Strike It Rich (radio-TV)
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Strike It Rich was a controversial game show on American radio and television from 1947 until 1958.
Sponsored by Ludens Cough Drops, the radio series began June 29, 1947 on CBS, continuing until April 30, 1950. Todd Russell was the host in 1947-48, followed by Warren Hull. On May 1, 1950, the game show moved to NBC where it aired on weekdays, sponsored by Colgate, until December 27, 1957.
The television series premiered May 7, 1951 and ran until 1958. A prime time version of the TV show was telecast on CBS from 1951-55. The premise of the show was that people in need of money such as for medical treatment, or a destitute family could come on, tell their tale of woe, and if they could correctly answer some relatively easy questions could take home some money. If they didn't win any money, they could turn to the "Heart Line" where the emcee would open the phone lines to viewers wishing to donate to the contestant's family. Two attempts to revive the series where made in the 1970s (1973 & 1978) though neither was successful. Another quiz show in 1986 used the same name but was otherwise unrelated.
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[edit] Controversy
The show was very controversial when it aired. While some applauded it for helping out some of the less fortunate through the charity and goodwill of viewers, others found it a sickening spectacle that exploited the less-fortunate contestants for the vicarious thrills of the viewers and the selfish gain of the sponsors.
Part of the criticism the show received was due to it promising more than it could deliver. Though the show received three to five thousand letters a week from needy people wanting to be contestants, only a small fraction of those could be selected, mostly those thought to have the most interesting tales of woe. Despite warning by the show's producers, a number of people hoping to be contestants spent their last dime to travel to New York only to be rejected and end up relying on charities like the Salvation Army to help them return home. This led to complaints from charity groups and local government agencies. The New York City Commissioner of Welfare called Strike It Rich "A disgusting spectacle and a national disgrace". The Supervisor of the Travelers Aid Society said that "Putting human misery on display can hardly be called right." The General Director of the Family Service Association of America said flatly "Victims of poverty, illness, and everyday misfortune should not be made a public spectacle or seemingly to be put in the position of begging for charity." The New York legislature looked into the controversy but later washed itself of it claiming it lacked jurisdiction. TV Guide would call it "A despicable travesty on the very nature of charity." CBS and NBC, the networks that ran the show remained unconcerned over the controversy, stating, "We don't want to do anything that would antagonize the sponsor".
[edit] References
- The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present by Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh. (2003 Edition)
