Radio Quiz for Seniors | Memory Lane Therapy

Before television, the radio was the heart of the home. Many of our residents remember the family gathered round the wireless for the news, a serial or the cricket, and later carrying a little transistor radio everywhere they went.

This Radio Days Quiz for Seniors has 23 multiple-choice questions about the wireless at home, famous shows, news and sport, and the music and DJs many of us grew up with. The questions suit groups in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Canada, the USA and beyond.

Seniors enjoying a group quiz in aged care

How to Play

Read each question and the four choices slowly, then give the group plenty of time to think. Play in teams, as one big group, or just for fun. There is no need to keep score.

Tip: Accept any sensible answer. “Antenna” is just as right as “aerial”, and “tubes” are just as right as “valves”. If someone starts telling a story, let the quiz wait.

The printable A4 PDF has large print, each round starting on a new page, a separate answer page for the activity leader, and a page of reminiscing questions.

Round 1: The Wireless at Home

1. What did many families in Australia, NZ and Britain call the radio?
A. The gramophone
B. The wireless
C. The telly
D. The pianola

2. President Roosevelt spoke to Americans by radio from the White House. What were these talks called?
A. Fireside chats
B. Front porch talks
C. Kitchen table news
D. Evening letters

3. Older radio sets took a minute to “warm up” because they were full of what?
A. Valves (or tubes)
B. Clockwork
C. Sand
D. Batteries only