Mark Goodson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mark Goodson
Goodson in 1948
Born	Mark Leo Goodson January 14, 1915 Sacramento, California, U.S.
Died	December 18, 1992(1992-12-18) (aged 77) New York City, U.S.
Alma mater	University of California, Berkeley (B.S., Economics, 1937)
Occupation	Television producer
Years active	1937–1992
Known for	Early television game shows and Goodson-Todman Productions
Spouse(s)	Bluma Neveleff ​ ​ (m. 1941, divorced)​ Virginia McDavid ​ ​ (m. 1956, divorced)​ Suzanne Waddell ​ ​ (m. 1972; div. 1978)​
Children	3, including Jonathan Goodson

Mark Leo Goodson (January 14, 1915 – December 18, 1992) was a famous American television producer. He was best known for creating many popular game shows. He often worked with his business partner, Bill Todman. Together, they formed Goodson-Todman Productions.

Mark Goodson's Early Life and Career

Mark Goodson was born in Sacramento, California, on January 14, 1915. His parents had moved to the U.S. from Russia. As a child, Mark enjoyed acting in local plays.

He later went to the University of California, Berkeley. He studied economics and graduated with high honors in 1937. To pay for college, he worked at a fish market.

After college, he started his career in radio in San Francisco. He worked as a disc jockey, playing music and talking on the air. In 1939, he hosted a radio quiz show called Pop the Question. On this show, people threw darts at balloons to pick their questions!

Creating Famous TV Game Shows

Mark Goodson and his long-time partner, Bill Todman, created some of the most successful game shows in U.S. television history. Their first TV show, Winner Take All, started on CBS in 1948.

They created many well-known shows that people still love today. These include The Price Is Right, Family Feud, Match Game, Password, Beat the Clock, To Tell the Truth, I've Got a Secret, and What's My Line?.

Goodson and Todman made sure their shows were fair and honest. This was very important, especially after some quiz shows had problems in the 1950s. Because their shows were trustworthy, they remained popular for many years. Many other successful game show creators actually started by working for Goodson-Todman.

While Bill Todman handled the business side, Mark Goodson focused on the creative part. He made sure the games were fun and exciting. Many talented people worked for their company, helping to make these shows a big hit.

Goodson-Todman Productions was great at game shows. They also tried other types of TV shows, like dramas and Westerns. Some of their Western shows included Jefferson Drum, The Rebel, and Branded.

For a long time, their company was based in New York City. Later, much of their show production moved to Hollywood in the 1970s.

The Company After Todman

After Bill Todman passed away in 1979, Mark Goodson bought out the Todman family's share of the company. In 1982, the company's name changed to Mark Goodson Productions.

Today, a company called Fremantle owns the rights to most of Mark Goodson's shows. You might still hear "A Fremantle Production" at the end of shows like The Price Is Right.

Awards and Recognition

Mark Goodson received many honors for his work. In 1990, he won a special Emmy Award for his lifetime achievements in daytime television. Two years later, in 1992, he was added to the Television Hall of Fame.

International Game Show Success

Many of Mark Goodson's game shows became popular in other countries too. They were often adapted with different names. For example, Family Feud was called Family Fortunes in the United Kingdom. Card Sharks was known as Play Your Cards Right.

Mark Goodson's Shows

Mark Goodson created a huge number of shows during his career. Some of his most famous game shows are still on TV today! The Price Is Right has been running continuously since 1972. Family Feud has had several successful runs and is still very popular. Password was also brought back to TV in 2022.

Here are some of the many shows produced by Mark Goodson and his company:

Shows by Goodson-Todman Productions (1948–1982)

Shows by Mark Goodson Productions (1982–1996)

• Body Language
• Child's Play
• Classic Concentration
• The Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour

Mark Goodson's Personal Life and Passing

In 1941, Mark Goodson married Bluma Neveleff. They moved to New York City, where he started working with Bill Todman.

Mark and Bluma had two children, Jill and Jonathan. They later divorced. Mark then married Virginia McDavid, and they had a daughter named Marjorie. Marjorie later worked on Classic Concentration as a prize model. Mark married Suzanne Waddell in 1972, but they divorced in 1978.

Mark Goodson passed away on December 18, 1992, at the age of 77. He had pancreatic cancer. After his death, Bob Barker, the host of The Price Is Right, gave a special message in his honor:

This is a very sad time for The Price Is Right family. We've lost Mr. Mark Goodson, the creator of our show. Mr. Goodson, a legendary figure in television, was respected throughout the industry and we shall miss his guidance in the years to come.

Mark Goodson's Lasting Legacy

Mark Goodson's shows continue to be very popular. Many old episodes are still shown on channels like Game Show Network and Buzzr. This is because his company saved most of the episodes, unlike some other companies that erased their old tapes.

Biography of a TV Legend

In 2000, a TV show called Biography aired an episode about Mark Goodson. It was titled Mark Goodson: Will the Real Mark Goodson Please Stand Up?. The episode explored his life and career. It included interviews with many people who worked with him, like Betty White and Bob Barker.

Honored at Game Show Awards

In 2009, the 2009 Game Show Awards show paid tribute to Mark Goodson. His daughter, Marjorie, accepted an "Innovator Award" in his memory.

Game Show Marathon TV Series

In 2006, a TV series called Game Show Marathon aired on CBS. It featured celebrities playing classic game shows for charity. Five of the seven games played were based on Mark Goodson's original shows. These included The Price Is Right, Beat the Clock, Card Sharks, Match Game, and Family Feud.

Buzzr Online Channel

From 2014 to 2016, a YouTube channel called Buzzr featured many classic clips from Mark Goodson's game shows. They even created new, short versions of shows like Family Feud and Password using internet celebrities.