"To Tell The Truth" (Syndication)

[CrazyBoutThe70s]

LOVE THE SONG !!!

[PatrioticPirate]

You know what, I'd like to hear that vocal fanfare at the beginning of the show (Baah babah-bah...). I used to LOVE that. Does anyone know if it's anywhere on the internet?

[TimeoutSuper]

1, 230 LBS.

Binghampton, NY

[altfactor]

I thought Paul Alter (a longtime director of game shows, including several of Goodson-Todman's) actually wrote the lyrics, and Ed Kaheloff wrote the music.

[aman1016]

We all saw Frank Abagnale's photos, BUT, how many of you know that one of the main panel of impostors featured in this video was JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR lyricist Tim Rice? I had that ep on videotape back when GSN was running this show as a part of a summer marathon series.

[mrhorgan]

This theme's got like a vibe of The Beatles to me in my opinion but I love it!

[sexymama1966]

i would have danced to this in the discotheques:)

[MKIVWWI]

Terrific show & theme song -- total Sixties! Rules over all that's come since. The Game Show Network put out two great CD's of vintage themes on the Varese Sarabande label (Varese Vintage): "Classic TV Game Show Themes" (1998) which contains this theme, and "The Best of TV Quiz & Game Show Themes" (2000). All are the originals, and very good quality. Often can find on Amazon or Ebay.

[Teflon65]

This is my favorite version of the show, and I prefer this theme song. Gary Moore and the panelists were such class acts, and they seemed to have a lot of fun doing the show together. I even like the final year or so, with Joe Garagiola as host.

[143AC]

Dear JanTV,

I liked both Mr.Collyer and Mr.Moore as the hosts of"To Tell The Truth"..I like them better than Mr.Gargiola and Mr.O'Hurley.

[bluebear1985]

@143AC What about the early 80s version with Robin Ward? Also, even though the early 90s version lasted about a year, it had three different hosts, for different reasons. The original host was Gordon Elliott. He was replaced later in the run by Lynn Swann. Swann later left the show himself to be replaced for the rest of the show's run by Alex Trebek.

[telewatcher89]

The Alternative version's "BA" lyrics:

0:07-0:23

BABA BA BA, BABABABABA BABABABA BA BABBAAAAAA, BA BABBA BA BA BA BA, BA BABBA BA BA BAAAAAAAAA WAAAHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAH!

0:25-0:36

BABBA BA BA, BA BABBA BA BA, BA BABBA BA BA BAAAAAA, BA BABBA BA BA BA BA

[143AC]

This was Mr.Gary Moore's last regular tv series' appearances..before he was forced to retire.The cause for this retirement..was he was suffereing from cancer.

[TailsFan369no2]

FRANK AT 1:10!

[Jantv81]

I liked Garry more than Bud... But it was all the same fun game. To bad I could never be on it.

[Jantv81]

Television is the most entertaining of all the mediums.... especially the classic game shows.

[KillerMcGinty]

The strange thing is...in the actual show opening, they are singing "bah - bah bah bah- bah bah- bah bah". And its not on this version or any other than I can find. I wish I could find that version...I want to make it into a ring tone!

[MKIVWWI]

@KillerMcGinty I think I heard that they recorded that version at the same time, but to use as the opening theme and "bumper" music (going to and coming back from commercial breaks). They probably preferred a shorter, non-vocal version for that purpose. This full vocal version was always played at the end while the credits rolled (though even then, it was never heard in it's entirety since the credits were much shorter!). Hope this clarifies it!

[sweetjudyblueiz]

It's a lie, a lie, you're telling a lie....great theme! Brings me back to the 70's.

[DJKhrome]

THIS IS THE TO TELL THE TRUTH THEME I remember!! I grew up in the 60's, saw that version, but it's THIS version that is the coolest ever! In the 70's, you grew up singing the jingle, "You don't know how to tell the truth! Yeahhh!" Irreplaceable of all the past & future TTTT themes!

[CookyMonzta]

By the way, secondchance: Do you have footage of Kitty Carlisle's final appearance on this show? She made one appearance on John O'Hurley's TTTT in 2000. I never saw that show, but I'd bet she got a long standing O there. She was 90 then.

[CookyMonzta]

Hey, secondchance: Any chance they got photos from the 1969-70 season, if most of the footage was erased? I was 4 then, and I had faint memories of that set, which lasted from 1969-71. The 1971-73 set, I remember well, and the 1973-78 set (which they took all of the flower power out, and replaced it with something closer to futuristic), I remember VERY well.

[Dirojan]

Most other game show themes are of the elevator music fare. To tell the truth's theme has a groovy beat.. Have there ever been any cover versions?

[floooky1]

Best game show theme ever, done by Score Productions and Charles Fox. Best set too.

[CookyMonzta]

@floooky1 Aye. Other than 'Musical Chairs', the only theme with lyrics during its run. I didn't think they'd keep it past 1975.

1969-71 psychedelic set, one of the 5 best game show sets (and theme songs) ever, if not THE best. I was only 5 in '71, but I remember it faintly only because of the theme song. Then they took some of the flower power out of their next set in

'71 (This I remember more), then took it all out in '73 and replaced it with something regarded as futuristic back then.

[kycortx]

A lot like 'Love American Style'... good

[TerryT1976]

Oh I believe it after hearing the music of Charles Fox in "LAS" and "Goodbye, Columbus"! Groovy!

[kycortx]

Love this song... it's so upbeat and 'poppy'.

Very  "Partridge Family / Monkees / Archies..etc...

[CookyMonzta]

@kycortx That, I believe, was the idea when they wrote this theme. I used to watch this show, from '72 to '78, and sometimes just to hear this theme, unlike any other game show theme at the time.

[christheone8773]

BEST Game show theme ever!!  Loved the psychedelic game show set as well!

[frankd1965]

RIP Soupy Sales. He was a panelist on the show

[Jantv81]

Kitty Carlisle -- and To Tell the Truth!!

[scottbaino]

This theme song debuted 40 years ago today!

[kfo9494]

Man that song brings back sooo much memories when I was young. Thanks you for posting.

[pannoni1]

Definately could have been released as a single and would have likely been a Hot 100 hit (and possibly a low-end Top 40).

[GEORGETOWN93]

Your right ,'To Tell The Truth' song rocks!

[WARDMAN3]

@pannoni1 Yes it could have been. This was the full length studio cut for the show and it is definitely catchy. If I recall correctly, it was written by Paul Alter, who directed quite a few of the most prolific game shows of the 60's 70's and 80s.

[scottbaino]

Thank you SO MUCH for posting this! I have been looking for this since "Catch Me if You Can" was in theaters 7 years ago!!!!!! :) You are the best!

[a1cjlock]

TTTT's 1969 set designed my Theodor Cooper was quite groundbreaking introducing colorful flashy designs that would become a staple for many game shows to come.

[GEORGETOWN93]

I wish todays game shows had time for cool theme songs like this,but instead it's canned crap for 10 sec.

[frankd1965]

I like the one with Frank Abignale Jr..

[nycboy3489]

Who sung this song again? Was it The Monkeys?

[scottbaino]

Not the Monkees. Some studio singers.

Gosh, I'd give anything to go back to 1969 and record this!!!

[kxx46]

This is awesome. I'm so pleased you were able to post this w/ all the words.

it would be a hit record, that's for sure !!

[maleadmirer]

I was a fan of To Tell the Truth as a kid and I liked the theme song. Thanks for posting it.

[frankd1965]

1:11 to 1:15 has Frank Abignale Jr. con man.

[frankd1965]

Mark Goodson & Bill Toddman where geniouses. They have a lot of game show credits ie Price Is Right, match Game, TattleTales, Family Feud, I've Got a Secret, Password, What's My Line? etc

[dickclarkfan1]

Um, Mark Goodson did NOT create To Tell The Truth. Someone on his staff did, a little guy in the game show world known as Bob Stewart, who would go on to create Password, and The Price is Right for Mark Goodson, before he struck out on his own. Eventually Bob Stewart would create what many people consider is the most popular game show of the 70's and 80's, Pyramid.

[frankd1965]

Goodson/Todman where the producers of Game shows. they have 24 shows to there credit

[dickclarkfan1]

That may be true, but BOB STEWART was the creator and producer of To Tell The Truth until he left Goodson/Todman.

[bradley825]

Do you have the program with Fred W. Demera, the great impostor? I met him back in 1968 when he impersonated a baptist minister. I was his "Little Buddy".

[capcentre]

Did anyone ever notice how To Tell The Truth would always mix up the order of the panalist as opposed to What's My Line.

[frankd1965]

i did not know that. Gene Rayburn, Peggy Cass, Anita Gillette, Regis Philbin, Bill Cullen, Ruta Lee, Soupy Sales, Nypsy Russell, Orson Bean, Jack Klugman, Brett Somars, Tom Kennedy, Jack Narz both did double duty on To Tell The Truth and What's My Line?

[capcentre]

On What's My Line, Soupy Sales was always in seat 1 and Arlene Francis was in seat 4.  The two guest panalist were in the midst of the panel. I always wanted to see them in different seats. I cried for hours on end when this never happened. I always like TTTT better because it was always a mystery as to which seats the panelist would be sitting in. I was happy for hours on end when this always happened.

[kxx46]

Larry Blyden the host of the syndicated WML ? played To tell the Truth

several times, too !

[frankd1965]

I should catch those episodes. check out th eothers i posted. there is one when Regis Philbin was young back in 1970.

[zhelder]

Wow. Where on earth did you get such a crisp, clear copy of the music? Beautiful. This song could have been a pop hit, it's that good.

The Garry Moore verison of TTTT is my favorite. He was such an easy going, fun loving host. Add the psychedelic sets, the mind-blowingly good theme song, genius panelists like Bill Cullen, Peggy Cass, Nipsey Russell, Gene Rayburn, and Kitty Carlisle, and the greatest game show announcer of all time, Johnny Olson, to finish the package. Fabulous stuff.

[secondchance1977]

I got theme from the game show themes CD

[smashwhammy]

the 90 theme is a lyric-less version of this theme, but a unused variation with acapella group Take 6 singing the lyrics are also available.

[frankd1965]

Also Brett Somars, Jack Klugman, Regis Philbin, Anita Gillette, Orson Bean, Soupy Sales, made appearences on this classic game show

[kxx46]

Anne Meara, Hug Downs, Gene Shalit,

Carol Burnett , Shirley Lord and Betty

White were panelists, too.

[capnhawk51]

Best game show ever! Garry Moore as the host with the panel of Peggy Cass, Bill Cullen, Kitty Carlisle, and Orson Bean. It just doen't get any better than that! Graet job, secondchance1977, and thank you!!

[Hondo20132]

Bob Stewart was so impressed at Bill's game show expertee, he hosted 8 of Bob's creations!

And, Bill is also good as a panel!

[frankd1965]

other panelists included Regis Philbin, Gene Rayburn, Anita Gillette, Jack Klugman, Brett Somars,

[Green18600]

Excellent Montage And Continuity!! I remember watching this program as a young boy in Warrensburg, Illinois. WICS Channel 20 -- the NBC Television Network Affiliate at the time -- in Springfield, Illinois aired reruns of the program in 1977 and in 1978.  A Sensational 6!!

[baldy2006]

The picture at 1:06 is actually from a 1967 edition of the CBS daytime version.

[secondchance1977]

Oh? Well, the source i got it from says it was from the syndicated version, but it must be from the CBS version then:)

[Hondo20132]

I can tell it's the CBS version 'cause of the audience voting being on.

[ClassicShowbiz]

Garry Moore aged shockingly fast over the course of 1959-1969