Mark Goodson

Mark Goodson
Name	Mark Leo Goodson
Birth	January 14, 1915
Birthplace	Sacramento, California
Death Date	December 18, 1992
Death Place	New York City, New York
Occupation	Producer

Mark "Leo" Goodson (b. January 14, 1915 - d. December 18, 1992) was a successful American television producer who specialized in game shows.

Early Life & Career

Mark Goodson was born in Sacramento, California on January 14, 1915. His parents, Abraham Ellis and Fannie Goodson, emigrated from Russia in the early 1900s. As a child, Goodson acted in the amateur theater with the Plaza Stock Company. The family later moved to Hayward, California. Originally intending to become a lawyer, Goodson attended the University of California, Berkeley. He financed his education through scholarships and by working at the Lincoln Fish Market. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1937 with a degree in Economics. That year, he began his broadcasting career in San Francisco, working as a disc jockey at station KJBS. In 1939 he joined radio station KFRC, where he produced and hosted a radio quiz called "Pop the Question" in which contestants selected questions by throwing darts at multi-colored balloons.

In 1941, Goodson married his first wife, Bluma Neveleff, and moved to New York City, where he teamed up with partner Bill Todman. The pair's first radio show, Winner Take All, premiered on CBS in 1946. Outside of television production, Goodson and Todman went on to own several newspapers in New England as well as radio station KOL in Seattle, Washington. Bill Todman died in 1979, and in the early 1980s, the Goodson's acquired the Todman heirs' portion of the company.

Goodson had two children, Jill, and Jonathan (1945–), by his first wife Bluma, and a daughter, Marjorie (who was a prize model on Classic Concentration from July 1987 until its finale in September 1991), by his second wife Virginia McDavid, Miss Alabama 1953. In 1972, he married his third wife, Suzanne Waddell, who had once been a guest on What's My Line?. They divorced in 1978. Goodson also had a brother, Marvin (November 6, 1918 – July 7, 2007), who was an attorney.

Career

Mark is closely associated with The Price is Right, but he didn't create the original show, Bob Stewart did. After the original's cancellation in 1965, Mark & his partner Bill Todman recreated the show in 1972 with an all-new format with elements of the original. Stewart also created the original Password and To Tell the Truth for Goodson as well. Stewart passed away on May 4, 2012.

Death

Goodson died of pancreatic cancer on December 18, 1992, in New York City. After his death, Bob Barker gave him a small tribute which aired after an episode of The Price is Right. He is interred at Hillside Memorial Park in Culver City, California, where the inscription on his gravestone is designed to resemble the Goodson-Todman/Mark Goodson Productions logo.

"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". Bob Barker (1992)

Mark in the 1972 Pitchfilm for The Price is Right

Mark at the 15th Season Premiere

Mark at the 16th Season Premiere

Mark at the 19th Season Premiere

Mark at the 20th Season Premiere

Mark at the 21st Season Premiere

His Company Logo

"A Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Production"

"A Mark Goodson Television Production"

From the 1980s.

From the 1990s.

From 2004.

From Bob Barker's last show. After that, Mark Goodson Productions became FremantleMedia until 2018 now its Fremantle.

Other Pictures

Portrait from Barker's tribute to Mark Goodson

From Barker's tribute to Mark Goodson

Mark Goodson's tombstone.

Close-up of the Mark Goodson grave, reminiscent of the Mark Goodson Productions logo.

Trivia

Mark Goodson's shows have continued to dominate both the GSN and Buzzr lineups due to the fact that his company saved most of their shows while other shows by other companies were wiped to reuse the tapes.

Links

Mark Goodson Wiki
September 12, 1988 (Rod Reads a Telegram from Mark Goodson)
Bob Barker Announces the Death of Mark Goodson