“Smile! You’re on Candid Camera!”
Released in 1963 by Lowell Toy Mfg. of Long Island City, New York, the Candid Camera Game was based on the popular hidden-camera reality TV show of the same name. From 2 to 4 players, ages 10 and up, attempted to outsmart and bluff each other to be the first to collect 12 Candid Camera cards.
GAMEPLAY
Each player was given 6 Candid Camera cards, a wooden rack, a playing piece, and a Camera Location sheet.
The board represented a fictional city with locations such as the Pet Shop, Library, Bus Terminal, and Bank. It also contained 31 locations where cameras could be hidden: 9 locations on each side of the board and 13 in the centre.
Players selected three places to hide their cameras, one in each section of the board, and recorded them on Camera Location slips. A deck of red Play cards was placed at the centre of the game board. After setup, players moved around the board with the roll of a die, entering various locations (if they were open), or drawing cards from the Play deck. In addition to being directed to a specific location, Play cards also allowed players to open and close locations.
When a player entered a location, other players were given the opportunity to shout the show’s catchphrase, “Smile! You’re on Candid Camera!” to indicate that they had placed one of their hidden cameras on that site. The player caught on camera was forced to relinquish one of their Canada Camera Cards to the opposing player.
Players could also bluff, saying the catchphrase even if they did not have a secret camera in place. If their bluff was called, they had to hand over multiple Candid Camera cards as penance.
If a player lost all their Candid Camera cards, they were out of the game. The first player to accumulate 12 Candid Camera cards was declared the winner.
IN THE BOX
A complete game included 1 game board, 4 wooden racks, 1 pack of Candid Camera cards, 1 pack of red Play cards, 4 playing pieces, 1 pad of Camera Location sheets, and 1 die. Instructions were printed on the inside cover.
Note: If you buy something using the eBay link in this story, we may earn a small commission.