GENE WOOD

'Eugene Edward Wood' (October 20, 1925 - May 21, 2004), was an American television personality and television announcer. He was best known as the announcer of over 20 game shows -- most of which were Mark Goodson-Bill Todman productions -- from the late 1960s through the 1990s.
Born in Quincy, Massachusetts, Wood majored in speech and theater at Emerson College. His early career included stand-up comedy, television commercials, and writing for Bob Keeshan of ''Captain Kangaroo'' fame. His first role as a game show announcer came as a substitute on ''Password'' in 1965. Four years later, he landed a contract working for Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions, where he worked on ''Beat the Clock'' as its announcer from 1969 to 1972, and as its host from 1972 until its cancellation in 1974. Wood also hosted the 1971-1972 season of the short-lived game show ''Anything You Can Do,'' which featured teams of men competing against teams of women in stunts similar to ''Beat the Clock.''
Wood gained popularity as the announcer of the first two versions of ''Family Feud'', which aired from 1976 to 1985 and 1988 to 1995. He became noted for his introductions of the two families on that show, culminating with the catchphrase, "On your marks... let's start... the FAMILY FEUUUUD!" In addition to announcing the show, he served as a sidekick to hosts Richard Dawson and Ray Combs, making several on-camera appearance. Rod Roddy filled in for him during an illness in July 1991.

Wood was an interim announcer on ''The Price is Right'' between the death of Johnny Olson in 1985 and the selection of Rod Roddy as Olson's long-term successor. Like Olson, he participated in showcase skits, including one in the role of Santa Claus. Other shows that Wood announced included both the NBC and CBS versions of ''Card Sharks'','' Password Plus'' and Super Password, ''Double Dare'', ''Tattletales'' with Bert Convy in the 1970s, the 1985 pilot of ''Now You See It'', ''Classic Concentration'', ''The Better Sex'', ''Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour'', Trivia Trap, Love Connection, the 1990 version of ''Match Game'', ''Bruce Forsyth's Hot Streak'' and the syndicated version of ''Win, Lose or Draw''. Wood was once the subject of a ''Super Password'' puzzle, which was not solved.
The Jim Perry-hosted version of ''Card Sharks'' (NBC 1978-1981) would provide Wood with one of his unique announcing roles. In addition to providing the usual host intro, commercial plug and closing-credit roles, Wood read the catchy poem that accompanied the show's opening, many of which were sent in by viewers. For example: "Shuffle, deal, cut and play / Someone's going to win today / Onnnnn...''Card Sharks!''" The Bob Eubanks-hosted run of ''Card Sharks'' (CBS 1986-1989) had another successful run, for the same length of time.
The Alex Trebek-hosted ''Classic Concentration'' (NBC, 1987-1991), provided Wood with another unusual announcing opportunity, when he read out puzzles in the show's opening. For example, "Behind these numbers / is a puzzle / can you solve it? FA + MILL + E = FAMILY F + EWE + D = FEUD, FAMILY FEUD." Art James substituted for him during his 1991 illness. Wood's last game show was ''Family Challenge'', with host Ray Combs. He was also an announcer for The Game Show Network in the late 1990s before retiring. Wood died of cancer in Boston, Massachusetts in 2004.

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★ A Conversation with Gene Wood, originally posted to the alt.tv.game-shows newsgroup in 1996