1963: ‘Let’s Make a Deal’ Debuts

After hosting numerous games shows on the radio as well as TV including Strike It Rich, Twenty-One and Video Village, Monty Hall developed, produced and starred in his own creation called Let’s Make a Deal. Producing the show with Partner Stefan Hatos, Let’s Make a Deal premiered on NBC on this day in 1963. The concept of the show involved contestants pulled from the audience to serve as “traders” who would make deals with the host. They were usually given something of some value and then given the chance to trade it in for something hidden under a box or behind a huge door. Some of the trade-in items were worth much more than the first one or they could be considered a “zonk” that had little to no value at all. The game show moved from NBC to ABC in 1968 and a syndicated version of the show began in 1971. The show ended its long run in 1977 but it was revived in Canada (and syndicated in America) in 1980 for one year. Then the show had another syndicated revival in the U.S. in 1986. NBC welcomed the show back to its network in 1990 but this time it was not hosted or produced by Hall. Instead, those duties went to Dick Clark (producer) and Bob Hilton (host). However, Hilton was fired in October due to low ratings and Hall stepped in as “guest host” until the show was canceled in 1991. Billy Bush briefly served as host of a prime-time version of the show in 2003 but it ended after just three episodes. Then I 2009, CBS took a stab of reviving the show in 2009 where it continues today with host Wayne Brady. (Image: Wikimedia)