Johnny Jacobs
Encyclopedia
John Byron Jacobs was an American television announcer
, often for Chuck Barris
productions (namely The Newlywed Game
and The Dating Game
). He was born in Wisconsin
.
, in 1956. He was a regular on Betty White
's comedy show in 1958 and did announcing work for Steve Allen
's show in the 1960s. Other shows he worked on included the Gene Autry
Show and the Dinah Shore
Show. Throughout his career, he occasionally acted in television shows, making guest appearances on Batman
, Leave It to Beaver
and The Munsters
. He also appeared as himself in The Gong Show Movie
.
, which starred Jack Barry and debuted on CBS
in 1972. Barry employed Jacobs on many Barry & Enright
/Jack Barry Productions game shows during the early-to-mid 1970s, including Blank Check
and Hollywood's Talking
. Most notably, however, Chuck Barris
used Jacobs' voice talents on the aforementioned The Newlywed Game
and The Dating Game
and other Barris productions like Three's a Crowd
and The Gong Show
. His last job was announcing a Barris-produced version of Treasure Hunt which was syndicated during the 1981-82 season (Jacobs had also announced Barris' mid-1970s version of Treasure Hunt as well), but illness forced him to step down by late 1981 and he was replaced by frequent Barris fill-in announcer Tony McClay.
The 65-year-old Jacobs died in Stockton, California
, where he owned radio station KWG
.
Announcer
An announcer is a presenter who makes "announcements" in an audio medium or a physical location.-Television and other media:Some announcers work in television production , radio or filmmaking, usually providing narrations, news updates, station identification, or an introduction of a product in...
, often for 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...
productions (namely 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 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...
). He was born in Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
.
Early career
In the early 1950s, he was the emcee of a television show called Bachelor's Haven. Also, he was the original announcer for the last season of I Love LucyI Love Lucy
I Love Lucy is an American television sitcom starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley. The black-and-white series originally ran from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, on the Columbia Broadcasting System...
, in 1956. He was a regular on Betty White
Betty White
Betty White Ludden , better known as Betty White, is an American actress, comedienne, singer, author, and former game show personality. With a career spanning seven decades since 1939, she is best known to modern audiences for her television roles as Sue Ann Nivens on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and...
's comedy show in 1958 and did announcing work for Steve Allen
Steve Allen (comedian)
Stephen Valentine Patrick William "Steve" Allen was an American television personality, musician, composer, actor, comedian, and writer. Though he got his start in radio, Allen is best known for his television career. He first gained national attention as a guest host on Arthur Godfrey's Talent...
's show in the 1960s. Other shows he worked on included the Gene Autry
Gene Autry
Orvon Grover Autry , better known as Gene Autry, was an American performer who gained fame as The Singing Cowboy on the radio, in movies and on television for more than three decades beginning in the 1930s...
Show and the Dinah Shore
Dinah Shore
Dinah Shore was an American singer, actress, and television personality...
Show. Throughout his career, he occasionally acted in television shows, making guest appearances on Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
, Leave It to Beaver
Leave It to Beaver
Leave It to Beaver is an American television situation comedy about an inquisitive but often naïve boy named Theodore "The Beaver" Cleaver and his adventures at home, in school, and around his suburban neighborhood...
and The Munsters
The Munsters
The Munsters is a 1960s American family television sitcom depicting the home life of a family of monsters. It starred Fred Gwynne as Herman Munster and Yvonne De Carlo as his wife, Lily Munster. The series was a satire of both traditional monster movies and popular family entertainment of the era,...
. He also appeared as himself in 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...
.
Game Shows and Final Years
He was the first announcer for The Joker's WildThe Joker's Wild
The Joker's Wild is an American television game show that aired at different times during the 1970s through the 1990s. Contestants answered questions based on categories that were determined randomly by a mechanism resembling a slot machine....
, which starred Jack Barry and debuted on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
in 1972. Barry employed Jacobs on many Barry & Enright
Dan Enright
Daniel "Dan" Enright was one of the most successful game show producers in American television. Enright worked with Jack Barry from the 1940s until Barry's death in 1984. They were partners in creating programs for radio and television...
/Jack Barry Productions game shows during the early-to-mid 1970s, including Blank Check
Blank Check (game show)
Blank Check is an American game show that aired on NBC from January 6 to July 4, 1975. It was promoted as "television's first ESP game". Art James was host, with Johnny Jacobs as announcer....
and Hollywood's Talking
Hollywood's Talking
Hollywood's Talking is a short lived American game show based the 60s quizzer, Everybody's Talking, and produced by Jack Barry. It ran on CBS for three months in 1973, debuting on March 26 and ending on June 22 to make room for a new version of Match Game.It was hosted by Geoff Edwards, with...
. Most notably, however, 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...
used Jacobs' voice talents on the aforementioned 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 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 other Barris productions like Three's a Crowd
Three's a Crowd (game show)
Three's a Crowd was an American game show originally packaged by Chuck Barris Productions. The first version aired in syndication from September 17, 1979 to February 1, 1980...
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...
. His last job was announcing a Barris-produced version of Treasure Hunt which was syndicated during the 1981-82 season (Jacobs had also announced Barris' mid-1970s version of Treasure Hunt as well), but illness forced him to step down by late 1981 and he was replaced by frequent Barris fill-in announcer Tony McClay.
The 65-year-old Jacobs died in Stockton, California
Stockton, California
Stockton, California, the seat of San Joaquin County, is the fourth-largest city in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. With a population of 291,707 at the 2010 census, Stockton ranks as this state's 13th largest city...
, where he owned radio station KWG
KWG
KWG is an AM radio station in Stockton, California. KWG is one of the oldest broadcasting stations in USA, signing on November 22, 1921...
.