I've Got a Secret

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.

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!!

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.

I recently got into looking at this show and I have to say that this is definitely a treasure. To me this is a much lighter than What's My Line?, which I thought was a more serious show. I never saw the Steve Allen era, but the Gary Moore era is being shown on Game Show Network as I'm writing this commentary. Gary Moore was probably the hardest working man on television because not only did he host this show but he also hosted his own highly successful variety series. Also, the panel of Bill Cullen, Betsy Palmer, Henry Morgan and Bess Myerson looked as though they had a lot of fun as they tried to guess the guests' secret. Betsy Palmer and Henry Morgan were especially funny as they pretty much was the butt of a lot of the jokes. Too bad the reruns are shown so late at night. This classic should be enjoyed by everyone.

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.