1950s quiz show scandals
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From 1956 to 1958, numerous quiz shows airing on CBS and NBC, two of the three American TV networks at the time, were revealed to have prearranged outcomes, such as certain contestants winning after b
Conspirators in the rigging of Twenty-One, host Jack Barry and contestant Charles Van Doren, on set in June 1957
A taping of Twenty-One in March 1957, with Jack Barry (center), and Charles Van Doren (right)
Mike Wallace hosting The Big Surprise in March 1956
Jack Barry hosting Tic-Tac-Dough in 1957
The $64,000 Question
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The $64,000 Question is an American game show broadcast in primetime on CBS from 1955 to 1958, which became embroiled in the 1950s quiz show scandals. Contestants answered general knowledge questions,
1950s quiz show scandals
…from prearranging the outcomes of quiz shows. Certain conspirators were not able to work in television ever again. All of the shows involved—including The $64,000 Question and The $64,000 Challenge, The Big Surprise, Dotto, For Love or Money, Tic-Tac-Dough, and Twenty-One—were cancelled. The TV quiz show format gained a…
Hal March and Barbara Britton (Revlon spokeswoman) on the show's set (1955)
Joyce Myron, 18-year-old show winner who won $32,000 answering questions about atomic energy, pictured with William G. Pollard and Sam Sapirie at Oak Ridge (1957)