You Bet Your Life

[ Date Listing | Secret Words | Groucho's Opening Line | First Guests ]

Quizmaster: Groucho Marx
Announcer: George Fenneman

Producer: John Guedel

The show opens with Fenneman whispering:

Fenneman: Ladies and gentleman, the secret word tonight is HAND -- H - A - N - D

Groucho: Really?

Fenneman: You Bet Your Life!

music up

Fenneman: [sponsor] present Groucho Marx in You Bet Your Life ... And here he is, the one, the only...

Audience: GROUCHO!

Groucho: [witty remark] Hey, That's me! Groucho Marx!

Before the show, the studio audience chooses 6 contestants, and two at a time they talk to Groucho, who misconstrue's everything, then they play the game. If anyone mentions the secret word -- at any time -- they win $100 on the spot (or a movie projector during part of Elgin's sponsorship).

During the game, the contestants are given $20. They can bet any amount on each of 4 questions from a subject they chose before the show and would either add or subtract the amount bet, depending on the result of their answer. They could win a maximum of $320. If the contestants lose everything, Groucho asks one last question for $10 or $25, like "Who's buried in Grant's Tomb?" or another equally banal question. The couple that wins the most money tries for the jackpot question, which starts at $1000 and is increased by $500 each day it isn't won. In this list, the jackpot was won on days with '*' after jackpot amount.

The rules changed on 12/09/53 because many people would 'shoot the works' on each question and were going broke by missing one. Groucho now has a list of 10 questions, worth from $10 to $100, the higher the number, the harder the question. The contestants would pick questions by dollar amount, and they keep everything they won, $340 max.

Then on 3/03/54 they added another wrinkle. The contestants now start with $100 and for each question they miss, they loose half of their current bankroll. The max is now $440.

The ability to stop after any question was added on 3/17/54

In 1955, the Secret Word jackpot increased from $100 to $101 because, as Grouch put it, "we've added a little money on account of the other shows."

The television show started on October 5, 1950. The entire show, uncut, would generally run about 45 to 60 minutes. It would then be edited to 28 minutes, creating a fast moving show. Even though the shows came from the same taping, the radio and TV version had differences. For example, sight gags were left out out of the radio version. It wasn't until 1955 (maybe '54) that the duck so prominent in the TV version was left in the radio show.

The audition show has only the first couple, the other couples are edited out. It therefore only runs about 15 minutes. At the end, the winning couple is given the chance at the $1000 question, and answer correctly. The announcer is Jack Slatery. After the show, Groucho and Fred Allen banter with the audience, bringing the entire show to about 25-28 minutes.

During some summer seasons, reruns of the show were broadcast as The Best of Groucho. Sometimes these reruns are the existing shows, which are marked with '*' after the date.

Apologies in advance for any names spelled incorrectly -- you know how it is... If your name is here, please contact me -- I'd like to hear of your experience.

Date Listing

Secret Word	Date	Jackpot Value	Groucho's quip	First Guest's Trait	First Guest's Names
*Sponsor: Admiral Radio/Phonograph*
AIR	1947 audition	1000	(plays with announcer during intoduction)	People who wish to marry	Merle McCue & Robert Brooks

Secret Word	Date	Jackpot Value	Groucho's Quip	First Guest's Trait
Season 2 Sponsor: Elgin American
FLOOR	3/03/49 warmup	1000	No cause for alarm, it's only me	Irish bachelor & spinster
HEAD	4/07/49 warmup	1000	Welcome from Elgin American compacts, Mr. Marx	Bachelor & Spinster

Secret Word	Date	Jackpot Value	Groucho's Quip	First Guest's Trait
Season 3 Sponsor: Elgin American
CHAIR	10/05/49	1000	Is he back again?	Newlyweds
SMILE	10/12/49	1500	You don't say!	Youngsters going steady
CLOCK	10/19/49	2000	The face is familiar, but I don't place the name	Young people who'd like to get married
RADIO	10/26/49	2500	Oh, you can do better than that!	Bachelor & Spinster
SHOE	11/02/49	3000*	Just a second, I'll see if he's here	Expectant father & Baby nurse
INK	11/09/49	1000*	Hey, that's me...	Young people who'd like to get married
GRASS	11/16/49	1000	Thirty days... Next case!	Girls from airport & weather forecasters
SKY	11/23/49	1500*	When did he get out?	Father of a bride & mother of a groom
WINDOW	11/30/49	1000	Nice fella, known him for years	Bachelor & Spinster
DUST	12/07/49	1500	He must be a pygmy	Bacteriologist
HAIR	12/14/49	2000	That's me!	Newlyweds
CHAIR	12/21/49	1000*	Last time I saw him he was coming down the chimney	Messenger boy & interesting job
NAME	12/28/49	1000*	What a ridiculous name!	Newlyweds

Secret Word	Date	Jackpot Value	Groucho's Quip	First Guest's Trait
Sponsor: DeSoto Plymouth Change of sponsor
TREE	1/04/50	1000	When did he get out?	Bachelor & Spinster
MILK	1/11/50	1500*	Anybody got a dime for a cup of coffee?	Couple about to be married
SPOON	1/18/50	1000	Groucho? Sorry. My name is Yasamin Tann	Bouncer from dance hall & an accontant
SKY	1/25/50	1500	I wonder whatever happened to that red-headed girl	Young people who'd like to get married
AIR	2/01/50	2000	Why doesn't that guy get lost?	Newlyweds
BREAD	2/08/50	2500	Is that fool still around?	Pediatrition & young mother
SUGAR	2/15/50	3000	Never heard of him	Milkman & brewmaster
TABLE	2/22/50	3500*	That Fenneman's a nice kid	High school students
DOOR	3/01/50	1000	A fine name for a grown man	Bachelor & Spinster
HEART	3/08/50	1500*	Well, spring is just around the corner. I wish I was	Couple married more than 50 years
WATER	3/15/50	1000	I thought he went where the wild goose goes	Irish people
MONEY	3/22/50	1500	Don't be afraid. He's harmless.	Railroad conductor & Longshoreman
STOVE	3/29/50	2000*	Well, Marx came in like a lion and he's going out like a lamb	Babysitter & Kindergarten teacher
SMILE	4/05/50	1000	Oh that fellow's just Love Happy (movie reference)	Young people who'd like to get married
DOOR	4/12/50	1500	He's the egg the Easter Bunny brought	Steel workers & ice men
NAME	4/19/50	2000*	That's me!	Wardrobe mistress/circus & stage doorman/burlesque house
CHAIR	4/26/50	1000	What a ham that guy is!	Building inspector & real estate agent
BREAD	5/03/50	1500	Hey, that's me, Groucho Marx, the Queen of the May!	Girl gas station attendant & hot rod driver
DOOR	5/10/50	2000	What a ham!	Young people who'd like to get married
FOOT	5/17/50	2500*	Brother, what I know about him!	Locksmith & dynamite expert
TREE	5/24/50	1000	That's logical, this is National Pickle Week	Mother of a large family & expectant father
BOOK	5/31/50	1500	I thought he was still hibernating for the winter	Nightclub hat check girl & ballpark vendor
DRESS	6/07/50	2000*	Why doesn't he give up?	Scotch war bride & husband
WATER	6/14/50	1000	He shoulda retired long ago.	Candy maker & little girl
HAND	6/21/50	1500	There must be some mistake, he's in jail.	Bachelor & Spinster in night school
FLOOR	6/28/50	2000*	Never thought he'd make it.	Club woman & LA Philharmonic worker

Secret Word	Date	Jackpot Value	First Guest's Trait	First Guest's Names
Season 4 Sponsor: DeSoto Plymouth Groucho isn't responding with his usual quip this season.
WALL	10/04/50	1000*	Couple about to be married	Corrine Dressler & Elmer Ritz
GRASS	10/11/50	1000	Young people who'd like to get married	Christine Carson & Dan Metzer
FLOOR	10/18/50	1500 (1000)	High School students	Donna Everhard & Clare Thompson
AIR	10/25/50	2000*	Bachelor & Spinster	Ida Easley & Jack Wayne
TREE	11/01/50	1000	Couple about to be married	Beverly Eckles & Robert Renault
DOOR	11/08/50*	1500	Newlyweds	Robert & Arlene Holshauer
KEY	11/15/50	2000	Press photographer & construction worker	Ida Wyman & Harry Swinny
TABLE	11/22/50	2500	Swiss War Bride	Warren & Claire Oaks
BOOK	11/29/50	3000*	Sea-bees & Patent Attourneys	Henry Canno & Bob Hodgson
HAIR	12/06/50	1000	Bachelor & Spinster	Max Walend & Florence Fairbanks
ROOM	12/13/50	1500	Greeting Card writer & Gadget seller	Helen Faries & Don L. Davis
FLOOR	12/20/50	2000	Mail girl & Truck driver	Diane Strumwasser & John Ryan
SMILE	12/27/50	2500*	Newlyweds	Jollie & Rouse Hynman
CHAIR	1/03/51	1000	Lawyer & secretary of a psychiatrist	Jackie Mandel & John Jacobs, Jr.
HEART	1/10/51*	1500*	Weathermen & cashier from drive-in theater	Winny Winn & John Aldrich
LAMP	1/17/51	1000*	Young single people	Ellen Chambers & Charles Crumm
WALK	1/24/51	1000*	Good Humor girl & Lifeguard	Toni Cacavallo & Duke Dilbert
CLOCK	1/31/51	1000	Clerk from unemployment office & lady w/ unusual occupation	Louise Ludwig & Marjorie Kendall
SHOW	2/07/51	1500	Young mother & a grandfather	Sherry Van Pelt & Frederick Hall
SKY	2/14/51*	2000	Beekeeper & girl who arranges weddings	Myrna Cole & Herbert Hunt
DOOR	2/21/51*	2500	Young people who'd like to get married	Nina Troimeier & Clarence Allen
NOSE	2/28/51	3000	Engaged couple	Sylvia Morrison & Robert Carmen
CUP	3/07/51*	3500	Student of economics & man from IRS	Francis Blevins & Raymond Zarinson
TREE	3/14/51	4000	Two ladies	Martha Henley & Nancy Williams
COAT	3/21/51	4500	Doctor & housewife	Dr. Eugene Hoffman & Mildred Gordon
STREET	3/28/51	5000	Newlyweds	Henry & Carrie Iharra
HAND	4/04/51	5500	Old Westerner & Indian	Fred Nolan & Bill Wilkerson
ROOM	4/11/51	6000*	Coast Guard & daughters of the Army	Nancy Dunn & Gene Scarcliff
LIGHT	4/18/51*	1000	Airline pilot & ship's nurse	Boyd O'Donnel & Irene Merlin
WALL	4/25/51	1500*	Young people who'd like to get married	Ruth Meston & Joe Henderson
FOOT	5/02/51	1000*	Student nurse & college gymnast	Gwen Lomasin & Ira Harabidian
PAPER	5/09/51	1000	Engaged couple	Barbara Weiss & Joseph Farrell
SKY	5/16/51	1500	Real estate broker & cab driver	Lorraine Armstrong & Howard Jackson
SMILE	5/23/51	2000	Woman painter & prizefighter	Amy Bordeau & Watson Jones
PEOPLE	5/30/51	2500	Bachelor & Spinster	Siddel Bennett & H.H.Walker
HEART	6/06/51	3000*	Young people who'd like to get married	Muriel Lawson & John Lee
FLOOR	6/13/51*	1000	College students	Mary Ellen Nickles & Preston Zilgot
DOOR	6/20/51*	1500	Young people who'd like to get married	Barbara Poliss & Walt Run(something)
TABLE	6/27/51*	2000*	WAF & hobby shop worker	Hilda Troop & Norbert Lally

Secret Word	Date	Jackpot Value	Groucho's Quip	First Guest's Trait	First Guest's Names
Season 5 Sponsor: DeSoto Plymouth Groucho is back to his usual quip
TABLE	10/03/51	1000	Well what do you know? It's me!	Newlyweds	John & Barbara Arnold
STREET	10/10/51*	1500	Why doesn't he give up?	Young people who'd like to get married	Izola Mitchell & Park Brian
ARM	10/17/51*	2000*	Let's see now... Oh! That's me!	Engaged couple	Bunny Harris & Jack Spellman
FLOOR	10/24/51	1000	Let's not go overboard, it's only me!	Wife of college professor & Memory expert	Dorothy Robbins & David Roth
SKY	10/31/51	1500*	What's the last name?	Young people who'd like to get married	Bobette Bently & Len Oots
HEAD	11/07/51	1000	Nothing to get excited about, it's just little ol' me	Young people with interesting backgrounds	Edna Ruben & Charles Laurie
ROOF	11/14/51	1500*	Name's familiar -- Oh that's me!	Bachelor & Spinster	Sydney Baum & Frank Fense
TREE	11/21/51	1000	Never heard of him	Achitects	Walter Hagadone & Sheila Crystal
NAME	11/28/51	1500	Fine name for a man	Elevator operators	Lynn Mademan & Major Marion Watt
DOOR	12/05/51	2000	Aww shucks... it's me!	College football player & Foreign born girl	Virgette Junker & Fred Sneider
PEOPLE	12/12/51	2500	(funny laugh) That's me!	Junior High Schoool students	Helda Height & Philip Bauer
SMILE	12/19/51	3000	Nice guy... Oh, that's me!	Young woman	Daphne Karr & William Hopper
PAPER	12/26/51	3500	Careful how you handle that name...	Young unattached people	Carol Silverspar & Robert Murray
HAND	1/02/52	4000	Name Droppers	State Hiway Dept & Composer's Daughter	Dexter McBride & Anna Moller
FACE	1/09/52	4500*	Not so loud, you'll wake him up!	Bachelor & Spinster	Francis Richardson & Herman Cantor
SPOON	1/16/52	1000	When you call me that -- smile!	Interesting occupations	Lucille Goldner & Augustus A Ward Jr.
WATER	1/23/52	1500	Gad! What a cad!	Newlyweds	Jerry & Lori Engle
FOOD	1/30/52	2000*	I thought he went over the hill	High School students	Carol Jonkey & Robert Camp
LAMP	2/06/52	1000	Say, that's me, Groucho Marx	Dental assistants	Judy Garvin & Hunt Lewis

Secret Word	Date	Jackpot Value	Groucho's Quip	First Guest's Trait	First Guest's Names
Season 7 Sponsor: DeSoto Plymouth
PEOPLE	9/16/53	1000*	Well drag him out here...	Housewife & Police Officer	Mary Anne Shaw & Fred Smith
FOOT	9/23/53	1000	Just a faded summer love...	Young married couple	Hilda & William Bittles
SMILE	9/30/53	1500*	You can do better than that!	Service men and wives	Douglas & Ida Bogart
TABLE	10/07/53	1000*	Now, where have I heard that name before?	Chinese Girls	Jamie Lee Wong & Jesse Janes Gilbert
WALL	10/14/53	1000	Well, what do you know, that's me	Unusual backgrounds	Gretchen Alfred & Fortune Gordine
NAME	10/21/53	1500*	Are you sure you want him?	Married couple with interesting story	John & Helen Federovitch
CHAIR	10/28/53	1000*	That old bore?	Housewife & Drugist	Sid Chambers & Edna Rob Webster
TREE	11/04/53	1000	He's a real cool cat!	Young married couple	Leslie & Patricia Townley
HAND	11/11/53	1500*	Why doesn't he quit and give us young fellows a chance?	Man with interesting job & Woman with interesting background	Larry Taylor & Marie Rabbas
FLOOR	11/18/53	1000*	Who invited him?	Housewife & man with interesting job	L. Sherman Trusty & Rene Godfrey
WATER	11/25/53	1000*	Aww, shucks, that's me	Interesting occupations	Walter Muhonen & Ruth Kaloman
FACE	12/02/53	1000*	One of nature's noblemen...	Grandparents	Earl Pollock & Helen Wilde

Secret Word	Date	Jackpot Value	First Guest's Trait	First Guest's Names
Groucho stops responding with his usual quip again, although after Fenneman announces the word he sometimes makes a quip then. The rules change also.
WINDOW	12/09/53	1000	Married couple	Marty J & Helen Backjean
CAR	12/16/53	1500	Bridge teachers	Lucky Wilber & Rose O'Brian Olson
FOOT	12/23/53	2000	Interesting occupations	Dr. Charles Reid & Sanna Lindstrom
LIGHT	12/30/53	2500	Young unmarried people	Harriet Snookle & Jack McFadden
TABLE	1/06/54	3000	Student	Barbara Steele & Elizabeth Ryan
SMILE	1/13/54	3500*	Young married couples	Ted & Gloria Mundy
DOOR	1/20/54	1000	Men who work for the airlines	Bill Tibbits & Viola Lawson
MONEY	1/27/54	1500	---	Irene Vezunes & Walter Sheibel
ARM	2/03/54	2000	Teacher	Angie Fragosia & Jim Hong
WALL	2/10/54	2500	Interesting occupations	Josphine Shaker & Dan Kennedy
CLOCK	2/17/54	3000*	Dancing Instructor	Ann Reardon & Bill Eddy

Secret Word	Date	Jackpot Value	Groucho's Quip	First Guest's Trait	First Guest's Names
Back to the quips.
NAME	2/24/54	1000	I'll fight Marciano for every nickle he's got	Girls of a fan club	Sheila Pew & John Burgione Elly
PAPER	3/03/54	1500*	---	Housewife & Man with interesting occupation	Helen Pfeiffer & Milton Whistler
STREET	3/10/54	1000	That's me! Teddy Rosevelt! Delighted!	Interesting stories	Beverly Kaanapu & Ernest Rea
HAND	3/17/54	1500	Louder please!	Young married couple	Lieutenant Irving & Kelly Puzis
FLOOR	3/24/54	2000*	That's me! Horace Greeley!	Girls who work for large manufacturing concern	Patricia Darien & Peter Elsmere-Jones
TREE	3/31/54	1000*	Well what do you know? That's me!	Girls who work for the county	Helen Simmons & Ernest Elgiss
FACE	4/ 7/54	1000*	Is he still hanging around?	Girls who work in a supermarket	Alice Pelziger & Norman Slavin
ROOM	4/14/54	1000*	That's me, Clark Gable	Ladies	Carol Forberg & Enid Arlene Rudd
PEOPLE	4/21/54	1000	That's me!	Young single people	Virginai Harbin & Chuck Wallace
SMILE	4/28/54	1500	What a grizzly name	Young married couple	Bob & Melba Matthias
WATER	5/ 5/54	2000	That's me, Hernando DeSoto	Interesting occupations	Andy Sanchez & Lee Whitney
HOUSE	5/12/54	2500	I wonder what became of Sally? And Groucho?	Young single people	Oola Anderson & Charles O'Brian Osbourne
ARM	5/19/54	3000	That's me!	Interesting experiences	Dory Martin & Dick Hubler
CHAIR	5/26/54	3500*	Who's he?	Delivery men	James Walker & Mary Carr
CLOCK	6/ 2/54	1000	That's me, George Fenneman...	Interesting stories	Alice Braven & Harry Meyers
NAME	6/ 9/54	1500	Charming lad, I know him well	Man with interesting story	James Murphy & Stella Walsh

Secret Word	Date	Jackpot Value	First Guest's Names
Season 9 Sponsor: DeSoto Plymouth No traits mentioned, and quips are too sporadic to specify.
FACE	11/23/55	2000*	Odet & Nassir Cadham
SIGN	11/30/55	1000	Marta Box & Thurman Wade
CHAIR	12/07/55	1500	Jacqelin Goram & Phil Swanson
NAME	12/14/55	2000	Sylvia Thompson & Ben Zeppa
STREET	12/21/55	2500*	Mentor Klein & Dr. Giovanni
TABLE	12/28/55	1000	Pearl Runyan & Charles Pierce

Secret Word List

Here are the secret words in alphabetical order

Secret
Word Date

AIR 1947
2/01/50
10/25/50

ARM 10/17/51
2/03/54
5/19/54

BOOK 5/31/50
11/29/50

BREAD 2/08/50
5/03/50

CAR 12/16/53

CHAIR 10/05/49
12/21/49
4/26/50
1/03/51
10/28/53
5/26/54
12/07/55

CLOCK 10/19/49
1/31/51
2/17/54
6/ 2/54

COAT 3/21/51

CUP 3/07/51

DOOR 3/01/50
4/12/50
5/10/50
11/08/50
2/21/51
6/20/51
12/05/51
1/20/54

DRESS 6/07/50

DUST 12/07/49

FACE 1/09/52
12/02/53
4/ 7/54
11/23/55

FLOOR 3/03/49
6/28/50
10/18/50
12/20/50
6/13/51
10/24/51
11/18/53
3/24/54

FOOD 1/30/52

FOOT 5/17/50
5/02/51
9/23/53
12/23/53

GRASS 11/16/49
10/11/50

HAIR 12/14/49
12/06/50

HAND 6/21/50
4/04/51
1/02/52
11/11/53
3/17/54

HEAD 4/07/49
11/07/51

HEART 3/08/50
1/10/51
6/06/51

HOUSE 5/12/54

INK 11/09/49

KEY 11/15/50

LAMP 1/17/51
2/06/52

LIGHT 4/18/51
12/30/53

MILK 1/11/50

MONEY 3/22/50
1/27/54

NAME 12/28/49
4/19/50
11/28/51
10/21/53
2/24/54
6/ 9/54
12/14/55

NOSE 2/28/51

PAPER 5/09/51
12/26/51
3/03/54

PEOPLE 5/30/51
12/12/51
9/16/53
4/21/54

RADIO 10/26/49

ROOF 11/14/51

ROOM 12/13/50
4/11/51
4/14/54

SHOE 11/02/49

SHOW 2/07/51

SIGN 11/30/55

SKY 11/23/49
1/25/50
2/14/51
5/16/51
10/31/51

SMILE 10/12/49
4/05/50
12/27/50
5/23/51
12/19/51
9/30/53
1/13/54
4/28/54

SPOON 1/18/50
1/16/52

STOVE 3/29/50

STREET 3/28/51
10/10/51
3/10/54
12/21/55

SUGAR 2/15/50

TABLE 2/22/50
11/22/50
6/27/51
10/03/51
10/07/53
1/06/54
12/28/55

TREE 1/04/50
5/24/50
11/01/50
3/14/51
11/21/51
11/04/53
3/31/54

WALK 1/24/51

WALL 10/04/50
4/25/51
10/14/53
2/10/54

WATER 3/15/50
6/14/50
1/23/52
11/25/53
5/ 5/54

WINDOW 11/30/49
12/09/53

Groucho's First Lines

For the shows in which Groucho makes a witty remark after audience shouts "GROUCHO!", here are those remarks in alphabetical order

Secret Word	Date	Groucho's Quip
PEOPLE	12/12/51	(funny laugh) That's me!
AIR	1947	(plays with announcer during intoduction)
WALL	10/04/50	*
GRASS	10/11/50	*
FLOOR	10/18/50	*
AIR	10/25/50	*
TREE	11/01/50	*
DOOR	11/08/50	*
KEY	11/15/50	*
TABLE	11/22/50	*
BOOK	11/29/50	*
HAIR	12/06/50	*
ROOM	12/13/50	*
FLOOR	12/20/50	*
SMILE	12/27/50	*
CHAIR	1/03/51	*
HEART	1/10/51	*
LAMP	1/17/51	*
WALK	1/24/51	*
CLOCK	1/31/51	*
SHOW	2/07/51	*
SKY	2/14/51	*
DOOR	2/21/51	*
NOSE	2/28/51	*
CUP	3/07/51	*
TREE	3/14/51	*
COAT	3/21/51	*
STREET	3/28/51	*
HAND	4/04/51	*
ROOM	4/11/51	*
LIGHT	4/18/51	*
WALL	4/25/51	*
FOOT	5/02/51	*
PAPER	5/09/51	*
SKY	5/16/51	*
SMILE	5/23/51	*
PEOPLE	5/30/51	*
HEART	6/06/51	*
FLOOR	6/13/51	*
DOOR	6/20/51	*
TABLE	6/27/51	*
WINDOW	12/09/53	*
CAR	12/16/53	*
FOOT	12/23/53	*
LIGHT	12/30/53	*
TABLE	1/06/54	*
SMILE	1/13/54	*
DOOR	1/20/54	*
MONEY	1/27/54	*
ARM	2/03/54	*
WALL	2/10/54	*
CLOCK	2/17/54	*
FACE	11/23/55	*
SIGN	11/30/55	*
CHAIR	12/07/55	*
NAME	12/14/55	*
STREET	12/21/55	*
TABLE	12/28/55	*
PAPER	3/03/54	---
DOOR	3/01/50	A fine name for a grown man
MILK	1/11/50	Anybody got a dime for a cup of coffee?
NAME	10/21/53	Are you sure you want him?
DOOR	12/05/51	Aww shucks... it's me!
WATER	11/25/53	Aww, shucks, that's me
FOOT	5/17/50	Brother, what I now about him!
PAPER	12/26/51	Careful how you handle that name...
NAME	6/ 9/54	Charming lad, I know him well
MONEY	3/22/50	Don't be afraid. He's harmless.
NAME	11/28/51	Fine name for a man
WATER	1/23/52	Gad! What a cad!
SPOON	1/18/50	Groucho? Sorry. My name is Yasamin Tann
DUST	12/07/49	He must be a pygmy
WATER	6/14/50	He shoulda retired long ago.
TREE	11/04/53	He's a real cool cat!
DOOR	4/12/50	He's the egg the Easter Bunny brought
BREAD	5/03/50	Hey, that's me, Groucho Marx, the Queen of the May!
INK	11/09/49	Hey, that's me...
BOOK	5/31/50	I thought he was still hibernating for the winter
FOOD	1/30/52	I thought he went over the hill
WATER	3/15/50	I thought he went where the wild goose goes
HOUSE	5/12/54	I wonder what became of Sally? And Groucho?
SKY	1/25/50	I wonder whatever happened to that red-headed girl
NAME	2/24/54	I'll fight Marciano for every nickle he's got
CHAIR	10/05/49	Is he back again?
FACE	4/ 7/54	Is he still hanging around?
BREAD	2/08/50	Is that fool still around?
FOOT	9/23/53	Just a faded summer love...
SHOE	11/02/49	Just a second, I'll see if he's here
CHAIR	12/21/49	Last time I saw him he was coming down the chimney
FLOOR	10/24/51	Let's not go overboard, it's only me!
ARM	10/17/51	Let's see now... Oh! That's me!
HAND	3/17/54	Louder please!
HAND	1/02/52	Name Droppers
ROOF	11/14/51	Name's familiar -- Oh that's me!
SUGAR	2/15/50	Never heard of him
TREE	11/21/51	Never heard of him
FLOOR	6/28/50	Never thought he'd make it.
WINDOW	11/30/49	Nice fella, known him for years
SMILE	12/19/51	Nice guy... Oh, that's me!
FLOOR	3/03/49	No cause for alarm, it's only me
FACE	1/09/52	Not so loud, you'll wake him up!
HEAD	11/07/51	Nothing to get excited about, it's just little ol' me
TABLE	10/07/53	Now, where have I heard that name before?
SMILE	4/05/50	Oh that fellow's just Love Happy (movie reference)
RADIO	10/26/49	Oh, you can do better than that!
FACE	12/02/53	One of nature's noblemen...
LAMP	2/06/52	Say, that's me, Groucho Marx
TABLE	2/22/50	That Fenneman's a nice kid
CHAIR	10/28/53	That old bore?
TREE	5/24/50	That's logical, this is National Pickle Week
HAIR	12/14/49	That's me!
NAME	4/19/50	That's me!
PEOPLE	4/21/54	That's me!
ARM	5/19/54	That's me!
FLOOR	3/24/54	That's me! Horace Greeley!
STREET	3/10/54	That's me! Teddy Rosevelt! Delighted!
ROOM	4/14/54	That's me, Clark Gable
CLOCK	6/ 2/54	That's me, George Fenneman...
WATER	5/ 5/54	That's me, Hernando DeSoto
CLOCK	10/19/49	The face is familiar, but I don't place the name
HAND	6/21/50	There must be some mistake, he's in jail.
GRASS	11/16/49	Thirty days... Next case!
HEAD	4/07/49	Welcome from Elgin American compacts, Mr. Marx
PEOPLE	9/16/53	Well drag him out here...
TABLE	10/03/51	Well what do you know? It's me!
TREE	3/31/54	Well what do you know? That's me!
STOVE	3/29/50	Well, Marx came in like a lion and he's going out like a lamb
HEART	3/08/50	Well, spring is just around the corner. I wish I was
WALL	10/14/53	Well, what do you know, that's me
SMILE	4/28/54	What a grizzly name
CHAIR	4/26/50	What a ham that guy is!
DOOR	5/10/50	What a ham!
NAME	12/28/49	What a ridiculous name!
SKY	10/31/51	What's the last name?
SKY	11/23/49	When did he get out?
TREE	1/04/50	When did he get out?
SPOON	1/16/52	When you call me that -- smile!
FLOOR	11/18/53	Who invited him?
CHAIR	5/26/54	Who's he?
DRESS	6/07/50	Why doesn't he give up?
STREET	10/10/51	Why doesn't he give up?
HAND	11/11/53	Why doesn't he quit and give us young fellows a chance?
AIR	2/01/50	Why doesn't that guy get lost?
SMILE	9/30/53	You can do better than that!
SMILE	10/12/49	You don't say!

First Guest's Trait

This listing has Fenneman's description of the first guests.

FACE 11/23/55 *

SIGN 11/30/55 *

CHAIR 12/07/55 *

NAME 12/14/55 *

STREET 12/21/55 *

TABLE 12/28/55 *

MONEY 1/27/54 ---

TREE 11/21/51 Achitects

LIGHT 4/18/51 Airline pilot & ship's nurse

STOVE 3/29/50 Babysitter & Kindergarten teacher

HEAD 4/07/49 Bachelor & Spinster

RADIO 10/26/49 Bachelor & Spinster

WINDOW 11/30/49 Bachelor & Spinster

TREE 1/04/50 Bachelor & Spinster

DOOR 3/01/50 Bachelor & Spinster

AIR 10/25/50 Bachelor & Spinster

HAIR 12/06/50 Bachelor & Spinster

PEOPLE 5/30/51 Bachelor & Spinster

ROOF 11/14/51 Bachelor & Spinster

FACE 1/09/52 Bachelor & Spinster

HAND 6/21/50 Bachelor & Spinster in night school

DUST 12/07/49 Bacteriologist

SKY 2/14/51 Beekeeper & girl who arranges weddings

SPOON 1/18/50 Bouncer from dance hall & an accontant

CAR 12/16/53 Bridge teachers

CHAIR 4/26/50 Building inspector & real estate agent

WATER 6/14/50 Candy maker & little girl

TABLE 10/07/53 Chinese Girls

CLOCK 1/31/51 Clerk from unemployment office & lady w/ unusual occupation

FLOOR 6/28/50 Club woman & LA Philharmonic worker

ROOM 4/11/51 Coast Guard & daughters of the Army

DOOR 12/05/51 College football player & Foreign born girl

FLOOR 6/13/51 College students

MILK 1/11/50 Couple about to be married

WALL 10/04/50 Couple about to be married

TREE 11/01/50 Couple about to be married

HEART 3/08/50 Couple married more than 50 years

CLOCK 2/17/54 Dancing Instructor

CHAIR 5/26/54 Delivery men

LAMP 2/06/52 Dental assistants

COAT 3/21/51 Doctor & housewife

NAME 11/28/51 Elevator operators

NOSE 2/28/51 Engaged couple

PAPER 5/09/51 Engaged couple

ARM 10/17/51 Engaged couple

SHOE 11/02/49 Expectant father & Baby nurse

SKY 11/23/49 Father of a bride & mother of a groom

BREAD 5/03/50 Girl gas station attendant & hot rod driver

GRASS 11/16/49 Girls from airport & weather forecasters

NAME 2/24/54 Girls of a fan club

FLOOR 3/24/54 Girls who work for large manufacturing concern

TREE 3/31/54 Girls who work for the county

FACE 4/ 7/54 Girls who work in a supermarket

WALK 1/24/51 Good Humor girl & Lifeguard

FACE 12/02/53 Grandparents

ROOM 12/13/50 Greeting Card writer & Gadget seller

FLOOR 10/18/50 High School students

FOOD 1/30/52 High School students

TABLE 2/22/50 High school students

CHAIR 10/28/53 Housewife & Drugist

PAPER 3/03/54 Housewife & Man with interesting occupation

PEOPLE 9/16/53 Housewife & Police Officer

FLOOR 11/18/53 Housewife & man with interesting job

ARM 5/19/54 Interesting experiences

SPOON 1/16/52 Interesting occupations

WATER 11/25/53 Interesting occupations

FOOT 12/23/53 Interesting occupations

WALL 2/10/54 Interesting occupations

WATER 5/ 5/54 Interesting occupations

STREET 3/10/54 Interesting stories

CLOCK 6/ 2/54 Interesting stories

FLOOR 3/03/49 Irish bachelor & spinster

WATER 3/15/50 Irish people

PEOPLE 12/12/51 Junior High Schoool students

ROOM 4/14/54 Ladies

CHAIR 1/03/51 Lawyer & secretary of a psychiatrist

FOOT 5/17/50 Locksmith & dynamite expert

FLOOR 12/20/50 Mail girl & Truck driver

HAND 11/11/53 Man with interesting job & Woman with interesting background

NAME 6/ 9/54 Man with interesting story

WINDOW 12/09/53 Married couple

NAME 10/21/53 Married couple with interesting story

DOOR 1/20/54 Men who work for the airlines

CHAIR 12/21/49 Messenger boy & interesting job

SUGAR 2/15/50 Milkman & brewmaster

TREE 5/24/50 Mother of a large family & expectant father

CHAIR 10/05/49 Newlyweds

HAIR 12/14/49 Newlyweds

NAME 12/28/49 Newlyweds

AIR 2/01/50 Newlyweds

DOOR 11/08/50 Newlyweds

SMILE 12/27/50 Newlyweds

STREET 3/28/51 Newlyweds

TABLE 10/03/51 Newlyweds

WATER 1/23/52 Newlyweds

BOOK 5/31/50 Nightclub hat check girl & ballpark vendor

HAND 4/04/51 Old Westerner & Indian

BREAD 2/08/50 Pediatrition & young mother

AIR 1947 People who wish to marry

KEY 11/15/50 Press photographer & construction worker

MONEY 3/22/50 Railroad conductor & Longshoreman

SKY 5/16/51 Real estate broker & cab driver

DRESS 6/07/50 Scotch war bride & husband

BOOK 11/29/50 Sea-bees & Patent Attourneys

SMILE 9/30/53 Service men and wives

HAND 1/02/52 State Hiway Dept & Composer's Daughter

DOOR 4/12/50 Steel workers & ice men

TABLE 1/06/54 Student

FOOT 5/02/51 Student nurse & college gymnast

CUP 3/07/51 Student of economics & man from IRS

TABLE 11/22/50 Swiss War Bride

ARM 2/03/54 Teacher

TREE 3/14/51 Two ladies

WALL 10/14/53 Unusual backgrounds

TABLE 6/27/51 WAF & hobby shop worker

NAME 4/19/50 Wardrobe mistress/circus & stage doorman/burlesque house

HEART 1/10/51 Weathermen & cashier from drive-in theater

FLOOR 10/24/51 Wife of college professor & Memory expert

SMILE 5/23/51 Woman painter & prizefighter

FOOT 9/23/53 Young married couple

TREE 11/04/53 Young married couple

HAND 3/17/54 Young married couple

SMILE 4/28/54 Young married couple

SMILE 1/13/54 Young married couples

SHOW 2/07/51 Young mother & a grandfather

CLOCK 10/19/49 Young people who'd like to get married

INK 11/09/49 Young people who'd like to get married

SKY 1/25/50 Young people who'd like to get married

SMILE 4/05/50 Young people who'd like to get married

DOOR 5/10/50 Young people who'd like to get married

GRASS 10/11/50 Young people who'd like to get married

DOOR 2/21/51 Young people who'd like to get married

WALL 4/25/51 Young people who'd like to get married

HEART 6/06/51 Young people who'd like to get married

DOOR 6/20/51 Young people who'd like to get married

STREET 10/10/51 Young people who'd like to get married

SKY 10/31/51 Young people who'd like to get married

HEAD 11/07/51 Young people with interesting backgrounds

LAMP 1/17/51 Young single people

PEOPLE 4/21/54 Young single people

HOUSE 5/12/54 Young single people

PAPER 12/26/51 Young unattached people

LIGHT 12/30/53 Young unmarried people

SMILE 12/19/51 Young woman

SMILE 10/12/49 Youngsters going steady

If you have any comments, questions, suggestions, additions, please contact

Life, the universe, and everything? [an error occurred while processing this directive]? Not quite right

Secret Word	*Date*
AIR	1947 2/01/50 10/25/50
ARM	10/17/51 2/03/54 5/19/54
BOOK	5/31/50 11/29/50
BREAD	2/08/50 5/03/50
CAR	12/16/53
CHAIR	10/05/49 12/21/49 4/26/50 1/03/51 10/28/53 5/26/54 12/07/55
CLOCK	10/19/49 1/31/51 2/17/54 6/ 2/54
COAT	3/21/51
CUP	3/07/51
DOOR	3/01/50 4/12/50 5/10/50 11/08/50 2/21/51 6/20/51 12/05/51 1/20/54
DRESS	6/07/50
DUST	12/07/49
FACE	1/09/52 12/02/53 4/ 7/54 11/23/55
FLOOR	3/03/49 6/28/50 10/18/50 12/20/50 6/13/51 10/24/51 11/18/53 3/24/54
FOOD	1/30/52
FOOT	5/17/50 5/02/51 9/23/53 12/23/53
GRASS	11/16/49 10/11/50
HAIR	12/14/49 12/06/50
HAND	6/21/50 4/04/51 1/02/52 11/11/53 3/17/54
HEAD	4/07/49 11/07/51
HEART	3/08/50 1/10/51 6/06/51
HOUSE	5/12/54
INK	11/09/49
KEY	11/15/50
LAMP	1/17/51 2/06/52
LIGHT	4/18/51 12/30/53
MILK	1/11/50
MONEY	3/22/50 1/27/54
NAME	12/28/49 4/19/50 11/28/51 10/21/53 2/24/54 6/ 9/54 12/14/55
NOSE	2/28/51
PAPER	5/09/51 12/26/51 3/03/54
PEOPLE	5/30/51 12/12/51 9/16/53 4/21/54
RADIO	10/26/49
ROOF	11/14/51
ROOM	12/13/50 4/11/51 4/14/54
SHOE	11/02/49
SHOW	2/07/51
SIGN	11/30/55
SKY	11/23/49 1/25/50 2/14/51 5/16/51 10/31/51
SMILE	10/12/49 4/05/50 12/27/50 5/23/51 12/19/51 9/30/53 1/13/54 4/28/54
SPOON	1/18/50 1/16/52
STOVE	3/29/50
STREET	3/28/51 10/10/51 3/10/54 12/21/55
SUGAR	2/15/50
TABLE	2/22/50 11/22/50 6/27/51 10/03/51 10/07/53 1/06/54 12/28/55
TREE	1/04/50 5/24/50 11/01/50 3/14/51 11/21/51 11/04/53 3/31/54
WALK	1/24/51
WALL	10/04/50 4/25/51 10/14/53 2/10/54
WATER	3/15/50 6/14/50 1/23/52 11/25/53 5/ 5/54
WINDOW	11/30/49 12/09/53