| Johnny Olson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name: | John Leonard "Johnny" Olson |
| Born: | May 22, 1910 |
| Died: | October 12, 1985 (age 75) |
| Place of death: | Santa Monica, California |
| Occupation: | Announcer |
| Years active: | 1944-1985 |
| Known for: | announcing The Price is Right, Match Game and many other game shows |
Johnny Olson (born John Leonard Olson May 22, 1910 from Windom, Minnesota; died October 12, 1985 in Santa Monica, California) was an American radio and television announcer. He was the announcer for over 32 Goodson-Todman game shows, but most notably, The Price is Right from 1972 until 1985. To date, he was the second-longest announcer on the show; having announced for 13 years. Rod Roddy is the longest running announcer on the show, having announced 17 years. Before his career as a game show announcer, he was the host on the DuMont Television Network. His first announcing job was on the original 1958 version of Name That Tune. At one time, he sub-hosted Play Your Hunch while current host Merv Griffin was out. John passed away from a brain hemorrhage on October 12, 1985; he was 75. Fellow game show announcers Randy West and Rich Fields are fans and proteges of Olson, as well as his then-successor Rod Roddy. Olson was entombed at Rosewood Cemetery in Lewisburg, West Virginia. His tombstone reads "Thanks dear God".
Shows hosted[]
- Ladies Be Seated (with his wife Penny)
- Whiz Quiz
- Get Rich Quick
- Fun For The Money
- Break the Bank (sub)
- Second Chance
- Play Your Hunch (substitute)
Shows announced[]
- Break the Bank
- Masquerade Party (1950s)
- Penny to a Million (1954)
- Hold That Note
- Split Personality
- Call My Bluff
- Super Bingo
- Keep it in the Family
- On Your Mark
- Manhattan Honeymoon
- Make Your Move (Mid-1960s pilot)
- It Had to Be You (1966 pilot)
- Play Your Hunch
- The Price is Right
- Match Game (1962–1982)
- Name That Tune
- It's Predictable (1970 pilot)
- Simon Says...
- Missing Links
- Alex Trebek's Double Dare
- Mindreaders
- TattleTales
- Now You See It (1970s)
- Body Language
- Password Plus (Fill-in for Gene Wood)
- I've Got a Secret (1972–1973, 1976)
- To Tell the Truth (1960–1972)
- Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour (Fill-in for Gene Wood)
- Blockbusters (substitute for Bob Hilton)
- Card Sharks (pilots and subbed for Gene Wood on the NBC version)
- Family Feud (pilot)
- Concentration (syndication)
- What's My Line? (1961–1972)
- Snap Judgment
- Puzzlers (1980 pilot)
- Supermarket Sweep (as a sub announcer)
- Joe Garagiola's Memory Game
- He Said She Said
- Get the Message
- You're in the Picture (one episode only)
- TV's Funniest Game Show Moments (1984 & 1985 specials)
Book[]
Fellow game show announcer Randy West wrote an autobiography on this famed game show announcer titled Johnny Olson: A Voice of Time which was published by BearManor Media in 2009.
Pictures[]
Commemoration on the death of Johnny Olson[]
"Since taping this program, we've lost our good friend, Johnny Olson. You'll continue to see and hear Johnny on the many programs he's already taped. He was dearly loved by all of us, and he'll be sorely missed." - Bob Barker (1985)
YouTube Videos[]
The Price is Right Johnny Olson tribute, 1985
Extended tribute, includes credit roll