The Quiz Kids

Juvenile Quiz Show (1940-1953)

As the children's version of Information, Please, Quiz Kids became one of the best known juvenile shows of its era. Bald Joe Kelly of National Barn Dance, who incidentally dropped out of school in the third grade, hosted the show. The children contestants were usually age six through sixteen. Although on occasion, a brainy four year old would make an appearance on the show. On one particularly funny show, Jackie Benny guest starred, posing as six-year-old. One of the audience favorites was little Gerard Darrow, who was recruited for the show through a lecture he gave on birds at a Chicago school. At age three, Gerard had identified 300 bird species. Ornithologist extraordinaire, Gerard was welcomed onto the show at age six.

The show consisted of five extremely bright kids, several of which were different from week to week. Contestants were awarded $100 savings bonds per appearance. Difficult questions were posed, questions even adults had difficulty answering. The first question on the first episode, for example, was, "I want you to tell me what I would be carrying home if I brought an antimacassar, a dinghy, a sarong and an apteryx. The children on the show were selected due to their intelligence as well as personalities and senses of humor. Answers were often very entertaining, making the show was popular with adults and youngsters alike.

For more quiz show fun, see also: The Game Show Collection, Twenty Questions, You Bet Your Life, It Pays to Be Ignorant, and Information Please. See also, the informative program, The Answer Man. For children who are concerned about manners, see also: Mind Your Manners.