ULTRA RARE! ‘Hollywood Squares’ In Studio Shot…The First And Only
Yesterday marked the 48th Anniversary of the debut of ‘Hollywood Squares’ on NBC, which began the long run of the original daytime show from October 17, 1966 – June 20, 1980.
Although I have looked high and low, this is the only backstage shot I have ever seen that shows the cameras and I thank Randy West for sharing it. I’m sure the show started with RCA TK41s and would love to find a picture of that, but till one turns up, here are RCA TK44s on the set. Does anyone know which studio this came from at NBC Burbank? Enjoy and share! -Bobby Ellerbee
When I was in high school, I used to sit in the studio audience for tapings. The production company would pay non profit groups to fill the seats. Later, when I worked at KNBC, I worked right up the midway. If. I remember correctly, Hollywood Squares moved between studios 2 and 4.
Sitting in the audience, I used to watch the camera viewfinder and figure out who was the”secret square” when they took the shot before the game started. Made me feel like I was an “insider”.
It’s interesting to see the positioning of the contestants and Peter Marshall. This makes more sense than the way I’d imagined it: facing the same way out towards the cameras and the audience.
I think Jerome Shaw used to direct “Squares”, later “Sale of the Century”. Nice guy to work with.
I remember the show being shot in Studio 3 in the late 70’s.
Yes, that was Burbank, and Johnny’s studio…the only one with high ceiling! The audience simply could not see both the contestants and the celebrities, due to the configuration…it was almost painful, sitting in the audience. Always taped on Saturday and Sunday.
Can’t help but note Buddy Hackett in the center square in place of Paul Lynde.
I think it was in NBC studio two
I remember years ago when I was a kid, “TV Guide” magazine did an article on the Squares, where they actually showed the back of the squares, showing the stairs that each celeb had to climb to get to their specific square. This show was a classic, always entertaining. The remake with Whoopi Goldberg as center square, and Paul Bergeron as host, was ok as well, pretty entertaining, although the stars were not on the same caliber as the original, and Whoopi was no Paul Lynde. Then again, there was only one Paul Lynde! Glenn in the Bronx, NY.
Jerry Shaw was the director….They shot the show on two different stages over the years. Because of the size of the set, it was usually on stage four. Stage 2 was used when Midnight Special wasn’t shooting.
Great shot!
Studio 3
This image us readily available on Google images.
In those days, all of the game shows rotated among studios 1, 2, 3 and 4 in the main studio building. They were all big enough to accomodate the H.S. board.
It isn’t apparent from this photo, but the game board was at a 45-degree angle to the studio rear wall. Peter and the contestants were at a 90-degree angle to the rear wall. A fabric drop was hung at an angle behind the board.
My old pal Buddy Hackett in the center square!! Miss him!!!
I remember the cameras mounted on platforms to get more straight on shots of the stars…