About
"There are dangers inherent in a child being in the public eye, so I would say that a parent should be especially careful to examine the motives and figure out who's really the one who wants this."
In her two-hour interview, Ruth Duskin Feldman (1934-2015) speaks in great detail about her long-running association with Quiz Kids. She talks about the show's early years on radio when she was one of the only female regulars. She discusses the children's interaction with the producers and host Joe Kelly, working with her "co-stars," and the show's transition from radio to television. She recalls the impact of child stardom on the genius-level youngsters who appeared on the series. She describes her "graduation" from Quiz Kids, at the mandatory age of 16, and her subsequent retirement to private life. Feldman outlines writing a chronology of the show entitled Whatever Happened to the Quiz Kids?: Perils and Profits of Growing Up Gifted, published in 1982. B-roll consists of photos and memorabilia from Quiz Kids. Karen Herman conducted the interview on October 12, 2004 in Highland Park, IL.
Highlights
Ruth Duskin Feldman on her first appearance on Quiz Kids
Ruth Duskin Feldman on Jack Benny appearing on Quiz Kids
Ruth Duskin Feldman on what she found when she interviewed former Quiz Kids panelists for "Whatever Happened to the Quiz Kids?: Perils and Profits of Growing Up Gifted"
Ruth Duskin Feldman on being a gifted child
Ruth Duskin Feldman on her advice to parents with children in the public eye
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On her early life and influences; on auditioning for Quiz Kids; on being accepted for Quiz Kids and how the show worked
On the scoring system of Quiz Kids; on her first appearance on Quiz Kids and the prizes awarded; on the sponsors and producers of Quiz Kids
Chapter 2
On the questions on Quiz Kids; on becoming a regular on Quiz Kids and its effect on her home and school life; on how she was viewed by the public on Quiz Kids
On preparing to be on Quiz Kids and her on-air persona; on the staff of Quiz Kids; on celebrities appearing on Quiz Kids and writing a book at 12 years old
Chapter 3
On writing a book at age 12 and her relationship with her mother; on various fellow Quiz Kids panelists including Pat Conlon and Joel Kupperman
On hanging out with her fellow Quiz Kids panelists; on the first time she saw television; on Quiz Kids' transition from radio to television
Chapter 4
On the proliferation of children's television shows in the '50s and retiring from Quiz Kids; on her life after retiring from Quiz Kids; on deciding to write the book "Whatever Happened to the Quiz Kids?: Perils and Profits of Growing Up Gifted"
On what she found when she interviewed former Quiz Kids panelists for "Whatever Happened to the Quiz Kids?: Perils and Profits of Growing Up Gifted"; on how her experiences on Quiz Kids affected her as a parent; on her advice to parents with children in the public eye
Chapter 5
On B-Roll pictures and memorabilia from her career as a Quiz Kids panelist- Quiz Kids postcard showing host and panel; another Quiz Kids postcard showing host and panel; Quiz Kids panelists with Eddie Cantor; Quiz Kids panelists with Chico Marx; sitting on a pile of fan mail; with Quiz Kids panelists on a war bond tour; Quiz Kids paper doll book; Quiz Kids connect the dots book; first edition copy of "Whatever Happened to the Quiz Kids?: Perils and Profits of Growing Up Gifted"
Shows
Quiz Kids
Ruth Duskin Feldman on auditioning for Quiz Kids
Ruth Duskin Feldman on being accepted for Quiz Kids
Ruth Duskin Feldman on how Quiz Kids worked
Ruth Duskin Feldman on the scoring system of Quiz Kids
Ruth Duskin Feldman on her first appearance on Quiz Kids
Ruth Duskin Feldman on the prizes awarded on Quiz Kids and the aim of the show
Ruth Duskin Feldman on the sponsors of Quiz Kids
Ruth Duskin Feldman on Quiz Kids producer John Lewellen
Ruth Duskin Feldman on the questions on Quiz Kids
Ruth Duskin Feldman on being a gifted child
Ruth Duskin Feldman on becoming a regular on Quiz Kids
Ruth Duskin Feldman on the effect of Quiz Kids on her family and school life
Ruth Duskin Feldman on how she was viewed by the public on Quiz Kids
Ruth Duskin Feldman on preparing to be on Quiz Kids and her on-air persona
Ruth Duskin Feldman on Quiz Kids assistant director Rachel Stevenson and other staff members of the show
Ruth Duskin Feldman on Jack Benny appearing on Quiz Kids
Ruth Duskin Feldman on how fame affected her and writing a book when she was 12 years old
Ruth Duskin Feldman on fellow Quiz Kids panelist Pat Conlon
Ruth Duskin Feldman on fellow Quiz Kids panelist Joel Kupperman
Ruth Duskin Feldman on various fellow Quiz Kids panelists
Ruth Duskin Feldman on hanging out with her fellow Quiz Kids panelists
Ruth Duskin Feldman on Quiz Kids' transition from radio to television
Ruth Duskin Feldman on the proliferation of children's television shows in the '50s and retiring from Quiz Kids
Ruth Duskin Feldman on deciding to write the book "Whatever Happened to the Quiz Kids?: Perils and Profits of Growing Up Gifted"
Ruth Duskin Feldman on what she found when she interviewed former Quiz Kids panelists for "Whatever Happened to the Quiz Kids?: Perils and Profits of Growing Up Gifted"
Ruth Duskin Feldman on the response to her book "Whatever Happened to the Quiz Kids?: Perils and Profits of Growing Up Gifted"
Ruth Duskin Feldman on the short-lived revival of Quiz Kids
Topics
Advertising and Sponsorship
Ruth Duskin Feldman on the sponsors of Quiz Kids
Advice
Ruth Duskin Feldman on her advice to parents with children in the public eye
Television Industry
Ruth Duskin Feldman on the sponsors of Quiz Kids
Ruth Duskin Feldman on her advice to parents with children in the public eye
Genres
Game Shows
Ruth Duskin Feldman on being a panelist on Quiz Kids (Part 1)
Ruth Duskin Feldman on being a panelist on Quiz Kids (Part 2)
Ruth Duskin Feldman on being a panelist on Quiz Kids (Part 3)
Ruth Duskin Feldman on appearing as a panelist on Quiz Kids (Part 4)
People
Jack Benny
Ruth Duskin Feldman on Jack Benny appearing on Quiz Kids
Pat Conlon
Ruth Duskin Feldman on fellow Quiz Kids panelist Pat Conlon
Judy Garland
Ruth Duskin Feldman on meeting Judy Garland
Joel Kupperman
Ruth Duskin Feldman on fellow Quiz Kids panelist Joel Kupperman
John Lewellen
Ruth Duskin Feldman on the Quiz Kids producers including John Lewellen
Rachel Stevenson
Ruth Duskin Feldman on Quiz Kids assistant director Rachel Stevenson and other staff members of the show