Bill Leyden
Encyclopedia
William "Bill" Leyden was a World War II
veteran
serving in the Marine Corps
and a television game show
host and announcer who emceed
six game shows, including It Could Be You
(1956-61), Your First Impression
(1962-64, with Dennis James
), and You're Putting Me On
(1969). In addition, he hosted movies on KTTV
, and in fact played small roles in a handful of film
s, including Jerry Lewis
' The Patsy (1964).
After returning home following the war, Leyden worked as a radio announcer on KMPC
in Los Angeles
and later served announcer for the syndicated radio series The Liberace
Program (1954-55) before moving over to television, where he hosted several game shows, the most successful of which was It Could Be You.
During his run on It Could Be You, Leyden was touted by announcer Wendell Niles
as "the man who will amaze you with what he knows about you",http://outtacontext.com/life/notes/loc/nbctranscript.html partly because Leyden was often helped onstage and in the audience by well-concealed TelePrompter
s and "a team of spies and operatives" who investigated potential contestants.http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2342/is_2_35/ai_97074190/pg_10
Although he was extremely popular, both in front of the camera and behind the microphone, Leyden's chronic health problems limited his on-screen work in the latter half of the 1960s (Bill Cullen
and Larry Blyden
filled in for Leyden on You're Putting Me On, with Blyden becoming the permanent host of the show when Leyden suffered a cerebral hemorrhage in September 1969). For his television work, Leyden received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
veteran
Veteran
A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...
serving in the Marine Corps
Marine corps
A marine is a member of a force that specializes in expeditionary operations such as amphibious assault and occupation. The marines traditionally have strong links with the country's navy...
and a television game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
host and announcer who emceed
Master of Ceremonies
A Master of Ceremonies , or compere, is the host of a staged event or similar performance.An MC usually presents performers, speaks to the audience, and generally keeps the event moving....
six game shows, including It Could Be You
It Could Be You
It Could Be You is a 1956-1961 American game show hosted by Bill Leyden.It Could Be You may also refer to:In film and television:*It Could Be You , a 1960s game show hosted by Tommy Hanlon, Jr....
(1956-61), Your First Impression
Your First Impression
Your First Impression is a NBC daytime game show which aired from January 2, 1962, to June 26, 1964. A panel of three celebrities tried to guess the identity of mystery guests from clues supplied by the host. Bill Leyden was the MC of the program, with Dennis James as a regular panelist or...
(1962-64, with Dennis James
Dennis James
Dennis James was an American television personality, actor, and announcer. He is credited as the host of television's first network game show, the DuMont Network's Cash and Carry in 1946...
), and You're Putting Me On
You're Putting Me On
You're Putting Me On! was a short-lived Bob Stewart NBC game show in which celebrities tried to communicate the identities of famous people through odd and interesting clues...
(1969). In addition, he hosted movies on KTTV
KTTV
KTTV, channel 11, is an owned-and-operated television station of the News Corporation-owned Fox Broadcasting Company, located in Los Angeles, California. Serving the vast Los Angeles metropolitan area, KTTV is a sister station to KCOP , Los Angeles' MyNetworkTV station...
, and in fact played small roles in a handful of film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
s, including Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis is an American comedian, actor, singer, film producer, screenwriter and film director. He is best known for his slapstick humor in film, television, stage and radio. He was originally paired up with Dean Martin in 1946, forming the famed comedy team of Martin and Lewis...
' The Patsy (1964).
After returning home following the war, Leyden worked as a radio announcer on KMPC
KMPC
KMPC is a radio station based in Los Angeles, California and is owned by P&Y Broadcasting Licensee, LLC. Radio Korea is a division of the Radio Korea Media Group. The station airs Korean-language programming...
in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
and later served announcer for the syndicated radio series The Liberace
Liberace
Wladziu Valentino Liberace , best known simply as Liberace, was a famous American pianist and vocalist.In a career that spanned four decades of concerts, recordings, motion pictures, television and endorsements, Liberace became world-renowned...
Program (1954-55) before moving over to television, where he hosted several game shows, the most successful of which was It Could Be You.
During his run on It Could Be You, Leyden was touted by announcer Wendell Niles
Wendell Niles
Wendell Niles was one of the great announcers of the American golden age of radio. He was an announcer on such shows as The Bob Hope Show, The Burns & Allen Show, The Milton Berle Show and The Chase and Sanborn Hour ...
as "the man who will amaze you with what he knows about you",http://outtacontext.com/life/notes/loc/nbctranscript.html partly because Leyden was often helped onstage and in the audience by well-concealed TelePrompter
Teleprompter
An autocue is a display device that prompts the person speaking with an electronic visual text of a speech or script. Using a teleprompter is similar to the practice of using cue cards...
s and "a team of spies and operatives" who investigated potential contestants.http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2342/is_2_35/ai_97074190/pg_10
Although he was extremely popular, both in front of the camera and behind the microphone, Leyden's chronic health problems limited his on-screen work in the latter half of the 1960s (Bill Cullen
Bill Cullen
William Lawrence Francis "Bill" Cullen was an American radio and television personality whose career spanned five decades...
and Larry Blyden
Larry Blyden
Larry Blyden was an American actor and game show host, best known for his appearances on Broadway and as the host of the game show What's My Line?-Personal life:...
filled in for Leyden on You're Putting Me On, with Blyden becoming the permanent host of the show when Leyden suffered a cerebral hemorrhage in September 1969). For his television work, Leyden received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame consists of more than 2,400 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along fifteen blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California...
.
Game shows
- You're Putting Me OnYou're Putting Me OnYou're Putting Me On! was a short-lived Bob Stewart NBC game show in which celebrities tried to communicate the identities of famous people through odd and interesting clues...
(1969) - NBC - Super Bingo (1967) - syndicated
- Let's Face It (1967) - syndicated
- Call My BluffCall My Bluff (US game show)Call My Bluff was a short-lived American game show from Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions that aired on NBC daytime from March 29 to September 24, 1965. Bill Leyden was emcee, with Johnny Olson and Wayne Howell as announcers....
(1965) - NBC - Your First ImpressionYour First ImpressionYour First Impression is a NBC daytime game show which aired from January 2, 1962, to June 26, 1964. A panel of three celebrities tried to guess the identity of mystery guests from clues supplied by the host. Bill Leyden was the MC of the program, with Dennis James as a regular panelist or...
(1962-1963) - NBC - It Could Be YouIt Could Be YouIt Could Be You is a 1956-1961 American game show hosted by Bill Leyden.It Could Be You may also refer to:In film and television:*It Could Be You , a 1960s game show hosted by Tommy Hanlon, Jr....
(1956-1961) - NBC - had both daytime and nighttime versions - Musical ChairsMusical Chairs (1955 TV series)Musical Chairs was a short-lived NBC game show that ran from July 9 to September 17, 1955; The host was Bill Leyden and the series featured voice actor Mel Blanc, composer Johnny Mercer, and orchestra leader Bobby Troup as regular panelists....
(1955) - NBC -summer series