"They ['Truth or Consequences' and 'This Is Your Life'] gave me such scope.  We could have fun and accomplish worthwhile things while doing it. There were no limitations to where we could go with either one of those shows."   

    About This Interview

    In his two-and-a-half-hour interview, Ralph Edwards (1913-2005) discusses his start in show business as a radio announcer in New York, and how he was inspired to create his own audience participation show, Truth or Consequences, in 1940.  Edwards talks about the show's popularity and how it ultimately contributed millions of dollars to the war effort and other worthwhile causes. He speaks of the show's transfer to television, discovering Bob Barker, the techniques he pioneered to record the show "live on film," and comments on his other hit show, This is Your Life. He talks of memorable episodes of the program, and recalls several other programs he produced, including The People's Court, with Judge Wapner, and Name That Tune. Bob Warren conducted the interview on May 21, 1997 in Beverly Hills, CA.

    All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.
    People Talking About ...
    Thumbnail of Ralph Edwards

    Ralph Edwards on Jack Benny's "Walking Man" appearance on Truth or Consequences

    01:43
    Thumbnail of Ralph Edwards

    Ralph Edwards on the longest-lasting stunt on Truth or Consequences - renaming the town Hot Springs, New Mexico "Truth or Consequences"

    02:37
    Thumbnail of Ralph Edwards

    Ralph Edwards on memorable guests on This Is Your Life

    02:18
    Thumbnail of Ralph Edwards

    Ralph Edwards on the surprise element of This Is Your Life and the few times the surprise was ruined

    03:50
    Thumbnail of Ralph Edwards

    Ralph Edwards on the 1958 episode of This Is Your Life set in Hawaii to honor those who perished at Pearl Harbor and raise funds for a memorial

    03:17
    Play Full Interview

    Chapter 1

    On his childhood and early influences; on his work in local radio and moving to New York

    06:34

    On his radio announcing career; on the pilot and idea for the radio version of Truth or Consequences; on typical acts on the show

    10:29

    On his bond, paper, and copper drives during World War II

    02:34

    Chapter 2

    On his ideas for the war effort; on criticisms of Truth or Consequences, Jack Benny's appearance on the show, and the longest-lasting stunt on the program

    09:19

    On his early memories of television; on Truth or Consequences' move to television; on producing Truth or Consequences on film using new techniques of live television (a technique credited to Al Simon)

    12:54

    On his daytime program, The Ralph Edwards Show

    05:57

    Chapter 3

    On the many hosts of Truth or Consequences; on how the Quiz Show scandals affected the program

    06:24

    On the idea for This is Your Life; on memorable guests on the show; on the surprise element of This Is Your Life and the few times the surprise was ruined; on the show raising funds for the memorial at Pearl Harbor

    16:48

    On This Is Your Life's international run; on the projects he chooses to produce

    05:40

    Chapter 4

    On shows he produced and created; on the favorite shows he produced

    05:42

    On his thoughts on people with whom he's worked

    03:29

    B-roll photos from his life and career

    04:15

    Cross-Wits, The

    Ralph Edwards on producing The Cross-Wits

    00:18

    I Love Lucy

    Ralph Edwards on I Love Lucy adopting a filming process similar to that of Truth or Consequences (a technique credited to Al Simon)

    01:16

    Name That Tune

    Ralph Edwards on producing Name That Tune (Kathie Lee Gifford's big break)

    00:28

    People's Court, The

    Ralph Edwards on producing The People's Court

    01:53

    Ralph Edwards Show, The

    Ralph Edwards on his daytime program, The Ralph Edwards Show

    05:57

    This Is Your Life

    Ralph Edwards on the idea for This Is Your Life

    02:19

    Ralph Edwards on selecting subjects for This Is Your Life

    00:59

    Ralph Edwards on memorable guests on This Is Your Life

    02:18

    Ralph Edwards on the surprise element of This Is Your Life and the few times the surprise was ruined

    03:50

    Ralph Edwards on an episode of This Is Your Life in which the subject didn't show up (Darlene Miller)

    01:10

    Ralph Edwards on the Lowell Thomas episode of This Is Your Life

    02:30

    Ralph Edwards on the 1958 episode of This Is Your Life set in Hawaii to honor those who perished at Pearl Harbor and raise funds for a memorial

    03:17

    Ralph Edwards on This Is Your Life's international run and the first British episode

    05:08

    Ralph Edwards on photos from the This is Life show to raise funds for the Pearl Harbor memorial

    00:32

    Truth or Consequences

    Ralph Edwards on the pilot, idea, and initial response to the radio version of Truth or Consequences

    01:49

    Ralph Edwards on the acts on Truth or Consequences (including the beetle derby)

    02:59

    Ralph Edwards on a typical Truth or Consequences show

    02:27

    Ralph Edwards on the Truth or Consequences radio show staff and memorable stunts

    02:42

    Ralph Edwards on his bond, paper, and copper drives with Truth or Consequences during World War II

    02:34

    Ralph Edwards on not classifying Truth or Consequences as a quiz show and defending that the show didn't stimulate greed and give people prizes for no reason; on the show raising money for charity

    04:32

    Ralph Edwards on Jack Benny's "Walking Man" appearance on Truth or Consequences

    01:43

    Ralph Edwards on the longest-lasting stunt on Truth or Consequences - renaming the town Hot Springs, New Mexico "Truth or Consequences"

    02:37

    Ralph Edwards on Truth or Consequences' move to television and how the new medium affected the program

    05:14

    Ralph Edwards on producing Truth or Consequences on film using new techniques of live television (a technique credited to Al Simon)

    06:18

    Ralph Edwards on being M.C. for only one season of Truth or Consequences and winning the first Emmy for an audience participation show

    00:36

    Ralph Edwards on the many hosts of Truth or Consequences

    03:53

    Ralph Edwards on the effect of the Quiz Show scandals on Truth or Consequences

    02:17

    Censorship / Standards & Practices

    Ralph Edwards on the effect of the Quiz Show scandals on Truth or Consequences

    02:17

    Historic Events and Social Change

    Ralph Edwards on his bond, paper, and copper drives with Truth or Consequences during World War II

    02:34

    Ralph Edwards on the 1958 episode of This Is Your Life set in Hawaii to honor those who perished at Pearl Harbor and raise funds for a memorial

    03:17

    Industry Crossroads

    Ralph Edwards on the effect of the Quiz Show scandals on Truth or Consequences

    02:17

    Quiz Show Scandals

    Ralph Edwards on the effect of the Quiz Show scandals on Truth or Consequences

    02:17

    Television Industry

    Ralph Edwards on the effect of the Quiz Show scandals on Truth or Consequences

    02:17

    War

    Ralph Edwards on his bond, paper, and copper drives with Truth or Consequences during World War II

    02:34

    Ralph Edwards on the 1958 episode of This Is Your Life set in Hawaii to honor those who perished at Pearl Harbor and raise funds for a memorial

    03:17

    World War II

    Ralph Edwards on his bond, paper, and copper drives with Truth or Consequences during World War II

    02:34

    Ralph Edwards on the 1958 episode of This Is Your Life set in Hawaii to honor those who perished at Pearl Harbor and raise funds for a memorial

    03:17

    Producers

    Ralph Edwards on the projects he chooses to produce

    00:32

    Ralph Edwards on shows that he produced and created

    04:24

    Ralph Edwards on his favorite shows that he produced

    55:36

    Game Shows

    Ralph Edwards on the pilot, idea, and initial response to the radio version of Truth or Consequences; on typical acts and successful war drives

    12:31

    Ralph Edwards on memorable moments on Truth or Consequences and the show's move to television; on producing Truth or Consequences on film using new techniques of live television (a technique credited to Al Simon)

    22:13

    Reality TV

    Ralph Edwards on the idea for This Is Your Life and memorable guests and episodes of the program

    21:56

    Bob Barker

    Ralph Edwards on Bob Barker hosting Truth or Consequences

    03:09

    Jack Benny

    Ralph Edwards on Jack Benny's "Walking Man" appearance on Truth or Consequences

    01:43

    Al Simon

    Ralph Edwards on producing Truth or Consequences on film using new techniques of live television (a technique credited to Al Simon)

    06:18

    Lowell Thomas

    Ralph Edwards on the Lowell Thomas episode of This Is Your Life

    02:30

    Joseph A. Wapner

    Ralph Edwards on producing The People's Court and discovering Judge Wapner

    01:29

    Bob Warren

    Ralph Edwards on This is Your Life announcer Bob Warren

    00:32

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