Beat the Clock (1950–1961)

Classic game show where couples (and sometimes families) competed to win prizes by completing stunts within a time limit.

Stars:

Bess Myerson, Bud Collyer, Bern Bennett

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Bess Myerson	...	Herself (1 episode, 1952)

Storyline

"Beat the Clock" was one of televisions most durable game shows. Its popularity was derived from its simple format and wacky action. Two couples, preselected from the studio audience, had to complete various stunts within a time limit (usually 60 seconds or less) to win cash and prizes. Examples of the often-messy stunts (the centerpiece of the show) included blowing a plastic ship carrying a ping-pong ball from one side of a water-filled tub to the other, without allowing the ball to fall off; stuffing eight balloons in a lidded wastebasket without breaking any; and extracting three marshmallows buried in Jell-O using a spoon held in his mouth, then placing each marshmallow on a plate next to them. A huge clock counted down the seconds, as host Collyer provided commentary and encouragement. Couples who successfully completed their stunt won cash (usually $100 to $200, depending on the round) and a prize. After the first round of stunts, each couple got a chance to complete an ...

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Plot Keywords:

stunt | non fiction

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Genres:

Family | Game-Show

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Certificate:

TV-G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 March 1950 (USA)

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

American Broadcasting Company (ABC), Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The show's main sponsor was Sylvania. In fact, they supplied all the televisions and radios that were awarded as the jackpot prizes.

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Connections

Referenced in Four Rooms (1995)

User Reviews

Where's "Roxanne"?

Whatever happened to Dolores Rosedale? Is she still alive? If so, she would in her late seventies. I've come across more than one site that identifies her with Roxanne Arlen--so the IMDb is not alone in this. I'm not certain how the confusion started, unless Ms. Arlen (who died today, Feb. 22) herself did some game shows. The two women are the same physical types (curvacious blondes), but it is quite obvious, from the pictures of the two at a Roxanne-dedicated website, that they are different people. It's curious that someone who was once so famous could slip so completely into oblivion. You'd think that some TV historian would be scrambling after her story.