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Gene Wood
Eugene Edward Wood (October 20, 1925 – May 21, 2004) was an American television personality, known primarily for his work as an announcer on various game shows. From the 1950s to the 1990s, he announced many game shows, primarily Mark Goodson–Bill Todman productions such as Family Feud, Classic Concentration, Card Sharks, Password, and Beat the Clock. Wood also served a brief stint as a host on this last show, and on another show, Anything You Can Do. After retiring from game shows in 1996, Wood worked as an announcer for the Game Show Network until his retirement in 1998.
Wood was born in Quincy, Massachusetts. He served in the Army Air Forces during World War II. Wood majored in speech and theater at Emerson College.
Wood wrote one episode for The Arlene Francis Show in 1958.[citation needed] His early career included stand-up comedy, television commercials, and writing for Bob Keeshan of Captain Kangaroo fame. This work included a Terrytoons-produced cartoon series, The Adventures of Lariat Sam, which aired on the Captain Kangaroo show. Wood also supplied voices and sang the theme song. Wood also had a comedy career, often pairing with partner Bill Dana, performing their comedy act at nightclubs. Wood with Jay Burton wrote one episode for When Things Were Rotten, "The French Dis-connection", in 1975.
Wood's first role as a game show announcer came as a substitute on the ABC version of Supermarket Sweep[citation needed] and The Soupy Sales Hour in 1966. In 1969, he began working for the first time for Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions as the announcer on Beat the Clock. Wood also simultaneously hosted the 1971–72 season of the Don Reid-produced Anything You Can Do, which featured teams of men competing against teams of women in stunts similar to Beat the Clock. In 1972, Wood left that show and ascended to host of Beat the Clock after the departure of Jack Narz, with Nick Holenreich serving as Wood's announcer. The show ended production in 1974.
Wood then became a regular announcer for Goodson–Todman in Los Angeles, working as voice-over for many of the company's game shows. In addition to his role as announcer, he regularly served as a warm-up act for the audiences on these shows, and often performed a series of comedy skits. His work in 1974 for Goodson-Todman included Now You See It (CBS, 1974–75) and Tattletales (CBS, 1974–78); he also appeared as a celebrity panelist on one week of Match Game that year.
Perhaps Wood's most famous role was as announcer on the original version of Family Feud. The original version, hosted by Richard Dawson, ran on ABC from 1976 to 1985. When Family Feud was revived in 1988 with Ray Combs as host, he announced on that version as well through the 1994–1995 season, during which Dawson returned as host. Wood guest-starred as himself during a Feud-themed episode of the ABC sitcom Angie in 1979, and would also be heard as Feud's announcer on a similar episode of the NBC sitcom Mama's Family in 1983.
Wood frequently announced multiple versions of the same show; the next such instance was Card Sharks. The show's first incarnation, starring Jim Perry, ran from 1978 to 1981 on NBC, while two concurrent revivals (one on CBS and another in syndication, hosted by Bob Eubanks and Bill Rafferty, respectively) ran from 1986 to 1989. Wood also served as the main announcer for Password Plus and Super Password from 1979-82 and 1984-89, respectively; and for The Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour from 1983-84 and for a revival of Match Game in 1990-91.
He announced for Child's Play from 1982 to 1983. Wood announced the first few weeks of Bruce Forsyth's Hot Streak on ABC, before being replaced by Marc Summers.[citation needed]
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Gene Wood
Eugene Edward Wood (October 20, 1925 – May 21, 2004) was an American television personality, known primarily for his work as an announcer on various game shows. From the 1950s to the 1990s, he announced many game shows, primarily Mark Goodson–Bill Todman productions such as Family Feud, Classic Concentration, Card Sharks, Password, and Beat the Clock. Wood also served a brief stint as a host on this last show, and on another show, Anything You Can Do. After retiring from game shows in 1996, Wood worked as an announcer for the Game Show Network until his retirement in 1998.
Wood was born in Quincy, Massachusetts. He served in the Army Air Forces during World War II. Wood majored in speech and theater at Emerson College.
Wood wrote one episode for The Arlene Francis Show in 1958.[citation needed] His early career included stand-up comedy, television commercials, and writing for Bob Keeshan of Captain Kangaroo fame. This work included a Terrytoons-produced cartoon series, The Adventures of Lariat Sam, which aired on the Captain Kangaroo show. Wood also supplied voices and sang the theme song. Wood also had a comedy career, often pairing with partner Bill Dana, performing their comedy act at nightclubs. Wood with Jay Burton wrote one episode for When Things Were Rotten, "The French Dis-connection", in 1975.
Wood's first role as a game show announcer came as a substitute on the ABC version of Supermarket Sweep[citation needed] and The Soupy Sales Hour in 1966. In 1969, he began working for the first time for Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions as the announcer on Beat the Clock. Wood also simultaneously hosted the 1971–72 season of the Don Reid-produced Anything You Can Do, which featured teams of men competing against teams of women in stunts similar to Beat the Clock. In 1972, Wood left that show and ascended to host of Beat the Clock after the departure of Jack Narz, with Nick Holenreich serving as Wood's announcer. The show ended production in 1974.
Wood then became a regular announcer for Goodson–Todman in Los Angeles, working as voice-over for many of the company's game shows. In addition to his role as announcer, he regularly served as a warm-up act for the audiences on these shows, and often performed a series of comedy skits. His work in 1974 for Goodson-Todman included Now You See It (CBS, 1974–75) and Tattletales (CBS, 1974–78); he also appeared as a celebrity panelist on one week of Match Game that year.
Perhaps Wood's most famous role was as announcer on the original version of Family Feud. The original version, hosted by Richard Dawson, ran on ABC from 1976 to 1985. When Family Feud was revived in 1988 with Ray Combs as host, he announced on that version as well through the 1994–1995 season, during which Dawson returned as host. Wood guest-starred as himself during a Feud-themed episode of the ABC sitcom Angie in 1979, and would also be heard as Feud's announcer on a similar episode of the NBC sitcom Mama's Family in 1983.
Wood frequently announced multiple versions of the same show; the next such instance was Card Sharks. The show's first incarnation, starring Jim Perry, ran from 1978 to 1981 on NBC, while two concurrent revivals (one on CBS and another in syndication, hosted by Bob Eubanks and Bill Rafferty, respectively) ran from 1986 to 1989. Wood also served as the main announcer for Password Plus and Super Password from 1979-82 and 1984-89, respectively; and for The Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour from 1983-84 and for a revival of Match Game in 1990-91.
He announced for Child's Play from 1982 to 1983. Wood announced the first few weeks of Bruce Forsyth's Hot Streak on ABC, before being replaced by Marc Summers.[citation needed]