USPS Early TV Memories - Grouch Marx's You Bet Your Life

USPS on 11 August 2009, in North Hollywood, California,  issued a 44-cent "Early TV Memories" First Day Cover stamp honouring Grouch Marx and his show "You Bet Your Life". It was one of twenty designs created by Carl T. Herrman to commemorate twenty great shows from TV's "Golden Age".

The Early TV Memories sheet of 44-cent First-Class stamps included the following twenty classic TV shows: "The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet"; "Alfred Hitchcock Presents"; "Dinah Shore Show"; "Dragnet"; "Ed Sullivan Show"; "George Burns & Gracie Allen Show"; "Hopalong Cassidy"; "The Honeymooners"; "Howdy Doody"; "I Love Lucy"; "Kukla, Fran and Ollie"; "Lassie"; "The Lone Ranger"; "Perry Mason"; "Phil Silvers Show"; "The Red Skelton Show"; "Texaco Star Theater"; "The Tonight Show"; "Twilight Zone"; and "You Bet Your Life".

You Bet Your Life
This game show was built around the personality of its host, comedy star Groucho Marx, who loaded his banter with quips. A toy duck lowered from the ceiling delivered a cash prize when contestants said the week’s “secret word,” a common word selected in advance. The actual quiz was less the focal point than an opportunity to unleash Groucho’s wit.

Julius Henry "Groucho" Marx (1890 – 1977) was an American comedian, actor, writer, and singer who performed in film and vaudeville and on television, radio, and the stage. He made 13 feature films as a team with his brothers, who performed under the name the Marx Brothers, of whom he was the third born. He also had a successful solo career, primarily on radio and television, most notably as the host of the game show You Bet Your Life.

His distinctive appearance, carried over from his days in vaudeville, included quirks such as an exaggerated stooped posture, spectacles, cigar, and a thick greasepaint mustache (later a real mustache) and eyebrows.

Source: USPS and Wikipedia