"I've Got A Secret" Panelist Betsy Palmer Dead at Age 88

[Oscar Madison]

The newspaper obits are playing up her role in "Friday the 13th." But Betsy Palmer was the perky, blonde girl next door panelist on Goodson-Todman's "I've Got A Secret," with both Gary Moore and Steve Allen from 1955 to 1967, playing opposite cool, unapproachable goddess Bess Meyerson. She was also a frequent player in live dramas during television's golden age, notably Studio One, Playhouse 90 and the US Steel Hour (among others).

 

[danderson4411]

i have seen her fill in for Gary Moore

 

[Ccook55]

She was also Bill Cullen's go-to gal as a celebrity player on The Price Is Right during its ABC run.

 

[Charles35080]

With her passing, I guess that means that the only surviving regular panelists from any of Goodson-Todman's "Big 3" shows of the 50's and 60's (I've Got a Secret, To Tell the Truth, and What's My Line) are Orson Bean and Phyllis Newman. Anyone else?

 

[Gregg.]

You're right. Polly Bergen, a regular on To Tell The Truth, passed away last November. She and Betsy Palmer were the last, not counting Orson Bean and Phyllis Newman. Interestingly, Palmer died only days before the debut of the TV subchannel "Buzzr," which now airs I've Got A Secret every late night, along with To Tell The Truth and What's My Line.

 

[Oscar Madison]

Gregg, thanks for the letting us know about Buzzr. I have been missing the old Goodson-Todman shows since GSN stopped "Black and White Overnight" (which I Tivo'ed).

Here's the schedule:
Weekdays:
6:00AM – 7:00AM: Family Feud
7:00AM – 8:00AM: TattleTales
8:00AM: Child’s Play
8:30AM: Body Language
9:00AM: Blockbusters
9:30AM: Card Sharks
10:00AM – 11:00AM: Match Game
11:00AM – 12:00PM: Family Feud
12:00PM – 1:00PM: Super Password
1:00PM – 2:00PM: Press Your Luck
2:00PM to 8:00PM: Same as 8:00AM to 2:00PM
8:00PM – 9:00PM: Let’s Make A Deal
9:00PM – 10:00PM: Match Game
10:00PM – 11:00PM: TattleTales
11:00PM – 2:00AM: Same as 8:00PM to 11:00PM
2:00AM – 4:00AM: To Tell The Truth, What’s My Line?, and I’ve Got A Secret
4:00AM to 6:00AM: Repeat 2:00AM to 4:00AM

Saturday:
6:00AM – 7:00AM: Family Feud
7:00AM – 8:00AM: TattleTales
8:00AM: Child’s Play
8:30AM: Body Language
9:00AM: Blockbusters
9:30AM: Card Sharks
10:00AM – 11:00AM: Stanley on the Go
11:00AM – 1:00PM: To Tell The Truth, What’s My Line?, and I’ve Got A Secret
1:00PM to 3:00PM: Repeat 11:00AM to 1:00PM
3:00PM: Child’s Play
3:30PM: Body Language
4:00PM: Blockbusters
4:30PM: Card Sharks
5:00PM – 6:00PM: Family Feud
6:00PM: Child’s Play
6:30PM: Body Language
7:00PM: Blockbusters
7:30PM: Card Sharks
8:00PM – 11:00PM: Buzzr Time Machine
11:00PM to 2:00AM: Buzzr Time Machine
2:00AM – 4:00AM: Family Feud
4:00AM – 6:00AM: Super Password

Sunday:
6:00AM – 8:00AM: Match Game
8:00AM – 10:00AM: Let’s Make A Deal
10:00AM – 11:00AM: Dog Tales
11:00AM – 12:00PM: Animal Rescue
12:00PM – 2:00PM: Super Password
2:00PM – 4:00PM: Match Game
4:00PM – 6:00PM: Family Feud
6:00PM – 8:00PM: Press Your Luck
8:00PM – 10:00PM: Monster Garage
10:00PM – 11:00PM: Monster House
11:00PM – 2:00AM: Repeat 8:00PM to 11:00PM
2:00AM – 4:00AM: Press Your Luck
4:00AM – 6:00AM: Match Game

Here's the link to find stations which carry Buzzr.

 

[brian4]

I remember when I first started watching I've Got a Secret on GSN's Black & White Sunday Night I thought "That's Jason's Mom!"

R.I.P. Betsy

 

[brian4]

Gregg and Oscar, thanks for letting us know! I also was a huge fan of Black & White Overnight and would DVR it. I liked not listening nor reading the name of the WML's celebrity mystery guest just to see if I would recognize the person 40+ years later. I posted several times on Radio Discussion boards about how mad I am that GSN took away B&WO.

Lastly, according to BUZZR website, Phoenix AZ has it on channel 45.4. I checked my bootleg setup and I can't access it. Also an online TV guide list doesn't have 45.4.

 

[Oscar Madison]

I'm starting to think GSN didn't take away these shows. The shows were taken away from them to launch this new channel. From what I understand, Freemantle Media, which bought Goodson-Todman, has at least a partial ownership interest in this new channel.

I wish they were showing the real Password with Allen Ludden, not so-called "SuperPassword" with Bert Convy.

Back when these shows were on and my hormones were raging, here were my GSPILFs: (GSP is Game Show Panelists)
Betsy Palmer
Phyllis Newman
Polly Bergen

 

[landtuna]

The last time I saw Orson Bean was on an episode of "Two & A Half Men" and that was five or six years ago. He looked very old but performed very well.

 

[Ultimajock]

...Palmer was also Allen Funt's co-emcee on the '70s syndicated version of Candid Camera for a season or two...

 

[Oscar Madison]

Bess Meyerson also co-hosted.

 

[Ultimajock]

Bess Meyerson also co-hosted.

...Myerson was Funt's sidekick for the last year of the CBS run (1966-67)...

 

[landtuna]

My grandmother didn't get a TV until 1959 when she was so sick with cancer she was virtually bedridden. "I've Got A Secret" was her favorite show.

 

[JeffM]

There was a great deal more to Betsy Palmer than game shows; roles in classic live TV dramas like "Marty" with Rod Steiger and "The Time Of Your Life" with Jackie Gleason, movie roles in top pictures like "Mister Roberts" and "The Long Gray Line," and both daytime and prime time soap operas (As The World Turns and Knots Landing,) live theatre and TV guest roles. She may have become trapped in the game show box, though it was the kind of steady work other actors might envy. A talented as well as attractive lady.

As far as what exists of Password or other shows, I recall reading somewhere that Goodson-Todman kept tapes or kinescopes of their night time series only, and did not keep their daytime shows. Password was on in prime time for a couple years, so I assume some episodes do exist; but not nearly as many as an I've Got A Secret or What's My Line.