What baby boomer can forget this wildly popular television program hosted by former vaudevillian and World's fair barker, Jack Bailey??
The show's premise was simple: women would be interviewed on the show, describing their hardships and pleading their case to be selected "Queen for a Day". The winner by the audience via the "applause meter." The lucky women would then be showered with gifts to help with her plight. Queen for a Day originated on the Mutual Radio Network on April 30, 1945 in New York City before moving to Los Angeles a few months later, and running until 1957. The show then ran on NBC Television from 1956 to 1964.
Per Wikipedia: "Queen for a Day originated on the Mutual Radio Network on April 30, 1945 in New York City before moving to Los Angeles a few months later, and running until 1957. The show then ran on NBC Television from 1956 to 1964." "The series is considered a forerunner of modern-day "reality television". The show became popular enough that NBC increased its running time from 30 to 45 minutes to sell more commercials, at a then-premium rate of $4,000 per minute." Attempted revivals in 1969 and 2004 failed to matched the popularity of the original and were short-lived.
This 1963 episode has a circus-theme with some performers from Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus along to assist with the proceedings. Not rated. Black and white. Year originally telecast: 1963.
Not rated. Black and white.
