Classic Television - Saturday Mornings

Storybook Squares

Original channel

NBC

Original run

January 4, 1969 – December 30, 1977

Presented by

Peter Marshall

Storybook Squares is a short-lived Saturday morning version of Hollywood Squares for children. The primary difference, apart from having children as contestants, was that it featured celebrities (usually the same ones from Hollywood Squares) in costume as well-known fictional characters and some as historical figures.

As with the adult version, Peter Marshall was host and Kenny Williams was announcer; Williams read the characters' names off a scroll as "The Guardian of the Gate", a role similar to his "Town Crier" on Video Village.

The series originally ran on NBC from January 4 to April 19, 1969, with repeats airing until August 30.

Like the normal version, two contestants competed (with a boy as X and a girl as O). The game was played exactly the same as the original Hollywood Squares, but no money was involved. Instead, the children played for prizes, with one being awarded per game won.

Panelists 

The only panelist from the adult show who played as he normally would was Cliff Arquette, who carried his "Charley Weaver" persona over to Storybook Squares. The other panelists played characters from fairy tales and books, historical figures, or in some cases the characters they played on television.

Unlike the parent series, on Storybook Squares each panelist/character was given an elaborate introduction as they entered the set and took their place on the board, allowing for a brief comic interaction with host Marshall as they did so.

Jim Backus as Mr. Magoo (animated character for whom he provided the voice) and Thurston Howell III (his character from Gilligan's Island)

Wally Cox as Paul Revere and Davy Crockett

Bob Crane as Colonel Hogan (his role on Hogan's Heroes)

Abby Dalton as Little Miss Muffet

Barbara Eden as Jeannie (her role on I Dream of Jeannie)

Nanette Fabray as The Old Woman Who Lived in the Shoe

Stu Gilliam as Merlin

Arte Johnson as his character the "Very Interesting!" Nazi from Laugh-In

Paul Lynde as Frankenstein's monster and the Evil Queen from Snow White

Carolyn Jones as Morticia Addams (her role on The Addams Family)

Rose Marie as Pocahantas and Annie Oakley

Soupy Sales as Henry VIII and Thomas Edison

William Shatner as James T. Kirk (his character from Star Trek)