<P> After O'Donnell's death, the producers sought a permanent replacement, and a series of substitutes filled out the rest of the season, including Gilbert, John Cramer, Joe Cipriano, Rich Fields, Lora Cain and Jim Thornton . For the show's twenty - ninth season, which began in 2011, Thornton was chosen to be the new announcer for Wheel, and has been with the show ever since . </P> <P> Wheel of Fortune typically employs a total of 100 in - house production personnel, with 60 to 100 local staff joining them for those episodes that are taped on location . Griffin was the executive producer of the network version throughout its entire run, and served as the syndicated version's executive producer until his retirement in 2000 . Since 1999, the title of executive producer has been held by Harry Friedman, who had shared his title with Griffin for his first year, and had earlier served as a producer starting in 1995 . </P> <P> John Rhinehart was the program's first producer, but departed in August 1976 to become NBC's West Coast Daytime Program Development Director . Afterwards, his co-producer, Nancy Jones, was promoted to sole producer, and served as such until 1995, when Friedman succeeded her . In the 15th syndicated season in 1997, Karen Griffith and Steve Schwartz joined Friedman as producers . Tthey were later promoted to supervising producers, with Amanda Stern occupying Griffith's and Schwartz's former position . </P> <P> The show's original director was Jeff Goldstein, who was succeeded by Dick Carson (a brother of Johnny Carson) in 1978 . Mark Corwin, who had served as associate director under Carson, took over for him upon his retirement at the end of the 1998--99 season, and served as such until he himself died in July 2013 (although episodes already taped before his death continued airing until late 2013). Jeopardy! director Kevin McCarthy, Corwin's associate director Bob Cisneros, and Wheel and Jeopardy! technical director Robert Ennis filled in at various points until Cisneros became full - time director in November 2013 . Ennis returned as guest director for the weeks airing October 13 through 17 and November 17 through 21, 2014, as Cisneros was recovering from neck surgery at the time of taping . With the start of the 33rd season on September 14, 2015, Ennis was promoted to full - time director . </P>

When did wheel of fortune start using electronic letters