Storybook Squares

Format

The original Storybook Squares followed the same rules as the standard Hollywood Squares, but with a twist: the celebrities occupying the tic-tac-toe board wore costumes based on fairy tales, nursery rhymes, or other storybook characters. Each episode pitted one boy against one girl, with the boy playing X and the girl playing O, just like the adult version. Instead of cash, the contestants competed for a prize in each game. The first two games of every episode were Secret Square games, each offering a different prize; if the first prize went unclaimed, it could be won alongside the second prize in the following game.

Panelists (1969)

Cliff Arquette was the only regular panelist from the adult show who appeared as himself, bringing his familiar "Charley Weaver" character to the children's version. Everyone else played a role: some were characters from books or fairy tales, some were historical figures, and others portrayed their own television personas. Unlike the parent series, each panelist received a grand introduction as they entered the set and settled into their square, giving host Marshall a chance for a brief comedic exchange.

A wide range of celebrities took part. Marty Allen appeared as both Tarzan and Cupid. Jim Backus played Mr. Magoo and Thurston Howell III. Ted Cassidy also played Tarzan.

Charo appeared as Queen Isabella. Wally Cox portrayed Paul Revere and Davy Crockett. Bob Crane played Colonel Hogan. Abby Dalton was Little Miss Muffet.

Barbara Eden appeared as Jeannie. Nanette Fabray took the role of the Old Woman Who Lived in the Shoe. Stu Gilliam played Merlin. Arte Johnson appeared as the "Very Interesting" Soldier.

Paul Lynde played Frankenstein's monster and the Evil Queen. Paul Winchell performed as Romeo and Dr. Jekyll, with Tessie Mahoney as Juliet and Jerry Mahoney as Mr. Hyde. Carolyn Jones appeared as Morticia Addams. Rose Marie played Pocahontas and Annie Oakley.

Roy Rogers and Dale Evans also appeared. Soupy Sales played Henry VIII and Thomas Edison. William Shatner played James T. Kirk. Leslie Uggams appeared as Snow White.

1976-1977 return

When the daytime version of Storybook Squares returned, the show switched up its usual setup. Instead of a two-player contest where boys faced off against girls, teams were formed. Boys competed alongside their fathers and grandfathers, while girls teamed up with their mothers and grandmothers. The children played the first round, the parents took over for the second, and the grandparents played each round after that, as long as time allowed.

Winning a game earned the team $300, and if time ran out mid-game, each square still in play was worth $50. The team that collected the most money walked away with a major prize, like a car or an exotic vacation. A long list of celebrities appeared in costume: Marty Allen as Tarzan, Milton Berle as Old Mother Hubbard, Valerie Bertinelli as Little Miss Muffet, Caroll Spinney as Big Bird, Hal Smith as Mother Goose, Paul Lynde as Attila the Hun, Frankenstein's monster, the Wicked Witch, Davy Crockett, and Paul Bunyan, William Shatner as Captain Kirk, Elke Sommer as Guinevere, Susan Seaforth Hayes as Eve and Cleopatra, Bill Hayes as Adam and Caesar, Connie Stevens as the Queen of Hearts, Karen Valentine as Mona Lisa, Anson Williams as Simple Simon, Florence Henderson as Belle Starr, Doc Severinsen as the Pied Piper and Gabriel, George Gobel as Henry VIII, Vincent Price as Captain Hook, Pat Harrington as Leonardo da Vinci, Rip Taylor as General Custer, Joan Rivers as the Old Woman Who Lived in the Shoe, Bonnie Franklin as Goldilocks and Peter Pan, John Byner as Long John Silver, Roddy McDowall as Sherlock Holmes and Pinocchio, Arte Johnson as Beethoven, Jo Ann Worley as Martha Washington, Soupy Sales as Thomas Edison, Rich Little as Noah, Julie McWhirter as Glinda the Good Witch and Dorothy Gale, and Charo as Lady Godiva, who wore a sparkly flesh-toned bodysuit instead of appearing nude.

1978 syndication

For some of the nighttime syndicated episodes in 1978, the show did an 'adult' version of dress-up for a series of episodes entitled 'Hollywood Squares Party'. Two of these episodes are posted to YouTube. Scoring was as with the regular syndicated episodes at the time ($250 per game, with 2-3 'Secret Square' games played per episode). Peter was simply introduced in these episodes as 'host for the party'.

The celebrities were in costume in these episodes as follows: Mel Brooks as Chief Running Bagel and Mel Funn, Tammy Wynette as Scarlett O'Hara and Madame Pompadour, Victor French as Chief Roy Mobey from Carter Country, Lauren Tewes as the Statue of Liberty, Paul Williams as Dracula, George Gobel as the Sheik of Araby and Confucius, Elke Sommer as Catherine the Great, John Byner as Casanova and Rasputin, Sandy Duncan as Mrs. Satan, Steve Landesberg as King Solomon, Valerie Bertinelli as the Bride of Frankenstein, Denise Nicholas as 'Queen Tut', Paul Lynde as the Son of a Musketeer and Narcissus.

In addition, for at least one episode, a pair of celebrity lookalikes played the game: Miss Circle was Gloria Marr impersonating Phyllis Diller, while Mister X was Joe Dimmick as Clint Eastwood.

Set

The 1969 set was decked out in a medieval theme for the host and players' podiums, while the gameboard remained the same as on the adult version. The 1970s sets extended the medieval theme to the entire set, with a sweeping castle facade built around and behind the 'Squares'. The 1978 episodes featured a mostly black set with silver trim around the squares and the contestant podiums.

Did You Know?

• The panelists were introduced by 'The Guardian of the Gate', who announced their characters' presence by reading their names from a scroll. The Guardian was played by regular Hollywood Squares announcer Kenny Williams, and the character was similar to his 'Town Crier' character from Video Village.
• Charo appeared as Lady Godiva in the 1976-1977 return, wearing a sparkly flesh-toned bodysuit rather than appearing actually nude.
• For the 1978 'Hollywood Squares Party' episodes, a pair of celebrity lookalikes played the game: Miss Circle was Gloria Marr impersonating Phyllis Diller, while Mister X was Joe Dimmick as Clint Eastwood.