Ralph Edwards
Ralph Edwards was born near Merino, Colorado, in 1913, moving with his family to Oakland, California, when he was 12. He worked his way through college at radio stations in Oakland and San Francisco, graduating from the University of California at Berkeley in 1935 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in drama. Edwards moved to New York in 1936 and became one of radio's busiest announcers, doing as many as 45 network shows a week. In 1940, in response to this hectic pace, Edwards created, produced and hosted the landmark audience participation show "Truth or Consequences".
The show's great popularity led to his appearance in the Lucille Ball-Victor Mature film Seven Days' Leave (1942). He moved the show and his production company to Hollywood in 1945, where he made three more films for RKO: Radio Stars on Parade (1945), The Bamboo Blonde (1946) and Beat the Band (1947), all with Frances Langford. His big-screen career took a decided back seat in 1948, when Edwards first brought to the air his other long-running show, This Is Your Life (1952).
On radio for its first two years, Edwards took the program to NBC-TV in 1952, where it remained until 1961, winning two Emmys (he also hosted a syndicated version from 1971-1973). His last feature film appearance came in the Susan Hayward MGM bio-pic of Lillian Roth, I'll Cry Tomorrow (1955), which ends with a recreation of Roth's appearance on This Is Your Life (1952). Edwards' television career began in earnest in 1950, when The New Truth and Consequences (1950) aired one season on CBS-TV and earned the first Emmy awarded for an audience participation show. He turned over host duties to Jack Bailey in 1954 and, in 1956, launched the career of Bob Barker as host of the daytime version. Edwards, also well-known for his extensive charitable and philanthropic activities, became one of TV's most prolific producers.
Date of Birth 13 June 1913, Merino, Colorado
Date of Death 16 November 2005, West Hollywood, California (congestive heart failure)
Known For | Acting |
---|---|
Most Rating | 2.205 |
Birthday | 1913-06-13 |
Place of Birth | |
Also Known As | Ralph Livingstone Edwards, |
2008
He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art of Jack Pierce
9/4
Tribute to Universal make-up artist Jack Pierce who created some of the studio's most famous works including Frankenstein's Monster, the Wolf Man, the...
Watch Now
He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art of Jack Pierce
1946
The Bamboo Blonde
6/3
A pilot of a B 29 meets Louise Anderson, a singer in a New York nightclub. He falls in love with her, but he had to leave next day for action in the P...
Watch Now
The Bamboo Blonde
2004
Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust
6.5/13
Daniel Anker’s 90-minute documentary takes on over 60 years of a very complex subject: Hollywood’s complicated, often contradictory relationship with...
Watch Now
Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust
1947
Beat the Band
4/1
Singer Ann wants back her money that the manager of a big-band has embezzled.
Watch Now
Beat the Band
1981
This Is Your Life: 30th Anniversary Special
0/0
30th anniversary special of This is Your Life, hosted by David Frost.
Watch Now
This Is Your Life: 30th Anniversary Special
1945
Radio Stars on Parade
0/0
A Hollywood talent agency tries to avoid finacial ruin by getting its best clients on the air.
Watch Now
Radio Stars on Parade
1962
The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers
7/1
A TV movie with intertwining music numbers and sketches.
Watch Now
The New March of Dimes Presents: The Scene Stealers
1937
Manhattan Merry-Go-Round
5.8/4
In this musical comedy, a crooked record producer uses his mob connections to force performers to do their stuff. The trouble really begins when the g...
Watch Now