7 Chilling Facts About Cheryl Bradshaw And The Dating Game Killer That Saved Her Life

The story of Cheryl Bradshaw is one of the most terrifying and compelling true crime tales of the 20th century, a stark reminder that danger can lurk behind a charming smile and a television set. As of late 2024, her life-saving intuition has been brought back into the spotlight with the release of the Netflix film Woman of the Hour, starring Anna Kendrick. The renewed interest highlights the incredible, true events of 1978 when a young bachelorette unknowingly chose a prolific serial killer as her grand prize date. This article delves into the updated and fresh details surrounding Cheryl Bradshaw's dramatic appearance on The Dating Game, the identity of the man she chose, and the critical decision that saved her from becoming his next victim.

Cheryl Bradshaw’s brief moment of fame became a historical footnote in true crime, a chilling case study of a near-miss encounter with one of America's most dangerous predators. Her experience on the popular game show, which aired in September 1978, has become a cautionary tale about the darkness that can hide in plain sight. Her story is a testament to the power of female intuition, a "gut feeling" that ultimately severed her connection to the infamous "Dating Game Killer."

Cheryl Bradshaw: A Biographical Profile of the Woman Who Said No

Cheryl Bradshaw, the woman at the center of this notorious true crime event, was a young, aspiring drama teacher living in Los Angeles, California, in the late 1970s. Her appearance on the popular television show The Dating Game was intended to be a fun, lighthearted experience that promised a romantic getaway. Instead, it became a brush with death that would forever change the course of her life.

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• Full Name: Cheryl Bradshaw (Note: Her full legal name and exact birth date have been kept private).
• Profession: She was a drama teacher in Los Angeles at the time of her appearance on the show.
• The Event: Appeared as the bachelorette on a September 1978 episode of The Dating Game.
• The Choice: She selected Bachelor No. 1, Rodney Alcala, as her winning date.
• The Life-Saving Decision: Following the taping, she refused to go on the date after meeting Alcala backstage and being unsettled by his demeanor.
• Post-Show Life: Bradshaw ultimately made the decision to leave California to live a private life and raise a family, successfully avoiding the spotlight for decades.
• Recent Status: The real Cheryl Bradshaw sadly passed away prior to the production of the 2024 Netflix film, Woman of the Hour.

The Chilling September 1978 Episode of The Dating Game

The episode of The Dating Game featuring Cheryl Bradshaw and Rodney Alcala aired in September 1978. The format of the show required Bradshaw, the bachelorette, to ask a series of questions to three unseen bachelors, ultimately choosing one for a prize date. The entire segment is now viewed through a lens of horror, knowing the true identity of Bachelor No. 1.

Rodney Alcala: Bachelor No. 1 and The Dating Game Killer

Rodney James Alcala presented himself as a charming, witty, and slightly eccentric photographer from New York. His on-air persona was smooth and confident, though his answers to Bradshaw's questions were later seen as highly disturbing and laced with predatory undertones. For instance, when asked what his favorite thing to do was, he replied, “I’m a photographer, and I’d like to shoot you, Cheryl.”

At the time of the taping, Alcala was already a convicted sex offender and was actively engaged in a murder spree. His appearance on a nationally televised show demonstrated an almost unbelievable arrogance and disregard for law enforcement. His ability to blend in and appear normal is a key component of his terrifying legacy.

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Despite the unsettling nature of his on-air banter, Bradshaw chose Alcala. Her decision was based purely on his voice and his answers, as the contestants could not see each other during the question-and-answer portion of the game. The prize was a date with Alcala, which included a trip to a nearby beach resort.

The Instinct That Saved Her Life: Why Bradshaw Refused the Date

What makes Cheryl Bradshaw's story a miraculous one is the fact that she never went on the date with Rodney Alcala. Her refusal came down to a powerful, immediate, and life-saving instinct that kicked in the moment she met him face-to-face after the cameras stopped rolling.

After the show's taping concluded, Alcala was brought out to meet Bradshaw. The contrast between his smooth, televised persona and his actual demeanor was stark. She reportedly found him to be "creepy" and "eccentric" backstage. The moment she saw him, she felt an intense, immediate sense of dread and unease that she simply could not ignore.

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This gut feeling was so strong that she immediately informed the show's producer that she would not be going on the prize date. This decision, made in a matter of minutes, was the only barrier between her and a man who would later be convicted of multiple murders. Had she dismissed her intuition, she would have been alone with one of the most dangerous serial killers in American history.

The Aftermath: Unmasking The Dating Game Killer

Cheryl Bradshaw's life-saving decision took on a chilling new significance nearly a year later. In 1979, Rodney Alcala was arrested and charged with the abduction and murder of 12-year-old Robin Samsoe. It was at this point that authorities began to connect Alcala to a string of other disappearances and murders across California and New York.

The Full Extent of Alcala's Crimes

Rodney Alcala was ultimately convicted of seven murders, including the 1979 murder of Robin Samsoe, and the murders of four adult women in California: Jill Barcomb, Georgia Wixted, Charlotte Lamb, and Jill Parenteau. He was also charged in the death of two women in New York: Ellen Jane Hover and Cornelia Crilley.

However, authorities and the FBI believe the true number of his victims is much higher, potentially over 100 people, based on his extensive collection of photographs of women and girls found in his storage locker. This led to his notorious moniker, "The Dating Game Killer." Alcala was sentenced to death in California but died of natural causes on July 24, 2021, at the age of 77, while awaiting execution.

Cheryl Bradshaw's Legacy in Modern True Crime

For decades, Cheryl Bradshaw maintained her privacy, successfully stepping out of the spotlight and building a life away from the horrific events of 1978. Her desire for a normal life, away from the media scrutiny, is understandable and was largely respected.

Her story, however, has recently found a renewed audience through the 2024 Netflix film, Woman of the Hour. The film, directed by and starring Anna Kendrick as Bradshaw, serves as a powerful tribute to her courage and her intuition. The production of the movie, and the subsequent media coverage, has cemented her legacy not as a victim, but as a survivor whose quick thinking and strong gut feeling saved her life.

The film’s focus on the power of female intuition is a key element that resonates with modern audiences. It highlights the importance of trusting your inner voice, especially in unsettling situations. Cheryl Bradshaw’s experience remains one of the most compelling examples in true crime history where a simple, immediate refusal was the difference between life and death. Her story continues to be a chilling, yet ultimately inspiring, tale of survival.