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Quizzes > Society & Culture

Old Time Radio Trivia: How Much Do You Remember?

Quick, free radio quiz to test your knowledge. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Incognito KickballUpdated Aug 27, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art radio microphone papers stacked sound wave icons on sky blue background for old time radio quiz

This Old Time Radio quiz helps you check what you remember from classic broadcasts, from tense mysteries to lively variety shows. Want more throwback fun? Try our oldies music trivia for a tune-up, or explore classic tv trivia to see how you fare across eras.

Which radio show opened with the line "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?"?
The Shadow
Sherlock Holmes
The Whistler
Inner Sanctum Mysteries
The Shadow’s famous opening line "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!" was voiced by actor Frank Readick. It became an iconic catchphrase of the program and is widely associated with the character. .
In what year did Orson Welles broadcast his famous "War of the Worlds" adaptation?
1935
1941
1938
1930
Orson Welles’s Mercury Theatre on the Air presented "War of the Worlds" on October 30, 1938, causing widespread panic among listeners who thought the alien invasion was real. .
Fibber McGee and Molly’s show was famous for which recurring sound effect?
Car horn
Train whistle
Overflowing closet
Laugh track
The knee-slapping closet gag was a signature running joke on Fibber McGee and Molly, where Fibber would open an overstuffed closet and a cacophony of junk would fall out. .
On which network did the radio show "Amos 'n' Andy" originally air nationally?
ABC
Mutual Broadcasting System
NBC Blue Network
CBS
"Amos 'n' Andy" first aired nationally on NBC’s Blue Network in 1928 and remained there until it moved to other networks later. .
What does "AM" stand for in radio broadcasting?
Alternative Modulation
Amplitude Measurement
Amplitude Modulation
Audio Modulation
AM stands for Amplitude Modulation, a method where the amplitude of the carrier wave varies in proportion to the audio signal. .
What iconic catchphrase did The Lone Ranger often shout before riding off on Silver?
Yippee-ki-yay!
Onward, Silver!
Hi-yo, Silver!
Ride, Silver, ride!
The Lone Ranger famously called out "Hi-yo, Silver!" as his signal to his horse before galloping away. .
Which device is used to convert sound into electrical signals for radio transmission?
Tuner
Antenna
Speaker
Microphone
A microphone converts acoustic energy (sound waves) into electrical signals, which are then modulated and transmitted by radio. .
Who voiced the title character in the radio show "Archie Andrews"?
Bud Collyer
Alan Ladd
Jim Backus
Mel Blanc
Bud Collyer provided the voice of Archie Andrews on radio from 1943 to 1953, becoming closely associated with the character. .
Which distress signal code replaced CQD in maritime and radio communications?
PAN
SOS
HELP
MAYDAY
The international Morse code distress signal SOS was introduced in 1905, replacing the earlier CQD code for emergencies. .
Which actress provided the voice of Margo Lane in the 1940s radio series "The Shadow"?
June Foray
Orson Welles
Lucille Ball
Agnes Moorehead
Agnes Moorehead voiced Margo Lane in the popular 1940s radio incarnation of The Shadow. .
Which company was the primary sponsor of "The Jack Benny Program" on radio?
Coca-Cola
Jell-O
Ford Motor Company
Colgate
Jell-O was the long-time sponsor of The Jack Benny Program, giving the comedian’s show the nickname "The Jell-O Program." .
On AM radio, what frequency range is typically used for broadcasting?
30–300 kHz
88–108 MHz
535–1705 kHz
3–30 MHz
AM broadcasting in most countries occupies the medium frequency band from about 535 to 1705 kHz. .
Which radio anthology series was hosted by Orson Welles in 1941–1942?
Screen Directors Playhouse
The Lux Radio Theatre
Suspense
The Mercury Theatre on the Air
Orson Welles hosted The Mercury Theatre on the Air, later retitled The Campbell Playhouse, during 1941–1942. .
What was the common term for radio actors performing live sound effects in studios?
Foleying
Mixing
Dubbing
Animating
The process of creating sound effects live in the studio for radio dramas became known as foley, named after pioneering sound artist Jack Foley. .
What were the call letters of the first commercially licensed radio station in the United States?
WNBC
KDKA
WBZ
KMOX
KDKA in Pittsburgh received the first commercial broadcast license and began regular programming on November 2, 1920. .
Which act established the Federal Communications Commission in 1934?
Radio Act of 1912
Communications Decency Act
Telecommunications Act of 1996
Communications Act of 1934
The Communications Act of 1934 merged federal radio regulation into a new agency, the FCC, replacing the Federal Radio Commission. .
What was the name of the first radio soap opera, which debuted in 1930?
Painted Dreams
Ma Perkins
Portia Faces Life
The Guiding Light
Painted Dreams, created by Irna Phillips, is recognized as the first daytime radio soap opera when it premiered in 1930. .
Who composed the theme music for the radio series "The Green Hornet"?
Elmer Bernstein
Bernard Herrmann
John Williams
Ferde Grofé
Composer Ferde Grofé, famous for the Grand Canyon Suite, wrote the distinctive theme for The Green Hornet radio series. .
Which New York City station broadcast the notorious 1938 "War of the Worlds" adaptation?
WNBC
WABC
WCBS
WOR
The panic-inducing 1938 broadcast aired on WABC, the flagship station of the CBS network at that time. .
What term describes radio waves that are refracted back to Earth by the ionosphere, allowing long-distance reception?
Groundwave
Line-of-sight
Spacewave
Skywave
Skywave propagation involves ionospheric refraction of radio waves, enabling signals to travel beyond the horizon. .
Which longwave frequency did the BBC use for its pioneering 1920s broadcasts?
500 kHz
1 MHz
200 kHz
50 kHz
During the 1920s, BBC longwave transmissions were centered around 200 kHz, covering much of the UK. .
What process involves mixing two signals to produce an intermediate frequency in radio receivers?
Filtering
Heterodyning
Amplifying
Scrambling
Heterodyning is the practice of mixing an incoming signal with a local oscillator to create a new intermediate frequency, fundamental to superheterodyne receivers. .
Who was the original voice actor for The Lone Ranger on radio from 1933 to 1941?
Clayton Moore
Fred Foy
Earle Graser
Brace Beemer
Earle Graser voiced the Lone Ranger in the radio series from its launch in 1933 until his death in 1941, after which Brace Beemer took over. .
Which organization, founded in 1914, granted call signs and supported amateur radio operators?
American Radio Relay League
Federal Communications Commission
International Telecommunication Union
Radio Act of 1912
The American Radio Relay League (ARRL), founded by H.P. Maxim in 1914, organized and advocated for amateur radio enthusiasts. .
What was the name of RCA's consumer radio receiver line first introduced in 1922?
Sonora
Victrola
Radiola
Crosley
In 1922, RCA launched the Radiola line of consumer radio receivers, making radio more accessible to households. .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Recognize Iconic Old Time Radio Shows -

    Identify hallmark elements of classic broadcasts to deepen your appreciation of vintage radio entertainment.

  2. Identify Legendary Radio Personalities -

    Recall the names and contributions of stars like Orson Welles and Lucille Ball to understand their impact on radio history.

  3. Recall Key Broadcasting Milestones -

    Remember significant dates and events from radio's golden age to contextualize the evolution of the medium.

  4. Differentiate Radio Genres -

    Discern between genres such as mystery, comedy, and drama based on thematic and stylistic cues in classic shows.

  5. Analyze Radio's Cultural Influence -

    Assess how vintage radio programming shaped public opinion and popular culture during its peak years.

  6. Apply Trivia Knowledge to Further Exploration -

    Use your quiz insights to dive deeper into old time radio archives and discussions with fellow enthusiasts.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Golden Age of Radio Timeline -

    The golden age of broadcasting ran from the late 1920s to the mid-1950s, a period when families gathered to hear dramas, comedies and variety shows. Use the mnemonic "'30s to '50s made radio nifty" to lock in those dates for your radio trivia questions. (Source: Library of Congress)

  2. Iconic Shows and Genres -

    Classic radio trivia often features programs like The Shadow, Amos 'n' Andy and War of the Worlds, showcasing drama, comedy and suspense formats. Remember "Shadow's Swoop, Andy's Antics, WotW's Whirl" to recall each show and genre. (Source: Smithsonian Institution)

  3. Pioneering Personalities -

    Hosts like Orson Welles, Jack Benny and Lucille Ball shaped radio's golden age with unforgettable performances. A handy mnemonic is "OJLB" (Orson, Jack, Lucille, Broadcasting) to name-drop key stars in any old time radio quiz. (Source: NPR Archives)

  4. Technical Fundamentals: AM vs. FM -

    AM (Amplitude Modulation) waves range from 535 - 1705 kHz while FM (Frequency Modulation) spans 88 - 108 MHz; recall f = c/λ as the core wave equation. Knowing these ranges helps you nail classic radio trivia on broadcasting bands. (Source: IEEE Spectrum)

  5. Call Sign Conventions and Regulations -

    U.S. stations east of the Mississippi start with "W" and west use "K"; think "Water on the East, Kites on the West" to memorize this rule. These FCC conventions often pop up in vintage radio quiz questions about station identities. (Source: Federal Communications Commission)

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