One of television's legendary and beloved game show announcers, Johnny Gilbert got his start in show business in high school as a singer, comedian and master of ceremonies. He soon toured the nightclub circuit as a featured attraction; he even parlayed his success into an recorded an album of pop standards. Soon, he delved into the world of television, where he worked at stations in Nashville and New Orleans. In 1958, he hosted his first TV game show, _"Music Bingo" . He also served as announcer for many TV awards shows, Dick Clark specials and Circus of the Stars specials.
Recorded an album of popular music selections.
Has announced on over 30 game shows, with his two biggest shows being "The Price Is Right" and "Jeopardy!" .
Did not return to announce the PAX version of "Supermarket Sweep" , because of the residuals the network was paying him.
Permanently replaced Jack Clark as the announcer on "The $10,000 Pyramid" . Clark left to concentrate on his announcing duties on "Wheel of Fortune" .
A few years after graduating from high school, Gilbert heard about an audition as regular vocalist for the Dean Hudson Orchestra which was being conducted in Jacksonville, Florida. Unfortunately, Gilbert was confused about the dates and upon his arrival, he learned that the position had already been filled.
Before he was a successful announcer, Gilbert joined the United States Armys Seventh Army Special Services in Germany, and was cast as the lead in Xanadu: The Marco Polo Musical, an original musical comedy inspired in part by the Samuel Taylor Coleridge poem Kubla Khan, which chronicled Marco Polos trip to China.
Before Robert Conrad became a successful actor, he used to be one of Gilberts bandleaders.
He was selected by producers Mark Goodson and Bill Todman to replace Don Pardo as the announcer and audience host for the original Bill Cullen -hosted version of "The Price Is Right" , when it moved from NBC to ABC, at that time Gilbert returned to New York City.
He was Dinah Shore s announcer/sidekick for "Dinah!" , for the last 5 years in the 1970s.
Before he was a successful game show announcer, he was a singer and emcee on WDSU in New Orleans, Louisiana.
In his six decades of television, Gilbert announced 29 game shows.
After Huntz Hall s death in 1999, Gilbert is the only surviving member of the group, "Dead End Kids," where he joined that group and played throughout the southwestern portion of the United States for 16 weeks. When they played in Norfolk, Gilbert himself even got special billing.
Beat former Barry & Enright contract player, Jay Stewart , as the announcer of the 1984 revival of "Jeopardy!" , which hes still the announcer of the show.
At age 34, Gilbert moved to New York City, New York, in 1958, to pursue a career in hosting game shows.
Before he was a successful game show announcer, he was a talk show host in Dayton, Ohio, which he stayed for two years until he left Dayton for short notice.
His first announcing assignment was "Camouflage" .
He sub-announced for either Jack Clark or Charlie ODonnell on a few episodes of "Wheel of Fortune" .
At age 18, Gilbert moved to Jacksonville, Florida, in 1942, pursuing a career in radio and television personality.
Replaced Rich Jeffries as the fourth announcer of "Love Connection" , for the sixth season.
Hobbies: singing, golfing and bowling.
Replaced Jack Clark as the permanent announcer of "The $10,000 Pyramid" , for the fourth season, because Clark wanted to continue working on "Wheel of Fortune" . Clark died in 1988.
Before he was a successful announcer, he was a nightclub singer.
Graduated from Morrison High School (later Warrick High School), in Newport News, Virginia, in 1942.
At age 43, Gilbert moved back to New York City, New York, in 1967, to continue pursuing a career as a television personality. He moved to Los Angeles, California, a couple of years later.
While he was still in high school, Gilbert decided to take up a professional singing career and learned from an opera teacher.
Friends of: Don Pardo , Jay Stewart , Charlie ODonnell , Gene Wood , Jack Clark , John Harlan , Bob Hilton , Art James , Jack Narz , Gary Owens , Jack Barry , Mark Goodson , Bill Todman , Bob Stewart , Dinah Shore , Bill Cullen , Bob Eubanks , Alex Trebek , Jim Lange , Chuck Woolery , Bob Goen , Wink Martindale , Geoff Edwards , Dick Clark , David Ruprecht and Betty White.
Gilbert was associated with Lorimar-Telepictures (before Warner Bros. Television) (working on various game shows): "Dream House" , "$1,000,000 Chance of a Lifetime" , "Perfect Match" and "Love Connection" .
When Gilbert took ill for the final two weeks of the short-lived game show, "Blackout" , Jay Stewart filled in for him. It was Stewarts final announcing duty. He later committed suicide, the following year.
Was let go from his announcing role on "Love Connection" , at the end of the sixth season. Producer Eric Lieber found John Cervenka to replace him.
He was a choir boy in a church in Newport News, Virginia.
Best known by the public as the announcer on "Dinah!" , "The $10,000 Pyramid" , "Jeopardy!" and as the first announcer of "Supermarket Sweep" .
Lifelong friend of Wink Martindale. Gilbert met him on the set of "Words and Music" . He later worked with Martindale on both shows: "The New Tic Tac Dough" and "Headline Chasers" .
Filled in for fellow announcer Charlie ODonnell a few times on "The New Tic Tac Dough" , within 1 year.
