To Tell the Truth - Sing Sing warden; Bing Crosby's brother (Jan 29, 1957)

This is Hildy Parks's last show on the panel, and the first episode to make several tweaks to the show's format. Most importantly, there are now three rounds per episode rather than just two. But also of note: this show finally drops the silly closing bit where the panelists all lied about their names, in exchange for a simple goodnight and the sign off line Bud would use for the next 12 years. The format of the questioning still hasn't been modified to the one-round-per-panelist format, and the panelists still aren't explaining their own votes yet, but otherwise, we're already pretty close to the classic TTTT format.
PANEL: Polly Bergen, John Cameron Swayze, Hildy Parks, Hy Gardner
CONTESTANT #1: Wilfred Denno (Warden at Sing Sing)
CONTESTANT #2: Muriel Agnelli (Editor of Dorothy Dix column)
CONTESTANT #3: Edward J. Crosby (Bing Crosby's brother)
Many thanks, as always, to epaddon for providing his copy of this episode.
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[@KCGeno]

This episode of TTTT originally aired the day after I made my worldly debut.

[@oldwestguy]

5 months before mine.

[@UberLummox]

Holy crap you guys are OLD! : )) I'm not too far behind actually. Four days before Kennedy was blasted. : /

[@joeambrose3260]

The medals are in the mail

[@davidturk6301]

A youngster!

[@sketchartist1964]

Just in time to watch it! Lol

[@gabe-po9yi]

Regarding the Sing Sing Warden, it’s pretty bad when an imposter knows more about your prison than you do.

[@arcanondrum6543]

Lately, I've heard a lot more about Ike (and even about his pressure on Pres. JFK). So, while the circumstances are different, the 2 brothers would compete for your consternation.

[@TheKazadoodle]

Last one was super easy - there was a distinct family resemblance in both speech and appearance.

[@robrepublic1]

Mr Swayze way too intense to be a regular panelist.

[@stephenkennedy8767]

Robert Rutger should have been Joe Friday’s partner on Dragnet

[@bobwallace9814]

@@stephenkennedy8767 Don Ameche could have been his partner too.

[@larryeagleson3182]

Ralph Bellamy liked to interrogate also.

[@newlywedbeth]

not sure if others commented on the format changes from episode to episode. I missed the fake celebrity names at the conclusion. That's one of my favorite parts. I also noticed host gave little to no time for panelists to question at the end of each segment. I think I prefer two longer segments to three shorter ones. Funny how they tweaked each episode as the season progressed.

[@jacquelinebell6201]

When he smiles Ted Crosby looks a lot like his brother!

[@Farrah300]

I'm actually glad they finally dropped the silly closing where the panelists fib about their names. It was okay, but a simple goodnight does much better.

[@Beson-SE]

2:25 Hy Gardner: Nr 1... Seems silly calling a warden by a number!

[@BMF6889]

$250 per incorrect vote doesn't sound like much to divide between 3 people today, but then as a Marine platoon commander in Vietnam in 1969 I made $450 a month.

[@rebeccarosenlum1798]

Yow!

[@wattsjetton3027]

Celebrity Guests: 1. Polly Bergen 2. John Cameron Swayze 3. Hildy Parks 4. Hy Gardner Host: Bud Collyer

[@VahanNisanian]

In Game 3, I knew it was #2. He knew his brother's real name for one thing.

[@soulierinvestments]

Is this the first time Collyer did that highly effective closing bit -- pointing the finger at the TV audience and reminding us "To Tell the Truth" ??

[@victoryak86]

My two favorite intermittent guests n this show were Johnny Carson and a Rick Van Dyke.

[@MichaelSimmons.]

I had a great game. 0 for 3. I was sure the warden was #3. The journalist #2.

[@Farrah300]

Mr. Crosby passed away in 1973

[@keithnaylor1981]

Polly Bergen was a real good looker, looking especially beautiful in this edition. KAN

[@UberLummox]

I concur. Very "handsome" as they use to say.

[@ellemathews9840]

She looks a but like jackie Kennedy onassis to me

[@joeambrose3260]

Can't stand Polly-Ana, with respect

[@karltiedemann9329]

@@joeambrose3260 Don't be a hater.

[@joeambrose3260]

@@karltiedemann9329 I don't hate. I hate haters who hate haters to conceal their hatred. Don't you hate that ?

[@gsadventures678]

Hildy's pretty

[@VahanNisanian]

I also see subtle changes in some of the dings, and the readouts for contestants' votes.

[@zacharydunlap-tunnage2220]

How can you tell?

[@kenyongray2615]

The brother of Bing Crosby looked like him in the eyes. This was a much better format. No fluff and wasting time. Play the games. Thanks for the video.

[@VahanNisanian]

I like how GSN clearly got the airdates wrong. Shows how much they know.

[@TruckTaxiMoveIt]

Judge was an excellent liar because he fooled me too.

[@lisal8984]

I thought it was #3 until that last shot of #2 and he had Bings expression in his eyes then I knew it was 2

[@Beson-SE]

Weren't there some wardens on WML? Maybe not this one.

[@SuperWinterborn]

Johan Bengtsson There were some wardens, but as far as I remember, none from Sing Sing.

[@sarahelizabeth5232]

SuperWinterborn Actually, there was and it was Warden Denno. He was on What's My Line before this episode of TTTT.

[@SuperWinterborn]

Sarah Elizabeth Thanks! :)

[@sarahelizabeth5232]

No Problem :)

[@thereseember2800]

Master Chief Petty Officer is the highest non-commissioned role in the Navy.

[@JayTemple]

I had thought that someone would ask, "What's the actual name of Sing Sing?" (It's Ossining, which is also the town mentioned.)

[@joeambrose3260]

No shit, Sherlock

[@donnawoodford6641]

Round #3: Which contestant most looks like Bing Crosby?

[@kristabrewer9363]

Why do the rules always change on this show? It started out with 7 minutes, then it was 5 minutes and now it's 4. Plus the first 2 weeks in January, they didn't do the ballot, then said their vote audibly. And now their back to the ballot again. For a game show, they sure change the rules alot

[@jacquelinebell6201]

They're obviously working out what formats work best. The show hasn't been on that long.

[@BlueLineGroovy]

I’ve never heard of any of the panelists.

[@rosered103]

I knew it was number 2. The ears gave it away.

[@nowvoyagerNE]

thank goodness they found a way to stop Polly Bergen from wasting so much time with her negative attention-seeking behavior!!!

[@brucealvarez9263]

Really?? Seems to me this is the first show where she was wasting the next questioner's time. She was even worse in the next episode.

[@stephenkennedy8767]

Agree what an ego

[@Farrah300]

@@brucealvarez9263 Thankfully, she left the show.

[@PV-pu5iu]

What a strange format.

[@zacharydunlap-tunnage2220]

This is also the first show where the 1st team of challengers is already in place instead of walking up the steps and the big "curtain" is already raised. But I guess this is one of those tweaks you already mentioned.

[@VahanNisanian]

In Game 2, I thought it would #1. Arthur Godfrey was born in New York, not in Boston or Amsterdam, like #2 and #3 said.

[@retrorex]

***** You're wrong. #1 said Godfrey was born in Baltimore, while #2 claimed Boston. Only #3 got it right. Amsterdam Avenue is in Manhattan. Watch it again.

[@gsadventures678]

Polly is stunning!

[@ToniHunterOne]

The acoustics must be terrible in the studio. Every episode the guests and panel all seem to struggle with hearing others. I haven't seen the entire layout of the studio, but it seems the panel also has to lean forward to see/or hear the contestants.

[@soulierinvestments]

Was the record player broken? This is a stark game without music.

[@zacharydunlap-tunnage2220]

soulierinvestments What do you mean by your question?

[@soulierinvestments]

TTTT gets my vote as the best scored game show of that period. This episode seems to have little -- if any -- music.

[@fanboy2015]

+soulierinvestments They had a great theme score. There are some shows were they barely play the music.

[@Arthur_McGowan]

It's no. 2. He sounds just like Bing, and looks something like him.

[@VahanNisanian]

Hildy Parks will appear once more in 1960.

[@zacharydunlap-tunnage2220]

***** You some kind of hairstylist or are you just supersensitive?

[@WhatsMyLine]

***** I don't have the slightest problem with this conversation. :) I only care about people being civil, and avoiding controversial topics, which is something I never have to worry about from you. Carry on!

[@joeambrose3260]

What do I do with that information?

[@sweets9957]

I knew #2 was Bings brother because of his ears lol.

[@joeambrose3260]

Don't be a hater

[@sweets9957]

@@joeambrose3260 Now what is it I hate exactly?

[@sweets9957]

@@joeambrose3260 Now what is it I hate exactly?

[@joeambrose3260]

@@sweets9957 Think Einstein, think !

[@joeambrose3260]

@Linda Bishop I'm flattered you took the time to tell me that. You sound like a feisty lady , or so I hope ( that you're a lady )

[@billolsen4360]

I still like Vitameatavegamin way better than Geritol.

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

Man #1 in Game #1 Lady #3 in Game #2 Man #2 in Game #3

[@peternagy-im4be]

Please remove this moronic troll from the comments section

[@jimmygoodrich9590]

​@@peternagy-im4benever

[@thumbthump]

Chemtrails exposed.

[@soulierinvestments]

TTTT has been at for over a month, and only know are 2 of the 4 most memorable early panelists in place.

[@zacharydunlap-tunnage2220]

soulierinvestments Bergen and now Hy Gardner?

[@roseb.1537]

This new show was cheap in delving out the winnings compared to the 1956 shows.

[@huskyjerk]

What is the name "Hy" all about?

[@UberLummox]

Wondered that as well. Hy was the main character is the incredible Cohen Bros. movie "Raising Arizona" played by Nicholous Cage.

[@Arthur_McGowan]

Hyman? (Jewish, IIRC.)

[@rebeccarosenlum1798]

@@Arthur_McGowan Yes. At least such was the case for the only two Hys I've known.

[@terryniblett9329]

John Swayze...FUCKIN' CHILL!!!

[@stephenkennedy8767]

Hy Gardner was really a jerk