You Bet Your Life #54-15 Klondike Kate; the Dosses return (Secret word: 'Name', Dec 23, 1954)

The Dosses, a couple with 12 adopted children, return from last week to answer a special make-up question for $1,000. It's an obvious ploy by Groucho and the show's producers to get the sympathetic couple to win some money for their large family, despite having lost fair and square in the previous week's quiz.
COUPLE #1: Eddie Marquiz, 10 year old misogynist / Gladys Simon
COUPLE #2: Felix Branchi / Jody Evans, dancing teacher
COUPLE #3: Klondike Kate, famed Yukon dancer / Walter Knott, owner of Knotts Berry Farm
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Episode identification and basic description based on "Tell 'em Groucho Sent You", © 1997 by Mark Petty. Used by permission.

[@susanslifewithals781]

Klondike Kate was my great-grandmother. So fun to see her on this show and to think she met Groucho Marx. So cool!!

[@Sunshine-zg7pw]

Susan's LIFE with ALS What a terrific heritage! ♥️

[@susanslifewithals781]

She was my step great-grandmother. She was married to my great-grandfather. My dad used to call her "Grandma Kate."

[@jazzmanchgo]

@@susanslifewithals781 Like I said above, it's too bad she and Groucho didn't have the opportunity to talk awhile and share some stories from their Vaudeville days. Wouldn't that have been great?

[@susanslifewithals781]

@@jazzmanchgo My family has a lot of memorabilia from her Vaudeville days, pictures, beaded handbags, jewelry, clothes but her and Groucho together was pure gold.

[@jazzmanchgo]

@@susanslifewithals781 Hang on to those treasures, make sure they stay in the family, and make sure all the children and grandchildren know about who she was, what she represented, and the history she was a part of. We need to keep the spirits of the ancestors alive!

[@yogasamrat]

Groucho is really a darling and full of compassion for humanity.What a lovely guy!

[@oldefellah52]

Bringing the Dosses back shows how generous Groucho was. Donates a freezer full of food. Great man. Great shows.

[@RRW1982]

Just learning that fact alone would show so many people what was deep in Groucho's heart. That kind of example is timeless, as inspiring now as it was then. Thank you!

[@dariawells7438]

It's so sweet how much he's trying to help them with the answer to the $1,000 question, too.

[@joemackojc2811]

Was Kate a boozer? Cause she looks good for her age. That cane is for beating guys off.

[@poetcomic1]

Much nicer than the vile Queen for a Day where three women pour out their wretched misery but only the worst of the three gets a dime.

[@magovenor]

Back in the late eighties, I used to deliver produce to Knott’s Berry Farm, which was known more for the rides at that time. I liked the way that Groucho displayed kindness to the ten year old boy, the way a grandfather deals with kids.

[@poetcomic1]

Bend Oregon old folks might remember her as 'Aunt Kate'. She had an amazing life. During the Depression she made soup for hoboes and poor people and was a charity institution in the town. Her young Klondike days were just as disreputable as you would imagine.

[@albrokenomoney2127]

So awesome to see Walter Knott and Yukon Kate on this ep.

[@marymarysmarket3508]

Klondike Kate

[@TheHaratashi]

Groucho loved kids.

[@SaxonC]

There's no more quick witted than Groucho! Man, Groucho is like lightning'

[@Groucho-tg1tx]

Saxon C. Don Rickles

[@zacredman9137]

@@Groucho-tg1tx He didn't come close!🤣

[@johnconti5226]

I think who comes close to Groucho in modern times would be the likes of Jonathan Winters or Robin Williams.

[@RRW1982]

@@johnconti5226 There are similarities with Robin Williams, Jonathan Winters...and Don Rickles was also mentioned, but they are all stand-alone and unique individuals. Comparing is good for only so much, and after that it can grow into valuing one as being better than the other, which can be misleading. In the case of Groucho, we see him here in a relatively fixed format that also allows for the unpredictable, and with his grounding in Vaudeville and all that went with that, he was wired differently. That last comment was too much of a tangent, but my point is that Groucho, for all his quick-wit, sharp-edge and multi-facted array of verbal ballet, he had a level of simple humanity that could be as disarming as his 'interviewing' techniques.

[@TowGunner]

I love when Groucho messes with George about Jack.

[@MrMenefrego1]

We use to watch 'You Bet Your Life', then 'The Adventures of Ozzy & Harriet' on The Disney Channel back in the BIG 80's. I worked at a Hormel/Fleur de lis meat packing plant that was built back in the 1950's; so it was like living back in those days again after working all day in a building with 1950's era furnishings and architecture, then watching old 1950's TV programs with the wife as our baby son crawling around in his padded baby crib thingie.. My wife would even make special dinners from her grandmothers old 1940's-50's era cookbook to make it really authentic! Good stuff too, lots of fat and rich desserts, REAL AMERICAN CUISINE! Sadly that marriage didn't work out, and we lost our son in Desert Storm when he was just 20 years old. It was sure nice while it lasted though.

[@charlesbrooks9577]

Sorry to hear about your son.

[@Sunshine-zg7pw]

I’m so sorry, too. It does sound like you had a very nice life for a good while, though. More happiness in than many ever do manage to have, so I’m thankful you at least had that. I hope you have faith in the Lord, and may He bless you now.

[@MrMenefrego1]

@@Sunshine-zg7pw Thank you, what a kind thing to say. May God Bless and be with you as well.

[@janepatterson6779]

So, so sorry for the loss of your son...

[@MrJamespeyton]

I was born in 1944 and grew up in the 50’s. It was the absolute best time in my lifetime. A totally different class of people.

[@captaindj9790]

Groucho had a ❤️

[@axiomist4488]

I love how when Groucho told Klondike Kate she should visit Knotsberry Farm and that they had lots of old relics there, she looked at the old guy up and down . Everybody cracked up .

[@peternewby5096]

Kate was very attractive in her performing days. She did appreciate Groucho acknowledging her Vaudeville days and you can hear her quietly thank him @18:45 during applause. She still has a pleasant beauty at 74.

[@maryperez1235]

She was 82 yrs. old here. Died shortly afterwards.

[@justinpino8115]

+Mary Perez she told Groucho she was 74

[@maryperez1235]

Yes..she told him that was her age but according to Wikipedia, she was 82 at this time. Interesting life she had

[@decafjnr]

@@maryperez1235 That makes more sense!! I'm 72 and look half her age! I couldn't believe she was actually 74.

[@schutzhund3933]

I was a ride operator at Knotts in late 70’s, Walter still lived at the park and was pushed around the park every morning before opening in a wheelchair.

[@BrodyJoeandBriars]

Way back in '71, as a teen ager, I met a girl from Cal. who was visiting her granny here in Alabama...back home, she lived close to Knots Berry Farm and when she returned home, she'd put some Knots Berry taffy in her letters to me! Those letters kept the great scent of blueberries for many years!

[@tanikiahall7414]

They need to bring this show back.. like this show… I am here 09/ 6/ 2022

[@chezruss]

Kathleen Rockwell known as Klondike Kate - certainly an elegant lady with an interesting life - She eventually was known by locals (in Bend Oregon) as "Aunt Kate", and according to reports from Bend locals, "She was a fund-raising dynamo, able to shake down almost any business or person for a contribution to a social cause; during the Great Depression she made gallons and gallons of soup to help out the hobos" Wiki en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathleen_Rockwell

[@farleyxwilbur655]

To the uploader: Thanks in general for all these YBYL episodes. In their response to the question "what is the front of a building?", the Doss's replied "front elevation", while the word "facade" is what the show's producers had said was the correct answer. Despite this miss, they were brought back (and did not win the $1000) because Groucho and others decided "front elevation" was good enough. You say they were brought back even though they "lost fair and square". Look it up: front elevation is indeed also a correct answer. So Groucho and his producers decided correctly to bring them back.

[@grouchomarx-youbetyourlife7476]

FarleyX Wilbur You're very welcome, and as for the quiz stuff you're talking about, I'll have to take your word for it. I honestly don't remember the segment in the slightest at this point. :)

[@moss8448]

+FarleyX Wilbur:: the term 'elevation' is used in construction drawings to represent each cardinal side of a building (East-West-South-North)showing the (usually building) from the ground level to the top it shows the 'finished' product whether it be brick 'facade' or stucco or whatever with doors, widows, eaves, gutters....the whole shebang.

[@mrpuniverse2]

I agree with the poster as I have the episode on dvd where they appeared and the whole facade thing as true. The woman wrote a book about the family which she mentioned on that episode

[@peterklutinoty244]

Absolutely correct. So dislike smug KZbinrs. THIS ONE admits to be too lazy to check the episode before stating an ignorant and and FALSE statement!

[@MrMenefrego1]

@@peterklutinoty244 Calm down dude.. it's just an old TV show... Geeze!

[@martinjones5965]

This is the most rebellious/spontaneous I've seen Groucho and that's coming from a high base. Fenneman barely kept himself composed ... hilarious.

[@davequinn4701]

Kitty" Rockwell-also known as Klondike Kate, the Belle of the Yukon. Born 1876 junction city Kansas.. She died 2 years after this.. RIP KATE 🥰

[@walkingtrails7776]

Back when people could take a joke.

[@michaeltraffanstedt7674]

Thank you,your right.

[@marymarysmarket3508]

Yes..even when the joke was on them. A better time.

[@BH-zx4dm]

Back when jokes were jokes and not veiled, meaned spirited jibes.

[@russellloomis4376]

I think her ruffled Mr. Knotts feathers. He was very serious man. He didn't allow lolly- gaging.

[@theresaholguin699]

The right answer of course was Birth Of A Nation. Very good silent movie. Groucho was a true and funny man he was one of a kind

[@cefcat5733]

It is wonderful to hear that an ancestor was on the show. It is so alive but so long ago.

[@sweiland75]

20:08 Just a look and it's hilarious!

[@rll1954]

This was aired three days before I was born!

[@MrMenefrego1]

That's so cool!

[@acousticshadow4032]

...and nearly 9 months before I was born!

[@lindaeasley5606]

Many people would be amazed to learn that Groucho treated blacks like anyone else when they were contestants on his show. In fact just having them appear on his show probably angered Southerners back then

[@GOLDFOLDS1]

that kid is not black. hes indian.. from the sub continent. nice try.

[@marymarysmarket3508]

@@GOLDFOLDS1Mexican

[@brianmacklin5175]

Funniest comedian of all time !!

[@Michele0403]

What a brilliant answer to the question Groucho asked the man, how he met his wife of over 40 years... the man says he can't remember, and Groucho quickly responds that he's glad the guy can't remember cuz he's sick of hearing how men met their wives.... !!!! Too funny !

[@ididthemath5567]

I love how grouch is trying really hard to give to this wonderful couple that he invited from last episode.

[@indetif839]

Gladys would pass for 50 these days. People looked so much older for their age in the 1950s!

[@louisep5178]

Kate was born in1880 ❤. Groucho was on form on this episode 😁

[@jimmiedee2315]

Another fun episode.

[@ohmeowzer1]

The little boy is cute

[@djjo4757]

The boy is smart he knew what misogynistic meant

[@magnificent6668]

Because the grown woman standing next to him told him in a low voice what it meant.

[@jbvideos6605]

And the man who founded Knott’s Berry Farm

[@martinjones5965]

14m48s - "It's close to Israel" was obviously not his intended answer but Grouchos good nature can't help itself.

[@anthonywest4173]

HANDSOME BOY.

[@natives602CC]

I couldn't imagine seeing my young grandmother standing there all gitty and youthful. It would be weird to see.

[@robertewing3114]

From now on I want one answer between you. Stand between them George!

[@gastropod557]

No better straight-man than George Fennemen!

[@1949LA-ARCH]

The one the only Groucho 🎉

[@MartinSage]

Why isn't the Rich+Famous Mr.Knotts listed on the Title. I love how he says he's just a Farmer...a very wealthy one!

[@keithhyttinen8275]

And he was dumb as a bag of wood chips. Typical California businessman of the 50's.

[@henrybrowne7248]

Eddie Marquiz looks like Sugar Ray Robinson.

[@mikeyates7931]

George Fenniman was a great announcer and a great straight Man

[@MadTheDJ]

Klondike Kate, wow! Look her up, she had a heck of a life and passed away a few years after this appearance.

[@timothyhughes1904]

I liked the way Groucho played with the ten year old boy. Marx was so far ahead of his time. In 1954 many, if not most, people had serious skin color hang ups.

[@peterklutinoty244]

Agreed. And this KZbinr called him a MISOGYNIST as his actual DESCRIPTION here! 😵

[@MrMenefrego1]

@Karen Banks No White American is as bigoted as many Black American's are now.. they even hate one another, just look to Chicago's Black-on-Black murder rate. You can take the African out of Africa but you can't take Africa out of the African!

[@anthonywest4173]

HANDSOME BOY.

[@m42037]

j.d. di giusto What about the "European American?"

[@davidb190]

@@MrMenefrego1 After 400+ years of violent racial discrimination I can't imagine why blacks would hate whites. Shocking!! Newsflash: whites kill whites everyday.

[@E.Carrillo]

Wow 74 is very different today then it was back then.

[@patbackus7668]

You know how many bios and documentaries I’ve watched on WW2 and the Germans and I couldn’t come up with Hess ? And I knew what the answer was ! But nothing stays in my head !

[@marc108]

Knotts looks like barnaby jones

[@arthurametrano7845]

Are used to love that show it’s too bad it’s still not on.

[@moodswingy1973]

Still on. Jay Leno does it.

[@Tomas-nq8gf]

Leno does it but not well.

[@geoffnepo]

I believe the real Klondike Kate was an entrepreneur who followed the gold rush to Alaska not known to be an entertainer

[@mosmith9187]

Knotts and Kate work well off each other humorously.

[@karenleemallonee684]

When they introduced Me. Walter Knott, I'm like, "Why does his name sound familiar"? lOl, love me some Chicken Dinner...yum!!! 😋

[@jasonbeard4713]

No, the Doss family did NOT "lose fair and square". Helen's answer "front elevation" was acceptable and correct, and should have been their winning key on the previous episode.

[@stevebartley8594]

We used to go to Knott’s for the chicken dinner. There was a stage coach ride and not much else. Now of course it is a big amusement park, and the last time I ate the chicken, it wasn’t very good

[@SuperWinterborn]

Could the "Secret Word" only been used/mentioned once, for to win the 100$? Mr. Knott said it too, but nothing happened?

[@grouchomarx-youbetyourlife7476]

No, all the contestants were entitled to get the $100 for saying the word if they did. I've never seen a show where it happened more than once. My guess is one of a few things happened: (1) They edited out the second secret word payout because it would have taken up too much program time, (2) The lineup of contestants was juggled around from different recording sessions and the editor goofed in not removing a mention of the secret word as he should have (this is part of the reason Groucho always wore the same outfit, to give the editors the freedom to mix up the segments), or (3) they simply missed it, but this is the least likely, since there was a person on staff who was designated during the recording sessions specifically and only to listen for the secret word to prevent it from ever being missed. Not knowing the specific reference you're making here, I should also note that this only applies to the secret word being said by contestants from different couples. Obviously, once a couple won the $100, they weren't entitled to win it again by saying the word twice. :)

[@SuperWinterborn]

Groucho Marx - You Bet Your Life It *was* a different couple (of course, or else I wouldn't mentioned it ;) Klondike Kate and Mr. Knott. He (Knott) said it around 21:54, but it maybe wouldn't count during a conference inbetween the couple after being questioned...(?)

[@grouchomarx-youbetyourlife7476]

SuperWinterborn It should have counted whenever it was said. I've seen shows where the secret word was counted during the quiz segment. I think in this case it was simply missed by the staff, because it was said a bit under his breath during the quiz and Groucho responded *immediately*. This pretty much rules out the payout having been edited out for pacing reasons. It's still possible the couples were juggled around from different shows, but this wasn't done very often. Good catch-- and thanks for providing the time code. I definitely wouldn't have had time to rewatch the whole show, and probably would have missed it again myself if I had!

[@ManInTheBigHat]

Why is Groucho's mic blurred out? Is this some kind of copyright issue? I have trouble believing that.

[@grouchomarx-youbetyourlife7476]

No, it's not a copyright issue. This was done when they were preparing the YBYL films for reruns. There was an NBC logo on the microphone, so to be able to sell the shows to non-NBC stations, they felt they had to optically edit the films to obscure the logo. Even worse is that they zoomed in and reframed any shots that showed the sponsor logo on the back wall of the set so that the sponsor logos wouldn't be visible-- which makes the many of the wide shots on YBYL now look like they were framed by a blind and/or insane cameraman.

[@NikPiz]

great

[@FF11Freshstep]

Klondike Kate (Kathleen Rockwell nee Van Duren) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathleen_Rockwell she died only a couple years after this.

[@Kikilang60]

The shows were shot in the fifties, and were longer. Then they were were shown in later times, and edited down to meet the shorter run times. The editing is okay, but you can catch it if you watch.

[@9sbth]

Why did Klondike Kate lie about her age? Wasn't she 81 at that time?

[@TruckTaxiMoveIt]

Earl Smith ... sadly so many women still doing that today, at all ages

[@theoakhills]

Kate died in Sweet Home Oregon...I live in Oregon....interesting. Ginger Rogers had a place in Rogue Valley.

[@elgubero]

Earl Smith Maybe she forgot how old she was!?!?

[@patbackus7668]

Earl Smith well she definitely looked older , but didn’t she have a tough life ?

[@myownname5495]

Because sadly this is a fraud Kate the real kate had died in 1932

[@martinjones5965]

13m25s - classic facial expression

[@jazzmanchgo]

It would have been great if Groucho and Kate could have talked a little longer and shared a few stories from their days in Vaudeville. That would have been really interesting and fun.

[@justmemother2]

Back when an adult could put a child on his lap.

[@dennisurbina7570]

Everyone is pervert now so sad

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Did YBYL ever experiment with videotape?

[@grouchomarx-youbetyourlife7476]

I've never seen any reference that indicated it, no. Remember that YBYL was overrecorded and edited down to the best half hour for broadcast. Videotape editing was a very crude process back then, not to mention that videotape itself was a more expensive medium to store shows on. It was much easier for them to have just filmed the show and edited it the same low tech way films had been edited for 50 years. Other contemporary game shows were able to use videotape because there was minimal-- if any-- editing required.

[@peterklutinoty244]

What the hell is "overrecorded?" 😠

[@peterklutinoty244]

Is it like "front elevation?!"😂😂😂

[@ajjackson1526]

@@grouchomarx-youbetyourlife7476 So do the full unedited episodes exist anywhere?

[@patbackus7668]

He didn’t even mean to say Israel? Lol 😝

[@MsDisneylandlover]

His he one of the maxic brothers

[@GeorgeSwift-qj1ik]

Those damn audiences pick up on everything.

[@TedTrembinski]

Why was there a child on this episode? Out of all the episodes I've seen it seems like that team had the most clear disadvantage - I would have hated to be her and stuck with the kid!

[@poetcomic1]

Klondike Kate was amazingly beautiful in her youth and married the wealthy Pantages of 'Pantages Vaudeville Circuit' fame. upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/91/Klondike_kate_rockwell_portrait.jpg

[@tehanilefotu3100]

They actually didn't get married... he took all of her money and it helped build his theater in Tacoma. She's my great great great grandmother

[@poetcomic1]

You kind of look like her! Nice!

[@sharonnuanes8499]

Kate never had any children. How could she be your great great great grandmother?

[@tehanilefotu3100]

Sharon Nuanes by marriage

[@Aliexpressrewards]

2019

[@williambranham6249]

I noticed he didn't comment on Mrs. Doss's figure.

[@Drac39]

Weren't these the people where the line about Groucho's cigar came from?

[@grouchomarx-youbetyourlife7476]

+Drac39 No. If that line ever happened, which is extremely doubtful, it happened on a radio-only episode that aired in Jan 1950. And the line, if it happened, was of course edited out of the broadcast version.

[@Drac39]

+Groucho Marx - You Bet Your Life Too bad. When the legend is that good you almost wish it were true.

[@grouchomarx-youbetyourlife7476]

Drac39 Absolutely!

[@thenerdshow2702]

Groucho later claimed he never said the line. The closest it ever came to being uttered on the TV show was when he had two guests: a Mrs. Story and her daughter. Mrs. Story had 18 or 19 kids and one on the way. Groucho asked the daughter how her father felt about this. The daughter replied, "Oh, my father loves children" Groucho replied, "Well, I love pancakes, but I don't have closets full of them."

[@MrMenefrego1]

@@grouchomarx-youbetyourlife7476: What 'line' is he talking about?

[@paulettemorris2808]

When tv had no color

[@ubroberts5541]

74? Will all due respect she looked like she was 94.

[@gilbertsanchez3277]

There were alot of pretty women in his shows back then.

[@junebornthug1595]

Gladys Simon looks like Kim Kardashian only better

[@patbackus7668]

I was wrong,

[@starbuono3333]

Why did they sometimes have famous people on as contestants ? Or people who were once famous?

[@grouchomarx-youbetyourlife7476]

Simple answer, really: to keep people interested in tuning in!

[@stevenhogan942]

Groucho Marx - You Bet Your Life

[@bobdownes162]

There were also contestants on the show who were there I beleive in a 'Live audition' capacity, as there were sometimes Producers of different sorts in the audience sometimes, or watching the show at their homes or wherever. eg. John Wayne saw Pedro Gonzales Gonzales on the TV transmittion and put him in several of his pictures.

[@MrMenefrego1]

@@bobdownes162 Thanks for the fascinating, Behind-The-Scenes details... It was a wonderful, experimental time in American Television!

[@bobdownes162]

@@MrMenefrego1 You're Welcome.

[@giavannabellucci309]

What was the point of having the the 10 year old kid on from couple #1? Groucho hardly talked to him and the kid didn't even answer any questions. Weird.

[@MrMenefrego1]

It was for the Frontage, the Facade and the Elevation...

[@henningandersen9027]

11 34 no she's a WHAT????????

[@kjboulard]

Slav

[@papagen00]

I wish they would cut out the game part and talk more.

[@patbackus7668]

Again why bring bring people on that don’t have a chance of answering any questions?

[@irontribeissues9104]

I love how the racists and misogynists show themselves for who they are by yearning for the good old days when you could say any insulting thing you liked so long as it fell along the lines of racism or misogyny....

[@michaelm6948]

I love an eejit who assumes that the wide range of people, of every kind of background, who express nostalgia must be a racist and/or a misogynist.

[@peterklutinoty244]

Btw, the Doss' answer WAS true. It's not a normally used word as opposed to the one the Producers use. They aren't the smartest ppl. Go back and watch the episode...and LISTEN to their immediate confusion over the response. "Obvious ploy?" Ignorant statement.

[@MrMenefrego1]

where? give a timestamp!

[@robertklose2140]

She's only 74? (16:16)

[@robertklose2140]

I agree with you that she looks older than 74. According to The Oregon Encyclopedia she was born in 1876, which would make her 78 here.

[@henningandersen9027]

She's a slav....why was that funny?

[@grouchomarx-youbetyourlife7476]

I think it was supposed to have been a play on words on "slob".

[@henningandersen9027]

I suspected that, thanks.

[@Stigggs]

It sounded like he said slob. It gave Grouhco an opening.