TV Game Shows
About This Episode
Before the days of media streaming & binging, we were often glued to our sets to watch contestants compete for cash and prizes! From quizzes, to puzzles, to trivia and more, game shows both entertain and allow us to play along at home. So, hands on your buzzers: it’s time to look back at some of our favorite GenX-era TV game shows!
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Show Notes
- Game Shows – Pioneers of Television » to.pbs.org/49ES1Qa
- 10 of the Oldest Game Shows in America » bit.ly/3UO0SLb
- From ‘Jeopardy’ to ‘Wheel of Fortune,’ Archive Will Preserve Game Show History » bit.ly/42OiQzd
- 12 Longest Running Game Shows In Television History » bit.ly/3T3KuoD
- 14 Best TV Game Shows of All Time » bit.ly/3UKvwF9
- The Rigged Quiz Shows That Gave Birth to ‘Jeopardy!’ » bit.ly/4bLByeJ
- Museum to Create a National Archives of Game Show History » nyti.ms/48moj1f
- Mail the show » podcast@genxgrownup.com
- Visit us on YouTube » GenXGrownUp.com/yt
About The Author
Great episode guys!
I’m a huge fan of old game shows and loved watching them on Game Show Network, which leads to an interesting story.
In the early 2000’s, GSN was airing 1950’s episodes of What’s My LIne, in which a contestant would sign in, and a panel of regulars would ask questions and attempt to guess what the contestant’s occupation was.
On this episode from 1958, a contestant appeared, by the name of Wylda Wydmeyer from Fegus Ontario, a small town not too far from me. (She was a female baseball umpire… a rather odd occupation for a female in the 50’s). I had taped the episode.
The next day, I looked in the phone book and found a Wydmeyer listed and decided to give them a phone call.
I called the number, advised them I was looking for a Wylda Wydmeyer, and that I had a copy of the show on tape. There was a long pause, and the lady asked if this was a joke? I responded that it wasn’t and that I was more than happy to mail the tape to them. She exclaimed that that was her, and that they hadn’t seen the episode since the 50’s and would love to show their family.
I was invited to meet with Mr. & Mrs. Wydmeyer and they told me all about taking the train to New York to be on the show, that the producers didn’t like her wardrobe and bought her a new dress (and gloves), and that they had to keep quiet to their friends on why they went to New York.
As I watched the episode again with Mr. & Mrs Wydmeyer, Mr. Wydmeyer advised me to watch Jack Lemmon as Wilda walked off the stage, as he was “checking out my wife’s ass.”
Anyways, Mr & Mrs Wydmeyer are long gone now, but they were very happy to be able to show this part of their 5 minutes of gameshow fame to their family.
Thanks again for a great episode! Keep up the great work!
(The episode is on youtube at https://youtu.be/vFlvpMf-dIo?si=m-wNo6pLTnF_IfS5 )
Haha! Thanks for sharing your memories, Davester!