Winner Take All
Encyclopedia
Winner Take All, an American
radio-television game show
, ran from 1946-1952 on CBS
and NBC
. It was the first game show produced by the Mark Goodson
-Bill Todman
partnership. The series was originally hosted by Ward Wilson, but is best-known for being the first game hosted by Bill Cullen
.
Although the game format was very simple, Winner Take All served as the genesis for many future game-show formats. It was the first game to use lockout devices, and the first to use returning champions.
The first contestant to sound their signal and give the right answer to the question would score one point, with a wrong answer giving the opponent a free guess. The first player to score three points won the game and a prize, then stayed on to face another challenger.
stepped in as a "temporary" host on September 9. Cullen's work on the show stunned executives, who made his hosting job permanent.
as host. The radio series continued with Cullen for another two years, with Collyer taking over in August 1950. The televised Winner, while popular, bowed on October 3, 1950.
as emcee, this iteration aired for 45 minutes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the show aired for a half-hour and was paired with Bride and Groom.
The series originally ran up against the informational show Vacation Wonderland on NBC and local programming on ABC
(which did not program from 2:00-3:00 until 1958). On March 12, Wonderland was cut back to 15 minutes and moved to 3:15 PM; its replacement, the soap opera Miss Susan
, did not do very well but nonetheless managed to beat Winner by enough in the ratings.
The 2:45 slot was not too popular; the two shows to occupy that position prior to Winner, a variety show hosted by Robert Q. Lewis
and the 45-minute Johnny Johnston Show, did not last very long – Lewis' show ended after seven weeks, and Johnston's bombed in three weeks. Winner bowed from the television airwaves once again on April 20, 1951, followed by its radio counterpart on February 1, 1952.
Debuting on February 25, 1952, the series originally went against either local programming or Arthur Godfrey
Time on CBS and, as before, local programming on ABC (which did not program at 10:30 until 1964). On the days that Godfrey aired at 10:30, Winner did not fare well. On April 7, CBS permanently slotted a program at 10:30 to provide a constant network opponent to Winner – Bride and Groom. Winner ended on April 25 after just nine weeks.
as host. This pilot is usually cited in "what if?" discussions regarding a big-money Goodson-Todman quiz show, as in this pilot the "returning champion" had "previously won" $15,000 and there was no earnings cap.
The rules were a bit different, in that the champion chose from one of ten categories, then wagered all or part of their previous winnings. If the champion defended their title, the money bet was added to their pre-bet total by the show; if the challenger won, s/he got the wagered money and the former champion had the wager deducted from their winnings.
as per network practices. Of the radio series, only three episodes hosted by Cullen are known to exist.
Only two episodes of Gray's version exist, from April 1951. Cullen's version fared better, with four episodes surviving (February 27–28, March 5, and a fourth episode with a more elaborate set). These six episodes have been seen on GSN
at one time or another.
Play For Keeps! is held by the UCLA Film & Television Archive.
No Wilson, Collyer, or Matinee-era episodes are known to exist. However, the May 1949 CBS sales film "Television Today" (made for potential TV advertisers) shows "Winner Take All" with Bud Collyer and contestants being produced in the CBS studios, provided as example of the kind of fare available on TV at the time.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
radio-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...
, ran from 1946-1952 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...
and NBC
NBC
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...
. It was the first game show produced by the Mark Goodson
Mark Goodson
Mark Goodson was an American television producer who specialized in game shows.-Life and early career:...
-Bill Todman
Bill Todman
William S. "Bill" Todman was an American television producer born in New York City. He produced many of television's longest running shows with business partner Mark Goodson.-Early life:...
partnership. The series was originally hosted by Ward Wilson, but is best-known for being the first game hosted by Bill Cullen
Bill Cullen
William Lawrence Francis "Bill" Cullen was an American radio and television personality whose career spanned five decades...
.
Although the game format was very simple, Winner Take All served as the genesis for many future game-show formats. It was the first game to use lockout devices, and the first to use returning champions.
Gameplay
Two contestants – one with a buzzer, the other with a bell – competed in answering general-knowledge questions, questions based on skits performed beforehand, or doing discovery tests (usually while blindfolded) inside the studio.The first contestant to sound their signal and give the right answer to the question would score one point, with a wrong answer giving the opponent a free guess. The first player to score three points won the game and a prize, then stayed on to face another challenger.
Broadcast history
Winner Take All debuted on CBS Radio on June 3, 1946. Original emcee Ward Wilson stepped down after just three months at the helm, and announcer Bill CullenBill Cullen
William Lawrence Francis "Bill" Cullen was an American radio and television personality whose career spanned five decades...
stepped in as a "temporary" host on September 9. Cullen's work on the show stunned executives, who made his hosting job permanent.
CBS primetime
CBS, noting the show's popularity on radio, moved the series to television on July 1, 1948 with Bud CollyerBud Collyer
Bud Collyer was an American radio actor/announcer who became one of the nation's first major television game show stars...
as host. The radio series continued with Cullen for another two years, with Collyer taking over in August 1950. The televised Winner, while popular, bowed on October 3, 1950.
CBS daytime
The network refused to give up on a popular format, however, and attempted a second television run for its daytime schedule. Debuting on February 12, 1951 at 2:45 PM with radio personality Barry GrayBarry Gray (radio)
Barry Gray was an influential American radio personality, often labeled as "The father of Talk Radio"....
as emcee, this iteration aired for 45 minutes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the show aired for a half-hour and was paired with Bride and Groom.
The series originally ran up against the informational show Vacation Wonderland on NBC 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...
(which did not program from 2:00-3:00 until 1958). On March 12, Wonderland was cut back to 15 minutes and moved to 3:15 PM; its replacement, the soap opera Miss Susan
Miss Susan
Miss Susan is a daytime drama which aired on NBC from March 12 to December 28, 1951. The show, originating from Philadelphia and later retitled Martinsville, U.S.A., aired for fifteen minutes at 3:00 p.m. ET on weekdays...
, did not do very well but nonetheless managed to beat Winner by enough in the ratings.
The 2:45 slot was not too popular; the two shows to occupy that position prior to Winner, a variety show hosted by Robert Q. Lewis
Robert Q. Lewis
Robert Q. Lewis was an American radio and television personality, game show host, and actor. Lewis added the middle initial "Q." to his name accidentally on the air in 1942, when he responded to a reference to radio comedian F. Chase Taylor's character, Colonel Lemuel Q...
and the 45-minute Johnny Johnston Show, did not last very long – Lewis' show ended after seven weeks, and Johnston's bombed in three weeks. Winner bowed from the television airwaves once again on April 20, 1951, followed by its radio counterpart on February 1, 1952.
NBC daytime
Meanwhile NBC, looking for a show to replace its faltering game It's In The Bag at 10:30 AM, struck a deal with Goodson-Todman to air a new daytime version with Cullen returning as emcee.Debuting on February 25, 1952, the series originally went against either local programming or Arthur Godfrey
Arthur Godfrey
Arthur Morton Godfrey was an American radio and television broadcaster and entertainer who was sometimes introduced by his nickname, The Old Redhead...
Time on CBS and, as before, local programming on ABC (which did not program at 10:30 until 1964). On the days that Godfrey aired at 10:30, Winner did not fare well. On April 7, CBS permanently slotted a program at 10:30 to provide a constant network opponent to Winner – Bride and Groom. Winner ended on April 25 after just nine weeks.
Matinee in New York
Winner returned to NBC's daytime schedule on June 9, 1952 in an unorthodox form – as a segment of the hour-long weekday variety show Matinee in New York, which aired at 4:00 PM. Matinee ended on September 5, 1952.Play For Keeps!
In 1955, in the midst of the big-money quiz-show craze, CBS tried a revival for their daytime schedule with Sonny FoxSonny Fox
Irwin "Sonny" Fox is an American television host, executive and broadcasting consultant, who was the fourth full-time host of the children's television program, Wonderama.-Biography:...
as host. This pilot is usually cited in "what if?" discussions regarding a big-money Goodson-Todman quiz show, as in this pilot the "returning champion" had "previously won" $15,000 and there was no earnings cap.
The rules were a bit different, in that the champion chose from one of ten categories, then wagered all or part of their previous winnings. If the champion defended their title, the money bet was added to their pre-bet total by the show; if the challenger won, s/he got the wagered money and the former champion had the wager deducted from their winnings.
Episode status
Both the radio and television versions are believed to have been 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 radio series, only three episodes hosted by Cullen are known to exist.
Only two episodes of Gray's version exist, from April 1951. Cullen's version fared better, with four episodes surviving (February 27–28, March 5, and a fourth episode with a more elaborate set). These six episodes have been seen on GSN
Game Show Network
The Game Show Network is an American cable television and direct broadcast satellite channel dedicated to game shows and casino game shows. The channel was launched on December 1, 1994. Its current slogan is "The World Needs More Winners"...
at one time or another.
Play For Keeps! is held by the UCLA Film & Television Archive.
No Wilson, Collyer, or Matinee-era episodes are known to exist. However, the May 1949 CBS sales film "Television Today" (made for potential TV advertisers) shows "Winner Take All" with Bud Collyer and contestants being produced in the CBS studios, provided as example of the kind of fare available on TV at the time.