You Bet Your Life
You Bet Your Life was taken from Groucho's radio series of the same name. It was inspired after Groucho had done an improvisational scene with Bob Hope on radio. The idea was the same as it later was with Bill Cosby: to invite people on and have an unrehearsed conversation with them. Groucho could always be counted on to enliven the banter with his unique blend of comedy and wit. After talking with Groucho for several minutes, the contestants chose quiz questions from a category they had preselected and, if they answered them correctly, won money.
- 1950-1961
- 11 seasons
- NBC
- Comedy, Family, Game Show, Talk & Interview
You Bet Your Life was taken from Groucho's radio series of the same name. It was inspired after Groucho had done an improvisational scene with Bob Hope on radio. The idea was the same as it later was with Bill Cosby: to invite people on and have an unrehearsed conversation with them. Groucho could always be counted on to enliven the banter with his unique blend of comedy and wit. After talking with Groucho for several minutes, the contestants chose quiz questions from a category they had preselected and, if they answered them correctly, won money.
Season 5 Episode Guide
26 Episodes 1954 - 1955
Episode 1
Light
Thu, Sep 16, 1954 29 mins
In this episode of You Bet Your Life, the secret word was "light."
Episode 2
Episode #5.2
Thu, Sep 23, 1954 21 mins
In this episode of You Bet Your Life, the secret word was again, "money."
Episode 3
Episode #5.3
Thu, Sep 30, 1954
Secret word is 'street'. Groucho talks to a couple from Australia going to school; a woman from Lima, Peru and man from Oklahoma who writes a column in the papers for farmers; and a woman from Casper, Wyoming who works in a tea room and her partner from Wisconsin who does advertising for Borden Cheese.
Episode 4
Episode #5.4
Thu, Oct 7, 1954 30 mins
Contestants include Celebrity Chef Milani, Eleanor Antonides, Alexander Cushing
Episode 5
Window - Celebrity Chef Milani
Thu, Oct 14, 1954 30 mins
Professional boxing referee Abe Roth is among the guests.
Episode 6
Hand - Mystery Writer
Thu, Oct 21, 1954
Murder mystery writer Stuart Palmer, an attractive blonde policewoman, a Boy Scout scoutmaster, and Ragnhild Olausson, Miss Sweden 1954, are among the guests.
Episode 7
House - Gag Cartoonist
Thu, Oct 28, 1954 30 mins
Guests include gag cartoonist Virgil Partch, bellhop at the Statler Hotel, egg rancher and Pabst Blue Ribbon beer brewer. Secret word is house.
Episode 8
Chair - famous lecturer on the subject of yoga.
Thu, Nov 4, 1954 25 mins
Dora Hill, the first female mayor of Newport Beach, and Indra Devi, the famous teacher and lecturer on the subject of yoga, are among the guests.
Episode 9
Voice - Married Pro Wrestling Couple
Thu, Nov 11, 1954 30 mins
A married professional wrestling couple and big game hunter Beverly Putnam are among the guests.
Episode 10
People - UCLA football head coach
Thu, Nov 18, 1954 30 mins
Softball pitcher extraordinaire, Bertha Ragan, and UCLA football head coach, Red Sanders, are among the guests.
Episode 11
Table - dancer Ivan Kirov
Thu, Nov 25, 1954 30 mins
A game warden, a fraternity housemother, and dancer Ivan Kirov, are among the guests.
Episode 14
Wall - USC track and field coach
Thu, Dec 16, 1954 30 mins
A cab driver, adoptive parents of twelve mixed-race children, and Dean Cromwell, who coached track and field at USC for 40 years, are among the guests.
Episode 15
Name : Klondike Cate
Thu, Dec 23, 1954 30 mins
Carl and Helen Doss (adoptive parents of 12) return from last week. Also, a 10-year-old misogynist, a dance instructor, and former vaudevillian, famed Yukon dancer Klondike Kate, are among the guests.
Episode 16
Tree : Identical Twins
Thu, Dec 30, 1954 30 mins
Skin diver Zale Parry and two sets of 59-year-old identical twins, married and living together for the past 35 years, are among the guests.
Episode 17
Water : Golf Pro Jim Ferrier
Thu, Jan 6, 1955 25 mins
Golf pro Jim Ferrier and lion Fearless Fagan's owner are among the guests.
Episode 18
Smile : Groucho's Daughter Visits
Thu, Jan 13, 1955 30 mins
Hollywood makeup artist, Layne 'Shotgun' Britton; former boxing middleweight champion, 'Mickey Walker; and Groucho's daughter, Melinda, are among the guests.
Episode 20
Clock : Eisenhower's war buddy
Thu, Jan 27, 1955 30 mins
Tom Blazina, who soldiered with Dwight D. Eisenhower back in 1916, and Gordon Hahn, L.A. City Councilman, are among the guests.
Episode 21
Foot : Holywood Designer Edith Head
Thu, Feb 3, 1955
A sheep rancher and Hollywood costume designer Edith Head are among the guests.
Episode 23
Door : archer Howard Hill
Thu, Feb 17, 1955 30 mins
Psychiatrist, Dr. Leonard Krause, and the world's greatest archer, Howard Hill, are among the guests.
Episode 24
Episode #5.24
Thu, Feb 24, 1955 30 mins
Celebrity chef Mama Weiss and Far Eastern affairs lecturer Aly Wassil are among the guests.
Episode 25
Episode #5.25
Thu, Mar 3, 1955 30 mins
A medical student and perhaps the greatest Heavyweight Boxing Champion in the sport's history, Joe Louis, are among the guests.
Episode 26
Episode #5.26
Thu, Mar 10, 1955 30 mins
The man who invented the Zoomerang and Cleveland Indians star pitcher Bob Lemon are among the guests.
Episode 30
Voice
Thu, Apr 7, 1955 30 mins
Newly sworn in lawyer, Beverly Rubens; Major League Baseball manager Chuck Dressen; and Gypsy Boots, American fitness pioneer, who lived in caves and atop of trees for twenty years, are among the guests.
Episode 35
Food : 1954 Rose Queen
Thu, May 12, 1955 30 mins
A hydrologist, the 1954 Rose Queen of Pasadena, and the brother of actor Aldo Ray are among the guests.
Episode 36
Smile : Baby Food Executive Dan Gerber
Thu, May 19, 1955 30 mins
Baby food executive, Dan Gerber, and Sean Meany of Ireland, are among the guests.
Episode 41
Episode #5.41
Thu, Jun 23, 1955 30 mins