Classic Radio Shows & Serials

Name:

Date:

Instructions: Before TV took over, radio was king! Test your knowledge of the golden age of radio entertainment.

1.
The Shadow, one of radio's most famous characters, opened each episode with what iconic line?
A
'Return with us now to those thrilling days'
B
'Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?'
C
'The story you are about to hear is true'
D
'Good evening, friends'
2.
On 'Fibber McGee and Molly,' what running gag happened every time Fibber opened a certain door in his house?
A
A monster would growl
B
An avalanche of junk would crash out of the closet
C
His neighbor would pop in unexpectedly
D
The phone would ring
3.
The Lone Ranger radio show began each episode with what famous musical piece?
A
Stars and Stripes Forever
B
Beethoven's Fifth Symphony
C
Ride of the Valkyries
D
The William Tell Overture
4.
Orson Welles' 1938 radio broadcast of 'The War of the Worlds' caused widespread panic because listeners believed what was actually happening?
A
A German bombing raid
B
A Martian invasion of Earth
C
A volcanic eruption
D
A massive earthquake
5.
George Burns and Gracie Allen's popular radio show relied on what comedic dynamic between the two?
A
They constantly argued and bickered
B
Gracie played the scatterbrained wife while George was the straight man
C
George played the fool while Gracie was the straight woman
D
Both played zany characters
6.
On 'The Jack Benny Program,' what was Jack Benny's most famous comedic character trait?
A
His extreme stinginess
B
His constant sneezing
C
His fear of the dark
D
His terrible singing
7.
The radio show 'Amos 'n' Andy' was so popular in the early 1930s that some movie theaters would do what during broadcast time?
A
Close their doors entirely
B
Stop the movie and play the radio show over speakers
C
Offer free tickets for the next day
D
Play the show before the feature film
8.
The Green Hornet radio show, which debuted in 1936, featured a hero whose secret identity was Britt Reid. What was his relation to another famous radio hero?
A
He was the grandnephew of the Lone Ranger
B
He was the son of the Lone Ranger
C
He was the brother of the Shadow
D
He was the cousin of Buck Rogers
9.
The horror radio show 'Inner Sanctum Mysteries' opened each episode with what distinctive sound effect?
A
Chains rattling
B
A wolf howling
C
Thunder crashing
D
A creaking door
10.
The radio version of 'Dragnet' began with what famous four-note musical motif?
A
Bum-bum-bum-bah
B
Dun-dun-dun-dun
C
Da-da-da-dum
D
Dum-da-dum-dum
11.
Eve Arden starred as a witty high school English teacher in which popular radio comedy that ran from 1948 to 1957?
A
The Goldbergs
B
Our Miss Brooks
C
The Aldrich Family
D
My Friend Irma
12.
Before becoming one of the longest-running TV shows in history, 'Gunsmoke' originated as a radio program in what year?
A
1947
B
1949
C
1952
D
1955
13.
Abbott and Costello's most famous comedy routine, first performed on radio, involved confusion over the names of players on a baseball team. What was it called?
A
'Take Me Out to the Ball Game'
B
'The Baseball Mix-Up'
C
'Play Ball!'
D
'Who's on First?'
14.
The radio anthology series 'Suspense' was known by what dramatic nickname?
A
'Theater of Terror'
B
'The Scariest Show on Earth'
C
'Tales to Make You Tremble'
D
'Radio's Outstanding Theater of Thrills'
15.
The mystery radio show 'The Whistler' featured an anonymous narrator who introduced each story by saying he knew what?
A
'The secrets of the night'
B
'What lies behind every locked door'
C
'Many things, for I walk by night'
D
'The truth that hides in shadows'

Find more free puzzles and brain games at www.SeniorBrainGames.org