Wheel of Fortune (1952)
Encyclopedia
Wheel of Fortune is an American
game show
hosted by Todd Russell which ran from 1952-1953 on CBS
in both daytime and nighttime versions.
's version of the song "Wheel of Fortune
", which was released in the first two months of 1952 and beginning on February 8 ran 22 weeks on Billboard
's best-seller chart, with a nine-week stretch (March 14 to May 9) at #1.
Interestingly, her version shared the charts with two other renditions during the same period (Bobby Wayne with Joe Reisman's orchestra; Eddie Wilcox & Sunny Gale), however the latter two were not as popular. The Wayne/Reisman version appeared from February 15 to April 18 (peaking at #13), while the Wilcox/Gale rendition appeared from February 1 to March 7 (peaking at #14).
and local programming on ABC
. In an odd move, the show debuted on a Friday, where the series aired for a full hour until 11:00 AM (10:00 Central) each week; the second half-hour competed against local shows.
On November 24, Breakfast was replaced by the children's program Ding Dong School
. On July 6, the Peacock debuted the Henry Babbitt-hosted game Glamour Girl at 10:30, which only competed with the hour-long game on Fridays.
The show's popularity spawned a nighttime version on July 7, 1953 at 8:30 PM, but quickly folded on September 15 against Break the Bank on NBC and local programs elsewhere.
The daytime version fared little better, having been worn down by Glamour and Ding Dong despite the former changing hosts on October 8 from Babbitt to Jack McCoy. Wheel bowed on November 6, 1953, with Glamour following suit on January 8, 1954; Ding Dong remained until the end of 1956.
from 1959-1962. Originally hosted by series producer Reg Grundy
, he was replaced by Walter Elliott in 1962.
production. That said, it should be noted that both offered cash and prizes, both were popular during their respective runs, and both used their respective logo in the center of the wheel (although the 1950s show had it as a permanent fixture).
More notably, a similar carnival-style wheel was used in the original 1973 Wheel
pilot (Shopper's Bazaar), although that wheel was operated by a motor. A further (and far more explicit) connection arrived in 1981, when Grundy debuted his adaptation
of Griffin's Wheel.
as per network practices of the era. A photo of Russell and the wheel was used in the A&E Biography TV Game Shows.
The Australian version likely suffered the same fate, although clips of an episode were used in the 2006 special 50 Years: 50 Stars.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
hosted by Todd Russell which ran from 1952-1953 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 both daytime and nighttime versions.
Gameplay
The series involved rewarding everyday people who had done good deeds in their life by having their stories told on national TV, then allowing them to spin a carnival-style prize wheel onstage and being awarded that prize. Occasionally, the lucky spin gave the good Samaritan a chance to win $1,000 by answering a trivia question.Theme
The show's theme was Kay StarrKay Starr
Kay Starr is an American pop and jazz singer who enjoyed considerable success in the 1940s and 50s. She is best remembered for introducing two songs that became #1 hits in the 1950s, "Wheel of Fortune" and "The Rock And Roll Waltz"....
's version of the song "Wheel of Fortune
Wheel of Fortune (song)
"Wheel of Fortune" is a popular song written by Bennie Benjamin and George David Weiss and published in 1951. It was originally recorded in 1951 for Atlantic Records by The Cardinals. In one of the earliest examples of a major record label covering an independent black hit, Capitol recreated The...
", which was released in the first two months of 1952 and beginning on February 8 ran 22 weeks on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
's best-seller chart, with a nine-week stretch (March 14 to May 9) at #1.
Interestingly, her version shared the charts with two other renditions during the same period (Bobby Wayne with Joe Reisman's orchestra; Eddie Wilcox & Sunny Gale), however the latter two were not as popular. The Wayne/Reisman version appeared from February 15 to April 18 (peaking at #13), while the Wilcox/Gale rendition appeared from February 1 to March 7 (peaking at #14).
Broadcast history
Wheel debuted on October 3, 1952 at 10:00 AM Eastern (9:00 Central), facing Breakfast Party on NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
and local programming on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
. In an odd move, the show debuted on a Friday, where the series aired for a full hour until 11:00 AM (10:00 Central) each week; the second half-hour competed against local shows.
On November 24, Breakfast was replaced by the children's program Ding Dong School
Ding Dong School
Ding Dong School, billed as "the Nursery school of the air", is a half-hour children's TV show which began on WNBQ-TV in Chicago, Illinois a few months before its four-year run on NBC ....
. On July 6, the Peacock debuted the Henry Babbitt-hosted game Glamour Girl at 10:30, which only competed with the hour-long game on Fridays.
The show's popularity spawned a nighttime version on July 7, 1953 at 8:30 PM, but quickly folded on September 15 against Break the Bank on NBC and local programs elsewhere.
The daytime version fared little better, having been worn down by Glamour and Ding Dong despite the former changing hosts on October 8 from Babbitt to Jack McCoy. Wheel bowed on November 6, 1953, with Glamour following suit on January 8, 1954; Ding Dong remained until the end of 1956.
Australian version
Despite its brevity in America, the show found success in Australia on radio and the Nine NetworkNine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
from 1959-1962. Originally hosted by series producer Reg Grundy
Reg Grundy
Reginald Roy "Reg" Grundy, AC, OBE is one of the most successful Australian entrepreneurs, and media and television moguls of his generation.He was the only child born to Roy Grundy and Lillian Lees...
, he was replaced by Walter Elliott in 1962.
Relationship to Merv Griffin
Despite the shared title, the 1950s Wheel of Fortune does not have any direct connections to the subsequent Merv GriffinMerv Griffin
Mervyn Edward "Merv" Griffin, Jr. was an American television host, musician, actor, and media mogul. He began his career as a radio and big band singer who went on to appear in movies and on Broadway. From 1965 to 1986 Griffin hosted his own talk show, The Merv Griffin Show on Group W Broadcasting...
production. That said, it should be noted that both offered cash and prizes, both were popular during their respective runs, and both used their respective logo in the center of the wheel (although the 1950s show had it as a permanent fixture).
More notably, a similar carnival-style wheel was used in the original 1973 Wheel
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...
pilot (Shopper's Bazaar), although that wheel was operated by a motor. A further (and far more explicit) connection arrived in 1981, when Grundy debuted his adaptation
Wheel of Fortune (Australian game show)
Wheel of Fortune was an Australian television game show produced by Grundy Television. The programme aired on the Seven Network from 1981 to 2004 and November 2005 to July 2006, and is mostly based on the same general format as the original US version of the programme...
of Griffin's Wheel.
Episode status
The American series is believed to be destroyedWiping
Wiping or junking is a colloquial term for action taken by radio and television production and broadcasting companies, in which old audiotapes, videotapes, and telerecordings , are erased, reused, or destroyed after several uses...
as per network practices of the era. A photo of Russell and the wheel was used in the A&E Biography TV Game Shows.
The Australian version likely suffered the same fate, although clips of an episode were used in the 2006 special 50 Years: 50 Stars.