Pictorial Parade No. 86 (1959)

By hokey, New Zealand! The 4th of April is the birthday of Selwyn Toogood, best known as the radio, and later TV, host of the iconic Kiwi game show It's in the Bag.
Selwyn Toogood was born in Wellington in 1916 and although as a youngster he had an interest in theatre and radio, it wasn't until he had finished his service in WWII that he got a job at the New Zealand Broadcasting Service. Initially he worked as a voiceover artist, radio announcer and host of various quiz shows, but he really rose to popularity as host of It's in the Bag.
For those of you too young to remember, the premise of the game is simple -- the contestant must answer three questions correctly, and if they do, they have a chance to play for the money or the bag. The contestant must pick one of thirty numbered bags, without knowing what's inside. The host then bargains with them to get them to take the money, which increases each time the contestant chooses to stick with the bag. This goes on until the contestant either caves in and takes the money, or sticks it out to see what's in the bag. A game of chance, most bags had a pretty good prize in them, but there was always the chance you would strike a booby prize, and regret not taking the money. There was always one Super Bag -- the ultimate prize goal.
This Pictorial Parade from 1959, "Inside the Bag", shows us what goes on behind the scenes to make an episode of It's in the Bag -- the radio version -- and also shows a performance of the show.
Toogood, already well-known, then became one of New Zealand's most recognisable television faces once It's in the Bag made its television debut in 1972. Thousands of New Zealanders competed in It's In The Bag over the years, as the programme travelled up and down New Zealand to small towns and villages. He retired from It's in the Bag in 1979.
Toogood continued to appear on television screens through the 1980s with the popular advice show, Beauty and the Beast. He hosted, and along with a panel of guest agony aunts, gave advice to viewers who wrote in with their tricky situations.
Selwyn Toogood died in 2001 at the age of 84.
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'Inside the Bag' tells the inside story of a popular radio quiz show and of the manufacture of some of the prizes. Featuring Selwyn Toogood, the film shows the background work needed to produce a radio quiz and closes with a performance of the show.
DV file of Beta SP (tape 187) telecine of 35mm film- W4361/66,