40 Facts About Garry Moore

Garry Moore began a long career with the CBS network starting in radio in 1937.

Garry Moore hosted several daytime and prime time programs titled The Garry Moore Show, and the game shows I've Got a Secret and To Tell the Truth.

Garry Moore was instrumental in furthering the career of comedic actress Carol Burnett.

Garry Moore became known early in his career for his bow ties and his crew cut fashion.

Garry Moore spent the last years of his life in Hilton Head, South Carolina and at his summer home in Northeast Harbor in Maine.

Garry Moore died on November 28,1993, at the age of 78.

Garry Moore attended Baltimore City College, but dropped out to pursue a career in radio and writing.

Garry Moore used his birth name until 1940, when, while on the air announcing Club Matinee hosted by Ransom Sherman at NBC, Chicago, Sherman held a radio contest to find a more easily pronounceable one.

Garry Moore started out as an announcer and then as support for broadcast personalities, one of whom was Jimmy Durante.

From 1943 to 1947, Durante and Garry Moore had a joint show with Garry Moore as the straight man.

Garry Moore briefly returned to radio as host of NBC's Monitor in 1969.

Between 1947 and 1950, Garry Moore began to make tentative steps into the new medium as a panelist and guest host on quiz and musical shows.

On June 26,1950, he was rewarded with his own 30-minute CBS early-evening talk-variety TV program, The Garry Moore Show, which was a shorter version of his radio show.

Garry Moore appeared as a guest star on other programs including CBS's Faye Emerson's Wonderful Town.

On this show, Garry Moore began his friendships with comedian Henry Morgan and game show host and panelist Bill Cullen, with whom he had a long working relationship.

Morgan later stated that Garry Moore had helped him keep his job as a television host.

Garry Moore became known for his involvement in the variety of stunts and demonstrations of the show's contestants.

Garry Moore thought it gave lonely housewives something to listen to and watch while they worked.

The Garry Moore Show featured regular supporting cast members Durward Kirby, Marion Lorne, Denise Lor, and Ken Carson, as well as a mixture of song-and-dance routines and comedy skits.

So, at the start of the show, Garry Moore went out in front of the live audience and flat out told the audience as well as the audience at home that it wasn't going to be a good show and recommended to the home viewing audience to tune in to what was airing on the rival networks that night.

Garry Moore's main activity during his hiatus was a trip around the world with his wife.

In 1961, during an episode with French magician Michel de la Vega, Garry Moore was tied up and placed into a trunk.

Garry Moore proved to be a very good assistant to the magician and the act went smoothly before the cameras.

In 1962, Gary Garry Moore was hypnotized live in "I've Got A Secret" by Michel de la Vega.

The French hypnotizer sets Gary Garry Moore's body stretched out over 2 chairs.

Michel de la Vega then stands on top of Gary Garry Moore's body showing how rigid it had become in a matter of minutes.

The successful Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour replaced The Garry Moore Show in the CBS time slot.

Garry Moore then made sporadic television guest appearances such as cameos on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, reunions with Carol Burnett on her program, and serving as a panelist on various game shows, before Mark Goodson asked him to host another series.

Garry Moore was asked to host a revival of the series for syndication, which launched in September 1969.

In 1956, Garry Moore recorded a Columbia LP record album for children.

Garry Moore became ill in 1976 and was diagnosed with throat cancer.

Garry Moore left To Tell the Truth shortly before Christmas 1976 to undergo surgery, turning the show over to panelist Bill Cullen.

Garry Moore returned in September 1977 to begin To Tell the Truth's ninth season, to explain his sudden absence and to announce his permanent retirement, explaining that while recovering from his surgery, he believed his throat cancer was a sign that continuing beyond his 42-year career would be "just plain greed".

Garry Moore later explained in another interview that he felt comfortable moving on from the world of entertainment.

Garry Moore retired to Hilton Head, South Carolina, where he spent his time sailing, and at his summer home in Northeast Harbor, Maine.

Garry Moore became a regular humor columnist for the local newspaper The Island Packet with a column titled "Mumble, Mumble", later releasing a book of his columns under the same name in the early 1980s.

Garry Moore made two rare television appearances during his retirement, in a 1984 special on game-show bloopers, hosted by William Shatner, and in a 1990 television tribute to Carol Burnett on Sally.

Garry Moore was buried in Forest Hill Cemetery in Northeast Harbor, Maine.

Garry Moore was named one of the 15 greatest game-show hosts of all time by Time.

Garry Moore flew down to North Carolina and talked them out of it.