Masquerade Party

''OPENING SPIEL 50's: Who is this famous person? Well, you'll find out in just a moment on that exciting and hilarious television game, MASQUERADE PARTY! Brought to you by Esquire Shoe Polish, makers of Esquire Boot Polish and Esquire Lanol-White! And now here's your genial master of ceremonies for Masquerade Party, Bud Collyer/Douglas Edwards/Peter Donald Esquire/Eddie Bracken!''

''OPENING SPIEL 70's: Do you recognize this judge? That masquerade is a clue to his or her identity. If you don't know who it is now, you'll soon find out on television's most colorful game, MASQUERADE PARTY! And here's your host for Masquerade Party, RICHARD DAWSON!''

Masquerade Party is a panel game show on network television in the 1950s & 1960s and syndicated in the 1970s.

Gameplay
A celebrity guest appears in costume, and four panelists ask questions to determine the guest's identity, which is known to the home viewers.

On the 1950s version, each panelist may ask up to five questions at a time, but may pass at anytime. The panel would be given five minutes (5:00) to guess the identity of the guest, who earned $1 per second for the charity of the guest's choice.

In the 70s, panelists Bill Bixby, Lee Meriwether, and Nipsey Russell would each ask a maximum of three questions. The show also had an audience participation element. Before the guest was unmasked, Dawson invited two members of the studio audience onstage to guess the identity of the costumed guest. A prize was awarded to the audience member who guessed correctly.

Timekeeper
Renee Wolf (1952-1960)

Music
Bobby Rosengarten (1952-1960)

Sheldon Allman (1974-1975)

1950s & 1960s
Five episodes exist. Three exist among traders and are from 1955, 1957 and 1959 (Donald, Bracken, and Parks respectively). The 1955 episode features George DeWitt (then hosting Name That Tune) as a guest.

The UCLA Film and Television Archive holds episodes dated October 6, 1954 and May 5, 1955 (the latter also in the trading circuit).

1970s
One episode is known to exist – a studio master taped July 10, 1974 featuring Allen Ludden as a guest; the UCLA Archive lists an episode dated July 9, 1974.

Trivia
The host of the revival Richard Dawson went on to host the legendary Family Feud.

The concept of celebrities in disguise was later used in the late Dick Clark's two NBC specials called Friday Night Surprise. Then used again in the early 90s in a revival of the Bloopers series called Super Bloopers & New Practical Jokes which Clark hosted alongside Ed McMahon.

YouTube Links
Full Episode of the 50s version

Intro to the 1970s version

Who is this famous judge?

Who is Harpo Marx