Chuck Barris Productions
Encyclopedia
Barris Industries, Inc. was an American
television production company that was started in 1965 by Chuck Barris
as Chuck Barris Productions. The company's first series was People Pickers and its first hit program was The Dating Game
and would also be known for producing other hit game shows such as The Newlywed Game
, and The Gong Show
.
In 1980, Barris produced the movie The Gong Show Movie
, which was distributed by Universal Pictures
. Chuck Barris returned to America in 1984 and formed a syndication arm called Bel-Air Program Sales and renamed Chuck Barris Productions, Inc. to Barris Industries, Inc. in October and began syndicating The Dating Game, The Newlywed Game, The Gong Show, The $1.98 Beauty Show and the Barris versions of Treasure Hunt. In 1986, Barris Industries formed an ad-sales barter called Clarion Communications. Later in 1986, Bel-Air Program Sales was renamed to Barris Program Sales, Clarion Communications was renamed to Barris Advertising Sales (a.k.a Barris National Advertisers), and the production arm Chuck Barris Productions to Barris Productions. Barris left in 1987 and sold his shares to Burt Sugarman
.
Barris Industries under the leadership of Burt Sugarman, originally owned a 5.27% stake in Reeves Communications Corp.
In 1988, Barris Industries merged with the Guber-Peters Company to form Guber-Peters-Barris. On September 7, 1989, Barris Industries was renamed as the Guber-Peters Entertainment Company. On September 29, 1989, a day after Sony Corporation of Japan acquired Columbia Pictures Entertainment, Sony acquired Guber-Peters Entertainment Company for $200 million. The sale was completed on November 9, 1989 after Sony's acquisition of Columbia Pictures Entertainment
a day earlier. Currently, all of his game shows are distributed by Sony Pictures Television
.
, who had served from 1965 until his death in 1982. Jacobs announced for such Barris game shows like The Dating Game
, The Newlywed Game
, Treasure Hunt, and The Gong Show
.
Another announcer was Wheel of Fortune
s Charlie O'Donnell
, who served in this capacity from 1986-1989 for The New Newlywed Game
, The All New Dating Game
and the 1988 version of The Gong Show until those incarnations ended in 1989 and went back to Wheel of Fortune in March. He also served as an announcer for Barry & Enright Productions
.
Another employee was legendary game show host, Bob Eubanks
who had served from 1966-1974, 1977-1980, and 1985-1988 until he stepped down as host for The New Newlywed Game and was replaced by Paul Rodriguez
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television production company that was started in 1965 by Chuck Barris
Chuck Barris
Charles Hirsch "Chuck" Barris is an American game show producer, film director and presenter best known for hosting The Gong Show and creating The Dating Game. Barris, a survivor of lung cancer, is also an author and claims to have worked for the CIA.-Early career:Barris was born in Oakland, New...
as Chuck Barris Productions. The company's first series was People Pickers and its first hit program was The Dating Game
The Dating Game
The Dating Game is an ABC television show that first aired on December 20, 1965 and was the first of many shows created and packaged by Chuck Barris from the 1960s through the 1980s...
and would also be known for producing other hit game shows such as The Newlywed Game
The Newlywed Game
The Newlywed Game is an American television game show that pits newly married couples against each other in a series of revealing question rounds to determine how well the spouses know each other. The program, originally created by Nick Nicholson and E. Roger Muir The Newlywed Game is an American...
, and The Gong Show
The Gong Show
The Gong Show is an amateur talent contest franchised by Sony Pictures Television to many countries. It was broadcast on NBC's daytime schedule from June 14, 1976 through July 21, 1978, and in first-run syndication from 1976–1980 and 1988–1989. The show was produced by Chuck Barris, who also served...
.
In 1980, Barris produced the movie The Gong Show Movie
The Gong Show Movie
The Gong Show Movie is a 1980 film that shows how Chuck Barris lives through a week of being the host and creator of The Gong Show, through a series of outrageous competitors, stressful situations, a nervous breakdown and other comic hijinks in his life and work on the TV show...
, which was distributed by Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures
-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc* Am I Dreaming?* The Dragon's Net* The Adorable Savage* Putting It Over* The Line Runners-1921:* The Fire Eater* A Battle of Wits* Dream Girl* The Millionaire...
. Chuck Barris returned to America in 1984 and formed a syndication arm called Bel-Air Program Sales and renamed Chuck Barris Productions, Inc. to Barris Industries, Inc. in October and began syndicating The Dating Game, The Newlywed Game, The Gong Show, The $1.98 Beauty Show and the Barris versions of Treasure Hunt. In 1986, Barris Industries formed an ad-sales barter called Clarion Communications. Later in 1986, Bel-Air Program Sales was renamed to Barris Program Sales, Clarion Communications was renamed to Barris Advertising Sales (a.k.a Barris National Advertisers), and the production arm Chuck Barris Productions to Barris Productions. Barris left in 1987 and sold his shares to Burt Sugarman
Burt Sugarman
Burt Sugarman is an American television producer best known for producing the 1970s game show Celebrity Sweepstakes, and The Richard Pryor Show.He also produced The Midnight Special and The Wizard of Odds in the 1970s....
.
Barris Industries under the leadership of Burt Sugarman, originally owned a 5.27% stake in Reeves Communications Corp.
Alan Landsburg Productions
Alan Landsburg Productions was an independent TV production company founded by Alan Landsburg in 1971. The company had huge successes with In Search of... and That's Incredible!, which were two early examples of reality television long before the name even existed...
In 1988, Barris Industries merged with the Guber-Peters Company to form Guber-Peters-Barris. On September 7, 1989, Barris Industries was renamed as the Guber-Peters Entertainment Company. On September 29, 1989, a day after Sony Corporation of Japan acquired Columbia Pictures Entertainment, Sony acquired Guber-Peters Entertainment Company for $200 million. The sale was completed on November 9, 1989 after Sony's acquisition of Columbia Pictures Entertainment
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc. is the television and film production/distribution unit of Japanese multinational technology and media conglomerate Sony...
a day earlier. Currently, all of his game shows are distributed by Sony Pictures Television
Sony Pictures Television
Sony Pictures Television, Inc. is an American and global television production/distribution subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment. In turn, the latter is part of the Japanese conglomerate Sony.-Background:...
.
Known employees
One known employee that was a long time announcer for Chuck Barris Productions was Johnny JacobsJohnny Jacobs
John Byron Jacobs was an American television announcer, often for Chuck Barris productions...
, who had served from 1965 until his death in 1982. Jacobs announced for such Barris game shows like The Dating Game
The Dating Game
The Dating Game is an ABC television show that first aired on December 20, 1965 and was the first of many shows created and packaged by Chuck Barris from the 1960s through the 1980s...
, The Newlywed Game
The Newlywed Game
The Newlywed Game is an American television game show that pits newly married couples against each other in a series of revealing question rounds to determine how well the spouses know each other. The program, originally created by Nick Nicholson and E. Roger Muir The Newlywed Game is an American...
, Treasure Hunt, and The Gong Show
The Gong Show
The Gong Show is an amateur talent contest franchised by Sony Pictures Television to many countries. It was broadcast on NBC's daytime schedule from June 14, 1976 through July 21, 1978, and in first-run syndication from 1976–1980 and 1988–1989. The show was produced by Chuck Barris, who also served...
.
Another announcer was Wheel of Fortune
Wheel of Fortune (U.S. game show)
Wheel of Fortune is an American television game show created by Merv Griffin, which premiered in 1975. Contestants compete to solve word puzzles, similar to those used in Hangman, to win cash and prizes determined by spinning a large wheel. The title refers to the show's giant carnival wheel that...
s Charlie O'Donnell
Charlie O'Donnell
Charles John "Charlie" O'Donnell was an American radio and television announcer, primarily known for his work on game shows...
, who served in this capacity from 1986-1989 for The New Newlywed Game
The Newlywed Game
The Newlywed Game is an American television game show that pits newly married couples against each other in a series of revealing question rounds to determine how well the spouses know each other. The program, originally created by Nick Nicholson and E. Roger Muir The Newlywed Game is an American...
, The All New Dating Game
The Dating Game
The Dating Game is an ABC television show that first aired on December 20, 1965 and was the first of many shows created and packaged by Chuck Barris from the 1960s through the 1980s...
and the 1988 version of The Gong Show until those incarnations ended in 1989 and went back to Wheel of Fortune in March. He also served as an announcer for Barry & Enright Productions
Barry & Enright Productions
Barry & Enright Productions , was a United States television production company that was formed in 1947 by Jack Barry and Dan Enright.-History:Jack Barry and Dan Enright first met at radio station WOR in New York, where...
.
Another employee was legendary game show host, Bob Eubanks
Bob Eubanks
Robert Leland "Bob" Eubanks is an American television/radio personality and game show host, best known for hosting the game show The Newlywed Game on and off since 1966, where he was known for using the catchphrase, "Makin' Whoopee"...
who had served from 1966-1974, 1977-1980, and 1985-1988 until he stepped down as host for The New Newlywed Game and was replaced by Paul Rodriguez
Paul Rodríguez
Paul Rodriguez is a Mexican-American stand-up comedian and actor.-Personal life:Rodriguez was born in Culiacán, Sinaloa, México to Mexican agriculture ranchers.. His family migrated to East Los Angeles, where he enlisted in the military; he was stationed in Iceland and Duluth, Minnesota...
.
Other companies include
- Chuck Barris Projects
- Chuck Barris Enterprises
- Barris Program Sales
- Barris Advertising Sales