What's My Line (Betty White and Allen Ludden Appear on Panel) (1966)

Betty White and Allen Ludden sit next to each other on What's My Line?
Arlene Francis, Allen Ludden, Betty White, and Bennett Cerf

[@GenLeeConcepts]

How good it was to see this old gang back together again for one last time...thanks for sharing this-esp. seeing Betty and Allen together...he was a good guy!

[@leesher1845]

I like how Pearl Bailey Acknowledged the audience. So few of the celebrities did that.

[@genkatqltr737]

Terrific show, my favorite! Pearl was a wonderful woman and performer and I love Allen Ludden and Betty White in everything! Thanks so much for posting this. 😀

[@4bibimimi]

This panel can't be beaten for 100% pure awesomeness.

[@Person12216]

RIP sweet wonderful and funny Betty White! 1922-2021 love you forever!💜😢💜

[@observerguy5031]

WML was kinescoped in the 50's for West Coast broadcasts until CBS switched to videotape circa 1960, But like the other networks, CBS kept reusing the tapes erasing what was on them (it is why there are almost no Tonight Shows preserved on tape prior to 1972). However Mark Goodson saved the kinescopes from his game shows in the 1950's and had kinescopes made of all of his shows in the 1960's for his personal collection.

[@lonestar2078]

Betty is the only one of the cast of the episode that's still alive

[@keithhyttinen8275]

January 12, 2022. They are all gone now.

[@10dogs7catsezpz6]

This was the first episode of WML I've ever watched. I really enjoyed it. I really loved Ms/Mrs Francine. (forgive me if I have her name wrong) Now I have to find what she has been in before and check it out. I really loved her personality. It was also great seeing Betty White.

[@susanperkins1909]

I love this show!!!

[@MiaJamesloveofvintage]

Thank you SO much! You have no idea how much this means to me!! Thank you!!

[@marcsonnenberg623]

Betty White-Ludden is 98 years young and still going.

[@Person12216]

😢 RIP Betty White love you forever!

[@donaldleroy6502]

I appreciate you not giving away the mystery guest in the description, this way it will be a surprise

[@daniellefrank007]

I think the JUDGE was being "way" to technical with the answers. When they were "perfect" questions and she always said no. The judge has the altimate decision in cases. John Daly had to keep nodding his head "yes"

[@secondstring]

Bennett Cerf: "Do you have anything to do with the courts...in any way?" Judge: "No" WTF???

[@KibbyCreekwood]

@@secondstring did he say that? I know he asked about the courts of Minneapolis specifically, but maybe she works in a different district than she lives. I think that's why she hesitated so much. They went waaaaay to specific too quick, I think.

[@secondstring]

@@KibbyCreekwood - Yes, he said "Do you have anything to do with the courts or the police in any way?" and she said "No."

[@KibbyCreekwood]

@@secondstring time stamp?

[@secondstring]

@@KibbyCreekwood - 13:58

[@stevenjoyal6565]

Pearl Bailey was such an elegant and sparkling contestant!

[@tjbnyc76]

Of course, YOU may be referring to the Honorable Louise Tesmer, who may have had a long career herself!

[@LQOTW]

Go Badgers!

[@marks6663]

when ray signed in, it looked speeded up.

[@xxcharmed1xx]

Where is Rose Nylund when you need her?

[@shelbygates2958]

Wait....why did she say she didnt have anything to do with court when shes literally a judge? I'm confused

[@JohnFrench111]

Exactly .... a previous comment had been made saying that the "female judge was an airhead" ... I was pointing out that she actually went on to have a very long career .... although she did fall foul of her profession at one stage and was suspended for six months !!!

[@tjbnyc76]

I believe the original comment was in reference to the rather loopy second, female guest, whose profession was that of a judge, not the venerable Betty White or the sorely missed Arlene Francis.

[@annburlingham4563]

no, she was being very specific and technical.

[@Werewolf0216]

The blindfolds seem pretty silly. Why not locate the mystery guest in such a way that the panel can't see them? A partition perhaps?

[@bobthetvfan]

Gil Fates, in his book about the show, says they considered a retractable screen that would block the panel's view of the mystery guest; another idea was to have the panel seated with their backs to the guest. In the first case, it was decided that using and maintaining the screen would be too complicated and clash with the simplicity of the format; turning them around with their backs to the guest would cause audio problems. Fates himself proposed the blindfold idea and they used it for 25 years.

[@Werewolf0216]

Wow, $50.

[@keithhyttinen8275]

The money wasn't the point. Long before the greed of Reaganomics showed up.

[@spagandtuna]

Pearl Bailey one of the all time greats. Watch her dance with carson and andy williams and you will fall to the floor laughing.

[@neilmidkiff]

Better quality video of this episode (along with all available episodes of the CBS WML) is also on KZbin on the What's My Line? channel: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4PQqmZ7fraUb5Y

[@sweetiepillow]

The municipal judge was a dumb person, however being a public payroll employee explains it.

[@caroler01]

That’s an odd thing to say.

[@torchkit]

That female judge was an airhead.

[@natashazent919]

“Gmail”. O

[@leesher1845]

That’s so-called judge certainly didn’t come across as particularly bright. I guess in Wisconsin small towns they were less particular. 😜

[@bigred997]

that broad (sorry) was a little ditzy to be a judge. but then hearing that she was still going to law school makes you wonder why they let her sit on the bench before she had a law degree.

[@carinaelvir82]

Wow how handsomely Allen was and beautiful Betty was!!!!! Beautiful couple and extremely classy

[@gordonhall752]

I love me some Betty White. ♥

[@bernlin2000]

Pearl Bailey, what a delightful woman

[@secondstring]

What a smile.

[@XMLarry]

RIP Betty White. She and Allen are together again.

[@romeman01]

Louise M. Tesmer was a municipal judge in St. Francis, Wisconsin, for two years; an assistant district attorney for Milwaukee County for five years; and a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1973 through 1989 (elected deputy speaker in 1981, the first woman to hold the office). She resigned as a legislator on Aug. 1, 1989, to become Milwaukee County circuit court judge.

[@jaysmith1408]

romeman01 she retired in ‘01, now is a reserve judge in 1st district of Wisconsin.

[@MySpace662]

Love Betty White's comment that curled up her husband.

[@spagandtuna]

Pearl Bailey is one of the true entertainment immortals. Her routine where she practically drags her dance partner around the stage (see Johnny Carson, Andy Williams) is one for the ages. Pearlie Mae = eternal

[@arpeggiomikey]

What a fun episode! Allen & Betty were delightful together, and I loved Pearl Bailey's sense of humor. Thanks for posting! 👍😁

[@vetpsychwars]

The comments on the judge aren't fair. She was being more picky with her answers because she was, after all, a judge. John Daly had to broaden her answers a little to make the game go along.

[@soulierinvestments]

2 WML episodes were done the Sunday night that Pearl Bailey appeared on this episode. One videotaped, the other live TV. Broadway producer David Merrick was involved in the other episode. Merrick watched Bailey from the control booth and was mesmerized enough to approach her about starring in a new version of his musical "Hello Dolly." And that is how WML helped it come about.

[@MrWindermere123]

I'm watching this in the days of protest and violence following the death of George Floyd whilst in police custody. Nobody on the panel refers to Pearl Bailey's race or colour and she gets a great welcome from the audience plus gushing praise from John Daly. Is that because she's a star or is it because race relations have become worse in the USA since 1966? This show never claims to be more than light entertainment but, if you watch many episodes, I think you can get an authentic taste of what people thought and how they behaved in the 1950s and 1960s. The clothes and jobs/lines are interesting but the attitudes (and the adverts) are fascinating too.

[@stevenjoyal6565]

Absolutely agree!!!

[@WyattCox]

Race relations have considerably improved since the 60's. It's the coarseness of political discourse that has denigrated over the years. What's My Line always treated people of colour quite well.

[@ccdj504]

Did you expect them to tie her to a tree on national television?! It's not about what happened on camera. It's about what happened behind the scenes and you don't have to be a historian to know that 1966 America was a turbulent time. Nostalgia sometimes lies. Don't fall for it.

[@karenenderle532]

The big difference is just reverance and respect in general,,,,back then people appreciated and respected each other no matter their line of work,,,, it's the way our society has changed, so many people are looking for ways to tear others down, no matter what...it's disgusting, I was born in 1962, I got to witness some of this wonderful era, I wish I had been born earlier.

[@spensert4933]

Betty the sexiest girl next door with a brain of all time?

[@karenenderle532]

she was so quick witted and her puns were brilliant.....I have that type of personality as well, my husband enjoyed it and often said that Betty and I were a lot alike....we almost shared same birthday(Jan 16th..mine,...Betty 17th).....she was one of my favorites,,,,and when I was growing up in the 60's and 70's I had a huge crush on Mr. Ludden.... I guess we are a lot alike! LOL

[@kenyongray2615]

Pearl Bailey was great. I think people forget that Betty White was a good looking woman and for being currently 98, she still looks great.

[@RetroSpectrumEntertainment]

I'm a 45 year old guy who grew up on Van Halen, Ozzy Osbourne, and I've been a club DJ for 25 years. I dig really hot chicks, all night parties, tattoos, and body piercings. I also LOVE this show. It is such a great way to unwind after a full day of the above mentioned. Thanks again for posting full episodes of this classic 17-year moment in time.

[@JohnFrench111]

You will find that she has had a very long career

[@GenLeeConcepts]

Thanks to "soulierinvestments" for sharing that interesting bit of trivia...after all these years, it is still fascinating and the show remains a classic. The way folks carried themselves-back then-is the one thing that best exemplifies itself as being from a much different era-where far more respect was afforded to people in general. That era appears to be GONE FOREVER! Bennett Cerf passed away about 5 years after this particular episode was filmed...

[@grandexandi]

lol the judge was so slow

[@marvinmeeker5765]

Well, she was only in her 3rd year of law school.

[@adamodeo9320]

the female judge was a fool - how in the hell did she get her job?????/

[@rickcharles191]

The judge is a babe.

[@bobthetvfan]

For some reason I thought she looked a bit like Patty Duke.

This must of been recorded shortly after Dorothy Kilgallens suicide. Such a pity.

[@becm1395]

yogibear2k10 She was murdered unfortunately , she was such a talent and intelligent women.

[@m.e.d.7997]

So missed on this show

[@St63420]

She was murdered.😮