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The Name's the Same
The Name's the Same is an American game show produced by Goodson-Todman for the ABC television network from December 5, 1951 to August 31, 1954, followed by a run from October 25, 1954 to October 7, 1955. The premise was for contestants to guess the names of persons whose actual name corresponded to a famous person, celebrity, a place, common object or action.
It was originally sponsored by Bendix home appliances (a division of Avco), then on alternate weeks for the next two years by Swanson canned and frozen poultry, and by Johnson Wax. After a brief hiatus in late 1954, the series returned under the new sponsorship of Ralston Purina; Clorets and Chicken of the Sea tuna also signed on as sponsors.
Robert Q. Lewis was the original host and moderator from December 5, 1951 to August 31, 1954. When Lewis was vacationing, Conrad Nagel, Brian Aherne, and Clifton Fadiman substituted for him. After Lewis' final show, where he implied the show's future was in doubt, The Name's the Same went on hiatus, giving Lewis more time to devote to his daytime variety shows on CBS. Swanson followed Lewis, abandoning The Name's the Same. (Announcer Lee Vines continued with Lewis on CBS.)
The Name's the Same returned on October 25, 1954 with a new set, and Ralston Purina joined as the sponsor. During this 39-week run the moderators changed: Dennis James hosted for 18 weeks, through April 4, 1955; Bob and Ray shared the moderators' duties for 10 weeks, from April 11, 1955 to June 21, 1955. Clifton Fadiman returned to the emcee's chair on June 28, 1955, hosting for 11 weeks through the final episode on October 7, 1955.
The only panelist to remain for the show's entire run was New York-based actress and socialite Joan Alexander in the second chair. The original two co-panelists with Alexander were author and comedian Abe Burrows in the first chair, and TV personality Bill Cullen in the third chair. After six weeks Cullen, who became increasingly busy with his own programs, was replaced by composer Meredith Willson. Burrows left the show in November 1952, a victim of the Red Scare. Comedian Jerry Lester took over the first chair on December 23, 1952, followed by comedian Carl Reiner on April 14, 1953. Willson stayed on until July 1953, and his place on the panel was taken by ABC sportscaster Bill Stern. On September 15, 1953, Reiner left and Alexander and Stern were joined by New York radio personality Gene Rayburn.
On February 9, 1954, the panel's makeup was adjusted and Bess Myerson, Miss America 1945, was added to the panel to replace Bill Stern and a fourth panelist was added to the game. That fourth panelist was originally Sherlock Holmes portrayer Basil Rathbone, but he left on April 6, 1954 and was replaced by Texaco Star Theater regular Arnold Stang. Stang then left on May 18, 1954 and was replaced by humorist Roger Price, who stayed on until the final episode.
In January 1955, Rayburn and Myerson left the panel and were replaced by The Jackie Gleason Show's Audrey Meadows and New York Herald Tribune columnist and future To Tell the Truth regular Hy Gardner. Gardner was replaced by actor Walter Slezak in March 1955, who in turn left in July due to a time slot switch. Mike Wallace, then a fledgling journalist, took over as the last permanent panelist.
Many celebrities of the era were guest panelists: Morey Amsterdam, Garry Moore, Hal Block, Cliff Norton, Jackie Cooper, Peter Donald, Dane Clark, Hans Conried, Russell Crouse, John Henry Faulk, John Forsythe, Laraine Day, Marc Connelly, Denise Lor, and Hildy Parks.
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The Name's the Same
The Name's the Same is an American game show produced by Goodson-Todman for the ABC television network from December 5, 1951 to August 31, 1954, followed by a run from October 25, 1954 to October 7, 1955. The premise was for contestants to guess the names of persons whose actual name corresponded to a famous person, celebrity, a place, common object or action.
It was originally sponsored by Bendix home appliances (a division of Avco), then on alternate weeks for the next two years by Swanson canned and frozen poultry, and by Johnson Wax. After a brief hiatus in late 1954, the series returned under the new sponsorship of Ralston Purina; Clorets and Chicken of the Sea tuna also signed on as sponsors.
Robert Q. Lewis was the original host and moderator from December 5, 1951 to August 31, 1954. When Lewis was vacationing, Conrad Nagel, Brian Aherne, and Clifton Fadiman substituted for him. After Lewis' final show, where he implied the show's future was in doubt, The Name's the Same went on hiatus, giving Lewis more time to devote to his daytime variety shows on CBS. Swanson followed Lewis, abandoning The Name's the Same. (Announcer Lee Vines continued with Lewis on CBS.)
The Name's the Same returned on October 25, 1954 with a new set, and Ralston Purina joined as the sponsor. During this 39-week run the moderators changed: Dennis James hosted for 18 weeks, through April 4, 1955; Bob and Ray shared the moderators' duties for 10 weeks, from April 11, 1955 to June 21, 1955. Clifton Fadiman returned to the emcee's chair on June 28, 1955, hosting for 11 weeks through the final episode on October 7, 1955.
The only panelist to remain for the show's entire run was New York-based actress and socialite Joan Alexander in the second chair. The original two co-panelists with Alexander were author and comedian Abe Burrows in the first chair, and TV personality Bill Cullen in the third chair. After six weeks Cullen, who became increasingly busy with his own programs, was replaced by composer Meredith Willson. Burrows left the show in November 1952, a victim of the Red Scare. Comedian Jerry Lester took over the first chair on December 23, 1952, followed by comedian Carl Reiner on April 14, 1953. Willson stayed on until July 1953, and his place on the panel was taken by ABC sportscaster Bill Stern. On September 15, 1953, Reiner left and Alexander and Stern were joined by New York radio personality Gene Rayburn.
On February 9, 1954, the panel's makeup was adjusted and Bess Myerson, Miss America 1945, was added to the panel to replace Bill Stern and a fourth panelist was added to the game. That fourth panelist was originally Sherlock Holmes portrayer Basil Rathbone, but he left on April 6, 1954 and was replaced by Texaco Star Theater regular Arnold Stang. Stang then left on May 18, 1954 and was replaced by humorist Roger Price, who stayed on until the final episode.
In January 1955, Rayburn and Myerson left the panel and were replaced by The Jackie Gleason Show's Audrey Meadows and New York Herald Tribune columnist and future To Tell the Truth regular Hy Gardner. Gardner was replaced by actor Walter Slezak in March 1955, who in turn left in July due to a time slot switch. Mike Wallace, then a fledgling journalist, took over as the last permanent panelist.
Many celebrities of the era were guest panelists: Morey Amsterdam, Garry Moore, Hal Block, Cliff Norton, Jackie Cooper, Peter Donald, Dane Clark, Hans Conried, Russell Crouse, John Henry Faulk, John Forsythe, Laraine Day, Marc Connelly, Denise Lor, and Hildy Parks.