Twentieth Century Talkers

Monty Hall (1921-2017) was a radio and television show host who moved to the United States to pursue a career in broadcasting. Born as Monte Halparin in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Hall graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Manitoba, where he majored in chemistry and zoology. While still a student in the mid-Forties, he worked at CKRC radio in Winnipeg. 

For the next decade, Hall hosted and produced a number of programs for radio stations in Toronto before moving to New York City in 1955. Hall guest-hosted established game shows such as Strike It Rich on CBS and Twenty-One on NBC. He was also a radio analyst for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League during the 1959-1960 season, before succeeding Jack Narz as host of a game show called Video Village. 

Bigger things were in store with his move to Southern California, where he became the host of the game show Let's Make a Deal, which he developed and produced with business partner Stefan Hatos. It became his crowning broadcasting achievement and for what he is best known. The “Monty Hall” name became synonymous with a game show host and was often parodied in comedic skits, providing creativity for what was "behind door number one, two, or three." Hall was producer or executive producer of numerous other game shows throughout his career.

In May 1988, the Governor-General of Canada appointed him an officer of the prestigious The Order of Canada for his humanitarian work in Canada and other nations of the world. In 2003, the Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba appointed him a Member of the Order of Manitoba.