You Bet Your Life #56-14 Chop My Head Off (Secret word 'Smile', Dec 27, 1956)

COUPLE #1: Halo Meadows, a songwriter who performs (I wouldn't exactly call it "singing") her, um, "song", entitled "Chop My Head Off" / Morris Kushner, former radio gag writer
COUPLE #2: Marjorie Yeager, expectant mother with 9 other children / Lingo, a folk singer and naturalist. Groucho seems to sincerely enjoy his music, joining in at one point to harmonize.
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Episode identification and basic description based on "Tell 'em Groucho Sent You", © 1997 by Mark Petty. Used by permission.

[@1949LA-ARCH]

Thanks for the memories 😂Groucho is a golden gem. I haven’t laughed so much in years😂the contestants are hilarious, plus smart and funny with a great sense of humor. No woke crap !😊

[@sisterveronicayoung9314]

I looked up Lingo and found some interesting info on Wikipedia. Born 14 Dec 24 as Paul Lezchuk in Chicago, died 13 May 1993 in Gilpin County, Colorado.. Stage name was Theocharis Docha Anghropotic :T.D,A: Lingo. An Army Veteran of the Battle of the Bulge, also with a group who helped liberate concentration camps folk singer, radio personality, camp director and a researcher with Bachelor's and Master's degrees, and working on a Doctor of Philosophy degree. His song "Worried Man" help make the Kingston Trio famous. Interesting guy.

[@michaeltraffanstedt7674]

Veronica Young Thanks for taking the time to research and share this info on him with us...Cool.

[@liten48]

Yes thanks for thats

[@Zextraterrestrial]

He was my great uncle...I went to the property in '93 right after he died. crazy interesting stuff

[@paultheaudaciousbradford6772]

Scott Lezchuk Don’t leave us hanging!!! Tell us some of the items you found.

[@digitrope]

Lingo was my spiritual father. I lived with him from time to time on his mountain. He has been a big influence in my life.

[@gordonward537]

Love this so much and Groucho is too much and honest

[@poetcomic1]

Between 'Chop My Head Off' and 'Back to the Land Lingo' it kind of reminds me of what real independent characters there used to be.

[@andrewscarr8943]

Wonderful connection between Lingo and Groucho.

[@FF11Freshstep]

the look of pure confusion on lingo's face when the angel or cupid or w/e comes down is classic! you can tell he's a mountain man just from that lol

[@kevinjudy2459]

Sane look Goober would give!!

[@MrMenefrego1]

@@kevinjudy2459 Same, too.

[@kevinjudy2459]

One of his best! Witty and engaging..

[@robertstrugnell7842]

the woman singing Chop my head off...just about sums up the direction popular music from the late 50s..was about to take

[@mehboobkm3728]

Wow, I underestimated Grocho, the last segment with Lingo was one of the finest segment on YBYL, I should say! Lingo was one of a kind, far ahead of his times in his thinking! I wonder whatever happened to him later, did he move into the valleys? Probably ended up being a thinking and writer! He sounded like he is somebody you would love to listen in a calm place sipping your whiskey and smoking your cigars!

[@firdausHITMAN]

Happy New Year Gary and all the best for 2014. "Chop My Head Off" Not really the kind of song I would like to hear at 2 : 57 am on new years day! I love the way Groucho responded: "Do you have somebody play on a guillotine?" Thanks for the upload, hope you continue doing so.

[@grouchomarx-youbetyourlife7476]

Happy New Year to you as well! Yeah, I was fairly shocked that this "song" was included in the final edit of the program. In a family show from the 1950s? Someone posted a message elsewhere about this that she remembered being quite disturbed by this when she saw it as a child!

[@robertcolasanti7386]

STRATMAN firdaus

[@keithnaylor1981]

The show is a real tonic and the mountain man was a real gem!

[@jazzmanchgo]

Groucho seems honestly fascinated by Lingo -- he was an intellectually curious man, and I don't doubt he found the guy's conversation interesting.

[@mehboobkm3728]

The reason Groucho accepted his last answer, though it was not accurate! I was surprised to see Grouch went around to pick a stool for his leg stand before Lingo was even thinking about it!

[@dotsywotsy18]

@@mehboobkm3728 You can hear the producers, offstage saying that’s close enough

[@maynardsmoreland]

Halo Meadows was married to the flamboyant TV psychic Criswell, who is perhaps best known today as part of director Ed Wood's stable of actors and hangers-on. They made for an interesting and eccentric couple, to say the least!

[@grouchomarx-youbetyourlife7476]

Oh my gosh, that's such a great little bit of trivia. I had no idea! I'm a big fan of Ed Wood's.

[@paultheaudaciousbradford6772]

maynardsmoreland That’s fabulous. I’d love to know more about her. I hope she kept writing poetry. So uplifting!

[@Blassieboy]

@@grouchomarx-youbetyourlife7476 Yes she was married to Criswell for 34 years. She died at age 80 on May 12th,1985.

[@groovydayboy769]

@@paultheaudaciousbradford6772 Google her. Here's an article about here in USA Today. There are several pictures included in this article. The article is titled "Photos: Littlestown woman's legacy lives on" : www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/news/2018/02/06/photos-littlestown-womans-legacy-lives-on/110017802/

[@ManInTheBigHat]

"Chop my head off" is a kind of beatnik poetry. Lingo is the original hippie. I love how they dig these people up. The lack of PC is so refreshing. "You look well fed" to the fat guy. Imagine saying that on a show now. The country would grind to a halt until the network executives were hung live on a youtube stream.

[@williamanthony9090]

ManInTheBigHat- Oh... Is that what it is? I thought it was just "shit" poetry!

[@abrokenandacontriteheart1308]

Well it's not very nice especially in those days people didnt always know how to diet. It's not always caused by overeatting, they could have health problems but people suffer being overweight enough. You know that old saying ... if you cant say something nice or helpful still is the best motto in my opinion.

[@historylover1679]

Wished I could like this 20 times- I’m sick of PC-

[@robertholman8730]

It was a different time,folks weren't uptight like you are!!

[@janlang7940]

I remember watching that I was only 6 my sisters and brother use to sing it for a long time and laugh

[@martinjones5965]

The thing I liked most about this show is how little it had to do with DeSoto :). Loved Lingo's singing and playing.

[@robertholman8730]

Sales commercial for automobile,extra income!

[@FF11Freshstep]

and for a mountain man he was one smart s.o.b.! wow

[@MrMenefrego1]

How many 'Mountain Men' do you know to compare him to?

[@beatmet2355]

I really wanted to see the end. Halo was…different. Maybe she was a relative of Yoko Ono?😂

[@evanstj5]

We didn't receive You Bet Your Life in the UK, more's the pity. It's one of the funniest shows of all time in my opinion. Ordinary people can be truly fascinating,, a fact we seem to have forgotten in the craze for so-called celebrity culture. Groucho of course was a genius of comedy. I wonder, was the show improvised? Or did Groucho know who was coming on next?

[@MrMenefrego1]

He had a lot of help.

[@fonso1030]

There’s a great outtake from this episode where the woman with 10 kids says her husband is on 24 hour call. Groucho says “He’s on 24-hour call and you’ve got 10 kids? Imagine if he had a job around the house!”

[@kevinjudy2459]

"Could you sing After your gone?" Lol

[@worldnotworld]

Hah! Good ear! Groucho was meant for re-runs; no way anyone could catch it all at once

[@MrMenefrego1]

*Look at what happened to Mountain Man 'Lingo'; search KZbin for a 1979 documentary about his life and work titled 'Tickle Your Amygdala', by Neil Slade with 'Lingo', it is fascinating!*

[@ecmcomichael1]

"Chop my head off" woman scares the heck out of me. Sheesh!

[@groovydayboy769]

I thought she was wonderful. She seemed almost like Maya Angelou reciting her "song". Amazing woman!

[@robertholman8730]

Beginning hippies

[@kevinjudy2459]

I liked Halo, but did anyone see Lingo put the $50 in his guitar?

[@MrMenefrego1]

I did!

[@alexandermarquis6197]

Halo needed eyelashes, to go with the rest.

[@robertholman8730]

No pockets

[@FF11Freshstep]

hearing the criswell and ed wood talk made that song make a lot more sense in a lot of ways /crying laughing

[@TechCareerNow]

Check out the 1979 mini documentary "Lingo" to see what became of him.

[@lorihansen8674]

That first lady's song is remarkably disturbing.

[@lanceanz]

I wondered if Lingo ever came to anything so did a search on Google for "lingo cabin folk songs". It came up with Judy Collins' book "Singing Lessons: A Memoir of Love, Loss, Hope, and Healing". Curiously she wrote that he used his winnings to buy land on Lookout Mountain and build a cabin. I guess Judy has the timing mixed up. Anyway, it seems he really did "give something back". Thanks also to the poster of the link to Pinterest.

[@SheilaB]

Pity the final part of this episode is missing.

[@grouchomarx-youbetyourlife7476]

Yes, sorry about that. The shows recorded off TV reruns sometimes have missing openings and closings.

[@SirCoughsalot]

Halo Meadows was married to the Amazing Criswell for about 30 years. I came for her, stayed for Lingo. Only the kind of character who could exist in the late 50s. His singing was unexceptional but dynamic, on key, and fun - especially when Groucho started harmonizing.

[@monsieurhassan]

Very unusual people on this episode

[@MrSmackdab]

first rapper

[@stanochocki8984]

I have read and heard of the incident that Mr. Kushner refers to, in the 'mass firing' comment. But the 'Star', was never mentioned, as in the books and articles that did refer to it, they were still alive. Though one of the main reasons for the 'Star's' muffing it, was the fact that the 'Star'-- was soused (drunk), during broadcast. If ANY ONE knows whom this might have been, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks...

[@billyshepard5514]

They had bipolar women in the 1950s

[@soremongs]

Halo Meadows is like a stoned Pearl Bailey.

[@suha5077]

I love Marge

[@elwoodziggurat]

Lingo looks and speaks exactly like my first boyfriend and it's tripping me out

[@MrMenefrego1]

lol, was your first beau a Mountain Man as well?

[@mehboobkm3728]

@@MrMenefrego1 No, he was just smoking weed!

[@lyndapierson6338]

lmao chop my head off

[@StrangeScaryNewEngland]

The Amazing Criswell's wife. Wow.

[@tyson6819]

Halo Meadows was married to the amazing Criswell😂

[@SuperWinterborn]

Lingo is quite a character. I would like to meet him. ;)

[@robertholman8730]

He died 1993 79years old

[@stanochocki8984]

I'm sure LINGO, may have been a kind and descent man, of goodly songs; However, he sure-as-Hell sends off the 'creepy' vibes, of an unknown killer of backpackers or Trail hikers. Regardless of any epithets of 'giving back to society, Marjorie Yeager is a Woman who to, has given back to the World; she has given LIFE. Bravo.

[@MrMenefrego1]

👀

[@robertholman8730]

Wow your way off base about lingo. Go to the top of comments and read about his background, very impressive!

[@ThreePhaseHigh]

The mountain mask was a strange duck.

[@tomgraves6463]

Google: T D A Lingo, he was definitely a different kind of duck. 😃

[@neilslade]

Visit LINGO'S DORMANT BRAIN LAB HERE: www.neilslade.com/art/Brain/brainrev1.html

[@cefcat5733]

Wild eh.

[@billyshepard5514]

This is Ted Bundy's mother

[@hankterreros223]

looks like her laying in the bed dead five minutes into, the movie ''glen or glenda''

[@TruckTaxiMoveIt]

If this was a female Groucho would have made a pass or some sexual suggestion, given that as well as the near silent audience welcome few we're amused or fooled.

[@laurenceleadman4779]

I can't believe he told that women t shut up

[@charleswinokoor6023]

Was Halo’s middle name Isis?

[@tyson6819]

Edward Jenner, vaccines!

[@martinjones5965]

8m6s - what on earth does a tango have to with stating what a mango is?

[@michelegoff554]

I hate the people who are there but don’t contribute any info when a question is asked! They want the money but get it on someone’s coat tail.

[@artsytyger3222]

Wow..Lingo's second song...it's Devo!

[@roymckenzie6241]

,,,Why did you only tape the middle ofit ??? ,,,

[@grouchomarx-youbetyourlife7476]

...What are you talkingabout ???

[@Brekhan]

Margie

[@robertewing3114]

The head was missing, pay attention!

[@yankeeland1]

✝️

[@greglauer]

That Halo lady...apparently far too much glue-sniffing or something...wow! But that is some prototype gangsta rap, I guess.

[@avariceichiban]

She married Criswell.

[@paco5503]

Little Richard?

[@MrJamespeyton]

Groucho was a funny man but I wish he wouldn’t interrupt the guests so much.

[@sweiland75]

Halo Meadows looks like a man

[@Brantley169]

sweiland75 yes

It's a fruit all right.

[@suha5077]

Chop your head off is a man and he she is scary as hell

[@victorbeaumont443]

🐻🐮🐮.

[@stevebutler812]

Chop my head off...kind of like Shel Silvertein. But, worse. Much worse.

[@paultheaudaciousbradford6772]

Steve Butler I loved her reading. I hope some of her relatives leave comments. I wonder how her life developed after this show.

[@nancejantz]

Is she a man?

[@Brantley169]

Yes

[@Brantley169]

nancie pacetti yes

[@marymarysmarket3508]

No

[@amirhanif4928]

The educated israel tentatively tap because tuesday gradually scorch down a maniacal driver. cooing, boiling editor

[@martinjones5965]

Halo's song had no head and no melody. Also, she didn't explain how the Halo is supported after the head is gone.