I've Got a Secret


Aired
CBS Primetime, June 19, 1952 – April 3, 1967
Number of episodes
681
Run time
30 Minutes
Host
Garry Moore (1952-1964) Steve Allen (1964-1967)
Announcers
John Cannon Bern Bennett Johnny Olson
Origination
Mansfield Theatre (Studio 59), New York City, New York (1952-1960) CBS Studio 52, New York City, New York (1960-1967)

I've Got a Secret was a panel show where contestants have a hidden secret (hence the title) which is usually a stunt or occupation.

Game format[]

A panel of four celebrity guests faced one contestant or a group of contestants. Each contestant that appeared had a weird, fabulous, laughable and/or unusual secret. When the game started after the contestant came out & introduced himself/herself, the contestant whispered the secret into the host's ear, and the home audience was shown the secret. After that, the host would give a clue to the panel concerning the secret; that's when the questioning began. Each panelist one at a time in turn asked yes or no questions to the contestant in an attempt to guess the secret. The panelist in control would have an unmentioned amount of time to question the contestant. When the time was called by the producers and the panelist in control did not guess the secret, the next panelist in line would do the questioning. The process went on until either the secret was guessed, or until the entire panel questioned the contestant. Each panelist stumped was worth $20 to the contestant for a top prize of $80. Originally it was $10 per stumped panelist, because each panelist took two turns instead of one. After the game, the contestant would talk about his/her secret via the host's interview and sometimes a video/movie clip or demonstration would be shown.

Also on I've Got a Secret, celebrity guests played the game themselves. At the start of each show, the celebrity guest in question would introduce himself/herself followed by saying, "...and I've Got a Secret." The game was pretty much the same as with the regular contestants, but sometimes the panel would be off-stage in preparation of the game. Sometimes the secrets would be a personal secret, or something they were going to do that day.

Personnel[]

Host: Garry Moore (1952-1964); Steve Allen (1964-1967)
Substitute Hosts: Dennis O’Keefe, Hal March, Bill Cullen, Henry Morgan, Don McNeil, Betsy Palmer, Bill Goodwin, Steve Allen, Arthur Godfrey
Announcer: John Cannon, Bern Bennett, Johnny Olson
Executive Producer: Gil Fates
Producers: Allan Sherman, Howard Merill, Chester Feldman
Directors: Frank Satenstein, Clarence Schimmel, Paul Alter, Franklin Heller, Ira Skutch
Set Designers: Robert Rowe Paddock, Ron Baldwin, Henry May, Charles Lisanby
Music Directors: Leroy Anderson, Norman Paris

Panelists[]

Regular Panelists included:

Bill Cullen (1952–1967)
Faye Emerson (1952–1958)
Jayne Meadows (1952–1958)
Betsy Palmer (1958–1967)
Bess Myerson (1959–1967)

Broadcast History[]

June 19, 1952-May 28, 1953 (Thursday at 10:30-11:00 PM)
July 1, 1953-September 20, 1961 (Wednesday at 9:30-10:00 PM)
September 25, 1961-September 10, 1962 (Monday at 10:30-11:00PM)
September 17, 1962-September 5, 1966 (Monday at 8:00-8:30 PM)
September 12, 1966-April 3, 1967 (Monday at 10:30-11:00PM)

In Popular Culture[]

I've Got a Secret has been referenced, featured or spoofed in the following:

The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet: The Reading Room (1957) (TV Episode) - As Ozzie is being blindfolded, he quips, "Are we expecting a celebrity guest here?"
It Happened to Jane (1959) - Jane is featured on the show as the mystery guest.
Make Room for Daddy: Kathy and the Glamour Girl (1960) (TV Episode) - Charley Halper jokes that Danny could never be on the show because of his "big mouth".
My Favorite Martian: Who's Got a Secret? (1965) (TV Episode) - title reference
Electra Woman & Dyna Girl: The Spider Lady: Part 1 (1976) (TV Episode) - Mentioned by Lori
Muppet Babies: The Frog Who Knew Too Much (1987) (TV Episode) - Gonzo host a parody of this show titled He's Got a Secret.
Kate & Allie: I've Got a Secret (1989) (TV Episode) - Title reference
The Nanny: I've Got a Secret (1994) (TV Episode) - Title reference
Love Ranch (2010) - mentioned in dialogue
John Glenn: American Hero (1998) (TV Movie)
In the Shadow of the Moon (2007)- clip from episode with Neil Armstrong's parents
The Cinema Snob: Friday the 13th (2013) (TV Episode) - "Is that Betsy Palmer from I've Got a Secret?"
Summer Colony (2013) (Video) - Clips shown

International Versions[]

Main Article: I've Got a Secret/International

Merchandise[]

Main Article: I've Got a Secret/Merchandise

Photos[]

Main Article: I've Got a Secret/Photos

Episode Status[]

Early episodes from the first season appear to have been lost. Most episodes from Season 2 in 1952-1953 to the 1967 cancellation appear to exist, though the final season consists of black and white kinescopes of color videotapes. These/Those Normal Film & Videotapes from 1957 to 1967 aren't seen the image of the program's norm of broadcast has been the same for both GSN-GAME SHOW NETWORK & BUZZR, LET'S PLAY from 1994 to the Present.

Main Article: I've Got a Secret/Episode Guide