120 1960s TV Show Trivia Questions and Answers (Test Your Decade Knowledge)

Flip the dial back far enough and you land in a living room lit by the blue glow of a console set — the kind of television that doubled as furniture, with a knob you turned by hand and rabbit ears you nudged until the picture settled. The whole family gathered in front of it, because there was one set in the house and three networks to choose from.

These 120 questions travel back through the shows that filled those evenings: the sheriff who kept the peace without a loaded gun, the castaways who never quite got off the island, the starship that went where no one had gone before. Read them on your own, or round up the grandkids and see who can name the Cartwrights’ ranch. The answer sits right under each question, so there’s no need to wait for a commercial break.

Sitcoms, Families and Small Towns

1. What was the name of the sleepy North Carolina town where Sheriff Andy Taylor kept the peace?

Mayberry. The Andy Griffith Show premiered on CBS in 1960.

2. Which actor played the jittery deputy Barney Fife, and how was Barney related to Andy?

Don Knotts played Barney Fife, who was written as Andy’s cousin.

3. A young, red-haired Ron Howard played Andy’s son on the show. What was the boy’s name?

Opie Taylor.

4. Who kept house for Andy and Opie and did the cooking around the Taylor home?

Aunt Bee, played by Frances Bavier.

5. That famous, easygoing theme tune was whistled, not sung. Who composed it and did the whistling?

Earle Hagen, who wrote “The Andy Griffith Show Theme” and whistled it himself.

6. On The Dick Van Dyke Show, Rob Petrie wrote jokes for a fictional variety program. What was that show-within-the-show called?

The Alan Brady Show.

7. Which future film and sitcom star played Rob’s wife, Laura Petrie?

Mary Tyler Moore.

8. The opening credits had Rob doing one of two things with a living-room ottoman. What was the running gag?

He either tripped over it or stepped neatly around it — the version changed from week to week.

9. Carl Reiner created the series and also played one unseen-for-years character on it. Who?

Alan Brady, the temperamental star of the show Rob wrote for.

10. The Beverly Hillbillies struck it rich and moved west. What was the family’s surname?

Clampett. The show began on CBS in 1962.

11. Buddy Ebsen played the family patriarch. What was his character’s first name?

Jed Clampett.

12. How did Jed come into his fortune back home in the hills?

He discovered oil on his land and sold it, then moved the family to Beverly Hills.

13. Irene Ryan played the feisty, tonic-brewing matriarch known to everyone by what name?

Granny (Daisy May Moses).

14. What was the title of the bluegrass theme song that told the Clampetts’ story, sung by Jerry Scoggins with Flatt and Scruggs?

“The Ballad of Jed Clampett.”

15. In Green Acres, a Manhattan lawyer dragged his glamorous wife off to a run-down farm. What was his name, and who played him?

Oliver Wendell Douglas, played by Eddie Albert.

16. Eva Gabor played Oliver’s reluctant, Hungarian-born wife. What was her character’s name?

Lisa Douglas.

17. What was the name of the rural town where the Douglases settled?

Hooterville.

18. One neighbor’s pig was treated like a member of the family and even watched television. What was the pig’s name?

Arnold (Arnold Ziffel).

19. Petticoat Junction centered on a small hotel run by the widowed Kate Bradley. What was the hotel called?

The Shady Rest Hotel.

20. Kate had three daughters with rhyming names. What were they?

Billie Jo, Bobbie Jo and Betty Jo.

21. An old steam locomotive served the branch line on the show. What was it called?

The Hooterville Cannonball.

22. Edgar Buchanan played Kate’s lazy, scheme-happy relative who lounged around the hotel. Who was he?

Uncle Joe Carson.

23. On My Three Sons, Fred MacMurray played a widowed father raising three boys. What was his profession?

He was an aeronautical engineer; his character was Steve Douglas.

24. The household’s first live-in housekeeper, played by William Frawley, was known as what?

Bub.

25. When Frawley’s health declined, which character (played by William Demarest) took over the housekeeping duties?

Uncle Charley.

26. What sort of animal was the title character of Mister Ed?

A talking palomino horse.

27. Mister Ed would only speak to one person. Who was his owner, and who played him?

Wilbur Post, played by Alan Young.

28. The horse’s speaking voice was provided by a former B-movie cowboy actor who insisted on staying uncredited. Who was it?

Allan “Rocky” Lane; the horse was billed only as “Himself.”

29. On Gilligan’s Island, what was the name of the little charter boat that ran aground?

The S.S. Minnow.

30. The castaways set out on a pleasure cruise that was supposed to last how long?

A three-hour tour.

31. What was the real name and rank of the man everyone simply called “the Skipper”?

Captain Jonas Grumby, played by Alan Hale Jr.

32. The wealthy married couple stranded on the island were known by what surname?

Howell — Thurston Howell III and his wife Lovey.

33. Two single young women were among the castaways: a movie star and a wholesome farm girl. Name them.

Ginger Grant (the movie star) and Mary Ann Summers (the farm girl).

34. The brainy castaway who could build almost anything out of bamboo was known by what title?

The Professor (Roy Hinkley), played by Russell Johnson.

Westerns and the Wild Frontier

35. Gunsmoke followed a U.S. Marshal keeping order in a Kansas cattle town. Name the marshal and the actor who played him for two decades.

Marshal Matt Dillon, played by James Arness.

36. In what Kansas town was Gunsmoke set?

Dodge City.

37. What was the name of the saloon run by Miss Kitty?

The Long Branch Saloon. Miss Kitty Russell was played by Amanda Blake.

38. Milburn Stone played the town’s physician across the show’s entire run. What was the character’s name?

Doc (Galen) Adams.

39. Dennis Weaver played Matt’s limping early sidekick, later replaced by the scruffy Festus. Name Weaver’s character.

Chester (Chester Goode).

40. Gunsmoke holds a record for longevity. How many seasons did the series run?

Twenty seasons (1955–1975), making it one of the longest-running prime-time dramas in American TV history.

41. On Bonanza, what was the name of the Cartwright family’s sprawling Nevada ranch?

The Ponderosa. Bonanza premiered on NBC in 1959.

42. Lorne Greene played the silver-haired head of the family. What was his character’s name?

Ben Cartwright.

43. Ben had three sons. Name them.

Adam, Hoss (Eric) and Little Joe.

44. Which future Little House on the Prairie star played Little Joe Cartwright?

Michael Landon.

45. Dan Blocker played the gentle, hulking middle son. By what nickname was that character known?

Hoss.

46. Near which Nevada boomtown, on the eastern shore of Lake Tahoe, was the Ponderosa set?

Virginia City.

Spies, Crooks and Caped Crusaders

47. On Get Smart, what was bumbling agent Maxwell Smart’s agent number?

Agent 86. He was played by Don Adams.

48. Smart worked for a spy agency pitted against an evil rival outfit. Name both organizations.

He worked for CONTROL; the enemy was KAOS.

49. What everyday object did Maxwell Smart famously use as a telephone?

His shoe — the “shoe phone.”

50. The comedy legend who co-created Get Smart later gave the world Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein. Name him and his co-creator.

Mel Brooks, with Buck Henry.

51. Barbara Feldon played Smart’s capable partner, known only by a number. What was it?

Agent 99.

52. Adam West and Burt Ward starred as Batman and Robin. What were their characters’ everyday identities?

Bruce Wayne (Batman) and Dick Grayson (Robin). The show premiered on ABC in 1966.

53. During the show’s fistfights, the screen flashed comic-book words. Name a couple of them.

“POW!”, “BAM!” and “ZONK!” among others.

54. Cesar Romero played the Joker. Which actor played the Penguin?

Burgess Meredith.

55. Two actresses famously played Catwoman during the series. Name them.

Julie Newmar and, later, Eartha Kitt.

56. The Batmobile was custom-built from a one-of-a-kind concept car. Which car was it based on?

The Lincoln Futura; the customizer was George Barris.

57. For its first two seasons, how often did Batman air each week, with cliffhangers bridging the episodes?

Twice a week, on consecutive nights.

58. On Mission: Impossible, what was the name of the secret team that took on the assignments?

The Impossible Missions Force (IMF). The show began on CBS in 1966.

59. Each episode opened with a recorded briefing that gave the famous choice. How did that line go?

“Your mission, should you choose to accept it …” — and the tape would famously self-destruct afterward.

60. Peter Graves played the team leader for most of the run. What was that character’s name?

Jim Phelps.

61. Lalo Schifrin’s driving theme song was written in an unusual musical time signature. Which one?

5/4 time.

62. Hogan’s Heroes was set in a German POW camp during World War II. What was the camp called?

Stalag 13. The show ran on CBS from 1965.

63. Bob Crane starred as the American officer secretly running sabotage operations from inside the camp. Name the character.

Colonel Robert Hogan.

64. Werner Klemperer played the camp’s clueless commandant. Who was he?

Colonel Klink.

65. The portly Sergeant Schultz had a catchphrase he used whenever he wanted to avoid trouble. What was it?

“I know nothing!” Schultz was played by John Banner.

66. On The Fugitive, David Janssen played a doctor on the run. What was his character’s name?

Dr. Richard Kimble. The series began on ABC in 1963.

67. Kimble was wrongly convicted of a crime and spent the series chasing the real culprit. What crime, and who was he hunting?

He was convicted of murdering his wife and searched for the one-armed man he saw fleeing the scene.

68. The 1967 finale was, at the time, the most-watched episode of a TV series ever. True or false?

True — its conclusion drew a record audience for its era.

69. Hawaii Five-O followed a special police unit in the islands. Who was its no-nonsense leader, and who played him?

Steve McGarrett, played by Jack Lord. The show premiered on CBS in 1968.

70. What order did McGarrett famously give his colleague Danny Williams at the end of many cases?

“Book ’em, Danno.”

71. A surf-rock instrumental group took the show’s theme into the Top 5 on the pop charts. Which band?

The Ventures.

72. Raymond Burr played the unbeatable defense attorney on which long-running courtroom drama?

Perry Mason (CBS, 1957–1966), based on Erle Stanley Gardner’s novels.

73. Perry Mason usually won his cases by doing what in the courtroom?

Exposing the real culprit, often prompting a confession on the witness stand.

74. What were the names of Mason’s loyal secretary and his private investigator?

Della Street (Barbara Hale) and Paul Drake (William Hopper).

Space, Science Fiction and the Twilight Zone

75. On Star Trek, what was the name and registry number of the starship?

The U.S.S. Enterprise, NCC-1701. The original series premiered on NBC in 1966.

76. William Shatner played the captain. What was the character’s full name?

James T. Kirk.

77. Leonard Nimoy played the pointy-eared science officer. Name the character and his heritage.

Mr. Spock, who was half human and half Vulcan.

78. The ship’s doctor had a well-known nickname. What was it, and who played him?

Leonard “Bones” McCoy, played by DeForest Kelley.

79. The opening narration described the ship’s voyage. Finish it: “Space, the final frontier …”

“… These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission … to boldly go where no man has gone before.”

80. James Doohan played the ship’s chief engineer. By what nickname was he known?

Scotty (Montgomery Scott).

81. In Lost in Space, what was the name of the Robinson family’s saucer-shaped spacecraft?

The Jupiter 2. The show ran on CBS from 1965.

82. Jonathan Harris played a cowardly stowaway who caused the family endless trouble. Name the character.

Dr. Zachary Smith.

83. The family’s Robot had a famous warning he would call out to the youngest Robinson. What was it?

“Danger, Will Robinson!”

84. Dr. Smith was fond of hurling alliterative insults at the Robot. Can you recall one?

“You bubble-headed booby” was among his favorites.

85. Which young actor played Will Robinson, the boy the Robot looked after?

Bill Mumy.

86. Who created and hosted The Twilight Zone, stepping on screen to introduce each tale?

Rod Serling. The anthology premiered on CBS in 1959.

87. In the chilling episode “To Serve Man,” what did the aliens’ book turn out to be?

A cookbook.

88. In “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet,” a nervous airline passenger spots something on the plane’s wing. Which future Star Trek star played him, and what did he see?

William Shatner, who saw a gremlin tearing at the wing.

89. What genres did The Twilight Zone blend in its standalone, twist-ending stories?

Science fiction, fantasy and horror.

90. The show’s opening spoke of a dimension “as vast as space and as timeless as infinity.” How did Serling’s narration begin?

“There is a fifth dimension, beyond that which is known to man …”

Witches, Genies and Friendly Monsters

91. On Bewitched, what was the name of the witch who married a mortal advertising man?

Samantha Stephens, played by Elizabeth Montgomery. The show began on ABC in 1964.

92. How did Samantha typically cast a spell?

By twitching her nose.

93. Two different actors played Samantha’s husband, Darrin, over the years. Name them.

Dick York, followed by Dick Sargent.

94. Agnes Moorehead played Samantha’s disapproving, spell-casting mother. What was the character’s name?

Endora.

95. The Stephenses had a snoopy next-door neighbor forever trying to catch them in the act of magic. Name her.

Gladys Kravitz.

96. On I Dream of Jeannie, Barbara Eden played a genie discovered by an astronaut. Where did he find her?

On a deserted beach, inside a bottle that she was sealed in. The show premiered on NBC in 1965.

97. Which actor — later famous as J.R. Ewing on Dallas — played the astronaut who found Jeannie?

Larry Hagman, as Tony Nelson.

98. The show was set in a Florida town near the space program. Which town?

Cocoa Beach (near what was then Cape Kennedy).

99. A suspicious NASA psychiatrist kept trying to catch Tony in something odd. What was his name?

Dr. Bellows (Colonel Alfred Bellows).

100. On The Munsters, the lumbering father of the house resembled which classic movie monster?

Frankenstein’s monster. Herman Munster was played by Fred Gwynne; the show began on CBS in 1964.

101. Yvonne De Carlo played Herman’s wife. What was her character’s name?

Lily Munster.

102. Al Lewis played the family’s elderly, cape-wearing relative who behaved like a vampire. What was he called?

Grandpa.

103. What was the Munsters’ memorable home address?

1313 Mockingbird Lane.

104. The one “normal”-looking family member, a pretty blonde niece, was considered the odd one out. What was her name?

Marilyn Munster.

105. On The Addams Family, who played the cigar-smoking, devoted husband Gomez?

John Astin. The series premiered on ABC in 1964.

106. Carolyn Jones played Gomez’s pale, serene wife in her floor-length black gown. Name the character.

Morticia Addams.

107. “Thing” was a recurring family helper. What exactly was Thing?

A disembodied hand that popped out of boxes.

108. The towering, groaning family butler was played by Ted Cassidy. What was his name?

Lurch.

109. The Addams Family theme is unmistakable for one percussive sound effect. What is it?

Finger snaps (the theme was written by Vic Mizzy).

110. Dark Shadows was unusual for a daytime soap opera because of its subject matter. What made it stand out?

It was a Gothic soap filled with vampires, ghosts, werewolves and time travel. It ran on ABC from 1966 to 1971.

111. Jonathan Frid played the show’s breakout character, a centuries-old vampire. Name him.

Barnabas Collins.

112. The wealthy Collins family lived in a brooding mansion in a fictional town in which New England state?

Maine (the town of Collinsport, at the Collinwood estate).

The Variety Hour, the Hits and the Cartoons

113. On Sunday nights, which host presented a hugely popular variety show on CBS for more than two decades?

Ed Sullivan. The program had earlier been called Toast of the Town.

114. On February 9, 1964, The Ed Sullivan Show hosted a British band’s U.S. television debut before a record audience. Who were they?

The Beatles, watched by an estimated 73 million viewers.

115. Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In was a fast, gag-filled comedy show. Who were its two host comedians?

Dan Rowan and Dick Martin. It ran on NBC from 1968.

116. One Laugh-In catchphrase invited a dousing or a pratfall right after it was said. What was the phrase?

“Sock it to me.”

117. Two future stars got early breaks on Laugh-In: a giggly blonde and a versatile comedian who created Ernestine and Edith Ann. Name them.

Goldie Hawn and Lily Tomlin.

118. The Monkees was built around a made-for-TV pop group. Name any two of its four members.

Any two of Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork.

119. The group’s chart-topping “I’m a Believer” was written by a singer-songwriter who became a star in his own right. Who wrote it?

Neil Diamond.

120. The Flintstones broke new ground as television’s first prime-time what?

Animated series. Set in the Stone Age town of Bedrock, it premiered on ABC in 1960, and Fred’s cry of “Yabba Dabba Doo!” became a household phrase.

Frequently asked questions

How should I use these questions at a family gathering?

Read a section aloud and let everyone call out answers before you reveal them, or split into teams by decade. Don’t be surprised if a single question — say, the name of the Clampetts’ theme song — sets off a round of stories about who watched what, and where the TV sat in the house.

Which of these shows ran the longest?

Among this group, Gunsmoke is the champion, with twenty seasons from 1955 to 1975. My Three Sons also had a remarkable run of twelve seasons.

Were these shows in color?

It varied. Early-1960s favorites like The Andy Griffith Show, The Munsters and The Dick Van Dyke Show were filmed in black and white, while Bonanza was an early color standout. Many series switched to color as the decade went on.

Where can I check these facts?

Every name, date and detail above is drawn from the reputable sources listed just below.

Sources

• The Andy Griffith Show — Wikipedia
• Star Trek: The Original Series — Wikipedia
• The Twilight Zone — Wikipedia

If this stirred up memories, keep the evening going with our classic TV trivia questions and answers or settle in at the Taylor place with our Andy Griffith Show trivia. Ready for more? Play our trivia quizzes and see how many decades you can conquer.