Jack Bailey
John Wesley Bailey Jr. (September 15, 1907 – February 1, 1980) was an American actor and daytime game show host. He died of complications of pneumonia on February 1, 1980 in Santa Monica, California, at age 72.
Jack Bailey
ABC Television · eBay item photo front photo back · Public domain
- Name
- Jack Bailey
- Born
- 15 September 1907
- Birthplace
- Hampton, Iowa, U.S.
- Died
- 1 February 1980
- Place of death
- Santa Monica, California, U.S.
- Occupation
- Actor, game show host
- Nationality
- United States
- Honours
- star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
- Languages
- English
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
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Documentary summary
John Wesley Bailey Jr. (September 15, 1907 – February 1, 1980) was an American actor and daytime game show host. He died of complications of pneumonia on February 1, 1980 in Santa Monica, California, at age 72.
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Note VALÉORINE
Jack Bailey (1907–1980) was an actor, film actor and radio personality, among other activities, of American nationality. The actor was born in Hampton and died in Santa Monica.
Languages used include English. Honours include star on Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 01 October 2026
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In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Jack Bailey • Born — 15 September 1907 • Birthplace — Hampton, Iowa, U.S. • Died — 1 February 1980 • Place of death — Santa Monica, California, U.S. • Occupation — Actor, game show host • Years Active — 1930s-1975
Career
Career
A former vaudeville musician and World's Fair barker, Bailey is best remembered as the host of Queen for a Day, a daytime game show which first aired on the Mutual Broadcasting System in 1945 and later moved to television, where it ran locally in the Los Angeles area from 1948 through 1955, on the NBC Television network from January 3, 1956 to September 2, 1960, and on the ABC network from September 5, 1960 to October 2, 1964. Each episode started with a different introduction (some of which were parodies of other popular shows of the time period), but inevitably the opening would resolve when Bailey pointed to the camera (and the audience) and loudly asked, "Would you like to be Queen for a Day?" as the live audience, mostly women, cheered. • Illustration — Bailey as host of Queen for a Day. Prior to his success with Queen for a Day, Bailey had a varied career, including "playing with jazz bands, directing musical comedy, tent shows and barking for the World's Fair in Chicago in 1933." He was an announcer for several radio programs, including The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, Duffy's Tavern, and Meet the Missus. Bailey also hosted the television game shows Place the Face (1953 – February 1954) and Truth or Consequences from 1954 to 1956. His other work in television included appearances in episodes of The Ford Show, Starring Tennessee Ernie Ford, Mister Ed, Green Acres, I Dream of Jeannie, Gunsmoke, and Ironside, plus narration for the Walt Disney organization. He had a small part in the Frank Capra film 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 joined Alcoholics Anonymous around 1948 and was a public supporting member of the organization for more than 30 years. He was awarded two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame—one for his radio career, at 1708 Vine Street, and one for his work in television, at 6411 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
Family
Family
Bailey was preceded in death by his first wife, Carol. He was survived by his second wife, Jean. He had no children.
Filmography
Filmography
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1939 — Goofy and Wilbur — Goofy — Voice, uncredited • 1944 — The Contender — Second Fight Ring announcer — Uncredited • 1946 — It's a Wonderful Life — One of Vi's Suitors — Uncredited • 1948 — He Walked by Night — Witness in Pajamas and Robe — Uncredited • 1950 — Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone — Game Show host • 1951 — Queen for a Day — Jack Bailey • 1952 — Carson's Cellar — Himself — Television Series one episode|Television Series one episode • 1955 — Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color — Announcer — Television Series one episode • 1965 — Mister Ed — Purser — Television Series one episode • 1966 — Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre — Albert House — Television Series one episode • 1966 — Green Acres — Announcer — Television Series one episode • 1966 — Batman — Debate moderator, Dizzoner the Penguin — Television Series one episode • 1967 — The Monroes — Crick — Television Series one episode • 1967 — I Dream of Jeannie — Dr.Dawson — Television Series one episode • 1967 1969 — Gunsmoke — Ben Leary Judge Brooker — Television Series two episodes • 1969 — Lancer — Evans — Television Series one episode • 1971 — The Days of the Wolves — The Mayor • 1971 — The D.A. — Lindsey — Television Series one episode • 1972 — Adam-12 — George Nash — Television Series one episode • 1973 — Emergency! — Homer — Television Series one episode • 1974 — How to Seduce a Woman — Mr.Tolkas • 1974 — Dusty's Trail — Gen. Cunningham — Television Series one episode • 1974 — Police Story — Riley — Television Series one episode • 1974 — Apple's Way — Kilkenny — Television Series one episode • 1975 — The Strongest Man in the World — Jack
Works and production
Works and production
The following works and productions are recorded by name or by count. A genuine account of the life of John Rann, alias Sixteen-string Jack: who was executed November 30th.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Hampton.
Birth place
Santa Monica.
Death place
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Cox, Jim (2008). This Day in Network Radio: A Daily Calendar of Births, Debuts, Cancellations and Other Events in Broadcasting History. McFarland & Company, Inc. .
- 2.Queen for a Day. IMDb.
- 3.Deaths: Jack Bailey. Daytona Beach Morning Journal. February 3, 1980.
- 4.Jack Bailey – Akron, OH 6-25-78. SobrietyTalks.com.
- 5.Scott, Keith. Cartoon Voices of the Golden Age, Vol. 2. BearManor Media. 299. 3 October 2022.
References
Citations
References
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reference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 15 August 2026.
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