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The Announcers

An audience member surprised Rod by bringing her yearbook to the show! It turns out she was a classmate of Rod way back when. When it was time for Rod’s cameo, Bob had him hold up the yearbook photo and complemented Rod on how little he’d aged after all those years.
He’s been called one of the greatest announcers in the business. The late Johnny Olson made ‘Come on Down’ a part of Americana. He was the voice of the show from its premiere in 1972 until his death in October, 1985.
Johnny looked like a slimmer, bespectacled Stubby Kaye in this showcase, where he played a snake oil salesman. Dian tried her best to look like a Jackie Coogan-type street urchin, but in that sweater, she really didn’t.
This episode was from Johnny Olson’s final Christmas week with the show. Here, he and Holly are sporting tennis outfits. It’s interesting to note that director Marc Breslow often used wipe patterns as borders to showcase certain prizes. This episode aired in December, 1985, two months after Johnny’s death.
They took a quick shot of Rod when he made a blunder with Bob’s name! The next contestant was named “Donna.” When Bob asked Rod for a contestant, Rod said, “Well, Don –” and quickly caught himself. Barker had fun with him over the slip-up.
Rod appears on the television he’s describing. He adds that the winning bidder will receive a supply of delicious cookies!
Bob jokes that this is like watching a show within a show!
But before Rod can sample one of them, Janice steps in to remind him that sweets aren’t on his diet!
A great shot of Rod answering a specs question from a contestant.
Rod Roddy, having officially become Johnny Olson’s permanent replacement at the mic.
Here’s a great shot for two reasons. First, it shows the legendary Johnny Olson, TPIR’s first announcer, about to transform himself into superhero ‘Captain Klutz.’ But as he walked from his lecturn to the main stage, we got a glimpse of the way the credits were made. Just behind him, you can see the “crawl drum,” a small device that contains the credits on a long roll of black paper. A motor operates the drum and the paper rolls the credits past the camera lens. To the left is the “short credits” crawl.
Johnny Olson, TPIR’s first announcer, about to transform himself into superhero ‘Captain Klutz.’ Just over his shoulder is the crawl board that shows the “short credits,” the “MGBT” logo, the Television City credit, and the show logo. And just to the left is the tall board used to display the promotional consideration credits. Note its shape: by being curved inward it prevented the individual lines from being distorted, an effect known as “keystoning.” A camera would tilt down each board, which would make the information “roll” up the screen.
Captain Klutz saves the day, busting through a (paper) brick wall to rescue Janice just in the nick of time from the comfort of a La-Z-Boy.
And once his beloved Janice is safe, Captain Klutz is on the move, stopping the evil Anitra from escaping in her brand new Mustang!
Saving the day as “Captain Klutz” and reading reams of copy without ever making an error as Johnny Olson is a tough job…but SOMEBODY has to do it!
Johnny Olson as “Joan,” in a showcase spoofing “Dear Abby.”
The cameraman catches Rod at an unusual angle in this episode. Rod’s looking spiffy in this bright yellow blazer!
Rod Roddy making an on-camera appearance during a showcase, taking the dreaded ‘Announcer’s Test.’ The scripts were chock full of difficult tongue twisters that Rod was almost always able to master with ease.
Another nice smile from Rod Roddy, who has just passed another dreaded “Announcer’s Test” showcase!
Here is Rod dressed up as Santa in this 1992 showcase skit.
The illustrious Rod Roddy, reading a Christmas story during a 1980s showcase skit.
Rod mugs for the camera after a quick cameo to repeat a detail about an item up for bids.
Rod is seen here wearing a sparkily blueish hat (sent to him by a fan), which matches his sparkily blueish jacket! Bob said “Rod, you look kinda cute!”
Announcer Rod Roddy participated in his share of showcases over the years. Here you see such an occasion.
When announcers were shown on camera, this was a typical shot used to call contestants to “Come On Down!” Here is Rod calling down a contestant in a 1990 episode.

The “Little Red Roddyhood” showcase skit from 1990.
Johnny Olson shares a funny moment with Bob.
Here’s a nervous Johnny Olson, biting his nails! I wonder what he’s so fearful of?
March 1988: Bob let Rod Roddy make an inspiration putt because “a grown man started to cry” when Bob talked about how all the models had putted.
Even Rod has to admit “It’s much harder than it looks!” And he wasn’t even playing for a car!
The good old days when Rod’s jackets were just one color not commonly found in nature.
Rod Roddy and a great shot of his announce desk. Why isn’t he looking at us?
There he is, in a great tuxedo, the first prize in the Showcase!
Rod Roddy is about to call a lucky contestant to “Come on down” on the first show of the 15th year of “The Price is Right.” This also marked the start of Rod’s first full season as announcer on the show.
Two things wrong here. He’s on the wrong side of the stage and he’s undressing. He was called out for a copy clarification after he ducked out during Game Six to change clothes for the Showcase. (Now there’s a lost art…announcers changing clothes for the Showcase!)
Ewww! Somebody get him a kleenex. (At least he brought his mic to school!)
Gene Wood takes on the role of Santa Claus in a 1985 Home Viewer Showcase. You better be good!
Johnny probably got a look at himself in the monitor in his getup for “Johnny’s Wild World of Wildlife”, since he couldn’t quite get out his greeting without laughing.
It’s that priceless mountain sage, Obi-Wan Kniblick! Each girl would climb up the mountain and state their problem, and Obi-Wan would solve it with a well-placed prize.
People love Bob, but just as many loved Johnny. Here, one woman brandished a pennant with her heart’s desire.
Johnny never passed up a moment like this!
Ay whiskers, it’s Chef Johnny, going to whip up another Showcase delight!
What a handsome dude!
A recurring skit showcase in the late 70’s-early 80’s was Dr. John, Practicing Quack. At the end of the showcase a land shark (Dian) puts the bite on the doctor.
Johnny Olson does his mentalist character, The Great Marvello. This time around he divines the answers from questions in sealed envelopes without actually having seen the questions. Sound familiar? All he needs is Ed McMahon, a turban — and a pretty good lawyer or two! (Actually, Steve Allen beat them all, having done that bit frequently on his late 1950’s variety show.)
Burton Richardson, veteran of the old nighttime show, helps out when Rod is unable to do his thing in 2001.

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