Bill Todman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bill Todman
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Todman at left with Mark Goodson and Johnny Roventini for the radio version of What's My Line? in 1952.
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| Born |
William Selden Todman
July 31, 1916 New York City, US
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| Died | July 29, 1979 (aged 62) New York City, US
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| Alma mater | Johns Hopkins University (B.A.) |
| Occupation | Television producer |
| Years active | 1948–1979 |
| Known for | TV game shows and Goodson-Todman Productions |
| Spouse(s) |
Frances Holmes Burson
(m. 1950) |
| Children | 2; including Bill Todman Jr. |
William Selden Todman (born July 31, 1916 – died July 29, 1979) was an American television producer. He was born in New York City. Bill Todman helped create many of television's most famous and long-running shows. He did this with his business partner, Mark Goodson. Together, they formed a company called Goodson-Todman Productions.
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Early Life and Family
Bill Todman's father, Frederick S. Todman, was an accountant on Wall Street. This is a famous financial area in New York City. His father's company worked with some very big businesses.
Bill also had a brother named Howard. Howard later became a vice president and treasurer for Goodson-Todman Productions. This means he helped manage the money for their company.
Creating Famous Game Shows
Bill Todman first started working with Mark Goodson on radio shows. One of their early projects was a show called Treasury Salute. This program honored members of the military.
Later, they began creating game shows for radio. They then moved into television. On TV, they produced some of the most popular game shows ever.
Some of their many well-known shows included:
- Beat the Clock
- Card Sharks
- Family Feud
- Match Game
- Password
- Tattletales
- The Price Is Right
- To Tell the Truth
- What's My Line?
While both men helped create these shows, Todman slowly became less involved in the daily work of making game shows. He started focusing on making Goodson-Todman a bigger business.
Expanding the Business
Bill Todman was important for growing Goodson-Todman beyond just TV shows. He helped the company invest in other areas. These included newspapers, radio stations, and real estate. Real estate means buying and selling land and buildings.
The television business was successful, but these other investments made even more money. Mark Goodson continued to focus on the game shows. Meanwhile, Todman worked on expanding the company into new ventures.
Thanks to Todman's efforts, the company was able to survive tough times. This included a period in the late 1960s when game shows were not as popular. His smart investments helped the company stay strong.
Later Years and Legacy
Bill Todman passed away on July 29, 1979, in New York City. He was almost 63 years old. He was survived by his wife, Frances Holmes Burson, and his two children, William Jr. and Lisa.
Even after his death, the game shows he helped create continued to be known as "A Mark Goodson — Bill Todman Production." In the early 1980s, Mark Goodson bought the Todman family's share of the company.
The first show to be called simply "A Mark Goodson Television Production" was Child's Play in 1982. Today, the library of Goodson-Todman game shows is owned by FremantleMedia.
Bill Todman's contributions to television were recognized in 2011. He was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame. This honor celebrates people who have made a big impact on television.
