What's My Line? - August 4, 1963

With panelists Arlene Francis, Merv Griffin, Dorothy Kilgallen, Bennett Cerf, and mystery guest Peggy Cass. With none other than John Charles Daly as your moderator.

[@joynbrianmorley1312]

Today is 4th August, 2023 and I'm watching this exactly 60 years after it went to air. Fantastic. They would not have guessed we would be enjoying these shows after so long.

[@Taliyahpoof]

Same

[@brendapinckney538]

Nighttime relaxation, thank you.

[@LANCSKID]

Enjoying?

[@nelsontoondrawer7618]

62 years...today! 😊🎉❤

[@freeguy77]

@@nelsontoondrawer7618 It's August 2025 already? LOL I think you meant 61 years!

[@paulabasso6153]

These panelists were brilliant. I am 79 and I enjoyed these shows years ago and I am still amazed at how clever these panelists were. Wish we had more shows like this today!

[@davidbowden796]

Anyone who appreciates comedy should watch the Rosalind Russell movie of "Auntie Mame". Peggy Cass plays the character of Agnes Gooch, and turns in a truly hilarious performance. In some parts of the film, she is a real scene stealer.

[@Basicjoomla]

Diane Boag is my mom! She just celebrated her 80th birthday today! Both she and her sister (my Auntie Linda) are still characters.

[@designsonyouinparis]

Happy Birthday to your beautiful and amazing mom and aunt!

[@Basicjoomla]

@@designsonyouinparis Thank you!

[@singmoriah]

that's great!!!

[@lisamoroney3036]

How cool 😎 is that !!!

[@gilliankew]

@@designsonyouinparis Did they stay in the police force? They were certainly at the forefront of their time!

[@soulierinvestments]

Peggy Cass looks like she had a good time bamboozling the panel. She became so famous in the various incarnations of "To Tell the Truth" ( 1960 - 1981 ) that it is easy to forget he enjoyed a distinguished Broadway career, did movies, and did things on TV other than Godson-Todman game shows.

[@MrJyacub]

Merv Griffin AND Peggy Cass! Many thanks! :)

[@robertshapiro3733]

It amazes me how often Dorothy Kilgallen deduces the correct response. She was brilliant, charming, and unique in every way.

[@nelsontoondrawer7618]

She interviewed Jack Ruby while in Prison. She was going "to blow open the JFK assassination investigation!" Weĺl, she was sadly rubbed out. 😮😢❤🎉

[@drzarkov39]

I loved that the first contestant signed in as Mr. X because his name would be recognized, then it turned out no one on the panel heard of him!

[@shirleyrombough8173]

Dang, I've heard of him. And I'm not even in New York.

[@aileen694]

​@@shirleyrombough8173 Yes but Shirley, you may not be in New York but clearly have enough savoir faire to know yer (damn) Champagnes! (Whoops, sorry Krista) 😁

[@shirleyrombough8173]

I heard of him, as well as Mr. Piper, who often co-produced Champaine with him, under the name Piper-Heidsich (sp.)

[@shirleyrombough8173]

I also misspelled Champaigne.

[@shirleyrombough8173]

Who was Peggy Cass?

[@piustwelfth]

The ladies rec'd the continental kiss which is now a thing of the past.

[@mcbrion1951]

This is from an era when men used to stand up when the lady got up from the table or arrived at a table. As we all know, that kind of courtesy is long gone. But it’s still great for other generations to see it in action, and John Daly always stood, when women approached his desk. What’s my line was the best game show for demonstrating this type of chivalry.

[@freeguy77]

I used to watch all the quiz shows starting in the early-1960s until they sadly went off the air: "To Tell The Truth", "I've Got A Secret", "The Hollywood Squares", "The Match Game", and "What's My Line?" that was my favorite! So, I saw Peggy Cass and the other regular panelists on the quiz shows every week. It was fun seeing one of them on WML? trying to fool those panelists.

[@BarbaraBertke]

Peggy Cass and the wonderful Jack Westin later starred in the short-lived series The Castaways with The Marquis Chimps. Loved it!

[@adamodeo9320]

Dorothy Kilgallen was a great mind

[@LANCSKID]

Yes, just ask Johnnie Ray …

[@shirleyrombough8173]

Amazing. Who would have thought that there would be two beautiful sisters who were police women?

[@hawkeyeten2450]

Back in the day, I've heard that's why many times younger ladies were very effective at being undercover cops. Criminals and thug-types would almost never see it coming or view them as a potential threat (today obviously it's very different). They wouldn't realize who the young gal they were chatting up or going after was until it was too late.

[@phil2u48]

Oh my. M. Heidsieck was very handsome. I recall bringing a case home from Paris when that was still possible.

[@rogerpropes7129]

Oh my, he kissed the women's hands.

[@LANCSKID]

One of my luxury mansions is full of it.

[@graperonto]

What a proper Frenchman the champagne fellow was... kissing the ladies' hands.

[@shirleyrombough8173]

graperonto - Monsieur Champagne was really good looking. My fantasy of the perfect Frenchman.

[@janetmarletto6667]

A gentleman in every way!

[@kenyongray2615]

I wonder if the panel faked knowing the champagne man's name so he would not be embarrassed. Arlene looked great. Thanks for the video.

[@michaelbarnhart2593]

The policewomen were so naturally beautiful. :-)

[@MustafaJackson]

Yes.

[@LANCSKID]

Quite ‘arresting’ one might say. What a wit!

[@foxopolos9681]

I am watching this on August 13 2024. Love this show so much.

[@freeguy77]

Sep 24 for me in '24.

[@robertshapiro3733]

When I was in the 4th. and 5th. grades at PS 39 in Far Rockaway, Queens circa 1960, I became obsessed with To Tell the Truth and What’s My Line. I wrote the shows for tickets and behold I did indeed receive three for each show and my mother took my brother and I. But I don’t remember, as I watch the reruns, which specific shows we attended!

[@MustafaJackson]

A bygone era when women dressed up to appear on a television show because there was a television show worth dressing up for; another reason why 'WHAT'S MY LINE?' is one of my all-time favorite Game Shows.

[@gordonmo6566]

Merv was a huge gay man and used Eva Gabor to hide is Homosexual tendencies, Dorothy was gorgeous, So sad she was murdered!!!

[@MustafaJackson]

I am aware of all of the information that you posted. For what purpose did you see the need to connect your comment to mine?

[@janetmarletto6667]

They were directed what exactly to wear by the producer.

[@simeonbaumel7293]

Bathroom scale. No, it is not found on the person, but sometimes the person is found on it.

[@michaelsaks9165]

Dorothy Kilgallen was brilliant.

[@leesher1845]

A scale as a luxury item; can you imagine?

[@Celisar1]

The answer to that question was a clear no.

[@emnem100]

Well I live in Toronto and I've never seen a policewoman look that attractive so times have changed!

[@llyngibson4160]

Arlene is so beautiful tonight.

[@barbarashaw8136]

Fun to watch!

[@LisaDawnn]

I love her but Dorothy looked so silly with that 'do'. She looks like a human bell. On the other hand, Arlene looked angelic.

[@rogeroge50]

I heard the ringing every time Dorothy spoke!

[@nickandmikec]

Silly hairdos were common with her. A great gal and so smart. A tragic ending. Don't believe she was murdered like some. She drank that night and then took a sleeping pill. My aunt died the same way.

[@aileen694]

@@nickandmikec Hello Nick, if you're interested in some cold, hard, unemotional facts re Dorothy's death, Mark Shaw and Lee Israel both have books written in this way.

[@janetmarletto6667]

Matter of choice of hairdresser. Later she had Kenneth as did Arlene and Jackie Kennedy.

[@iamintheburg]

I was listening only ..... I thought Mystery Guest was Bert Lahr and audience was howling about " animal act " because of Cowardly Lion !!!

[@freeguy77]

Arlene was gorgeous in her face and hair style!

[@shirleyrombough8173]

He kissed their hands. How continental!

[@LANCSKID]

I always do. 🤵‍♂️

[@mariedirvin5468]

Love the Retro show

[@RichardHannay]

Them not being able to name the champagne brand is a little awkward 😅

[@aryehfinklestein9041]

Here's an instance of Dorothy Kilgallen's brilliant perceptiveness. After she has identified the two beauteous Canadian ladies as policewomen, and while the audience is clapping, she turns to her panelist on her right and says ( though difficult to hear ), "...you can always tell policemen; they have a certain look."

[@brookehanley3659]

Dorothy is TOPS.

[@TVonthePorch]

A metal object with moving parts was once part of the animal kingdom? Oh sure, Dorothy's tops alright--she predicted Robot Chicken! [rolleyes]

[@MustafaJackson]

She's the Tower of Pisa.

[@pattimaeda6097]

Dorothy’s ridiculous hair😂

[@LANCSKID]

Oh, I thought it was a dual function hairy hat!

[@freeguy77]

Mary Margaret "Peggy" Cass, 74 (May 21, 1924 Boston, MA - Mar. 8, 1999 NYC) She was 39 on this WML? airdate. One of the panelists on "To Tell The Truth" (1962-68, w/Bud Collyer host, 1969-78, w/Garry Moore host, 1990 w/Gordon Elliott host).

[@kimmathis1945]

Dorothy's hair also merits the question whether it is or at one point was alive…

[@sallyattaway5406]

Today is August 7, 2024. The “What’s My Line?” Series is full of historical people & events. It’s still one of my favorite shows to watch. Does GSN sell DVDs of these shows?

[@Juliaflo]

Actually, it was John Charles Patrick Crowan (sp) Daly.

[@marvinmartian7281]

Arrest me! Please! arrest me!

[@kayjohnson7351]

😂😂😂

[@aileen694]

Dottie's topknot! 😲🥴

[@bluebear1985]

The first show he did under his own company was called "Word for Word". It debuted on NBC in September 1963, and would last until October 1964.

[@63utuber]

The first segment was all wrong - it's What My LINE? - the name of the champagne is irrelevant.

[@mrsmonkeydoodle]

Must have been tough times if bathroom scales were luxury items and the biggest prize is 50 bucks.

[@catholicpriest1]

The show could have easily given away $1000 but John Daly wanted the focus to be on the game and not the prizes. He once threatened to quit if more money was awarded.

[@mrsmonkeydoodle]

Thanks for the info. He was right.

[@brookehanley3659]

+Bob Sewvello Easy fro him to say he was wealthy.

[@catholicpriest1]

Brooke Hanley That has nothing to do with it. If everyone was focused on the money it would have taken the fun out of the game.

[@brookehanley3659]

Bob Sewvello Disagree Match Game in the 70's gave a way big money for the times. You cannot say that game wasn't fun.

[@FlavioGirl]

look how young merv griffin was :)

[@emnem100]

Yup. The Asian population in Canada & the US have increased like crazy over the past 60 years... for some reason here where I live we have a huge Asian population. Probably a quarter of the people you walk past are Asian.

[@Celisar1]

Chinatown?

[@idster7]

1:40 why is dorothy's speech so slurred?

[@fromthesidelines]

Either she was under medication, or "soused".

[@marycleary7810]

She was having trouble at that point. A combination in prescription meds, a bad marriage and insane work load.

[@marycleary7810]

Great voice Peggy !

[@soulierinvestments]

The big laugh in reference to animals comes from a sitcom that she starred in that year. She starred in one of the more preposterous sitcoms of 1962-3, "The Hathaways" featuring Jack Weston and a clan of chimpanzees. . I remember watching it as a boy, but I must have been the only one watching. The network pulled the plug early on in its run.

[@Juliaflo]

Nee Arlene Francis Kazanjian, lest you are interested.

[@LANCSKID]

Not in the least.

[@jillgordon1003]

@Galileocan g He sure did. I heard him myself.

[@excuseyou77]

you're welcome :)

[@disvids8754]

The guy's name was irrelevant. As a semi-mystery guest, only his line matters, which Arlene eventually got.

[@danielfronc4304]

DisVids Nothing could be further from the truth. Heidsieck is and has always been one of the world's prremier champagnes, closely behind Dom Perignon.

[@aileen694]

@@danielfronc4304 and Dis Vids, hi! Just an obversation, but Mr. Champagne's uber elegant appearance kinda gave away his profession...even the tuxedo trousers had satin stripes! Not to mention his face, voice, physique, movement, hand-kissing, etc.! Pure class all the way :))

[@richmondang1591]

People who are observant enough would have read & picked up all these signs immediately.

[@OnCloudNine62]

I've always gotten Peggy Cass confused with Rosemary Clooney.

[@lonniereynolds7895]

How in the "HELL" you get ","PEGGY CASS" & "ROSEMARY CLOONEY" mixed up; I'll never know. You got me "FUCKED UP"!!

[@rogeroge50]

@@lonniereynolds7895 Get a grip, the Covit-19 has us all off balance! This too shall pass!

[@cadaverdog1424]

Funniest celebrity guest ever!! Just having a ball!!_________||

[@rmelin13231]

It was a classic.

[@terryniblett9329]

Why didn't they bring out another chair when more than one guest!!

[@LANCSKID]

Budget restraints … and lack of cushions.

[@leemcdonald5713]

dorthy has that cute little pebbles hairdo ...gets me all mushy. an adult woman with that hairdo

[@RonGerstein]

I vomited the moment I saw that hairdo.

[@jillgordon1003]

Having a bathroom scale is very common and I'm sure that Dorothy did own one but the way he said that she could use one so emphatically struck me as being kind of rude. Am I the only one who feels that way?

[@stevekru6518]

Nothing rude. If someone sells scales they’d likely recommend all people have scales.

[@aileen694]

@@stevekru6518 and Jill Gordon, well that comment seemed at least ironic. This is the thinnest I've ever seen Dorothy.

[@sophiamelki6958]

LOL! Is this an animal act?!

[@craigfuller1532]

Bran buds?

[@Baskerville22]

Why do 90% of males on WML, including 100% of the regular panelists, wear bow ties?

[@freeguy77]

It was a tuxedo suit, not the usual, colorful bow tie some men wear instead of regular long ties.

[@janetmarletto6667]

It's possible that they were following directions of the producer. Strict dress code.

[@irishledden4924]

I wonder if Perv Griffin brought his "husband" to the show?

[@excuseyou77]

FYI, you're watching this video on this channel because a gay man uploaded it to KZbin.

[@irishledden4924]

@@excuseyou77 Get some help for your illness. NOBODY is born sexually challenged.

[@galileocan]

Does John Daly REALLY call Dorothy Kilgallen "hon" at 22:33??

[@ellenmurray9196]

Galileocan g Yes, and then she calls him "honey" right back.

[@aileen694]

@@ellenmurray9196 love it!

[@Celisar1]

How condescending of him!

[@sweetiepillow]

Times have totally changed, for instance most USPS employees now are Asians, it wasn't that way in 50s 60s 70s ;O)

[@donblosser8720]

They were always too cheap to provide more than one guest chair and then he has the nerve to mask if they were comfortable.

[@hobnob4224]

The cheesy set is part of the charm nowadays.

[@LANCSKID]

Mask?

[@Uffareel]

this is so set up no one was even close then Dorothy is like do you have nything to do with the law out of the blue then says can you arrest people then are you police woman ,

[@jillgordon1003]

Nah, that's just Dorothy being Dorothy. Getting things seemingly out of nowhere is kinda her speciality.

[@catholicpriest1]

After the quiz show scandals of the 1950s no game show would take a chance of setting things up.

[@richmondang1591]

As a journalist, Dorothy had a very sharp investigative sense of inquiry. Being quick witted & observant, she being accurate is not a surprise @all.

[@rosepearl7092]

Merv Griffin, evil man.

[@emilyhayek1132]

Evil man?

[@rosepearl7092]

@@emilyhayek1132 He destroyed Denney Terio's career as well as the careers of many other young men who refused his advances. When anyone tried to fight back he used his power to ensure that they were publicly ridiculed: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hKGUnJV8pZt_pq8 This clip is from the late 80's early 90's. It's hard to watch. If it was a woman, she would not have been treated so shabbily. Shows you how much power he had. Check out more clips for yourself if you wish...

[@jimmygoodrich9590]

How so

[@leesher1845]

Handsome Frenchman!

[@davidevans3175]

What up with Dorothy's Bettie Rubble do?

[@soulierinvestments]

turns out this August 4 1963 episode was videotaped on 3 March 1963, right about the time that Dorothy Kilgallen's health spiraled into an extended hospitalization. This was filmed almost two and half months before Arlene Francis suffered injuries in a car wreck that nearly killed her.

[@piustwelfth]

She doesn't look well.

[@MrWindermere123]

Sometimes the timing of an episode is poor because the final challenger is rushed on and off in 3 minutes. This time it works perfectly because the champagne man and the two policewomen were guessed quickly, the mystery guest put on a good turn and the bathroom scale salesman beat the panel and won $50. Dorothy Kilgallen looked drowsy and her questions seemed very sharp (Do you have anything to do with the law?) or weird (Is it part of the animal kingdom?) - her concentration seemed to come and go. Peggy Cass was the happiest mystery guest I've seen so far in these videos.

[@calalilygirl]

Arlene looks fantastic here. She must have had access to the best of beauty treatments. She looks younger here than she did in the 1950's.

[@shirleyrombough8173]

calalilygirl - I agree. She seems have gotten better looking through time.

[@kenretherford6428]

want to chat?

[@kenretherford6428]

@@shirleyrombough8173 Want to chat?

[@shirleyrombough8173]

@@kenretherford6428 Sure. What topic?

[@joycejean-baptiste4355]

She lived till she was 93 years old. She always looks good.

[@Tubewings]

Merv's daytime talk show (the NBC one, not his most well-known one) had ended a few months prior, and I believe this was around the time he was developing a new quiz show. I wonder how that show turned out.

[@alansorensen5903]

You mean Jeopardy?

[@janetmarletto6667]

He created and was enriched by Wheel of Fortune and one other long running quiz show.

[@LANCSKID]

There was also ‘Guess the Jerk’ and ‘Who Is Up Themselves The Most?’

[@oldfart4751]

Bennett Cerf: is it French Champagne? of cause it is Mr. Cerf or it would not be Champagne, it would be sparkling wine.

[@e.c.1045]

This was a 1950 show

[@shirleyrombough8173]

Exactly.

[@igkoigko9950]

I take your point, but actually not all sparkling wine originating in Champagne, France qualifies for the trademark Champagne, and more importantly, don’t be eager to accept claimed trademarks and surrender your first amendment right to use words as you see fit. If enough people use the word, like linoleum, escalator, cellophane, laundromat, being words, like Champagne, for which a trademark was invalidated because of common usage. Advocating free speech over proprietary ownership, use champagne to mean all sparking wines.

[@janetmarletto6667]

Exactement!

[@rickcharles5064]

Just noticed a strange thing. Does anyone else nod their head when Daley "introduces" them to the panel? Kind of like when a group is watching a football game on TV and they all move their heads and shoulders trying to help the athlete move the ball? Just me? never mind

[@shirleyrombough8173]

rick charles - Or it may be like when you are a passenger in a car driven by a speed freak: you keep wanting to put your foot down on an imaginary brake pedal.

[@stickitupyourasteric]

Dorothy would have been fun to know

[@shirleyrombough8173]

I agree.

[@richmondang1591]

Not necessary as she was a smart lady born with a BIG METAL 6 birthroot that could be a rather sensitive person though very talented & creative (she was definitely one!).

[@LANCSKID]

Just ask Johnnie Ray!

[@leannsherman6723]

That champagne maker was strikingly handsome! ❤

[@richmondang1591]

I agree. Ordinary people can also look equally good if not better than celebrities.

[@bneale]

Peggy Cass? Before appearing on game shows she was unheard of outside NY.

[@calalilygirl]

interesting info, thanks.

[@kristabrewer9363]

I only know Peggy Cass from To Tell The Truth and I don't particularly care for her on that show.

[@kayjohnson7351]

She was in movies too. One of my favs as a kid Gidget goes Hawaiian. I’m sure was in other movies as well!

[@rmelin13231]

@@kayjohnson7351 "If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium". Hilarious all-star cast film. Peggy was great.

[@calalilygirl]

I am certain that that hairstyle was all the rage in the early 60's.

[@lllowkee6533]

No, it wasn’t the style in the 60s. That ‘bird’ on her head was ridiculous .

[@BarbaraBertke]

Her hairstyle was quite popular at the time, though with much younger females. Ms Kilgallen all too frequently sported fashions more appropriate to much younger females, imho much to her detriment.

[@HappyLife693]

Cool, Heidsieck champagne!

[@Tubewings]

Oh, yeah, I forgot about that one.

[@jackkomisar458]

At 23:01, Dorothy says, "Perhaps Mr. Dowling can send one [a bathroom scale] to Mr. Salinger?" She was referring to President Kennedy's press secretary, Pierre Salinger.

[@shuroom57]

Rowr!

[@BarbaraBertke]

Now, that was a pretty cold, judgmental comment, quite short of tact or diplomacy@

[@mypham2788]

Poor Mr. Champagne maker nobody knew his name :(

[@jamesr1703]

Dorothy was so damn good at this, that I always thought that she must be cheating somehow.

[@kristabrewer9363]

that was absolutely no reason to swear! (I could've said the same thing, and I would've even said it BETTER without the swear word)

[@shirleyrombough8173]

@@kristabrewer9363 - Damn is not such a bad swear word. I'm just grateful they didn't use the more advanced level of swear words.

[@aileen694]

@@kristabrewer9363 Hey Krista, Dorothy was simply an extremely intelligent woman. She'd never need to cheat!

[@kristabrewer9363]

@@aileen694 I know

[@janetmarletto6667]

No cheating...an extremely well trained investigative mind.

[@sophiamelki6958]

Excuseyou77, that was the best "What's My Line" episode in B&W you've uploaded!!

[@shirleyrombough8173]

I've drunk his Champagne. Yum.

[@LANCSKID]

I’m more of a Bollinger buff myself.

[@RonGerstein]

Meet Griffin was in the closet and used Eva Gabor as a front

[@Baskerville22]

Daly wasn't too pleased with Cerf's opening quip.

[@mariedirvin5468]

I am 66

[@leesher1845]

At least Dorothy didn’t say are you a lady policeman. 😂

[@scottburton9701]

I turned five that same week.

[@LANCSKID]

Five what? Cards? Handles?

[@MrDetroitnews]

TRUMP 2020 LANDSLIDE!!!!!!!!!

[@shirleyrombough8173]

mrdetroitnews gary -Admittedly parts of WML are fantasies but the biggest is that trump will be elected this November. How inappropriate your inclusion of that remark on this program. Most people wish he'd crawl back under his rock.

[@MrDetroitnews]

Shirley Rombough 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I’m already laughing he will win an epic landslide you fool, Who do you have that can beat him ????? he is the greatest president in all time history don’t be so obtuse.

[@MrDetroitnews]

The reason why we love Trump so much, and the reason why we comment on the vintage TV channel it’s very simple Trump wants to bring back America by making it great once again like it was in the 50s and 60s.

[@MrDetroitnews]

Shirley Rombough Get ready surely it’s coming trump 2020 landslide

[@MrDetroitnews]

Wow, are you watching the news Shirley? Looks like Obama but I got caught, God bless Mike Flynn and God bless Donald Trump the truth is coming out

[@jjcameron7977]

This starts out w\an offensive ad....if any more I'm outta here! Hope there wont be!

[@MacnigMacgregor-jr3yu]

Good night all😊