Break the Bank is an American quiz show which aired variously – and sometimes co-existed in separate radio and television forms – on Mutual Radio (where it was originally launched, in 1945), ABC Radio and NBC Radio Network, as well ABC (first televised version, in 1948), CBS and NBC television, from 1945 to 1957. From October 1956 to January 1957, NBC aired a short-lived prime-time television version called Break the $250,000 Bank.
Sponsored by Vicks, the series began on Mutual Radio on October 20, 1945, heard Saturdays until April 13, 1946. Initially, it featured different hosts each week, including John Reed King and Johnny Olson. Bert Parks became the full-time host in 1946. The questions were written by Joseph Nathan Kane, the author of Famous First Facts, who hand-delivered the sealed envelopes to the radio studio. Jack Rubin directed for producers Walt Framer and Ed Wolf.
With Vitalis Hair Tonic as the sponsor, the series returned Friday, July 5, 1946, on ABC Radio for a run until September 23, 1949. Bud Collyer and Bob Shepherd were the announcers, and Peter Van Steeden provided the music.[1]
On October 5, 1949, the radio series moved to the NBC Radio Network, continuing until September 13, 1950. The radio broadcast was heard weekdays on NBC in 1950-51 and moved back to ABC weekdays for 1951–53. With Miles Laboratories as the sponsor, the radio show moved back to weekdays on NBC for 1953–55, overlapping with a weekday radio series on Mutual during 1954–55.[1]
1948 television
On October 22, 1948, a televised version started broadcast on ABC television. The co-existing radio and television broadcasts were co-hosted by Bert Parks and Bud Collyer. That same year, Radio Mirror called Break the Bank "the highest-paying quiz program in the world".
Gameplay
Contestants were drawn from the studio audience and brought up on stage to play a quiz game. The contestant was asked a series of questions, each worth progressively more money. The goal was to provide enough correct answers (eight, later seven) before making two mistakes. The final question was the "break the bank" question worth all the money in the bank, which began at $1,000. The first incorrect answer returned the player to the previous cash level, and a second miss ended the game and the contestant kept his or her current winnings. The same amount would then be added to the bank. At first, the question values before the bank were $10, $20, $50, $100, $200, $300, and $500. By the mid 1950s, the first right answer won the contestant $25, and the values increased to $50, $100, $200, $300, $500, and finally the bank. On the short-lived daytime edition, the values were $10, $20, $30, $50, $100, $200, $300, and the bank which started at $500.[2]
Break the $250,000 Bank
In this 1956 NBC prime time revival, the rules slightly changed. The contestant picked a category and was asked five questions on that category worth $100 a piece with one wrong answer ending the game. If they get all five right they could walk with $500 or risk it and answer on one question that would up the score to $5,000. The contestant would then return for the next several weeks to answer more $5,000 questions. Prize money increased as the player continued, up to $250,000. A wrong answer along the way simply ended the game. Each multiple of $25,000 would be guaranteed in case of a miss.
Records
The record bank win was $9,020 until Break the $250,000 Bank was created in response to The $64,000 Question and other big-money shows. However, that version ran for only three months (October 9, 1956, to January 15, 1957), and no contestants won any more than $60,000 (won by dentist Harry Duncan).
The most notable contestants during this period were actress Ethel Waters, who in January 1957 won $10,000 she said would go toward back taxes, and two escapees from the 1956 Hungarian Revolution who competed in a special category – "Fight for Freedom". Waters appeared on the last episode before the show was cancelled. She was announced for a new quiz show program Hold That Note, also hosted by Parks, which replaced Bank the following week and ran through April 2.
^ abDunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. p. 112. ISBN978-0-19-507678-3. Retrieved 2019-08-08. Break the Bank, quiz.
break, bank, 1945, game, show, break, bank, american, quiz, show, which, aired, variously, sometimes, existed, separate, radio, television, forms, mutual, radio, where, originally, launched, 1945, radio, radio, network, well, first, televised, version, 1948, t. Break the Bank is an American quiz show which aired variously and sometimes co existed in separate radio and television forms on Mutual Radio where it was originally launched in 1945 ABC Radio and NBC Radio Network as well ABC first televised version in 1948 CBS and NBC television from 1945 to 1957 From October 1956 to January 1957 NBC aired a short lived prime time television version called Break the 250 000 Bank Break the BankAlso known asBreak the 250 000 BankGenreGame showPresented byBert Parks 1948 1957 Bud Collyer 1948 1953 with Parks 1953 daytime Country of originUSAProductionRunning time30 minutesReleaseOriginal networkMutual Radio 1945 1946 1954 1955 ABC Radio and or ABC 1946 1949 1954 1956 NBC Radio Network and or NBC 1949 1952 1953 1955 1956 1957 CBS 1952 1953 Original releaseOctober 20 1945 1945 10 20 January 15 1957 1957 01 15 Contents 1 Broadcast history 1 1 1948 television 2 Gameplay 3 Break the 250 000 Bank 4 Records 5 Episode status 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksBroadcast history EditSponsored by Vicks the series began on Mutual Radio on October 20 1945 heard Saturdays until April 13 1946 Initially it featured different hosts each week including John Reed King and Johnny Olson Bert Parks became the full time host in 1946 The questions were written by Joseph Nathan Kane the author of Famous First Facts who hand delivered the sealed envelopes to the radio studio Jack Rubin directed for producers Walt Framer and Ed Wolf With Vitalis Hair Tonic as the sponsor the series returned Friday July 5 1946 on ABC Radio for a run until September 23 1949 Bud Collyer and Bob Shepherd were the announcers and Peter Van Steeden provided the music 1 On October 5 1949 the radio series moved to the NBC Radio Network continuing until September 13 1950 The radio broadcast was heard weekdays on NBC in 1950 51 and moved back to ABC weekdays for 1951 53 With Miles Laboratories as the sponsor the radio show moved back to weekdays on NBC for 1953 55 overlapping with a weekday radio series on Mutual during 1954 55 1 1948 television Edit On October 22 1948 a televised version started broadcast on ABC television The co existing radio and television broadcasts were co hosted by Bert Parks and Bud Collyer That same year Radio Mirror called Break the Bank the highest paying quiz program in the world Gameplay EditContestants were drawn from the studio audience and brought up on stage to play a quiz game The contestant was asked a series of questions each worth progressively more money The goal was to provide enough correct answers eight later seven before making two mistakes The final question was the break the bank question worth all the money in the bank which began at 1 000 The first incorrect answer returned the player to the previous cash level and a second miss ended the game and the contestant kept his or her current winnings The same amount would then be added to the bank At first the question values before the bank were 10 20 50 100 200 300 and 500 By the mid 1950s the first right answer won the contestant 25 and the values increased to 50 100 200 300 500 and finally the bank On the short lived daytime edition the values were 10 20 30 50 100 200 300 and the bank which started at 500 2 Break the 250 000 Bank EditIn this 1956 NBC prime time revival the rules slightly changed The contestant picked a category and was asked five questions on that category worth 100 a piece with one wrong answer ending the game If they get all five right they could walk with 500 or risk it and answer on one question that would up the score to 5 000 The contestant would then return for the next several weeks to answer more 5 000 questions Prize money increased as the player continued up to 250 000 A wrong answer along the way simply ended the game Each multiple of 25 000 would be guaranteed in case of a miss Records EditThe record bank win was 9 020 until Break the 250 000 Bank was created in response to The 64 000 Question and other big money shows However that version ran for only three months October 9 1956 to January 15 1957 and no contestants won any more than 60 000 won by dentist Harry Duncan The most notable contestants during this period were actress Ethel Waters who in January 1957 won 10 000 she said would go toward back taxes and two escapees from the 1956 Hungarian Revolution who competed in a special category Fight for Freedom Waters appeared on the last episode before the show was cancelled She was announced for a new quiz show program Hold That Note also hosted by Parks which replaced Bank the following week and ran through April 2 Episode status EditSome episodes survive including three at the UCLA Film and Television Archive two from 1950 one from 1955 An episode from October 19 1949 survives at the Paley Center for Media See also EditBreak the Bank 1976 game show Break the Bank 1985 game show References Edit a b Dunning John 1998 On the Air The Encyclopedia of Old Time Radio Revised ed New York NY Oxford University Press p 112 ISBN 978 0 19 507678 3 Retrieved 2019 08 08 Break the Bank quiz http www tv4u com show video asp cid 21 amp sid 388 amp vid 782 amp t Break 20The 20Bank amp cat Game 20Show a 1956 episodeExternal links EditBreak the Bank 1948 1957 at IMDB Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Break the Bank 1945 game show amp oldid 1133594294, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
