Robert William “Bob” Barker was born in Darrington, Washington on December 12, 1923. Many associate Bob Barker with his long-running work on the game show The Price Is Right, but some of us older folks also will recall his days hosting the television show Truth or Consequences, which was a regular feature of our house when I was growing up.
Barker hosted Truth or Consequences for nearly two decades during 1956 to 1974. He started his gig with The Price Is Right toward the end of that period in 1972, continuing with The Price is Right until 2007 when he handed off the microphone to Drew Carey.
Truth or Consequences featured quizes, stunts, and surprises. The show had started in the 1040s with host Ralph Edwards. At various times, the show featured other hosts, but Edwards and Barker were by far the longest running hosts.
The videos of this 1966 episode of Truth or Consequences begins with a funny gag featuring unicycles.
Below is part 2, which focuses on a surprise arrangement featuring a soldier and his mother. Not surprisingly, several aspects of the show probably would not work today, including that a television show today would not dress the mother as they do here.
Here is part 3.
Finally, for Barker’s birthday today, remember, “Help control the pet population. Have your pets spayed or neutered.”
Bonus Truth or Consequences trivia: There is a town in New Mexico named after the television show. In 1950, the town of Hot Springs, New Mexico renamed itself Truth or Consequences, New Mexico after then-host Ralph Edwards announced he would host the show’s tenth anniversary episode from the first town that named itself “Truth or Consequences.”
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Last night on The Late Late Show with James Corden, Matt Damon appeared on the show to run through the films of his career — and to promote The Martian (2015). As Corden previously did with Tom Hanks, he joined Matt Damon in a funny segment that recreated scenes from the actor’s career.