Topic: Monty Hall

Monte Halperin, OC, OM (born August 25, 1921), better known by the stage name Monty Hall, is a Canadian-born MC, producer, actor, singer and sportscaster, best known as host of the television game show Let's Make a Deal.

Hall was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, the son of Rose (née Rusen) and Maurice Harvey Halperin, both of whom belonged to an Orthodox congregation of Judaism and who jointly owned a slaughterhouse. He was raised in Winnipeg's north end, where he attended St. John's High School. Hall started his career in Winnipeg in radio, moving to Toronto in 1946.

Early in his career, Hall hosted game shows such as Bingo at Home on DuMont and guest-hosted more established game shows such as Strike It Rich on CBS, before hosting the first show of his own, Keep Talking in 1958. Hall also did color-commentary on New York Rangers (NHL) radio broadcasts during the 1959-60 season. He succeeded Jack Narz as host of a well-received and unique game show called Video Village, which ran from 1960 to 1962 on CBS. On Video Village, contestants played on a giant game board consisting of three sections: Money Street, Bridge Street and Magic Mile. Players advanced with the roll of a large die. The further contestants advanced along the board, the better the prizes that were offered. A spinoff called Video Village Junior, featuring youngsters, was hosted by Hall and ran during the 1961–1962 regular television season.