Small towns can produce some very big stars. Mineral Point, pop. 2,500, was the hometown of a star of the small screen who would go on to host top network game shows. He married a Hollywood icon and he got his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Who was this star? Allen Ludden. If you’re a younger TV watcher you might not be familiar with Ludden, but he was a very, very big deal. Here’s what you need to know about Mineral Point, Allen Ludden’s home town.

Allen Ludden was born in 1917, in Mineral Point, a charming and historic town located in southwestern Wisconsin, in Iowa County. The town was founded as a mining town.
Facebook / Mineral Point Chamber of Commerce
The town is filled with historic buildings – it has over 500 historic buildings, many of which are constructed from locally sourced limestone and have been beautifully restored.
Facebook / Mineral Point Chamber of Commerce
It also has a big history connected to arts and entertainment. Its historic Opera House still stands proudly in the center of town.
Facebook / Mineral Point Chamber of Commerce

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Ludden reached the pinnacle of the entertainment industry. He began working in radio, and in the 1950s, he moved into television, hosting several game shows, including "Win With the Stars," "Stump the Stars," and "College Bowl."
Facebook / Wisconsin Historical Society
He’s best known as host of a long-running show called “Password,” which ran between 1961 and 1975. His other claim to fame: He was married to another Hollywood icon, Betty White.
Facebook / Mineral Point Public Library
Ludden died in 1981, at age 63. His legacy was honored in 1988 with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Betty accepted it on his behalf.
Facebook / Hllywoodf Walk of Fame’

There’s a lot more history to explore in Mineral Point – its one of my favorite towns in southern Wisconsin. If you’re interested in exploring more history in Wisconsin, we can certainly point you to some of the state’s best small towns.

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Mineral Point, WI 53565, USA