A conscientious but uninvolving history of American quiz shows from
the 30's on. Hundreds of dedicated radio and TV fans could have
outlined this book themselves: the pioneer radio successes of Var
Populi and Professor Quiz; the rapid spread of quiz shows across
the country; the phenomenon of the Quiz Kids; the impact of WW II
(mostly uniforms and boosterism) on the genre; the shift to the
competing medium of TV; the 1958 quiz-fixing scandals; the return
of game shows on daytime TV. DeLong (Pops: Paul Whiteman, long of
Jazz, 1983) adds breadth - details culled from old newspaper and
magazine stories, published reminiscences, and more recent
interviews - without depth. The result is a breathless Cook's tour
of over 250 game shows with few memorable portraits (Groucho Marx,
Charles Van Doren, Mark Goodson) and even fewer insights along the
subtitle's promised line (a typical conclusion: "Quiz and game
shows remain a part of a new Horatio Alger story: get on a show and
strike it rich"). DeLong's determination to say something about so
many different shows leads him to say pretty much the same thing -
opening date, thumbnail sketch of emcee, one or two anecdotes
(enraptured audiences, intransigent contestants, unzipped flies) -
about each one. As social history, the text adds surprisingly
little to the appended production credits; as narrative, it rarely
strays from the "that-reminds-me-of-Allen-Ludden's-other-show"
category. (Kirkus Reviews)
For more than fifty years, the quiz show has thrived on American
television and radio. From "Pot o' Gold" and "The $64,000 Question"
to "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy," quiz and game programs have
entertained and informed millions of Americans, promoted and sold
untold quantities of products, generated fortunes for their
creators and producers, and filled the pockets of a multitude of
jackpot winners. In this volume, Thomas DeLong offers the first
in-depth history of quiz and game formats available in print. He
describes how mass communications transformed the old parlor
guessing games into enormously popular features on radio and
television and examines their impact on American society and the
consumer marketplace. DeLong also explores their decline in the
wake of the quiz scandal inquiry of the late 1950s and their
subsequent revival as new shows on daytime TV that began to build
up a loyal following.
"Quiz Craze" is enhanced by the recollections, insights, and
anecdotes of many who brought the quiz show genre to listeners and
viewers. Producers, directors, gamemakers, writers, emcees,
panelists, and advertisers have added their first-hand observations
on the inner workings and widespread influence of quiz show
programming. Former contestants and their families offer
reminiscences from shows such as "To Tell the Truth," "What's My
Line?," "Name That Tune, " and many others. DeLong also draws on
the resources of key organizations in the broadcast field, archival
records, and published media reports to demonstrate the
extraordinary popularity of the game show format.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
