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Johnny Olson
John Leonard Olson (May 22, 1910 – October 12, 1985) was an American radio personality and television announcer. Olson is perhaps best known for his work as an announcer for game shows, particularly the work he did for Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions. Olson was the longtime announcer for the original To Tell the Truth and What's My Line? and spent more than a decade as announcer for both Match Game and The Price Is Right, working on the latter series at the time of his death.
Some of Olson's earliest radio work occurred in the mid-1930s at WTMJ (AM) in Milwaukee, where he appeared on the variety show The Grenadiers. He soon was hosting Johnny Olson Rhythm Rascals, where callers would request songs for him to sing. His future wife Penny was a frequent caller to the show. Olson's first network job on radio was in New York City in 1944, hosting (with his wife) the audience-participation show Ladies Be Seated, a stunt game along the lines of Truth or Consequences, broadcast on ABC Radio. From 1950-1951 Olson was the host of Johnny Olson's Luncheon Club, which was the follow-up replacement for Ladies Be Seated. He had previously hosted several radio shows in Chicago, including the second iteration of Johnny Olson's Rumpus Room, a late-night variety show broadcast from 10:30 p.m. to midnight, which was also the name of a later daytime talk show he hosted on the DuMont Television Network.
In 1945, Olson and his wife hosted a five-week run of a TV version of Ladies Be Seated. From May 1947 to July 1949, Olson hosted Doorway to Fame, 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.
On television, Olson was an announcer on Break the Bank and was the announcer and sometimes the host on Fun for the Money on ABC-TV in 1949. Olson also was the announcer for Play Your Hunch.
Olson was host of Homemaker's Jamboree, an audience-participation game show that debuted on WJZ-TV on October 5, 1952.
Beginning in 1960, Olson announced the CBS prime-time panel game To Tell the Truth. The following year, he added duties on sister show What's My Line?, and in 1962 began announcing on the original Match Game in daytime on NBC until that series ended in 1969. Before going live, Olson did an audience warm-up by asking questions and getting the audience ready for the live telecast.
Twice, in 1965 and again in 1974, he appeared as the mystery guest on What's My Line?. The first time he managed to stump the panel; the second time, Arlene Francis guessed his identity.
Olson was also the announcer for The Jackie Gleason Show from 1962 until its cancellation in 1970.
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Johnny Olson
John Leonard Olson (May 22, 1910 – October 12, 1985) was an American radio personality and television announcer. Olson is perhaps best known for his work as an announcer for game shows, particularly the work he did for Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions. Olson was the longtime announcer for the original To Tell the Truth and What's My Line? and spent more than a decade as announcer for both Match Game and The Price Is Right, working on the latter series at the time of his death.
Some of Olson's earliest radio work occurred in the mid-1930s at WTMJ (AM) in Milwaukee, where he appeared on the variety show The Grenadiers. He soon was hosting Johnny Olson Rhythm Rascals, where callers would request songs for him to sing. His future wife Penny was a frequent caller to the show. Olson's first network job on radio was in New York City in 1944, hosting (with his wife) the audience-participation show Ladies Be Seated, a stunt game along the lines of Truth or Consequences, broadcast on ABC Radio. From 1950-1951 Olson was the host of Johnny Olson's Luncheon Club, which was the follow-up replacement for Ladies Be Seated. He had previously hosted several radio shows in Chicago, including the second iteration of Johnny Olson's Rumpus Room, a late-night variety show broadcast from 10:30 p.m. to midnight, which was also the name of a later daytime talk show he hosted on the DuMont Television Network.
In 1945, Olson and his wife hosted a five-week run of a TV version of Ladies Be Seated. From May 1947 to July 1949, Olson hosted Doorway to Fame, 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.
On television, Olson was an announcer on Break the Bank and was the announcer and sometimes the host on Fun for the Money on ABC-TV in 1949. Olson also was the announcer for Play Your Hunch.
Olson was host of Homemaker's Jamboree, an audience-participation game show that debuted on WJZ-TV on October 5, 1952.
Beginning in 1960, Olson announced the CBS prime-time panel game To Tell the Truth. The following year, he added duties on sister show What's My Line?, and in 1962 began announcing on the original Match Game in daytime on NBC until that series ended in 1969. Before going live, Olson did an audience warm-up by asking questions and getting the audience ready for the live telecast.
Twice, in 1965 and again in 1974, he appeared as the mystery guest on What's My Line?. The first time he managed to stump the panel; the second time, Arlene Francis guessed his identity.
Olson was also the announcer for The Jackie Gleason Show from 1962 until its cancellation in 1970.
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