You Bet Your Life

1950-1961

You Bet Your Life is an American comedy quiz series that aired on both radio and television. The original and best-known version was hosted by Groucho Marx of the Marx Brothers, with announcer and assistant George Fenneman. The show debuted on ABC Radio on October 27, 1947, then moved to CBS Radio debuting October 5, 1949, before making the transition to NBC-TV and NBC Radio on October 4, 1950. The last episode in its radio format aired on June 10, 1960. On television, however, the series continued for another year, debuting in its final season on September 22, 1960, and with a new title, The Groucho Show.

Episodes

S11 E19 – Dress (1961)

Maria appeared on an episode of the last season of Groucho Marx’s game show You Bet Your Life. the secret word for winning an extra $100 in this episode was “Dress”. Groucho coaxes Maria into saying the word adding to her winnings.
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S11 E19 – Dress (1961)

You Bet Your Life

HostGroucho Marx
ProducerJohn Guedel
Production CompanyJohn Guedel Productions, NBC Studios Burbank
AiredFebruary 2nd, 1961 on NBC
CastGroucho Marx (Host), George Fenneman (Announcer & Assistant) Aden Lowry (Self, Contestant, Interior Decorator from Kansas), Maria McClay (Self, Contestant, Actress and Model)
Maria McClay with fellow contestant Aden Lowry and host Groucho Marx.

Maria appeared on an episode of the last season of Groucho Marx’s game show You Bet Your Life. the secret word for winning an extra $100 in this episode was “Dress”. Groucho coaxes Maria into saying the word adding to her winnings.

It’s wonderful to be able to see Maria being herself given that almost all other video we have is of her acting on screen. There’s a bit of casual sexism from Groucho that’s probably par-for-the-course for the late 50s/early 60s but once he gets that out of his system and doesn’t do any more of it, it’s lovely to just watch Maria be herself.

Scenes Featuring Maria

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Tonight’s Viewing: Hong Kong Tour Intrigues

Fort Lauderdale News, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 2nd, 1961

(Unknown Author)

Maria appears in a blurb about that night’s episode of the Groucho Marx Show on which she is set to appear as a contestant. The same blurb appeared in a column in the Miami Herald as well as in the St. Petersburg Times on the same day.

Tonight's Viewing: Hong Kong Tour IntriguesTonight’s Viewing: Hong Kong Tour Intrigues 02 Feb 1961, Thu Fort Lauderdale News (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) Newspapers.com

Maria on Groucho Marx’ Show

Various Papers, February 2nd, 1961

(Unknown Author)

Maria appears in a blurb about that night’s episode of the Groucho Marx Show on which she is set to appear as a contestant. Unfortunately the author of the blurb couldn’t help himself and threw in a bunch of sexist language.

TV Scout Preview

Maria appears in a blurb about that night’s episode of the Groucho Marx Show on…
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Maria McClay