Pick a Box

Pick a Box
Company type	Game show
Industry	Television and radio broadcasting
Founded	1948
Headquarters	Sydney, Australia
Products	Radio and television game show

Pick a Box was an Australian game show that originated on radio in 1948 and later transitioned to television, where it aired from 1957 until 1971. The program was hosted by the married duo Bob and Dolly Dyer, becoming a landmark in Australian broadcast history.

Radio program

Debuting on radio in 1948, Pick a Box was broadcast nationally through the Macquarie Broadcasting Service (currently part of Nine Entertainment Co.), with production based at Sydney's 2GB studios. The show made its television debut shortly after the introduction of TV in Australia, premiering on Saturday, 2 March 1957, while continuing its radio presence for several years.

Television version

The television adaptation was recorded at Sydney's ATN-7 studios and initially aired on both ATN-7 and Melbourne’s GTV-9, which were affiliated stations at the time. Following corporate changes—when Frank Packer acquired GTV-9 and established the National Television Network (which later became the Nine Network)—the program shifted networks. In 1963, with the merger of ATN-7 and HSV-7 into the Australian Television Network (now known as the Seven Network), Pick a Box moved to Seven, with its Melbourne broadcast switching from GTV-9 to HSV-7.

Initially airing on Saturday evenings and sponsored by Colgate-Palmolive Australia, the program changed to Monday nights at on 4 July 1960, with sponsorship then provided by BP.

Presenters

Bob Dyer, who also produced and packaged the show for the Seven Network, chose to end Pick a Box in 1969. After producing approximately 900 episodes, the final broadcast took place on 28 June 1971. The Dyers, who owned the rights to the show, reviewed archived footage, preserved select episodes, discarded most others, and retired to Queensland, where Bob dedicated his time to fishing.

In 1971, Pick a Box ranked as Australia's seventh most-watched television program.

Format

Each episode featured two contestants competing in a trivia quiz consisting of multiple questions. The winner then selected one of 30 boxes that contained either valuable prizes or booby prizes. Following this, Dyer presented a cash offer to buy out their box choice, leading to the memorable phrase, "The money or the box?" Contestants could either accept this monetary offer or gamble by continuing for additional prizes. This structure remained unchanged throughout the show's run.

Famous contestants

Ken Eccleston was among the earliest distinguished participants, achieving a record-setting 10-week winning streak in 1958 and retiring with winnings totaling AU£3873/5/-, roughly equivalent to AU$7746.50 (approximately $121,478 in 2018). Other notable contestants included Frank Partridge, Australia's final WWII Victoria Cross awardee, and George Black, who later contributed as a question writer.

The most successful contestant was Barry Jones, who won across 208 episodes during an eight-year span from 1960 to 1967, accumulating over A$58,000 in prizes. Known for occasionally contesting answers—such as clarifying the correct title of the first British Governor-General of India—Jones remained on the show until 1968. Subsequently, he served in both state and federal parliaments, held ministerial roles within the Hawke government, led the Australian Labor Party, and was recognized as an Australian Living Treasure.

In 2010, Pick a Box was honoured by inclusion in the National Film and Sound Archive's Sounds of Australia Registry. A segment featuring Barry Jones is accessible online.

A later revival titled Ford Superquiz featured contestant Hutton "Red" Gibson, who had previously won substantial amounts on the American quiz show Jeopardy!. Gibson enjoyed an extended winning streak during his appearances on Superquiz.

Episode archive

Out of more than 900 episodes produced, 73 have been preserved at the National Film and Sound Archive, including the concluding episode.

Superquiz

In 1981, the Ford Superquiz was revived, hosted by Bert Newton and Patti Newton, and produced by the Reg Grundy organisation for the Nine Network. This version lasted for two seasons, featuring 20 boxes, with sponsorship from Ford Motor Company of Australia.
The Superquiz format resurfaced in 1989 on Network Ten, presented by Mike Walsh alongside Deborah Hutton, showcasing 12 boxes.
Additionally, Super Quiz denotes a collection of games, publications, a syndicated quiz column, and an online quiz developed by Ken Fisher.

External links

Pick a Box at memorabletv.com
Pick A Box on Australian Screen