What exactly are Forgotten 60s Game Shows?
The 1960s were a golden age of experimentation in television, and game shows were no exception. While the era gave us iconic formats like Jeopardy! and The Dating Game, it also gave birth to dozens of clever, strange, or short-lived shows that modern audiences have largely forgotten.
From talking heads to celebrity panels and brainy challenges, here are 10 forgotten 60s game shows that deserve a revival — or at least a nostalgic second look.
1. You Don’t Say! (1963–1969)
Why it’s worth remembering: It was like charades for wordplay nerds.
Hosted by Tom Kennedy, this word-association game paired celebrities with contestants in a clever format that required both wit and teamwork. It was a hit in its day but hasn’t been widely syndicated or rebooted — and that’s a missed opportunity.
Where to stream: Some elements can be found on YouTube.
2. Say When!! (1961–1965)
Why it’s worth remembering: It blended pricing games and risk-taking years before The Price Is Right got creative.
Contestants tried to get as close to a dollar as possible without going over by “buying” prizes — all while avoiding the dreaded “Say When!” signal. It was fast-paced and fun, and it disappeared just as the genre was heating up.
Where to stream: Some elements can be found on YouTube.
3. The Object Is… (1963–1964)
Why it’s worth remembering: A game show that tested how well you really knew someone.
This relationship-based game paired contestants with celebrities to guess objects based on clues describing their function or symbolic meaning. It was light, fun, and way ahead of its time in how it blended psychology with pop culture.
Where to stream: Sadly, it’s not currently available on any platform or physically.
4. What’s This Song? (1964–1965)
Why it’s worth remembering: Music trivia with live performances? Yes, please.
Hosted by Wink Martindale, this game challenged contestants to identify lyrics and titles from live renditions played by a studio band. It had a strong musical hook and a variety-show vibe that could easily work today with a karaoke spin.
Where to stream: Some elements can be found on YouTube.
5. Personality (1967–1969)
Why it’s worth remembering: It was a precursor to modern celeb game shows like Hollywood Game Night.
Three celebrity panelists tried to predict each other’s answers to humorous personality questions. The result? A lot of laughs and some surprisingly honest moments. Its format is ripe for revival in today’s meme-heavy media landscape.
Where to stream: We located one episode on YouTube.
6. Call My Bluff (1965)
Why it’s worth remembering: A word-lover’s dream where definitions were the punchlines.
Two celebrity teams competed to trick each other with fake definitions of obscure words. One team told the truth, the other bluffed. It was smart, educational, and had the charm of a parlor game you’d actually want to play at home.
Where to stream: Some elements can be found on YouTube of both the U.S. and UK versions. Buzzr has been known to show the odd episode.
7. The Face Is Familiar (1966)
Why it’s worth remembering: Imagine a puzzle-based guessing game using celebrities’ faces.
This CBS show slowly revealed a photo of a famous person, and contestants had to guess their identity. It was visually clever, made great use of television as a medium, and would totally work today with pop culture TikTok stars.
Where to stream: Some elements can be found on YouTube.
8. Snap Judgment (1967–1969)
Why it’s worth remembering: It was psychological and competitive — and hosted by a future icon.
Hosted by Ed McMahon, the game involved contestants trying to match responses to fill-in-the-blank phrases based on what they *thought* others would say. Part psychology, part strategy, part chaos. It’s the kind of show a streamer like Netflix could reinvent today.
Where to stream: Sadly, it’s not currently available on any platform or physically.
9. Treasure Isle (1967–1968)
Why it’s worth remembering: It combined trivia with outdoor adventure — years before reality game shows were a thing.
Set at the Colonnades Beach Hotel in Florida, Treasure Isle featured two teams of contestants competing in beachside challenges and trivia rounds to win hidden “treasures.” Hosted by John Bartholomew Tucker, the show brought a vacation vibe and real physicality to the otherwise studio-bound genre. With its tropical setting and treasure hunt theme, it’s easy to imagine a modern reboot on a streaming platform or as a summer primetime revival.
Where to stream: Some elements can be found on YouTube.
10. Dream House (1968–1970)
Why it’s worth remembering: A game show where the prize was a new house. Seriously.
This NBC show gave winning couples the chance to build their dream home by answering trivia questions. It’s the most 60s-American-Dream concept ever — and in a world of real estate reality shows, a reboot feels weirdly inevitable.
Where to stream: Some elements can be found on YouTube.
Final Thoughts
The 1960s were bursting with creativity in the game show world, even if many of these series didn’t stick around for long. Whether quirky, cerebral, or just plain fun, these forgotten formats show how much range the genre once had — and how much potential it still holds.
If TV execs are looking for the next big nostalgia-fueled reboot, they could do worse than dusting off a few of these forgotten gems.
Be sure to check out the entries in our Underrated Series:
Underrated Cartoons
- Underrated 60s Cartoons – 10 Shows You Totally Forgot About
- Underrated 70s Cartoons – 10 Shows You Totally Forgot About
- Underrated 80s Cartoons – 10 Shows You Totally Forgot About
- Underrated 90s Cartoons – 10 Shows You Totally Forgot About
- Underrated 2000s Cartoons – 10 Shows You Totally Forgot About
Underrated Sitcoms
- Underrated 60s Sitcoms – 10 Shows You Totally Forgot About
- Underrated 70s Sitcoms – 10 Shows You Totally Forgot About
- Underrated 80s Sitcoms – 10 Shows You Totally Forgot About
- Underrated 90s Sitcoms – 10 Shows You Totally Forgot About
- Underrated 2000s Sitcoms – 10 Shows You Totally Forgot About
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