What's My Line? - Arthur Godfrey (Mar 30, 1952)

MYSTERY GUEST: Arthur Godfrey
PANEL: Dorothy Kilgallen, Bennett Cerf, Arlene Francis, Hal Block
Many thanks, as always, to epaddon for providing his copy of this episode!
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[@karenleemallonee684]

I have to say, I was very impressed with Hal Block when he jumped up and helped the elderly women to her seat. That was such a sweet thing to do! 🌼

[@franklesser5655]

I saw it as grandstanding.

[@karenleemallonee684]

@@franklesser5655 To each there own (opinions). 🤗

[@wilfred508]

I thought it was very sweet as well, and a welcome contrast to the laughter of the audience, which I found quite uncomfortable.

[@michaelbarnhart2593]

@@franklesser5655 Clearly, the woman seemed lost in that moment, so Mr. Block enabled her to gracefully proceed toward her seat without embarrassment. Although I understand in this day and age that this now-extinct gesture of respect would be seen as self-aggrandizement to justify not doing it anymore. :-/

[@garyfrancis6193]

@@franklesser5655 You’re sick

[@janlachowycz]

This first guest is the cutest! I never thought much of Mr Block before but he was so sweet to help Mrs Brodie across the stage.

[@troydante]

Hal Block helping the first contestant was a most gentlemanly gesture ...

[@marciadiehl5733]

I thought so as well. I also liked when he "disqualified" himself and removed his mask early. His reaction to seeing who was the mystery guest was a real hoot! One of the funniest episodes I have seen of WML. Thoroughly enjoyable!

[@Beson-SE]

The first lady was so sweet! 86 years old and so funny and easy-going. And the elephant is my favorite animal. :)

[@elainehamlyn]

Perhaps the most hilarious episode that I have watched to date. Binge watching in 2023-2024 and loving this show.

[@VahanNisanian]

The fact that this episode survives is a miracle. This is one of the very, very, very few 1952 episodes of "What's My Line", from prior to July 20, to actually exist. The other few only exist in private collections.

[@Mr1930s]

Let us all hope those private collections show to the world their copies so that enjoyment would be had by all.

[@heidikickhouse-]

Why on earth would someone keep them private? Is there $$ value, like a 1st edition?

[@tedknapp6915]

Is this really from 1952? Dorothy mentions Bennett Cerf's latest book "Laughter Incorporated " That book came out in 1950, not 1952!

[@VahanNisanian]

@@tedknapp6915 Yes, it is. What on Earth gave you that idea? Dorothy probably made a mistake. Gil Fates' log book even confirms the exact airdate.

[@iamintheburg]

Mr. Daly was more giddy and giggly with Mr. Godfrey than I've ever seen him : obviously a sincere friendship there.

[@mtnman6557]

Arthur Godfrey was a hoot!

[@anthonylatino1408]

Mrs. Brodie was one of the best guests I've seen. She was having a grand time!

[@sandwichman100]

they could have let her win, spoil sports

[@anntaylor2039]

she was delightful!

[@TheCinematicPackrat1]

@@sandwichman100 Considering the quiz show scandal of the 50s, that probably wouldn't have been a good thing in retrospect.

[@abhinavs5213]

What do you mean? There were so many wonderful guests. That generation itself seems much better.

[@Deejaay83urj38]

Ab fab!

[@byte01010101me]

My wife could hear my computer from the kitchen and said "did they just say 'television's gayest game'?". I told her I was watching a show from the 1950's.

[@princeharming8963]

Ha ha.. priceless!

[@kg4wwn]

I mean, do you really think that Jon Daly and Bennet Cerf's relationship was ENTIRELY platonic?

[@retrogamerdad9621]

My favorite contestants are the elderly, especially from these earliest episodes. They provide a glimpse at the lives of people from many generations ago, nearly 150 years! I would dearly love to hear some of their life wisdom.

[@rogerrobin2774]

I can’t see or hear of Arthur Godfrey without thinking of Geritol. Or the “grey sickness.” Shows my age.

[@marciadiehl5733]

@@rogerrobin2774 Yeah...iron poor blood was really a thing back in the day. LOL

[@justrelaxing1550]

Bennett Cerf died 1971, Hal Block died 1981, John Daly died 1991, Arlene Francis died 2001. All 10 years apart. All years ending in ‘1’

[@preppysocks209]

And Dorothy Kilgallen died in 1965

[@stevekru6518]

preppy socks Dorothy died in 1965, but death may have been related to an inauguration which occurred January 20, 1961.

[@sharynrogers8939]

@@stevekru6518 and events of November 22, 1963 that she was investigating.

[@TheBatugan77]

Hal the computer died in 2001.

[@marvinmauldin4361]

HAL the fictional computer, was deactivated in 2001, reactivated by humans, then preserved along with Dave by the aliens in 2010. No, I don't have a life.

[@princeharming8963]

Godfrey was a riot here.. and Block's reaction was priceless. Such great fun!

[@Lava1964]

I can't recall where I read it, but I believe Arthur Godfrey very nearly forgot about his agreement to be the mystery guest on this episode. He remembered it just in time to hustle to the studio. Luckily he did arrive on time--and had a very memorable appearance.

[@thomtlc2]

I love Hal Block's reaction to seeing Arthur Godfrey. This has to be one of the greatest, most spontaneous moments, in television. This is also a tribute to Mr. Godfrey's popularity in the early 50's.

[@ibnalhaytham]

I have watched several years' worth of WML, and I wholeheartedly agree. This is without question the most spontaneous and uproarious of all the episodes I have seen.

[@italiano3.16]

RetroGuy76 that applause, uproar, for the Duke was incredible

[@mizbootie]

I have to know what he's done that's made him so popular. I'm off to IMDB and see what other video footage I can find of this so obviously great talent.

[@juanettebutts9782]

Bradley Steffens -- One of the Best Episodes EVER!

[@jackkomisar458]

There was great teamwork between the director and cameraman to get a close-up of Hal Block while he was still reacting to seeing Arthur Godfrey and had still his mouth open.

[@fanboy2015]

Well that was nice of Hal to walk Miss Brodie over to her seat.

[@pronkerpronker6708]

I agree. She was so charming and yet a little bit lost about where to go and he sprang right up.

[@Amcsae]

He could be annoying, but he had his charming moments as well!

[@juliansinger]

Mrs. Brodie, who is a freakin' hoot, died in 1956, at age 90. Born in New York, she lived in Manhattan. She was married as of the 1920 census to Willis Brodie, who may have died later in 1920. Mrs. Brodie *may* have then gotten remarried in 1925, but I can't figure out to who.

[@mtnman6557]

She was a fun contestant. I wish more of the elderly were guests on shows (like they were on Carson), as they are usually very interesting. Simply because they lived through things that others did not makes them interesting & they are often colorful too.

[@neilmcdonald9164]

Thanks for the information...so she was on tv and yet born just after the Civil War!🎩

[@bplonutube]

The interaction between Arthur Godfrey , Hal Block, and John Charles Daly is absolutely one of the funniest things I have ever seen. I loved him when I was a kid. Great great fun!

[@ih82r8]

the old lady writes all neat and tiny like my grandma! i love it

[@soulierinvestments]

The production staff were geniuses. Winifred Brodie is one of the most funny WML panelists ever. (1866. Wow.) Combined with Arthur Godfrey's landmark and hugely funny mystery guest appearance and John Daly's wearing his glasses. This is WML history.

[@savethetpc6406]

soulierinvestments I agree that this episode was one of the best ever in WML history! I *loved* Mrs. Brodie, and, after having now watched every single existing and publicly available CBS WML episode, I think this Arthur Godfrey MG segment may be my very favorite of them all! :D

[@soulierinvestments]

No denying that Godfrey was a potent personality -- and could be very funny when he put his mind to it. And he did here.

[@TrainsFerriesFeet]

Mrs. Brodie was born in 1865 or 66; how amazing must it have been for her to be on TV and now recorded for posterity.

[@JJJBRICE]

Similar to I've Got a Secret in 1956 where the guest was elderly man who was 96 at the time that was in attendance at Fords Theater as a youngster in DC when President Lincoln was assassinated .

[@neilmidkiff]

3:00 "I've worn a pink ribbon for the last sixty years." Think about it: since 1892!

[@marciajwilson]

The lady that embroidered elephant blankets was as cute as could be.

[@nandofigueira2005]

The first guest is so wonderful, adorable.

[@erichanson426]

The elderly lady, you could tell just was having fun being there and didn't really care about the prize money.

[@davidsanderson5918]

Eric Hanson I would hazard a guess that the prize money wasn't cared about too often anyhow.

[@mariadalianis5508]

$50 worth about $550 now

[@TheBatugan77]

Mr. Daly often flipped the cards and gave the contestant the whole $50.

[@haizahmedhaiz5387]

Mrs Winifred Brodie was born in 1866...a year after the civil war..

[@Luvyourfam4ever]

That’s crazy to think about

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Godfrey and Daly were old pals, going back to the 30's when AG was the morning man on WJSV in Washington, and JD was the announcer and newsman on his show.

[@kali8188]

Shows you how incredibly popular Arthur Godfrey was in his prime. And he would be almost forgotten by his death. Mostly due to his own actions, of course. Definitely an amazing man, but I don't think I would have wanted to meet him in person.

[@altonpitts5303]

Hal Bloch's expression when seeing Arthur Godfrey is priceless.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

The elephant blanket embroiderer was fun. 86 was very very old in 1952 (it ain't so young today, but it is not now, I think, considered ancient). I think WML did not take full advantage of oldsters like this lady, especially when a senior citizen working at that age was extraordinary. Groucho Marx made a good deal of his living off of the fun one might have with older people in the 50's. And he did just that on "You Bet Your Life".

[@sandybeach123]

22:05 - I laughed and laughed and laughed while enjoying the audience's shrieks and Hal Block's reaction upon seeing WHO the mystery guest was. That belly laugh felt good.

[@ToddSF]

Arthur Godfrey here was the most entertaining of mystery guests. Hilarious! And he really had the panel flummoxed!

[@barbaramalkowicz2466]

Much thanks for this great trip down Memory Lane. Totally enjoyable.

[@savethetpc6406]

The more I see of Hal Block, the more I think he got and has continued to get an unfairly bad rap in the world of WML and its fans. He was delightfully hilarious in this episode in every single segment -- really the star of the panel, imho, and he was every inch the gentleman in escorting Mrs. Brodie to her seat in the first segment (beginning around 3:18).

[@SuperWinterborn]

Hal Block was as a big child. Harmless, good hearted and sometimes clumsy. I agree in what you're saying here, and also think he deserved better. Block was a good comedy writer too, and I don't think that B.Hope, who used him a lot, was quite fair to him either.

[@savethetpc6406]

SaveThe TPC I have to agree with myself again! As I watched this episode again, 5 months later, the word "delightful" once again came to mind with regard to Hal Block's performance in it, and I was again struck by his gentlemanly regard for Mrs. Brodie!

[@nanaberry4120]

SaveThe TPC I found him kind of grating on my nerves.

[@marywebb9127]

I wish there were more shows that survived with him in them.

[@robink620]

I also think Hal Block was delightful, he did try too hard to be amusing and his flirting could get out of hand but I never found him creepy. Sadly once he was fired from WML it seemed to completely destroy his career, he had such a sad ending my heart went out to him,

[@magnificentfailure2390]

Hal Block made this one of my very favorite episodes.

[@anneliesesteden390]

I never watched this show until last week,and now I watch it daily!🇨🇦🌺👍🦋❤️

[@MarthaReynolds]

One of the best episodes!

[@hypolyxa7207]

Hal Block was really a great panelist. Always guarantees a laugh.

[@alexhu7939]

my third round of watching What’s My Line? in time order. How fun!

[@romeman01]

Arthur Godfrey is almost totally forgotten today, so it is difficult for people who never heard him on the radio or saw him on TV to conceive of just how magnetic his personality was or understand the popularity that he enjoyed at this point in his career, as so vociferously manifested by the studio audience during this episode. There are many observations I made about this appearance in the description box of my upload of it What's My Line? Arthur Godfrey (1952) , but watching it today I noticed something that never struck me before. I cannot remember that John Daly kissed (or touched cheeks with, as the case may be) any other male in all the WML videos I have seen. He was clearly enthusiastic about seeing Godfrey again and evidently had long before forgiven him for his "ruthless" critiques of John Daly's own early news broadcasts (see Daly comment at the end of Pat Boone's appearance What's My Line? Pat Boone (1958) ).

[@lorimac0260]

He whispered something in his ear.

[@WilliamT1964]

@@lorimac0260 I disagree. While it may not have been a kiss, I think it was a gesture of affection.

[@amberola1b]

No matter how many times I see the part when Hal Block takes off his blindfold in the middle of the mystery challenger segment and sees its Arthur Godfrey, I crack up laughing

[@dutchtea8354]

At 2:53 Mrs. Brodie walks by the panel. Since Hal didn’t stand to shake her hand, it would have been impolite for Bennett to do so. He got around it by saying he wanted to look at her pink ribbon. Dorothy then also stood (out of respect for Mrs. Brodie’s age).

[@nancymilawski1048]

Hal sort of redeems himself escorting her to her seat. 😀

[@mylifeisaparty]

We need a compilation of most polite/rude moments

[@darkbagel69]

Wow, this was a GREAT MG segment!

[@boognish999]

For all the crap he gets in the comments Hal Block was absolutely one of the best players of this game. The questioning of the lipstick lady is the perfect example of this.

[@JoeBlac]

Arlene: I swallow quite a lot of mine. Dorothy: And get it on your teeth too. Hal: You go out with the wrong fellas. :)

[@marywebb9127]

Hal was great 👍

[@mikejschin]

The first time I went through the series, I was happy when Block left the show. This time through, I am finding him to be fairly funny and a very good game player. Either my perspective has changed a lot in a couple of years or his behavior will deteriorate as the episodes roll along.

[@masonrobichaud8791]

He certainly made the censors red in the face, I'm sure!

[@TheIrishrogue68]

@@JoeBlac Hal was hilarious at times and was a good counterweight to the stuffed shirt pomposity of some of the other panelists.

[@Beson-SE]

Hal Block asks MG Arthur Godfrey if he has five daughters. He must have been thinking of Eddie Cantor. 18:43

[@claygirlcan]

One of the cutest contestants ever, RIP Mrs. Brodie! Her and the mattress guy from another episode were funny!! Love retro TV ☺️

[@VahanNisanian]

The segment with Arthur Godfrey is one of the most flat-out hilarious Mystery Guest segments. Wild and crazy all at once.

[@Beson-SE]

This was before he fired Julius La Rosa.

[@VahanNisanian]

Johan Bengtsson Just read about that. What a troubled man Godfrey became. Threw his career away just like that.

[@romeman01]

My affection for this particular appearance may be seen from the image at the left. :-) This is the first WML video I ever uploaded. The copy of the show on this channel is dazzlingly clear.

[@Beson-SE]

romeman01 Was it because of Arthur Godfrey that it became your first uploaded WML?

[@romeman01]

Well, this is how it happened. I had listened to Arthur Godfrey periodically on the radio (late 1960s or early 1970s) and had also listened repeatedly to his "For My and My Gal/Too Fat Polka" 78 rpm record and his "Christmas with Arthur Godfrey and All the Little Godfreys" 33 rpm album. In addition, my mother told me about how my grandmother had been in the next bed to him in a severely overcrowded hospital ward once. Having had that preparation, several years ago I saw a KZbin clip of this mystery guest appearance and, knowing who Arthur Godfrey was and liking his performance here so much, I saved it on my computer, with the rationale "you never know when something is going to disappear". Later I found that the video had disappeared. I don't know if the user closed his or her account or if it was closed for violating KZbin rules about copyrighted material. At that point I said to myself that I really ought to upload the video, so I did. That's the story of my first upload.

[@2508bona]

"Paints primitives" was a clear reference to the then-active Grandma Moses. Moses must have been in her 90s at this time.

[@soulierinvestments]

91. When she died in 1961, she was 101.

[@lgndnhswnmnd]

Thanks for this post!

[@WhatsMyLine]

You're very welcome-- glad you enjoyed it!

[@CptSchmidt]

Hard to believe, but the first lady was born a year before Canada became an independent country and before most of its provinces existed.

[@M3au]

CptSchmidt Lincoln hadn’t been dead a year when she was born!

[@petemarshall8094]

She’s in better shape too.

[@soulierinvestments]

Hal Block's reaction when he takes off his blind fold says it all about the popularity and importance of Godfrey in 1952. He might have been more startled if Churchill had come.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

The panel actually looks better in the 60's. It must be the lighting.

[@lukethedrifter3363]

I agree they all look rather ghoulish in this episode.

[@neilmidkiff]

There's also a lot of analog video "sharpness" effect (edge enhancement) in this recording that emphasizes facial wrinkles and the like.

[@JehanineMelmoth]

What a glorious episode! Thank you so much for this!

[@williamdunphy352]

One of the most uproarous mystery guest performances ever. The panel had a real hard time trying to guess Arthur Godfrey.

[@bettaandfrogmom116]

I love it when the Mystery Guest segment is riotous like this!

[@richardstephens7636]

that woman was almost alive at the same time as lincoln!!! and is on TV! crazy.

[@libertyann439]

Love that necklace Dorothy is wearing.I know Arthur Godfrey was a talent scout. Loretta Lynn mentions in her biography that she won a prize on his program.

[@art.demirjian9721]

It is a great pleasure and full of fun to watch "What's My Line"! 😊❤😂

[@TheCinematicPackrat1]

What I wouldn't give for a Daly/Godfrey team up. They were adorable together.

[@mtnman6557]

Arthur Godfrey gets my vote for the funniest mystery guest ever on WML. Hal's reaction to seeing who it was was hilarious too.

[@smadaf]

Mrs. Brodie, at age 86 in March of 1952, was born in 1865 or '66 and had been wearing a pink ribbon since about 1892.

[@oldschoolmuscle4436]

Arthur Godfrey was almost universally despised by those who knew him.

[@nataliep.9047]

Old School Muscle; Not true. Diahann Carroll, Pat Boone, and Phyllis McGuire all spoke highly of him, as long as you played by the rules and did your job.

[@TheBatugan77]

@@nataliep.9047 Apparently your a shill for him. He was a schmuck.

[@nataliep.9047]

@@TheBatugan77 ; Maybe, but he wasn't "universally despised" by his colleagues, and there are interviews right here on KZbin that confirm that. Did you know the guy?

[@mistergrandpasbakery9941]

Dorothy had it figured out when she asked about commercial products. Little known fact: In an interview with Larry King back in his radio days, Arthur Godfrey told him that he always listed his occupation as salesman because when all the glamour is taken away, he is selling products to the public.

[@misternewoutlook5437]

This was before the LaRosa incident which tarnished his image. It took over decade to recover from it, but never fully. However, in the 1960s I remember him as a TV pop culture personality who engaged in all sorts of interesting topics of the modern age.

[@neilmidkiff]

A few comments on these early shows mention the "font" used for the superimposed card showing the contestant's line. To my eye it's clear that these cards were hand-lettered, and a freeze-frame at 10:33 will show this. Compare the two K's: in "makes" the upper left corner is higher, and in "lipstick" the upper right corner is higher. The space inside the lower bend of the first S is rounded; in the second S it's more pointed. Very good examples of the sign-painter's art, not the typesetter's craft.

[@howardhegg5446]

I grew up around people in my family like this Mrs Brodie woman . My father was old enough to be my grandfather when i was born. .

[@TheBatugan77]

Bad news, Howie. Your father WAS your grandfather. Eww...

[@PepsiMama2]

Wow what a great episode....

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Godfrey's appearance here was a good year and a half before the Julius LaRosa incident. And AG spent 20 more years on the CBS Radio Network.

[@laurahoward5426]

Oh! The little tiny signature!!🥰

[@donnacook8994]

Mr Godfrey was so funny! What a great guy. So glad for this episode. Thank you!!!! 👏👏👏🥰

[@soulierinvestments]

NPR reported that at one point Arthur Godfrey brought in 16 percent of CBS revenue and had his own vice president to oversee Godfrey. Godfrey's trademark was folksy humor, an intimate way of talking to radio-TV audiences, and a certain genius with commercials. He got over exposed though -- several hours on CBS radio and TV in the morning plus two weekly evening programs as well.

[@savethetpc6406]

soulierinvestments romeman01 Over the past several months (ever since I watched the Fred Allen episodes of WML), I have been listening to a lot of Fred Allen radio programs at: www.fredallen.org/listennow.php. They put up a different few shows every week, and I usually listen to them all before the week is over. Last week they happened to feature an episode from 1949 in which one of the comedy bits in Allen's "Walk Down Main Street" (which apparently replaced "Allen's Alley" when his sponsor was Ford Motor Co.?) was Mrs. Nussbaum complaining about how Arthur Godfrey was so omnipresent in every form of media and every hour of day that she can't get away from him no matter where she goes or what she does!

[@neilmidkiff]

I don't think that anyone has mentioned that the gentlemen stopped wearing tuxedos sometime since the last surviving episode. Bennett's suit even has a distinct pattern when he is seen in close-up; the faint stripes visible in low-res TV may have really been a herringbone twill fabric. Later on, the men will usually choose dark suits and black bow ties; only a few panelists will wear actual tux jackets with satin lapels. But in the next available episode from July 1952, John and Bennett have even gone less formal by wearing long ties instead of bow ties.

[@juliusborg15]

Listen to the laughter at 20:56, terrific! hahah

[@williamjohnson7163]

It was kind of Hal Block to escort Mrs. Winifred Brodie to her seat. She was so charming. Terri Johnson

[@Beson-SE]

John sits on a large cushion which made him look taller. 3:28

[@jvcomedy]

Good observation. I've never noticed that before. It might have made him look taller, but I doubt he did it to purposely look taller as he was 6'1" so he was already plenty tall. My guess that chair wasn't very comfortable.

[@romeman01]

I remember watching Merv Griffin's talk show when I was young. His sidekick was Arthur Treacher, who was rather tall (6 feet 4 1/2 according to IMDb). On this episode, Treacher was seated at one point next to some personality on the couch adjacent to Griffin's chair and the guest looked to be the taller of the two. Griffin commented on this and had the two stand up. It was at once obvious that the guest was much shorter. I don't know if they had rigged this thing or not, but I have always thought thereafter that you can't be too sure how tall someone is until they are actually standing. As for the chair not being comfortable, look at the time Wally Bruner was mystery guest on WML syndicated version WML: Mystery Guest Wally Bruner? (1969) (5.29-5.45). That's a disgraceful chair! I don't know if this is an indication that Goodson-Todman were cheap, but I do remember that Jack E. Leonard quipped in 1964 What's My Line? - Jack E. Leonard; Steve Allen [panel] (Dec 20, 1964) (20.53-21.15) "I know the kind of money you get off of Goodson and Todman" and John Daly, back in 1959 at least, himself admitted of his pay check (3.57-4.20): "Mine just says 'scale'." ("When you are 'paid to scale', you get that fixed sum (say, $500 a day), as opposed to a big name star who command whatever they wish" answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071115203232AArJsnA )

[@519djw6]

The "International Movie Database" does indeed state that John Daly was 6' 1" (185 cm). However, if you just take a look at some of the *female* contestants towering above him at the chalkboard, I feel pretty confident in saying that particular information is a bunch of crap!

[@neilmidkiff]

+519DJW I noticed that at one point John referred to himself as six feet tall, not 6'1" as in imdb. Sorry, can't pinpoint the episode out of hundreds watched recently. Some of the tall women were picked as guests for this reason, I'm sure. And high heels were definitely high in the 1950s.

[@scotwirth6228]

Thought Block was gonna have a stroke when he took his mask off and saw Godfrey sitting next to JCD.

[@soulierinvestments]

Available on the Old Time Radio channel and for sale: in autumn 1939, a radio station in Washington DC recorded its entire day's programming, local and CBS network. Both John Daly and his mentor Godfrey figure into this massive recording. Godfrey even in 1939 appeared as a radio morning host and very potent he was, too. On the opening of George Cukor's "The Women": [Godfrey reading text] "Talk about style, wait til you see the 250 dollar nightgown in the Technicolor fashion show of "The Women." [ad lib comment] Feature that, 250 dollars for a nightie."

[@JulieStJohn-jb4cy]

Well now, he was one of my favorite mystery guests. I never knew Arthur Godfrey was so funny! So entertaining! ❤️

[@allenjones3130]

The Arthur Godfrey segment was one of the most hilarious in the show's history.

[@abhinavs5213]

HHEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYYYYY!!!!! 🤔🤔 think I see a light Lol, he's a natural comedian.

[@VahanNisanian]

Really weird how this and all of Arthur Godfrey's other appearances exist, with the exception of the September 20, 1964 episode. Somewhere between March 18, 1951 and this episode, "Roller Coaster" by Lou Busch became the ending theme for the show. And somewhere between this episode and July 20, 1952, the 1952-1957 opening theme debuted.

[@scottpardee6303]

Hey! I am 87! It’d great to see this 86-year-old lady!

[@lottalady73]

At 1:24, Hal Block introduced Daly, chiding him and saying that he “should have known that Truman wasn’t going to run when Margaret hooked up with Durante.” Some background: This show aired on Sunday, March 30 1952. Eight days before that (On Saturday March 22) President Truman’s daughter Margaret appeared on the Jimmy Durante variety show. Ms. Truman and Durante participated in a skit (parodying “What’s My Line” of all things!) purporting to be a game show called “The Search For Truth”. In the skit, Truman writes something on a board (the same way contestants “come in and sign in” on WML) and spells out the phrase “I like Ike”. Ike, of course, was Gen. Dwight D Eisenhower, a Republican who was expected to run against Margaret’s father (a Democrat) in the 1952 Presidential election. Many people wondered if the elder Truman had given his approval for this unusual bit of funny business. Block, it seems, took it as a sign that Truman wouldn’t stand for election to a third term but Daly (whose ‘day job’ was a broadcast journalist specializing in politics) wasn’t yet willing to speculate that the president would drop out of the race. Truman had been soundly defeated in the New Hampshire primary by Sen. Estes Kefauver Of Tennessee on Tuesday, March 11, but he held the country in suspense about his intentions until he finally announced his decision not to run at the Jefferson/Jackson meeting for Democrats in Washington on the very night before this episode aired. The announcement, obviously, was fresh news when Block brought it up. Truman later claimed that his defeat in the primary didn’t enter into his decision not to run for re-election and that he’d made up his mind long before. That must be true since there’s never been an occasion when a politician told a lie. Margaret Truman, Sen. Kefauver and Jimmy Durante all appeared as mystery guests later on in the WML run.

[@orbison]

Margaret would appear as a mystery guest on WML only five days after her father left office.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Bennett referring to "bursting into tears while singing" question was a reference to the then top talent Johnny Ray, who as it happens, had a platonic affair with Dorothy Kilgallen, so say some sources.

[@sandrageorge3488]

If you look at her youngest son and Johnny Ray, they are identical.

[@yeahnoonecaresifyouarefirst]

I LOVE HER! I LOVE HIM!❤❤

[@Lukecash2]

Oh my! How small did that lady write!

[@kristabrewer9363]

I don't know who Arthur Godfrey is, but this is probably one of the best episodes yet. With him and that old lady also his is at least the 4th time the audience gave something away. He seriously should have told them to stop

[@irish89055]

Google is your friend

[@laurahoward5426]

This was before Arthur Godfrey's precipitous Fall from Grace....the movie FACE IN THE CROWD was based on him, his arrogance, his paranoia...

[@pgh45rpms]

Arthur Godfrey was in his prime here. Wikipedia states, "In the early to mid 1950s, Godfrey was heard on radio and seen on television up to six days a week, sometimes for as many as nine separate broadcasts for CBS." It's unfortunate that his domineering behavior, especially his on-air dismissal of singer Julius LaRosa, knocked him off his wholesome pedistal. He died in 1983 from lung cancer.

[@jonathanlane4496]

Arthur Godfrey’s fantastic career faded out when his true personality was exposed, similar to what Ellen DeGeneres is going through now.

[@sandrageorge3488]

?????

[@TheBatugan77]

@@sandrageorge3488 Self-explanatory. Get with the program.

[@prchristman]

In TV Guide look back at WML in 1956, Arthur Godfrey that on the day he was to be the mystery guest, he forgot. As I don't think he was the guest more than once before 1956, I presume it was on this night. He saw a promo for WML on TV at home, suddenly remembered that he was supposed to be on the show, and raced over to the theater. He made it!

[@savethetpc6406]

***** That is funny -- and amazing, if true, especially since this turned out to be arguably one of the most entertaining Mystery Guest appearances of the entire 17-year run of WML on CBS!

[@prchristman]

SaveThe TPC I have to believe this was the occasion when Godfrey forgot he was the mystery guest and raced over to the studio. The TV Guide issue came out in 1956, and this I think was the only Godfrey mystery guest appearance prior to that. In the last CBS WML, John Daly said one mystery guest made it to the show by only one minute. Judy Garland made some demands about payment, I've read, and agreed to go on at the last minute. Was Daly referring to her, to Godfrey, or to whom? I agree that this was one of the most entertaining mystery guest appearances. Ernie Kovacs did a good one too, blowing cigar smoke at the panel.

[@savethetpc6406]

***** There are a lot of great Mystery Guest appearances, and now that I'm going through all the episodes for a "second pass," I think I'll start making a list of my favorites -- beginning with this one.

[@prchristman]

SaveThe TPC One that I wish we had in its entirety was the Dean Martin-Jerry Lewis one from 1954. There's a brief look at it from the WML 25th Anniversary show, but that's all I've ever seen. Lewis gives the game away early. A full one was a Steve Allen guest appearance where John Daly accidentally says "Mr. Allen" instead of "Mr. Cerf" in calling on the next panelist. One with Francis the Talking Mule was all too short when Francis's heavy clomp clomp clomp and inability to answer questions tipped Bennett Cerf off. Jack Benny's first appearance with a high-pitched fake voice was great too. Feel free to take from my list. I don't want to hog all the good ones.

[@prchristman]

***** P.S. There was on on the syndicated WML that I haven't seen since it first aired. Martin Gabel was the mystery guest. His wife, Arlene Francis, seemed to flirt with him while blindfolded. (AF: "Are you married?" [coyly]; MG: "OH BOY! Am I married!") Soupy Sales guessed Gabel after a bit, and Arlene confessed that she'd known the guest was her husband "the moment he opened his mouth."

[@adamcoates2890]

Hal Block made the joke about elephants never forgetting and John Daly was so preoccupied with moving things along, as he always is, and not listening, that he didn't even get the joke.

[@garyfrancis6193]

Arthur Godfrey was a monster.

[@519djw6]

*What sweetie the first contestant was!*

[@DrSho]

Arthur Godfrey fell from grace very fast

[@davidsanderson5918]

Arthur Godfrey gets a bigger cheer than James Stewart and John Wayne put together!! To my shame, I'm reaching for Wikipedia to see what he did.

[@Lava1964]

Godfrey first gained renown for being the radio announcer for FDR's funeral procession. Shortly thereafter he was given a morning show on CBS. He was incredibly popular as a morning radio host on CBS--so popular that CBS began televising his radio show. The radio show lasted from 1945 to 1972. His show introduced many performers to the public. One documentary I saw about Godfrey's life said that his morning show was so profitable for CBS that every other show's earnings for the rest of the day was a bonus for the network. Unfortunately, Godfrey was a mercurial figure who alienated a lot of his colleagues. The Julius LaRosa firing in 1953 was the most noteworthy. After that debacle, Godfrey was never quite as popular again.

[@JJJBRICE]

Arthur Godfrey was real popular at this time !

[@dorothykilgallenwasmurdere1653]

Never heard of Godfrey, but he's a great guy, and very funny.

[@peternagy-im4be]

Funny how? The way he talks?

[@puffnstuff12]

Looks like the gang has found their groove which I just love.

[@user-il5oq5df6l]

Arthur's falsetto was ribtickling!

[@SuperWinterborn]

At 24:10 : Arthur Godfrey managed to squeeze in a point, when he said; "This woman knows who I am, without saying so..!" I'm not surprised if it was commonly known, that Dorothy kept on, even after knowing the identity of a Mystery Guest...

[@Beson-SE]

To have more camera time you mean?

[@SuperWinterborn]

Johan Bengtsson So I thought for a while, but now I'm more convinced she did it plainly for showing her skills as "The Best in Class". Btw, the other panelists often knew who was in town, and guessed the MG quite fast, but still had some rounds questioning, "just for the show". This is something Bennett admitted in a radio interview (it's here on KZbin) after the original WML ended. :) Here's a link to one of the uploads : Bennett Cerf - Oral History - Notable New Yorkers - Part 1

[@romeman01]

I am fully persuaded that Dorothy did not suspect it was Godfrey until Bennett Cerf said "Godfrey" in a stage whisper just before Arlene guessed Dave Garroway. Dorothy was earlier convinced that it was Jack Benny's tenor Dennis Day, when she was asking if he worked with another very famous person and asked if he ever talked (Day performed as both a singer and a comic on Benny's shows). And her hunch was a good one, because Godfrey's disguised voice could indeed have been that of Dennis Day.

[@Beson-SE]

SuperWinterborn I've listen to Bennett's memories. They provide so much to the World of WML. It's been a while since I heard them, time to listen again! I remeber he said that they had agreed on if they knew who the MG was, all four of them should been allowed to ask at least one question each not spoiling the fun for the audience.

[@SuperWinterborn]

romeman01 I'll buy that. I could hear Bennett's faintly "Godfrey" around 23:00. I'm not criticizing Dorothy. In fact I don't care. The show was brilliant anyway, and so was Dorothy. :) Only wanted to point out that Godfrey knew she knew, and he can't have been the only MG who found out that either Dorothy, (for the most) or another of the panelists had already guessed them. DK had a tendency to go on, though. ;)