Sometimes not even an April Fools joke is enough to brighten a soggy day. But YouTube provides some black-and-white game show clips I can always rely on for at least a small smile.Like this clip of Ed Sullivan channeling the GEICO cavemen several decades before their time. Sullivan was not noted for humor, but this 1958 appearance on What's My Line has even the YouTube commenters laughing. The stiff-as-a-starched-board Sullivan dons a caveman mask for his mystery guest segment. And the caveman looks like he just woke up from a very rough Saturday night.
A little sadly, many of the YouTube comments predictably trash current TV in favor of a "golden age" that never existed except in the memoirs of old TV personalities. But the clip remains unspoiled and can lighten the most depressing day. Another What's My Line goody from 1958 is this mystery guest turn by Steve Allen, formerly a regular panelist on the show. Steve cracks wise in a memorable falsetto: Is the show named after you? It wasn't named before me!
Not to ignore the civvie guests, this 1963 I've Got A Secret segment brings on Milton Larson, the last person living in Ironton, Colorado. The amiable elderly gentleman always answers "yes" even when a "no" answer is appropriate. Henry Morgan, subbing for regular host Garry Moore, tries to keep Mr. Larson on the straight-and-narrow but eventually gives up: I know when I'm beat. The next five answers are yes!
And we shouldn't ignore even our animal friends. I've Got a Secret liked stunts with the critters but this 1959 segment ends with some unexpected bovine defecation. The joys of live TV. The cow even kicks a bucket as she poops her way off stage. Next week she returns to the show with a much more restrained performance.
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