August 3, 1944…One Of CBS Television’s First Game Show Debuts
August 3, 1944…One Of CBS Television’s First Game Show Debuts
Pictured here is John Reed King hosting “Missus Goes A Shopping”, which debuted on August 3, 1944, This is inside CBS Studio 42 at Grand Central Terminal. I will reveal the surprise of who the woman in the hat is a few paragraphs down.
The first CBS game show on television was actually the “CBS Television Quiz”, which aired on Wednesday nights on WCBW from July 2, 1941 to May 25, 1942. The host was Gil Fates, who went on to be executive producer of “What’s My Line”. Due to the war, the show left the air, as the broadcast schedules for both NBC and CBS flatlined.
With optimism on the war in Europe spreading, TV began to percolate and more time was added to broadcast schedules. “Missus Goes A Shopping”, began on radio in 1941 and ran there till 1951, which King hosted until the show moved to TV. With it’s radio success, CBS figured it would be a good bet to add to its TV line up, and it was. A daytime television version began on November 19, 1947 and ended on November 10, 1948.
So, who is the woman? Hint…she was the scorekeeper on “CBS Television Quiz”. Didn’t help? OK…she is none other than Francis Buss…television’s first ever female director!
In addition to his radio and television quiz shows, Mr. King was also notable as the voice of many Paramount newsreels, and for a time he was coordinating producer of the series. His voice can often be heard on the Turner Movie Classics cable network when the movie newsreels are replayed from time to time.
One of John’s best known roles in radio was as the star of “Sky King”. In television, he is celebrated as the producer of one of the most popular series of the late 1950’s, “Death Valley Days”, which featured, among other hosts, Ronald Reagan. Enjoy and share! -Bobby Ellerbee
Above, Francis Buss…television’s first ever female director
“So, who was the audience for these WWII telecasts? Were there even a thousand TV sets in New York at this time?”
It is unknown just how many TV sets were in use in the New York metropolitan area during the war. Estimates range somewhere around 2000-4000, mostly in bars and hotel lobbies. Baseball and boxing telecasts were among the bar favorites, with Gillette sponsoring the local New York boxing telecasts as early as 1944.
What’s with the duck?
Frances Buss has a two hour interview at the Emmy Legends website. She died in 2010 at the age of 92.
Great stuff, tnx
Love this stuff
I shot a PSA with Sky King in Orlando about a month before he crashed his car driving to a rocket launch at Cape Kennedy. Sad end to an interesting guy.
King later worked at KDKA radio and TV in Pittsburgh in the ’60s.
So, who was the audience for these WWII telecasts? Were there even a thousand TV sets in New York at this time?
Fantastic