I've Got a Secret

This show was a family favorite when I was growing up. As much as a TV show can, it influenced my perception of the grown-up world in general and of New Yorkers in particular.

Seen today, it is like an American time capsule. Its nonstop parade of personalities of all types amounts to a wonderful snapshot of what America was like at the time. It is still greatly entertaining, but has acquired the additional virtue of being a sort of history lesson. What's My Line and To Tell the Truth provide some of that that too, but they don't compare to this crazy freeform show where anything could happen.

Its format, or lack of it, was a perfect match for Steve Allen, and the later shows where he was the host are every bit as much fun as the Garry Moore shows, in my opinion.

If you have any interest at all in what entertainment was like for previous generations, you should include this show in your travels.

It was in 1955 and I watched in amazement as a 95-year old man came out and whispered into host Garry Moore's ear a secret that knocked my little socks off - he was the last survivor of the audience present at Ford's Theater the night Abraham Lincoln was shot. He said the only thing he could remember was seeing John Wilkes Booth grab hold of an American flag and crash to the stage.

He said he was five years old when this happened. He didn't know who Booth was but had a vivid memory of him falling unto the stage. At the time that the show was telecast, Lincoln's assassination had occurred 90 years earlier.

What a moment in early television history.

Watching this show reminds a nostalgia buff like myself, how much certain stars are missed. Usually the beginning of each show has a star of the period state his or her name and say: ...."And I've got a secret". One such guest was Harpo Marx who not only had a chance to promote his excellent autobiography "Harpo Speaks" but also interact with the panel and Gary Moore through pantomime. Lloyd Bridges pretending to be in a diving suit (His double a New York restaurant doorman was in the suit!)to fool the panel while answering questions from the audience through a microphone! Elvis Presley's Grandad singing folk songs, Tony Curtis demonstrates boyhood games, Mickey Rooney imitating a monkey etc. etc. A really great show that has yet to disappoint this babyboomer. Recommended. >

I love all these little shows of the past. I'm seeing them again on Game Show Network. They take me back to the nice times back in the 50's when I was a kid. We need more entertaining shows like these on TV today.

One of the best game/quiz shows ever. With Garry Moore as host, and many celebrities throughout the years as guest panelists, this durable program is very entertaining indeed!! To me, the program hit its stride in the years from 1958-1964, with Bill Cullen, Betsy Palmer, Henry Morgan and Bess Myerson as the panelists and the above mentioned Mr. Moore as host. One of the funniest moments that I recall is when guest star, Faye Emerson, tried to dress a blindfolded Henry Morgan as Santa Claus and he ended up looking like a skid-row version of Santa!!! Hilarious and wholesome entertainment all around!!