30 minute comedy/quiz show
“Here he is, the one, the ONLY...GROUCHO!"
The program “You Bet Your Life” was a trivia game show hosted by Groucho Marx. It first aired on the radio in 1947, then transitioned to NBC television in 1950. The show changed very little when it went from radio to tv. This collection contains both the radio program and audio from the television shows (so you may miss some of the visual humor from the television era.)
In each episode Groucho is introduced to the music of "Hooray for Captain Spaulding", his signature song introduced in the 1928 Broadway musical Animal Crackers.
The show consisted of a pair of contestants betting money that they could answer trivia questions correctly. At first, each couple started with $20. They were asked four questions in their given category, like States, or cooking, or history. For each question, the contestants could bet up to all of their money. Over time the format was tweaked, it was no fun for anyone if a lot of guests lost all of their money right away. If the couple lost all of their money, they were asked a final question to get a consolation prize, usually $25. These questions were easy, like 'Who's buried in Grant's tomb”, in hopes of ending their session on a light note. Each show had a few pairs of contestants on. The show also had a secret word. The word could be anything, and if a contestant said the word at any time, buzzers would sound, the audience would go nuts, and they received a cash prize.
While trivia games shows always hold a certain popularity, the appeal of the show was Groucho Marx. He would interview each couple for a few minutes before the game began. This interview was the heart and soul of the show. He would rib the contestants, but without going over the line into being mean. Contestants were paired individuals, usually of the opposite sex. Sometimes celebrities would be paired with "ordinary" people, and it was not uncommon for the contestants to have some sort of newsworthiness about them. This format allowed plenty of material for Groucho (who, lets face it, didn't need much to begin with) to use his tremendous comedic and improv skills. In one episode General Omar Bradley was teamed with an army private, and Groucho goaded the private into telling Bradley everything that was wrong with the army. Some of the guests included big names, like Ray Bradbury, Ernie Kovacs, Ray Corrigan, Max Shulman, Joe Louis, Bob Mathias, Johnny Weissmuller, Liberace, Don Drysdale, Tor Johnson and Frankie Avalon. In other cases, the guests were little known, but became famous later on. A witty housewife named Phyllis Diller; blues singer and pianist Gladys Bentley; strongman Paul Anderson. John Barbour and Ronnie Schell appeared as contestants while working on the fringes of the entertainment industry. A Southerner, Harland Sanders, talked about his "finger-lickin'" recipe for fried chicken, which he parlayed into the very successful "Kentucky Fried Chicken" chain of restaurants. William Peter Blatty won $10,000 and used the leave of absence the money afforded him to write The Exorcist. No one in the audience knew who contestant Daws Butler was until he began speaking in Huckleberry Hound's voice; he and his partner went on to win the top prize of $10,000. Cajun politician Dudley J. LeBlanc, a Louisiana state senator, demonstrated his winning style at giving campaign speeches in French.
The program was hugely successful and was rerun into the 1970s, and later in syndication as The Best of Groucho. As such, it was the first game show to have its reruns syndicated.
Text from Wikipedia
Purchase as a download, purchase as CD(s), or listen for free
All of our Old Time Radio Programs are in MP3 format. You can play them on your computer, you can transfer them to MP3 players (like the IPod), but, by and large, you cannot play them on stereos, walkmen, or car radios.
The sound quality of Old Time Radio Programs can vary greatly. Some episodes are excellent, others you have to turn up the volume a little and ignore the static. All of the episodes can be listened to and enjoyed. You can listen to our free samples to get a feel for how the programs sound.
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Episode List Set 1
you-bet-your-life_490407 Secret Word 'Head' (Unedited).mp3
you-bet-your-life_491005 (4901) Secret Word 'Chair'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_491012 (4902) Secret Word 'Smile'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_491019 (4903) Secret Word 'Clock'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_491026 (4904) Secret Word 'Radio'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_491102 (4905) Secret Word 'Shoe'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_491109 (4906) Secret Word 'Ink'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_491116 (4907) Secret Word 'Grass'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_491123 (4908) Secret Word 'Sky'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_491130 (4909) Secret Word 'Window'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_491207 (4910) Secret Word 'Dust'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_491214 (4911) Secret Word 'Hair' (Crosstalk).mp3
you-bet-your-life_491221 (4912) Secret Word 'Chair'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_491228 (4913) Secret Word 'Name'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_500104 (4914) The Secret Word is 'Tree'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_500111 (4915) Secret Word 'Milk'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_500112 (4917) Secret Word 'Sky'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_500118 (4916) Secret Word 'Spoon'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_500201 (4918) Secret Word 'Air'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_500208 (4919) Secret Word 'Bread'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_500215 (4920) Secret Word 'Sugar'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_500222 (4921) Secret Word 'Table'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_500301 (4922) Secret Word 'Door'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_500308 (4923) Secret Word 'Heart'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_500315 (4924) Secret Word 'Water'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_500322 (4925) Secret Word 'Money'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_500329 (4926) Secret Word 'Name'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_500405 (4927) Secret Word 'Smile'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_500412 (4928) Secret Word 'Floor'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_500419 (4929) Secret Word 'Name'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_500426 (4930) Secret Word 'Chair'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_500503 (4931) Secret Word 'Bread'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_500510 (4932) Secret Word 'Door'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_500517 (4933) Secret Word 'Foot'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_500524 (4934) Secret Word 'Tree'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_500531 (4935) Secret Word 'Book'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_500607 (4936) Secret Word 'Dress'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_500621 (4938) Secret Word 'Hand'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_501004 (5001) Secret Word 'Wall'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_501011 (5002) Secret Word 'Grass'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_501018 (5003) Secret Word 'Floor'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_501025 (5004) Secret Word 'Air'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_501101 (5005) Secret Word 'Tree'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_501108 (5006) Secret Word 'Door'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_501115 (5007) Secret Word 'Key'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_501122 (5008) Secret Word 'Table'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_501129 (5009) Secret Word 'Book'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_501206 (5010) Secret Word 'Hair'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_501213 (5011) Secret Word 'Room'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_501220 (5012) Secret Word 'Floor'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_501227 (5013) Secret Word 'Smile'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_510103 (5014) Secret Word 'Chair'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_510110 (5015) Secret Word 'Heart'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_510117 (5016) Secret Word 'Lamp'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_510124 (5018) Secret Word 'Walk'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_510131 (5018) Secret Word 'Clock'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_510207 (5019) Secret Word 'Shoe'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_510214 (5020) Secret Word 'Sky'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_510214 (5020) Secret Word 'Sky'1.mp3
you-bet-your-life_510221 (5021) Secret Word 'Door'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_510221 (5021) Secret Word 'Door'1.mp3
you-bet-your-life_510228 (5022) Secret Word 'Nose'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_510228 (5022) Secret Word 'Nose'1.mp3
you-bet-your-life_510307 (5023) Secret Word 'Cup'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_510307 (5023) Secret Word 'Cup'1.mp3
you-bet-your-life_510314 (5024) Secret Word 'Tree'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_510314 (5024) Secret Word 'Tree'1.mp3
you-bet-your-life_510321 (5025) Secret Word 'Coat'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_510321 (5025) Secret Word 'Coat'1.mp3
you-bet-your-life_510328 (5026) Secret Word 'Street'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_510404 (5027) Secret Word 'Hand'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_510411 (5028) Secret Word 'Room'.mp3
Episode List Set 02
you-bet-your-life_510425 (5030) Secret Word 'Wall'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_510502 (5031) Secret Word 'Foot'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_510509 (5032) Secret Word 'Paper'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_510516 (5033) Secret Word 'Sky'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_510523 (5034) Secret Word 'Smile'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_510530 (5035) Secret Word 'People'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_510606 (5036) Secret Word 'Heart'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_510613 (5037) Secret Word 'Floor'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_510620 (5038) Secret Word 'Door'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_510627 (5039) Secret Word 'Table'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_511003 (5101) Secret Word 'Table'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_511010 (5102) Secret Word 'Street'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_511017 (5103) Secret Word 'Arm'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_511024 (5104) Secret Word 'Floor'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_511031 (5105) Secret Word 'Sky'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_511107 (5106) Secret Word 'Head'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_511114 (5107) Secret Word 'Roof'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_511121 (5108) Secret Word 'Tree'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_511128 (5109) Secret Word 'Name'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_511205 (5110) Secret Word 'Door'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_511212 (5111) Secret Word 'People'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_511219 (5112) Secret Word 'Smile'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_511226 (5113) Secret Word 'Paper'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_520102 (5114)Secret Word 'Hand'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_520109 (5115) Secret Word 'Face'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_520116 (5116) Secret Word 'Spoon'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_520123 (5117) Secret Word 'Water'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_520130 (5118) Secret Word 'Food'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_520206 (5119) Secret Word 'Lamp'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_520213 (5120) Secret Word 'Floor'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_520220 (5121) Secret Word 'Heart'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_520227 (5122) Secret Word 'Glass'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_520305 (5123) Secret Word 'Knife'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_520312 (5124) Secret Word 'Sky'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_520319 (5125) Secret Word 'Name'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_520326 (5126) Secret Word 'Table'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_520402 (5127) Secret Word 'Chair'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_520409 (5128) Secret Word 'Sign'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_520416 (5129) Secret Word 'Foot'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_520423 (5130) Secret Word 'Spoon'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_520430 (5131) Secret Word 'Door'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_520507 (5132) Secret Word 'House'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_520514 (5133) Secret Word 'Age'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_520521 (5134) Secret Word 'Money'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_520528 (5135) Secret Word 'Wall'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_520604 (5136) Secret Word 'Clothes'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_520611 (5137) Secret Word 'Paper'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_520625 (5139) Secret Word 'Light'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_520917 (5201) Secret Word 'Chair'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_520924 (5202) Secret Word 'Floor'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_521001 (5203) Secret Word 'Tree'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_521015 (5205) Secret Word 'Water'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_521022 (5206) Secret Word 'Table'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_521029 (5207) Secret Word 'Heart'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_521105 (5208) Secret Word 'Light'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_521112 (5209) Secret Word 'Clock'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_521119 (5210) Secret Word 'Smile'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_521126 (5211) Secret Word 'Door'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_521203 (5212) Secret Word 'Paper'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_521210 (5213) Secret Word 'Fire'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_521217 (5214) Secret Word 'Chair'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_530916 (5301) Secret Word 'People'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_530923 (5302) Secret Word 'Foot'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_530930 (5303) Secret Word is 'Smile'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_531007 (5304) Secret Word is 'Table'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_531014 (5305) Secret Word 'Wall' (Muddy Sound).mp3
you-bet-your-life_531021 (5306) Secret Word 'Name'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_531028 (5307) Secret Word 'Chair'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_531104 (5308) Secret Word 'Tree'.mp3
Episode List Set 3
you-bet-your-life_531202 (5312) Secret Word 'Face'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_531209 (5313) Secret Word 'Window'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_531216 (5314) Secret Word 'Car'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_540217 (5323) Secret Word 'Clock'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_540224 (5324) Secret Word 'Name'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_540303 (5325) Secret Word 'Paper'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_540310 (5326) Secret Word 'Street'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_540317 (5327) Secret Word 'Hand'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_540324 (5328) Secret Word 'Floor'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_540421 (5332) Secret Word 'People'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_540428 (5333) Secret Word 'Smile'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_540505 (5334) Secret Word 'Water'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_540512 (5335) Secret Word 'House'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_540519 (5336) Secret Word 'Arm'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_540526 (5337) Secret Word 'Chair'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_540602 (5338) Secret Word 'Clock'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_540609 (5339) Secret Word 'Name'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_550114 Secret Word 'Paper'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_551026 Secret Word 'Name'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_551123 Secret Word 'Face'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_551130 Secret Word 'Sign'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_551207 Secret Word 'Chair'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_551214 Secret Word 'Name'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_551221 Secret Word 'Street'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_551228 Secret Word 'Table'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_560106 Secret Word 'Table'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_560307 Secret Word 'Table'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_560702 Secret Word 'Name'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_560926 Secret Word 'Chair'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_570217 Secret Word is 'Book'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_570316 Secret Word 'Chair'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_571104 Secret Word 'Street'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_571206 Secret Word 'People'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_571216 Secret Word 'Hand'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_57xxxx Secret Word 'People'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_580113 Secret Word is 'Picture'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_580127 Secret Word is 'Hand'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_580203 Secret Word is 'Chair'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_580210 Secret Word 'Hand'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_580210 Secret Word is 'People'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_580224 Secret Word is 'Face'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_580303 Secret Word is 'Room'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_580310 Secret Word is 'Name'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_580317 Secret Word is 'People'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_580331 Ernie Kovacks & Charles Goren.mp3
you-bet-your-life_580331 Unknown Secret Word.mp3
you-bet-your-life_580512 Secret Word 'Table'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_580512 With Edgar & Candice Bergen.mp3
you-bet-your-life_58xxxx Secret Word 'Name'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_590119 Unknown Secret Word.mp3
you-bet-your-life_590129 Secret Word 'Nose'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_590302 Secret Word 'House'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_590316 Secret Word 'Paper'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_590810 Secret Word is 'Chair'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_590817 Secret Word is 'Face'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_590824 Secret Word is 'Book'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_590831 Secret Word is 'Book'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_590907 Secret Word is 'Walk'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_590914 Secret Word is 'Name'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_590921 Secret Word is 'Food'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_590928 Secret Word is 'Street'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_591005 Secret Word is 'Street' Again.mp3
you-bet-your-life_591012 Secret Word is 'Book'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_591019 Secret Word is 'Room'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_591026 Secret Word is 'Book'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_591228 Secret Word 'Shoe'.mp3
you-bet-your-life_First Contestant - 66 Year Old Lady Bowler.mp3
you-bet-your-life_First Contestant - Dorothy Love.mp3
you-bet-your-life_First Contestants - Quinn and Linderman.mp3
