Sonny Fox
| Sonny Fox | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Irwin Fox June 17, 1925 Brooklyn, New York |
| Nationality | American citizen |
| Occupation | Television host, executive and broadcasting consultant |
| Known for | Host of Wondarama |
Irwin "Sonny" Fox (born June 17, 1925) is an American television host, executive and broadcasting consultant, who was the fourth full-time host of the children's television program, Wonderama.
Born June 17, 1925, in Brooklyn, New York, Fox attended James Madison High School, in the Midwood/Madison section of Brooklyn, New York. He grew up in a traditional Jewish family. Fox is a World War II veteran and, as a POW of the Germans, witnessed the heroism of Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds.
Fox's first experience in children's programming came in 1954, with a St. Louis program, The Finder on KETC-TV, a children's news and travelogue program. His first national exposure came when CBS brought him aboard in 1955. For three years he co-hosted the children's travelogue, Let's Take a Trip..."Taking two children on sort of an electronic field trip every week--live, remote location, no audience, no sponsors", Fox himself described that show, during interviews for PBS's The American Experience.
Fox became the first host of The $64,000 Challenge, the game show spinoff of The $64,000 Question, in 1956. In his first appearance he was called "Bill Fox," presumably because "Sonny" did not seem professional enough, but by the second program he became "Sonny Fox" because the name "Bill Fox" had been registered by another entertainment personality. Fox was fired a few weeks into the series and replaced by Ralph Story, reportedly because he simply was not as funny or bright hosting the game as he was in person, according to producers. Fox himself admitted later (in the same PBS interview, as well as at a 2012 book signing in Stamford, CT), that he was so awkward he "had a predilection for asking the answers."
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