“Smile, you’re on Candid Camera!”

Every Baby Boomer can remember that catchphrase. You probably even said it once or twice yourself.

Here’s the true story behind America’s original reality TV show.

The premise of Candid Camera was simple: film ordinary people in unusual situations without their being aware that they are being filmed.

Alan Funt was the mastermind behind the show. He began the show during the waning days of network radio as Candid Microphone. What most of us don’t remember is that he made several attempts to bring the show to TV before it finally caught on.

The first television version aired on ABC in 1948. It moved to NBC for 1949. Then they tried to syndicate the show, with mixed results. In 1958, Candid Camera became a segment on The Jack Parr Show. In 1959, it was part of The Gary Moore Show.

Finally, in 1960 CBS tried it out as its own half-hour series again. This time it clicked and in a big way.

Candid Camera landed in the Top 10 TV shows in the U.S. in each of its first 4 seasons, peaking at # 2 in 1962-63. This version of the show lasted until 1967. It then went into syndication, but because most of the seasons had been shot in black & white, its commercial viability waned as color came to dominate TV Land.

During its 1960’s, Funt’s co-hosts included Arthur Godfrey, Durwood Kirby and Bess Myerson. A then-unknown Woody Allen was one of the show’s writers, who would also appear in some of the show's stunts.

Funt next brought his Candid Camera technique to the movies with a “naughty” version of his hidden camera stunts called What Do You Say to a Naked Lady (1970).

With the rise of cable there have been many attempts to revive the show, both in “naughty” and the more familiar family-friendly versions. The most recent revivals have been produced and hosted by Funt’s son, Peter.

Of course, Candid Camera is also the inspiration for many of the practical joke shows that pop up on television these days, especially Aston Kutcher’s Punked series.

Regardless of what the future holds, you would be wise to be on your guard. Someday, somewhere, someone may come up to you and say, “Smile! You’re on Candid Camera!”

A 18-year study from Oregon State University suggests that working a bit longer many actually help you live longer.

The study found that those who worked at least one year past the age of 65 had a 9 percent lower death risk.

Obviously, health is a factor in some retirement decisions, but in you’re healthy enough, you may want to think about working a bit longer to live longer!

A new study indicates that a diet rich in vitamin C can cut the risk of developing cataracts in people over 40 by 33%.

Researchers stress that the benefits does NOT come from popping vitamin C tablets, but from natural food sources, such as citrus fruit and dark green vegetables.

Bon appétit!

1964: Eric Burdon and the Animals enter a recording studio. Less than ten minutes later, after just one take, they leave.

The song they recorded so quickly will become their first hit, “House of the Rising Sun.” Although the band will place 14 more songs on the pop charts, “Rising Sun” remains their only U.S. #1.

1963: The very first movie to team Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello as California surfers, Beach Party, opens at theaters and drive-ins across America.

24 years later to the day, a reunion movie, Back to Beach opens re-teaming Frankie and Annette and also featuring Connie Stevens, Bob Denver, Don Adams, Ed “Kookie” Byrnes and Pee-Wee Herman.

1970: To commemorate the dropping of the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, a Concert for Peace is held at New York’s Shea Stadium. Performing at the event are Janis Joplin, Paul Simon, Steppenwolf, and Johnny Winter.

1967: A debut album by a very strange, out-of-the-mainstream British band is released. It will never even crack the Hot 100 albums in Billboard. The album is “Piper at the Gates of Dawn” and the band is named Pink Floyd.

1958: Billboard Magazine changes the name of their pop chart from The Top 100 to The Hot 100. The first #1 on The Hot 100: “Poor Little Fool” by Rick Nelson.

1992: The Beach Boys release their 27^th studio album, Summer in Paradise. It bombs. The band would not record another one until their 50^th anniversary effort, That’s Why God Made the Radio in 2012.