The Greatest Upset in Quiz Show History

[demmiblue]

Agnes Scott vs. Princeton, GE College Bowl, 1966.

On the tape, the Princeton boys come off as a caricature of what we would expect from Ivy League men. Suited up in matching black jackets, they look right out of a Mad Men episode. They introduce themselves with breezy self-assurance, with names like Jim, Steve, and Frank. They ooze self-confidence.

Their opponents? Four young ladies from a women’s college in Decatur, Georgia, wearing brightly colored dresses and nervous smiles. The students from Agnes Scott have spent months preparing for their debut on College Bowl, telecast live from Radio City Music Hall on NBC. The year is 1966. General Electric College Bowl is in its heyday, pitting teams of university students against each other in an intellectual gladiator match.

The host, veteran broadcaster Robert Earle, announces the competition’s opening whistle, pronouncing his “wh” in the old Atlantic style of “hwh-istle.” And one of the biggest upsets in quiz history is underway.

https://slate.com/culture/2018/08/agnes-scott-vs-princeton-college-bowl-the-biggest-upset-in-quiz-show-history.html

[11cents]

1. Fun to watch -- thanks!

I noticed that Earle asked each Princeton guy individually about what his major and career plans were -- but not the Agnes Scott women. But all of the latter went on to distinguished careers.

[bpatrick]

9. Why the Agnes Scott women weren't asked about themselves

Teams making their first appearance showed a brief film about their college. If they made it back in subsequent weeks, Earle would ask them such questions as what their majors and career plans were. I would assume that was what he did with Agnes Scott the following week. They didn't make it back for a third week, however.

[Cracklin Charlie]

2. Must watch later.

[Hav]

3. Very interesting

The linked article had some interesting stories to tell, but I have to say, the somewhat negative view of the Princeton team in the introduction first influenced my attitude when I started watching and it was totally unnecessary. Both teams were very knowledgeable and likeable, both have every reason to be proud.

I was fascinated by Karen Gearreald. I didn't know she was blind. As an introvert, that look downwards was familiar to me and I found it funny how often her partners would turn to her and she would silently give an answer for others to repeat. Except for that last question, of course.

[murielm99]

4. This is wonderful, and so is the linked article.

Thanks for posting.

[Warren_Pointe]

5. Cool competition, wish they still had it.

A little creeped out by the "baby food warmer" including free gift for baby including carcinogens!

[Haggis for Breakfast]

6. Was I the only one who noticed

that in the first GE commercial (for the baby warmer dish) that the address for GE did not have a zip code ?? It WAS 1966, and zip codes were introduced in 1963.

[sl8]

7. That's great.

Thanks for posting, I really enjoyed that.

Some more info:

From https://agnesscott.livejournal.com/161349.html

What Ever Happened to... The Agnes Scott College Bowl Winners

From the AJC: WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO ... THE AGNES SCOTT COLLEGE BOWL WINNERS
1966 coup over Princeton was an early sign of distinctions to come

Besting the brightest students from an Ivy League university would make the highlight reel of just about anyone's life. But for four women from Agnes Scott College, upending Princeton University's team in the final seconds of the nationally televised GE College Bowl in 1966 was just a hint of academic accomplishments to come. Three went on to earn Ph.D.s and teach at colleges. A fourth became a leading expert on family planning and health in developing countries.

The three surviving members were leading lives of quiet distinction last year, when a video of their four-decade-old victory surfaced on YouTube.

There on the grainy video sit Katherine Bell, Betty Butler, Karen Gearreald and Malinda Snow, their clothes and hair a testimony to '60s fashion and their quick answers an homage to the Decatur college they say prepared them for their dramatic comeback.

On Saturday, Snow and Gearreald joined the team's coach, now 88, and manager, now 63, to watch a DVD of that show in the campus lounge and reminisce about how far they had come.

...

Also,
Braille Music Transcriber and Renaissance Woman: Karen Gearreald, Part 1
https://blogs.loc.gov/nls-music-notes/2018/01/braille-music-transcriber-and-renaissance-woman-karen-gearreald/

Braille Music Transcriber and Renaissance Woman, Karen Gearreald, Part 2
https://blogs.loc.gov/nls-music-notes/2018/01/braille-music-transcriber-and-renaissance-woman-karen-gearreald-part-2/

[Gothmog]

8. I won my college's college bowl competition twice

It was fun. My son later won his school's college bowl competition