User:Daniel Benfield/Beat the Clock 1950 Video Archive

The original Beat the Clock, hosted by Bud Collyer, was a fun show that went the basic route with its prizes: couples played a $100 Clock, then a $200 Clock, then a Jackpot Clock for some prizes.

LEGAL STUFF SO I DON'T GET SUED: I'm only linking to these videos, none of which were uploaded by me, for the purposes of research and as a public record. Footage ©1950-61 Goodson-Todman Productions/FremantleMedia and associated entities.

CBS Primetime (1950-58)
March 23, 1950 - February 23, 1958

This said, things did change over time: Sylvania became the sponsor in October 1950, remaining into June 1956. The set underwent several changes as well, most notably in early 1957.

1950-52
Sometime between October 13, 1951 and July 26, 1952, the show introduced its Bonus Stunt, which started at $100 and grew by that amount each week until won. Presumably since the Bonus Stunt was played for cash, it was generally much harder than the three standard Clocks ($100, $200, JACKPOT).

By August 2, 1952, the show's theme became "Lights of Broadway". December 20, 1952 brought the first iteration of the show's well-known "Hickory-Dickory-Dock" animated intro, although for its first two months it included shots of people laughing that were really, really creepy.

1951
 * October 13, 1951 (Mr. & Mrs. Greiger at $100 Clock {continued from last week}, Mr. & Mrs. Ray Milahn, Mr. & Mrs. George Rowland; has commercials {alternate copy})
 * [Earliest episode known to exist, and the only one known to exist from before August 1952. Bud notes this is a special Halloween show (although there's nothing really Halloween-related about it), and at one point plugs the Beat the Clock Party Booklet.]

1952
 * August 2, 1952 (John Reed King hosts: Mr. & Mrs. Edward Foy at $100 Clock, Mr. & Mrs. David Tidings, Mr. & Mrs. Mark Parker, John & Leigh Notig {Bonus Stunt is at $200}; taped from GSN)
 * [Earliest episode GSN has aired.]
 * August 9, 1952 (John Reed King hosts: John & Leigh Notig at $100 Clock, Mario & Pauline Beringo?, Peter & Eleanor Solomon; taped from GSN, ends during credits)
 * August 16, 1952 (John Reed King hosts: Peter & Eleanor Solomon at Jackpot Clock, Marcus & Claire Moran, Mr. & Mrs. Humbert, Private Edward & Joan Sankovich; taped from GSN)

Bud returns (began 8/23/52)
 * August 23, 1952 (Private Edward & Joan Sankovich at $200 Clock, Mr. & Mrs. John Pavlin, John & Rachel Jakes, Mr. & Mrs. Albert Winesten; taped from GSN, ends during credits)


 * September 13, 1952 (Mr. & Mrs. Bill Pannisol at $200 Clock, Mrs. & Mrs. James Fitzgivins, Mr. & Mrs. Pearson, Mr. & Mrs. William Moulton {Bonus Stunt is at $100}; GSN broadcast)
 * [Very different intro used this week. By this point, a Roxanne doll is given to daughters of the couples.]
 * September 20, 1952 (Mr. & Mrs. William Moulton {continued from last week}, Lieutenant & Mrs. McDonald, Mr. & Mrs. Alodelis, Mr. & Mrs. Schuster; taped from GSN)
 * September 27, 1952 (Jane & Ken Sipe at $100 Clock, Mr. & Mrs. Dick Marshall, Mr. & Mrs. Jim Wilson, Mr. & Mrs. James Greco; taped from GSN)


 * October 4, 1952 (Mr. & Mrs. James Greco {continued from last week}, Mr. & Mrs. Bill Brewer, Mr. & Mrs. Drew Flowers, Mr. & Mrs. Walter Cane; taped from GSN)
 * [Bud notes that it's been two years since Sylvania began sponsoring the show.]

Intro changes to the cartoon mouse...followed by the creepy laughing (began 12/20/52)

CBS Daytime (1957-58)
September 16, 1957 - September 12, 1958

The daytime Clock aired at 2:00 PM Eastern, initially facing the second half of Club 60 on NBC (ABC didn't program in that hour until October 1958). Club 60 went by the wayside in early January, leaving Clock unopposed on the network level until June 30, when NBC debuted Lucky Partners in the slot...and subsequently didn't last long, so on August 25 the network moved its popular Truth or Consequences there from the 11:30 AM slot. Bud Collyer lasted three weeks against Bob Barker.

As far as I know, nothing of this run is around, although I'm reasonably sure it was played for lower stakes than the nighttime show.

ABC Daytime (1958-61)
October 13, 1958 - January 27, 1961

Aired at 3:00 PM, and from what I can tell went unsponsored for this last part of the run.


 * September 23, 1960 (Begins with Mr. & Mrs. Bill Hunt {Bonus Stunt is at $20,100!}; original broadcast, Bonus Stunt only)

British Versions
ATV London for ITV, Weekly: September 25, 1955 - 1967

Beat the Clock was never its own show in the UK, but rather an ~8-minute segment of the long-running Sunday Night at the London Palladium. The original host was Tommy Trinder, who was replaced in 1958 by Bruce Forsyth, although he was replaced for a period in 1960-61 by Don Arrol. Bruce was permanently replaced by Norman Vaughan in 1962, who in turn was replaced by Jimmy Tarbuck in 1965.

The show also had a whole bunch of guest hosts, including Max Bygraves, Bob Monkhouse, and Des O'Connor.

Problem is, at least in 1960, it's all too brief. Eight minutes isn't really enough time to explain and do more than about three stunts.

Bruce Forsyth (1958-60/1961-62)
 * April 17, 1960 (Sophie & Bill at first Clock {continued from last week}, Jo & Peter {Part 2}; Bonus Stunt is at £200)

''ITV: 1973 - 1974? (as part of "Sunday Night at the London Palladium")''

BBC1, Weekly: 1987 (as part of "Seaside Special '87")

LWT for ITV: 2000 (as part of "Tonight at the London Palladium")

I can't find any footage of the three revivals (of Clock, not Palladium), so I'll go through these quickly: the 1970s version was hosted by Jim Dale, the '87 run by Mike Smith, and the 2000 series by Bruce Forsyth again.