Break the Bank(1948)

Break the Bank is an American quiz show that ran from 1945 to 1957, airing across multiple networks including Mutual Radio, ABC, CBS, and NBC. The program challenged contestants to answer trivia questions for cash prizes, with the ultimate goal of "breaking the bank" by winning the show's top jackpot. The format proved popular during the golden age of radio and early television, establishing itself as a fixture in American entertainment during the post-war era. Break the Bank helped define the quiz show genre and became a template for game shows that followed, blending accessible trivia with the thrill of substantial prize money.