Sam Riddle

Sam Riddle (December 12, 1937 – September 27, 2021) was an American television host, producer, and disc jockey. He gained fame as one of the original "Boss Radio" DJs on KHJ in Los Angeles. Riddle hosted the popular teen music programs 9th Street West and Hollywood a Go Go in the 1960s. He went on to produce various television shows, including the talent competition series Star Search.

Life and career Samuel Earl Riddle was born in Fort Worth, Texas on December 12, 1937. He served in the Air Force Reserves during the Vietnam War. Riddle later worked as a disc jockey in Arizona, and KDEO in San Diego before he joined the staff at KRLA in Los Angeles in 1960. That show was syndicated in early 1965 and renamed Hollywood a Go Go. Riddle simultaneously hosted Channel 9's daily 9th Street West program and the station's Hollywood a Go Go, which aired on Saturday nights.

Riddle formed his own company, Sam Riddle Organization (SRO), to produce commercials and musical shows for the teen demographic.

In 1967, Riddle hosted the Miss Teen USA pageant at the Hollywood Palladium. He hosted the game show The Groovy Game, which was reformatted to the dance program The Groovy Show in 1968. In 1970, Riddle and Cass Elliot co-hosted the music program Get It Together.

Riddle continued to work on radio for stations KDAY and KROQ-FM before returning to KHJ in 1974.

As an actor, Riddle played an announcer in the sitcom Green Acres, the film Clambake (1967), and later in the series Burke’s Law. He also had a role in the comedy film Tunnel Vision (1976).

Riddle died at the age of 83 in Palm Desert, California, after a battle with Lewy body dementia.