Impromptu Responses - No Rehearsal Made this Show a Hit

Hollywood Squares

If you can remember Hollywood Squares especially during the 1960s with regulars: Rose Marie, Wally Cox, Charley Weaver, Paul Lynde, Jan Murray, George Gobel, Morey Amsterdam, Karen Valentine, Nanette Fabray, Vincent Price, and Abby Dalton, then you remember that morning show with 30 minutes of laughs which has not been duplicated since.

The original show aired in 1966 with Peter Marshall as the host. The object of the game was for two contestants to play, and win, a game of celebrity tic-tac-toe. Players called upon a star to answer a question and could either agree or disagree with the star's answer. If they were correct in their judgement, their mark, an "X" or "O," was put on that celebrity's square. The first player to connect three squares in a row, either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, won $200 and the game. The player who won two games became the champion and then faced a new opponent. A player retired as an undefeated champion after winning five matches. The second game of the day was the "secret square game" and the contestant who picked the predetermined star had a chance to win a special bonus prize.

Hollywood Squares was one of the most popular and longest running daytime game shows in television history. Much of the success of the show was attributed to the humorous answers given to questions answered by the celebrities who made up the squares on the board. One of the most popular celebrities was Paul Lynde, who occupied the center square for most of the series run.

Who can ever forget these answers from these great celebrities from the "Hollywood Squares" game show which were spontaneous and not scripted as they are today. Continue to read, chuckle and reminisce the days back then. Here are a few of the best.

Q. Do female frogs croak?
A. Paul Lynde: If you hold their little heads under water long enough.

Q. Paul, why do Hell's Angels wear leather?
A. Paul Lynde: Because chiffon wrinkles too easily

Q. It is considered in bad taste to discuss two subjects at nudist camps. One is politics, what is the other?
A. Paul Lynde: Tape measures.

Q: When you pat a dog on its head he will usually wag his tail. What will a goose do?

A: Paul Lynde: Make him bark.

Q. If you're going to make a parachute jump, at least how high should you be?
A. Charley Weaver: Three days of steady drinking should do it.

Q Charley, you've just decided to grow strawberries. Are you going to get any during the first year?
A. Charley Weaver: Of course not, I'm too busy growing strawberries.

Q. Which of your five senses tends to diminish as you get older?
A. Charley Weaver: My sense of decency.

Q. True or False, a pea can last as long as 5,000 years.
A. George Gobel: Boy, it sure seems that way sometimes.

Q. What are "Do It," "I Can Help," and "I Can't Get Enough"?
A. George Gobel: I don't know, but it's coming from the next apartment.

Q. According to Cosmopolitain, if you meet a stranger at a party and you think that he is attractive, is it okay to come out and ask him if he's married?
A. Rose Marie: No; wait until morning.

Q. As you grow older, do you tend to gesture more or less with your hands while talking?
A. Rose Marie: You ask me one more growing old question Peter, and I'll give you a gesture you' ll never forget.

Q. In bowling, what's a perfect score?
A. Rose Marie: Ralph, the pin boy.