after watching this show during the 50's its a gas to see it being filmed for radio, everybody laid back, Finneman w/glasses, Groucho sans coat, floor director adjusting mikes, thanks for posting. BTW Adblock didn't show any ads.
This is fascinating to see a filmed You Bet Your Life radio show. It even shows the local avail times when the local radio station would air their commercial and we can hear Groucho and Fenneman and guests banter. I have never seen this before and I appreciate your posting it.
I have a cd set of many episodes of this show and watched it each night while on the treadmill and it really broke me up as an adult. I recall watching those same shows as a kid in reruns and back then I did not get it. Groucho really got away with murder for those days.
If you love 💖Groucho, you can watch all the wonderful TV episodes on the TH-cam channel named YOU Bet Your Life. So wonderful and happy..and no ads on that channel. 😄Happy happy...much appreciated in Sept. 2020.
I always liked Fenniman. He was one of the first celebrity graduates from the school of Broadcasting at SFSU. (it was San Francisco University then, not a State University)
@shadhom like the fact that now, most (and please note that it is 'most or much of' NOT all) the humor today is either incredibly filthy, can not really be called humor, or is censored to the point of being senseless.
Yes, this is the 1950 pilot done for CBS...NBC eventually bought the show for DeSoto Division of Chrysler Corporation later in the year on both radio and TV. Look at the RCA classic BX-77 mikes!
@theirterms As is pointed out in several Groucho biographies the show combined written jokes with Groucho's one-liners for which he had already been famous for almost 30 years. This show was on twice a week (weds on radio and thurs on TV) for 11 years. Staging isn't what makes the show, it's the personalities involved. Take for example you or me. Even if everything was pre-written we wouldn't be funny because we don't have talent. Groucho is widely considered the best comedian who ever lived.
This was both a TV and radio series. This here appears to be a filmed version of the radio series for many reasons. Groucho is not wearing a coat and tie, George Fennemen reads off the commercials while the camera is on Groucho and the end credits are read by Fenemen not displayed.
@0MrENigma0 ....this was a simulcast, actually. It aired on radio, and also served as a TV pilot of sorts. Note all the technical people running around on the set, Groucho's very casual attire, and the general feel of the whole production... barely any attention paid to the fact that there were cameras present. If you don't look, it absolutely sounds like it's strictly a radio broadcast.
So when You Bet Your Life went to Tv, they made poor George wear contact lenes. A big deal at the time considering that contacts back then were large, very hard, and very uncomfortable.
Yes, this was a test video that CBS shot of a taping of the radio show, which was on CBS at the time. As mentioned by others, CBS was preparing to bring the show to TV, and was probably refining some video techniques, but NBC gave Groucho a better offer, so he bolted. Interesting to see that they sometimes stop and do something again, since they were on tape (for radio) by this time and could easily edit.
@Setebos You can find unedited radio shows at the website OTR Archives.They taped the radio show for up to a hour and was edited down to fit the half hour format.The producers were aware that being live with Groucho was not the best way to do the show.I think you will enjoy many hours of listening.
Go to the TH-cam channel named YOU Bet Your Life...all the episodes there are from the television show. There are other recordings of this show that were only on radio. Those are great episodes as well.
This looks like one of their earliest TV shows (basically a filmed radio broadcast). That makes it all the more special. Thank you so much for sharing it with us!
This has to have been a radio program, but filmed before the audience at CBS. Ironic given how You Bet Your Life was seen on NBC for much of its TV run.
You look at popular British panel shows like 8 Out Of 10 Cats, QI, Never-mind The Buzzcocks, etc, & compare them to Jersey Shore and other shows that are popular here in the states an you think "Where the fuck did we go wrong?"
Poor Larry even his voice and dead-pan delivery is a clone of Elaine's boyfriend on Seinfeld, "Puddy". This is hilarious without the visual. Radio was a perfect medium with the right talent. Live or taped. Gunsmoke and The Lone Ranger were childhood favorites of mine. Drama to exercise the imagination. I was too young to enjoy Groucho until the TV broadcasts.
Groucho is the BEST show host ever.....those quips still hold up. And a rare look at the behind the scenes...thank you!!
after watching this show during the 50's its a gas to see it being filmed for radio, everybody laid back, Finneman w/glasses, Groucho sans coat, floor director adjusting mikes, thanks for posting. BTW Adblock didn't show any ads.
i have been a fan ever since i saw his first movie, this never gets old.
Groucho Marx, one of the great comedians. Dead before i was even born and he still influenced me.
18:59 He is sweet. I love when he stood by saying "you can't take that away from them".
18:59
This is fascinating to see a filmed You Bet Your Life radio show. It even shows the local avail times when the local radio station would air their commercial and we can hear Groucho and Fenneman and guests banter. I have never seen this before and I appreciate your posting it.
I use to watch his show every week when it first aired! This is great to see again! Thank you!
I have a cd set of many episodes of this show and watched it each night while on the treadmill and it really broke me up as an adult. I recall watching those same shows as a kid in reruns and back then I did not get it. Groucho really got away with murder for those days.
Thanks Kenny!
HB
Sent from my iPhone
If you love 💖Groucho, you can watch all the wonderful TV episodes on the TH-cam channel named YOU Bet Your Life. So wonderful and happy..and no ads on that channel. 😄Happy happy...much appreciated in Sept. 2020.
i love this unedited version of the show.
Happiest show ever. Go to You Bet Your Life channel on TH-cam. Happy happy
I heard this show as a radio broadcast. Nice to actually see it.
Go to the You Bet Your Life chanbel on TH-cam. All old TV episodes....so happy..happy. A great relief in Sept. 2020. Happy
I always liked Fenniman. He was one of the first celebrity graduates from the school of Broadcasting at SFSU. (it was San Francisco University then, not a State University)
44:19: you can see the wheels turning as he tries to come up with a response. I love it.
Started on Radio in 1947, but this was TV in front of a studio audience in 1949.
I hope Larry ran into some better luck. I liked him.
@shadhom
like the fact that now, most (and please note that it is 'most or much of' NOT all) the humor today is either incredibly filthy, can not really be called humor, or is censored to the point of being senseless.
Yes, this is the 1950 pilot done for CBS...NBC eventually bought the show for DeSoto Division of Chrysler Corporation later in the year on both radio and TV. Look at the RCA classic BX-77 mikes!
Groucho got away with the sort of stuff on television that would end up in a courtroom today. God love the man.
@theirterms As is pointed out in several Groucho biographies the show combined written jokes with Groucho's one-liners for which he had already been famous for almost 30 years. This show was on twice a week (weds on radio and thurs on TV) for 11 years. Staging isn't what makes the show, it's the personalities involved. Take for example you or me. Even if everything was pre-written we wouldn't be funny because we don't have talent. Groucho is widely considered the best comedian who ever lived.
The pilot, recorded for CBS-TV, although passed up and it went to NBC for 10 years!
This was both a TV and radio series. This here appears to be a filmed version of the radio series for many reasons. Groucho is not wearing a coat and tie, George Fennemen reads off the commercials while the camera is on Groucho and the end credits are read by Fenemen not displayed.
@0MrENigma0 ....this was a simulcast, actually. It aired on radio, and also served as a TV pilot of sorts. Note all the technical people running around on the set, Groucho's very casual attire, and the general feel of the whole production... barely any attention paid to the fact that there were cameras present. If you don't look, it absolutely sounds like it's strictly a radio broadcast.
Thanks. That was fantastic.
So when You Bet Your Life went to Tv, they made poor George wear contact lenes. A big deal at the time considering that contacts back then were large, very hard, and very uncomfortable.
Haha!!! Check out the expression on that big guys face at 51:25. He actually thought they had a chance with $50 vs $228.
Yes, this was a test video that CBS shot of a taping of the radio show, which was on CBS at the time. As mentioned by others, CBS was preparing to bring the show to TV, and was probably refining some video techniques, but NBC gave Groucho a better offer, so he bolted. Interesting to see that they sometimes stop and do something again, since they were on tape (for radio) by this time and could easily edit.
@Setebos You can find unedited radio shows at the website OTR Archives.They taped the radio show for up to a hour and was edited down to fit the half hour format.The producers were aware that being live with Groucho was not the best way to do the show.I think you will enjoy many hours of listening.
Why anyone would thumbs down this?....just my opinion
This wasn't broadcast on tv or nething was it? This is just a video of the radio program right?
Go to the TH-cam channel named YOU Bet Your Life...all the episodes there are from the television show. There are other recordings of this show that were only on radio. Those are great episodes as well.
Are we ever going to get more episodes?
the car hop is a hottie
This looks like one of their earliest TV shows (basically a filmed radio broadcast). That makes it all the more special. Thank you so much for sharing it with us!
Depends on the kind of TV...I'd call it the Golden Age of Talk/Game shows, but certainly not scripted television
groucho to a guy "do you have any children?" Guy "three maybe four by now" groucho "when was the last time you were home?" lol
Evelyn Fredericksen. She could've been a model or something.
"we're they all high?" XD
This has to have been a radio program, but filmed before the audience at CBS. Ironic given how You Bet Your Life was seen on NBC for much of its TV run.
You've got outstanding taste. Happy Thanksgiving.
Juliaflo but kbuckowens
Buckowens
Buckowens
Juliaflo
Buckowes
still the best guy around
was this the first episode of YBYL???
You look at popular British panel shows like 8 Out Of 10 Cats, QI, Never-mind The Buzzcocks, etc, & compare them to Jersey Shore and other shows that are popular here in the states an you think "Where the fuck did we go wrong?"
Groucho was married three times.
Groucho: "You met your wife in the dark room? Was she well developed?
3:57 SHAWTY IS A TEN
Poor Larry even his voice and dead-pan delivery is a clone of Elaine's boyfriend on Seinfeld, "Puddy". This is hilarious without the visual. Radio was a perfect medium with the right talent. Live or taped. Gunsmoke and The Lone Ranger were childhood favorites of mine. Drama to exercise the imagination. I was too young to enjoy Groucho until the TV broadcasts.
Great show 3/31/24
SPAM, at regular intervals severly hinder any enjoyment one might have had.
jesus did every guy smoke back then?
me too. fun watching this stuff reminds me of being on the floor on that oval rug.
Took me a while to realize it was for radio. A lot of corny one-liners by Groucho. I much prefer the later tv shows.
15:49
To many SPAM interruptions - not worth watching anymore.