page_title: Dennis James
section_title: Early career and life
hierarchical_section_title: Dennis James / Early career and life
caption_attribution_description: English: Dennis James, American television host and sports announcer, hosting an episode of Okay, Mother.
context_page_description: Dennis James was an American television personality, philanthropist, and commercial spokesman. Up until 1976, he had appeared on TV more times and for a longer period than any other television star. Often referred to as "The Dean of Game Show Hosts", he is credited as the host of television's first network game show, the DuMont Network's Cash and Carry.
  James was also the first person to host a telethon, the first to appear in a television commercial, first to emcee a variety show, and first to appear on video tape; over 25 "firsts" in all.
context_section_description: James was born to Demetrio Ernest Sposa and Teresa Amorosi, both of Italian descent. Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, James began his career in radio with WNEW (now WBBR) and moved to television in 1938, working for the soon-to-become-DuMont Television Network station WABD, which helped to found the DuMont network in 1946 (WABD is now WNYW.)
  James became the host of game shows, such as the ABC version of Chance of a Lifetime (1952–53), and served as commentator for DuMont's wrestling and boxing shows, such as Boxing From Jamaica Arena (1948–49) and  Amateur Boxing Fight Club (1949–50). He hosted the DuMont daytime variety show Okay, Mother (1948–51) with Julia Meade.
  James often addressed the TV audience as "Mother", a practice he had begun when discussing the finer points of wrestling during his sports broadcasts. He feared the men in the audience would be insulted by the implication that they didn't already know the rules (even if they didn't), but would accept that James was merely explaining things for the benefit of women viewers.
caption: Hosting Okay, Mother, c.1950
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