| Dennis James | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name: | Dennis James |
| Born: | August 24, 1917 |
| Birth Hometown: | Jersey City, New Jersey |
| Died: | June 3, 1997 (age 79) |
| Place of death: | Palm Springs, California |
| Occupation: | Host |
| Years active: | 1946-1997 |
| Known for: | His game show hosting career |
Demie James Sposa, known professionally as Dennis James, was an American game show host. He was born August 24, 1917, in Jersey City, NJ. Dennis hosted Cash and Carry, television’s first network game show, for the now-defunct DuMont Television Network. He was also the first person to host a telethon and to appear in a TV commercial. He was the announcer for the NBC quiz show Judge for Yourself. (Fred Allen was the host.) He hosted the nighttime Price is Right in the 1970s, and he even filled in for an ill Bob Barker for four episodes of the daytime show in December 1974. He was the only substitute host in the history of the daytime Price. When the host is unable to do the show these days, tapings are postponed. Dennis passed away June 3, 1997, in Palm Springs, CA; he was 79.
Shows hosted[]
- Cash and Carry (1946-1947)
- Okay Mother (1949-1951)
- Stop the Music (sub)
- Chance of a Lifetime (1952-1956)
- On Your Account (1954-1956)
- The Name's the Same (1954-1955)
- High Finance (1956)
- What Makes You Tick? (1959 unsold pilot)
- Haggis Baggis (1959)
- Your First Impression (sub)
- Beat the Odds (1962-1963)
- People Will Talk (1963)
- Silent Partners (1965 unsold pilot)
- PDQ (1965-1969; also hosted the show's 1964 pilot)
- Your All-American College Show (sub)
- Let's Make a Deal (sub for Monty Hall)
- The Price is Right (1972-1977 nighttime; also subbed for Bob Barker for four daytime episodes in 1974)
- Name That Tune (1974-1975, daytime)
Show announced[]
- Stop the Music
- Judge For Yourself (commercial announcer for Old Gold cigarettes)
Book[]
Adam Nedeff wrote an autobiography on James titled Okay? Okay!: Dennis James' Lifetime of Firsts which was published by BearManor Media in hardcover and paperback in October 2017.
Gallery[]
