Thirty
years ago, one of the great voices in TV history was stilled. Johnny Olson died
at the age of 75. Of course, TV has pictures,
so many never noticed Johnny O announcing a game show. But his voice was so
distinctive that if you went to YouTube and heard it, you’d say, “Oh, I’ve
heard him.”
Johnny
O broke into the big time in 1944, running a game show called “Ladies Be
Seated.” He also hosted shows on the Dumont Network, the remnants of which
years later would became Fox. Eventually he found his niche as an announcer
best remembered for working on “Match Game” and “The Price Is Right” for
Goodson-Todman.
There
were plenty of deeper voices around (“better pipes,” the radio guys used to
say), but game show moguls Mark Goodson and Bill Todman gave Johnny O all the
work he could handle because of his ability to warm up audiences. They called
him their “audience ambassador,” and he was the best in the business.
Johnny
O invented the catchphrases “Come on down” and “Get ready to match the stars.”
In the latter stages of his career, tly on “The Price Is Right,” as a sidekick to Bob Barker.he appeared on camera more frequently on “The Price Is Right,” as a sidekick to Bob Barker.
John, R.I.P. As for you, Barker, I haven’t forgotten about that spaying and neutering thing.
True
“Match Game” fans know all about the day John had to fill in on the panel when
Gary Burghoff was late for a taping.
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