When Bill was young

Stumbling around the game show Interwebs, I came across this 1949 article about Bill Cullen.

There were some funny factoids that I hadn't heard before, like the hockey game that Bill announced in hilarious fashion. (He knew absolutely nothing about hockey.) There were also kind words for Bill from none other than Groucho Marx, who called the upcoming game show host the best quizmaster in the business.

This was 1949, so radio was still big even as the box with pictures was looming ever larger. Bill was a natural for radio because there was never anybody faster with a quip. You didn't have to worry about dead air with Mr. Cullen.

Bill wore his success lightly, as you would expect. "I'm an extroverted introvert with an inferior superiority complex. In other words, a born ham." Actually, he was a born improviser, which always comes in handy when hosting some silly little game.

When TV took over the world, Bill transitioned effortlessly to the new medium. The 1950s were his heyday as he became a mainstay of the top ten show I've Got a Secret, not to mention many other game shows he hosted or played. That was still in the future as far as the linked article is concerned. No matter, Bill will always rank with the very best in the genre.

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