I've Got a Secret (1952–1967)

"I've Got a Secret" debuted on the heels of the successful "What's My Line?" Though "Secret" had somewhat similar rules, there were other elements that gave the show its own distinctive ... See full summary »

Creator:

Allan Sherman

Stars:

Henry Morgan, Bill Cullen, Betsy Palmer

Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Henry Morgan	...	Himself - Panelist (218 episodes, 1952-1967)
Bill Cullen	...	Himself - Panelist (202 episodes, 1952-1967)
Betsy Palmer	...	Herself - Panelist (191 episodes, 1955-1967)
Bess Myerson	...	Herself - Panelist (189 episodes, 1959-1967)
Garry Moore	...	Himself - Host (111 episodes, 1952-1966)
John Cannon	...	Himself - Announcer (108 episodes, 1955-1967)
Steve Allen	...	Himself - Host (106 episodes, 1961-1967)

Storyline

"I've Got a Secret" debuted on the heels of the successful "What's My Line?" Though "Secret" had somewhat similar rules, there were other elements that gave the show its own distinctive flavor. As with "Line," four celebrity panelists try to guess an unknown-to-them secret, which the contestant (or sometimes group of contestants) whispered in the host's ear; the secret was always shown to the television and studio audience. Each panelist has one 30-second period to ask questions that will help them try to guess the secret; if a panelist fails to guess the secret before the buzzer sounds, the contestant(s) receive(s) $20 and the next panelist gets a turn. The process repeats until either the secret is guessed or if all four panelists are unable to guess the secret, meaning the contestant receives the maximum payout of $80 (during the early years, each panelist had two questioning periods, with $10 paid per unsuccessful try). Usually, a skit or demonstration of the secret followed each ...

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Plot Keywords:

quiz show | audience participation | non fiction

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Genres:

Family | Game-Show

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Certificate:

TV-G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 June 1952 (USA)

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions, Telecast Enterprises

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White (1952-1966) Color (1966-1967)

Did You Know?

Trivia

The telecast that aired live on February 9, 1956, with Lucille Ball as a guest panelist, featured a 96-year-old contestant who was the last surviving witness to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Garry Moore introduced this senior citizen, Samuel Seymour, by saying he hailed from Maryland. When Seymour died two months later on the anniversary of the assassination, newspapers said he was a longtime resident of Arlington, Virginia. Whatever the truth of his residence, his secret was uncovered by Jayne Meadows. After she uncovered it, Moore explained to her, the other panelists and viewers that when John Wilkes Booth jumped down from the presidential box at Fords Theatre immediately after shooting Lincoln, five-year-old Seymour witnessed only that jump without knowing that any shots had been fired. The audience's laughter in reaction to the play muffled the sound of the gunshots for many people. The child felt sorry for the man who obviously had injured himself jumping from the presidential box to the stage. Booth indeed injured his leg and sought medical treatment before his capture.

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Connections

Referenced in It Happened to Jane (1959)

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Soundtracks

"I've Got A Secret"
Written and Performed by Norman Paris from 1962 to 1967

User Reviews

How I miss those wonderful people

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. >