Can You Pass a 1960s TV Trivia Quiz?

By: William J. Wright
Estimated Completion Time
5 min
Can You Pass a 1960s TV Trivia Quiz?
Image: CBS

About This Quiz

From the heady days of Kennedy's Camelot to the Summer of Love, the postwar generation known as the Baby Boomers came of age in a rapidly changing cultural and political landscape. Although music may have been the prime mover of the increasingly influential under-30 demographic, TV was also shaping how young Americans interacted with the world. As television entered its third decade, the number of TV sets in the United States grew from around one million to 44 million. By 1969, nine out of 10 households had at least one TV. How we entertained ourselves and how we learned about the world had changed forever. 

The 1950s are often referred to as TV's golden age — a time when the new medium's promise and potential were just being tapped. By 1961, the value of television was in question as Federal Communications Commission Chairman Newton Minow declared American commercial TV a "vast wasteland." Nevertheless, talented writers and visionaries like Rod Serling and Gene Roddenberry were pushing the limits of TV as a tool to comment on the turbulent times through allegory and drama. Meanwhile, network news outstripped print and radio to literally bring the chaos of the '60s into our living rooms.

The 1960s was a landmark time for all genres of TV. From drama and comedy to sci-fi and thrillers, the decade was filled with classic moments and beloved shows that have become indelible pieces of the cultural landscape. So, whether you were there the first time or just saw the reruns, we've put together something just for fans of classic TV. Can you pass our 1960s TV challenge?

1960s TV 34
ABC
Which "Carol Burnett Show" regular co-starred as the meek and bumbling Ensign Chuck Parker on "McHale's Navy"?
Tim Conway
Lyle Waggoner
Harvey Korman
Dick Van Dyke
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Before "The Carol Burnett Show," Tim Conway honed his comedic chops on the military farce "McHale's Navy." As second-in-command to Ernest Borgnine's Lt. Cmdr. McHale, Conway's Ensign Chuck Parker often got himself and the crew into wacky situations through his lack of military acumen.

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1960s TV 1
NBC
Can you name the show that took viewers on a five-year mission to the farthest reaches of the galaxy?
"Lost in Space"
"The Invaders"
"Star Trek"
"Journey to the Unknown"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In the annals of television history, there is no success story like "Star Trek." Created by Gene Roddenberry, the show follows the adventures of the Starship Enterprise. Canceled after only three seasons, it would find its audience in syndication, spawning a franchise that thrives to this day.

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1960s TV 13
CBS
This TV news anchor rose to prominence in the '60s. Do you remember "the most trusted man in America"?
Chet Huntley
David Brinkley
Frank Reynolds
Walter Cronkite
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

From 1962 to his retirement in 1981, Cronkite anchored the "CBS Evening News," shepherding TV viewers through both good times and bad. From the assassination of JFK to the moon landing to the war in Vietnam, Cronkite was the voice on which America relied.

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1960s TV 10
CBS
What's the Munsters' street address?
742 Evergreen Terrace
10 Stigwood Avenue
1313 Mockingbird Lane
704 Hauser Street
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

1313 Mockingbird Lane is, of course, the address of that wholesome family of fiends from "The Munsters." Blending the spooky atmosphere of the classic Universal monster movies with the all-American family ethos of the family comedies of the day, "The Munsters" is an enduring classic.

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1960s TV 17
CBS
One of these "Hogan's Heroes" costars went on to become a popular game show host in the 1970s. Can you name him?
Bob Crane
Richard Dawson
Larry Hovis
Ivan Dixon
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Richard Dawson, perhaps best known for his long stint as host of "The Family Feud," played Stalag 13's resident conman, Corporal Newkirk in "Hogan's Heroes." Although a series about Allied POWs in WWII seems an unlikely subject for a comedy, the show ran from 1965 to 1971.

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1960s TV 3
ABC
This '60s TV show was the first animated series to have a prime time slot. Can you name it?
"The Flintstones"
"The Jetsons"
"Jonny Quest"
"Space Ghost"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

With the popularity of prime time animated fare like "The Simpsons" and "Bob's Burgers," it's hard to imagine that there was a time when animation was considered solely the domain of kids' programming. The first cartoon to break into the coveted prime time spot was "The Flintstones" in 1960.

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1960s TV 16
ABC
Do you remember the comedic actor who played Samantha Stephens' practical joking Uncle Arthur on "Bewitched"?
Paul Lynde
Charles Nelson Riley
Charlie Callas
Rip Taylor
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Paul Lynde brought his outrageous persona to the role of Uncle Arthur, a recurring character on the fantasy sitcom "Bewitched." Arthur's love of mischief and practical jokes combined with his formidable magic often landed him in trouble with niece Samantha (Elizabeth Montgomery).

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1960s TV 6
ABC
This failing '60s soap opera became a ratings smash when it incorporated a vampire into its plotline. Can you name this gothic drama?
"The Edge of Night"
"Dark Shadows"
""The Secret Storm"
"Search For Tomorrow"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

For much of its first year, "Dark Shadows" suffered flagging ratings and the constant threat of cancellation. The show's fortunes changed dramatically with the introduction of vampire Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid) to its gothic setting. Frid's character was a sensation, causing ratings to skyrocket.

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1960s TV 7
ABC
Which show featured the misadventures of a pair of identical cousins?
"Gidget"
"The Donna Reed Show"
"That Girl"
"The Patty Duke Show"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

From 1963 to 1966, Patty Duke starred for three seasons in the dual roles of identical cousins Patty and Cathy Lane on the "The Patty Duke Show." A showcase for Duke's acting talent, the young actress convincingly portrayed prim and proper Brit Cathy and typical American teenager Patty.

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1960s TV 30
CBS
Who played Dobie's work-averse beatnik buddy, Maynard G. Krebs, on "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis"?
Don Knotts
Max Baer Jr.
Don Grady
Bob Denver
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Although he'll forever be remembered as Gilligan, the bumbling first mate of the S.S. Minnow, TV audiences first fell in love with the late Bob Denver as Maynard G. Krebs on "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis." As the bongo-playing Krebs, Denver was the pop culture paradigm for the typical beatnik.

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1960s TV 19
CBS
What fictional small town is the setting of both "Green Acres" and "Petticoat Junction"?
Mount Pilot
Pixley
Hooterville
Bugtussle
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Before Marvel made shared universes popular, writer/producer Paul Henning set three of his rural comedies firmly in the same world. While both "Green Acres" and "Petticoat Junction" were set in Hooterville, it wasn't uncommon for the Clampetts of "The Beverly Hillbillies" to drop in for a visit.

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1960s TV 25
NBC
Which 1960s TV sitcom was based on a long-running cartoon series from "The Saturday Evening Post"?
"Hazel"
"Family Affair"
"Bachelor Father"
"Blondie"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Based on "The Saturday Evening Post's" long-running, single-panel cartoon series, "Hazel" premiered on NBC in 1961. Starring Shirley Booth as the eponymous live-in housekeeper, the show follows the strong-willed maid and her humorous interactions with her employers the Baxters and their neighbors.

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1960s TV 35
NBC
Can you name the '70s sex symbol who made two appearances on "I Dream of Jeannie" in 1969?
Suzanne Somers
Morgan Fairchild
Burt Reynolds
Farrah Fawcett
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Future "Charlie's Angels" star and best selling poster girl Farrah Fawcett appears in two fifth-season episodes of the classic fantasy sitcom "I Dream of Jeannie." In both episodes, she plays the gal pal of Major Nelson's (Larry Hagman) best friend Roger Healey.

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1960s TV 9
NBC
Which of these shows featured Diahann Carroll as a nurse and single mother raising her young son after her husband's death in Vietnam?
"Julia"
"Karen"
"Occasional Wife"
"Pete and Gladys"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Initially criticized for being "unrealistic," the 1968 sitcom "Julia" has, in retrospect, been reevaluated as a groundbreaking moment in TV history. Diahann Carroll has the title role as a widowed, African American mother who must raise her young son while maintaining a career as a nurse.

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1960s TV 21
CBS
Can you name the song that serves as the theme to "The Andy Griffith Show"?
"The Fishin' Hole"
"There is a Time"
"Sourwood Mountain"
"Dooley"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"The Andy Griffith Show's" iconic theme is titled, appropriately enough, "The Fishin' Hole." Composed by Earl Hagen and Herbert Spencer and whistled by Hagen, actor Everett Sloane wrote lyrics for the song which were never included on the show.

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1960s TV 11
CBS
This quiz will self-destruct in five seconds if you can't answer this question: Which 1960s espionage series was revived as a popular action film franchise in 1996?
"I Spy"
"Secret Agent"
"The Saint"
"Mission: Impossible"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Mission: Impossible" was the most enduring series to come out of the '60s spy craze. Premiering in 1966, the action-packed show followed the exploits of the IMF, a team of agents known for their expertise in difficult missions. The show was revived in 1996 as a film series starring Tom Cruise.

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1960s TV 33
NBC
Can you name the aquatic '60s TV show that was co-created by the diver who played "The Creature From the Black Lagoon"?
"Sea Hunt"
"Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea"
"Flipper"
"The Return of Captain Nemo"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A TV follow up to two successful theatrical films, "Flipper" was co-created by writer Jack Cowden and actor, stuntman and underwater cinematographer Ricou Browning. Browning is best known for portraying the Gill-man in the underwater sequences of "The Creature From the Black Lagoon."

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1960s TV 2
ABC
What was the popular Western that launched the career of the actor who would become TV's "Six Million Dollar Man"?
"The Big Valley"
"Bonanza"
"Rawhide"
"Death Valley Days"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Lee Majors, who would go on to greater fame in the '70s action series "The Six Million Dollar Man," co-starred as Heath Barkley on the Western drama "The Big Valley." Majors' character was the illegitimate son of a rancher fighting for his place in the wealthy Barkley family.

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1960s TV 15
ABC
This racy drama that featured early performances by Ryan O'Neil and Mia Farrow was one of the first prime time soaps. Can you name this show?
"General Hospital"
""The Guiding Light"
"As the World Turns"
"Peyton Place"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Peyton Place" was based on the 1956 novel of the same name by Grace Metalious. Predating the popularity of primetime soap operas like 1978's "Dallas" by over a decade, the show's frank treatment of adult themes resulted in the show being initially scheduled at 9:30 p.m.

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1960s TV 28
NBC
Which "far out," psychedelic musician appeared on a 1967 episode of "The Monkees"?
Jimi Hendrix
Donovan
Frank Zappa
Arthur Brown
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In the 1968 episode "The Monkees Blow Their Minds," Mike Nesmith and Frank Zappa switched identities for a bizarre interview which found the leader of the Mothers of Invention donning Nesmith's signature wool hat. Nesmith, in wig and false nose as Zappa, calls the Monkees' music "insipid and banal!"

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1960s TV 24
CBS
Which '60s TV comedy featured a theme song performed by legendary bluegrass duo Flatt and Scruggs?
"Mayberry R.F.D."
"Mr. Ed"
"The Beverly Hillbillies"
"Hee Haw"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

One of the most popular and enduring sitcoms of the 1960s is "The Beverly Hillbillies." Starring Buddy Ebsen as mountaineer Jed Clampett who strikes it rich when he discovers oil on his land, his story is recounted in song in every episode through Flatt and Scruggs' "The Ballad of Jed Clampett."

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1960s TV 31
NBC
For just little over three months in 1969, who was your friend when things got rough?
H.R. Pufnstuf
Fleagle
Freddie the Frog
Captain Kangaroo
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Running for only 17 episodes, 1969's "H.R. Pufnstuf" was a psychedelic freakout for the preschool set. Created by Sid and Marty Krofft, this surreal Saturday morning series featured the adventures of Jimmy (Jack Wild), a normal kid swept away to a land of dragons, witches and talking flutes.

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1960s TV 4
CBS
A young Robert Redford played an injured policeman who is not what he seems on an episode of this beloved science fiction anthology series. Can you name this show?
"One Step Beyond"
"The Outer Limits"
"The Twilight Zone"
"Thriller"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Rod Serling's "The Twilight Zone" is best remembered for its top-notch writing and frightening twist endings. However, it was also a showcase for up-and-coming actors. In the 1963 episode "Nothing in the Dark," a young Robert Redford played a personification of death.

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1960s TV 20
ABC
Which 1960s action and adventure series featured the exploits of an elite group of soldiers fighting the forces of Erwin Rommel in World War II?
"Combat!"
"12 O'Clock High"
"The Rat Patrol"
"Jericho"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"The Rat Patrol" starred Christopher George as Sgt. Sam Troy, commander of an elite desert patrol group fighting Rommel's Afrika Korps during the Second World War. Although it was popular in the United States, the show's many historical inaccuracies drew the ire of British and Australian audiences.

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1960s TV 8
NBC
Do you know the name of the legendary actor who hosted the '60s horror and suspense anthology "Thriller"?
Vincent Price
John Carradine
Peter Cushing
Boris Karloff
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Thriller" was hosted by Boris Karloff, best known for his role as the creature in Universal's classic "Frankenstein." An anthology show, "Thriller" featured horror and suspense stories written by such authors as Robert Bloch.

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1960s TV 27
CBS
Can you name the sci-fi series in which one of the main characters was transformed into a giant stalk of celery?
"The Time Tunnel"
"Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea"
"Lost in Space"
"My Favorite Martian"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In the last season of "Lost in Space," the stuffy, cowardly and vaguely villainous Dr. Smith (Jonathan Harris) was transformed into a sentient stalk of celery. The episode titled "The Great Vegetable Rebellion," although reviled by sci-fi fans, has since become a cult favorite.

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1960s TV 29
ABC
Do you remember the name of Morticia Addams' man-eating plant?
Jezebel
Marie Antoinette
Cleopatra
Evita
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Addams family matriarch Morticia (Caroline Jones), had quite the green thumb. In many episodes, she can be seen snipping those pesky blooms from her roses are feeding her man-eating "Boston Strangler," Cleopatra.

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1960s TV 22
CBS
Which 1960s comedy/variety show constantly ran afoul of the censors resulting in its cancellation in 1969?
"Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In"
"Shindig!"
"Hullabaloo"
"The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Comedy duo The Smothers Brothers found themselves in constant hot water over the content of their variety show. Unafraid to address the hot button topics of the era, "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" often ran afoul of network censors resulting in the show's cancellation in 1969.

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1960s TV 14
NBC
Can you name the evil organization that's the main adversary of special agents Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin on the '60s spy hit "The Man From U.N.C.L.E."?
SMERSH
Hydra
KAOS
THRUSH
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"The Man from U.N.C.L.E." focused on the exploits of secret agents Napoleon Solo (Robert Vaughn) and Illya Kuryakin (David McCallum) in their ongoing battle against THRUSH. THRUSH was so dangerous, Cold War adversaries Russia and the United states joined forces to combat it.

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1960s TV 32
ABC
What's the name of the Army outpost that's the setting for the Wild West comedy "F Troop"?
Fort Apache
Fort Sanders
Fort Duckburg
Fort Courage
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

From 1965 to 1967, TV audiences were treated to the slapstick misadventures of the soldiers of "F Troop." Set at the fictional Fort Courage, the show starred Ken Berry as the bumbling Captain Wilton Parmenter, who's in charge of a misfit brigade of cavalry troops.

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1960s TV 23
ITV
Can you name the actor who played the retired secret agent known only as Number Six on the surreal 1960s show "The Prisoner"?
Roger Moore
Tom Baker
Patrick Macnee
Patrick McGoohan
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

British actor Patrick McGoohan co-created and starred in the surreal 1967 drama "The Prisoner." Known only as Number Six, McGoohan plays a recently retired secret agent who finds himself trapped in an idyllic village where he's constantly interrogated for information by a figure called Number Two.

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1960s TV 5
NBC
This 1950s cop show was successfully revived in 1967. Can you name it?
"Dragnet"
"Highway Patrol"
"Peter Gunn"
"Decoy"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Creator and star Jack Webb successfully brought his popular '50s cop drama "Dragnet" back to the small screen in 1967. Retaining its signature style but tackling contemporary themes like the counterculture and drug use, the revived series lasted until 1970.

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1960s TV 12
CBS
On the '60s sitcom "Gilligan's Island," what's the Skipper's real name?
Roy Hinkley
Jonas Grumby
Norville Rogers
Charles Beaumont Parker
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Comedic actor Alan Hale Jr. played the hapless skipper of the S.S. Minnow for three seasons on "Gilligan's Island." Although the Skipper is almost exclusively referred to by his informal title and nickname, his actual name as indicated in the pilot is Jonas Grumby.

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1960s TV 18
CBS
On "The Dick Van Dyke Show," what was Rob and Laura Petrie's son Richie's middle name?
Percival
Theodore
Rosebud
Marion
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Rob and Laura Petrie (Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore), hoping to save their son (Larry Mathews) some embarrassment, kept his middle name a secret. After finding his birth certificate, Richie learns his middle name is Rosebud, an acronym for "Robert Oscar Sam Edward Benjamin Ulysses David."

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1960s TV 26
ABC
Which "Batman" villain did not appear on the popular 1966 TV show?
Egghead
The Mad Hatter
Two-Face
The Minstrel
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Despite being a fixture of the comic book, Two-Face never appeared on the 1966-1968 TV series. Nevertheless, legendary author Harlan Ellison did pen a rejected outline that would have introduced the iconic villain. Ellison's story was finally published as an issue of the comic "Batman '66" in 2014.

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CBS