carrillo. What title character was "O. Henry's Robin Hood of the old west"? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. In "I Led Three Lives", Herbert Philbrick, played by Richard Carlson, was an undercover FBI agent assigned to infiltrate a new type of threat. What brand of evil did Philbrick fight in this early Ziv crime drama? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. "Highway Patrol" was Ziv's best known crime drama. Dan Mathews commanded the HP in an unidentified western state. What Oscar winner portrayed Mathews and signalled "21-50 to headquarters" when he radioed for backup? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Ziv TV sold several series in England and produced a couple of programs there. Robert Beatty starred as Detective Inspector Mike Maguire during 1958-59 in what British police series? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Television's first (and probably only) skydiving crimefighters were featured in this Ziv-United Artists program. What show stretched credulity with 76 episodes of crimes solved by jumping out of an airplane? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Few of Ziv's crime dramas were set in typical big city locations. From 1958-61 in "Sea Hunt", Mike Nelson donned mask, fins and scuba tank to solve crimes and rescue victims underwater. What movie star and father of movie stars played the part of Mike Nelson? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. John Herrick was skipper of the tugboat "Cheryl Ann". Along with his policeman son, Herrick solved crimes committed in and around Los Angeles Harbor. What was the name of this 1954-55 Ziv production starring Preston Foster? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. "Mr. District Attorney" first aired on radio beginning in 1939, moving to ABC television for one season in 1951-52. Frederick Ziv revived the program for syndication in 1954-55 with David Bryan starring in the title role. What real life crusading prosecutor's career inspired this courtroom drama? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Ziv Television's lone entry into sports programming only lasted 26 episodes in 1960, but its concept is still a part of Major League Baseball. What program pitted two Major League sluggers against each other in a nine-inning home run hitting contest? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. What legendary producer and futurist began his television 'trek' writing "Highway Patrol" scripts for Ziv? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 28 2024 : Guest 172: 7/10
Mar 20 2024 : Guest 174: 7/10
Mar 08 2024 : Guest 209: 5/10
Feb 26 2024 : sally0malley: 5/10
Feb 25 2024 : Guest 98: 10/10
Feb 13 2024 : Guest 68: 7/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Ziv Television Programs' first product entered syndication in 1950. Duncan Renaldo starred along with his humorous sidekick played by Leo Carrillo. What title character was "O. Henry's Robin Hood of the old west"?

Answer: The Cisco Kid

"The Cisco Kid" was the first television show produced fully in color. Color receivers didn't come into wide use in the U.S. until the early '60s so few of us ever saw Cisco and Pancho in color until long after their first run. Frederick Ziv correctly anticipated the future value of syndicated reruns.

When stations began color broadcasting, "The Cisco Kid" stayed in demand long after its contemporaries filmed in black and white.
2. In "I Led Three Lives", Herbert Philbrick, played by Richard Carlson, was an undercover FBI agent assigned to infiltrate a new type of threat. What brand of evil did Philbrick fight in this early Ziv crime drama?

Answer: Communists

The major networks blacklisted writers and actors suspected of left wing leanings, but they generally ignored the subject on the air. Ziv brought the Red Scare into America's living rooms weekly from 1953-56.
3. "Highway Patrol" was Ziv's best known crime drama. Dan Mathews commanded the HP in an unidentified western state. What Oscar winner portrayed Mathews and signalled "21-50 to headquarters" when he radioed for backup?

Answer: Broderick Crawford

Winner of the Best Actor Oscar for his 1949 performance in "All The King's Men", Broderick Crawford was a hard drinker with a reputation for being difficult to work with. Ziv tolerated Crawford's quirks in "Highway Patrol" and other shows until the mid '60s. Later Frederick Ziv allowed that, "Broderick could be a handful."
4. Ziv TV sold several series in England and produced a couple of programs there. Robert Beatty starred as Detective Inspector Mike Maguire during 1958-59 in what British police series?

Answer: Dial 999

Ziv's programs were so successful in England that Parliament passed protectionist legislation freezing his revenues until he spent some of his profits in the UK. Beginning in 1958, Ziv produced "The New Adventures of Martin Kane" and "Dial 999" in England.
5. Television's first (and probably only) skydiving crimefighters were featured in this Ziv-United Artists program. What show stretched credulity with 76 episodes of crimes solved by jumping out of an airplane?

Answer: Ripcord

"Ripcord's" two stars both moved on to roles in popular network programs. Ken Curtis portrayed Deputy Festus Haggan for 11 seasons on "Gunsmoke". Larry Pennell played the handsome Dash Riprock in 10 episodes of "The Beverly Hillbillies".
6. Few of Ziv's crime dramas were set in typical big city locations. From 1958-61 in "Sea Hunt", Mike Nelson donned mask, fins and scuba tank to solve crimes and rescue victims underwater. What movie star and father of movie stars played the part of Mike Nelson?

Answer: Lloyd Bridges

There wasn't much dialogue in "Sea Hunt" since virtually all the action took place underwater. At the end of each episode, Bridges came ashore to give a brief wrap up often accompanied by a plug for marine conservation, Bridges' favorite cause.
7. John Herrick was skipper of the tugboat "Cheryl Ann". Along with his policeman son, Herrick solved crimes committed in and around Los Angeles Harbor. What was the name of this 1954-55 Ziv production starring Preston Foster?

Answer: Waterfront

Preston Foster was one of several movie stars who played leading roles in Ziv productions. As preparation for the role of tugboat skipper in "Waterfront", Foster served in the Coast Guard in WWII, reaching the rank of Captain.
8. "Mr. District Attorney" first aired on radio beginning in 1939, moving to ABC television for one season in 1951-52. Frederick Ziv revived the program for syndication in 1954-55 with David Bryan starring in the title role. What real life crusading prosecutor's career inspired this courtroom drama?

Answer: Thomas E. Dewey

When he moved to television, the title character's name was finally revealed - Paul Garrett. On radio, he was just "Mr. District Attorney" or "The Chief". Every episode opened with this modest declaration: "Mr. District Attorney, champion of the people, defender of truth, guardian of our fundamental rights--life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
9. Ziv Television's lone entry into sports programming only lasted 26 episodes in 1960, but its concept is still a part of Major League Baseball. What program pitted two Major League sluggers against each other in a nine-inning home run hitting contest?

Answer: Home Run Derby

Filmed at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles, "Home Run Derby" matched sluggers such as Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Ken Boyer, Frank Robinson and Henry Aaron in "games" in which only home runs counted. In 1985, "Home Run Derby" became part of Major League Baseball's All Star Game celebration, aired live on ESPN and following rules almost identical to those used in Ziv's program.
10. What legendary producer and futurist began his television 'trek' writing "Highway Patrol" scripts for Ziv?

Answer: Gene Roddenberry

Roddenberry was a spokesman for L.A.P.D. when he began writing TV scripts. The department consulted the Dragnet series where Roddenberry began learning scriptwriting technique.
Source: Author wilbill

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