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1970's Game Shows: 1950's Game Shows: Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge A
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At various times in television history, game shows have been popular daytime AND prime-time fare. Here's a review of some of the more unusual programs from the first golden era of TV game shows.
'You Bet Your Life'
was broadcast on radio beginning in 1947, initially moving to television
in 1950 as the radio show with cameras. On the program, contestants
had the potential to win $10,000, $5,000, or $2,000 in a bonus round
at the end of the show.
One famous feature
of every episode was the 'duck' that would come down from the ceiling
at the beginning to reveal the secret word. Groucho would greet each
contestant with the phrase, "Say the secret word and win a hundred dollars".
One exchange from
1955, unearthed by film archivist Jeff Vilencia, is considered the most
famous moment of the show. Legend has it that a woman on the show described
how she gave birth to 17 children. One of the daughters explained: "My
Daddy loves children", to which Groucho replied, "I like cigars, but
I take them out of my mouth every once in a while!" In a TVparty exclusive,
here is what actually aired.
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People
tuned in to You Bet Your Life to watch legendary movie comedian
Groucho Marx grill the contestants, the game itself was almost inconsequential.
George Finneman played the straight man and kept the game on track.
Groucho's
quick wit made for some of the funniest moments in television history,
with much of the humor coming from the 
'You Bet
Your Life' was almost canceled before it began. The show's original
sponsor (DeSoto Automobiles) assumed when they signed Groucho that he
would do the series in his familiar black frock coat and painted-on
mustache from his movie roles. When Groucho refused, the sponsors tried
to pull the plug, but discovered that there was no clause in the comedian's
contract requiring him to wear a frock coat. "If I can't be funny on
television without funny clothes and makeup, to hell with it." was Groucho's
attitude. The program ran for 11 years. 
