I've Got a Secret

This show was a family favorite when I was growing up. As much as a TV show can, it influenced my perception of the grown-up world in general and of New Yorkers in particular.

Seen today, it is like an American time capsule. Its nonstop parade of personalities of all types amounts to a wonderful snapshot of what America was like at the time. It is still greatly entertaining, but has acquired the additional virtue of being a sort of history lesson. What's My Line and To Tell the Truth provide some of that that too, but they don't compare to this crazy freeform show where anything could happen.

Its format, or lack of it, was a perfect match for Steve Allen, and the later shows where he was the host are every bit as much fun as the Garry Moore shows, in my opinion.

If you have any interest at all in what entertainment was like for previous generations, you should include this show in your travels.

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 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.

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!!

Watching this show reminds a nostalgia buff like myself, how much certain stars are missed. Usually the beginning of each show has a star of the period state his or her name and say: ...."And I've got a secret". One such guest was Harpo Marx who not only had a chance to promote his excellent autobiography "Harpo Speaks" but also interact with the panel and Gary Moore through pantomime. Lloyd Bridges pretending to be in a diving suit (His double a New York restaurant doorman was in the suit!)to fool the panel while answering questions from the audience through a microphone! Elvis Presley's Grandad singing folk songs, Tony Curtis demonstrates boyhood games, Mickey Rooney imitating a monkey etc. etc. A really great show that has yet to disappoint this babyboomer. Recommended. >