The segment that inspired You Bet Your Life: Groucho and Bob Hope on The Walgreens Hour

From March 27, 1947, here's the fabled radio segment with Groucho and Bob Hope exchanging ad libs-- many of which were totally unacceptable for radio-- that inspired producer John Guedel to create a quiz show for Groucho.
This is a funny bit-- and clearly has a lot of ad libs. But the way it's been described over the years-- by Guedel, by Arthur Marx, and practically anyone else-- is typically far removed from the reality. One legend goes, the script fell out of Hope's hands, and Groucho took the cue to toss away his script, leading to a 10 minute totally off script, wild ad lib session. Another version claims that Groucho was fuming offstage because he was called onto the program far later than expected, which led to him being surly and complaining, "Desert? Hell, I've been been waiting in the dressing room for an hour."
Both stories have grains of truth, but it's undeniably clear from this clip that (a) They were still reading from a script, both of them, however many deviations. No one dropped a script. Nonsense. (b) This had nothing to do with Groucho being angry over being kept waiting offstage too long.
But it's still a funny, funny bit.
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[@semloclusa1630]

This is classic Groucho, always breaking the “4th Wall”. As sharp as ever. A true Artist! He was The Greatest of All Time!

[@victortinajero5543]

"Ever notice that everyone in radio wears wooden shoes?" LOL

[@scootscootriot1020]

"Are you the lady of the house, or do I have smog on my glasses." LMAO

[@James-Lee-Smith]

"Now look, you're not going to suck me into an Abbot and Costello routine... with me playing Abbott."

[@silva777]

'You bet your life' was a great show. I read that all of Groucho's responses were unrehearsed. The guy had the wittiest, fastest repartee of anyone on the planet! Some of his comments drew spontaneous applause, like an athlete or musician would receive. One time a woman came on who said she was married to a sculptor. Quick as a whip Groucho answered "So when did you find out your husband was a chiseler?"

[@VicMartino]

I have heard about this Bob Hope radio program that was the inspiration for Groucho Marx You Bet Your Life Program. I heard that Groucho actually dropped both their scripts forcing them both to ad lib to see who was the better ad libber of the two but that was obviously exaggerated in the telling as many telling's are. Although there was plenty of ad libbing going on as usual when Groucho is involved and Bob can ad lib with the best of them. Both are truly two of the best comedians that ever was. I enjoyed hearing this. Thanks for the posting.

[@MrMenefrego1]

*"Did I tell you about the two vultures that were plucking each other?"* I'm surprised they let that one slip by! 👀

[@FarnhazenBrep]

First of all, thank you for posting this audio clip. The photos are enjoyable, too. I've listened to it closely and I totally agree with your description of the radio show. I have to say, that it's the first time I've ever heard Groucho Marx use his witty talents to repeatedly interrupt someone else. I feel that, one of two things were going on: either, he had a good relationship with Bob Hope and was just teasing him, or, for whatever reasons, he was expressing his irritation with Hope. It's the most adversarial I've ever heard him being.

[@bh8642]

Groucho was ALWAYS adversarial.

[@doomkarloff]

i could listen to those two for hours, thanks for posting this treasure

[@grouchomarx-youbetyourlife7476]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@milesandolivia]

Still works after all those decades...

[@Augustine549]

Great stuff! Two great comedians of their era.

[@zaygezunt]

Groucho is always the best but you've got to hand it to Bob Hope for enjoying the banter and ad-libs whilst holding the show together. Two great comedians - we will not see their like again.

[@fromthesidelines]

Guedel was with Art Linkletter at the recording because he produced "PEOPLE ARE FUNNY", and Art was going to do a special "stunt segment" for the program. After the show ended, he approached Groucho, and asked him WHY, if he was so funny during the show with Hope, wasn't he on his OWN program? Groucho told him he'd already been on FOUR radio shows, and they all failed. John told him, it's because you're funnier WITHOUT a script than sticking to one, THAT'S why the audience reacted the way they did. If I could create a show for you where you wouldn't HAVE to depend on a script.......Groucho was a bit wary of this, but agreed to let Guedel come up with a suitable format----and that became "YOU BET YOUR LIFE".

[@jazzmanchgo]

Well -- "You Bet Your Life" wasn't 100% unscripted; Groucho did have a template to follow, and -- contrary to appearances -- he did have background information on his guests, and they were coached in advance. But he had plenty of opportunity for ad-lib witicisms. as well.

[@fromthesidelines]

He also had two very talented writers- Hy Freedman and Howard Harris- assisting him with gag lines to "spice up" the conversations, when necessary.

[@dougr3142]

Groucho and Al Jolson did this same stolen mink coat bit on Jolson's show.

[@NotHarpoGroucho]

Back when Democrats and Republicans could get along

[@tomitstube]

i'd heard about this, you have to give john guedel credit for coming up with the idea, as it was told groucho at this point in his career was real unhappy because other comedians were working and he wasn't, groucho originally didn't think much of the idea but he hated not working, the marx's grew up poor and poverty was a shadow that chased him his whole life.

[@catherinemelnyk]

Back when people knew how to be funny without swearing or offending whole groups of people. Two of the funniest men in the business. Thanks for sharing this wonderful routine.

[@jessewolf7649]

Actually, it was when whole groups of people would not let themselves get offended.

[@birdieberry]

wow! this is awesome! Thank you so much for this! Another gem as usual ;)

[@grouchomarx-youbetyourlife7476]

My pleasure-- this is thanks to a member of the YBYL group on Facebook sending the audio to me.

[@psmith2112]

I can hear Jimmy Carr in the audience laughing!

[@grouchomarx-youbetyourlife7476]

Huh?

[@DireCrow]

I totally hear him too. :-) It's like an episode of Q. I.

[@StanRd2005]

Jimmy Carr is an english comdian, who has a strange laugh.

[@MapleSyrupPoet]

Quite the comedic intellect on Groucho 🧠🤡 tough to match

[@grouchomarx-youbetyourlife7476]

New YBYL extra! The radio segment that started it all. . . YBYL likely would never have been created otherwise. ------------------------ Click here to subscribe to the YBYL channel, where you'll find well over a hundred complete episodes you can't find anywhere else, as well as some rare Burns and Allen material that doesn't really belong there: kzbin.info/door/UIbTdEI7D1AMyLATIdKq5w Facebook group for You Bet Your Life! If you've already been sucked into the Facebook vortex, you might as well check it out, right? facebook.com/groups/1643223392577688/?ref=bookmarks

[@cubfann1908]

Awesome!

[@retiredmusiceducator3612]

laugh tracks way back then... but at least they were mixed with live audience... I think. Or, if they aren't laugh tracks, they are hired laughers!

[@jazzmanchgo]

Supposedly, someone dropped the script on the floor and Groucho put his foot on it -- he and Hope ad-libbed the entire thing all the way through. Can anyone confirm that?

[@Croonr1]

Does anyone have the whole show and is willing to share?

[@henningandersen9027]

No compassion for the minks there!

[@christopherkloe6442]

Did you notice when you activate the subtitles sometimes the most marvelous misunderstandings happens: Groucho becomes Tchau Tchau at Miute 7:00

[@juanr9446]

Yep close caption really bad

[@deanchristensen4783]

thank you, cousin Bob for giving us You Bet Your Life. yes, Bob Hope and I are cousins but my humor is more like Groucho.

[@samp.8099]

Dean Christensen Sure sure, we all believe that... :/

[@charlessmith48]

@@samp.8099 YEAH, & EVERYBODY GIVES A DAMN WHAT "YOU" THINK!!

[@ernestconnell8087]

🇺🇸

[@kingbee1500]

Is this the episode where Groucho dropped his script and Bob put his foot on it so they had to AD-LIB THE ENTIRE BIT? Love the RCA 44 and 88 mikes!

[@timwoods3171]

I think it's reversed... Hope dropped his script and Groucho put his foot on it. At least that's according to a terrific biography, "Groucho: The Life and Times of Julius Henry Marx," by Stefan Kanfer.

[@grouchomarx-youbetyourlife7476]

Do any of you people ever read the descriptions on these videos? Honestly. What Kanfer wrote was simply repeating the incorrect story that had been told by Arthur Marx and John Guedel for years. There's a kernel of truth to it at best, that's all. How can anyone listening to this bit not recognize that it stayed largely on script for the entire segment? There was a lot of ad libbing, but nothing like what's been described. You hear any moment in this at ALL that sounds like someone dropped a script? Either Groucho or Bob Hope?

[@gwenking7700]

+Groucho Marx - You Bet Your Life I did hear the roof cave in 😆

[@doUcare4music]

Ha ha ha ..... !

[@snuffyballparks6501]

Groucho... quick witted & uniquely funny with great timing. Bob Hope... corny joke reader.

[@onlythewise1]

greats long gone forever , new immigrants dont know much

[@onlythewise1]

oh yaaa i farted and nobody cared until i felt them umbrellas hitting me on the head as i left the building

[@mikeowen657]

IRL Groucho was a kind decent man - Hope wasn't

[@texasmimi5566]

I beg to differ about Groucho being a "kind, decent man". Not in his personal life, and he even offended the movie studios big bosses. He was an acerbic wit.

[@lisakurak3733]

He wasn't kind to any of his 3 wives. He was kind to his children.

[@m2e2]

Groucho is roping a dope (Bob Hope)

[@MrMenefrego1]

"Did I tell you about the two vultures that were plucking each other?" I'm surprised they let that one slip by! 👀