--Ida Mae Mackenzie
The celebrities may have provided most of the entertainment, but it was the contestants who made it a game show. Their behind the scenes stories are fascinating. We have two: Jean Newell and Eileen Mintz, who have been kind enough to share their memories with us. First here's Jean Newell, who had the unusual experience of being pulled out of a line to be a contestant.
"I lived in South Florida at the time and the Hollywood Squares was my favorite program. I worked in a car dealership and would take my lunch early so I could drive home to watch the show. It aired from 11:30-12:00. I wanted to get on the show and that’s all I talked about. I was planning a vacation and I told everyone I was going to LA so I could get on the Hollywood Squares.
"I did all of the 'legitimate' procedures for becoming a contestant. I wrote to the show and asked for an application. But I got no response to my inquiries. I proceeded with my plans to fly to LA I rationalized that I’d find out how to get on the show while I was there. I arrived on Saturday and found out that all of the 5 shows for that week were taped on the same day; on Friday. I was told I couldn't even get tickets as all of the tickets were even gone. I waited the whole week and decided to got to the show anyway as a standby
"While standing in line a couple of producers asked us if anyone would like to fill out an application to be on the show. Of course I raised my hand. I filled out the paperwork and as I was handing it in I heard a nearby voice inquiry how long it would take to get on the show. The producer responded with 'at least a year.' I handed my application in thinking 'well I guess I'll be on next year.' Then the producer asked me to clarify one of my answers. 'It says here,' he asked, 'that you are from Florida. Do you live here now?'
"'No,' I said 'I still live there , I'm here on vacation.' He asked again seemingly not to comprehend. 'Let me get this straight, you live in Florida and you come to California on vacation?' 'Yes,' I said. He then asked when I was going back to Florida. Tomorrow I answered. 'Come with me,' the producer requested.
"I stepped out of line and followed him. He took me into the empty, dimly lit studio where he indicated he wanted me to sit in the front row. He then left me there. I had no idea what was happening. I thought maybe it had something to do with the fact I was from Florida.
"Maybe I came from so far away he wanted to give me a ring side seat I thought.
"A few minutes later about 6 people where brought in from behind the scenes and they also sat in the front row with me. I assumed they were the contestants as they were in full makeup and each one was carrying hangers of clothes.
"Then someone came by and started taking Polaroid pictures of each of the contestants. As he aimed the camera at me I tried to stop him but he took it anyway. After our pictures were taken they ushered us to the stage where we were asked to climb inside the squares and take a seat in one of them. I was herded along with everyone, my protests falling on deaf ears.
"I sat in Wally Cox’s square. One by one the producers asked each of us to state our name and where we were from. When it came to my turn I could hear the producer who was on the stage beside the squares talking with another man. He said 'We have to get her on today.' I didn’t know who they were talking about.
"Then we were shown to a room where I was given a button that matched the other contestants. It read 'Do not talk to me, I’m a contestant.'
"From across the room I looked up to see my producer whispering in a women’s ear. I saw her look at me and with a very questioning expression, mouth the word 'NOW?' He nodded and the women approached me. She introduced herself as Ida Mae McKenzie. She was probably in her 40’s about 200 pounds and wore a Moo Moo flowered dress. I could tell she wasn’t too happy with her new assignment.
"At this point I still haven’t been told anything and it’s only about 20 minutes to show time. Ida Mae grabbed my wrist and proclaimed, 'I don’t know who you know but I’ve been told I’ve got 15 minutes to make you a star.' We started running down the halls back stage and our first stop was hair and make up. Ida Mae ordered the 2 men working there that they had about 10 minutes to get me ready as I was the first one going on.
"Everything was happening so fast. I didn’t really know what was going on . The only thing that was apparent at this point was the 2 hair/makeup men were having a fit and hot rollers and power puffs where flying around my head. Hurry , Hurry, demanded Ida Mae. They were both working on me at the same time which was insane but somehow 10 minutes later I was presentable for television.
"Ida Mae looked at her watch and I could see panic setting in on her face. 'Come on,' she ordered. We ran down the hall to a side hall that had several sets of closet doors. She took out a bunch of keys and started unlocking the closets. She threw back the sliding doors to reveal hundreds of dresses. There were a dozen or so of each style in the same color. 12 pink dresses, 12 blue dress, etc. I got a glimpse of a tag that was hanging from one of them. Dean Martin - Gold Diggers. This was the wardrobe department for the dancers. Ida Mae grabbed a couple and held them to me. NO , NO they weren’t going to work. She opened another closet grabbed a couple of dresses. Held them up to me and she said YES! Quick put this on. So right there in the hall I stripped down put on the dress that said. Dina Martin and we started running again. 'Hurry Hurry,' Ida Mae said. As I ran passed a mirror I got a quick glimpse of myself. Wow what a transformation from just 40 minutes ago. Then I saw my feet. I looked pretty good from my head down put I had on my sandals that I had worn all day , my feet were dirty in comparison to the nice knit dress I had on. I said something about my feet to Ida Mae and was informed not to worry about that, no one was going to see them anyway. By that time we were backstage and I could hear the theme music being played.
"A card was given to a stage hand (I presume my information) and he crawled on hands and knees under the site of the cameras and handed the card to Peter Marshall. I was still catching my breath from our last sprint when I heard my name mentioned. At that point Ida Mae pushed me onto the stage and with a request that sounded more like a good luck wish, requested me to “Kiss Peter Marshall”, I did and sat down. I remember Peter saying something about me being from Pompano Beach, Fla and that he had honeymooned there. The rest is somewhat of a blur . I think the rules were a little different then later versions. If memory serves, I believe contestants played the best 3 out of 5 games to be the winner. We went back and forth me winning and then he would won. That was the Monday show, we had to come back for the Tuesday show ( which was filmed that same night). Again back and forth and at the end of the Tuesday show we were tied.
"The show broke for dinner and myself, my opponent and the other contestants went through the food line with the stars. But there was no talking allowed with the stars.
"After dinner it was on to the Wednesday show. I had changed my dress now for the 3rd time but I was still self conscious about my sporty sandals and my dirty feet. OH Well!
"This was the 5th game. I had 4 marks and my opponent had 4. no way to win 3 in a row. The winner would need 5 marks to win. This was the deciding question. If I got it wrong he automatically got the X and the game and the championship.
"You’d better believe I remember this question. I chose Wally Cox and the question was 'If your friends are carpenters, thieves and harvesters, what are you?' Wally Cox did not have the reputation for tricking the contestants. He would usually not play around with the answers so it seemed like a sure bet that he was right. He answered 'you’d be a mouse.' I agreed ………….and the correct answer was 'an ant.'
"So as quickly as I arrived I was ushered off. What a night. Later I was told that contestants are never brought on that way. It was just too much trouble.
"Another tribute to the power of positive thinking. I wanted on the Hollywood Squares so much that I guess I willed it to happen even with the odds against me.
"I found a letter from NBC that was sent to me after the show. I thought you might find it interesting. I was on prior to the free cars and big cash prizes, however I believe I came home with cash and prizes totally $500. For months after the show I received prizes. 5 small appliances, 10 pairs of shoes, wallets etc."
Eileen Mintz is now a media consultant in Washington state. She appeared in October 1974...the memorable week George C. Scott made his first appearance on the show. Here are her memories in her own words...
"I really went to Hollywood for one thing.... to get on that show.... and experience our families favorite game show...Hollywood Squares. Spent 6 months preparing ----- had one thought in mind...to appear on it! Had no idea what else was involved.... that is being interviewed while sitting up in the Square! They also took a Polaroid shot to view our angles and to see if we looked at all photogenic. That I believe was most important to them..... how the contestants looked. I was chosen on my ability to emote excitement also.. and to be jubilant.
"I did touch the wrong paper.... and my hand was slapped by the second contestant coordinator.
"There was two and the women liked me right away... when she told me 'if I had it my way I would choose you.'... I bent over and pinched her cheek... and screamed out.... 'I would be so excited!' That was it..... I was then grabbed....and was told that I was just perfect for the show.
"I also believe George Gobel was on my show also and Adrienne Barbeau---along with George C.Scott, Trish Van Devere, Paul Lynde, John Davidson, Connie Stevens. There are two more stars to go to jar my memory. They gave them lots of wine and they had to bleep out every other word by the time my show went on!
"I remember that I was guarded even to go to the bathroom or to get some water.
"I signed that paper saying that I couldn't say that I won the prizes from Hollywood Squares when I went to sell them..... I think that they didn't want to have it look like I didn't like what I had won.
Note: I'm told Eileen Mintz appeared eight years later on a game show called Pitfall where her experience was less fortunate. She never got the $7,000 she won because the production company was in serious financial trouble.