Old-Time GMs on Old-Time Game Shows
While the game show called "You Bet Your Life" was before my time, Groucho Marx and the Marx Brothers were well-known to people of my age cohort, at least in the U.S. and, I suspect, elsewhere. For those of you who only know that last name as a politican/economic figure, you're missing out - go dig up some clips on YouTube.
At any rate, Groucho went on to be the host of the aforementioned (rather quirky) game show, and in this episode [HT: Les Kistler] from 1956 one of his guests was grandmaster Isaac Kashdan (1905-1985). On the show, Kashdan was paired up with one Helen Schwartz, who happened to the mother of the famous actor Tony Curtis (probably best known for starring in the romantic farce "Some Like It Hot" with Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe). (Alas, many of you may still be scratching your heads at that. Ask your parents - or maybe your grandparents. Maybe you'll have better luck thinking of Tony Curtis as the father of Jamie Lee Curtis? Sigh...turning into Abe Simpson here.)
Anyway, the episode, linked above, is a bit cringeworthy at times, but makes for an interesting time capsule. Lots of contemporary game shows can be cringe-inducing as well, but the nature of the awkwardness has evolved over time.
Comments, please!