Johnny Olson
Encyclopedia
John Leonard "Johnny" Olson (May 22, 1910 – October 12, 1985) was an American
radio
personality and television
announcer
. His work spanned 32 game show
s produced by Mark Goodson
and Bill Todman
from the late 1950s through the mid 1980s. He was also the announcer of The Jackie Gleason Show from 1962 to 1970.
, while landing jobs at WIBA
and KGDA in and nearby Madison, Wisconsin
after 1928, Olson enrolled in pharmacy
classes at the University of Minnesota
. He also worked a string of odd jobs, from soda jerk
to singer.
Olson's first network job on radio was in New York City
in 1944, announcing the musical game show
, Ladies Be Seated, a stunt game along the lines of Truth or Consequences
broadcast on the NBC Blue radio network. He previously hosted several radio shows in Chicago, including Johnny Olson's Rumpus Room, a late-night variety radio show broadcast from 10:30 pm to 12 midnight, which was also the name of a later talk show he hosted on the DuMont Television Network.
As late as 1956, Olson had a crack at another radio quiz, the short-lived Second Chance, somewhat similar to the earlier hit Queen for a Day
in that this show, too, focused on guest contestants' tribulations, in this case a chance at rectifying a mistake or a loss in life.
, an evening television talent show on the new DuMont Television Network
. From January 1949 to July 1952, Olson hosted Johnny Olson's Rumpus Room
, a daytime television
talk show which was the first daytime show broadcast from DuMont's flagship station WABD over DuMont's small East Coast network. Olson also hosted the Saturday morning children's show Kids and Company
on DuMont from September 1951 to June 1952, with co-host Ham Fisher
.
in 1958; in that year Olson also announced the Merv Griffin
-hosted Play Your Hunch
, which lasted until 1963 and began his long association with Mark Goodson
-Bill Todman
Productions, five years earlier. In the late 1960s, he was also a substitute announcer on the ABC
version of Supermarket Sweep
.
Beginning in 1960, Olson announced the CBS
prime-time panel game To Tell The Truth
(on which he greeted each team of challengers with the question, "What is your name, please?"). The following year, he added duties on sister show What's My Line?
, and in 1962 began announcing in the original Match Game
(hosted by Gene Rayburn
) in daytime on NBC
until that series ended in 1969.
Olson was also announcer for The Jackie Gleason Show
from 1962 until its cancellation in 1970. The first few seasons of the variety show were recorded in New York City
(as Olson would say at the beginning of each show, "the entertainment capital of the world"), while the last few seasons were produced in Miami Beach, Florida
(replaced by "the sun and fun capital of the world").
Olson continued to announce What's My Line? and To Tell the Truth after both shows moved from CBS to syndication in the late 1960s. His involvement with both of them ended when he was designated announcer of the 1972 revivals of The Price Is Right
and I've Got a Secret
, both of which were taped in Hollywood, and left New York for the west coast.
cemented Olson's fame. From the first show (airing September 4, 1972) to his passing in 1985, his role transcended that of an announcer.
In addition to serving as then-host Bob Barker
's sidekick, Olson was a beloved and valued member of the cast. He warmed up the audience prior to taping; during taping, he often had on-camera exposure (occasionally bantering with Barker) prior to calling out the contestants' names; he also appeared in many of the shows' Showcases.
His exhortations for contestants to "Come on down!" became a catchphrase, and a Price Is Right tradition observed by his successors, Rod Roddy
(1986–2003), Rich Fields
(2004–2010), and George Gray (2011–present).
On a side note, future show announcer Rich Fields attended a taping of The Price Is Right in 1978, asking Olson how he could get the announcing job. Olson then had Fields come up on stage and shout: "Johnny Olson, come on down!" Feigning annoyance, Olson told Fields: "Gimme back that microphone, kid, before Mr. Barker hears you backstage. Now go sit down!" Fields eventually became the show's announcer from 2004 to 2010.
, Olson filled in on the days when a scheduled guest failed to appear in time for a taping. Olson only missed one taping of Match Game during the CBS years; Bern Bennett
was his fill-in for one week of daytime shows and one nighttime show.
During the 1970s and early 1980s, while going strong with his announcing duties on Price and Match, he announced nine other shorter-lived game show
s, including Now You See It, Mindreaders
, Double Dare
, and a revival of Tattletales
, all of which shows were Goodson-Todman productions. Olson even filled in for Bob Hilton
on Blockbusters
and his final non-Price assignment, Body Language
, both of which were also Goodson-Todman productions.
Olson's name was occasionally the solution to clues and puzzles on shows he announced for; this happened on both Now You See It and Body Language. Additionally, when "Come on _______" was used as a question in the "Super Match" portion of an episode of Match Game '78
(with then Price host Bob Barker
serving as a panelist), host Gene Rayburn
called Olson to center stage to read the top answer ("Come on down!").
Olson spent his off time on his spacious farm located at Buckingham Acres in Lewisburg, West Virginia
.
from a cerebral hemorrhage he had suffered several days earlier. He was entombed at Rosewood Cemetery in Lewisburg, West Virginia
. The staff and crew of The Price Is Right learned of Olson's condition as Studio 33 at CBS was being prepared for another day's taping. Production was cancelled for the rest of the week (shows were recorded several weeks in advance of broadcast). There was no on-air mention of Olson's death until October 15 when then-host Bob Barker
paid tribute to Olson in an attached segment that followed the end credits. The last Olson-announced episode aired on November 8, 1985.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
personality and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
announcer
Announcer
An announcer is a presenter who makes "announcements" in an audio medium or a physical location.-Television and other media:Some announcers work in television production , radio or filmmaking, usually providing narrations, news updates, station identification, or an introduction of a product in...
. His work spanned 32 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...
s produced by Mark Goodson
Mark Goodson
Mark Goodson was an American television producer who specialized in game shows.-Life and early career:...
and 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:...
from the late 1950s through the mid 1980s. He was also the announcer of The Jackie Gleason Show from 1962 to 1970.
Early career
Born in Windom, MinnesotaWindom, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,490 people, 1,910 households, and 1,195 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,263.6 people per square mile . There were 2,089 housing units at an average density of 587.9 per square mile...
, while landing jobs at WIBA
WIBA (AM)
WIBA is a radio station serving Madison, Wisconsin. Owned by Clear Channel Communications, the station airs a news and talk format, and features local talk as well as syndicated programming...
and KGDA in and nearby Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
after 1928, Olson enrolled in pharmacy
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
classes at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
. He also worked a string of odd jobs, from soda jerk
Soda jerk
A soda jerk was a person — typically a youth — who operated the soda fountain in a drugstore, often for the purpose of preparing and serving ice cream soda. This was made by putting flavored syrup into a specially designed tall glass, adding carbonated water and, finally, one or two scoops of ice...
to singer.
Olson's first network job on radio was in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1944, announcing the musical 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...
, Ladies Be Seated, a stunt game along the lines of Truth or Consequences
Truth or Consequences
Truth or Consequences is an American quiz show originally hosted on NBC radio by Ralph Edwards and later on television by Edwards , Jack Bailey , Bob Barker , Bob Hilton and Larry Anderson . The television show ran on CBS, NBC and also in syndication...
broadcast on the NBC Blue radio network. He previously hosted several radio shows in Chicago, including Johnny Olson's Rumpus Room, a late-night variety radio show broadcast from 10:30 pm to 12 midnight, which was also the name of a later talk show he hosted on the DuMont Television Network.
As late as 1956, Olson had a crack at another radio quiz, the short-lived Second Chance, somewhat similar to the earlier hit Queen for a Day
Queen for a Day
Queen for a Day is an American radio and television game show that helped to usher in American listeners' and viewers' fascination with big-prize giveaway shows. Queen for a Day originated on the Mutual Radio Network on April 30, 1945 in New York City before moving to Los Angeles a few months...
in that this show, too, focused on guest contestants' tribulations, in this case a chance at rectifying a mistake or a loss in life.
Work for DuMont Television Network
From May 1947 to July 1949, Olson hosted Doorway to FameDoorway to Fame
Doorway to Fame is an early American television program broadcast on the now defunct DuMont Television Network.-Broadcast history:The series ran from May 1947 to July 1949. It was a talent show hosted by Johnny Olson, who would go on to host the DuMont daytime variety show Johnny Olson's Rumpus...
, an evening television talent show on the new DuMont Television Network
DuMont Television Network
The DuMont Television Network, also known as the DuMont Network, DuMont, Du Mont, or Dumont was one of the world's pioneer commercial television networks, rivalling NBC for the distinction of being first overall. It began operation in the United States in 1946. It was owned by DuMont...
. From January 1949 to July 1952, Olson hosted Johnny Olson's Rumpus Room
Johnny Olson's Rumpus Room
Johnny Olson's Rumpus Room is a television variety show hosted by Johnny Olson that aired from January 17, 1949 to July 4, 1952 on the now-defunct DuMont Television Network. The show was the first daytime television show broadcast from New York City to DuMont's small network of East Coast cities...
, a daytime television
Daytime television
Daytime television is the general term for television shows produced that are intended to air during the daytime hours on weekdays. This article is about American daytime television, for information about international daytime television see Daytime television....
talk show which was the first daytime show broadcast from DuMont's flagship station WABD over DuMont's small East Coast network. Olson also hosted the Saturday morning children's show Kids and Company
Kids and Company
Kids and Company was a children's TV show broadcast on the now-defunct DuMont Television Network. The show aired Saturday mornings from September 1, 1951 to June 1, 1952, and was hosted by Johnny Olson and Ham Fisher...
on DuMont from September 1951 to June 1952, with co-host Ham Fisher
Ham Fisher
Hammond Edward Fisher was an American comic strip writer and cartoonist who signed his work Ham Fisher...
.
Early announcing work
Olson's first TV announcing job was on the final year of the original Name That TuneName That Tune
Name That Tune is a television game show that put two contestants against each other to test their knowledge of songs. Premiering in the United States on NBC Radio in 1952, the show was created and produced by Harry Salter and his wife Roberta....
in 1958; in that year Olson also announced the Merv Griffin
Merv Griffin
Mervyn Edward "Merv" Griffin, Jr. was an American television host, musician, actor, and media mogul. He began his career as a radio and big band singer who went on to appear in movies and on Broadway. From 1965 to 1986 Griffin hosted his own talk show, The Merv Griffin Show on Group W Broadcasting...
-hosted Play Your Hunch
Play Your Hunch
Play Your Hunch was an American game show first hosted by Merv Griffin from 1958 to 1962, and was then hosted by Robert Q. Lewis until 1963. The announcers for the show were, respectively, Johnny Olson, Wayne Howell and Roger Tuttle...
, which lasted until 1963 and began his long association with 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:...
Productions, five years earlier. In the late 1960s, he was also a substitute announcer on the 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...
version of Supermarket Sweep
Supermarket Sweep
Supermarket Sweep is an American television game show. Part of the format was similar to other team-based quiz shows; the other part was a live-action race through a supermarket, a novel concept at the time...
.
Beginning in 1960, Olson announced the 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...
prime-time panel game To Tell The Truth
To Tell the Truth
To Tell the Truth is an American television panel game show created by Bob Stewart and produced by Goodson-Todman Productions that has aired in various forms since 1956 both on networks and in syndication...
(on which he greeted each team of challengers with the question, "What is your name, please?"). The following year, he added duties on sister show What's My Line?
What's My Line?
What's My Line? is a panel game show which originally ran in the United States on the CBS Television Network from 1950 to 1967, with several international versions and subsequent U.S. revivals. The game tasked celebrity panelists with questioning contestants in order to determine their occupations....
, and in 1962 began announcing in the original Match Game
Match Game
Match Game is an American television game show in which contestants attempted to match celebrities' answers to fill-in-the-blank questions...
(hosted by Gene Rayburn
Gene Rayburn
Gene Rayburn was an American radio and television personality. He is best known as the host of various editions of the popular American television game show Match Game for over two decades....
) in daytime on 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...
until that series ended in 1969.
Olson was also announcer for The Jackie Gleason Show
The Jackie Gleason Show
The Jackie Gleason Show is the name of a series of popular American network television shows that starred Jackie Gleason, which ran from 1952 to 1970.-Cavalcade of Stars:...
from 1962 until its cancellation in 1970. The first few seasons of the variety show were recorded in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
(as Olson would say at the beginning of each show, "the entertainment capital of the world"), while the last few seasons were produced in Miami Beach, Florida
Miami Beach, Florida
Miami Beach is a coastal resort city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, incorporated on March 26, 1915. The municipality is located on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, the latter which separates the Beach from Miami city proper...
(replaced by "the sun and fun capital of the world").
Olson continued to announce What's My Line? and To Tell the Truth after both shows moved from CBS to syndication in the late 1960s. His involvement with both of them ended when he was designated announcer of the 1972 revivals of The Price Is Right
The Price Is Right (U.S. game show)
The Price Is Right is an American game show which was created by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman. Contestants compete to identify the pricing of merchandise to win cash and prizes. The show is well-known for its signature line of "Come on down!" when the announcer directs newly selected contestants to...
and I've Got a Secret
I've Got a Secret
I've Got a Secret is a panel game show produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman for CBS television. Created by comedy writers Allan Sherman and Howard Merrill, it was a derivative of Goodson-Todman's own panel show What's My Line?...
, both of which were taped in Hollywood, and left New York for the west coast.
The Price Is Right
While Name That Tune, To Tell the Truth, What's My Line, and The Match Game put Olson in the upper echelons of television game show announcers, the revival of The Price Is RightThe Price Is Right (U.S. game show)
The Price Is Right is an American game show which was created by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman. Contestants compete to identify the pricing of merchandise to win cash and prizes. The show is well-known for its signature line of "Come on down!" when the announcer directs newly selected contestants to...
cemented Olson's fame. From the first show (airing September 4, 1972) to his passing in 1985, his role transcended that of an announcer.
In addition to serving as then-host Bob Barker
Bob Barker
Robert William "Bob" Barker is a former American television game show host. He is best known for hosting CBS's The Price Is Right from 1972 to 2007, making it the longest-running daytime game show in North American television history, and for hosting Truth or Consequences from 1956 to 1975.Born...
's sidekick, Olson was a beloved and valued member of the cast. He warmed up the audience prior to taping; during taping, he often had on-camera exposure (occasionally bantering with Barker) prior to calling out the contestants' names; he also appeared in many of the shows' Showcases.
His exhortations for contestants to "Come on down!" became a catchphrase, and a Price Is Right tradition observed by his successors, Rod Roddy
Rod Roddy
Robert Ray "Rod" Roddy was an American radio and television announcer. He is primarily known for his role as an offstage announcer on game shows. Among the shows that he announced are the CBS game shows Whew!, Press Your Luck and The Price Is Right. On the latter two, Roddy appeared on camera on...
(1986–2003), Rich Fields
Rich Fields
Richard Wayne "Rich" Fields is an American broadcaster, spokesman, announcer and meteorologist, best known for being the announcer of the American version of The Price Is Right from 2004–2010....
(2004–2010), and George Gray (2011–present).
On a side note, future show announcer Rich Fields attended a taping of The Price Is Right in 1978, asking Olson how he could get the announcing job. Olson then had Fields come up on stage and shout: "Johnny Olson, come on down!" Feigning annoyance, Olson told Fields: "Gimme back that microphone, kid, before Mr. Barker hears you backstage. Now go sit down!" Fields eventually became the show's announcer from 2004 to 2010.
Match Game and later career
In 1973, Olson started announcing for a revived Match Game, another show transplanted from New York to California; the show's "Get ready to match the stars!" became a second catchphrase associated with him for the following nine years. Like executive producer Mark GoodsonMark Goodson
Mark Goodson was an American television producer who specialized in game shows.-Life and early career:...
, Olson filled in on the days when a scheduled guest failed to appear in time for a taping. Olson only missed one taping of Match Game during the CBS years; Bern Bennett
Bern Bennett
Bern Bennett is an American radio and television announcer. For nearly sixty years, beginning in 1944, he was a staff announcer at CBS. In the 1940s and 1950s he was closely associated with Bud Collyer, as announcer on three Collyer-hosted game shows: "Winner Take All", "Beat the Clock", and "To...
was his fill-in for one week of daytime shows and one nighttime show.
During the 1970s and early 1980s, while going strong with his announcing duties on Price and Match, he announced nine other shorter-lived 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...
s, including Now You See It, Mindreaders
Mindreaders
Mindreaders is a game show produced by Goodson-Todman Productions which aired on NBC from August 13, 1979 through January 11, 1980. Although NBC originally agreed to a 26-week run, the network canceled Mindreaders after 22 weeks...
, Double Dare
Double Dare (1976 game show)
Double Dare is an American television game show, produced by Mark Goodson—Bill Todman Productions, that ran from 1976 to 1977 on CBS. Alex Trebek was the host, with Johnny Olson and later Gene Wood announcing...
, and a revival of Tattletales
Tattletales
Tattletales is a game show which first aired on the CBS daytime schedule on February 18, 1974. It was hosted by Bert Convy, with several announcers, including Jack Clark, Gene Wood, Johnny Olson and John Harlan, providing the voiceover at various times...
, all of which shows were Goodson-Todman productions. Olson even filled in for Bob Hilton
Bob Hilton
Robert "Bob" Wesley Hilton is an American television game show personality. He hosted The Guinness Game, a revival of Truth or Consequences and the 1990 revival of Let's Make a Deal, and announced on several other shows....
on Blockbusters
Blockbusters (US game show)
Blockbusters is an American game show which had two separate runs in the 1980s. Created by Steve Ryan for Mark Goodson Productions, the first series debuted on NBC on October 27, 1980 and aired until April 23, 1982. In the first series, a team of two family members competed against a solo contestant...
and his final non-Price assignment, Body Language
Body Language (game show)
Body Language is an American game show produced by Mark Goodson Productions. The show aired on CBS from June 4, 1984 until January 3, 1986, and was hosted by Tom Kennedy...
, both of which were also Goodson-Todman productions.
Olson's name was occasionally the solution to clues and puzzles on shows he announced for; this happened on both Now You See It and Body Language. Additionally, when "Come on _______" was used as a question in the "Super Match" portion of an episode of Match Game '78
Match Game
Match Game is an American television game show in which contestants attempted to match celebrities' answers to fill-in-the-blank questions...
(with then Price host Bob Barker
Bob Barker
Robert William "Bob" Barker is a former American television game show host. He is best known for hosting CBS's The Price Is Right from 1972 to 2007, making it the longest-running daytime game show in North American television history, and for hosting Truth or Consequences from 1956 to 1975.Born...
serving as a panelist), host Gene Rayburn
Gene Rayburn
Gene Rayburn was an American radio and television personality. He is best known as the host of various editions of the popular American television game show Match Game for over two decades....
called Olson to center stage to read the top answer ("Come on down!").
Olson spent his off time on his spacious farm located at Buckingham Acres in Lewisburg, West Virginia
Lewisburg, West Virginia
Lewisburg is a city in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 3,830 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Greenbrier County.-Geography:Lewisburg is located at ....
.
Death
Olson died on Saturday, October 12, 1985 in Santa Monica, CaliforniaSanta Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
from a cerebral hemorrhage he had suffered several days earlier. He was entombed at Rosewood Cemetery in Lewisburg, West Virginia
Lewisburg, West Virginia
Lewisburg is a city in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 3,830 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Greenbrier County.-Geography:Lewisburg is located at ....
. The staff and crew of The Price Is Right learned of Olson's condition as Studio 33 at CBS was being prepared for another day's taping. Production was cancelled for the rest of the week (shows were recorded several weeks in advance of broadcast). There was no on-air mention of Olson's death until October 15 when then-host Bob Barker
Bob Barker
Robert William "Bob" Barker is a former American television game show host. He is best known for hosting CBS's The Price Is Right from 1972 to 2007, making it the longest-running daytime game show in North American television history, and for hosting Truth or Consequences from 1956 to 1975.Born...
paid tribute to Olson in an attached segment that followed the end credits. The last Olson-announced episode aired on November 8, 1985.