Dennis James

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Dennis James
Born	Demi James Sposa August 24, 1917(1917-08-24) Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	June 3, 1997 (aged 79) Rancho Mirage, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor Television personality Game show host Announcer
Years active	1946–1997

Dennis James (August 24, 1917 – June 3, 1997), born Demi James Sposa, was an American television personality who worked as an actor, wrestling announcer, sports show host, game show host and newsreel announcer. He is credited as the host of television's first game show, the DuMont Network's Cash and Carry in 1946. James was the first person to ever host a telethon and even the first person to do a TV commercial.^[1]

Early career

Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, he began his career in radio with WNEW (now WBBR) and moved to television in 1938, working for the soon-to-become-DuMont Network TV station WABD, which is now WNYW. WABD helped to found the DuMont Television Network in 1945. James became the host of a few of DuMont's games and served as commentator for their wrestling and boxing shows; he essentially worked as a utility announcer.

James also hosted the daytime variety show Okay, Mother. James often addressed the TV audience as "Mother", a practice he had begun when discussing the finer points of wrestling during his sports broadcasts.^{[citation needed]} He feared that men in the audience would be insulted by the implication that they didn't already know the rules (even if they really didn't), but would accept the idea that James was merely explaining things for the benefit of women watching. During the late 1940s James was also an announcer for Paramount News, announcing various newsreels ranging from hard news to sports.

Game show career

Dennis James hosting Episode #125N of The Price is Right in 1975.

James gained his greatest fame as the host of numerous game shows from 1946-1977, including the NBC daytime revival of Name That Tune (1974-1975) and his last game show, the weekly syndicated nighttime version of The (New) Price is Right (1972–1977). James and producer Mark Goodson co-hosted a promotional film, selling stations on the 1972 revival of Price, which was originally hosted by James' fellow TV pioneer Bill Cullen. He also appeared with Bill Leyden in the 1962-1964 NBC quiz program Your First Impression.

James' game show hosting duties spanned the better part of four decades, presiding over shows such as The Name's the Same, High Finance, Haggis Baggis, People Will Talk, PDQ, and the talent shows Chance of a Lifetime and Your All-American College Show. James was also the official commercial presenter of the one-episode flop You're in the Picture, and appeared on the subsequent "apology" episode as well. He was also Ted Mack's announcer on the Original Amateur Hour.

James was a regular substitute host for Monty Hall on Let's Make a Deal during the late 1960s and early 1970s, and it was during this time that he caught the attention of Mark Goodson, who at the time was putting together The New Price is Right for syndication; the new format would incorporate the original format from 1956-1965 with elements from Deal. James was Goodson's first choice to host both that version and a daytime version commissioned by CBS, but the network insisted on Truth or Consequences host Bob Barker for the daytime show. Barker took the daytime show, which he hosted until 2007, while James hosted the nighttime version which aired in the "access period". James hosted the nighttime Price from 1972–1977, and also filled in for Barker during four daytime episodes that were taped on December 2, 1974 and aired from December 24 to 27 of that year, becoming the only substitute host in the show's history.

Surviving work

Due to his work mostly being within the earlier years of television, most of James' shows (both as host and celebrity guest) have been destroyed with the exceptions of The Name's the Same and his tenure on Price, plus a few scattered episodes of the other programs mentioned above.^{[citation needed]}

James' episodes of Price, however, frequently featured fur coats as prizes. Due to the wishes of Bob Barker, who prohibited any episodes featuring furs from airing on Game Show Network, all but approximately 50 episodes of James' tenure as host were included in this prohibition. No episodes from the 1970s nighttime version were ever aired by GSN.

GSN has previously aired episodes of The Name's the Same with James hosting. The Christmas Day 1974 episode of Price aired in tribute after James' death.

Other work

Outside of sports and game shows, James was also a popular commercial spokesman for products including Old Gold cigarettes, Kellogg's cereals and, through his own production company, many local and regional companies and businesses. For nearly 30 years James was the spokesman for Physicians Mutual Insurance Company until his death in 1997. His expression "Okay? Okay." became a trademark in many of James' commercials.

He returned to his wrestling roots in the 1978 Henry Winkler film The One and Only as the announcer for Winkler's title match, and was also the wrestling commentator in Rocky III for Rocky Balboa's match against Thunderlips (played by Hulk Hogan). His final acting appearance was in The Method in 1997.

James hosted the first "telethon" using the then-new television medium to raise money for charity. James was the emcee of the United Cerebral Palsy Associations' telethons. UCP was founded in 1949 by Leonard and Isabel Goldenson and Jack and Ethel Hausman. (Leonard was the American Broadcasting Company's guiding spirit from the 1950s to the 1980s). James hosted the charity's primary telethon (in New York City on WOR-TV (now WWOR-TV) for 47 years, aided by Jane Pickens, Paul Anka, Florence Henderson, and other performers. He also hosted telethons in major cities all over the United States on a monthly basis from 1950 until 1979. When the telethon went national in 1979 with John Ritter as M.C. in Los Angeles, UCP enlisted James as a national presenter, in addition to James' duties as the anchor of the New York City version, which was also seen on cable all over the US via WOR-TV.

James bought a home in Palm Springs, California in 1980. He was then called on to host dozens of charity events a year in the Palm Springs area, including events for Childhelp International, The Frank Sinatra Golf Classic, and the Bob Hope Desert Classic. In 1992 his Star was placed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Many luminaries came out, including Bob Hope, to help honor James. In 1996, he received a Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars.

Death

James died on June 3, 1997 from lung cancer at his home in Rancho Mirage, CA.

The Cathedral City, California United Cerebral Palsy center is named after him, as he helped raise $700 million for the charity over the years. His wife, Micki, and his sons, Randy (a Talent Manager) and Brad (who heads his own telecommunications firm), regularly attend events on behalf of the center. He has another son, Dennis James Jr., who practices international law in Washington D.C.

References

External links

• Dennis James at the Internet Movie Database
• Questions and Answers with Dennis James
• Audio of The Nighttime Price Is Right
• Dennis James on Find-A-Grave
• Video of Dennis James hosted episode of "Okay, Mother" at the Internet Archive

v • d • e The Price Is Right U.S. Versions Current series • 1956–65 original series • 1994–95 syndicated series $1,000,000 Spectacular • Live casino show International versions Australia • United Kingdom • Other international versions Major elements One Bid • Pricing Games • Showcase Showdown • The Showcase Hosts (U.S.) Bob Barker • Drew Carey • Bill Cullen • Doug Davidson • Dennis James • Tom Kennedy Others on-air (U.S.) Rich Fields • Johnny Olson • Rod Roddy • Burton Richardson • Models Production Staff (U.S.) Frank Wayne • Mark Goodson • Bill Todman • Jay Wolpert • Roger Dobkowitz • Kathy Greco • Syd Vinnedge • Mike Richards • Sherell Paris (production assistant) • Marc Breslow (director) Notable Int'l Hosts Leslie Crowther • Larry Emdur • Bruce Forsyth • Marco Antonio Regil • Gigi Sabani • Ian Turpie • Carlo Boszhard • Iva Zanicchi • Joaquin Prat • Vincent Lagaf Pricing Games v • d • e Active pricing games Any Number • Balance Game • Barker's Bargain Bar • Bonkers • Bonus Game • Bullseye • Card Game • Check Game • Check-Out • Clearance Sale • Cliff Hangers • Clock Game • Coming or Going • Cover Up • Credit Card • Danger Price • Dice Game • Double Prices • Eazy az 1 2 3 • Five Price Tags • Flip Flop • Freeze Frame • Gas Money • Golden Road • Grand Game • Grocery Game • ½ Off • Hi Lo • Hole in One • It's in the Bag • Let 'em Roll • Line em Up • Lucky $even • Magic # • Make Your Move • Master Key • Money Game • More or Less • Most Expensive • Now....or Then • One Away • 1 Right Price • 1 Wrong Price • Pass the Buck • Pathfinder • Pick-a-Number • Pick-a-Pair • Plinko • Pocket ¢hange • Punch a Bunch • Push Over • Race Game • Range Game • Safe Crackers • Secret "X" • Shell Game • Shopping Spree • Side by Side • Spelling Bee • Squeeze Play • Stack the Deck • Step Up • Swap Meet • Switch? • Switcheroo • Take Two • Temptation • Ten Chances • That's Too Much! • 3 Strikes • Triple Play • 2 for the Price of 1 v • d • e Retired pricing games Add 'em Up • Balance Game (1980s version) • Bullseye (1972 version) • Bump • Buy or Sell • Double Bullseye • Double Digits • Finish Line • Fortune Hunter • Gallery Game • Give or Keep • Hit Me • Hurdles • It's Optional • Joker • Make Your Mark/Barker's Marker$ • Mystery Price • On the Nose • On the Spot • Penny Ante • The Phone Home Game • Poker Game • Professor Price • Shower Game • Split Decision • Super Ball!! • $uper $aver • Telephone Game • Time Is Money • Trader Bob • Walk of Fame v • d • e Pricing games played on international versions 3 in a Row • Matchmaker • Permutation • Side by Side (UK) • Time-Play (British Clock Game) • Walk The Line • Nine Pins •Australia and Philippine format: Showcase Playoff / The Showcase • Penalty!