# Ralph Edwards

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This article is about American radio and television host and producer. For other people named Ralph Edwards, see [Ralph Edwards (disambiguation)](/source/Ralph_Edwards_(disambiguation)).

**Ralph Livingstone Edwards** (June 13, 1913[1] – November 16, 2005) was an American [radio](/source/Radio) and [television host](/source/Television_host), [radio producer](/source/Radio_producer), and [television producer](/source/Television_producer), best known for his radio-TV [game shows](/source/Game_show) *[Truth or Consequences](/source/Truth_or_Consequences)* and reality documentary series*[This Is Your Life](/source/This_Is_Your_Life_(American_franchise))*.

## Early career

Edwards worked for KROW Radio in [Oakland, California](/source/Oakland,_California), while he was still in [high school](/source/High_school).[2] After graduating from high school in 1931, he worked his way through college at the [University of California, Berkeley](/source/University_of_California,_Berkeley), earning a [bachelor of arts](/source/Bachelor_of_arts) in English in 1935.[3] While there, he worked at every job from janitor to producer at Oakland's KTAB, now [KZAC](/source/KZAC). Failing to get a job as a high-school teacher, he worked at [KFRC](/source/KFRC_(defunct)) and then hitchhiked across the country to New York City,[1] where, he said, "I ate ten-cent meals and slept on park benches".[4]

After some part-time announcing jobs, he got his big break in 1938 with a full-time job for the [Columbia Broadcasting System](/source/CBS) on the original WABC (now [WHSQ](/source/WHSQ)), where he worked with two other young announcers who became broadcasting fixtures: [Mel Allen](/source/Mel_Allen) and [Andre Baruch](/source/Andre_Baruch).

Early in his career, Edwards worked as a radio announcer and became nationally recognized within a few years. He introduced [Major Bowes](/source/Major_Bowes) every week on the *[Original Amateur Hour](/source/Original_Amateur_Hour)* and [Fred Allen](/source/Fred_Allen) on *[Town Hall Tonight](/source/Town_Hall_Tonight)*. He later developed a distinctive conversational delivery style, leading him to be hired by [20th Century Fox](/source/20th_Century_Fox) to narrate the coming-attractions trailers for [Laurel and Hardy](/source/Laurel_and_Hardy) movies.[5]

Edwards was the second host of the NBC radio children's talent show *[The Horn and Hardart Children's Hour](/source/The_Horn_and_Hardart_Children's_Hour)*. He appeared in a few films, including *Radio Stars On Parade*, with the comedy team of [Wally Brown](/source/Wally_Brown) and [Alan Carney](/source/Alan_Carney), and *[I'll Cry Tomorrow](/source/I'll_Cry_Tomorrow)* with [Susan Hayward](/source/Susan_Hayward).[citation needed]

## *Truth or Consequences*

After years of experimental broadcasts, the [Federal Communications Commission](/source/Federal_Communications_Commission) approved commercial [television](/source/Television) broadcasts starting on July 1, 1941, and NBC's New York station [WNBT](/source/WNBC) (now WNBC) was the first to make the changeover, with Edwards hosting a one-time episode of *[Truth or Consequences](/source/Truth_or_Consequences)* over WNBT to commemorate the first day of commercial telecasting.[6]

The show was originally based in New York City, with Mel Allen as announcer, but later moved to Los Angeles. After the U.S. entered [World War II](/source/World_War_II) in late 1941, causing early television broadcasts to be cut back dramatically, its radio run started on CBS (home network to both Edwards and Allen), then moved to [NBC](/source/NBC).[citation needed]

Edwards and the *Truth or Consequences* radio show were featured in a [Superman](/source/Superman) story in *[Action Comics](/source/Action_Comics)* #127 (December 1948).[7]

## *This Is Your Life*

In 1948 Edwards created, produced, and hosted *[This Is Your Life](/source/This_Is_Your_Life_(radio_program))* on NBC Radio, moving to NBC-TV in 1952–1961. Each week, Edwards would surprise some unsuspecting person (usually a celebrity, sometimes an ordinary citizen) and review the subject's personal and professional life in front of the TV audience, often introducing figures from their past as live guests. The show drew great interest from viewers, partly because the identity of the subject was not revealed until the show went live. Throughout the half-hour, Edwards would guide the narrative of the show, ushering visitors on and off stage, and eventually prompting the honoree to recall a personal turning point. Edwards was showman enough to draw upon his *Truth or Consequences* experience, emphasizing the sentimental elements that appealed to viewers and listeners at home. His on-air tributes would often recount some heroic sacrifice or tragic event, bringing the audience (and sometimes the subject) to the point of tears. Celebrity subjects included [Marilyn Monroe](/source/Marilyn_Monroe), [Stan Laurel](/source/Stan_Laurel) and [Oliver Hardy](/source/Oliver_Hardy), [Bob Hope](/source/Bob_Hope), [Andy Griffith](/source/Andy_Griffith), [Buster Keaton](/source/Buster_Keaton), [Barbara Eden](/source/Barbara_Eden), [Bette Davis](/source/Bette_Davis), [Shirley Jones](/source/Shirley_Jones), [Jayne Mansfield](/source/Jayne_Mansfield), [Johnny Cash](/source/Johnny_Cash), and [Carol Channing](/source/Carol_Channing). In a comic-book story published in the [DC Comics](/source/DC_Comics) "Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane" (#9, May 1959), Ralph Edwards surprised Lois when she was the subject of *This Is Your Life*. He also appeared in a [McGruff the Crime Dog](/source/McGruff_the_Crime_Dog) [public service announcement](/source/Public_service_announcement) where McGruff himself was the subject, featuring clips from past ones.[8]

## Other works

Edwards produced dozens of game shows, including *[About Faces](/source/About_Faces)*, *[Knockout](/source/Knockout_(game_show))*, *Place the Face*, *[It Could Be You](/source/It_Could_Be_You)*, *[Name That Tune](/source/Name_That_Tune)* (1970s version), and *[The Cross-Wits](/source/The_Cross-Wits)*.[6] In 1981, with [Stu Billett](/source/Stu_Billett), he executive-produced *[The People's Court](/source/The_People's_Court)*, the first program of its type. In 1996, along with Stu Billett, they also did *[Bzzz!](/source/Bzzz!)*. During the 1980s, he partnered with Stu Billett to run Ralph Edwards/Stu Billett Productions, of which in 1986, they wanted to expand it beyond game and court shows and hired Lorimar-Telepictures veteran Jay Feldman to serve as senior vice president, in order to go for specials and made-for-television features.[9] He had a notable acting role, his character a jovial and decreasingly skeptical radio DJ, in the episode of the CBS Radio series *[Suspense](/source/Suspense_(radio_program))* "Ghost Hunt" (based on [H. Russell Wakefield](/source/H._Russell_Wakefield)'s story from the 25th anniversary issue of *[Weird Tales](/source/Weird_Tales)*) in 1949.[citation needed]

## Bob Barker

Edwards furthered the career of another game show host, his protégé [Bob Barker](/source/Bob_Barker).[10] The 1940s-1950s TV version of *Truth or Consequences* had featured Edwards, [Jack Bailey](/source/Jack_Bailey_(actor)), and [Steve Dunne](/source/Stephen_Dunne_(actor)). When the show returned for another NBC run in late 1956, Edwards hired Barker, a popular West Coast radio personality, on December 21 after hearing his radio show on his car radio. During the 2001 [Daytime Emmy Awards](/source/Daytime_Emmy_Awards), Barker told backstage reporters that his lifelong friend Edwards told him to be no one else but himself.

Barker would host *Truth or Consequences* on NBC until 1965, and later in daily syndication until 1975, by which time he had also taken over a revival of *[The Price Is Right](/source/The_Price_Is_Right_(U.S._game_show))* on CBS from 1972 to 2007 ([Drew Carey](/source/Drew_Carey) has been the host since 2007). As a result, thanks to Edwards's "be yourself" admonition, Barker became as familiar with a generation of *Truth or Consequences* and *Price Is Right* viewers, as earlier fans had with Edwards and original *Price Is Right* host [Bill Cullen](/source/Bill_Cullen) during the original versions of the shows in the 1950s and 1960s.

## Death

Edwards died of [heart failure](/source/Heart_failure) on November 16, 2005, in [Los Angeles, California](/source/Los_Angeles,_California) at the age of 92.[11] Shortly before his death he released a selection of his *[This Is Your Life](/source/This_Is_Your_Life_(American_franchise))* programs on [DVD](/source/DVD).

## Recognition

For his contribution to the radio and television industries, Ralph Edwards has two stars on the [Hollywood Walk of Fame](/source/Hollywood_Walk_of_Fame) located at 6116 [Hollywood Boulevard](/source/Hollywood_Boulevard) (radio) and 6262 Hollywood Boulevard (television). Both were dedicated February 8, 1960.[12]

Edwards was inducted into the [National Radio Hall of Fame](/source/National_Radio_Hall_of_Fame) in 1995.[13]

## Filmography

Year Title Role Notes 1937 Manhattan Merry-Go-Round Radio Man Uncredited 1942 Seven Days' Leave Himself 1945 Radio Stars on Parade Himself 1946 The Bamboo Blonde Eddie Clark 1947 Beat the Band Eddie Martin 1955 I'll Cry Tomorrow Himself Uncredited

## References

1. DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). *Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960*. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-2834-2. Pp. 86-87.

1. Cox, Jim (2007). *Radio Speakers: Narrators, News Junkies, Sports Jockeys, Tattletales, Tipsters, Toastmasters and Coffee Klatch Couples Who Verbalized the Jargon of the Aural Ether from the 1920s to the 1980s--A Biographical Dictionary*. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-6086-1. Pp. 88-89.

1. *Current Biography 1943*, pp192-94

1. [MacGillivray, Scott](/source/Scott_MacGillivray). *Laurel & Hardy: From the Forties Forward*. Second edition: New York: iUniverse, 2009 ISBN 978-1440172397; first edition: Lanham, Maryland: Vestal Press, 1998.

1. [www.legacy.com](http://www.legacy.com/ns/ralph-edwards-obituary/15684060)

1. "Action Comics". No. 127. December 1948.

1. [https://variety.com/2005/scene/markets-festivals/life-host-was-a-pioneer-1117933083/](https://variety.com/2005/scene/markets-festivals/life-host-was-a-pioneer-1117933083/)

1. "Feldman Ankles L-T For Producer Post At Edwards/Billett". *[Variety](/source/Variety_(magazine))*. 1986-12-31. pp. 32, 50.

1. [articles.latimes.com](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-nov-17-me-edwards17-story.html)

1. Silverman, Stephen M. (2005-11-16). ["Pioneer TV Host Ralph Edwards Dies at 92"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080220060536/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1131320,00.html). *People*. Archived from [the original](http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1131320,00.html) on February 20, 2008. Retrieved 2009-03-12.

1. ["Ralph Edwards"](http://www.walkoffame.com/ralph-edwards). *Hollywood Walk of Fame*. Retrieved 16 January 2016.

1. ["Ralph Edwards"](http://www.radiohof.org/ralph_edwards.htm). *National Radio Hall of Fame*. Retrieved 16 January 2016.

5. [http://www.legacy.com/NS/Obituary.aspx?pid=15684060](http://www.legacy.com/NS/Obituary.aspx?pid=15684060)

## External links

- [Ralph Edwards Productions](https://www.ralphedwards.com)
- [Ralph Edwards](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0250287/) at IMDb
- [https://www.jimmyfund.org/](https://www.jimmyfund.org/)
- [Ralph Edwards in the classic *Suspense* episode "Ghost Hunt" (1949)](http://www.escape-suspense.com/2007/04/suspenseghost_h.html)
- [Ralph Edwards *Truth or Consequence* game show (1947)](http://oldradioshows.org/03/23/truth-or-consequence-debuted-3-23-1940/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120210214643/http://oldradioshows.org/03/23/truth-or-consequence-debuted-3-23-1940/) 2012-02-10 at the Wayback Machine

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ralph Edwards](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Edwards) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Edwards?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.