I've Got a Secret

ALTHOUGH THE CREATION of this panel show followed that of WHAT'S MY LINE? by about two years, there were both many similarities ; as well as a great may differences. In true show biz tradition, success spawns imitation; and it was never more in evidence than here. Like the older show, Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions was involved.

LACKING THE 'GRAVITAS' of its distinguished Sunday Evening precursor, this middle of the week prime time entry was played more for fun. Laughter was king here and no apologies were made for that little element. Radio & TV veteran, Garry Moore, reigned over the fun and reined in the Panel.

THE COMPOSITION OF the all important Panel was far different than it was over on Sunday's WHAT'S MY LINE. This show's panelists were overall, much more youthful. The Ladies were much more attractive and the gentlemen more energetic and comedy prone. They were: Actress Betsy Palmer, former Miss America Bess Myerson, Humorist Henry Morgan and All Purpose TV Radio Man/Gameshow Host Bill Cullen.

MOST OFTEN THE show would start with the premise of a particular 'Theme'. Physical Fitness, for example, was one that we well recall; having been among the huge numbers of viewers on that evening, circa 1960. Available on Youtube.com, this episode also featured some long distance walkers and swimmers; as well as the NABBA (London) Professional Mr. Universe of 1959, Bruce Randall. For the record, Mr. Arnold Stang's secret was "I'm going to punch my way out of a Paper Bag!" He failed, of course.

AS JUST A WORD to the wise, once again we must relate that there are some fine examples of the show just waiting for viewing on Youtube.com.

One of the best game/quiz shows ever. With Garry Moore as host, and many celebrities throughout the years as guest panelists, this durable program is very entertaining indeed!! To me, the program hit its stride in the years from 1958-1964, with Bill Cullen, Betsy Palmer, Henry Morgan and Bess Myerson as the panelists and the above mentioned Mr. Moore as host. One of the funniest moments that I recall is when guest star, Faye Emerson, tried to dress a blindfolded Henry Morgan as Santa Claus and he ended up looking like a skid-row version of Santa!!! Hilarious and wholesome entertainment all around!!

I love all these little shows of the past. I'm seeing them again on Game Show Network. They take me back to the nice times back in the 50's when I was a kid. We need more entertaining shows like these on TV today.

It's no surprise that many people consider "I've Got a Secret" to be derivative of "What's My Line" - it was. Howard Merrill and Allan Sherman (later known for his work as a parody singer) modified the concept of "What's My Line" by having the panel guess the secret that a guest is keeping rather than their occupation, and having a celebrity guest at the end of the episode. They then offered the show to WML producers Mark Goodson and Bill Todman who made Sherman the new show's producer.

The show's hosts - Gary Moore and Steve Allen in the original CBS run - and panelists didn't take the game anywhere near as seriously as John Charles Daly and most of the panel on WML. On the other hand I don't find the secrets on "I've Got A Secret" as interesting as the occupations on "What's My Line". And I confess that I don't particularly like host Gary Moore, mainly (but not exclusively) because of his habit of flicking his cigarette ashes onto the studio floor.

One episode that is definitely worth looking for is from September 17, 1962. Moore welcomes a couple whose secret is that their son became an astronaut that day. During his interview Moore asks them about how they'd feel if their son was the first man to walk on the Moon. The couple were Stephen and Viola Armstrong, the parents of Neil Armstrong.

I love WHAT'S MY LINE and many other old panel shows but despise this show and find it absolutely unwatchable because NO ONE EVER GUESSES THE SECRET. I have watched a dozen shows and no one has ever gotten even CLOSE to guessing. The game has to matter.