Dotto
| Dotto | |
|---|---|
| Created by | Al Schwartz & "Snag" Werris |
| Presented by | Jack Narz |
| Narrated by | Ralph Paul |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 Minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network |
CBS (daytime) NBC (primetime) |
| Original release | January 6 – August 15, 1958 |
Dotto is an American television game show that was a combination of a general knowledge quiz and the children's game connect the dots. Jack Narz served as the program's host, with Colgate-Palmolive as its presenting sponsor.
Dotto premiered on January 6, 1958 as part of CBS' daytime lineup. Due to its popularity, an accompanying weekly nighttime edition was launched on July 1, 1958 on CBS' competitor NBC on Tuesday nights. At the height of both shows' popularity, Dotto was abruptly cancelled without public explanation, during the week of August 18, 1958. Soon after, Dotto was publicly revealed to have been fixed by its producer, tarnishing the show's reputation and setting the stage for legal and political investigation of the fixing of 1950s quiz shows.
Two contestants, one a returning champion, competed in each game.
The object of the game was to identify the subject of a portrait. The portrait, however, was incomplete and in order to finish the portrait the players had to connect a series of fifty dots drawn into the picture. Each player saw the same portrait, but they had their own set of dots to connect and both players were positioned in a manner where they could not see each other or the other player's progress. There was also an overhead projector called a "Dottograph" within walking distance of both players.
In order to connect the dots, both players were asked a series of questions. Each question had a value of dots attached, with the players able to choose five, eight, or ten dots. A specific category was in play for both players in a round of questioning, and play always started with the challenger. If the contestant answered correctly, the corresponding amount of dots was connected one at a time on his/her portrait. Answering incorrectly or running out of time meant the opposing player got to have the dots connected on their portrait. Once a player had twenty-five of the dots connected, a clue was given as to the subject's identity. Another clue required ten additional dots to be connected, and ten more after that unlocked a final clue.
Once a contestant thought there was enough information to identify the subject, he/she would press a signaling device to indicate so. He/she would then walk over to the Dottograph and record a guess by writing it on its projector screen. The Dottograph was situated on stage in such a manner that only Narz and the contestant standing at it could see what was displayed on the screen.
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