About
"When we did our first show, people showed up in business suits and dresses, nice looking people in the studio audience. By about the second week or so, a woman showed up with a sign. One side said, 'Roses are red, violets are blue, I came here to deal with you.' I stopped, read the poem, and picked her. The next week, everybody had a sign. Then somebody else had a funny hat, then came costumes...."
In his over three-hour interview, Monty Hall (1921-2017) reminisces about his early career in radio in Winnipeg and Toronto, and his subsequent move to New York. He describes his work on early television shows The Sky's The Limit, Bingo-at-Home, Video Village, and Your First Impression. Hall discusses his brief stint as host of Twenty-One and the Quiz Show Scandals that rocked the industry. He details his producing partnership with Stefan Hatos, co-creator of the hit game show Let's Make a Deal, and speaks of his appearances on numerous television tributes for celebrity entertainers. Hall also talks about his time as the honorary mayor of Hollywood, and explains the importance of philanthropy. Fred Wostbrock conducted the interview on February 15, 2002 in Beverly Hills, CA.
Highlights
Monty Hall on how the concept of contestants in costumes on Let's Make a Deal came about
Monty Hall on changing his last name
Monty Hall on lessons learned from Jack Benny
Monty Hall on how he got through college
Monty Hall on how he'd like to be remembered
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his childhood and early influences; on wanting to be a broadcaster or impressionist as a youngster; on his favorite books and radio programs; on the generous man who put him through college; on serving in the Canadian Officers' Training Corps
On working at CKRC radio in Winnipeg, Canada; on CHUM radio in Toronto; on changing his name; on "The Auctioneer" -- the forerunner to Let's Make a Deal; on radio programs in which he starred; on meeting his wife, Marilyn
Chapter 2
On forming Monty Hall productions; on the radio show, "Who Am I?"; on getting into television; on moving to New York and writing a telegram to Pat Weaver to try to get a job
On December 7, 1955 -- a momentous day in his career; on the short-lived Sky's the Limit; on hosting televised Bingo, on hosting Keep Talking; on briefly hosting Twenty-One; on the subsequent Quiz Show Scandals that emerged
Chapter 3
On the impact of the Quiz Show Scandals on game shows; on hosting a television talk show, Byline with Monty Hall; on Video Village and First Impressions
On co-creating Let's Make a Deal with Stefan Hatos
On trying to sell Let's Make a Deal; on the first taping of Let's Make a Deal and quitting smoking
Chapter 4
On the budget of Let's Make a Deal; on re-negotiating his contract and moving from NBC to ABC
On the cast, crew, and format of Let's Make a Deal; on the diversity of Let's Make a Deal contestants; on the concept of contestants in costumes
On being the host of Let's Make a Deal; on the benefits of producing and hosting Let's Make a Deal
Chapter 5
On the great and "zonk" prizes on Let's Make a Deal; on the production schedule of Let's Make a Deal; on the atmosphere on the set of Let's Make a Deal; on the catchphrases from Let's Make a Deal; on the Monty Hall Paradox -- a math problem
On Let's Make a Deal moving to ABC; on wanting to host a talk show; on appearing on That Girl, The Odd Couple, and The Dean Martin Show
Chapter 6
On why Let's Make a Deal went off the air; on the new version of Let's Make a Deal and finding the new host
On getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; on writing a book; on becoming Honorary Mayor of Hollywood; on hosting television specias through the Variety Club on CBS ; on his charity work
Chapter 7
On touring with the musical High Button Shoes; on the TV movie, The Courage and the Passion; on lessons from Jack Benny; on his charity work
On reflecting on his life; on celebrity and giving back; on the highlight of his career; on his mentor; on how he'd like to be remembered
On photographs of shows on which he's worked - Cowboy Theater, Your First Impression, Let's Make a Deal, Split Second, The Odd Couple, That Girl
Shows
Cowboy Theatre
Monty Hall on hosting Cowboy Theatre and Monitor
First Impressions
Monty Hall on selling the show First Impressions to NBC
Hollywood Squares, The
Monty Hall on scripted jokes on Hollywood Squares
Keep Talking
Monty Hall on hosting Keep Talking
Let's Make a Deal
Monty Hall on co-creating Let's Make a Deal with Stefan Hatos
Monty Hall on the diversity of Let's Make a Deal contestants
On the budget, cast, crew, and format of Let's Make a Deal
Monty Hall on how the concept of contestants in costumes on Let's Make a Deal came about
Monty Hall on the great and "zonk" prizes on Let's Make a Deal
Monty Hall on the production schedule of Let's Make a Deal
Monty Hall on why Let's Make a Deal went off the air
Monty Hall on Dick Clark getting Let's Make a Deal back on the air
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Monty Hall on being asked to host the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade
Odd Couple, The (1970-75)
Monty Hall on appearing on The Odd Couple
Twenty One
Monty Hall on briefly hosting Twenty-One and on the subsequent Quiz Show Scandals that emerged
Video Village
Monty Hall on hosting the game show Video Village in New York and following the show to California
Topics
Historic Events and Social Change
Monty Hall on the diversity of Let's Make a Deal contestants
Industry Crossroads
Monty Hall on briefly hosting Twenty-One and on the subsequent Quiz Show Scandals that emerged
Monty Hall on the impact of the Quiz Show Scandals on game shows
Pop Culture
Monty Hall on how the concept of contestants in costumes on Let's Make a Deal
Quiz Show Scandals
Monty Hall on briefly hosting Twenty-One and on the subsequent Quiz Show Scandals that emerged
Monty Hall on the impact of the Quiz Show Scandals on game shows
Representation on Television
Monty Hall on the diversity of Let's Make a Deal contestants
Television Industry
Monty Hall on briefly hosting Twenty-One and on the subsequent Quiz Show Scandals that emerged
Monty Hall on the impact of the Quiz Show Scandals on game shows
Underrepresented Voices
Monty Hall on the diversity of Let's Make a Deal contestants
Genres
Game Shows
Monty Hall on briefly hosting Twenty-One and the subsequent quiz show scandals that emerged
Monty Hall on the impact of the Quiz Show Scandals on game shows
Monty Hall on co-creating Let's Make a Deal with Stefan Hatos
On the budget, cast, crew, and format of Let's Make a Deal; on the diversity of Let's Make a Deal contestants and costumed contestants
Monty Hall on the great and "zonk" prizes on Let's Make a Deal
Monty Hall on the production schedule of Let's Make a Deal
Monty Hall on Dick Clark getting Let's Make a Deal back on the air
People
Roone Arledge
Monty Hall on Roone Arledge wanting him to be the sports announcer for the Wembley Cup (soccer championship)
Jack Barry
Monty Hall on briefly hosting Twenty-One and on the subsequent Quiz Show Scandals that emerged
Jack Benny
Monty Hall on lessons learned from Jack Benny
Les Brown
Monty Hall on Les Brown's book describing how NBC lost millions because Let's Make a Deal moved to ABC
Johnny Carson
Monty Hall on Johnny Carson potentially leaving The Tonight Show
Dick Clark
Monty Hall on Dick Clark getting Let's Make a Deal back on the air
Bill Cullen
Monty Hall on other MCs and hosts he admired
Richard Dawson
Richard Dawson on hosting Masquerade Party
Michael Eisner
Monty Hall on Michael Eisner ordering the tear down of the Let's Make a Deal set
Albert Freedman
Monty Hall on briefly hosting Twenty-One and on the subsequent Quiz Show Scandals that emerged
Mark Goodson
Monty Hall on Bob Stewart and Mark Goodson and selling the show First Impressions to NBC
Stefan Hatos
Monty Hall on co-creating Let's Make a Deal with Stefan Hatos
Monty Hall on Let's Make a Deal co-host Stefan Hatos training the ABC crew do to the show
Elton H. Rule
Monty Hall on re-negotiating his contract for Let's Make a Deal
David Sarnoff
Monty Hall on re-negotiating his contract for Let's Make a Deal
Herbert S. Schlosser
Monty Hall on re-negotiating his contract for Let's Make a Deal
Fred Silverman
Monty Hall on re-negotiating his contract for Let's Make a Deal
Herbert Stempel
Monty Hall on briefly hosting Twenty-One and on the subsequent Quiz Show Scandals that emerged
McLean Stevenson
Monty Hall on the difficulties of working with McLean Stevenson
Bob Stewart
Monty Hall on Bob Stewart and Mark Goodson and selling the show First Impressions to NBC
Grant Tinker
Monty Hall on Johnny Carson potentially leaving The Tonight Show
Mike Wallace
Monty Hall on loving Mike Wallace's interview style
Sylvester L. "Pat" Weaver
Monty Hall on writing a telegram to Pat Weaver to try to get a job in New York