The Hollywood Squares (Daytime) 

Contestants guess the correctness of celebrities' answers in order to win spaces in a tic-tac-toe game.

Creators:

Merrill Heatter, Bob Quigley

Stars:

Kenny Williams, Peter Marshall, Cliff Arquette

Nominated for 8 Primetime Emmys. Another 12 wins & 13 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Kenny Williams	...	Himself - Announcer 1,418 episodes, 1965-1980
Peter Marshall	...	Himself - Host 1,416 episodes, 1966-1980
Cliff Arquette	...	Charley Weaver - Panelist / ... 1,038 episodes, 1965-1974
Wally Cox	...	Himself - Panelist / ... 985 episodes, 1965-1973
Paul Lynde	...	Himself - Center Square / ... 898 episodes, 1966-1979
Rose Marie	...	Herself - Panelist / ... 667 episodes, 1965-1980

Storyline

Nine celebrities, seated in a three-by-three tier as in a tic-tac-toe board, joined two contestants one of them a champion in a game known best for the celebrities' witty answers to questions. The object was to win an otherwise standard game of tic-tac-toe by determining whether a celebrity was giving a correct answer to a general knowledge question or bluffing ("agree" or "disagree"). Contestants selected a celebrity, for which host Marshall read a question; a correct decision to agree or disagree by the player allowed him/her to place their mark in that box, while the opponent's mark was placed there if said decision was incorrect (unless it led to tic-tac-toe, in which case the contestant had to earn the box). During the first complete game of a show, a "Secret Square" game offered the contestants a bonus prize package for a correct answer. The contestant winning the best-of-three match was champion and returned to face a new challenger. Five-time champions retired un-defeated with...

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Plot Keywords:

celebrity | tic tac toe | non fiction | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Game-Show

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Official Sites:

King World Studios West

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 April 1965 (USA)

Also Known As:

ハリウッド・スクエア

Filming Locations:

Studio 3, Stage 1, NBC Studios - 3000 W. Alameda Avenue, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Merrill Heatter-Bob Quigley Productions, Four Star Television, Filmways Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min (3536 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (1966-1980) Black and White (surviving kinescope prints from mid-1960s)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Retired, reclusive actress Greta Garbo was such a big fan of the show she actually wrote a fan letter to Paul Lynde in care of the show's taping location at NBC Burbank.

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Quotes

Peter Marshall: According to Amy Vanderbilt, what is the maximum length of time you and your fiancé should be engaged?
Rose Marie: Engaged in what?

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Connections

Followed by The Storybook Squares (1969)

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Soundtracks

Merrill & Bob's Theme
(We're THE HOLLYWOOD SQUARES No. 2)
Performed by the William Loose Orchestra from 1969 to 1979

User Reviews

Original 1960s Gameshow is Excellent/Post 60s worthless

The Gameshow Channel is now running the original Hollywood Squares from the 60s. First thing that strikes you is the spontaneity, the rapour, the easy going fun fresh atmosphere, the 1960s feel of the show. As the show goes along you realize the contrast between the cleverness of the answers and the dimwittedness of today's gameshows. And of course the nostalgia value...it's now a classic. As a kid I watched the show from the early 70s on when the formula was getting dry and worn out, so see the 60s shows. Of course they're all worth it for Paul Lynde.