James Dean, whose first TV appearances were in Goodson-Todman-produced anthology dramas, was also employed by G-T as a stunt tester for this program. He proved so agile at completing the stunts that his results couldn't be used to set time limits for contestants to complete them. So he was reluctantly let go.
The show's main sponsor was Sylvania. In fact, they supplied all the televisions and radios that were awarded as the jackpot prizes.
For a brief time in the early 50s , as advertised on "Beat The Clock", Sylvania marketed a TV set that featured an electric "Halo Light" which formed a frame around the TV screen. It was meant to enhance the picture. It never caught on with the public and was eventually removed from their product.
"Sylvania" was the sponsor from the show's beginning on March 1950 until mid May 1956. "Fresh" (air scent and body cologne) was the sponsor from mid May 1956 until early September 1956. "Hazel Bishop" (women's make-up and cosmetics) was the sponsor starting in early September 1956.
Introduced on CBS, it switched to ABC after eight years and lasted four seasons more there.