Learned via breaking news from CNN:
LOS ANGELES, California (AP) — Merv Griffin, the entertainer turned impresario who parlayed his “Jeopardy” and “Wheel of Fortune” game shows into a multimillion-dollar empire, has died. He was 82.
Griffin died of prostate cancer, according to a statement from his family that was released by Marcia Newberger, spokeswoman for The Griffin Group/Merv Griffin Entertainment.
From his beginning as a $100-a-week San Francisco, California, radio singer, Griffin moved on as vocalist for Freddy Martin’s band, sometime film actor and TV game and talk show host. His “The Merv Griffin Show” lasted more than 20 years, and Griffin said his capacity to listen contributed to his success.
“If the host is sitting there thinking about his next joke, he isn’t listening,” Griffin reasoned in a recent interview.
But his biggest break financially came from inventing and producing “Jeopardy” in the 1960s and “Wheel of Fortune” in the 1970s.
After they became the hottest game shows in television, Griffin sold the rights to them to the Columbia Pictures Television Unit for $250 million, retaining a share of the profits. He started spreading the sale money around in treasury bonds, stocks and other investments.
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In 1965, Westinghouse Broadcasting introduced “The Merv Griffin Show” in syndicated TV. At last Griffin had found the forum for his talents. He never underestimated the intelligence of his audience, offering such figures as philosopher Bertrand Russell, Pablo Casals and Will and Ariel Durant as well as movie stars and entertainers.
My Grandmother — my Mom’s Mom — lived with my parents and I from the time I was one and she was a big Merv Griffin show fan, inevitably that meant that I ended up watching it alot too when my parents were out. The Merv Griffin Show was “our thing”, and something I think I actually came to look forward to. So, I’ve always sort of had a soft spot for Merv.
August 12th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
My uncle, Jack E. Rhodes, left Pittsburgh for NY to head up the syndication of the Merv Griffin Show (and Mike Douglas show as well) in the 60’s. My father, Bill (Dusty) Rhodes, a broadcast pioneer in his own right, took us to “many-a” Griffin shows. Merv was always very warm and friendly to us and I’ll always remember his hospitality when we visited him and watched his show at the “Little Theatre”. Followeb always by a visit to Mr. Vince at Sardis. Merv, my father and uncle preceded you. Here’s hoping you get a chance to meet them again and work out fair percentage cuts and billing! Dusti
August 13th, 2007 at 11:25 pm
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