50's-60's Variety/Game Show You Are Most Ashamed You've Never Seen
by jalapenoman | created - 11 Jun 2016 | updated - 11 Jun 2016 | PublicWhich popular television Variety or Game Show series from the 1950's or 1960's are you most ashamed to admit that you have never seen?
Discuss here: http://www.imdb.com/board/bd0000088/flat/258220365
Watch for similar polls on 50's-60's TV comedies, dramas, westerns, and science fiction and fantasy series.
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1. The Howdy Doody Show (1947–1960)
TV-G | 30 min | Family
The first nationally televised American children's TV program and a prototype for what followed. Buffalo Bob Smith hosts while the puppet, Howdy Doody, stars.
Stars: Bob Smith, Robert Keeshan, Bill LeCornec, Dayton Allen
Votes: 265
2. The Ed Sullivan Show (1948–1971)
TV-G | 60 min | Music, Talk-Show
The classic prime time variety show most famous for its vaudeville acts and rock music performances.
Stars: Ed Sullivan, The Ray Bloch Orchestra, Ray Bloch, Johnny Wayne
Votes: 1,561
3. The Milton Berle Show (1948–1956)
60 min | Comedy, Family
The Texaco Star Theatre was one of the most popular shows in the history of television. In the first year, Milton Berle was not the permanent emcee, but once he replaced the rotation, the ... See full summary »
Stars: Milton Berle, Sid Stone, Jimmy Nelson, Arnold Stang
Votes: 165
4. The Jack Benny Program (1950–1965)
Not Rated | 30 min | Comedy
The comic misadventures of the "skinflint" comedian and his friends.
Stars: Jack Benny, Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson, Don Wilson, Dennis Day
Votes: 1,648
5. Your Show of Shows (1950–1954)
90 min | Comedy
Best remembered by its posterior title, Your Show of Shows, this live variety show included comedy sketches with TV pioneers Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca.
Stars: Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Felisa Vanoff, Carl Reiner
Votes: 368
6. You Bet Your Life (1950–1961)
30 min | Comedy, Family, Game-Show
Groucho Marx hosts a quiz show which features a series of competitive questions and a great deal of humourous conversation.
Stars: Groucho Marx, George Fenneman, Melinda Marx, Tuulikki Woods
Votes: 745
7. What's My Line? (1950–1967)
30 min | Family, Game-Show
Four panelists must determine guests' occupations - and, in the case of famous guests, while blindfolded, their identity - by asking only "yes" or "no" questions.
Stars: John Daly, Arlene Francis, Bennett Cerf, Dorothy Kilgallen
Votes: 1,769
8. The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950–1955)
60 min | Comedy, Romance
This was a Colgate-sponsored comedy hour that featured many notable comedians and entertainers of the era as guest stars.
Stars: Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Al Goodman, Eddie Cantor
Votes: 589
9. The Red Skelton Hour (1951–1971)
TV-G | 60 min | Comedy
A comedy-themed variety show, hosted by the popular comedian Red Skelton. It run with no interruption from 1951 to 1971. From 1956 to 1962, the show's head writer was Sherwood Schwartz, who... See full summary »
Stars: Red Skelton, David Rose and His Orchestra, Art Gilmore, Tom Hansen Dancers
Votes: 1,392
10. I've Got a Secret (1952–1967)
TV-G | 30 min | Family, Game-Show
A group of panelists try to guess a guest's secret.
Stars: Garry Moore, Henry Morgan, Bill Cullen, John Cannon
Votes: 565
11. This Is Your Life (1950–1987)
30 min | Biography, Family, Reality-TV
Each week, an unsuspecting celebrity would be lured by some ruse to a location near the studio. The celebrity would then be surprised with the news that they are to be the featured guest. ... See full summary »
Stars: Ralph Edwards, Bob Warren, Eddie Cantor, Bob Hope
Votes: 314
12. The Mickey Mouse Club (1955–1958)
TV-G | 60 min | Comedy, Drama, Family
Mickey Mouse hosts a youth-oriented variety show featuring 'The Mouseketeers'.
Stars: Jimmie Dodd, Darlene Gillespie, Sharon Baird, Bobby Burgess
Votes: 869
13. Captain Kangaroo (1955–1992)
TV-G | 60 min | Family
Daily children's program hosted by Captain Kangaroo.
Stars: Robert Keeshan, Hugh Brannum, James E. Wall, Deborah Weems
Votes: 1,574
14. Playhouse 90 (1956–1961)
90 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
Of the many anthology series, this is considered the most ambitious with outstanding talent in front of the camera. Attracting top ranked directors and scripts, it was often filmed live including the entire first season.
Stars: Richard Joy, Paul Lambert, Helen Kleeb, Charles Bickford
Votes: 419
15. Jeopardy! (1964–1975)
30 min | Game-Show
A quiz competition in which contestants are presented with general knowledge clues in the form of answers and must phrase their responses in the form of questions.
Stars: Art Fleming, Don Pardo, Mel Brooks, Jesse Bigelow
Votes: 680
16. The Hollywood Palace (1964–1970)
TV-G | 60 min | Comedy, Family, Music
Various guest hosts present a musical variety show.
Stars: Bing Crosby, Dick Tufeld, Mitchell Ayres Orchestra, Mitchell Ayres
Votes: 321
17. The Dean Martin Show (1965–1974)
TV-PG | Comedy, Music
Dean Martin hosts, with several celebrities as guests. There are musical acts and comedy sketches that break down comedy, racial, and sexual barriers all at the same time.
Stars: Dean Martin, The Dingaling Sisters, Ken Lane, Lou Jacobi
Votes: 1,429
18. The Carol Burnett Show (1967–1978)
TV-G | 60 min | Comedy, Family
Television show featuring skits by Carol Burnett and her comedy troupe.
Stars: Carol Burnett, Vicki Lawrence, The Ernie Flatt Dancers, Harvey Korman
Votes: 7,306
19. Laugh-In (1967–1973)
TV-PG | 60 min | Comedy, Music
The original rapid fire sketch comedy show.
Stars: Dan Rowan, Dick Martin, Gary Owens, Ruth Buzzi
Votes: 3,660
20. The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1967–1993)
60 min | Comedy
The Smothers Brothers host a comedy variety show that became notorious for its topical satirical humor.
Stars: Tom Smothers, Dick Smothers, Pat Paulsen, Peter Cullen
Votes: 1,639
21. Kukla, Fran and Ollie (1947–1957)
15 min | Family, Comedy
Some semi-strange lady with a couple of puppets talks about stuff. One of the puppets is a dinosaur or dragon, and the other is something else.
Stars: Kukla, Burr Tillstrom, Ollie, Fran Allison
Votes: 145
22. The All New Truth or Consequences (1950–1988)
30 min | Game-Show
Contestants must perform an embarrassing stunt if they fail to answer a question correctly.
Stars: Bob Barker, Jack Bailey, Ralph Edwards, Jerry Lawrence
Votes: 98
23. Let's Make a Deal (1963–2003)
TV-G | 30 min | Family, Game-Show
Audience contestants picked at random, dressed in ridiculous costumes, try to win cash or prizes by choosing curtain number 1, 2 or 3. Hilarious situations occur, from winning a rotten prize to jackpot.
Stars: Monty Hall, Carol Merrill, Jay Stewart, Wendell Niles
Votes: 502
24. Queen for a Day (1956–1964)
TV-G | 30 min | Game-Show, Reality-TV
Four women, each with a sob story, vie to become "Queen for a Day."
Stars: Jack Bailey, Fort Pearson, Suzanne Alexander, Maxine Reeves
Votes: 116
25. Concentration (1958–1973)
TV-G | 30 min | Game-Show
Two contestants revealed pieces of a rebus-like puzzle by matching 15 pairs of cash amounts and prizes, then tried to solve it before the other.
Stars: Hugh Downs, Bob Clayton, Paola Diva, Art James
Votes: 126
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