Tag: NBC

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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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S02 E35 – Medals for Harry

Alcoa Theatre

DirectorRobert Ellis Miller
ProducerWinston O’Keefe
Production CompanyColumbia Television
AiredJune 1st, 1959 on NBC
CastAlex Nicol (George Hadley), Eddie Ryder (Harry Russell), Ruta Lee (Emily Meadow), Tom Palmer (Prosecutor), Freeman Lusk (Judge), Guy Stockwell (Lieutenant), John Dennis (Quartermaster), Maria McClay (Japanese Store Clerk)
Maria McClay as a Japanese store clerk in conversation with Ruta Lee as Emily Meadow.

Maria plays a Japanese store clerk in this episode of the anthology series.

Scenes Featuring Maria

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Alcoa Theatre

1957-1960

Alcoa Theatre was an American anthology series that aired on NBC from 1957 through 1960. Alternative titles under which the series was broadcast include Turn of Fate. Alcoa Theatre was syndicated together with Goodyear Theatre as Award Theater.

The series featured a number of veteran and emerging actors over the years, including Jack Lemmon, Cliff Robertson, John Cassavetes, Brandon deWilde, Cornel Wilde, Agnes Moorehead, Jack Carson, Walter Slezak and Gary Merrill.

Episodes

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S01 E24 – Square Cop (1962)

87th Precinct

DirectorJames Sheldon
ProducerWinston Miller, Boris D. Kaplan
Production CompanyHubbell Robinson Productions, Revue Studios, MCA TV
AiredMarch 12th, 1962, NBC
CastRobert Lansing (Det. Steve Carella), Ron Harper (Det. Bert Kling), Gregory Walcott (Det. Roger Havilland), Norman Fell (Det. Meyer Meyer), Lee Tracy (Otto Forman), Jack Hogan (Johnny Forman), Dennis McCarthy (Joe), Paul Genge (The Lieutenant), Paul Smith (Ed), Victor Creatore (Edward), Faye Nuell (Millie Haines), Allen Jung (Mike), James Hong (Mike II), Maria Tsien McClay (Mary), Gene Roth (Cassidy), William Bakewell (Mr. Somers), Dorothy Kingston (Mrs. Somers)
Maria McClay as shop clerk Mary being grilled by Det. Steve Carella (Robert Lansing) and Det. Roger Havilland (Gregory Walcott).

Veteran patrolman Pat Forman, who is due to retire in a few days, is out on the beat showing the ropes to his replacement, Eddie Haines. A jangling burglar alarm sends them running to a
supermarket where Eddie is gunned down by the fleeing thief. What does Pat Forman know and how is he involved in this crime?

Maria plays Mary, a shop clerk and reluctant eye witness to a murder, being interviewed by the detectives. Understandably she is rather worried about retribution from the mob and about having to go to court and testifying in public. The detectives try to reassure her.

Scenes Featuring Maria

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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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S01 E17 – China Doll (1958)

The Californians

DirectorByron Haskin
ProducerFelix Feist
Production CompanyCalifornian Film Enterprises, Desilu Productions
AiredJanuary 21st, 1958 on NBC
CastAdam Kennedy (Dion Patrick), Seán McClory (Jack McGivern), Nan Leslie, Keye Luke, John Anderson, Maria Tsien (Mei Soong), Kam Tong, Richard Cutting
Maria McClay as Mei Soong is being placed as a bet during a high stakes poker game.

Dion Patrick (Adam Kennedy) and the vigilantes are investigating human trafficking in San Francisco’s China Town. While making inroads with the community Dion wins Mei Soong, played by Maria, from a dubious Chinese business man.

In the end he manages to return her to her true love, his Chinese guide during his investigation, and, with help from both, takes down the true villain: the white English teacher in a school for Chinese children.

Maria McClay as Mei Soong finds herself in a confusing situation while being kept safe at Dion’s home.

Maria didn’t get to many lines in this role but had plenty of screen time. While there are still plenty of racial stereotypes in play in this show at least it was surprisingly low on Yellow Face and had a comparably high number of non-white actors in Asian roles for its time.

Scenes Featuring Maria

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Maria McClay