When Jack Bailey pointed at America's luckiest woman and announced with dramatic flair that she had been selected "Queen for a Day," 10 million television viewers saw it happen.
For this show, at its prime, was the nation's No. 1 daytime program, blending tears, humor and drama into a compelling mixture that lasted 20 years.
At the center of it all was Bailey. An announcer, pitchman, actor, musician and once the voice of Goofy in old Donald Duck cartoons, he began hosting the game show on radio in 1945, then took it to television 10 years later.
The idea of the show was for the audience to hear the deepest wish of each contestant and then vote on which wish should be granted. The winner would be queen.
Born John Wesley Bailey III in Hampton, Iowa, he fell in love with music at an early age and learned to play five instruments. Over the years he appeared in plays, minstrel shows, revues and vaudeville.
His other work in television included appearances in episodes of "Mister Ed," "Green Acres," "I Dream of Jeannie" and "Gunsmoke."
He had a small part in "It's a Wonderful Life" and he also toured the country in musical stage productions, such as "Hello, Dolly!," "The Sound of Music" and "The Music Man."
Bailey also hosted another game show, "Truth or Consequences."
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