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Candid
Camera, the first and longest running reality-based comedy
program, premiered on ABC 10 August 1948 under its original radio
title Candid Microphone. The format of the program featured
footage taken by a hidden camera of everyday people caught in hoaxes
devised by the show's host Allen Funt. In the world of Candid
Camera mailboxes talked to passers by, cars rolled along
effortlessly without engines, little boys used x-ray glasses, and
secretaries were chained to their desks--all to provoke a reaction
from unsuspecting mechanics, clerks, customers and passers by. In a
1985 Psychology Today article, Funt explained his move to
television by saying that he "wanted to go beyond what people merely
said, to record what they did--their gestures, facial expressions,
confusions and delights.
" The program
ultimately changed its name to Candid Camera when it moved to
NBC in 1949 but did not gain a permanent time slot until it finally
moved to CBS in 1960. For the next seven years it was consistently
rated as one of television's top ten shows before it was abruptly
canceled. Funt was frequently joined by guest hosts such as Arthur
Godfrey, Durward Kirby and Bess Meyerson. A syndicated version of
the program containing old and new material aired from 1974-78.
Aided by his son Peter, Funt continued to create special theme
episodes (e.g.: "Smile, You're on Vacation," "Candid Camera goes to
the Doctor," etc.) for CBS until 1990 when The New Candid
Camera, advised by Funt and hosted by Dom DeLuise went into
syndication. Low ratings finally prevented King Productions from
renewing the show for the 1992-93 season.
The scenarios
designed and recorded by Funt and his crew were unique glimpses into
the quirks and foibles of human nature never before deliberately
captured on film. The average scenario lasted approximately five
minutes and was based on one of five strategies. These "ideas"
included reversing normal or anticipated procedures, exposing basic
human weaknesses such as ignorance or vanity, fulfilling fantasies,
using the element of surprise or placing something in a bizarre or
inappropriate setting. As Funt noted: "You have to make lots of
adjustments to create viewer believability and really involve the
subject. You need the right setting, one in which the whole scenario
will fit and make sense to the audience even when it doesn't to the
actor." Finding the right setting, and the right people for
Candid Camera stunts was not always an easy task.
Early attempts
to film Candid Camera were hampered by technical, logistical
and censorship difficulties. While they appeared simple, the staged
scenes took many hours to prepare and success was far from
guaranteed. Approximately fifty recorded sequences were filmed for
every four to five aired on the program. Funt and his crew had to
contend with burdensome equipment that was difficult to conceal. The
cameras were often hidden behind a screen, but the lights needed for
them had to be left out in the open. Would-be victims were told that
the lights were part of "renovations." Microphones were concealed in
boxes, under tables and, in a number of episodes, in a cast worn by
Funt himself. In his book Eavesdropping at Large (1952), Funt
also described his battles with network censors and sponsors who had
never before confronted this type of programming and were often
fickle in their decisions about what was and was not acceptable
material for television at the time. Funt himself destroyed any
material that was off color, or reached too deeply into people's
private lives. A hotel gag designed to fool guests placed a "men's
room" sign on a closet door. The funniest, but ultimately unaired
reaction, came from a gentleman who ignored the obvious lack of
accommodations and "used" the closet anyway.
Candid
Camera's unique approach to documenting unexpected elements of
human behavior was inspired in part by Funt's background as a
research assistant at Cornell University. Here Funt aided
psychologist Kurt Lewin in experiments on the behaviors of mothers
and children. He also drew on his experiences in the Army Signal
Corps where he was responsible for recording soldier's letters home.
Candid Camera was different from other programming because of
its focus on the everyday--on the extraordinary things that happen
in ordinary, everyday contexts. "Generations have been educated to
accept the characterizations of the stage and screen" Funt noted in
his chronicle of the program's history. "Our audiences have to
unlearn much of this to accept candid studies, although anyone can
verify our findings just by looking around and listening."
Candid
Camera spawned a new genre of "reality programming" in the late
eighties including such shows as America's Funniest Home
Videos and Totally Hidden Video. Television audiences
were forced to become reflexive about their own role in the
production of comedy and in thinking about the practices of everyday
life. "We used the medium of TV well," Funt commented, "There were
close ups of people in action. The audience saw ordinary people like
themselves and the reality of events as they were unfolding. Each
piece was brief, self-contained and the simple humor of the
situation could be quickly understood by virtually anyone in our
audience." Conceived in a less complex era free of camcorder
technology, Candid Camera brought insight and humor into
understanding both the potential of television and the role of the
TV audience.
-Amy Loomis
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Candid Camera
Photo courtesy of Bob
Banner Associates
HOST
Allen Funt
CO-HOSTS
Arthur Godfrey (1960-61)
Durward Kirby (1961-66)
Bess Myerson (1966-67)
Peter
Funt (1990)
PRODUCER
Allen Funt
PROGRAMMING HISTORY
ABC
August 1948-September 1948........ Sunday
8:00-8:30 October 1948............................... Sunday
8:30-8:45 November 1948-December 1948....... Friday 8:00-8:30
NBC
May 1949-July 1949...................... Sunday
7:30-8:00 July 1949-August 1949................ Thursday 9:00-9:30
CBS
September 1949-September 1950.. Monday
9:00-9:30
NBC
June
1953................................. Tuesday 9:30-10:00 July
1953........................... Wednesday 10:00-10:30
CBS
October 1960-September 1967... Sunday
10:00-10:30 July 1990-August 1990.................... Friday
8:30-9:00
FURTHER READING
Brooks, T. & E. Marsh. The Complete Directory To Prime
Time TV Shows 1946-present. New York: Ballentine, 1992.
Carey, P. "Catching Up with Candid Camera," Saturday
Evening Post (Indianapolis, Indiana), 1992.
Funt,
A. Eavesdropping at Large: Adventures in Human Nature with Candid
Mike and Candid Camera. New York: Vanguard Press, 1952.
Zimbardo, P. "Laugh Where We Must, Be Candid Where We Can,"
Psychology Today (New York), 1985.
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