Classic Westerns
Instructions: Saddle up for trivia about legendary Western TV shows and movies — from Gunsmoke and Bonanza to John Wayne and Clint Eastwood!
- 1.
Which actor played Marshal Matt Dillon on the long-running TV series 'Gunsmoke'?
AClint WalkerBHugh O'BrianCJohn WayneDJames Arness - 2.
What was the name of the Cartwright family ranch on the TV series 'Bonanza'?
ADoubleback RanchBBig ValleyCShiloh RanchDThe Ponderosa - 3.
What was the name of the Lone Ranger's faithful horse?
ASilverBScoutCChampionDTrigger - 4.
In the 1952 film 'High Noon,' who played Marshal Will Kane?
AGary CooperBKirk DouglasCRandolph ScottDHenry Fonda - 5.
Which John Wayne film won him his only Academy Award for Best Actor?
ATrue GritBThe SearchersCThe ShootistDStagecoach - 6.
On 'Have Gun – Will Travel,' what was the name of the refined gunfighter played by Richard Boone?
AMaverickBRowdyCPaladinDCheyenne - 7.
Before becoming a major film star, Clint Eastwood played Rowdy Yates on which TV Western?
ALaramieBRawhideCWagon TrainDThe Virginian - 8.
In 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly' (1966), which character did Clint Eastwood play?
AThe Good (Blondie)BThe StrangerCThe Ugly (Tuco)DThe Bad (Angel Eyes) - 9.
Which actress played the saloon owner Miss Kitty Russell on 'Gunsmoke'?
AAnn-MargretBDale EvansCBarbara StanwyckDAmanda Blake - 10.
What was the name of Tonto's companion, the Lone Ranger, in his civilian identity?
ADan ReidBBritt ReidCJohn ReidDJames Reid - 11.
Which director helmed the classic 1956 Western 'The Searchers' starring John Wayne?
AJohn HustonBHoward HawksCAnthony MannDJohn Ford - 12.
Which Italian director created the 'Dollars Trilogy' of Spaghetti Westerns starring Clint Eastwood?
ASergio CorbucciBBernardo BertolucciCSergio LeoneDFederico Fellini - 13.
In the 1939 film 'Stagecoach,' what was the name of John Wayne's outlaw character?
AThe Ringo KidBCole ThorntonCEthan EdwardsDTom Doniphon - 14.
Which of these actors was NOT one of 'The Magnificent Seven' in the 1960 film?
ASteve McQueenBJames CoburnCCharles BronsonDClint Eastwood - 15.
Who composed the iconic musical scores for Sergio Leone's Spaghetti Westerns, including the famous theme from 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly'?
AEnnio MorriconeBElmer BernsteinCJohn WilliamsDDimitri Tiomkin
Answer Key
James Arness starred as Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke from 1955 to 1975, making it one of the longest-running primetime live-action series in American TV history.
The Cartwright family — Ben, Adam, Hoss, and Little Joe — lived on the Ponderosa ranch near Virginia City, Nevada. Bonanza aired from 1959 to 1973.
The Lone Ranger's white stallion was named Silver, famously summoned with the cry 'Hi-yo, Silver, away!' Scout was Tonto's horse.
Gary Cooper won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Marshal Will Kane, who must face a gang of outlaws alone when the townspeople refuse to help.
John Wayne won the Best Actor Oscar in 1970 for his role as one-eyed U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn in 'True Grit' (1969).
Richard Boone played Paladin, a cultured and well-educated gunfighter-for-hire who operated out of the Hotel Carlton in San Francisco. The show aired from 1957 to 1963.
Clint Eastwood played trail hand Rowdy Yates on 'Rawhide' from 1959 to 1965. The show's iconic theme song featured the lyric 'Rollin', rollin', rollin'.'
Clint Eastwood played 'The Good,' also known as Blondie or 'The Man with No Name.' Lee Van Cleef played 'The Bad' (Angel Eyes) and Eli Wallach played 'The Ugly' (Tuco).
Amanda Blake portrayed Miss Kitty Russell, owner of the Long Branch Saloon in Dodge City, for 19 seasons of Gunsmoke from 1955 to 1974.
The Lone Ranger's true identity was John Reid, a former Texas Ranger who was the sole survivor of an ambush by the Butch Cavendish gang. Britt Reid (The Green Hornet) was his grand-nephew.
John Ford directed 'The Searchers,' widely regarded as one of the greatest Westerns ever made. Ford and Wayne collaborated on many films, including 'Stagecoach' and 'The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.'
Sergio Leone directed 'A Fistful of Dollars' (1964), 'For a Few Dollars More' (1965), and 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly' (1966), collectively known as the Dollars Trilogy.
'Stagecoach' was the breakthrough role for John Wayne, playing the Ringo Kid, an escaped prisoner seeking revenge on the men who murdered his family. The film was directed by John Ford.
Clint Eastwood was not in 'The Magnificent Seven.' The seven were played by Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, James Coburn, Charles Bronson, Robert Vaughn, Brad Dexter, and Horst Buchholz.
Ennio Morricone composed the legendary scores for Leone's Westerns. His haunting, innovative music — featuring whistling, electric guitars, and chanting — became synonymous with the genre.