The Rise and Fall of Quiz Shows

This chapter explores the rise of audience participation quiz shows in the 1940s radio and their evolution into popular television formats in the 1950s, highlighting the interplay between entertainment and the preservation of knowledge. It culminates in the dramatic quiz show scandal involving Charles Van Doren, which led to public disillusionment and paved the way for a resurgence of quiz-based entertainment through shows like Jeopardy!.