Winner Take All (game show)

Winner Take All
Created byMark Goodson
Bill Todman
Presented byWard Wilson
Bill Cullen
Bud Collyer
Barry Gray
Sonny Fox
AnnouncerBill Cullen
Bern Bennett
Harry Kramer
Don Pardo
Country of originUnited States
No. of episodes1951 (TV): ~50
1952 (pre-Matinee): ~45
1952 (Matinee): ~65
Original release
NetworkCBS (Radio; 1946–1952)
CBS (Television; 1948–1951)
NBC (1952)
ReleaseJune 3, 1946 (1946-06-03) –
September 5, 1952 (1952-09-05)

Winner Take All is an American radio-television game show that ran from June 3, 1946,[1] to 1952 on CBS and NBC. It was the first game show produced by the Mark Goodson-Bill Todman partnership.[2] The series was originally hosted by Ward Wilson, but is best known for being the first game hosted by Bill Cullen.[3]

The origins were devised in 1942, but CBS rejected it, and finally accepted it in 1946 after the breakout of World War II.[4][5]

Contestants were selected from the audience to compete for prizes.[1] 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.[2]

The program was broadcast at 3 p.m. Eastern Time.[1]

In July 1952, CBS launched a Saturday night version of the show, in addition to the regular Monday-Friday daytime broadcasts.[6]

Critical response

A review in the trade publication Billboard described the July 1, 1948, televised version of the program as being "loud as radio and twice as lurid".[7] The review pointed out the "banality" of MC Bud Collyer's performance but added that little could be criticized about the technical aspects of the episode.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Aitchison, Marion (June 3, 1946). "Radio Programs". The Miami Herald. p. 15 B. Retrieved March 26, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 Newcomb, Horace (2014). Encyclopedia of Television. Routledge. p. 1013. ISBN 9781135194796. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
  3. ↑ Baber, David (2009). Television Game Show Hosts: Biographies of 32 Stars. McFarland. p. 53. ISBN 9781476604800. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
  4. ↑ Duka, John (December 5, 1982). "FROM 'WHAT'S MY LINE' TO 'CHILD'S PLAY,' THE GAME'S THE THING FOR HIM". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Our Respects to Mark Goodson and William Seldon Todman" (PDF). Broadcasting. February 10, 1958. p. 26. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
  6. ↑ "'Winner Take All' Is To Be Aired Saturday". The Roanoke Times. July 30, 1950. p. 18. Retrieved May 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. 1 2 Chase, Sam (July 10, 1948). "Winner Take All". Billboard. p. 11. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
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