"You Bet Your Life" (TV Pilot

"You Bet Your Life" (TV Pilot - 1949)

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KKD1247

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Here is another rarity from my archives. You Bet Your Life was an American radio and television quiz show. The first and most famous version was hosted by Groucho Marx, of Marx Brothers fame, with the unflappable announcer and assistant George Fenneman. The show debuted on radio in 1947, then made the transition to TV. The television version was changed very little from the radio version. It was filmed before a studio audience, then slightly edited for television broadcast. In 1960 it was renamed The Groucho Show and ran another year. This pilot was made for CBS. You can see stagehands adjusting the microphones during the broadcast. Groucho himself doesn't bother to dress up for his debut!
Recorded: December 5, 1949

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What a great find. ( 1 year ago by trantrum)

What a great find.

he was perhaps the ... ( 1 year ago by tgd156)

he was perhaps the quickest wit on tv. you have to see clips of his other programs on you tube to see how good he was.

This is great. ... ( 11 months ago by batpuller)

This is great. Thanks.

Actually, this was ... ( 11 months ago by fromthesidelines)

Actually, this was kinescoped on December 5, 1949 [hence Groucho's musing about having "could have heard the 'Lux' show if it wasn't for this": "LUX RADIO THEATER" was on CBS radio Monday nights], and was the last of the "Elgin-American" sponsored radio shows heard on CBS on December 28, 1949. "Ralph" was TV director Ralph Levy; the man adjusting the mike was Robert Dwan, the radio director.

CBS kinescoped the ... ( 11 months ago by fromthesidelines)

CBS kinescoped the entire hour of this episode as it was being transcribed on December 5, 1949; it was edited to 30 minutes for radio. It usually took an hour to create ONE half-hour show! The network wanted to see how Groucho would look on TV....

Thanks for the ... ( 11 months ago by KKD1247)

Thanks for the updated info!

You're most welcome ... ( 11 months ago by fromthesidelines)

You're most welcome! I must stress, 'KKD', that this kinsescope was NEVER broadcast on TV. CBS was interested in bringing the show to television, and "kinnied" this unedited recording as an "experiment" (this is why Groucho wasn't "dressed up" as he would be later on). On January 4, 1950, the "DeSoto-Plymouth Dealers Of America" became Groucho's new sponsor on CBS radio- and went with him to NBC radio and TV that fall.

You're welcome, ' ... ( 11 months ago by fromthesidelines)

You're welcome, 'KKD'. This kinescope was NEVER telecast- only CBS executives, John Guedel and the show's production staff [and Groucho] saw this "experiment". Note the moment towards the end of the "hour" when George Fenneman announces "a few words from Myron Wallace"- that pre-recorded Elgin-American ad was later inserted into the show before its actual broadcast (and not heard here)..."Myron" later changed his name to "Mike" Wallace.

This is incredible. ... ( 11 months ago by blueONwhite)

This is incredible. Who would have thought that something this unusual would have still survived... and here it is on YouTube. Amazing. Thanks for posting this.

You're welcome! Yup ... ( 11 months ago by KKD1247)

You're welcome! Yup...I've had this kinescope for years.

Thank you for ... ( 11 months ago by aatragon)

Thank you for sharing this treasure. This is wonderful.

thanks for sharing! ( 11 months ago by StsSunnyCharlie)

thanks for sharing!

gotta love groucho ( 10 months ago by dectriggs)

gotta love groucho

"I work at the ... ( 9 months ago by ninpo23)

"I work at the Carnation Milk company", lol he didn't touch it.

Fucking awesome... ... ( 8 months ago by Blacksun1942)

Fucking awesome... Groucho was the consummate comedian.

Thank you very very ... ( 8 months ago by LarkinFarkin)

Thank you very very much.

Does anyone know ... ( 7 months ago by intensivemanagement)

Does anyone know how to spell this football
players name and also his career.

I tried Howard ... ( 7 months ago by KKD1247)

I tried Howard Scala (or Skala) for the Green Bay Packers in 1948, 1949 etc on several search engines and came with nothing. Maybe someone out there knows.

I did try to find ... ( 6 months ago by intensivemanagement)

I did try to find this guy not only by spelling but by going through all the rosters from 47 thru 52 also players that did not play because of injuries. I am wondering if this guy was really a player. I am real curious now.

I know - me too. I ... ( 6 months ago by KKD1247)

I know - me too. I couldn't find a single mention of him anywhere! Maybe theres a Green Bay fan out there who would know!?!?

When Im on ... ( 6 months ago by intensivemanagement)

When Im on something I wont quit so I agree its gonna take an extreme Green Bay fan to answer this question.Who is Howard Scalen or
was Groucho bluffed by this supposed player.

That's my grandpa. ... ( 5 months ago by Breanavp)

That's my grandpa. He was wasn't in their records, but we just recently found that out and had it updated. It's Howard Scalla.

It's Howard Scalla. ... ( 5 months ago by Breanavp)

It's Howard Scalla. He's my grandpa :) He just recently was added into the records, they were incomplete.

I love the nerves ... ( 5 months ago by russo76)

I love the nerves of all the staff and the announcer about filming this piliot.
Groucho is just so laid back and entertaining the studio audience beforehand. Great stuff.

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