You Bet Your Life #56-19 Groucho versus a talent agent (Secret word 'Head', Jan 31, 1957)

Groucho's exchange with Nicky Stewart, the talent agent of couple #2, is peppered throughout with his apparent distaste for the profession-- ironic, considering that his brothers Gummo and Zeppo had their own very successful talent agency in the 1940s and 50s!
COUPLE #1: Jan Dietrich, female Cessna airplane pilot / John Roese, who spent his honeymoon at an Eagles convention
COUPLE #2: War Bride: Nina Morgan, Italian war bride and "Big Boy" waitress / Nicky Stewart, Show biz manager and agent
-----------------------------------
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:
/ @grouchomarx-youbetyou...
New 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? groups/16432...
----------------------------------
Episode identification and basic description based on "Tell 'em Groucho Sent You", © 1997 by Mark Petty. Used by permission.

[@michaelkottler]

I love that guest Jan was not just a licensed pilot but a Cessna sales administrator! Between the language, music/dancing & the De Soto and Prom ads, this episode, along with all the others of course, is a revealing & insightful plus entertaining cultural archive. Thanks again Groucho Marx - YBYL for posting!

[@jeffclement2468]

Groucho's ad for DeSoto... Never thought I'd say it but, that was the most sincere sounding sales pitch ever. 😊

[@reddinglady]

Well here I'm again watching my favorite show. 〽️

[@bobbauer2287]

Me too

[@marymarysmarket3508]

Yep, it’s a true tonic.

[@michaelkottler]

Thank you, Groucho Marx - You Bet Your Life, for posting this vast myriad of wonderful YBYL episodes! You're doing a great public & cultural service & we the viewers appreciate your efforts.

[@pamsimpson9348]

.c.frrrrrrrffrrrffff.f........ffc

[@rerite2]

Love the DeSoto car ad. What a time capsule and document of automotive and Los Angeles history.

[@sandrauhlein4317]

Russell Garr thank you

[@michaelkottler]

Agreed. I love the ads in this episode and all the De Soto ads, really. The poster's inclusion of said ads increases the total cultural value of this excellent archive. And the brief Prom commercial featuring two of the Marx brothers is a cute added bonus though not as significant as this epi's previous ads. Trivia: Which of the Marx brothers was the real ultimate lady-charmer? No fair looking it up lol!

[@frankstone3809]

Too bad you can't rent a replica of any car you want.

[@GeneRogers-xl9um]

And beautiful Jeanne Craine doing the commercial! She had 7 children!

[@rerite2]

@@GeneRogers-xl9um -- Didn't know that. Thank you for sharing!

[@henrybrowne7248]

Jeanne Crain 9:32 was in People Will Talk [1951], which I always thought was an underrated film.

[@nakedhombre]

Wow, I watched the entire show and time was suspended. Groucho is simply the best what class and what a comedian. A great show and oh my! Those De Soto commercials! Unbelievable ! 1957 this was a great show it even included Groucho’s brothers Chico and Harpo.👍🏼👍🏼

[@roncote215]

I love the jitterbug dancing that the contestants did in this episode.Thanks for posting !

[@grouchomarx-youbetyourlife7476]

Some of my favorite moments from this series involve dancing and singing-- usually meaning Groucho's, but the contestants dancing is fun here, too. If you're not aware of this, you might want to check out a playlist I've been adding highlight clips to. There's about a half hour of solid gold in this playlist so far. :) kzbin.info/aero/PLvfCPBLpeglVLGCmpnjr71-wy0fJ88LCm

[@sandrauhlein4317]

Me to I used to dance the jitterbug.

[@MrMenefrego1]

@@sandrauhlein4317 you 'to'?

[@keithnaylor1981]

Superb! Of all the programmes which find their way onto my TV this is by far the best! Groucho was the comedy king!

[@richardalongi4720]

Groucho Marx passed away the day after Elvis Presley on Aug. 17, 1977 and his death received very little publicity because of the passing of Elvis. 😢😢😢

[@darryle-ov4oy]

Good old days and better than the shit we are experiencing today in America

[@Hank13665]

Mr. Groucho Marx never disappoints!☺

[@martinjones5965]

21m10 - G: "It's called a mortuary" - masterful timing.

[@jimmiedee2315]

One of the better episodes. I felt Groucho was giving the talent agent some gentle ribbing, the same as he does to other contestants. He recognized the guy's entertainment value, and focused most of the interview on him. But what was truly telling, in Groucho's admiration for how Stewart was entertaining and good for the show, was that Groucho did not ham it up in the background during the dance. He almost always gets into the act, but this time he sat back and enjoyed the show. Notice Groucho's shoulder moves, as the couple returns to their microphones. He held off during the performance, but couldn't resist throwing something in at the end.

[@grouchomarx-youbetyourlife7476]

Nice observations, Jimmie Dee. Very much appreciated, as I do all your comments.

[@AceripXF]

@@grouchomarx-youbetyourlife7476 Groucho is very witty i love his sense of humor

[@marymarysmarket3508]

Since Groucho’s brother was a talent agent, he was certainly ribbing this guy. It’s a shady business

[@jamesfox2579]

This was a GREAT episode!💕😂

[@voxtango1916]

I love the exquisitely dressed, civilized audience.

[@muttonchopsgayever]

I agree! No fat slobs in pajama pants

[@terencedove5047]

It’s one of the reasons why I love this show and the original b/w version of WHAT’S MY LINE?

[@1949LA-ARCH]

The Greatest Generation ❤they saved our country, we need them to bring forth their spirit to help our country. 😊😊

[@lynettepalecek3141]

Nina and Nick were good dancers.

[@RedTango]

Chico and Harpo advertising women's hair cream..hilarious.

[@AceripXF]

creamy prom ^_^

[@fromthesidelines]

Gillette's Toni division, the makers of Prom Home Permanent and White Rain shampoo, was Groucho's alternate sponsor that season. At the time, Harpo and Chico agreed to appear in at least two commercials for Prom {Harpo really didn't need the money, but Chico *did,* because of his expensive gambling habit}.

[@sallykohorst8803]

Funny funny show. The audiences laughter really gets me laughing i love 56 27 and 56 episode 28 which had so many fuuny people on those shows. People should check out those episodes.

[@1949LA-ARCH]

Love the jitterbug dancing couple 😊bring the spirit of the greatest generation back to help us clean up today’s crap.😊

[@martinjones5965]

28m1s - an ad for some muck featuring Chico and Harpo - what a gem.

[@dariawells7438]

It's interesting that Groucho mentions the "little old lady from Pasadena." It made me Google the song, which came out years later. The term itself was popular in the early 60s, which makes me wonder if Groucho may have somewhat coined it in 1957.

[@leestamm3187]

Groucho didn't coin the term, which dates from the post WW2 era and was in fairly common use in the LA area in by the mid-1950's.

[@OO9SoundSystem]

1:58 Jan said the secret word “Head”, but the band missed it.

[@MrMenefrego1]

- 🤕 - 👀

[@AceripXF]

ohhh yahhh i didnt catch that....well damn that sux :(

[@lynettepalecek3141]

@Ptolemy. Right. She said "I'm head of ..." I sure hope that the show's producers noticed that after the show and paid her and John Reose the $100.

[@michaelkottler]

Groucho Marx is the best! And YBYL is my favorite of all his shows & movies, not including his appearances on other shows, some of which are both hilarious &/or insightful. His friendships/correspondence w/so many "biggies" from Churchill & family to TS Elliot et al are legendary, in the LOG, & reveal deep brilliance.

[@Mutlap]

I have a picture of me in front of the car advertised. It was in the early sixties.

[@m42037]

Jay Leno is redoing "You Bet Your Life" in September, i hope he pays respect to the great Groucho and doesn't act like this show is his baby

[@AceripXF]

my friend said he went to the taping of the 1 jay leno n said groucho did way better

[@fromthesidelines]

NO ONE- not Buddy Hackett, not Bill Cosby, not even Jay- were *ever* able to fill Groucho's chair.

[@beatmet2355]

Chico and Harpo at the end was a nice surprise

[@jayben00]

Starting at about the 17:30 mark Groucho mentions "only driven by a little old lady from Pasadena". Whoa, could this be the inspiration for Jan & Dean's '64 hit song? The 1957 Desoto commercials date this show's airing. Wikipedia details the regional folk origins (car salesman pitch) of the saying, but Groucho's TV delivery gave it national exposure.

[@grouchomarx-youbetyourlife7476]

Nah, that expression "only driven by a little old lady from Pasadena" was a stereotypically common type of line for used car salesmen to use in order to convince customers that a used car had barely been driven, practically good as new. Also, no reason to speculate on the date of the program-- it's always in the video title, though the titles are long so you may not see the full title displayed.

[@jayben00]

Redundant

[@grouchomarx-youbetyourlife7476]

John Bender What's redundant? Baffling response.

[@FF11Freshstep]

pasedena during the 50's had a very high per capita geriatric community like florida became in the late 70's. it was a common california joke as well as becoming a known expression that only old ladies lived in pasedena =^.~= its even referenced in a prior episode with someone who was some elected official for pasedena that was on the show... i had to look at my notes episode 0635 (#55-35) glory hoke employee of the pasedena chamber of commerce. i found out about this anachronistic expression when i was looking up info on that episode.

[@franklinnorth7708]

Yes, and the early Desoto's had the Hemi engine, and the Octopus intake manifold from the 4 Barrel Carb.

[@maercyme61]

I might suggest an addition to the description: Nina Morgan, Italian war bride and survivor of the sinking of S.S. Andrea Doria in July 1956, one of the top news stories of that year. Also Groucho is G.O.A.T.

[@GeorgeSwift-qj1ik]

Boy, don't this beat the hell out of Jay Lenos version? A thousand dollars back then was 5 months salary.

[@chrisrose6014]

I can't begin to say how many times better than Jay Leno's pitiful version or Bill Cosby's!!

[@ADAMSIXTIES]

5:44 Yup, a bathtub full of air weighs about 2 pounds. 17:30 "this was driven by a little old lady who lives in Pasadena". I know what you're thinking: how could Groucho be saying this in 1957 when the song was released in 1964. Well the song was based on a common car salesmen pitch the context of which Groucho used here.

[@louisep5178]

Fabulous humour 🙏💙💎

[@fromthesidelines]

29:04- That "big TV show" was Chrysler's "CLIMAX!" on CBS' Thursday night schedule [8:30pm(et)], which appeared after Groucho's program ended on NBC; "YOU BET YOUR LIFE" was still heard on radio as well; in the 1956-'57 season, it aired on Saturday afternoons at 12:30pm(et).

[@censusgary]

I want a ‘57 DeSoto with big tail fins.

[@robertholman8730]

Google it, almost any Era cars can be purchased today!! Big bucks°

[@georgestroud8507]

Groucho Marx had the best game show ever

[@jessiejames7492]

i thought it was a bit degrading of him to tell the lady who was a commercial pilot that she looked like a hostess..Then seeing she didnt laugh at that...he said.'hostess with the most-est'' I guess it was the 50s!

[@sandrauhlein4317]

jessie james Grouch is a Comical ,he says things a little off color , that's the way it is right?

[@janepatterson6779]

That WAS quite a blank stare back from her..he knew right away he had insulted her, not meaning to. He spoke before thought since women like this lady were unique and left men speechless.

[@jessiejames7492]

@@janepatterson6779 good fr her. Thank you fr saying what you said.

[@jessewolf6806]

He was paying her a compliment

[@PimpLenin]

Man, I wish they still made cars that looked like this.

[@Mutlap]

I have a picture standing next to a big finned DeSoto like the one in the commercial. I had a flat top hair cut, I was about 10 years old. It wasn't new the photo was taken about 1965.

[@reneecarter6702]

I absolutely love that talent agent ❤❤❤

[@sloanecitron]

Does anyone know who the actress was in the DeSoto commercial? Sounds like Jean Cray, but I can't find anyone by that name. Thanks. And love this show. I watch them over and over. Wish I could find more of them!

[@pathenderson5988]

The actress' name is Jeanne Crain. She was a popular actress during the 40's, 50's and 60's. Good info on her on the internet.

[@lala-gj4oo]

jeanne crain was her name.

[@AceripXF]

talent agent about groucho-he was a star b4 i was born LMAO! poor groucho hahah

[@a.perkins907]

🤣🤣

[@loucarnesco2905]

I think its funny that the secret word is HEAD.Lol

[@TheTaylorswift14]

Lou Carnesco GROW UP!!!!!

[@loucarnesco2905]

Im already grown.I take care excellent care of my wife and kids. Financially and emotionally. Since were giving each other advice...Why dont you lighten up a bit and get yourself a sense of humor. i would think that anybody watching Groucho Marx would have a sense of humor

[@keithhyttinen8275]

At 1:58 the contestant says "head". It went right past the person I'm sure was being paid to listen for the secret word. Pure incompetence.

[@daviddean9943]

Lee.

[@daviddean9943]

@@TheTaylorswift14 ad 2

[@jroseborough45]

Who doesn't want a low car?

[@abouteverything2654]

Would love to know about the contestan Nina Morgan. She was hot. Wow, Such beautiful lady.

[@jimmiedee2315]

The Prom commercial featuring Chico and a dancing Harpo is great! Here's a link to an awesome photo of Harpo and the love-of-his-life, Miss Shirley Temple. stuffnobodycaresabout.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Harpo-Marx-Shirley-Temple-on-the-set-of-Duck-Soup.jpg

[@grouchomarx-youbetyourlife7476]

That's a great photo, Jimmy Dee, thanks for sharing it. I'm sure you already know this story, but for those who don't-- Harpo fell completely in love with Shirley Temple when he first met her on a movie set. He is said to have offered $50,000 to her parents to let him adopt her. :) Harpo, of course, ended up adopting four of his own children later. When asked why four, he would say he wanted every window of his house to have one of his children waving hello and goodbye to him as he came and went.

[@AceripXF]

@@grouchomarx-youbetyourlife7476 aweee wouldnt that have been something if Harpo DID adoot shirley tho??? i wish i was around to meet harpo groucho n chico

[@gilloera8912]

Thanks groucho

[@martinjones5965]

21m33 G: "Rotten Roll" - do you think he likes that music?

[@AceripXF]

some of the ppl on here look older than wut they say

[@robertholman8730]

People were very mature 70 years ago!

[@AceripXF]

@@robertholman8730 maturity had nothing to do w looks

[@SueProv]

I'm pretty sure she was on What's My Line.

[@bobby-ry1ze]

I want that car..................

[@charlesbrooks9577]

Blieve,you don't want that car.A friend of mine has one and it is ugly as well,especially when he drives it

[@billrichter8953]

Jean crane was a movie actress in the 40s & 50s... trivia Bill

[@robertholman8730]

Google you'll find cars from almost any Era for sale! 29:25

[@davemattia]

There is no way that a bathtub's worth of air is 2 pounds - it's not even 2 micrograms. G;ad I never flew with her. By the way, her partner in this game, John Roese, lived to be 110 years old.

[@dotsywotsy18]

She actually was one of the Mercury 13, 13 women who were trained by NASA to be astronauts, going through the same physical and psychological training that every male astronaut went through; laid the groundwork for the future.

[@jessewolf6806]

1.25 kilos per cubic meter. Google agrees with her.

[@davemattia]

@@jessewolf6806 Discounting the weight of the rubber balloon - would a bathtub-sized balloon weigh 1.25 kilos? C'mon.

[@jessewolf6806]

@@davemattia I’m not a chemist. But EVERY website has the same #s: 1 cubic foot of air is .08 pounds; if the tub has 25 cubic feet that’s 25(.08 pounds) = 2 lbs. By way of comparison a cubic foot of water weighs 62.4 pounds. Where are you getting your data?

[@davemattia]

@@jessewolf6806 It just doesn't make sense to me. If you fill a balloon -- a huge one - and put it on a scale - the weight will be zero. I think they're talking about the weight of air with regards to the atmospheric pressure put upon it. A scuba tank, with 30 minutes of compressed air in it would weigh a thousand pounds, I guess. I just can't grab the concept - it seems absurd to me. I am not saying you're wrong, but I think I need a professorial demonstration. If air weighed nearly a pound, you would push, in three strides, an exhausting amount of weight - like pushing your way through jello? I do know, however, since I work as a racehorse trainer, that it's best for your horse to "draft" behind another horse with the idea being that the other horse slices the air and creates less resistance. So -- ???

[@christinadavis2132]

The dynamic tractor ironically improve because beer nearly support via a tawdry fork. tremendous, placid odometer

[@SCRnflz]

Just saw this episode on over the air tv. Wow the Italian girl was pretty! On another note, you can tell there was a lot of preparation of what was supposed to be "spontaneous" interaction between Groucho and the guests.

[@robertholman8730]

This was all natural, 70 years!

[@amjoshuaf]

Although I enjoy Groucho's antics, I can't help but thing that You Bet Your Life was not above colluding with business interests to get contestents on that worked for and dropped the names of certain companies. Anyway, there's no way a popular show like this didn't work some kind of angle, considering the quiz show scandals of the time.

[@a.perkins907]

Shame on you!

[@tommytwogloves16]

Janet said “ Head” of operations but the person who watches for the secret word was asleep at the switch.” Booo Booo! Cheating little bum!

[@christinalw19]

Misogyny misogyny misogyny. 🙄

[@texasmimi5566]

Your immaturity is showing, snowflake. It was the '50's, a different time. Get over it.

[@robertholman8730]

Majority of these words today, didn't exist back then!