''Take It or Leave It'' is radio

quiz show A game show is a genre of broadcast viewing entertainment (radio, television, internet, stage or other) where contestants compete for a reward. These programs can either be participatory or demonstrative and are typically directed by a host, ...

, which ran from April 21, 1940 to July 27, 1947 on CBS radio. It switched to NBC radio in 1947, and on September 10, 1950, the name of the program was changed to ''The $64 Question''.

Gameplay

Contestants were asked questions devised by the series' writer-researcher Edith Oliver. She attempted to make each question slightly more difficult than the preceding one. After answering a question correctly, the contestant had the choice to "take" the prize for that question or "leave it" in favor of a chance at the next question. The first question was worth one dollar, and the value doubled for each successive question, up to the seventh and final question worth $64.

Cultural influence

During the 1940s, "That's the $64 question" became a common catchphrase for a particularly difficult question or problem. In addition to the common phrase "Take it or leave it", the show also popularized another phrase, widely spoken in the 1940s as a taunt but now mostly forgotten (except in Warner Bros. cartoons). Chanted in unison by the entire audience when someone chose to risk their winnings by going for the $64 prize, it was vocalized with a rising inflection: "You'll be sorry!" The popularity of the radio program inspired a 1944 20th Century Fox feature film, ''Take It or Leave It'', about a man who needs $1,000 to pay his wife's obstetrician. When he is chosen as a contestant on the radio quiz show, the prize money is increased beyond the usual $64. ''Take It or Leave It'' was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 1990.

Hosts

The CBS radio version of the show was first hosted by Bob Hawk (1940–41), followed by Phil Baker (1941–47).In 1947, the series switched to NBC, hosted at various times by Baker,

Garry Moore Garry Moore (born Thomas Garrison Morfit; January 31, 1915 – November 28, 1993) was an American entertainer, comedic personality, game show host, and humorist best known for his work in television. He began a long career with the CBS networ ...

(1947–49),

Eddie Cantor Eddie Cantor (born Isidore Itzkowitz; January 31, 1892 – October 10, 1964) was an American comedian, actor, dancer, singer, songwriter, film producer, screenwriter and author. Familiar to Broadway, radio, movie, and early television audiences ...

(1949–50) and

Jack Paar Jack Harold Paar (May 1, 1918 – January 27, 2004) was an American talk show host, author, radio and television comedian, and film actor. He was the second host of ''The Tonight Show'' from 1957 to 1962. ''Time'' magazine's obituary of Paar repo ...

(beginning June 11, 1950). Paar continued as host through the change of the series name to ''The $64 Question'', and was followed by Baker (March–December 1951) and Paar (back in December 1951).

Broadcast history

* ''Take It or Leave It''–

CBS Radio CBS Radio was a radio broadcasting company and radio network operator owned by CBS Corporation and founded in 1928, with consolidated radio station groups owned by CBS and Westinghouse Broadcasting/Group W since the 1920s, and Infinity Broa ...

; April 21, 1940– July 27, 1947; Sunday 10:00p.m. * ''The $64 Question'' –

NBC Radio Network The National Broadcasting Company's NBC Radio Network (known as the NBC Red Network prior to 1942) was an American commercial radio network which was in operation from 1926 through 2004. Along with the NBC Blue Network it was one of the first ...

; September 10, 1950– June 1, 1952; Sunday 10:00p.m. (1950–51) and Sunday 9:30p.m. (1951–52). Only five recordings of the program are known to survive.

References

American game shows {{DEFAULTSORT:Take It or Leave It (radio show)) American radio game shows 1940s American game shows 1950s American game shows 1940s American radio programs 1950s American radio programs CBS Radio programs NBC radio programs

Gameplay

Cultural influence

Hosts

Broadcast history

See also

References