Guys and Dolls: How Well Do You Know The Classic Musical?
Written by Tom Cohen
Last updated · 3 min play time
"When you see a guy reach for stars in the sky, you can bet that he's doing it for some doll." That's one of the classic lines from the musical Guys and Dolls, which first premiered in 1950 on Broadway. Let's see how much you know about this iconic American show.
From Nathan Detroit to Sky Masterson, Guys and Dolls has some of the most iconic songs in American musical history, with a plot pulled right out of the 1920s. From gambling to sex to Christianity (with a side of old-fashioned 1950s misogyny), Guys and Dolls has it all.
In this test of your musical knowledge, we'll find out how much you know about this staple of high school productions. "I've got the quiz right here!"
Quiz written by
Tom CohenI'm a 3-time Emmy-winning game show producer, writer, director and published author. I dig traveling, watching hockey, photographing wildlife and exploring the cultural and social fabric of society.
Guys and Dolls Quiz Questions
12 Questions · 276 Plays · No comments
Question 1
Finish the lyric to the classic Guys and Dolls song "A Bushel and a Peck": "I love you, a bushel and a peck, a bushel and a peck" and what?
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A"A hug around the neck"
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B"Just give me a sec"
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C"About as much as you'd expect"
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D"Kiss me, what the heck"
"A hug around the neck"
While "Bushel and a Peck", written by Frank Loesser, was a memorable part of the Broadway musical it was actually left out of the film, and was replaced by a new song called "Pet Me, Poppa". "Bushel and a Peck" was a hit for Doris Day in 1951, peaking at number 30 on the charts.
Question 2
In the musical, what is the name of the inept police officer that wages a battle against Nathan Detroit to shut down his craps game?
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ALt. Brannigan
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BLt. Braddock
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CLt. Bennett
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DLt. Bennington
Lt. Brannigan
In the show, Nathan Detroit is always looking to organize his craps game, but Lieutenant Brannigan is constantly "putting on the heat". Ultimately, Nathan outwits Brannigan, and is able to hold his game at the Biltmore Garage.
Question 3
What's the name of the classic song in which Adelaide sings "In other words, just from wondering whether the wedding is on or off, a person can develop a cough"?
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A"Adelaide's Lament"
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B"Adelaide's Complaint"
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C"Adelaide's Sorrow"
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D"Adelaide's Song"
"Adelaide's Lament"
In a classic example of 1920s - 1950s misogyny, the song features Adelaide describing her psychosomatic symptoms from a pop psychology book. She discovers her "cold" might be the result of her fiancé's constant promises that they'll soon get married - promises he never fulfills.
Question 4
Guys and Dolls is chock full of memorable songs, including the iconic "Sit Down You're Rocking the Boat". Finish the line from the Frank Loesser classic: "I dreamed last night I got on the boat to" where?
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AHeaven
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BChicago
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CNowhere
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DHades
Heaven
In the classic song, one of the gamblers regales the others with a tale of salvation. Performed towards the end of the show, it's considered to be <i>Guys and Dolls</i> "11 o'clock number," meaning a late show-stopping big production number.
Question 5
The play Guys and Dolls relies heavily on “The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown,” written by what short story author?
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ADashiell Hammett
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BKen Kesey
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CDamon Runyon
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DRaymond Chandler
Damon Runyon
Damon Runyon was a famed newspaperman and short-story writer, who was known for his stories that took place around Broadway and explored the underworld of the Prohibition era. Along with "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown," one of his other stories, "Blood Pressure" was also an inspiration for <i>Guys and Dolls</i>.
Question 6
In Guys and Dolls, the character Sarah Brown is the beautiful leader of a group of Christian crusaders looking to reform sinners. What's the name of her pious gang?
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ARighteousness Brigade
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BSalvation Army
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CSave-a-Soul Mission
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DOur Faith
Save-a-Soul Mission
In the show, Save-A-Soul entreats the gamblers to change their evil ways with the song "Follow the Fold," led by Sarah Brown. Spoiler alert: The sinners are saved and Sky Masterson gets married to Sarah at the end of the show.
Question 7
There's a classic scene in Guys and Dolls when Sky bets Nathan he doesn't know what color his own tie is. What color is it?
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AHalf black, half white
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BPolka dotted
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CSolid red
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DGreen
Polka dotted
After declining Sky's bet, Nathan utters "Polka dots. In the whole world, only Nathan Detroit could blow a thousand bucks on polka dots."
Question 8
In the show, Nathan tries to get Sky to bet him on the number of cheesecake pieces sold at what shop, which he claims has the best cheesecake in the country?
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AMindy's
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BJunior's
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CChester's
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DLucky's
Mindy's
Mindy's was a stand-in for a real place called Lindy's, which opened by a guy named Leo "Lindy" Lindemann and his wife Clara in 1921, and was located at 1626 Broadway in Manhattan. Clearly Nathan was referring to Lindy's, but the writers of the show replaced the L with an M.
Question 9
After marrying Adelaide at the end of Guys and Dolls, Nathan Detroit officially gives up gambling and opens what new business?
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APet shop
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BNewsstand
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CCar sales
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DBarber shop
Newsstand
In the end, Sarah and Adelaide get what they want. After singing "Marry the Man Today," in which they commiserate about their irascible men, Sky and Nathan vow to reform their sinful ways, and follow through, with Sky working for the mission band and Nathan opening his newsstand.
Question 10
Not surprisingly, "Sky" is not Sky Masterson's real name. In one scene, he confides to Sarah that his real name is what?
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AJeremiah
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BOswald
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COctavio
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DObediah
Obediah
Sky: "You're finding out something I've known for quite a while. (pause) Obediah!" Sarah: "Obediah? What's that?" Sky: "Obediah Masterson, that's my real name. You're the first person I've ever told it to."
Question 11
The show opens with a song called "Fugue for Tinhorns," in which a trio of gamblers argue over which horse will win the big race. Which of these is NOT one of the three gamblers?
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ALeo Valentine
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BRusty Charlie
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CBenny Southstreet
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DNicely-Nicely Johnson
Leo Valentine
The song "Fugue for Tinhorns" features the famous line "I've got the horse right here, his name is Paul Revere." In case you were wondering, a "tinhorn" is defined as "a contemptible person, especially one pretending to have money, influence, or ability."
Question 12
When in Havana, the otherwise pious Sarah Brown gets tipsy on a certain cocktail that Sky orders for her. What's her drink of choice?
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AMojito
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BDulce de Leche
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CMai Tai
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DPina Colada
Dulce de Leche
In a scene in Cuba that might not fly in the "Me Too" era, Sky Masterson gets the otherwise prudish Sarah Brown to drink alcohol. When she wants a milkshake, Sky orders her a “Dulce de Leche” instead, convincing her that Bacardi is a “preservative".
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