Leave It to the Girls
Encyclopedia
Leave It to the Girls is an American radio and television talk show
, created by Martha Rountree
, and broadcast, in various forms, from the 1940s through the 1980s.
starting in 1945 with hostess Paula Stone
. The show was created by Meet the Press
creator Martha Rountree
as a serious-minded discussion of the problems of career women, but soon became a comedic commentary on love, romance, and marriage from an almost-all female panel — one man was always on the panel to provide the male viewpoint.
television network broadcast the show April 27, 1949, to December 30, 1951; Maggi McNellis
replaced radio show hostess Paula Stone
.
Later, the series left NBC and was picked up by the ABC
television network, who broadcast it from October 3, 1953, to March 27, 1954.
A syndicated weekday daytime version, also hosted by Maggi McNellis, was broadcast 1961-62.
Another version, called Leave it to the Women, produced by Chuck Barris
, and hosted by Stephanie Edwards
, aired 1981-1982 in syndication.
was the hostess for the radio version of the show.
The NBC, ABC, and the 1960s television versions were all hosted by Maggi McNellis, a 1930s supper club singer, a 1940s radio show hostess for her own shows, and a New York City society hostess through the 1980s. All the female panelists could be characterized as "glamorous, well-dressed, showbiz types". Some of the female television panelists were Eloise McElhone (known as "The Mouth"), Vanessa Brown
, Florence Pritchett, Lisa Ferraday, Ann Rutherford
, Harriet Van Horne
, and Janet Blair. Among the men appearing as the solitary male presence on the television panel were Morey Amsterdam
, Henry Morgan
, and George Jessel
— John Henry Faulk
was the permanent male panelist in the primetime television show's last year, 1954. The male seemed to be at a disadvantage against the chattering women, as the only way he could manage to break into their constant babbling was to toot a toy horn.
Stephanie Edwards
, the daughter of TV producer Ralph Edwards
, was the hostess for the all-female version of the show in 1981 and 1982. Producer Chuck Barris
originally had filmed the pilot for sale to the NBC network, but later bought back the rights and syndicated the show. A sampling of the guests from one show were TV journalist Shana Alexander
, singer/actress Della Reese
, and 1966 Playboy Centerfold (and wife of Dick Martin), Dolly Martin
.
Talk show
A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
, created by Martha Rountree
Martha Rountree
Martha Rountree was a pioneering broadcast journalist and an energetic entrepreneur. She was the creator and first moderator of a public-affairs program, first on radio as The American Mercury from June 24, 1945, and as Meet the Press on the NBC television network from November 6, 1947...
, and broadcast, in various forms, from the 1940s through the 1980s.
Radio version
The series was originally a radio program airing on MBSMutual Broadcasting System
The Mutual Broadcasting System was an American radio network, in operation from 1934 to 1999. In the golden age of U.S. radio drama, MBS was best known as the original network home of The Lone Ranger and The Adventures of Superman and as the long-time radio residence of The Shadow...
starting in 1945 with hostess Paula Stone
Paula Stone
Paula Stone was an actress in theater and motion pictures from New York City.-Birth:She was the daughter of Fred Stone, a stage actor, dancing comedian, and owner of the Fred Stone theatrical stock company. Her mother, Allene Crater Stone, acted with her father and was a singer...
. The show was created by Meet the Press
Meet the Press
Meet the Press is a weekly American television news/interview program produced by NBC. It is the longest-running television series in American broadcasting history, despite bearing little resemblance to the original format of the program seen in its television debut on November 6, 1947. It has been...
creator Martha Rountree
Martha Rountree
Martha Rountree was a pioneering broadcast journalist and an energetic entrepreneur. She was the creator and first moderator of a public-affairs program, first on radio as The American Mercury from June 24, 1945, and as Meet the Press on the NBC television network from November 6, 1947...
as a serious-minded discussion of the problems of career women, but soon became a comedic commentary on love, romance, and marriage from an almost-all female panel — one man was always on the panel to provide the male viewpoint.
Television versions
The NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
television network broadcast the show April 27, 1949, to December 30, 1951; Maggi McNellis
Maggi McNellis
Maggi McNellis was an American radio and television personality and talk show hostess from the 1940s through the 1960s. In the latter part of her life, she became a New York City society hostess.- Early life :...
replaced radio show hostess Paula Stone
Paula Stone
Paula Stone was an actress in theater and motion pictures from New York City.-Birth:She was the daughter of Fred Stone, a stage actor, dancing comedian, and owner of the Fred Stone theatrical stock company. Her mother, Allene Crater Stone, acted with her father and was a singer...
.
Later, the series left NBC and was picked up by the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
television network, who broadcast it from October 3, 1953, to March 27, 1954.
A syndicated weekday daytime version, also hosted by Maggi McNellis, was broadcast 1961-62.
Another version, called Leave it to the Women, produced by Chuck Barris
Chuck Barris
Charles Hirsch "Chuck" Barris is an American game show producer, film director and presenter best known for hosting The Gong Show and creating The Dating Game. Barris, a survivor of lung cancer, is also an author and claims to have worked for the CIA.-Early career:Barris was born in Oakland, New...
, and hosted by Stephanie Edwards
Stephanie Edwards (TV personality)
Stephanie Ann Edwards is an American actress and television personality.-Career:Born in Kenyon, Minnesota, Edwards began her career as an actress, but became widely known as an on-air personality in the 1970s. She co-hosted ABC-TV's AM America jointly with Bill Beutel, the program was the...
, aired 1981-1982 in syndication.
Cast
Stage and film actress Paula StonePaula Stone
Paula Stone was an actress in theater and motion pictures from New York City.-Birth:She was the daughter of Fred Stone, a stage actor, dancing comedian, and owner of the Fred Stone theatrical stock company. Her mother, Allene Crater Stone, acted with her father and was a singer...
was the hostess for the radio version of the show.
The NBC, ABC, and the 1960s television versions were all hosted by Maggi McNellis, a 1930s supper club singer, a 1940s radio show hostess for her own shows, and a New York City society hostess through the 1980s. All the female panelists could be characterized as "glamorous, well-dressed, showbiz types". Some of the female television panelists were Eloise McElhone (known as "The Mouth"), Vanessa Brown
Vanessa Brown
Vanessa Brown was an Austrian-American actress who was successful in radio, film, theater, and television.-Early life:...
, Florence Pritchett, Lisa Ferraday, Ann Rutherford
Ann Rutherford
Ann Rutherford is a Canadian-American actress in film, radio, and television. She has had a long career starring and co-starring in films, playing Polly Benedict on the big screen of the 1930s and 1940s in the Andy Hardy series, and on The Bob Newhart Show as Newhart's character's...
, Harriet Van Horne
Harriet Van Horne
Harriet Van Horne was an American newspaper columnist and film/television critic. She was a writer for many years at the New York World-Telegram and its successors.-Life and career:...
, and Janet Blair. Among the men appearing as the solitary male presence on the television panel were Morey Amsterdam
Morey Amsterdam
Morey Amsterdam was an American television actor and comedian, best known for the role of Buddy Sorrell on The Dick Van Dyke Show in the early 1960s.-Early life:...
, Henry Morgan
Henry Morgan (comedian)
Henry Morgan was an American humorist. He is remembered best in two modern media: radio, on which he first became familiar as a barbed but often self-deprecating satirist, and on television, where he was a regular and cantankerous panelist for the game show I've Got a Secret...
, and George Jessel
George Jessel (actor)
George Albert Jessel was an American illustrated song "model," actor, singer, songwriter, and Academy Award-winning movie producer. He was famous in his lifetime as a multitalented comedic entertainer, achieving a level of recognition that transcended his limited roles in movies...
— John Henry Faulk
John Henry Faulk
John Henry Faulk from Austin, Texas was a storyteller and radio show host. His successful lawsuit against blacklisters of the entertainment industry helped to bring an end to the Hollywood blacklist.-Early life:...
was the permanent male panelist in the primetime television show's last year, 1954. The male seemed to be at a disadvantage against the chattering women, as the only way he could manage to break into their constant babbling was to toot a toy horn.
Stephanie Edwards
Stephanie Edwards
Stephanie Edwards may refer to:* Stephanie Edwards , longtime co-host of the Tournament of Roses Parade* Stephanie Edwards , American singer, contestant on TV show American Idol...
, the daughter of TV producer Ralph Edwards
Ralph Edwards
Ralph Livingstone Edwards was an American radio and television host and television producer.-Early career:Born in Merino, Colorado , Edwards worked for KROW-AM in Oakland, California while he was still in high school...
, was the hostess for the all-female version of the show in 1981 and 1982. Producer Chuck Barris
Chuck Barris
Charles Hirsch "Chuck" Barris is an American game show producer, film director and presenter best known for hosting The Gong Show and creating The Dating Game. Barris, a survivor of lung cancer, is also an author and claims to have worked for the CIA.-Early career:Barris was born in Oakland, New...
originally had filmed the pilot for sale to the NBC network, but later bought back the rights and syndicated the show. A sampling of the guests from one show were TV journalist Shana Alexander
Shana Alexander
Shana Alexander was an American journalist, born Shana Ager in New York City on October 6, 1925. Although she became the first woman staff writer and columnist for Life magazine, she was best known for her participation in the "Point-Counterpoint" debate segments of 60 Minutes with conservative...
, singer/actress Della Reese
Della Reese
Delloreese Patricia Early, known professionally as Della Reese , is an American actress, singer, game show panelist of the 1970s, one-time talk-show hostess and ordained minister. She started her career in the 1950s as a gospel, pop and jazz singer, scoring a hit with her 1959 single "Don't You...
, and 1966 Playboy Centerfold (and wife of Dick Martin), Dolly Martin
Dolly Martin
Dolly Martin is an English pinup model and actress. She is best remembered for her appearance in Playboy magazine and as the lead character in Beyond the Valley of the Dolls...
.