Two for the Money


Aired
Pilot, June 05, 1952 NBC Primetime Tuesday, September 30, 1952 – Tuesday, August 11, 1953 CBS Primetime Saturday, August 15, 1953 – Saturday, September 22, 1956 CBS Primetime Saturday, March 23, 1957- Saturday, September 7, 1957
Run time
30 Minutes
Host
Fred Allen 1952 (pilot) Herb Shriner 1952-1956 Sam Levenson 1957
Announcers
Kenny Williams 1952-1957 Ed McMahon 1957 Ralph Paul
Origination
International Theatre, New York City, New York (1952-1953) CBS Studio 52, New York City, New York (1953-1956) Biltmore Theatre, New York City, New York (1957)

Two for the Money was a primetime game show where contestants give a series of answers that fit into a category as fast as they can to win money.

Game format[]

In this four-year-old nighttime game show, teams of two contestants (couples) played three rounds of categories. On each round at the sound of the bell in each category and while alternating turns, the team had 15 seconds to name as many items that fit into the category as they can, with one mistake (which was either repeating an answer or giving a wrong answer) ending the round. The first round was worth $5.00 an answer, and the next two rounds had answers be worth the total dollar amount scored in the previous round.

Personnel[]

1952-1956

Host: Herb Shriner
Substitute Hosts: Walter O’Keefe, Sam Levenson, Fred Allen
Announcer: Kenny Williams, Dennis James, Ralph Paul
Judge: Dr. Mason Gross of Rutgers University, Walter Cronkite
Producers: Mark Goodson, Gil Fates, Ira Skutch
Directors: Jerome Schnur, Paul Alter
Set Designer: Jac Venza
Music Director: Milton DeLugg

1957

Host: Sam Levenson
Announcer: Ed McMahon, Carl King
Producer: Ira Skutch
Directors: Ira Skutch, Lloyd Gross
Set Designer: John Ward

Trivia[]

Two for the Money was originally designed for Fred Allen, who had filmed the pilot on June 05, 1952. Due to illness, he was unable to do the show when it became a series. He did get a chance to host the show though, when he filled-in for Shriner on the January 9, 1954 episode.
The title was loosely based on an old children's rhyme used in counting that goes "One for the money, Two for the show, Three to get ready, and Four to go!"
Herb Shriner's son Wil, went on to host The Family Channel (originally CBN/Christian Broadcasting Network, also known as FOX Family, later ABC Family and now Freeform) game show That's My DOG! (loosely based on the British game show of the same name) after replacing original host Steve Skrovan from 1993 until 1995.