Beat the Clock was a Goodson-Todman Productions game show which originally ran on CBS from 1950 to 1958 and ABC from 1958 to 1961, with later revivals. The show was hosted by Bud Collyer. Collyer's most notable assistant was the beautiful blond, Roxanne (model), who only used her first name as her professional name. (She is not to be confused with the actress Roxanne Arlen.) Beat the Clock ran again from 1969 to 1974 with Jack Narz and later Gene Wood (as The New Beat the Clock), from 1979 to 1980 (as The All-New Beat the Clock), with Narz again at first, then replaced by Monty Hall, and most recently, in 2002 with Gary Kroeger and Julielinh Parker as co-hosts.


1950-1961 Format
The show had begun on radio with Collyer, who moved with it to television. Contestants were required to perform tasks (called stunts) within a certain time frame denoted on a large 60-second clock on the wall that would count down the time limit. The prizes were always secondary to the competition itself, until such big-money shows as The Big Challenge forced Beat the Clock to start offering prizes up to $5000.

In order to determine if the stunts could actually be performed, the producers hired out-of-work actors to try them out. One of those who did this work was James Dean, who was said to be able to perform any task the producers gave him to try. Collyer also noted on the air a number of times that he himself tested many of the stunts while they were being developed (often noting that the contestant performed the stunt with far more ease than he had).


Contestants
Contestants were chosen from the studio audience and were usually married couples (but occasionally were just engaged or otherwise). Bud would ask them where they were from and how long they were married. He would usually ask if they had children and if they did, their ages and genders. (If the couple had three children, Collyer would often compare their gender breakdown with his own family). Sometimes the couple would bring some or all of their children with them on the show. Collyer would usually take some time out to take to the children and ask them questions like what they want to be when they grow up. At different points in the run of the show, contestants were given different prizes just for appearing on the show (often more as a promotion for the sponsor than anything else). One of the items given was a beat the clock home game which was given to the couple. If children were brought on the show, each child often got a game. When Sylvania was the sponsor, the children would usually each get a camera (various camera makers were used and changed frequently), with a supply of Sylvania 'blue dot for sure shot' flashbulbs. If a messy stunt was performed (and later just a silly looking one), one of the assistants would come out with a camera and take a picture for the couple and they would then get to keep the camera. (If their children had already recieved cameras, Collyer would note that they would get yet another camera).


Game Format
Main Game: One couple competes against the clock to win a prize. The first stunt is the $100 clock, and requires either the husband or wife, or both. The stunt is described and the time limit (some multiple of 5 seconds) is set. (There are very few times when a stunt required the full 60 seconds.) Should the couple beat the $100 clock, they move on to the $200 clock and the same rules are applied. If they fail to beat the $100 clock, they receive a consolation prize at less than $100. If they fail to beat the $200 clock, they get a prize worth more than $100.

Jackpot Clock: Should the couple beat the $200 clock, the wife will play the Jackpot Clock in which a saying or phrase is scrambled up and that phrase has to be unscrambled in 20 seconds or less. If successful, then the couple wins the Jackpot Prize. If not, they get a prize worth more than $200. (Once when the wife of the couple did not speak English very well, Collyer allowed the husband to perform the Jackpot clock.)

Bonus Stunt: A special signal would sound sometime during the show indicating that the couple that hears that noise will play for a bonus stunt that starts at $100 in cash and goes up by that amount each week that it is not won. Only one member of the team could try it. Beginning in August 1954, the starting amount for each bonus stunt was upped to $500, but still went up $100 for each week that it was not won. (Bonus stunts have been able to reach four figures, even at $2,000 and $3,000.) These stunts are harder than the usual $100 and $200 stunts.

Super Bonus Stunt: Starting on February 25, 1956, after the last regular bonus stunt had been won, a super bonus was added where a couple could attempt to perform a bonus stunt that starts at $10,000 and goes up by $2,000 for each week it is not won. Unlike with the regular bonus stunt and the Big Cash Bonus Stunt that followed it (see paragraph below), both members of the team were given a chance to attempt the stunt. If the first player was unsuccessful, $1,000 was added to the pot and the other player could then try it. If the other was also unsuccessful, the other $1,000 was added to the jackpot for the following show. This bonus was won only twice in its existence, and once went all the way up to $64,000, until it was finally won on September 15, 1956.

Big Cash Bonus Stunt: Starting on September 22, 1956 (the same day Beat the Clock's new sponsor became "Hazel Bishop"), a special signal would again sound sometime during the show indicating that the couple that hears that noise will play for a bonus stunt that starts at $5,000 in cash and goes up by $1,000 for each week that it is not won. This concept was identical to the original bonus stunt concept but previously had lower stakes. If they are successful, they are retired from the game. If not, they continue onward.

Bonus Cash and Prize Stunt: A lucky couple has a chance to win a bundle of cash and a special prize like a car or a boat. To win, they must successfully complete their bonus stunt.


The Stunts
The stunts performed on the show were usually aimed towards fun with difficulty being secondary, often of the slapstick physical variety. The stunts would usually be constructed out of common household props such as balloons, record players, dishes/cups, and balls of almost every type.

The setup for the stunt was often designed to look easy but then have a complication revealed. (For example, he would say 'All you have to do is pop all four balloons,' check the clock to see how much time they had to do it, and then add 'oh, and one more thing - we're going to blindfold you'.) Common twists included blindfolding one or both contestants, or telling them they couldn't use their hands (or feet or any body part that would be obvious to use for whatever the task was).

The other common element in the stunts was to get one of the contestants messy in some way often involving whipped cream, meringues, water balloons and such (usually limited to the husband of the couple). When a couple brought a child on, Bud would often ask what they thought the parents might have to do and the child would often respond 'get whipped cream in their face'. Many times the wife would be shown a task, be blindfolded, and then her husband would be quietly brought out and unknown to to her, she would be covering him with some sort of mess.

Unlike today, technicality was not a major issue on the show. The goal was to make sure the contestants had fun and also to promote the sponsor (served best by giving away the grand prize and showing their product). Bud would often stop the clock in the middle of a stunt if a the contestant(s) struggled to advise them on how to beat the clock. Often if a condition of the stunt was 'don't use your hands', Bud would ignore the first use of hands and just warn the contestant. If the time limit was nearly up on a task Bud would often give them a few moments extra, or tell them if they started before the clock ended and succeeded in that attempt they'd count it. And some times if a contestant had come close enough (for example, if they had to stack cups and saucers without the pile falling over, and the contestant knocked the pile over while putting the last cup on top, he would give them the stunt if they didn't have time to do it again. If a string broke on a prop or the supply of balloons for a stunt ran out he would simply give the stunt to the couple as it was the show's fault. Similarly on the messy stunts, since the goal was just to mess up the husband, the time limit was often unimportant and the clock would be stopped when Bud felt the husband was messy enough.


1955-56 Production Changes
In late 1955/early 1956 there were a few notable production changes to go along with the gameplay changes that began later in 1956. The first notable change was the absense of assistant Roxanne (who was replaced by Beverly). There was never any explaination for the change.

The show's sponsor, Sylvania began a contest in 1955 where viewers could visit a local Sylvania dealer and get an entry form to mail in for the contest. The entrys were placed in a big rotating drum on the show and one of the contestant couples/families would draw the top three winners for the week (with additional winners being drawn after the taping).

It wasn't that significant but it may have impacted another production change. Shortly before the contest drawings began, the Jackpot board which had been behind the contestants' podium was moved to the first curtain to the left (viewers' left) of the podium. This might have been preparation for the contest, as the drum was placed behind the curtain which previously had contained the jackpot board.

The final notable production change in this period involved the opening of the show. The show previously opened with the theme and an animated clip. This was changed to include an opening teaser which affected the show in a number of ways. in the teaser, Collyer would stand with the first couple on the show and explain the stunt they would have to perform, however he would leave out that crucial detail that would make it difficult. The detail wasn't usually something easy to guess like blindfolding or whipped cream, but was usually something that would surprise everyone such as changing factor of the stunt to make it more difficult (For example, Collyer would demonstrate throwing a baseball into a barrel but then replace the baseballs with basketballs that would barely fit into the barrel, or moving the contestant much further away from the barrel, etc.)

There were a few side effects of this change. The end of each program was signified by a buzzer that told Collyer time had run out. This buzzer often came while Collyer was explaining a stunt or during the performance of a stunt. The same stunt would start again the next week (in a form of suspence, perhaps, to bring the audience back). Collyer would often suggest that they practice the stunt at home (sometimes jokingly, if the stunt involved props that would be very unlikely to be found in the home). Collyer would then ask the contestants if they could come back, which they usually could. After the opening teaser was added, contestants who had only the jackpot clock left and said they could come back were suddenly absent the next week, with Collyer explaining that after the show it seemed inconvenient to come back for just the jackpot clock, and that the couple played the jackpot clock after the taping. This generally avoided the next week starting with a jackpot clock (which wouldn't work with the teaser). As well, when a contestant ended the show in the middle of a stunt, it was not repeated the next week. The teaser started with a brand new stunt. These changed seemed aimed at streamlimning the show and making each show run faster and less informally. Children seemed to be brought on less often even when the couple said the children were backstage. The stunts started getting a little harder and Collyer was a bit less helpful, with fewer contestants getting to the jackpot clock each episode (before this, it was commonplace for every contestant to win the jackpot in an episode).


1969 Format
In this version, two couples compete with the help of a celebrity guest (whom appeared for one whole week). Each couple in round one played two stunts (one by themselves & one with a celebrity). Each time they complete a stunt, they get to choose a letter in show's title. Each letter has a hidden dollar amount ranging from $25-$200. After each couple played two stunts, the celebrity played a solo stunt in which the couples bet on whether the star would beat the clock or would the clock beat the star. A correct prediction earn the couple(s) $50. During the Gene Wood era, both couples would face-off against each other as well as the clock in one final stunt (the celebrity can referee during the stunt). The first couple to complete the stunt wins a prize. After the final stunt in case of time, host Wood goes out to the studio audience & have them play stunts for money.


The Narz Era
In earlier episodes with Narz hosting, couples played for points simply by completing stunts. The first couple to reach 100 points wins a prize package. Later on in the second half, the stunts were removed in favor of having the celebrity play an intuition type game along with the couples for cash awards.


1979 Format
In this format, two couples competed again against each other & the clock.


Rounds 1 & 2
In rounds one & two, both couples faced-off in a stunt & the first couple to complete the stunt wins $500 & the right to play a solo stunt for another $500.


Bonus Shuffle
After the first two rounds both couples play the Bonus Shuffle which is played at a special shuffleboard; because on that shuffleboard are dollar values ranging from $300-$1,000. The couple in the lead gets three pucks while the other gets only two. Each couple gets as many turns as there are pucks. When a puck lands on a dollar amount, the other couple has to beat the amount; but if it doesn't land on a money amount or if it goes over the edge, it's dead. The couple who landed on a higher dollar amount wins that money, and the couple with the most money at the end of this round wins the game and plays a bonus stunt.


Bonus Stunt
The winning couple gets a chance to play the bonus stunt in which they must complete within the time limit in order to win ten times the amount won in the Bonus Shuffle.


Celebrity Version
Midway into it's short-lived run, the show became an all-celebrity format. This version has these differences:

All the money the stars win goes to their rooting section (ala Tattletales). 
All stunts are now worth half price or $250. 
In the bonus stunt, if the winning celebrity team completes it, $1,000 goes to their rooting section while the remaining money goes to their favorite charity. 
The rest of the format remains the same.


2002 Version
Three couples competed in this version.


Round 1
To start the game, all three couples faced-off in a stunt. The first couple to complete the stunt gets 10 points and the advantage of having to play a solo stunt first. Each couple in turn starting with the couple whom won the opening stunt plays a 30 second stunt. But before that they must first answer a two-part question; after the question was asked, the lady player gets to answer & if she's correct, the male partner gets to answer (sometimes they can both answer). If both correct answers were given, 10 seconds was added to the time for a total of 40 seconds. Either way they then play the stunt; now if the stunt is completed the couple wins 10 points plus 1 for every second left on the clock (Ex: 10 + 3 sec. = 13 points).


Round 2
Again all three couples play a face-off stunt. The couples are positioned according to their score, with the couple in first place getting the advantage, the second place couple in the middle, and third gets a disadvantage. This is an elimination stunt in which first two couples to complete the stunt advancing to round three, while the couple coming in last gets eliminated but goes home with parting gifts.


Round 3
In this round only one stunt is played. Two minutes is the starting time for the stunt, and the two remaining couples bid against each other to see who plays the stunt with a lower time limit. Control of who starts the bidding is determined by a question in which the woman of the team whom won the elimination stunt deciding to either have the partner answer or have the opponents answer. Whomever won the question starts the bidding. The bidding round is played until one team tells the other to "Beat the Clock"; at which point the opposing team plays the stunt in the adjusted time limit. If the couple can perform the stunt within that time limit they win the game, otherwise the other team wins. The winning couple goes on to the bonus round.


The Bonus Round ("The Swirling Whirlwind of Cash and Prizes")
The winning couple goes into a play area called "The Swirling Whirlwind of Cash and Prizes". Inside is over $25,000 in cash & prizes ($100,000 in the pilot). The winning couple has 60 seconds to grab as many dollar bills & prize vouchers as they can. They can only grab what's in the air, nothing on the ground, although they can kick up what's on the ground. Each time they grab the cash & prizes the female partner must stick them in the male partner's little bag strapped around his waist. When time runs out, the team has to put their hands in the air, letting go of any money in their hands, & come out. Everything that's in the bag is theirs to keep.

NOTE: Later in the run, a gold dollar bill was added. If it was grabbed in the sixty seconds, the money is doubled.


Cultural references
An episode of the animated sitcom The Flintstones once mentioned a "prehistoric" version of Beat the Clock, entitled Beat the Sundial. 

British version
Although Beat the Clock was never a programme in its own right in the United Kingdom, it was hugely popular there as a part of ATV's Sunday Night at the London Palladium on the ITV network, from 1955 to 1967, and is still very well-remembered. It was hosted by the Palladium show's comperes, successively Tommy Trinder, Bruce Forsyth (later the host of many other game shows including The Generation Game, Play Your Cards Right, You Bet! and The Price Is Right), Don Erroll, Norman Vaughan and Jimmy Tarbuck. It was occasionally revived afterwards, notably in a BBC variety show hosted by Mike Smith in 1987.

The game where a saying or phrase has to be unscrambled in a limited time is alluded to in a sketch from Monty Python's Flying Circus.


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"Beat the Clock" was the title of a UK hit single in 1979 by American duo Sparks.


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Beat the Clock was also the name of a rock and roll band in Minneapolis, Minnesota from 1988 to 1995.