What was the first game show ever?

While there are some early precursors, the first game show as we know it today is often considered to be "The $64,000 Question" which premiered on CBS on June 7, 1955.

Here's why it's considered the first:

* Format: It featured contestants answering trivia questions for increasing amounts of money, a format that became the foundation for many future game shows.

* Popularity: It was a massive hit, making the contestants into celebrities and proving the lucrative potential of the game show format.

* Influence: It paved the way for the golden age of game shows in the 1950s and 1960s, inspiring countless other shows and continuing to influence the genre today.

While some argue that other shows like "Quiz Kids" (1940) or "The Big Surprise" (1949) were early versions of game shows, they lacked the elements of suspense, dramatic prize money, and national appeal that made "The $64,000 Question" truly groundbreaking.