| Host | |
| Bill Nimmo | |
| Announcer | |
| Frank Simmms | |
| Broadcast | |
 | |
| Packager | |
| Walt Framer Productions | |
"This is an article for the 1958 CBS daytime game show. For the 1984 Made for TV Movie {which also aired on CBS at the time}, see For Love or Money (TV Movie). For the 2003 version, see For Love or Money (2) and for the unsold pilot, see Unsold Pilot Theatre under the "F" category."
This version of For Love or Money was a short-lived daytime game show where three contestants are offered a choice between beautiful and valuable gifts or unknown sums of money.
Gameplay[]
Each game featured three contestants attempting to buzz in and answer questions first. Each question was associated with a prize and the player with the correct answer could choose to keep to the prize or stop a "dancing decimal machine" on a five digit display which started with the prize value. Later in the show, a home viewer whose phone number was chosen at random was asked a question and if correct, had the same option to take the prize or the money.
The cash values chosen at random could range from 2¢ to $9,999; after one week, however, the cash values now ranged from 25¢ to $2,500. Thus, the board now read: 2 5 0 0.
Cancellation[]
In January 1959, CBS network executives learned that the "dancing decimal machine" was occasionally fixed in such a way that the prize amount it would return would actually not be random. This meant For Love or Money was subject to the same sort of problematic production practices as other implicated game shows of the time like Dotto and The $64,000 Question. CBS immediately moved to cancel the series in early February, making the January 30, 1959 episode the final one aired.
British Version[]
In June 1959, ABC Productions (Associated British Corporation) produced a version for ITV, running for four series until 1961, with hosts including: Keith Fordyce (1959), Bob Monkhouse (1959, 1960), Dickie Henderson (1960) and Des O'Connor (1961). The hostesses were: Ann Taylor (1959-60) and later Julie Stevens (1961) and the announcer was by Barry Faber. The format was basically the same as the original American show, except the board displayed a string of four 9s, and the decimal point was replaced with a "flying shilling sign", meaning contestants could win anywhere from 9/- to 9,999/- (just under £500).
Studio[]
CBS Studio 62, New York City, NY
Gallery[]
