The Game Show Forum

The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: nate80s on March 01, 2008, 05:23:12 PM

Title: Single-Contestant Shows
Post by: nate80s on March 01, 2008, 05:23:12 PM

Was Who Wants To Be A Millionaire the first single-contestant game show?  If it wasn't, then what was?

Title: Single-Contestant Shows
Post by: clemon79 on March 01, 2008, 05:37:46 PM

[quote name=\'nate80s\' post=\'179502\' date=\'Mar 1 2008, 02:23 PM\']
Was Who Wants To Be A Millionaire the first single-contestant game show?  If it wasn't, then what was?
[/quote]
Not even remotely close. Probably something in the '40s or '50s.

Title: Single-Contestant Shows
Post by: chad1m on March 01, 2008, 06:02:09 PM

One that's popping out at me right now is The $64,000 Question, which premiered on TV in '55. There may have been something earlier than that, but that's probably the most famous early example.

Title: Single-Contestant Shows
Post by: Matt Ottinger on March 01, 2008, 07:02:11 PM

Most of the earliest game shows, going back to radio, were single-contestant programs.  Very few had contestants pitted against one another.  On television, Truth or Consequences is often pointed to as the first game show, so yeah, let's say that one.

Title: Single-Contestant Shows
Post by: Master Shake on March 01, 2008, 09:01:13 PM

One of my perennial favourites from the 50s and 60s I'd also consider a single-contestant game - What's My Line?

Title: Single-Contestant Shows
Post by: DrBear on March 02, 2008, 04:58:46 AM

[quote name=\'chad1m\' post=\'179509\' date=\'Mar 1 2008, 05:02 PM\'] One that's popping out at me right now is The $64,000 Question, which premiered on TV in '55. There may have been something earlier than that, but that's probably the most famous early example. [/quote]
Wouldn't that be based on the original $64 Question?

Title: Single-Contestant Shows
Post by: joker316 on March 02, 2008, 07:42:17 AM

That would be, I believe, Take It Or Leave It, which debuted in 1942. Since TorC debuted in 1940, I would agree with Matt on this one

Title: Single-Contestant Shows
Post by: Kevin Prather on March 02, 2008, 01:57:07 PM

When did Truth or AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!! (http://\"http://gameshow.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=14812\") debut? :)

Title: Single-Contestant Shows
Post by: Jimmy Owen on March 02, 2008, 02:52:30 PM

Was "Uncle Jim's Question Bee" a single player game?

Title: Single-Contestant Shows
Post by: DoorNumberFour on March 02, 2008, 02:54:39 PM

[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' post=\'179608\' date=\'Mar 2 2008, 02:52 PM\']
Was "Uncle Jim's Question Bee" a single player game?
[/quote]
If I'm not mistaken, Uncle Jim's Question Bee was audience-participation.

So it was single-player in a way.

Title: Single-Contestant Shows
Post by: tvrandywest on March 02, 2008, 03:01:53 PM

Let's phrase it this way:

"Winner Take All" in 1946 (later, on TV in 1948) is credited as being the first show to feature TWO contestants playing against each other. Therefore, the first SINGLE player game show on commercial television would have been on July 1, 1941, and played either "T or C" or "Uncle Jim's Question Bee" depending upon your criteria for what constitutes a game or quiz show.

Randy
tvrandywest.com

Title: Single-Contestant Shows
Post by: joker316 on March 02, 2008, 04:57:09 PM

[quote name=\'whoserman\' post=\'179600\' date=\'Mar 2 2008, 01:57 PM\']
When did Truth or AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!! (http://\"http://gameshow.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=14812\") debut? :)
[/quote]
According to the EOTVGS: TorC debuted on radio March 23, 1940.

Title: Single-Contestant Shows
Post by: DoorNumberFour on March 02, 2008, 06:59:04 PM

[quote name=\'joker316\' post=\'179634\' date=\'Mar 2 2008, 04:57 PM\']
[quote name=\'whoserman\' post=\'179600\' date=\'Mar 2 2008, 01:57 PM\']
When did Truth or AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!! (http://\"http://gameshow.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=14812\") debut? :)
[/quote]
According to the EOTVGS: TorC debuted on radio March 23, 1940.
[/quote]
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/164/whooshzq0.jpg (http://\"http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/164/whooshzq0.jpg\")

Title: Single-Contestant Shows
Post by: uncamark on March 04, 2008, 01:13:00 PM

[quote name=\'DoorNumberFour\' post=\'179649\' date=\'Mar 2 2008, 05:59 PM\']
[quote name=\'joker316\' post=\'179634\' date=\'Mar 2 2008, 04:57 PM\']
[quote name=\'whoserman\' post=\'179600\' date=\'Mar 2 2008, 01:57 PM\']
When did Truth or AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!! (http://\"http://gameshow.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=14812\") debut? :)
[/quote]
According to the EOTVGS: TorC debuted on radio March 23, 1940.
[/quote]
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/164/whooshzq0.jpg (http://\"http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/164/whooshzq0.jpg\")
[/quote]

This whoosh comes to you through the courtesy of the Eagle Hand Laundry.

Title: Single-Contestant Shows
Post by: joker316 on March 04, 2008, 03:35:06 PM

[quote name=\'uncamark\' post=\'179878\' date=\'Mar 4 2008, 01:13 PM\']
[quote name=\'DoorNumberFour\' post=\'179649\' date=\'Mar 2 2008, 05:59 PM\']
[quote name=\'joker316\' post=\'179634\' date=\'Mar 2 2008, 04:57 PM\']
[quote name=\'whoserman\' post=\'179600\' date=\'Mar 2 2008, 01:57 PM\']
When did Truth or AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!! (http://\"http://gameshow.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=14812\") debut? :)
[/quote]
According to the EOTVGS: TorC debuted on radio March 23, 1940.
[/quote]
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/164/whooshzq0.jpg (http://\"http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/164/whooshzq0.jpg\")
[/quote]

This whoosh comes to you through the courtesy of the Eagle Hand Laundry.
[/quote]
Silly me , when will I learn. And God Bless the Eagle Hand Laundry!