Now THIS is the real Colonel Sanders, not those creepy guys in the commercials.

I realized that I was watching history. He wasn't successful until very late in life. A good reminder for all of us; it's never too late.

Hollywood ought to make a solid full time movie about this man

After he sold his company, Colonel Sanders went around to different franchises trying the menu to see if they held to his original standards. He was horrified by their cost-cutting measures, called their fried chicken "a gob of unrecognizable fried batter", and their gravy "like Elmer's Paste". He became persona non grata at his own restaurants for his complaints. We can only imagine how good his food was before the franchises ruined it.

As a child I was blown away when I first found out that Col. Sanders was a real person & not a mascot like Ronald or the Taco Bell dog. The fact that he was actually from Kentucky is even better. XD

Absolutely unbelievable that Colonel freaking Sanders could walk into a room anywhere on planet Earth, and everyone wouldn't immediately recognize him.

This man's story is inspiring. He worked as a farmer, streetcar conductor, soldier, railroad fireman, lawyer, insurance salesman, steamboat operator, secretary, lighting manufacturer, hotel manager, and so many other jobs. Time and again, he would fail or get bored at those jobs and in his late 20s he became so depressed that he wrote his suicide note. It wasn't until he read that note did he realize what he wanted with his life and how good of a cook he was. After that, he pulled out a loan of... $87 and cooked up some fried chicken that he sold door to door. And one thing lead to the next. This world is tough, and not everyone is gonna make it. So keep your eyes, mind, and heart open to new perspectives on things and live each moment to its fullest. Thank you Colonel.

My dad was fortunate to be seated next to the Colonel on a flight. He said the Colonel was very pleasant and engaged in conversation with him during the whole flight. The one regret was not getting his autograph, as the Colonel was signing numerous others while talking to my dad.

"Southern Fried Chicken Company".

Almost unbelievable that nobody knew who he was by his unmistakeable face....He must have went from a nobody to a multi millonaire in a very short space of time.

It's amazing to me that, decades after this clip aired, the names of the host and the celebrity panel are all but forgotten, but this "mystery guest" is immediately recognizable.

This guy was a true first for "food celebrities". Almost mythical, true legend.

Cerf: "Is it ever encased in a skin of any kind?" Sanders: "No. It's got its own skin."

After he sold the company, the buyers changed his ingredients which angered him greatly.

In the late 70's my family took a trip to Kentucky to see the Stephen Foster play and horse races. Driving down the highway we were passed by a big white limo. The limo had clear windows you could see right through and setting there in the back seat WAVING at everyone they passed or got passed by was Colonel Sanders. I'll never forget it.

I met Col. Harland Sanders just before he died. He was a very nice man, but he put up with zero bullshit, and would tear into you mercilessly if he felt you were out of line. Rest in peace, sir.

I worked in the kitchen of a Kentucky Fried Chicken store during the entire 9th grade in '72/'73. The Colonel paid a special visit to our store one Saturday. Everybody was acting super busy and serious while the Colonel toured the kitchen and taste-tested everything. I heard he placed a very high importance on how the brown gravy tasted and he approved of ours. I earned a meager $1.60 an hour but the work experience/memories were priceless.

Weird to think that KFC had 900 outlets across America, Canada and the UK in 1963 and yet the Colonel still wasn't actually famous in the USA.

This is insane. Someone who is synonymous with today’s living and they didn’t even know who he was back then. It’s like being in a time machine

"Does it ever leap about?" Ah, the graceful, leaping chickens of Kentucky.

Just imagine there was a time he wasn't automatically known for who he was,

The fact that the panel didn’t have to wear blindfolds is amazing nowadays. Everyone everywhere recognizes Colonel Sanders. ❤️ 🍗

I actually had a chance meeting with Col. Sanders while I was a boy in Salt Lake City in the 70s. Evidently he would travel to all the KFCs to conduct quality control visits. As it happened, he was greeting guests outside and he put me on his lap where asked him if he was a real colonel. I then asked him if he was Chinese and he just laughed.

When I was a teenager in the mid 70s, I remember eating in a KFC in Michigan with a friend, and I had absolutely no idea that the Colonel himself was going to visit this particular location until he walked through the door along with a few of his associates... We were in the middle of our meal when he came over to our table and asked us, "Well, what do you think of the product?" I answered truthfully, "Well, I'm not too partial to the Crispy version, as it's still too new, and I'm not quite used to it yet, but I have _NEVER_ forgotten the smell and taste of the Original since the day I first had it, back when I was no taller than this tabletop! For fried chicken, I sure don't go anywhere else... Thank you, for designing a great product, Sir!" Both of us each got a full bucket of original to take home to our families, "Compliments of the Colonel!" He said, "And THANK YOU!"

It's so strange to see how unknown he was considering he's so famous now!

This guy kissed my great grandma on the cheek! That is about as exciting as it gets in my family. Haha

For some people, fame and fortune comes much later in life. This guy was 73 years old on this show and people didn't know who he was. He was just getting started on the road to success at the age of 73.

I actually sat in the colonels lap when I was just a very small boy. He was just opening a store in Bowling Green Ky. He actually came out and sat in the backseat of our car and talked to my parents. I think it was about 1964.

"Where ever you see this mug of mine, you know you'll get good chicken" EPIC!!!

"Is it good for other animals?" "No." Let's ask the fox about that.

So weird to think there was a time when Colonel Sanders would not have been instantly recognizable. Because if he was alive today and try to do a game show like this today everybody would know who he is

1:17 "Colonel, I don't know what you do, but I think you look too beautiful to work!!"

It was said that Colonel Sanders was turned down 1009 times before someone financed his fried chicken recipe. He opened his first KFC franchise at 64 years old. Colonel Sanders is a perfect example that it is never too late to go after your dreams.

I met Col. Sanders when I was 9yrs old. Back in 1962 in Okla. City. He opened a store 1 block from my house. Back then he went to every new store opening.

I met Colonel Sanders in the late 60's as I stood in line waiting to be in the audience of a TV show and he was on that show. He handed out his business card to each person. I still have the card!

He might be the only guest that's more people recognized today than from this time.

So weird how he's instantly recognizable to us way off in the future, but they had no idea.

If he knew what a sad state of affairs KFC was now, he'd be furious I'm sure.

I met him when I was a kid,he showed up at KFC in lufkin,while my family was eating there,he was a very gracious and kind man

A prime example of why it's never too late to succeed in life.

This is the REAL Colonel Sanders. No one can replicate his style or his warmth. He carried classic Southern charm perfectly. I've read many stories of his wit and love of good humor and funny stories. I would've been proud to have known him, I think.

I can’t believe there was ever a time when Americans didn’t know who this guy was or what food product he sells. KFC is just so common now.

The Colonel was an American icon and someone for everyone to look up to. I till have two Colonel Sanders piggy banks.

Boss Hogg: “I have the most iconic white suit” The Colonel: “Hold my KFC”

The funny thing is, he is more famous than any of those panelists lol!

RIP Col. Harlan Sanders (1890-1980)

Interesting to see that iconic face talking. He was a gent.

As a child of about age 7, I recall meeting Col. Sanders at a shopping mall in Louisvile, Kentucky. He was well-known by then, and as distinguished and folksy as any man I've ever met. He loved people, and always carried an ample supply of balloons in his coat pocket to hand out to any children he met. The balloons were kind of hourglass shaped, with a caricature likeness of the Colonel printed on them. They included flat little cardboard "shoes" that had a slot through which the tied end of the balloon could be inserted, so it would stand upright. I remember being handed a red colored one. I lost track of the balloon, but have always kept my treasured memory of meeting the Colonel.

Now that man had swagger...

The Colonel LOVED to dance. My friends mom owned a franchise in Calgary in the fifties and he came to visit and had a great time. She loved to dance, too. And had a live sewing show on local TV as well. My friend still has the photo.

As for the one who said, "He's been dead over 40 years, move on," when others, including me, were talking about disliking the newer commercials with the guy acting the "Colonel" part. Excuse me, but people deserve respect no matter how long they've been dead! My brother , Jack and I, sat for an elderly lady every Sunday while her husband went to church. He brought Kentucky Fried Chicken home for the four of us every week. We would sit and eat with them, he would hand us a little cash, and we'd be back the next Sunday. We did it until I eventually moved away. That chicken dinner every Sunday was what we looked forward to more than the money! The year was 1970, when it was good! I kinda miss those days.

He'd have to be a mystery guest today...his face is unforgettable!

I didn't realize how charismatic he was.

At the end, the men stand and the ladies remain seated…definitely the 1960’s☺️

He has one of the most iconic faces in the world and he's at the exact age to have the face we all know. I didn't know that he was so unknown at that time. Fun!

I love the idea of having fried chicken at a cocktail party.

LOL He says "you know you're gonna get good food, at least good chicken", he HATED that they changed his gravy after the franchise bought it!

He was my neighbour in Mississauga Ontario as a kid. He lived on Melton Street in a rather modest bungalow. But he did have a white Cadillac. I believe he passed in 1980. Feel free to Google.

My Dad went through the House of the Temple with Colonel Sanders in Covington, Kentucky in the 50s.

I remember having to write a paper in elementary school about what I wanted to be when I grew up. I picked Colonel Sanders. 25 years later... same answer.

"I think you're too beautiful to work." Damn, Harland Sanders was the ladies man!

Thank you for posting. I'm a distant relative of the Colonel. My mother's maiden name is Sanders and I was born and raised in Louisville. To clear up some misconceptions, The Colonel had a terrible time in childhood and adulthood until his 40s. He went from job to job moving here and there, until he started his restaurant business in 1930, "Sanders Court and Café." Chicken was not originally on the menu. His biggest competitor went after the Colonel with a gun and was involved in a shootout. The other guy shot one of the Colonel's employees and went to jail. With his biggest competitor in jail, he experienced success. He finally had up and down success until the early 1960s. He was designated a Colonel by two Kentucky Governors, a designation used regularly by KY Governors to recognize distinguished Kentuckians. In 1959 he started using the name "Kentucky Fried Chicken." It was never called "Southern Fried Chicken." That was just a generic name they used for the type of business he was in. It wasn't until he was in his 70s that he rapidly started to expand the franchise. He did not get rich selling commercial kitchen equipment, but the equipment was a required part of his franchise restaurants. At the time of this show he was in the middle of fast expansion, but he wasn't a household name yet. In 1964, at the age of 73, he sold the business for 2 million dollars(about 17 million in today's dollars). He sold it to two Kentucky businessmen, one a future Governor. The Colonel stayed on as brand ambassador and still owned his Canadian franchises. He did move to Canada at that time and lived there almost all of the rest of his life. He was paid well to represent the Company and Advertise, but the company cut corners to save money. Their relationship deteriorated to the point that the Colonel successfully sued them and publicly criticized KFC, especially the gravy. He died in Louisville in 1980. His net worth at the time was 10 million. If you want to taste what his food was like in the old days, go to Claudia Sanders Dinner House in Shelbyville KY.

I remember as a kid watching an episode of Little House on the Prairie with my mom. At the end of one of the shows, they had who was supposed to be Colonel Sanders trying to sell some of his chicken to the Olsens. I remember Mr. Olson saying something like imagine that ..a restaurant that only sells fried chicken. Then the both of them started laughing.

Is it me or were people much more polite in the past ?

"Chicken from the Colonel" is how my grandmother described Kentucky Fried Chicken.

I'm very surprised that Colonel Sanders was not know on sight in 1963. (I was 13 at that time.)

Humor was so pure. It's so wholesome.

Such a family treat when my dad would bring Kentucky Fried Chicken home for dinner in the late 60’s and early 70’s. His iconic face was right on the bucket. Truly wonderful to see what a charming and delightful gentleman he was. 😀

Wow! It's really weird that he could actually sign in with his real name, and they didn't know who he was! And, I must say that THIS Colonel Sanders doesn't give me the creeps like the ones in present day commercials do!! :-O

I miss the wholesomeness of the past generations. I have few good words to describe the generations of today. Respect Colonel.

I saw him in an airport years ago, and yes, he was dressed just like that!

'You look too beautiful to work'. The indignance in his voice when he corrects her that he does plenty of work is...wow. I mean, he literally worked the kitchens for years!

My dad was a police officer in kentucky in the 60s and colonel sanders always bought the officers fried chicken! He seems like such a nice man.

This gentleman is my hero. At older age, basically with just a recipe, became the face of finger licking fried chicken.

Never actually seen a video of Col. Sanders and i'm 53. he seems to be a very nice laid back polite man. Thanks for the Chicken Col. It's DELICIOUS !!!

One of the coolest guys ever from the U.S. Prior to him selling the company, the best fried chicken I ever ate. And after he sold the company, sure enough the new owners changed the original recipe. The KFC you eat today is a far cry from the Col's recipe.

Colonel Sanders with such a kind soul

R.I.P. Colonel Sanders!

I lived in shellbyville. His wife has Claudia Sanders Dinner House there. You want the original original. Go there. You won't be disappointed.

See that kids, Colonel Sanders was a real man. And we didn't always call it KFC.

When I was a kid Kentucky Fried Chicken was awesome. Then Pepsi bought it in the 90s and changed it to KFC. Now it tastes like shit by comparison. I miss the old days of the red and white stripe boxes and delicious chicken.

HE'S REAL!!

My grandfather was garage superintendent for KY state Police in Frankfort, and would personally handle the Colonel's auto repairs. Dad was a pilot, and had him on his flight, and was pleased to escort him through the airport.

It was an Honor to work with the Granddaughter of Colonel Sanders Mary Pierce at the Glenolden PA Walmart !!!

His chicken was so much better back then.. today it's a faint image of the old

I love the way he talks. I bet he was a very nice and friendly man.

1963: "You know you're gonna get good food... At least good chicken." 2021: Not anymore.

I remember watching this program as a kid and being amazed they didn't know who he was. One of the first Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants (Harmon Cafe) was nearby and we ate there 3 or 4 times a month. His likeness was everywhere.

This man made delicious chickens.

"I'm too drunk to taste this chicken." -Col. Sanders

Can't help but note the formality of the early quiz show. Quite a contrast to today.

A real southern gentleman and what an inspiration. Great footage

7:20 Is the most sincerest guarantee I've ever heard in my life.

amazing that in 1963 he was still unknown!

I met the Colonel when I was about 7. 50 years ago.

"Can it be used in sausage?" *general howls of complete disbelief* And I'm thinking, "Man, have things changed."

He was famous by 1968 or 69, but I guess not in 1963. I was surprised no one knew him

In the early 60's (that's last century, for you youngsters), I went to the Atlanta airport to meet a friend, when, lo and behold, Col. Sanders dressed like always, strolled by me. I was too shy back then to speak, but I remember the event vividly. :)

I'm a big fan of Colonel Sanders The man

I love Col. Sanders.