Gordie Howe on "To Tell the Truth" (March 27, 1967)

[@cdjhyoung]

Hard to believe that after 22 years in the NHL To Tell The Truth would think Gordie Howe would be so unknown as to be a viable contestant. Must be Hockey Night In Canada TV broadcast didn't make it across the border. The only time I ever saw my mother get really mad was when someone walked between her and the TV when the Red Wings were on. She had been a fan since she was 13 and could take the bus in Detroit to the Arena. She was a huge Gordie Howe fan.

[@dennispearson9287]

Magnificent Archival Footage of This Legend !!...Gordie Was So Gracious As Usual .....

[@pikeman80]

I can't fathom anyone in 1967 not knowing Gordie Howe.

[@bluebear1985]

Maybe not so many Americans did. Despite four of the six NHL teams being based in the US at the time, coverage of games on American TV was kind of limited. Back then, the league was made of mostly Canadian players, and Hockey Night in Canada had been around for a while already by then. The profile of the sport in the US was about to get upped a bit soon, because after the then-present season was done, six additional teams would be added for the following one.

[@jamesanthony5681]

Perhaps, but a panel of Tom Poston, Peggy Cass, Larry Blyden and Kitty Carlisle is not indicative of the public's knowledge of hockey or even Gordie Howe.

[@donhuber9131]

Prior to expansion, the furthest western team was in Chicago; the furthest south was in....Detroit(!). While other major league sports were expanding beginning in the 1950s, hockey was held hostage by the NHL Board of Governors to keep the league at six teams. Great way to keep a player's union from forming.

[@orangehoof]

RIP Gordie Howe, as fine a gentleman as he was an athlete - a great ambassador for ice hockey. And, really, you just had to look at his nose to know he was a hockey player.

[@pjet8042]

That was some question at 2:57 - "is there an age limit on hockey players? You can play as long as you want no matter how old your get?" Who knew Gordie would go on to play until age 51, and with his two sons?!?!?!

[@BBBYpsi]

52

[@deedonnerramone4757]

God Love Ya Gordie! Had the chance to see you play several times at the Olympia when I was a kid. You signed my autograph book a few times - and you were alway kind and polite. We are going to name an international bridge after you! Love from Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, Canada. You are always on our mind.

[@fentonhardy8176]

I saw him play too when i was a kid growing up five hours away from Detroit, Gordie is and always will be the greatest Hockey Player.

[@cigsbutt]

My Dad worked at the CBC(Canadian Broadcastig Corporation)in Halifax Nova Scotia.Gordie was at the studio one day waiting to go on to be interviewed when my Dad happened along.Always a huge fan,Dad took the opportunity to speak to Gordie and started the conversation by saying Hey Gordie I've got a Colleen too.My Mother's name and Gordie's wife's name.I guess Gordie could see the admiration in my Dad's eyes,not only took the time to say Hi,but actually spent about ten minutes talking to my Dad.My Dad was a very humble man that had the fortune to not only meet Gordie Howe ,but as a kid got to meet Babe Ruth Some of Dad's luck must have rubbed off on me because I've had the fortune of meeting Muhammad Ali.He was in Halifax to help promote a Donovan Razor Ruddick fight at the Halifax Forum.The same place where I watched on closed circuit tv Ali defeat George Foreman.I also got to see Bobby Orr play an exhibition game.

[@rogerzotti1]

Nice said...I saw him play for the Whalers at the end of the career...Still a threat then...

[@jacksmith5692]

How the hell would you not know Gordie Howe!

[@YouzTube99]

Actually, it gives us a good example of how pervasive media have become over the the past half century. Back then, newspapers were dominant and if you didn't follow hockey, you probably wouldn't have ever heard Gordie's name let alone seen his picture. That said, I'm impressed that Peggy was a hockey fan!

[@MegaWolfgang]

Most Americans were not big followers of hockey back then. Now a panel of Canadians would have spotted him as soon as the lights went up.

[@BBBYpsi]

Obvious IMHO the only one who looked athletic & strong. Look at how small #2 hands were. Then if you looked at Gordie's massive hands you would should have no question. Gordie had more testorine then all the men put together in that studio. By the way I was born in Detroit in 1960 & grew up for a few years there before living in the suburbs of Detroit since then.

[@collegesuccess]

True. You had to live back then to know why this was a legitimate appearance.

[@collegesuccess]

Didn't even know Red Kelly--and he played with Detroit. The networks in the USA did not cover hockey for a long time. Without Hockey Night and Canada and living close to the Canadian border, it was practically impossible to get even "okay" NHL coverage then. Check this episode with "Leonard Kelly" as a challenger: kzbin.info/www/bejne/apbKhJqIgq2Kq68

[@eightinches6094]

I had the privledge of seeing Gordie Howe play with his sons in the newly formed World Hockey Association in the 70's. What a great player he was.

[@davidrobins4025]

IMO the best hockey player ever. Gordy was my childhood idol and that never changed. Wish he were around today to play like he played in his younger years.

[@Lava1964]

Anyone who was watching this show in Canada in 1967 would have been laughing at the idea of someone not knowing what Gordie Howe looked like.

[@bluebear1985]

Anyone who could pick up the CBS signal in Windsor would have laughed for sure. I say that because it's just across the river from Detroit.

[@michaelmohrle1773]

Most definitely!!

[@OldRustySteele]

Hell, by 1967 many Americans knew Gordie by sight! I sure did!

[@donwandling1478]

Sorry, I must protest, Babe Ruth was the Gordie Howe of baseball.

[@AceBG27]

That’s an awesome clip. Gordie’s a legend. ……and good job Peggy Cass for knowing your hockey.

[@OldRustySteele]

Peggy was from Boston and was a big sports fan!

[@sdfeinstein]

So great they named a bridge after him. Connects Canada with Detroit, Michigan.

[@steveperry1344]

my all time favorite game show.

[@stevenginsberg8471]

I cannot imagine Gordie Howe being a contestant in this game. His face is so well known.

[@rrgomes]

Right. Not as well-known to these particular New Yorkers, though in the end Peggy Cass (a hockey fan) admitted that she recognized him.

[@seveglider8406]

During the 1960's, the only hockey player most Americans would have recognized was Bobby Hull.

[@jonnywishbone17]

That was great, thanks for uploading

[@rogerzotti1]

Peggy Cass stole the show--good questions from the lady...

[@eightinches6094]

Got the opportunity to see Gordie Howe play with his sons when he/they jumped from the NHL to the new WHA and they played for the Houston franchise. Early 70's.

[@BlueBagger83]

"And #3, what is your name and what do you do?" "My name is Warren Johnson, and I'm an assistant with the Canadian Consulate General... and I'm from Dawson City."

[@44032]

It's amazing that Gordie Howe wasn't instantly recognizable at this point in his career.

[@johnpat3622]

He was to Peggy Cass!

[@johncirillo9544]

It took the brilliance of Bobby Orr to earn the NHL a TV contract with CBS, and the expansion of the league to get these guys some National television face time in the USA. I covered the Whalers in Gordie’s final NHL season (1979-80) and he gave Bobby the credit for the increase in coverage and player salaries.

[@elliebellie7816]

There was like 2 television stations airing at the time and they for sure weren't covering little known hockey.

[@44032]

@@elliebellie7816 In 1967?

[@michaelmohrle1773]

They probably screened the contestants to see if they knew anything about hockey.

[@bluebear1985]

Despite Gordie Howe's long career, he only won four Stanley Cups with the Red Wings (1950, 1952, 1954, 1955). He won the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player six times, as well as the Art Ross Trophy as scoring champion six times. He retired for the first time in 1971, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972. However, when a new professional league, World Hockey Association (WHA), started up, he came out of retirement to sign with the Houston Aeros, where two of his sons, Mark and Marty, had already signed. They played together as a line. He would win the Avco World Trophy as WHA champions with the Aeros in 1974 and 1975. In 1977, the Howes would end up with the New England Whalers. In 1979, after the WHA folded, the renamed Hartford Whalers took the Howes with them into the NHL, where Gordie played one last season before retiring for good. His NHL totals included 1850 points (801 goals, 1049 assists) in 1767 career games, a total which has since been broken by Wayne Gretzky, and his WHA totals include 508 points (174 goals, 334 assists) in 419 games. He also played one shift in 1997 with the Detroit Vipers of the International Hockey League (IHL), making him the only player to compete in six decades. No wonder they call him Mr. Hockey.

[@jacksmith5692]

21 years in a row was a Top 5 NHL scorer from 1949 to 1969 and top 10 in 1970. Then in the WHA was a Top 10 scorer in 1974 to 76 and 78. He missed in 1977 due to injury missing 18 games. At age 50 he scored 96 points. Do that Wayne Gretzky.

[@sarkisiangeorge]

Only won four Stanley Cups? If Jack Adams didn't screw up those Stanley Cup teams they certainly would have won more in the 1950s. Only Alex Delvecchio, Gordie Howe, Marcel Pronovost, Red Kelly, Terry Sawchuk were on the 54-55 teams and 59-60 teams.

[@bluebear1985]

@@sarkisiangeorge It's kind of a weird reason he screwed up the team, but that's something to comment about on a different video.

[@michaelmohrle1773]

He also won the WHA cup twice in the 70s. And 4 Stanley Cups is quite a lot!

[@OldRustySteele]

@@sarkisiangeorgeYeah, Adams gave away the great Glenn Hall and Ted Lindsay because they had the audacity to be involved with the fledgling players’ Union. Hall, especially, went on to have a stellar career with the Blackhawks.

[@MichaelSmith-ss6mi]

Larry Blyden would meet Gordie Howe again when Gordie was the mystery guest on What's My Line

[@cr3861]

RIP Gordie Howe

[@9094nancyj]

Gordie was my hero!

[@leanajo754]

The legend.

[@bluebear1985]

RIP, Mr. Hockey.

[@jamesanthony5681]

Even if you never saw or heard of Gordie, you could very obviously eliminate no. 2 and 3.

[@BBBYpsi]

Right #3 looked like he would run from a mouse & #2 had puny weak looking hands. Playing hockey your gonna have strong big hands & no one had them in Hockey like Gordie did.

[@armorybrunotjr.3204]

Interestingly, the Stanley Cup Finals in 1967, was an all Canadian affair between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Canada was celebrating its Centennial year. That autumn the league added six new franchises (Los Angeles,Philadelphia,Pittsburgh,Minnesota,Oakland and St. Louis) to the original six (Boston,New York Rangers,Montreal,Detroit,Toronto,Chicago).

[@michaelmohrle1773]

Last time Toronto won it believe it or not!

[@deedonnerramone4757]

God Bless you Edna Krabapple, wherever you are.

[@Fimbo2222]

Great reference

[@johnpat3622]

Peggy Cass was obviously a hockey fan, you could tell by the questions she asked.

[@kravitz1999]

Being from Michigan, it's difficult to imagine not knowing who Gordie was, then again, these were Hollywood people and this was probably filmed in LA, but Peggy was awesome, obviously a fan!

[@michaelmohrle1773]

First year of the LA Kings.

[@daveg6839]

I was so surprised when number 1 stood up. I was sure Peggy Cass was the real Gordie Howe.

[@Jiltedin2007]

First Jean Beliveau, then Gordie Howe. How many more NHL Legends have guest starred on To Tell The Truth?

[@RELubber]

They didn't even talk to him after the game was over!! That's freakin' Mr. Hockey!! Good Lord!!

[@AllenMQuinn]

You can see Peggy Cass rushing through to talk to him at the very end. She was definitely a fan

[@deedonnerramone4757]

March 1967 - The last month of the last year of the Original 6. Game was never the same - watered down talent pool.

[@jimross3593]

I'm assuming you were alive during that era? I like learning about hockey history, & what people have to say about different hockey eras. Because the game changes so much between generations in a way not seen in other sports. I've heard Gretzky say that he might not have been able to score as many goals, points, or assists if he played in the original six era.

[@jaymorgenthal9479]

I saw the original six era. It was tough and highly skilled Canadians

[@bluebear1985]

@CJ Dillon The NHL didn't really start tapping Europe extensively until the 70s, and that was because their rival at the time, World Hockey Association, had started to do it in order to maintain their credibility as a serious competitor to the NHL.

[@seveglider8406]

@@bluebear1985 European players were as talented as Canadian players. Expansion and the WHA were the best things that ever happened to professional Hockey!

[@WilliamSchmidNetwork]

It's obviously #1. I recognize that forehead anywhere.

[@MrKTVM]

Gordie Howe---THE greatest hockey player---ever!

[@MrKTVM]

God speed, Mr. Howe.

[@Lava1964]

Orr, Gretzky and Howe--in that order.

[@patbgaudon643]

Gordie Howe, Jean Beliveau, Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lamieux....et al

[@dallasbrubaker6054]

@@Lava1964 yes, 3,2,1

[@BBBYpsi]

@@Lava1964 Considering both those you mentioned said Gordie was the greatest ever I believe you are wrong.

[@nhlvan]

To think Gordie had played 22 seasons and was already the all time leading scorer in the nhl in 1967... but still had 13 years of pro hockey in him.

[@michaelmohrle1773]

Gordie is the greatest of them all...

[@cadillachernandez2271]

Could you imagine the Pelts in 67'??!🎊🎊🎊🤸‍♂️

[@bornyesterday21]

It was the summer of love.

[@BBBYpsi]

Gordie was the only one who even looked athletic up there. To me if I did not know his face which since I am from Detroit since 1960 & did know his face. Just look at the size of his hands & wrists would be a dead give away.

[@joemahoney1221]

Exactly!

[@franktheo2055]

Mr. Hockey - The Son Of Saskatchewan.

[@dallasbrubaker6054]

Why didn't #2 wear a Red Wings uniform and why didn't Peggy Cass vote?

[@pjet8042]

Gordie should have been in street clothes instead to make it a bit more difficult.

[@bluebear1985]

There was a rule on this show that if you had seen any of the subjects on this show, you could question the challengers, but you couldn't vote. That happened on a few occasions on this show.

[@jaymorgenthal9479]

This is during the Original Six Era. Hockey was a cult back then.

[@Jiltedin2007]

Larry Blyden from What’s My Line was on the Celebrity Panel?

[@BBBYpsi]

A few give aways. Gordies hands are huge & strong looking. #2 had dante little hands not the kind that would play hockey. #3 looked like he could not take a check from a 12 yr old let alone a grown strong man.

[@csnide6702]

Howe was a real bruiser... !

[@Paskudnak]

Gord was a master!

[@rosiedebevc1952]

I have a sign picture by Gordie Howe

[@allang.2338]

Only Kitty Carlisle asked reasonable questions. Then she voted for #1 because she knew him to see him. Pretty good indicator it was #1. So the next panelist voted for #3. The only one not to vote #1. Where do they get these panelists from?

[@generalbullmoose]

#2 looked a bit like Lou Fontinato. Wouldn't that have been something if it was?

[@BleedBNG]

They're always safe putting on sports figures because the panels don't watch sports.

[@Rorschachqp]

Looks like this guy I know, Woodrow.

[@balconi89]

The panel had more trouble with Jean Beliveau

[@rrgomes]

Indeed, though that was ten years earlier. I'm actually surprised that Peggy Cass didn't disqualify herself here since she said (in the end) that she recognized him.

[@louistenore2185]

even i knew this was Grodie howe

[@kyokogodai-ir6hy]

I can see why elites would have no clue who Gordie was.

[@rrgomes]

Nothing to do with them being "elites". It's just that hockey wasn't as popular in the US at that time, nor were athletes' face as widely known to the public as they are today. But Peggy, who evidently was a hockey fan, had seen him at the Garden often and did know his face.

[@elliebellie7816]

So who fed Peggy Cass all the hockey questions and what kind of speed drugs was she on?

[@sarkisiangeorge]

Only won four Stanley Cups? If Jack Adams didn't screw up those Stanley Cup teams they certainly would have won more in the 1950s. Only Alex Delvecchio, Gordie Howe, Marcel Pronovost, Red Kelly, Terry Sawchuk were on the 54-55 teams and 59-60 teams.

[@doriamedina]

This is not 1967, more like the end of the 1950's!

[@michaelmohrle1773]

Nope, they said he has 700 goals and in his 22nd season. He started in 1946.

[@WinslowLeach1974]

Dude in the middle in the suit looks a little like Mario 66 🏒

[@darylwizzard5832]

They don't know who he is by just looking ?

[@rrgomes]

Peggy Cass did because she went to Rangers games. But the others weren’t hockey fans. It was more of a niche interest for New Yorkers at that time.

[@bobstrempie9424]

The banker in the middle looks like he could go a few rounds.

[@darualid]

The guy on the right hahahahahaha

[@davidburmudzija907]

Number 1 - what's a Gordie Howe hat trick.

[@cigsbutt]

a goal an assist and a fight

[@Lava1964]

I think that term wasn't coined until years later. I believe some in-depth research has shown that Gordie Howe only did that twice in his long career.

[@williamessex3518]

@@cigsbutt Gordie didn't get in many fights. Everyone knew better than to test him. Even in his 40's, he was built like a linebacker.

[@eddriver7815]

what's a Saskatchewan ?

[@ronniejamesdio3951]

It's a Chinese dish with noodles and rice I think

[@aileen694]

@@ronniejamesdio3951 and Ed Driver, 3 years ago...you guys are hilarious 🤣

[@eddriver7815]

He wasn't the Babe Ruth of hockey - Maurice Richard was !

[@michaelcanney7218]

Ed Driver gordie outscored the little rocket every year they played together. Look it up

[@cigsbutt]

Not only did Howe outpoint him,the first year in the league Howe ,only 18 at the time,got in a fight with Richard and ko'd him.

[@jonnywishbone17]

Nope, Howie Morenz was the Babe Ruth of hockey

[@seveglider8406]

WRONG! Bobby Hull was the Babe Ruth of Hockey. During the 1960's many Americans couldn't even name the 6 NHL teams. However, many Americans knew Bobby Hull.

[@detroitpolak9904]

The third guys jersey is just horrible. And that first lady knows hockey.

[@RossMunro-mf6ez]

To tell the truth they also did an episode of Red Kelly.Kelly played for both Toronto and Detroit and won eight Stanley cups.Back then they gave cartons of cigarettes to the contestants.

[@seveglider8406]

This shows how many people didn't know much about Hockey. However, I believe the panel would have known Bobby Hull.

[@freddyfurrah3789]

BOBBY ORR 😅