What's My Line? - Andy Devine (Aug 24, 1952)

MYSTERY GUEST: Andy Devine
PANEL: Dorothy Kilgallen, Bennett Cerf, Arlene Francis, Hal Block
---------------------------------
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[@jimclark6256]

John Wayne once said that he thought Mr. Devine was one of the greatest actors in Hollywood.

[@marc7491]

So glad that they eliminated the "perp walk" before questioning!

[@amiek9269]

I live in Kingman AZ we have a street call Andy Devine....named after him.

[@cliffcarter6261]

Never get tired of watching this brand of entertainment!

[@joeblaumer2085]

Some of these episodes I’ve watched over 40 times. Wonderful.

[@robertlisternicholls]

Watching this in 2022. Better than the rubbish on TV now.

[@mistergrandpasbakery9941]

When I was a small child, I watched Flipper and loved Andy Devine!

[@andyeaston8391]

Andy Devine was a thoroughly decent human being!

[@CharlesCoderre-yv1cu]

not to the animals on the show

[@andyeaston8391]

@@CharlesCoderre-yv1cu And you were there and saw something? Nonsense!

[@patttyannhudson]

I was born in 1963 I don't know when this show went off the air but I listen to this all day at my desk and will continue to until I've heard them all these guys are great love listening to them all day long, I really enjoyed when Art Carney was on there and when big time movie stars were just starting out thanks to whoever put these episodes on here love it

[@Mollexi]

Arlene: Is you Andy, Mr Devine? Haha! I love Arlene

[@rodneyws1977]

These people have way too much fun at work.

[@G56AG]

Used to watch this as a kid growing up. Andy Devine was a really important actor in so many movies, that voice was hard to miss, what a great guy he was in so many movies.

[@funkeekatt]

Andy Devine had such a unique voice it was challenging for him to disguise it, but he pulled it off.

[@loissimmons6558]

I wondered how he would pull it off as well, but he did far better at keeping the panel buffaloed than most celebrities.

[@JuanCarlos49086]

I really enjoy these WML episodes from the show's early years. They are a treasure and I don't get tired of watching them.

[@arniewince7133]

Dorothy Kilgallen is amazing, She has her finger on the pulse.

[@missapk]

Arnie Wince Sadly, the great lady had her fingers on the pulse so much, and w such strength of character, that imo she was murdered for it.

[@scottcarroll9201]

@@missapk Yes, she was definitely murdered. By herself.

[@theblake5356]

Scott Carroll What Scott is trying to say is that she was murdered by someone who is definitely not herself.

[@arniewince7133]

@@missapk I didn't know that! Oh my God!

[@arniewince7133]

@@scottcarroll9201 She died of a drug and alcohol addiction.

[@jdano9029]

I am always impressed with the superb command of the English language that John and Bennett had, in particular. Although, Dorothy was no slouch either.

[@catelynstark5689]

Neither was Arlene!

[@sandrageorge3488]

Bennett very often mispronounced words and did not use them correctly in sentences. Not good for a publisher.

[@burrator8291]

@@sandrageorge3488 I do wonder if he was dyslexic.

[@heidikickhouse-]

@@burrator8291 How much he accomplished, if so, with remedial services decades away.

[@CharlesCoderre-yv1cu]

despite the lack of a chin

[@HigherPowerWorldWide]

Great to see actor Andy Devine on What's My Line?

[@ghshinn]

Andy Devine was one of my favorite character actors. He was the driver in John Ford's great western "Stagecoach," which made John Wayne a star. At the time of this appearance, he was the sidekick on the Wild Bill Hickock tv show starring Guy Madison. He played a character called Jingles.

[@loissimmons6558]

I remember Andy Devine as Jingles in the "Wild Bill Hickok" series as well as in Andy's Gang where the character of Froggy the Gremlin certainly sticks out ("Plunk your magic twanger, Froggy!"). In both shows, Andy was the perfect comedic actor to amuse at least one little kid: me!

[@johnpeel2300]

Yep! That’s right. I remember watching it when I was a kid.

[@johnpeel2300]

Yep!!! I remember watching it as a kid!

[@jackkomisar458]

"Hey, Wild Bill! Wait for me!"

[@michaelnivens6267]

Also appeared with the Duke In Who Shot Liberty Valance & Island In The Sky

[@contraryMV]

"I know a human who uses it". Arlene cracks me up. Always trying to find a go around.

[@googoo-gjoob]

this episode is 7 years before my birth..... thank the Lord for youtube.

[@mtnman6557]

Aside from being great in western movies, Andy Devine also co-starred in a TV western show, Wild Bill Hickock. You'd have to be at least 70 to remember it, but it was really liked by many of us young kids in America. Anytime Andy spoke, you couldn't help but smile, so thanks up there to Andy for all the many smiles.

[@mtatom92345]

Who didn't love Andy Devine? He was great.

[@cbsteffen]

I think he was underrated!

[@tejaswoman]

I'll let you know after I look up and find out who the heck he is.

[@CharlesCoderre-yv1cu]

Midnight the cat disagrees

[@cristerowarrior1450]

Andy Devine has the most distinct voice

[@andrewgilmore7669]

I've been wanting to see this for YEARS just to find out how in the world Andy Devine could disguise his voice. Thank you so much for posting it!

[@loissimmons6558]

Andy Devine is said to have made up many stories about how his voice came to be that way, the most familiar being the one where he was running with a curtain rod in his mouth in a hotel in Kingman (AZ) and due to an accident, the curtain rod pierced his mouth; when it healed this was how his voice sounded. The consensus now is that this was one of many tall tales.

[@drumbum3.142]

@@loissimmons6558 now that's just silly. - why Would This Unique Fellow be running (around) with a Dowel Rod firmly ensconced within his mouth.. .,?... 😐

[@elisabethvalade9866]

@@drumbum3.142 Said curtain rod would have had to impale his larynx, and messed up vocal folds to have changed his voice. But that kind of injury wld have probably killed him. Gotta be one of his tales!

[@bobbywall172]

Andy is so loved❤️😇

[@bufb]

Miss the great character actors. Miss great shows like it. Andy is Devine

[@keithnaylor1981]

Arlene Francis - Andy Devine - you were brilliant. I just knew you would get it! And Dorothy - the fire chief - brilliant! The dynamic duo of all shows! KAN

[@saran3214]

This would be my appointment show in 1952. The kids asleep, getting a snack, and warming the tv up 5 minutes beforehand.

[@kali8188]

Andy Devine was on the Jack Benny radio show for years as part of Jack's Buck Benny western parodies: "Hiya, Buck!!" He was also on one of my favorite Twilight Zone episodes, Hocus Pocus & Frisby: as a pathological lying good-old-boy who says he invented everything and created everything, and he is almost kidnapped by real aliens convinced he's telling the truth because they don't have any concept of lying. One of my favorite lines: "If Frisby's a meterologist, I'm Vice President Johnson!" Frisby: What'dja say, Lyndon? Right on cue - I loved it.

[@cinibar]

It's really funny when Mr. Daly gets a good dig in on Hal!!!

[@Pyesangel]

The good old days!!!!

[@Beson-SE]

Andy Devine was the voice of Friar Tuck in Disney's "Robin Hood".

[@waynehowell6160]

Andy was best-known as a comedy sidekick in Westerns, and had a children's TV show, "Andy's Gang" where he had a little friend, a frog puppet named Froggy who had magical powers and was always playing mean tricks on Andy while the children screamed in delight.

[@10lassie]

Johan Bengtsson I think he did one of the old twilight zones too.

[@SuperWinterborn]

Johan Bengtsson In case you aren't aware of it; Gary is doing a rerun on WML these days. Check out his channel and come and join us, at least in the comment section! ;)

[@mhk3360]

Johan Bengtsson I never heard of Andy Devine, but he looked so familiar. Was he in Blazing Saddles?

[@superfuzzymomma]

10lassie Indeed, he played a Mr. Frisbee

[@babyfir77]

Andy was pretty good in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World!

[@loissimmons6558]

I nearly fell over when one of the challengers gave his actual street address when John Daly asked where he lived. Not only can't I imagine anyone doing that today, on the rare occasion when someone starts to do so (like calling in to win a prize on a radio program) the host immediately stops them and the seven second delay can take care of the rest, usually. Even though he didn't give the city portion of the address, the street name is unique enough (and John confirms that it is somewhere in NYC) that anyone in the NYC metro area familiar with NYC could find him as long as his name was on his mailbox in his apartment building (between 60 & 90 apartments, I estimate). And with Google Maps, I found the location in 30 secs. Based on the building, the street location, the off street parking, easy access to bus and subway, and my knowledge of the neighborhood in 1952, I would say that this challenger was doing quite well for himself.

[@savethetpc6406]

Yes, I was born and bred in the Bronx, (where the Grand Concourse is), and in 1952, the Grand Concourse was quite a swanky place to live.

[@randykaplan9366]

That was probably the only person in WML history to state a street address...

[@dmiller1000]

Exactly what I was thinking. Although his building looks like it was strictly middle class, unlike the more plush art deco buildings on the Grand Concourse. He sold flea powder, for goodness sake. Hard to imagine anyone wanting to pursue him for any reason. And in those days, you'd have to physically find him - no social media.

[@annakaminski4406]

A true pleasure to watch this nightly.

[@factenter6787]

Jimmy Buffett said he always wanted an autographed picture of Andy Devine🤣

[@michaelodell1381]

Very fitting that Andy Devine was identified by his voice

[@jthomasjuarez5915]

Brings back such pleasant memories.

[@scoots8519]

I was 6 months old but I tell you I watched and remember this episode. Andy was my hero.

[@dominicpiscopo7915]

Mr. Hal Block was a victim who was caught in a horrible apartment fire in Chicago he was severely injured n was in hospital for over 2 months before he passed away

[@jeffreylockhart8292]

To see this and realize how old it is, Andy Devine was not even 50 here. He was in movies in the 1930's, about 20 years back when this aired. Show here is 70 years old !! wow amazing

[@joannemaguuire9664]

As a child in the 1950's I used to watch him in Andy's Gang. Plunk your magic twanger Froggy.

[@CharlesCoderre-yv1cu]

Froggy was the only good thing on that shit-show

[@larryburkholder3407]

(sound of a jaw harp, dar-ra-ra-rar Hi Ya Kids, Hi Ya Hi Ya!!!

[@larryburkholder3407]

Andy Devine and Gabby Hayes are soul mates, ya think???

[@JDAbelRN]

Appreciative applause for the Knight of Columbus member. Very nice.

[@spactick]

Andy Devine made one of the classic Twilight Zone episodes 'Hocus-Pocus and Frisby

[@rumlemis]

Loved him as a child and I still do.

[@CarloQuinto]

Andy Devine, always a delight. And I thought Hal Block was really on in this episode and was a good sport to boot. I think he is a much better panelist than he is given credit for.

[@ludenasan1]

I wish they had talked with Andy, he was such a great guy!

[@rambleonfromhere8780]

I think Hal Block would be a dynamo today !!!!!

[@heidikickhouse-]

@@rambleonfromhere8780 You're right. We've lost the ability to make witty sexual innuendo. Just give us blunt crude sex jokes through a bullhorn.

[@tejaswoman]

@@ludenasan1 I wish they had talked with him afterward if only because I didn't get a chance to hear what his voice normally sounded like. Looked him up to find out who he was and apparently I've seen him in a couple of movies, but don't remember him at all.

[@sdkelmaruecan2907]

Yeah, it was one of these "good Hal Block" episodes... but I am sure other factors had a bearing on his firing than just his humor or manners. His body language sometimes can be too distracting, during the Andy Devine segment he kept rubbing and rubbing his hair it was quite annoying to watch ...

[@lawrencetate145]

So funny, when Hal Block said there aren't any comedian cowboys! He had the biggest one sitting right in front of him... and he should'a know'd it!

[@johnjarou2357]

will never forget Andy Devine for his roles in " Red badge of courage" and the " Twilight zone".

[@dariawells7438]

They had to cut to commercial at 15:07 to extricate Mr. Daly's hand from the old guy's vice grip! I didn't recognize Andy Devine until I Googled him, but he was one of my favorite characters in A STAR IS BORN!

[@joestephan1111]

When I was a young boy in the 1950s Andy Devine was in a weekly western as "Jingles" the sidekick to Wild Bill Hikock. He also had a syndicated Saturday morning kids show whose nemisis was talking frog. He was one of the greats.

[@echoecho3108]

Pluck your Magic Twanger, Froggie!

[@jsusna1972]

"Pluck your magic twanger, Froggie!"

[@robertholman8730]

He had a weekly show called Andy's gang!

[@bozoadams4113]

Had to watch this one! I do voice impersonations and Andy Devine is the hardest one. I have to tread on my vocal chords to get those harmonics he gets. His Twilight Zone episode is a favorite!

[@njjeff201]

I loved Andy on Saturday mornings. Pluck your magic twanger Froggy!!

[@daviddb1972]

What a great show!

[@rbilleaud]

Finesse is still a shampoo brand that exists today, although it's owned by a different company. Kind of amazing.

[@savethetpc6406]

Rob Billeaud Yeah, I've been wondering whether or not there's any relationship at all between the present-day Finesse shampoo and the product advertised here. It could be that Finesse was discontinued and then another company decided to use the same name years later, or it could be that Finesse was one of the few products from the original Jules Montenier line which survived after many changes in ownership. I'd have to do more research to figure it out, I guess. If I'm remembering correctly, I think the Jules Montenier company was first bought out by Helena Rubenstein but changed hands at least a couple of times afterwards as well.

[@byrd56]

You're at least half-right. Jules Montenier, Inc., makers of Stopette and Finesse, was sold to Helene Curtis in the late 1950's; Helene Curtis was sold to Unilever in 1996. In 2006, Unilever unloaded Finesse shampoo to a firm called Lornamead Brands. So maybe it has survived.

[@savethetpc6406]

@@byrd56 Thanks for correcting me -- I got my "Helen-based" names confused! ;-)

[@perrymalcolm3802]

There’s an interview with Bennett where he covers WML n talks about Montenier having to sellout

[@Chesterfierce]

The quick handshake between Dr. Barro and Mr. Daly after saying Hal Block would need his services! 😂

[@patriciamooney928]

Loved Bennett asking if the Fire Chief changed the furniture for people.

[@magnificentfailure2390]

I own an acre of land outside of Kingman, AZ., the "Hometown" of Andy Devine (even though he was born in Flagstaff). Someday, when the area gets electricity and water, I'd like to move up there.

[@amiek9269]

Magnificent Failure I just posted, myself as I live in Kingman AZ. I'm betting you live in GV? Small world.

[@nickrice7535]

Always so nice and personable

[@pearldiver1006]

Andy De Vine was a big hero in Kingman Az

[@tek6423]

Wow, Andy ran away like the cops were chasing him

[@miketheyunggod2534]

It looked like the video was edited and took out the back and forth banter they usually had between the panel and the mystery guest.

[@stopanimalabuse4741]

Arline Francis was so brilliant and then she died with dementia.

[@sandrageorge3488]

I remember a show where she could not remember Tony Randall's name. It's those little things that can give you hints of things to come. She kept extremely busy and was smart. My mother god rest her soul had it also.

[@sandrageorge3488]

So unfortunate 😢

[@CharlesCoderre-yv1cu]

how could they tell ?

[@merryx-mart9943]

@@sandrageorge3488 I remember the wml episode ; her expression as she struggled to put a name to Tony was funny and then she said "just come in anyway" 😂😂😂 But on a serious note she started going downhill after Martin Gabel passed away. She did an interview a few months after with a reporter called Arlene

[@wildboar7473]

Good but in a rush, hate that when not enough time, Panel did a great job :)

[@jasonogle3697]

I only heard of him in a Jimmy Buffett lyric until now, awesome

[@joycejean-baptiste4355]

The flea powder salesman reminds me of William Frawley for some reason.

[@redwatch.]

At 11:19 John Daly pulls his earlobe. According to Wikipedia (in an article on Hal Block), this was a signal to the panelists to desist from a risqué line of inquiry.

[@WhatsMyLine]

Great eye! Thank you for noting this-- it's rare to see an on camera example of John's ear tugging.

[@redwatch.]

+What's My Line? Thanks. I had just read the article, so it was fresh on my mind. And thanks for uploading all the great episodes! It's a tremendous source of entertainment for me.

[@jdano9029]

+red watch Great! Now I'll have to rewatch every episode again to see when John warns the panel. haha. Great factoid, Red Watch!

[@WhatsMyLine]

J Dano No joke-- if you do see another example, please do leave a comment. I'd really appreciate it! I've found one other case, from much later in the run, directed at Bennett (sorry I can't cite the date offhand, I think it was 1958, a segment with Lord Briscoe). But that's it so far!

[@jdano9029]

+What's My Line? I was being facetious about rewatching haha.. I have so many TV items on my plate to watch. haha. I also watch the mid 50s reruns on BUZZR so I'll keep an eye out for that devilish John Daly's ear tugs. He's such fun to watch with his eye-rolling, smirks and other facial expressions.

[@Brian-uy2tj]

Andy Devine was one of the most like-able characters ever. He was like a cute little puppy on screen.

[@JDAbelRN]

Psychiatrist Barrow was funny as hell.

[@donaldshelton6622]

Andy Devine appears at 15:12 The main street in Kingman, AZ, is named Andy Devine Ave.

[@kenyongray2615]

Andy Devine was one of my favorite people when I was young. I always thought that he was the father of Andy Griffith. He had a hard time disguising his very distinctive voice.

[@jeffreydevoti8528]

My favorite Andy Devine line: ARREST LIBERTY VALENCE ?!?...Just when I wus gettin my appetite back!

[@leeclark4495]

Jeff...Yes, a great line.

[@juliansinger]

Dr. Baro was born in Germany (Dortmund), and came over to the US before (or during) WWII, because he was not a fan of Hitler and also his wife Ruth was Jewish. They became US citizens in 1943. He got his initial training at the University of Bologna, and I’m not sure if he had to do American schooling as well, but he arrived in New York in 1938, moved from New York to Los Angeles after he got out of the Army, and got licensed in 1946, so, probably. He was more of a neurologist and legal consultant than a therapeutic psychiatrist; became Chairman of the EEG Department at the Covina Inter-Community Hospital, and consulted for McDonnell Douglas and the California Medicaid Fraud Division, as well as serving as an occasional expert witness in court. He was pretty conservative, politically (voted Republican most of his life) and his wife was a registered Democrat. He died in 1991, in Orange County, having lived most of his California life in Azusa. As far as I can tell, they had no kids. (Ruth died in 2004.)

[@tullochgorum6323]

Devine was a hard-working actor with over 170 credits including classics like Stagecoach, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, and How the West Was Won. Though these days I guess he is little known.

[@jacomans9078]

John Daly I bet had a very high I Q he thought very quickly on his feet and had a Marvelous vocabulary.

[@dancelli714]

THE DR ANALYSIS (sic) the mind. There should not be a NO.

[@first2find]

That episode is only one year older than me.

[@Finians_Mancave]

How is a Fire Chief NOT a fireman? Of course, he's a fireman - just the ranking one in a station! I saw a later episode where a Chief of Police acknowledged that he was a policeman. How is this any different?

[@pearldiver1006]

Thief of police and fire chiefs can be beaurocrats or political appointees and never come from the ranks. They are administrators not gun and hose guys. Sometimes that is better because it short circuit the good old boy network. 90% of the worse chiefs are from rank and file and spend too much effort covering bad asses. Its kind d of like so many great ballplayers make the worst managers. Ask Ruth or Mantle.

[@raybenoit5238]

Never heard of the guy on the end . Never realised how beautiful Arlene was . She was a stunner .

[@SG-ug9xj]

18:04 Nice comeback by Daly. LM-FANNY-O

[@zekezacker9449]

Bowties were apparently relatively common in that era (one guess is only a very, very small percentage of people today know how to tie a bowtie, or own a clip-on bowtie).

[@rmelin13231]

They were, and there are a number of reasons why - some were due to fashion, but also much more practical, particularly for the working class.

[@robertholman8730]

My mom 6 boys and clip on bowties were a time saver 😊

[@gregengel1616]

Look how you made your living for years 😂😂😂

[@kingdoc3262]

Enjoyable

[@MountainFisher]

The flea powder salesman wasn't exactly on top of his game was he? He was probably suffering from stage fright to the point that John did most of his answering for him. lol If Andy Devine's voice hadn't cracked there at the end he may have stumped the panel. A funny actor, but also known as being a real kind and generous person.

[@TheCinematicPackrat1]

I assumed the flea powder salesman was hard of hearing, but stage fright may have factored in, too.

[@WhatsMyLine]

Today's KZbin Rerun for 5/8/15: Watch along and join the discussion! ----------------------------- Join our Facebook group for WML-- great discussions, photos, etc, and great people! facebook.com/groups/728471287199862/ To stay up to date with postings, please consider supporting the WML channel by subscribing. The WML channel already contains the complete CBS series, with new videos still being added on the weekends. kzbin.info/door/hPE75Fvvl1HmdAsO7Nzb8w

[@edithpresler6975]

What's My Line? Beautiful!

[@adriennegormley9358]

I remembervthecshow Devine was on, but aldo given my age, a certain song lyic springs to mind: I wish I had a pencil thin mustache, A Boston Blackie Cap A two-tone RickybRicardo jacket And an autographed picture of Andy Devine....

[@srothbardt]

He’s great in “The Twilight Zone “

[@Hank13665]

Niiice!

[@davidarcudi230]

My favorite shotgun rider. #stagecoach

[@johnpeel2300]

I agree!!!

[@amberola1b]

After Andy Devine left the stage and before the last contestant came on as John Daly was trying to announce his entry, Hal wouldn`t stop talking and you could tell by the stern tone of John`s voice he was getting kind of testy with Hal because he wouldn`t stop talking as John was asking the last contestant to come onto the stage.

[@stpaley]

that Andy Devine was out of there when they guessed, wonder it he got word they were short on time?

[@dejpsyd0421]

You got 3 minutes left….cut the walk by and the free guesses!

[@Tiberius291]

The fire chief looks like Floyd the Barber from Mayberry. 💈

[@jamespollock11]

dissCOVerYYY BAY! He pitched real estate near Brentwood, California--fairly close to Sacramento. Ran on AM radio in the 1970s.

[@Sockpuppet2012]

I was 16 days old when his aired ;-)

[@kingforaday8725]

How does one make a living selling flea powder? Ive seen several guests selling obscure items like this that make me wonder if they were actually distributers that sold a variety of products.

[@simontills7090]

Dorothy almost always looks at the hands. Don't like contestants walking off behind Mr Daly.

[@frankroper3274]

John Daly looked like he was wearing a toupe even in 52.

[@robertholman8730]

Yes it was very obvious!😮

[@DalidaD]

Did Arlene just say @14:06 "I know a human who uses it!" (flea powder)??? Lol!!! Whom was she thinking of?? :-)

[@robertholman8730]

Fleas were a major problem back then! 😮

[@rayjr62]

I love the director John Ford story about when actor Ward Bond died. While attending Ward Bond's funeral in 1960, Ford went up to Bond's body (lying in state), checked it out, said a few words, turned around and returned to his seat. While returning to his seat, Ford walked right past actor Andy Devine, stopped, leaned over toward him and said, "Well Andy..Congratulations. Looks like you are now the biggest living asshole in Hollywood." Ford then proceeded to take his seat.

[@davidharris6581]

I believe that story to be true there are many contemporary accounts of it. There is also a lot of evidence Ford hit the nail on the head. Both Actors were legendary for their on screen personas being the opposite of their true personalities. Of course Ford could also be cruel on set but apparently it was something he only adopted when working.

[@rayjr62]

Patrick Wayne, John's son, recounted this story. He claims both he and his dad attended Bond's funeral and hear Ford say that to Andy. And Ford, being an unabashed liberal, hated both Bond and Devine (because both men were reactionaries who leaned to the right of Barry Goldwater).

[@twinsonic]

@Lloyd Braun are you Eva Braun's son?

[@s.e.wagger3888]

A Flea Powder salesman???? He seemed as strange as his occupation. (I don't think I would've bought a thing off this guy)

[@thomasnorman4221]

We are all on stage

[@HOOSIERDADDY24]

It's FRISBY (the worlds biggest liar) from the Twilight Zone.