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Castography
It's hard to do a biography of some people without just copying what IMDB has about them. (At least it seems that way looking at some other sites (though looking further at others, IMDB could learn a few things from them!).) So I've used some information from IMDB, but tried adding mostly what I've learned about the people from watching more than 150 episodes of the show.
Steve Allen1921-2000Steve Allen was the original host of the Tonight Show. He also was the most prolific composer of the 20th century. For a short but memorable time he was a panelist on What's My Line?, coining the phrase synonymous with the show, "Is it bigger than a breadbox?" After Gary Moore left I've Got a Secret, Steve took over as host. His wife, Jayne Meadows, was a panelist on the show, but left before Steve became host. He is well known for doing everything on TV. Mystery Science Theater 3000 has a sketch where Joel invents the "Steve Allen Meter" which can detect if an idea has been thought up by Steve Allen before (this turns out to include the Steve Allen Meter). On the Simpsons, when Gabbo steals Krusty's crank-call routine, Lisa points out to Bart that Krusty stole it from Steve Allen. Krusty later remarks: "If this is anyone but Steve Allen, you're stealing my bit!" He also made two appearances on the Simpsons. In one he played Bart's electronically altered voice during a mobster's trial. In the other he did a good-natured ribbing of himself when jazz musician Bleeding Gums Murphy appears on his Tonight Show, only to have Steve steal the spotlight and show off the books he's written. Steve Allen was extremely talented and funny, making the episodes he hosted enjoyable to watch. |
Garry Moore1915-1993Garry was the original host of the show. He also had The Garry Moore Show which included Carol Burnett as a performer and Neil Simon as a writer. Garry often had to learn dance moves for the show. He would have a stand-in learn the moves and teach them to him. Surprisingly his stand-in was several inches taller than he was. Although most of the stunts that happened on the show were obviously pre-rehearsed, Garry still did a very good job acting put-upon by the various happenings. For instance, Johnny Carson once appeared with the secret that he would shoot an apple off Garry's head with an arrow. When Johnny hit the practice dummy between the eyes, Garry managed to look very distressed. Garry was a very good sport about all the things that happened to him on the show. When hosting I've Got a SecretGarry was more often than not seen with a cigarette in his hand. His cause of death was emphysema. |
Bill Cullen1920-1990 Bill Cullen was a panelist for all 15 years of the show's span. His career outside of I've Got a Secret was filled with other gameshows. He was the host of the original nine year run of The Price is Right. He also was a host at some point of other gameshows such as $10,000 Pyramid, Joker's Wild, and Blockbusters. His cheerful demeanor made him a popular host. Although his appearance was normal for the '50s, he may remind people nowadays of a thin Drew Carrey. Despite this, he had a surprisingly hot wife (they were married for 45 years). Born in Pittsburgh, Bill was a Pirates fan. And despite living in New York at the time of the 1960 World Series (Yankees vs. Pirates) was thrilled when the Pirates pulled out the victory. He was a mechanic at some point before his show business career and also knew how to fly airplanes. He had a morning radio program. After I wrote all this I came across a Bill Cullen Fan Page and I'm utterly shocked at just how much people know about him. My biography tells abosolutely nothing compared to this. |
Henry Morgan1915-1994To get this out of the way, Henry Morgan, panelist and comic, is not the same person as Harry Morgan (star of the famous Pete and Gladys, and also two obscure series called M*A*S*H and Dragnet). Henry had his own show on the radio, but his TV career did not go much beyond I've Got a Secret. Henry did some plays and was regularly involved in an improv group. |
Betsy Palmer1926-Betsy brought a fresh, young face to the panel starting out as a substitute for Faye Emerson, who was often absent to do plays. Eventually Betsy became a regular panelist. A magazine at the time said that Betsy could never guess a guest's secret. Betsy played Jason's mother in the Friday the 13th movies. She has also made many guest appearances on 90s tv shows. |
Jayne Meadows1920-Born in Wuchang, China, her father was a missionary for St. Andrews. They left China when she was 10. She married Steve Allen in 1954. She eventually left the show to raise her children with her husband in Los Angeles. |
Bess Myerson1924-Bess was Miss America 1945. She joked on the show that she was the oldest living Miss America. |
Faye Emerson1917-1983Faye was often absent during the last few years of her stay on the show while she was staring in various plays. She was eventually replaced by Betsy Palmer. |
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