This is an unusual book chronicling many of television’s firsts … the first host of a TV variety show; the first host of a network game show; the first host of an infomercial; the first TV wrestling commentator; the first TV boxing commentator; the first reporter to cover a political convention for TV; the first person to host an Easter parade on network television; the first person to appear on a videotaped commercial; the host of the first major annual telethon; the first man to put Dick Van Dyke, Jonathan Winters, and The Carpenters on television; the first host hired for The New Price is Right.
The unusual part is that this book is about one man: Dennis James. When it came to being first, he was number one.
A portion of every book sold benefits United Cerebral Palsy. Dennis hosted the United Cerebral Palsy telethons for more than forty years, and UCP is honored to continue Dennis’ legacy.