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 radios 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 shows great popularity led to his appearance in the Lucille BallVictor 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 bigscreen career took a decided back seat in 1948 when Edwards first brought to the air his other longrunning show This Is Your Life 1952 On radio for its first two years Edwards took the program to NBCTV in 1952 where it remained until 1961 winning two Emmys he also hosted a syndicated version from 19711973 His last feature film appearance came in the Susan Hayward MGM biopic of Lillian Roth Ill Cry Tomorrow 1955 which ends with a recreation of Roths 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 CBSTV 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 wellknown for his extensive charitable and philanthropic activities became one of TVs most prolific producers Date of Birth 13 June 1913 Merino Colorado Date of Death 16 November 2005 West Hollywood California congestive heart failure