Today’s header gif is a clip from “Queen for a Day,” a wildly popular game show that started in 1945 as a radio show, then simulcast to television in 1948. It ran as a local program to the Los Angeles market until 1956, when the rights to the show were picked up by NBC, which released it for a national audience. NBC continued to air the show until 1960, at which point ABC picked up the rights and produced it until season’s end in 1964. (A revival of the show in 1969 proved far less appealing to audiences after it was reveled that the new version was “rigged,” with the winner being pre-selected and the contestants actors. It was canceled after a single season.)
“Queen for a Day” was filmed live in front of a studio audience and would run each weekday. Four female contestants—the exception being a once or twice yearly show with men to select “Kings”—would be presented and interviewed by host Jack Bailey. Each would share a “hard luck” sort of story, perhaps of a sick child or unemployed spouse or elderly down-on-her-luck mother, moving the mostly-women audience in attendance to tears. Advertising breaks in the show would be bracketed by on-show commercials, where attractive female models would present outfits or products from the show’s sponsors.
After the interviews were complete, the audience would then vote via applause, measured by an “applausemeter,” for their pick of Queen. The winner would be crowned and dressed in royal robes and would be led to a throne. The host, with the assistance of the beautiful co-hosting models, would then reveal the prizes that the winner had won, including not only the things that the contestant would have requested as part of her interview, but additional goodies supplied by the show’s sponsors; such things as lavish vacations, large appliances and jewelry. The other contestants would receive consolation prizes, items like toasters and hosiery, again supplied by sponsors who would receive commercial consideration in exchange.
A precursor to today’s reality-TV genre (at least insofar as providing real, unscripted, emotional moments for audience consumption), I tend to agree with the critics of the time who branded the show overly-commercial, crass and exploitative. The contestants were carefully chosen, never unattractive or inarticulate, and possessing of problems easily solved with commercial solutions. Complicated problems such as thorny legal conundrums or severe medical issues were never addressed. Still, during its run, “Queen for a Day” managed to hold one of the top-grossing time-slots for advertising revenue, NBC increasing the show’s length from 30 to 45 minutes in order to sell additional ad space. At its peak, “Queen for a Day” reached a daily audience of about 13 million viewers and commanded advertising rates of $4,000 per commercial minute, a top-dollar amount for its era.
Happily for us, you don’t need to be a Queen for a Day to enjoy Wonkette. Rebecca gives us all premium news coverage every day, and all for free. But if you are flush with royal jewels, or even a few extra coins, we’d appreciate it so much it if you could help support the team. We depend on donations to help keep this ship afloat.
Thank you! We love you! [Does royal wave: elbow, elbow, wrist-wrist-wrist]
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My cousin Yvonne was “Queen for a Day”. She was married, 8 months pregnant, asking for a bicycle for her brother so he could deliver newspapers. Also a headstone for their mother’s grave. My Aunt had just passed away. Yvonne did get home appliances plus the bicycle and headstone. It was like a HUGE deal in our family. I can see the big picture now. Exploiting a family tragedy for profit.