''G. E. Guest House'' is an American television quiz program that was broadcast on CBS from July 1, 1951, until August 26, 1951. Oscar Levant was host for the first three episodes, after which Durward Kirby had that role. It was also known as ''Guest House'' and ''General Electric Guest House''.

Format

Each episode featured a four-celebrity panel. The individual member varied from week to week, but each group contained a critic, a performer, a producer, and a writer. Panelists competed to determine which one could correctly answer the most questions about show business. During Levant's time as host, he played some musical selections on a piano and led a musical quiz segment. Guest stars also appeared on each episode to "render their various specialties". People who appeared as panelists or performing guests included Binnie Barnes,

John Cecil Holm John Cecil Holm (November 4, 1904, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – October 24, 1981, in Westerly, Rhode Island) was an American dramatist, theatre director and actor. He is best known for his 1935 play ''Three Men on a Horse'', co-written w ...

, Cornelia Otis Skinner, Wendy Barrie, William Gaxton,

Joe E. Brown Joseph Evans Brown (July 28, 1891 – July 6, 1973) was an American actor and comedian, remembered for his friendly screen persona, comic timing, and enormous elastic-mouth smile. He was one of the most popular American comedians in the 19 ...

, Lanny Ross,

Constance Bennett Constance Campbell Bennett (October 22, 1904 – July 24, 1965) was an American stage, film, radio, and television actress and producer. She was a major Hollywood star during the 1920s and 1930s; during the early 1930s, she was the highest-paid ...

, and John Gassner.

Production

''G. E. Guest House'' was broadcast live on Sundays from 9 to 10 p.m. Eastern Time, replacing Fred Waring's show. The sponsor was General Electric. Young & Rubicam packaged the program. An article in the trade publication ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

'' in early August 1951 noted that lack of success of ''Guest House'' and two other shows put together by that agency might lead to its exit from packaging TV shows entirely.

Critical response

Sam F. Lucchese, writing in '' The Atlanta Journal'', said that Levant's performance in the premiere episode was so objectionable that Lucchese chose not to watch the second one. He wrote, "Levant's supercilious attitude and his snide remarks to fellow performers on his program left a bad taste after an otherwise good show." He also quoted another viewer who said that Levant "made himself so obnoxious" that the viewer was tempted to get rid of any of the sponsor's products that he owned. Media critic John Crosby described ''G. E. Guest House'' as one of several "pretty darned good quiz shows" in the summer of 1951. He called the program "an ingenious operation, strongly bolstered by straight entertainment" and wrote that the quiz and entertainment aspects were sometimes supplemented by "some pretty amazing displays of temperament between the guests". Larry Wolters wrote in the '' Chicago Tribune'' that the program "set a new high in contrived banter, labored humor, and mechanical informality." He commented on Levant's rudeness and wrote of the show, "All in all it was a sort of variety hodge-podge — and an interminable one." Jack O'Brian's review of the premiere episode for the International News Service noted Levant's "orneriness" and called the episode "a mishmash of melody, many questions, some answers, and a great deal of short temper which bore the clear markings of labored preparation and rehearsal." Still, he described the show as "better than fair fun".

References

{{Authority control 1951 American television series debuts 1951 American television series endings CBS game shows 1950s American game shows