“…a terribly moving series of portraits of those precocious children who became premature celebrities.” — Studs Terkel “…a fascinating look at the lives of child prodigies…a longitudinal study of gifted children that is sincerely told.” — Deborah Earle The Quiz Kids radio and television program was a national institution in the 1940s and 1950s. Ruth and a few other top contestants were guests on the Jack Benny, Fred Allen, and Eddie Cantor shows, starred in movie shorts, and traveled all over the United States selling war bonds during World War II. Did the Quiz Kids fulfill their youthful promise? What were the fruits — bitter and sweet — of their childhood experience? What are the lessons for gifted children today? Ruth interviewed her Quiz Kid colleagues to find out how being celebrated for their “brains” affected their lives. The result is Whatever Happened to the Quiz Kids?
“…a terribly moving series of portraits of those precocious children who became premature celebrities.” — Studs Terkel “…a fascinating look at the lives of child prodigies…a longitudinal study of gifted children that is sincerely told.” — Deborah Earle The Quiz Kids radio and television program was a national institution in the 1940s and 1950s. Ruth and a few other top contestants were guests on the Jack Benny, Fred Allen, and Eddie Cantor shows, starred in movie shorts, and traveled all over the United States selling war bonds during World War II. Did the Quiz Kids fulfill their youthful promise? What were the fruits — bitter and sweet — of their childhood experience? What are the lessons for gifted children today? Ruth interviewed her Quiz Kid colleagues to find out how being celebrated for their “brains” affected their lives. The result is Whatever Happened to the Quiz Kids?