100 Old TV Show Trivia Questions for Seniors (With Answers)

The TriviaTalent Team · 7 min read

There was a time when the whole family got exactly one television set, and it sat in the living room like a piece of furniture. You turned a knob, let the tubes warm up, and waited for the picture to settle. Three networks, a test pattern after midnight, and everyone in the house watching the same thing at the same hour.

These are the shows you grew up on — the sitcoms, the westerns, the morning programs, and the variety hours that made the whole neighborhood go quiet at eight o'clock. Pour yourself a cup of coffee, take your time, and see how many you still have by heart. You can keep going with our classic TV trivia questions and answers when you finish.

Family Sitcoms and Home Life

1. On Leave It to Beaver, what was Beaver's real first name?

Theodore. He was Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver.

2. Who played the Beaver?

Jerry Mathers.

3. Who played his older brother, Wally?

Tony Dow.

4. What was the name of Wally's smooth-talking, two-faced friend?

Eddie Haskell, played by Ken Osmond.

5. On The Dick Van Dyke Show, who played Rob Petrie's wife, Laura?

Mary Tyler Moore.

6. What was Rob Petrie's job?

He was head writer for a TV variety program, the fictional Alan Brady Show.

7. Who created The Dick Van Dyke Show?

Carl Reiner.

8. How many children were in The Brady Bunch?

Six — three boys and three girls.

9. Who played Mike and Carol Brady?

Robert Reed and Florence Henderson.

10. Can you name the three Brady boys?

Greg, Peter, and Bobby.

11. Who played the Bradys' housekeeper, Alice?

Ann B. Davis.

12. On Green Acres, where did Oliver and Lisa Douglas move?

From a Manhattan penthouse to a run-down farm in Hooterville.

13. Who played the glamorous, out-of-place Lisa Douglas?

Eva Gabor.

14. Who played her farmer husband, Oliver?

Eddie Albert.

15. What was the name of the Ziffels' pampered pet pig?

Arnold.

16. On The Beverly Hillbillies, how did Jed Clampett strike it rich?

He discovered oil on his land.

17. Who played Jed?

Buddy Ebsen.

18. Where did the Clampetts move once they struck it rich?

Beverly Hills, California.

19. Who played Granny?

Irene Ryan.

20. Who played Jethro and Elly May?

Max Baer Jr. and Donna Douglas.

21. What was the title of the show's banjo theme song?

"The Ballad of Jed Clampett."

22. On Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., which branch of the service did Gomer join?

The Marine Corps.

23. Who played the good-natured Gomer?

Jim Nabors.

24. Which earlier series was Gomer Pyle spun off from?

The Andy Griffith Show.

25. Who played his exasperated drill sergeant, Vince Carter?

Frank Sutton.

26. On Mister Ed, what kind of animal was the title character?

A talking palomino horse.

27. Who was the only person Mister Ed would speak to?

Wilbur Post, played by Alan Young.

A Little Magic and a Lot of Mischief

28. On Bewitched, what did Samantha do to cast a spell?

Twitched her nose.

29. Who played Samantha?

Elizabeth Montgomery.

30. Two actors played her husband, Darrin — can you name them?

Dick York, then Dick Sargent.

31. Who played Samantha's meddling mother, Endora?

Agnes Moorehead.

32. What was Samantha and Darrin's daughter named?

Tabitha.

33. On I Dream of Jeannie, what was Jeannie?

A genie, freed from a bottle.

34. Who played Jeannie?

Barbara Eden.

35. What was the job of Tony Nelson, the man who found her?

He was an astronaut.

36. Which future Dallas star played Tony Nelson?

Larry Hagman.

37. On The Munsters, which monster did Herman resemble?

Frankenstein's monster.

38. Who played Herman Munster?

Fred Gwynne.

39. What was the Munsters' address?

1313 Mockingbird Lane.

40. Grandpa Munster was modeled on which famous count?

Dracula.

41. Who played Herman's wife, Lily?

Yvonne De Carlo.

42. On The Addams Family, what was the towering butler's name?

Lurch.

43. What did Lurch rumble whenever he was called?

"You rang?"

44. What was the family's disembodied helping hand called?

Thing.

45. Who played the ever-cheerful Gomez Addams?

John Astin.

46. Who played his wife, Morticia?

Carolyn Jones.

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

Agent 86.

48. Who played Maxwell Smart?

Don Adams.

49. Who played his partner, Agent 99?

Barbara Feldon.

50. What spy agency did Max work for?

CONTROL — battling the forces of KAOS.

51. Where did Maxwell Smart hide his telephone?

In his shoe.

52. Which comedy legend co-created Get Smart?

Mel Brooks, with Buck Henry.

53. On Hogan's Heroes, where was the show set?

A German prisoner-of-war camp, Stalag 13, during World War II.

54. Who played Colonel Hogan?

Bob Crane.

55. Who played the bumbling camp commandant, Colonel Klink?

Werner Klemperer.

56. What did the affable Sergeant Schultz always insist?

"I know nothing!"

Cowboys, Crooks, and Captains

57. What was the Lone Ranger's horse named?

Silver.

58. What did he cry as Silver reared up?

"Hi-Yo, Silver, away!"

59. Who was the Lone Ranger's faithful companion?

Tonto.

60. Which actor played Tonto?

Jay Silverheels.

61. What were the Lone Ranger's bullets made of?

Silver.

62. On Perry Mason, what was Mason's profession?

A criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles.

63. Who played Perry Mason?

Raymond Burr.

64. What was the name of Mason's devoted secretary?

Della Street, played by Barbara Hale.

65. Who was Mason's private investigator?

Paul Drake.

66. On The Fugitive, what was Dr. Richard Kimble wrongly convicted of?

Murdering his wife.

67. Whom was Kimble hunting across the country?

The one-armed man, the real killer.

68. Who played Dr. Kimble?

David Janssen.

69. The 1967 finale was one of the most-watched episodes of its time — roughly how many people saw it?

More than 70 million.

70. On Star Trek, who captained the starship Enterprise?

Captain James T. Kirk, played by William Shatner.

71. Who played the logical Mr. Spock?

Leonard Nimoy.

72. On which network did Star Trek first air in 1966?

NBC.

73. Finish the famous line: "to boldly go where..."

"...no man has gone before."

Mornings, Music, and Variety Nights

74. Who played Captain Kangaroo?

Bob Keeshan.

75. Where did the "Kangaroo" name come from?

The big pockets on his coat.

76. What rained down whenever Mr. Moose landed a knock-knock joke?

A shower of ping-pong balls.

77. How long did Captain Kangaroo run on CBS?

Nearly 30 years, from 1955 to 1984.

78. Who hosted American Bandstand for more than three decades?

Dick Clark.

79. What was the segment called where teenagers scored new records?

Rate-a-Record.

80. Which city did American Bandstand first broadcast from?

Philadelphia.

81. Which bandleader counted his orchestra in with "a-one, and a-two"?

Lawrence Welk.

82. What did Welk call his featured female singer?

The Champagne Lady.

Frequently asked questions

What are good old TV shows for a senior trivia night?

Stick with the warm, familiar ones that almost everyone watched: The Andy Griffith Show, I Love Lucy, Bonanza, Bewitched, and The Beverly Hillbillies. They reach deep, happy memories and give everyone a chance to call out an answer. You can find more gentle rounds in our trivia questions for seniors.

When did Star Trek first air on television?

The original Star Trek premiered on NBC in September 1966 and ran for three seasons, ending in 1969. It found its enormous audience later, in reruns.

How long was Captain Kangaroo on the air?

From 1955 to 1984 on CBS — nearly 30 years of weekday mornings, with Bob Keeshan in the title role the whole time.

Who played Samantha on Bewitched?

Elizabeth Montgomery, from the show's debut in 1964 until it ended in 1972.

Sources

How many did you remember? Play our trivia quizzes and keep the memories coming.