TeleTales #53…Another New Rarity! “Life Begins At 80”
On February 4, 2015
- TV History
TeleTales #53…Another New Rarity! “Life Begins At 80”
This is a beautiful shot of Dumont’s main studio at the Wanamakers Department Store location. It wasn’t always this dressy, but this special set was built to entice the show’s producers Jack Barry and Dan Enright away from NBC where “Life Begins At 80″ had aired from 1950 till ’52.
The show had actually started on radio in 1948. In ’55, the show left Dumont and moved to ABC for a year and was finally retired to give Barry and Enright time to work on a new show you may have heard of….”Twenty One”! Yes, ground zero for the quiz show scandals. Once again, thanks to Mike Clark for finding this for us. Enjoy and SHARE! -Bobby Ellerbee
That small set must have been blazing hot. Notice the DuMont Telesets on either side. Jack Barry eventually did quiz shows at KTLA-TV after the scandals died down.
It was also at Wanamakers Department Store that young wireless radio operator (and future RCA / NBC founder) David Sarnoff received the CQD distress signal from RMS Titanic on the night of April 14, 1912.