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Quiz Show

Double or Nothing

1941–1951 · 23 episodes · 63 listens

Double or Nothing was a popular American quiz game show that aired on radio from the 1940s through the 1950s.

The show featured contestants competing to answer a series of increasingly difficult questions, with the opportunity to “double or nothing” their winnings on each question. The show was known for its fast-paced format, witty banter between the host and contestants, and the suspense of the “double or nothing” gamble.

The Stars

The show was hosted by a variety of personalities over the years, including John Reed King, Walter O’Keefe, and Jesse Lasky.

The announcer was Alois Havrilla, who provided the show’s signature opening line, “Double or Nothing, brought to you by Feenamint, the chewing gum laxative.”

The show also featured musical performances by Nat Brusiloff and His Orchestra.

Key Dates

  • Double or Nothing first premiered on September 29th,1940 and ran for over a decade, with
  • Its final episode aired on June 15th, 1954.

Other Information

The show was originally sponsored by Feenamint, a chewing gum laxative, but later found sponsorship from Campbell’s Soup. The show’s format and popularity evolved over the years, with the introduction of new question formats and the occasional appearance of celebrity guests, such as Vice Admiral Thomas Craven.

Double or Nothing was known for its quirky and sometimes controversial questions, which ranged from trivia about everyday life to more obscure topics.

The show’s format, which allowed contestants to risk their winnings on each question, added an element of excitement and suspense that captivated audiences.

Ratings & reviews

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Episodes

Apr 2, 1947 · 27:20
The seconds are ticking away... The first contestant on today's Double or Nothing is Jimmy Salvato of Paterson, New…
Apr 21, 1944 · 29:36
The seconds are ticking away... The first contestant on today's Double or Nothing is a US Soldier, Private Herbert…
Aug 12, 1945 · 29:14
The seconds are ticking away... The first contestant on today's Double or Nothing is William Kinsey who has just one…
Aug 13, 1944 · 29:51
The seconds are ticking away... The first contestant on today's Double or Nothing is Maynard Markham from Kentucky who…
Aug 15, 1941 · 28:43
The seconds are ticking away... The first contestant on today's Double or Nothing is Jack Lowe who has just one minute…
Aug 20, 1944 · 29:41
The seconds are ticking away... The first contestant on today's Double or Nothing is special guest Jane Wyman who has…
Aug 30, 1950 · 29:34
The seconds are ticking away... The first contestant on today's Double or Nothing is Nona Blue-Henderson, a newspaper…
Feb 2, 1945 · 26:34
The seconds are ticking away... The first contestant on today's Double or Nothing is Bob Young who has just one minute…
Jan 2, 1948 · 27:59
The seconds are ticking away... The first contestant on today's Double or Nothing is Mrs Carol Izakson who has just one…
Jul 17, 1942 · 29:32
The seconds are ticking away... The first contestant on today's Double or Nothing is Poppy Delowe who has just one…
Jul 18, 1941 · 59:25
The seconds are ticking away... The first contestant on today's Double or Nothing is Edwin C Horne who has just one…
Jul 24, 1942 · 29:48
The seconds are ticking away... The first contestant on today's Double or Nothing is Helen Menken who has just one…
Jul 3, 1942 · 30:04
The seconds are ticking away... The first contestant on today's Double or Nothing is Pat Rooney who has just one minute…
Mar 10, 1944 · 29:51
The seconds are ticking away... The first contestant on today's Double or Nothing is Robert Preston who has just one…
Mar 17, 1944 · 26:16
The seconds are ticking away... The first contestant on today's Double or Nothing is Alan Burnett-Ray who has just one…
Mar 4, 1944 · 29:52
The seconds are ticking away... The first contestant on today's Double or Nothing is Mary Sheerness who has just one…
May 15, 1942 · 29:38
The seconds are ticking away... The first contestant on today's Double or Nothing is Arthur Treacher who has just one…
May 2, 1951 · 29:10
The seconds are ticking away... Both of the contestants on today's Double or Nothing are from Vancouver. The first…
Oct 13, 1944 · 29:18
The seconds are ticking away... The first contestant on today's Double or Nothing is guest Jessie Tifft who has just…
Oct 15, 1948 · 30:00
The seconds are ticking away... The first contestant on today's Double or Nothing is Anna Miles, a former Navy nurse,…
Sep 1, 1944 · 29:28
The seconds are ticking away... The first contestant on today's Double or Nothing is Captain Gulbransen from Brooklyn,…
Sep 11, 1942 · 29:58
The seconds are ticking away... The first contestant on today's Double or Nothing is Lili Damata who has just one…
Sep 8, 1944 · 29:26
The seconds are ticking away... The first contestant on today's Double or Nothing is a fighter pilot, back from fifty…
Ned, your old-time-radio guide
Ned · your guide to the archive

If Double or Nothing was your cup of tea, pull up a chair — here's where I'd point you next.

Truth Or Consequences
Both create tension and excitement through the possibility of contestants winning or losing based on their choices.
Second Chance
Both quiz formats are built around the drama of contestants risking what they have for the chance at greater rewards.
You Bet Your Life
Both use the quiz format with strong comic elements, with the host's personality as central as the quiz competition itself.
It Pays To Be Ignorant
Both find comedy in the quiz format, whether through deliberate incompetence or the comedic potential of right-or-wrong stakes.