Pick a Box
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Pick a Box | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Game show |
| Presented by | Bob Dyer |
| Country of origin |  Australia |
| Language(s) | English |
| No. of episodes | 900 (approx.)[1] |
| Production | |
| Location(s) | ATN-7 studios, Sydney |
| Running time | 25 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | Seven Network |
| Original run | 2 March 1957 – 28 June 1971 |
| Chronology | |
| Followed by | Ford Superquiz (1981 – 1982) |
| External links | |
| IMDb profile | |
Pick a Box was one of first game shows to be broadcast on Australian television. Hosted by the husband and wife team Bob and Dolly Dyer, the program aired from 1957 to 1971.
Contents |
[edit] History
Beginning initially as a radio program in 1948 on Sydney's 2GB, the program successfully made the move to the new mediam. The show debuted at 8:00 pm on Saturday 2 March 1957, less than one year after television was launched in Australia.
The program was filmed in the studios of Sydney's ATN-7 and as such was broadcast ATN-7 and Melbourne's GTV-9 who were initially affiliated. This changed however when Frank Packer, owner of TCN-9 bought a controlling share of GTV-9 and formed the National Television Network which later became the Nine Network. As a result, ATN-7 and HSV-7 later came together to form the Australian Television Network now known as the Seven Network.[2] The affiliations changes meant that Pick a Box became part of the newly formed network.
The program was initially broadcast on Saturday nights and sponsored by Colgate-Palmolive. Three years later on 4 July 1960, the show was moved to Monday nights at 7:00 pm and was sponsored by BP.[3]
Dyer, who produced and packaged the show for the Seven Network, decided in 1969 that it was time to start thinking about ending the show. After approximately 900 episodes, Pick a Box broadcast it's final episodes on 28 June 1971.[4] As they owned the program, the Dyers then reviewed most of the archived episodes - kept a few as souvenirs and discarded most of them. The couple then retired to Queensland where Bob pursued his other great love, fishing.[1]
[edit] Format
The format for each episode consisted of two contestants participating in a five-question trivia quiz, with the second contestant wearing sound-proof headphones while the first was being questioned. The contestant who correctly answered the most questions, was invited to choose from one of a number of boxes. Without disclosing the box's contents (which could be either valuable or a booby prize), Dyer would offer the contestant a cash payment in lieu of the prize. Here appears one of the program's catch phrases, "The money or the box?"
To increase the risk/suspense, he would sometimes offers increasing amounts of cash to contestants who choose the box. After receiving the cash or prize, contestants had the option of leaving the show undefeated, or returning to play for more prizes, at the risk of losing those already won.[5]
This format remained largely unchanged throughout its entire run.
[edit] Famous contestants
The first contestant to make a name for himself was Ken Eccleston. Eccleston gained instant fame over 10 weeks in 1958 when he achieved what was then the longest win on the program. After claiming the official title of "Mr Pick a Box" during a closely fought contest with Melbourne entrant George Morris, Eccleston retired from the game with a total of AU£3873/5.[6]
However, the program's most successful contestant was Barry Jones who won a total 208 episodes spanning eight years between 1960 and 1967 and won over AU$58000. Jones later went on to become a Member of Parliament in the state of Victoria.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Bayley, Andrew (2006-07-29). Aussie TV Game Shows. televisionau.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
- ^ Ross-Hulands, Brooklyn. Seven Network 1960s. AusTVHistory. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
- ^ McGinness, Mark. "An elegant and affable TV sidekick", The Sydney Morning Herald, 2005-02-15. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
- ^ Dudding, Howard (1978). "Bob Dyer, TV legend". TV Week.
- ^ Syquer, Edy. Pick a Box. Unofficial Australian Game Shows website. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
- ^ "One of our first quiz heroes", The Sydney Morning Herald, 1993-01-20. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
[edit] External links
- Pick a Box at the Internet Movie Database
- Pick a Box at memorabletv.com
