Charities get a good deal from Monty Hall

Thursday, May 4, 2006 | 7:32 a.m.

For Monty Hall, when one door closes, another opens.

The celebrated host of such game shows as "Let's Make a Deal" has closed the door on his performing career - now he is active in charitable pursuits.

Make that very active.

"I do three or four benefits a week," Hall said recently during a telephone interview from his home in Beverly Hills, Calif. "There's not a charity in town I haven't helped."

The last call he received to do a paying job was about four weeks ago from an agent pitching a gig in upstate New York.

"My wife said no. I'm retired," said the 84-year-old native of Canada. "She said, 'I don't mind if you work for nothing, but I don't want you working for money.' "

Raising money for worthwhile causes has been as much a part of his life as a career that has included - in addition to game show host - sportscaster, singer, actor and producer.

"My secretary of about 40 years figures I have raised about $800 million for charities in my lifetime," said Hall, who will be in Las Vegas later this month for a charity event.

Among his many benefits is a tennis tournament for diabetes research, now in its 33rd year.

One of his favorites is Variety International - The Children's Charity, in which he has been involved for almost 60 years.

"I'm very proud of the fact that we spend less on expenses than any other charitable organization," Hall said. "We are ruthless in auditing our chapters."

Variety was established in Pittsburgh in 1928 to help needy children. It now has 52 chapters in 14 countries and has raised more than $1.5 billion over the years.

The organization offers financial assistance and support to organizations and agencies that benefit children in need. Funding is also used to provide needed medical services or equipment for seriously ill and physically challenged children.

Hall is the organization's international chairman. His wife of 58 years, Marilyn, is international ambassador.

Hall said his father-in-law was a charter member when Variety started in Toronto in 1945, and his father-in-law encouraged Hall to join, which he did - and has been involved ever since.

"I worked my way up to chairman of the board and now I'm international chairman for life," Hall said. "I have spent my whole life working for Variety."

Hall will be in Las Vegas May 31 when Variety holds its "Humanitarian of the Year" award ceremony, a black-tie event at Bally's.

This year's recipient will be William Austin, who heads Starkey Hearing Foundation, which has donated hearing aids to more than 150,000 needy children.

He joins a prestigious list of honorees, which over the years has included Helen Keller, Danny Kaye and Audrey Hepburn.

Hall's interest in charity was instilled in him as a child during the Depression.

"Growing up in Winnipeg, Canada, our family suffered from poverty," Hall said. "But my mother still managed to go out and raise money for the needy.

"I was infected with the disease."

Hall was a pre-med student at the University of Manitoba, where he also performed in college musicals and plays. His interest in performing took him away from the operating room to the showroom.

Hall moved to New York in 1955, where he became one of many hosts for NBC radio's variety show "Monitor." The show lasted 20 years.

Hall was with the program until 1960, when he moved to Los Angeles to host CBS' game show "Video Village."

In 1964 Hall launched "Let's Make a Deal," which ran through 1977.