What's My Line? - Ann Sheridan (Jul 20, 1952)

MYSTERY GUEST: Ann Sheridan
PANEL: Dorothy Kilgallen, Bennett Cerf, Arlene Francis, Hal Block
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[@Mark-hc8ek]

70 years ago! Wow, that blows my mind. And I'm enjoying these shows more than what is made today.

[@leannsherman6723]

By a long shot.

[@jeremynv89523]

I actually agree. It's surprising me just how entertaining these shows were. By contrast, today we get to watch the Kardashians and Vanderpump Rules. TV has fallen a long way.

[@VahanNisanian]

Ann's attempts at fooling the panel may be the sexiest of any female mystery guest. Spot on Mexican accent.

[@procopiojrpalacios9702]

Great to see the lovely Ann Sheridan and her "Texican" accent (born in Denton, Texas)... Gone way too soon at 51, but boy, did she light up the silver screen with her beauty! RIP, querida.

[@accam6734]

Ann Sheridan was a wonderful actress.

[@waynej2608]

Yes, she was. And very underrated, in her day. She was awesome in Nora Prentiss, They Drive by Night, The Man Who Came to Dinner, Woman on the Run, City of Conquest and others. She also had a fine singing voice. And Ann was, of course, such a beauty. 😍

[@loissimmons6558]

I found it interesting that Ann Sheridan wouldn't associate herself with Paramount. In fact, she spent the first two years of her film career with that studio. She came to Hollywood because she won a Paramount beauty contest that she didn't even enter. A self-identified tomboy who was planning to become a teacher, Clara Lou Sheridan (her birth name) won a screen test with Paramount when her sister sent in a picture of her in a bathing suit. But Paramount used her for little more than eye candy and even used her often as a body double. She would go to a film and see her body but not her face on screen and was close to returning to Texas and being Clara Lou again. She left for Warner Brothers, a studio more willing to develop her into a star. But Warner was also more than willing to capitalize on her beauty, nicknaming her "The Oomph Girl", a name that Ann usually claimed she hated, although she admitted it got her out of the chorus line and into top roles. Reportedly, she received as many as 250 marriage proposals in one week. Away from Tinseltown, Ann demonstrated proficiency in talents that would have been far more associated with men, especially during the height of her career. According to one quote attributed to her, she could "whistle through my fingers, bulldog a steer, light a fire with two sticks, shoot a pistol with fair accuracy, set type, and teach school ..." And in 1941 while on strike from Warner, she kept busy rebuilding abandoned cars. She was far more than just another pretty face.

[@loissimmons6558]

gcjerryusc You are correct about it being unfair to men, at least the ones who are given those labels as an insult. But it is not an insult to men in general because it is a male dominated culture that makes it so. Specifically, tomboys and women who are able to act like one of the guys if necessary are seen as aspiring to climb the social hierarchy while sissies and mama's boys are generally seen as foolishly forfeiting male privilege (whether the observer buys into that theory or not on a conscious level) and dropping down the social hierarchy. Of course, this is something of a simplification, and there are limits to which a woman can tilt toward masculine without repercussions. First step is the plain and somewhat androgynous career woman. "Poor thing, no man ever in her life to marry and she will become a spinster. How unfilled she must be." Think of Hank in the comic strip Brenda Starr. I use her as an illustration for two reasons. First, the strip was created by Dale Messick, who deliberately use that first name instead of her given name, Dalia, because she knew there was prejudice against female cartoonists when she was starting out in the 1930's (and long after). Second, Dale will be on a later episode of WML. In addition there are whispers behind the back of the plain looking career woman about her sexuality, whispers that rise to ugly crescendos whenever a woman's masculinity takes her past a tipping point where she is not perceived as female at all. It should also be pointed out that a daddy's little girl isn't necessarily a daughter who finds her way into daddy's heart by acting more like a son. There are many ways for daughters to find their way into their daddy's heart, anywhere from hitting one over the fence to looking like a princess in her new spring outfit.

[@770WT]

@@jetpilot3714 You don't know the definition of Marxist ....schmuck .

[@donnashapiro7982]

0

[@russellhumphries4649]

Okay

[@57highland]

She was well before my time, but I remember her well from "Angels With Dirty Faces." She held her own against James Cagney.

[@stevenwebb7936]

Ah, the ever beautiful Ann Sheridan! :-)

[@dominicpiscopo7915]

One of Hollywood’s most beautiful women miss Ann Sheridan died in her early fifties from smoking n drinking what a shame

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

She was just 37 here but already looking a bit long in the tooth, so to speak. But Good Lord, in her prime, Ann was a drop-dead gorgeous gal, with great gams, and sex appeal to spare!

[@VahanNisanian]

And this is quite a start to the preservation era of the program. Ann Sheridan. Curvaceous beauty, and nicknamed the "Oomph Girl". A nickname she reportedly hated.

[@gailjarvis2592]

Ann got sick after this. You can tell. She was a dear, special person to everyone in Hollywood. No one could laugh like her. We lost her too soon. - Don't smoke!

[@Agent-kb3zb]

She lived 15 years after this airing.

[@evalynlopez4698]

Oh Geesh heartbreaking 💔. Loved her movies.. gorgeous lady..

[@Luvyourfam4ever]

Gailjarvis2592, 15 years isn’t “shortly after” the airing of this show. She died in 1967. She still lived for quite some time after this broadcast.

[@pablobanados6552]

Miss Sheridan was such a beautiful lady and so talented.

[@erenunal]

I wouldn’t get tired of this show if there were no more than a dozen episodes! Truly grateful for the efforts of those who compiled these playlists! 👏🏻

[@maureensmith2728]

It’s the best!❤️

[@puffnstuff12]

This show came out well before I was born and although I've only been watching it for the last two weeks its become my favorite game show. These guys are a hoot and work very well together.

[@iansgrayeyes]

I cant believe they didn't guess Ann Sheridan. Her voice is so distinctive!

[@tejaswoman]

But in Spanish?

[@ToddSF]

Ann Sheridan was unknown to me until until 1966 (when I was 14). She starred in a half-hour primetime TV sitcom, "Pistols and Petticoats", which took place in the wild West in 1870, in the fictional town of Wretched, Colorado. The show lasted for a single season, 196-1967. We were shocked when, via the TV news, we learned that Ann Sheridan had died in January 1967 of cancer at age 51. She still was beautiful and no one watching the show had a clue she was ill. The 26th episode aired in March 1967, just a few weeks after her death.

[@loissimmons6558]

For some reason, her name seems to have faded from public consciousness, but she was both a big screen star and along with Betty Grable one of the favorite pinup girls of WWII GI's. Those men still with us are very likely to remember her name. +ToddSF 94109 I agree with you that Ann Sheridan was still quite beautiful in "Pistols and Petticoats" at age 51. But by Hollywood's somewhat draconian standards, by the time this episode of WML aired, she was already considered over the hill at age 37, with plenty of young starlets waiting in the wings. Her appearance in "Another World" and then "Pistols and Petticoats" was the beginning of a comeback for her, as her career was in serious decline after appearing with Cary Grant in "I Was a Male War Bride" in 1949. Sadly, as you noted, her comeback was cut short by cancer. (PS - I see that you and I are about the same age. There's a famous Paul McCartney song that mentions an age and grandchildren Vera, Chuck and Dave. It will be very soon that this song will no longer be my future, alas.)

[@Palomitamukti]

Oh I love Ann Sheridan, she's is one of my favorite actresses. I'm 20 and I'm far far from USA! :)

[@waynej2608]

@@loissimmons6558 '...birthday greetings, bottle of wine'.

[@waynej2608]

My two favorite actresses from the 30s thru the late 40s, esrly 50s were Linda Darnell and Ann Sheridan. Both were extremely talented and quite versatile. And, I don't believe they were as appreciated as much as they deserved i.e., no academy awards or given too many premium scripts. And, obviously they were both gorgeous. And, tragically, both died way too young; Ann from cancer and Linda in a house fire. Fortunately, we still have their films to enjoy. Good ones, like Nora Prentiss and A Letter to Three Wives, etc. 👌👍🌷💙

[@loissimmons6558]

@@waynej2608 Many thanks, but it isn't near my birthday at this time of year.

[@whatfreshhellisthis8810]

Exquisite Ann. ❤️

[@gingerhaydon4693]

Classy Ann Sheridan....She was so beautiful and talented in films.. loved her as the mystery guest.

[@mh.4664]

Love watching these old shows. It's amazing how the TV camera improved over the years. In the beginning, the camera showed every line and flaw in the face. As the years went by, it looked like Arlene Francis aged in reverse. (Loved Arlene)

[@tomhavens6006]

I was partial to Dorothy Kilgallen. I would have liked to have met her.

[@NorthTexasEagle1989]

She's my close relative. And I found out about her from a painted wall in Dan's Silverleaf in Denton, Texas. My dad was born in Denton forty years after she was.

[@770WT]

Ann Sheridan was gorgeous and very underrated !

[@donnawoodford6641]

Not close in years nor by the way you "found out" which sounds more third party distant.

[@choward5430]

My grandparents loved this show. I can hear them laughing now!

[@kathleenlajeunesse1694]

I’m kinda surprised no one recognized her from her laugh. She had such a deep, throaty voice. I’m sure I would have recognized her instantly.

[@luvsgreta8487]

Me too! That voice is unmistakable even in just saying 'si senior'

[@grapetomatogirl2141]

14:31 Mr. Block: ‘Doesn’t anything ever happen ALL the time with you?! I wish Mrs. Baum had replied: ‘Sometimes.’ 🙃 Be well, stay kind and blessings to all ~

[@mimiflynn6973]

Don't get me wrong, Arlene looks nice here, but she really does suit blonde hair so much more.

[@WhatsMyLine]

I agree! Same with Gracie Allen, who was a natural brunette, but was lightening her hair by the 1940s and went full blonde in the 50s.

[@ToddSF]

Yes -- I remember reading in George Burns's book about Gracie ("Gracie - A Love Story"), that when they began the Burns & Allen show, they tested Gracie on camera and decided she would look better on black and white television as a blonde. So she went blonde and stayed that way -- and she did look better. Light-colored hair showed off Gracie's face and somehow flattered her. She had made black-and-white movies, but live TV cameras from the early 1950's weren't exactly the same as movie cameras using black-and-white film, apparently.

[@juanettebutts9782]

IMHO, I never thought Dorothy was as attractive with lighter-colored hair. I read in one of the comments (attached to some other episode -- I've seen so many I have no idea which one) Dorothy wore a hair-piece. I never knew that.

[@nancymilawski1048]

@@juanettebutts9782 and false eyelashes too.

[@melianna999]

Agree.

[@gingerhaydon4693]

Such a treasure...I love Ann Sheridan. She was so wonderful in "King's Row" and "Nora Prentiss".

[@waynej2608]

Excellent films. Throw in The Man Who Came to Dinner and George Washington Slept Here. Two of the comedies she did, reflecting just how talented and versatile Ann was. I'm a huge fan of hers, and Nora Prentiss is a personal favorite of mine. Classic film noir, and vastly undervalued.

[@davidpolak799]

Q¹++

[@Beson-SE]

Whenever a lesser known MG stumped the panel John used to say "Take off your masks and say Hello to...." to avoid faces with the expression "Who is he/she??". There was no need for that with Ann Sheridan although she stumped the panel. The information is taken from Gil Fates's book. 25:25

[@erenunal]

John Daly was a polished, polished man...

[@peggywenzel9035]

I watch this show over and over I 😘 ve everything about it. Thanks for sharing

[@drumbum3.142]

SUCH a BEAUTIFUL, SMILE.! ☺️😊😍😊☺️☺️☺️🎨

[@steve.schatz]

Notice @2:17, John Charles Daley, ever the kindest of hosts and a true gentlemen, welcomes Mr. Kirby with a friendly handshake. Then to make his nervous guest feel more secure standing in front of a live studio audience, and national TV audience, Daley takes Mr. Kirby's elbow, then engages him arm in arm, then strokes his upper arm most warmly and gently. Most of WML's guests never had appeared on a stage before much less on television. This kind physical gracious welcoming gesture was once somewhat common, but has disappeared from our culture completely.

[@jerrylee8261]

I agree. I hope he had as much class as he seems to on this show.

[@scotnick59]

Annie was so gorgeous!

[@joncheskin]

Surprised they could not get Ann Sheridan--usually the panel is better at narrowing down entertainment personalities like her.

[@gnirolnamlerf593]

They never got around to narrowing down what kind of movies she was more famous for beyond comedy or drama. There are all kinds of dramas. Anyone know why she was able to speak Spanish well outside of the fact that she was from Texas? I'm surprised that John's suggestion that she would have qualified as a pin-up girl (even if he didn't use that phrase) didn't clinch it for any of them, including Dorothy, who was probably thinking Betty Grable, but dismissed her because Ms. Sheridan didn't play in musicals, but played a wide range of roles, which was clear from her repeated answer about doing both comedy and drama. One thing about this guest: what she didn't have was a special reason for being in NYC on that date. All of the panelists, you could see, were going through a mental Rolodex of who might be on the show to plug something. One of the most interesting mystery guests of all time.

[@VahanNisanian]

In 1966, Ann Sheridan starred in a CBS western called "Pistols 'n' Petticoats". It ended after one season, but not because of bad ratings. Ann got cancer, and died during the production. She died way too young.

[@epaddon]

Ann was a regular panelist on the daytime version of "To Tell The Truth" for a couple years through 1965 until the regular nighttime panelists at that point (Tom Poston, Peggy Cass, Orson Bean, Kitty Carlisle) were brought over to do the daytime show as well. Unfortunately the extant holdings of daytime TTTT largely begin with that point in time so we have only a couple surviving episodes of her as a TTTT panelist.

[@VahanNisanian]

epaddon Actually, I believe there are three episodes of Ann on the Daytime TTTT panel known to exist. Nancy Dussalt, Barry Nelson, Ann Sheridan, and Sam Levenson Peggy Cass, Ray Bolger, Ann Sheridan, and Dick Shawn Peggy Cass, Skitch Henderson, Ann Sheridan, and Buddy Hackett illustriousgameshowpage.com/gamestv.html

[@MrJoeybabe25]

She died from esophageal and liver cancer at age 51 on January 21, 1967, in Los Angeles, California, one month before her 52nd birthday. I have known people with both kinds. Esophageal tends to be drawn out, and liver cancer can kill you, sometimes, two months after diagnosis. A real shame.

[@savethetpc6406]

***** Very sad about Ann Sheridan... :(

[@savethetpc6406]

***** Oh my goodness -- what an amazing resource you found in that illustriousgameshowpage! On the Password page, I actually discovered the week of episodes on which I appeared as a contestant: "1981; guests are Susan Richardson and Patrick Wayne [GSN]"! I couldn't figure out a way to contact the website host to ask him about it, though.

[@Poorsap]

"Depends on the folk" :-D

[@dutchtea8354]

This is the first episode that JCD isn’t smoking. He also changed his instructions. Instead of informing the panel “Ten no’s and you’ve lost,” he informs the contestants “Ten no’s and you’ve won.”

[@jerrylee8261]

Several posters mentioned Ann in The Man Who Came to Dinner. One of my favorite movies of hers. She looked SO beautiful and lit up the screen. She was deliciously bad. Bette chose to downplay her own beauty for some reason and appeared as rather plain. Monty Woolley was the Man. I enjoyed her performance so much that I kept a copy of the movie and edited another copy down to just show Ann's screen time.

[@13loomisst]

Thanks very much. Great to see Annie.

[@CarloQuinto]

I may be in the minority here, but I really Like Hal Block. I like his wit, personality, occasional shock value. I understand he really doesn't fit in with the others but it's nice to have an odd ball once in a while. While Bennett is supposed not to have liked him, he sure used some of his schtick. Only an opinion.

[@AIWboojum]

+Charles Henry Hal could be funny and Bennett could be insufferable.

[@WhatsMyLine]

I always like to see comments in support of the much maligned Hal Block! I joke around about him a lot, but I actually quite like him on the show myself, with some reservations.

[@AIWboojum]

I think Hal and Dorothy (to a lesser extent) both get a bad rap, for opposite reasons. Hal made me laugh more consistently than almost anyone else on the panel, except for the inimitable Steve Allen. The problem with Hal is that he joked about the women enough that it sometimes made things uncomfortable, which could make him unappealing both then and now when he overdid it. But he had genuine comedic talent and was also self-deprecating, which made him funnier than the occasionally borderline smug Bennett Cerf (this is not to malign Bennett, who I like, but he was not as funny as he thought he was). Dorothy has an unfortunate reputation for stage hogging which is, in my opinion, undeserved, as they ALL asked questions for more screen time once they had figured the occupation out. I think perhaps we notice this with Dorothy so much because she's so brilliant that she figures out the answer very often and therefore she has more chances to do this.

[@WhatsMyLine]

AIWboojum You raise several good points. I personally do feel that Dorothy's screen hogging habit was a real thing-- there are particular examples where it's impossible to ignore (a round with a dog collar salesmen-- she wastes a full 2 minutes of the program after she had clearly gotten the answer already, asking pointless questions). But. . . I think she *completely* stopped doing this by the 1960s. It's a marked shift-- Dorothy became much lighter in attitude, friendlier, less combative-- and non-screen-hogging-- by the 1960s. Why that is, we can only speculate! Hal is also at a major disadvantage to today's audiences because (a) the jokes he was making were considered basically acceptable back then. He's being judged a lot of the time by today's standards, which isn't really fair. (b) Almost ALL of Hal's shows are lost. Hal was actually on the panel far longer than Steve Allen was, but he's but a footnote to WML viewers today, because so few of the shows featuring him survive. Producer Gil Fates gave Hal a lot of credit for putting the show on the map. While I don't have the evidence to watch myself firsthand, I believe it. We have enough shows from before Hal joined the panel to judge. They're by and large terrible, stiff affairs. Hal really deserves the credit for making WML not just a panel show, not just a game, but a *comedy* program as well. Cheers to a fellow Hal appreciator!

[@TheBraveIntrovert]

I like Hal...

[@MrJoeybabe25]

The next day was the opening of the 1952 Democratic National Convention which nominated Adlai Stevenson. John would have been there (as the anchor of ABC News), and maybe Dorothy as well. Four major candidates sought the nomination: U.S. Senator Estes Kefauver of Tennessee, Governor Adlai E. Stevenson, II, of Illinois, Senator Richard Russell of Georgia and Averell Harriman of New York. The convention chose Senator John Sparkman of Alabama, a conservative and segregationist, as Stevenson's running mate. Stevenson was divorced in 1949. I believe he was the first candidate of a major party to be divorced.

[@xander7ful]

I can't believe they didn't recognize her voice! It wasn't quirky but it was recognizable. They were off-kilter this night.

[@savethetpc6406]

Handshake Watch 25:41 -- Hal and Bennett both stand to shake hands with Ann Sheridan.

[@dutchtea8354]

Notice who stood first!

[@FigaroHey]

A gentleman always rises to greet a lady. Why are you surprised?

[@Lightkie]

@@FigaroHey Exactly, you would think so. It's just noteworthy because they often did *not* stand up for whatever reason in earlier episodes.

[@dancelli714]

The celebrity takes off right away. no 15 second interview, nothing gee !

[@VC-Toronto]

Live TV, and running out of time.

[@waynej2608]

That was disappointing. Being a huge Ann Sheridan fan, I wanted to hear her more, even if briefly.

[@tejaswoman]

Others have commented that it appears in the early years they had not yet realized this was an opportunity for the celebrity to play up something going on in their life or career. In Sheridan's case, I'm not sure what that would be, as others have remarked she wasn't in town to promote anything.

[@cowpokeone]

Ear tug at 8:24. I’m beginning to wonder if this was a signal that the panel was getting close to guessing. Now I have to watch them all over again! Edit: When I first started watching these episodes, I thought JCD had a nervous habit or something. Then I read about it being a signal to not be risqué in their questions. Now I just don’t know! 😁

[@rmelin13231]

Yes, reportedly John would tug at his ear (although I had read that it was specifically his right ear) when he wanted (or needed) the panel to veer into a different line of questioning. Whether it was always because the questions were getting too risqué, or due to other and varied reasons, I'm left to wonder. Gil Fates reveals a lot in his book, but I've found it to not always be accurate. Likewise with some of Cerf's later interviews.

[@mjanavel]

I was 2 when this episode aired. I feel old.

[@lizdoyle7158]

ANN SHERIDAN A REAL SUPERSTAR 🌟🌟🌟 HER MOVIES ARE ALL EXCELLENT 🎥🎥🎥 LOOK UP HER MOVIE GOOD SAM 🎥🎥🎥 ANN N GARY COOPER STAR FABULOUS MOVIE 🎥🎥🎥 ONE OF THE BEST MOVIES EVER MADE 🎥🎥🎥

[@loissimmons6558]

The references to Chicago in this episode, in addition to both Hal Block and one of the challengers being from the Chicago area, was due to the fact that the Democratic National Convention was going to formally begin the next day. Unusually, the Republican Party had its convention at the same location a few weeks earlier (the typical practice of the party that currently occupied the White House having its convention second). The reference to President Truman has to do with the fact that prior to the start of the convention, he declined to endorse any of the many challengers for the nomination coming into the convention. In fact there were 9 who were still contending for the nomination going into the first ballot, one of whom (the frontrunner at the time) was Sen. Estes Kefauver (TN) who was the mystery guest on WML in March 1951. Ironically, the eventual nominee, Adlai Stevenson, was not one of those nine. Coming into the convention, many in party leadership were urging him to run and he kept declining, even while getting a significant number of votes in some of the handful of primaries at the time. But as governor of Illinois, he gave the welcoming speech to the convention. It was widely praised and galvanized even more support for him to run, especially since it appeared that it would be very difficult for any of the declared candidates to emerge victorious. He finally relented and was elected on the third ballot, the last time that a major party took more than one ballot to nominate their Presidential candidate. Truman could have run for reelection in 1952 as the passage of the 22nd Amendment limiting Presidents to two terms didn't apply to him as the incumbent at the time of passage. But his popularity in the winter of 1951-52 had set an all-time low for U.S. Presidents (up to that time) at 22%. When he allowed his name to be entered into the New Hampshire primary (still not an official candidate) and he was soundly defeated by Kefauver, he announced that he would not seek re-election. Considering his low level of popularity at the time, he nonetheless was working behind the scenes to influence the process. He actually was sending out feelers to Gen. Eisenhower to seek the Democratic Party nomination, until Ike made it known that he was a Republican. (As someone who had never held elected office and having a key leadership position in the military, his party affiliation was kept private until then. Until a bitter 1952 campaign, Truman had good dealings with Ike, including appointing him to be Supreme Commander of NATO.) Truman then to turned to Stevenson, but he was initially rebuffed there, too. Truman announced his formal support for Stevenson after the first ballot of the convention when Stevenson formally announced his candidate and Truman actively campaigned for him.

[@neilmidkiff]

Note that at 15:00 Hal first asks for a conference, then amends it to "caucus" since the upcoming convention was in the news.

[@jerrylee8261]

If not for Truman, we might today have a united free Korea. He put the brakes on MacArthur and I have read that China was afraid at first to come to North Korea's rescue because of the USA's atomic bomb. China was supposedly given assurances that the atomic bomb would not be used on them resulting in the tragic loss of a lot more American fighting men. Whoops, hope I'm not getting too political for Gary. I had to censor myself as it is.😊

[@MOGGS1942]

I adore Ann Sheridan,whom I first saw opposite the likes of James Cagney,George Raft and Humphrey Bogart in those wonderful black and white Warner Bros movies. It was love at first sight for me,but sadly unrequited.

[@mothernature2512]

moggs she smoked like a fish James cagney said it would kill her.

[@dennisgeorge3238]

and John Garfield!!!!!

[@waynej2608]

They Drive by Night was a great one. Ann was in top form, along with Raft, Bogart and Lupino. Also, Castle on the Hudson with Garfield. Another engrossing crime drama. My love for Ann was unrequited, also. Lol. I was about five, when she passed.

[@ToddSF]

Judging by the 1950-54 playlist, from this episode and afterward, Goodson-Todman stopped destroying the kinescopes of WML, which is a very good thing.

[@loissimmons6558]

Good point. I noticed that starting with this episode, the postings appear to be on a weekly basis. It seems to me that compared to standard practice in television back then, this is rather early for kinescopes to be saved. I was wondering if we were going to see something in the notes about what led to WML's producers to make this decision (or if there was some other reason why the episodes were routinely preserved starting with this one), but Gary's notes are especially sparse with this episode.

[@WhatsMyLine]

Well, the notes I usually add for the episodes are, 95% of the time, just what they are here: a list of the panelists and mystery guests. That's usually it. As you see, Lois, everything ends up getting covered in the comments anyhow. :) Yes, this is the first episode that began the archiving of episodes by Goodson-Todman, independently of CBS. They actually paid CBS for the copy that they preserved, though it wasn't a big expense (somewhere around $25-50 per show/film). Had G-T not decided to archive the series on their own, and even to go as far as to pay for it, most of the series would presumably be lost today. CBS was no different than the other networks in putting very low priority (if any) on archiving in the early TV era.

[@loissimmons6558]

What's My Line? I see. I guess you had more to write about with the early episodes of WML (all I have watched up to this point). And I am used to you writing quite a bit more in the notes for the You Bet Your Life episodes. Actually, I didn't expect to comment nearly as much as I have so far on WML compared to YBYL. And at some point soon, I need to back off as I have other projects that I should be doing for myself. But it is addicting. As Oscar Wilde is quoted as saying, "I can resist everything except temptation." :-)

[@WhatsMyLine]

Lois Simmons I actually don't comment a lot anymore, but when the shows were actively posting, we had a vibrant community of people watching them and commenting which I enjoyed a lot (and I was a lot less busy), so I was commenting a lot then. We never really developed a community on the YBYL channel; the comments have been added haphazardly as people happen to stumble on the shows. The descriptions for the YBYL episodes were a lot more detailed, and took a lot of time to write up, but I felt it was necessary because there's no good source for log info online for YBYL as there is for WML (the episode notes on WML at tv.com will blow your mind.) Anyhow, you do what you have to do-- the shows will still be here when you have time for them. :)

[@bwayland1290]

Lois Simmons On Groucho's,"Y.B.Y.L.;" hope you have seen the one w/ EDITH HEAD. Culturally, "W. M. L", is such a significant reference to Mid-20th CENTURY Celebrity Culture. HISTORY IN THE MAKING !

[@RadioFanBoy]

CBS was well established as a true coast-to-coast network by this time, and What's My Line seen live across both coasts through most of the 1950's; 10:30pm Eastern/7:30pm Pacific

[@gcfifthgear]

The problem was twofold: 1) Several communities had only one TV station in the early 1950s, and some stations which carried CBS as a secondary affiliate had to air "What's My Line?" at a different time than it would have been on CBS, and 2) Stopette wasn't sold nationwide until Helene Curtis bought the company circa 1957. So communities in which Stopette wasn't sold didn't get "What's My Line?" until then

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Miss Sheridan had a rather unremarkable movie career after 1950 or so. I think she had a "Lucy" type face that was made for television.

[@Marcel_Audubon]

nonsense

[@catholicpriest1]

The men on WML? were probably wearing light blue shirts. The lights were very bright in early television and the cameras couldn't handle anything white (the white tended ti flare). Blue shirts were the solution. I don't know when they started wearing white shirts on WML? but definitely during the final year in color. The Norelco color cameras didn't require as much light and were better able to handle various intensities of light.

[@MatthewMcClellan]

What a lovely person. She seemed to be someone who would be wonderful to work with.

[@sandrageorge3488]

I think I remember Anne Sheridan in Pistols and Petticoats. My dad loved Westerns. Even though I was only 7.

[@MrVerno46]

This was a hit from the start and made continued improvements to the broadcast as time went on. Parading up an down in front of the panel was awkward along with the contestants exiting behind the host JCDaily!

[@richrome9897]

Beautiful Woman!

[@TheGadgetPanda]

That was a wonderfully entertaining episode. I liked how they worked together and seemed to get a bit excited about the whole thing. Unfortunately they lost some of that energy as time went on.

[@preppysocks209]

Ronald Reagan's most celebrated acting occurred in 1942's "Kings Row," where his legs were amputated and upon regaining consciousness he screamed, "Where's the rest of me?" Ann Sheridan played his wife and received top billing.

[@waynej2608]

I agree, that was as good as it got, for him. Ann Sheridan, Robert Cummings and the always reliable, Claude Raines, were all in top form.

[@preppysocks209]

@@waynej2608 always reliable, indeed

[@davidnorth9390]

Attitudes and perceptions have changed, but this whole episode was a pleasant experience

[@soapandbutter]

This was entertaining.

[@musik102]

Ann was so warm and nice and quite the contrast to many of her roles where she often played a hard woman.

[@michaelfsmith3208]

Enjoy the show. One pet peeve: how Daly always pretends to read aloud the (often illegible) chalkboard signature. He has a card.

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

Agreed. I often have difficulty reading the name, but John always knew.

[@LyingSecret]

My favourite one of those was when an Asian lady came on (I forget who she was sadly) but she wrote the name vertically and in characters of a different alphabet, the crowed laughed, but he still read it :D

[@jvcomedy]

I could be way off base, but I don't ever recall seeing John Daly wear a light colored suit like this before or after this show. If he did, I'll bet it's a very rare event.

[@WhatsMyLine]

Jeff Vaughn Only in the early years.

[@jvcomedy]

What's My Line? I think you're exactly right and I'd bet that even in the early shows it was on rare occasion.

[@WhatsMyLine]

Jeff Vaughn It's hard to say because most of the first couple of years are lost. But there are definitely a handful of examples in the surviving earlier shows. Certainly by the mid 50s you never saw John wearing a light jacket on WML anymore.

[@Beson-SE]

Gil Fates writes in his book that the cameramen hated it when people showed up wearing.either black or white. These colors made the TV image boom and blossom like a firework. When Colonel Sanders was on the show he wore all white with black boots and a black tie! The best color to wear was navy blue.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Johan Bengtsson I think he looks good in that jacket.

[@ivansampaio1635]

Que belo sotaque o espanhol de Ann Sheridan

[@upwestarts5400]

no cosmetic surgeries, no fake teeth, no vanities...love it....

[@22Steamboat]

I don’t think we can assume there were no cosmetic surgeries.

[@brucegilbert7243]

I recall watching WML on Sunday evenings at 10:30, just before going to bed before going back to school, Monday morning. Berwin!

[@770WT]

Ann was giving the bums rush at the end .

[@danacantu6714]

So beautiful!

[@makmelaf]

Loved her in The Man Who Came To Dinner with Bette Davis.

[@44032]

In these early episodes, John is more aggressive in answering for the guest. He doesn't ask the guest to decide the proper answer as much and these seem to be very few conferences between John and the guest. Later he became famous for having conference with the prettiest contestants. (These observations from the limited sample we have here.).

[@dejpsyd0421]

For such a popular pin-up girl/woman/actress, the panels line of questioning was rather frustratingly haphazard

[@hhale]

Seems like they assumed that since the Mexican accent was fake, her deeper voice was also being purposely lowered. She had them faked out.

[@susannay.3437]

I was going to say she wasn't asked if she is married or not but then Bennet Cerf asked her.

[@Cath38639]

Dorothy asks the most intelligent questions

[@hhale]

She was an investigative journalist back when that term actually meant something.

[@slaytonp]

@@hhale Dorothy played to win, as well as knowing how to analyze every hint around her, from the audience reactions to the tone of responses. Neither did she forget the previous answers to questions by the rest of them. Arlene was sharp, entertaining and beloved, but Dorothy was seriously competitive.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

When Bennett asks Ann Sheridan "are you not of the feminine persuasion" it seems that it is asked in a familiar tone with an inference. However the question as asked, I think, should have brought a no.

[@Beson-SE]

He probably thought she was Ginger Rogers.

[@savethetpc6406]

Joe Postove I was thinking that too. In terms of his phrasing, the answer would absolutely be "no," and if John had wanted to be a stickler about it, he could have given him a "no" for it, as he has been known to do on at least a couple of similar occasions. He must have been feeling generous this time, though, and decided to interpret Bennett's question in the spirit in which it was intended, instead of the technicality of the way it was asked. I don't think John and Bennett had yet fully developed the "sparring partner" type of relationship that would have made a spitefully literal interpretation of the question more likely and decidedly humorous. Johan Bengtsson, I think you're right about whom Bennett suspected with that "are you related to me?" question, too.

[@savethetpc6406]

Joe Postove Ginger Rogers is the only one I'm aware of.

[@Beson-SE]

Joe Postove(Oh boy, If someone had made a joke out of that I'd LOL. :-) )

[@MrJoeybabe25]

SaveThe TPC So he had relations with Ginger Rogers?

[@brucegilbert7243]

Flies in the studio!

[@brucescott4261]

The Oomph Girl! Too gorgeous for words!

[@leannsherman6723]

Arlene was right - hula dancing absolutely could be beneficial in the home! 😂

[@sdacj]

Apparently there was a fly in the theater - Arlene and later John are seen trying to swat something away.

[@Nicovertime]

Love Ann❤

[@ClassiCole]

In April 1952, this was the first episode to use the new animated sequence, and the new What's My Line? theme song, "Melody in Moccasins", written by Wilfred Burns.

[@catelynstark5689]

Ah John looks fab in this

[@WhatsMyLine]

Today's KZbin Rerun for 5/1/15: 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

[@neilmidkiff]

Has anyone identified the voice of the narrator of the opening film with the program title and Stopette ad? (not the studio announcer) I'm beginning a second round in chronological order and only noticed now that it sounds a lot like Art Linkletter.

[@raysmusic49]

Never saw this show when it originally aired….didn’t have a TV…or even running water in the house.

[@rogerpropes7129]

Arlene had the Benjamin Button syndrome, she got prettier as she got older.

[@ritagreen5224]

I have always wondered if Dorothy and Arleen were wearing body stockings. This episode I can see they are not.

[@williamjueschke9960]

Ann ❤️

[@MrJoeybabe25]

All this talk about Naked Eyes has got me ruminating about the days when I used to keep my own eyes completely nude.

[@helenellis]

Just started round again for a 2nd time of watching all the episodes in order and I *think* this is the first episode (at least it's the first one I've noticed) JCD doing his oft-used "well that's fine country, I know it well" about the guest's home town 9:56 (Little things please little minds, I suppose...!)

[@dannysullivan8929]

Best movie she was ever in... ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES

[@bboomer1948]

A very beautiful woman.

[@williamjueschke9960]

How fun.

[@erenunal]

Probably the first extant episode with the "Melody in Moccasins" intro!

[@erenunal]

Interesting how Dorothy, Bennett and Arlene are beginning to get comfortable with the mechanics of the game while Hal is getting more and more risqué and irritating...

[@Ingentiy]

The corn plaster dude sounds like he could double for John Daly

[@anderander5662]

She died of esophageal cancer in 1966 or 7..... Everybody smoked back in those days

[@brucescott4261]

Ander Ander ...January 21st, 1967.

[@Steezey7]

It seems like the first guest was trying to emulate Mr. Daly's role, who was unusally quiet during the round.

[@terilee7791]

I don’t know anything about this person but I do know my mother was sick from smoking for the last 15 years of her life. They were not good years. Very sad.

[@victorguerrero6960]

They had alot of fun in what they did so much happyness something we need today god bless there souls

[@Baskerville22]

The 'corn pads' guy looks a bit like actor Leslie Howard

[@mtnman6557]

Back in the 3rd-4th grades, most all of the contestants on WML must have had good cursive writing teachers.

[@acer3573]

"Oomph oomph oomph oomph! Oomph!"

[@denecostantino8542]

🤍THANKS TO TCM, I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF SEEING ALL OF ANN SHERIDIAN'S MOVIES..SHE IS AWESOME 👌

[@davidadams2395]

I'd have hated to be a woman on this show and engender studio silence upon my appearance on the set, i.e., no whistles for me.