Two for the Money (game show)
Encyclopedia
Two for the Money is an American
game show
television program
which ran from 1952 to 1957. The show ran for one season on NBC
, and four seasons on CBS. It was a Mark Goodson
-Bill Todman
production, and was initially sponsored by Old Gold cigarettes. Humorist Herb Shriner
was the host for most of the show's run, with fellow humorist Sam Levenson
hosting the last season.
With the success of Groucho Marx
and his show, You Bet Your Life
, which aired on NBC, Mark Goodson
was looking for a similar format that was as much a showcase for the host as it was a game. Two for the Money was just that, with as much of Shriner's homespun Hoosier
humor as there was actual game play. But there was a game to be played, and its format was fairly simple.
In the first round, a pair of contestants would be given a category, and would come up with as many correct answers that fit the category as possible within a fifteen-second time period. An example of a category: "States whose names end in 'A'." Each correct answer was worth $
5.00. The other important rule is that the contestants had to alternate in giving their responses. Round two was much the same, but each correct answer's value was determined by the amount won in the first round — if the contestants won $25 in the first round, each correct second-round answer was worth $25. The amount won in the second round would be the value of each correct answer in the third and final round.
Shriner had help in judging correct answers from Mason Welch Gross, a professor from Rutgers University
. Dr. Gross would sound a buzzer should he catch the team repeating an answer or giving an incorrect answer. For a brief time while Dr. Gross was away, Walter Cronkite
filled in. Dr. Gross eventually became the university's president, and namesake of its fine arts program.
Actor Walter O'Keefe
and humorist and TV personality Sam Levenson
served as Shriner's substitutes. Kenny Williams
(who from 1960, until before is death in 1985, would be the "voice" of nearly all the game shows produced by Merrill Heatter & Bob Quigley) was the announcer.
In 1957, Ed McMahon
made his network TV debut as the show's announcer. Milton DeLugg
conducted the show's orchestra. Dennis James
was primary sponsor Old Gold cigarettes' spokesman; Bob Shepherd
was the pitchman for other sponsors.
The show was also remade in the United Kingdom for the then-new ITV
network in 1956, lasting only one series. The UK version was hosted by Bernard Braden
.
Seventeen-year-old Tom Brokaw
, governor of South Dakota Boys' State
, appeared with the real governor of South Dakota, Joe Foss
, in 1957. Together they won $1,225, answering questions mainly about politics (one of the categories was "state governors," and one
of Brokaw's answers, as he recounts in his autobiography, was "The honorable Joe Foss of South Dakota").
. One episode is included in the set "Classic Game Shows & More", released by Mill Creek Entertainment
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
television program
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
which ran from 1952 to 1957. The show ran for one season 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...
, and four seasons on CBS. It was a 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:...
production, and was initially sponsored by Old Gold cigarettes. Humorist Herb Shriner
Herb Shriner
Herbert Arthur "Herb" Shriner was an American humorist, radio personality and television host. Shriner was known for his homespun monologues, usually about his home state of Indiana...
was the host for most of the show's run, with fellow humorist Sam Levenson
Sam Levenson
Sam Levenson was an American humorist, writer, teacher, television host and journalist.-Personal life:Born Samuel Levenson, he grew up in a large Jewish immigrant family in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from Brooklyn College in 1934...
hosting the last season.
With the success of Groucho Marx
Groucho Marx
Julius Henry "Groucho" Marx was an American comedian and film star famed as a master of wit. His rapid-fire delivery of innuendo-laden patter earned him many admirers. He made 13 feature films with his siblings the Marx Brothers, of whom he was the third-born...
and his show, You Bet Your Life
You Bet Your Life
You Bet Your Life is an American quiz show that aired on both radio and television. The original and best-known version was hosted by Groucho Marx of the Marx Brothers, with announcer and assistant George Fenneman. The show debuted on ABC Radio in October 1947, then moved to CBS Radio in September...
, which aired on NBC, Mark Goodson
Mark Goodson
Mark Goodson was an American television producer who specialized in game shows.-Life and early career:...
was looking for a similar format that was as much a showcase for the host as it was a game. Two for the Money was just that, with as much of Shriner's homespun Hoosier
Hoosier
Hoosier is the official demonym for a resident of the U.S. state of Indiana. Although residents of most U.S. states typically adopt a derivative of the state name, e.g., "Indianan" or "Indianian", natives of Indiana rarely use these. Indiana adopted the nickname "Hoosier State" more than 150...
humor as there was actual game play. But there was a game to be played, and its format was fairly simple.
In the first round, a pair of contestants would be given a category, and would come up with as many correct answers that fit the category as possible within a fifteen-second time period. An example of a category: "States whose names end in 'A'." Each correct answer was worth $
Dollar
The dollar is the name of the official currency of many countries, including Australia, Belize, Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United States.-Etymology:...
5.00. The other important rule is that the contestants had to alternate in giving their responses. Round two was much the same, but each correct answer's value was determined by the amount won in the first round — if the contestants won $25 in the first round, each correct second-round answer was worth $25. The amount won in the second round would be the value of each correct answer in the third and final round.
Shriner had help in judging correct answers from Mason Welch Gross, a professor from Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
. Dr. Gross would sound a buzzer should he catch the team repeating an answer or giving an incorrect answer. For a brief time while Dr. Gross was away, Walter Cronkite
Walter Cronkite
Walter Leland Cronkite, Jr. was an American broadcast journalist, best known as anchorman for the CBS Evening News for 19 years . During the heyday of CBS News in the 1960s and 1970s, he was often cited as "the most trusted man in America" after being so named in an opinion poll...
filled in. Dr. Gross eventually became the university's president, and namesake of its fine arts program.
Actor Walter O'Keefe
Walter O'Keefe
Walter O'Keefe was an American songwriter, actor, syndicated columnist, Broadway composer, radio legend, screenwriter, musical arranger and TV host....
and humorist and TV personality Sam Levenson
Sam Levenson
Sam Levenson was an American humorist, writer, teacher, television host and journalist.-Personal life:Born Samuel Levenson, he grew up in a large Jewish immigrant family in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from Brooklyn College in 1934...
served as Shriner's substitutes. Kenny Williams
Kenny Williams (announcer)
Kenny Williams was an American television announcer from the late 1940s to 1980s. He was best known as the announcer of many game shows produced by Merrill Heatter and Bob Quigley . He also appeared on screen as "Kenny the Cop" on Video Village and Shenanigans...
(who from 1960, until before is death in 1985, would be the "voice" of nearly all the game shows produced by Merrill Heatter & Bob Quigley) was the announcer.
In 1957, Ed McMahon
Ed McMahon
Edward Peter "Ed" McMahon, Jr. was an American comedian, game show host and announcer. He is most famous for his work on television as Johnny Carson's sidekick and announcer on The Tonight Show from 1962 to 1992. He also hosted the original version of the talent show Star Search from 1983 to 1995...
made his network TV debut as the show's announcer. Milton DeLugg
Milton DeLugg
Milton DeLugg is an American composer and arranger.-Biography:A talented accordionist, he appeared in short Soundies musicals and occasional movies . He quickly became a successful arranger and composer...
conducted the show's orchestra. Dennis James
Dennis James
Dennis James was an American television personality, actor, and announcer. He is credited as the host of television's first network game show, the DuMont Network's Cash and Carry in 1946...
was primary sponsor Old Gold cigarettes' spokesman; Bob Shepherd
Bob Shepherd
Bob Shepherd is the British author of The Circuit , a non-fiction account published in 2008 of the defence industry contracts spawned out of the Iraq conflict....
was the pitchman for other sponsors.
The show was also remade in the United Kingdom for the then-new ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
network in 1956, lasting only one series. The UK version was hosted by Bernard Braden
Bernard Braden
Bernard Chastey Braden was a Canadian-born English actor and comedian.Braden was born in Vancouver, British Columbia and educated at Magee Secondary School, Kerrisdale, Vancouver. He produced plays on CJOR Vancouver in the late 1930s and early 1940s. He married Barbara Kelly in 1942 and they moved...
.
Seventeen-year-old Tom Brokaw
Tom Brokaw
Thomas John "Tom" Brokaw is an American television journalist and author best known as the anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News from 1982 to 2004. He is the author of The Greatest Generation and other books and the recipient of numerous awards and honors...
, governor of South Dakota Boys' State
Boys/Girls State
Boys State and Girls State are summer leadership and citizenship programs sponsored by the American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary for high school students between their junior and senior years. Boys and Girls State programs both began in 1937 and are held in each of the U.S. states ,...
, appeared with the real governor of South Dakota, Joe Foss
Joe Foss
Joseph Jacob "Joe" Foss was the leading fighter ace of the United States Marine Corps during World War II and a 1943 recipient of the Medal of Honor, recognizing his role in the air combat during the Guadalcanal Campaign...
, in 1957. Together they won $1,225, answering questions mainly about politics (one of the categories was "state governors," and one
of Brokaw's answers, as he recounts in his autobiography, was "The honorable Joe Foss of South Dakota").
Episode status
17 episodes survive at the UCLA Film and Television ArchiveUCLA Film and Television Archive
The UCLA Film and Television Archive is an internationally renowned visual arts organization focused on the preservation, study, and appreciation of film and television, based at the University of California, Los Angeles. It holds more than 220,000 film and television titles and 27 million feet of...
. One episode is included in the set "Classic Game Shows & More", released by Mill Creek Entertainment
Mill Creek Entertainment
Mill Creek Entertainment is a home entertainment company that manufactures movie and television DVD compilation box sets at "value" prices. Nashville's Amity Entertainment is an affiliate to Mill Creek...
.