What's My Line? - Bill Cullen; Steve Allen & Jayne Meadows [panel] (Jul 9, 1961)

MYSTERY GUEST: Bill Cullen
PANEL: Dorothy Kilgallen, Steve Allen, Jayne Meadows, Bennett Cerf

[@omargonzalez2641]

Bill Cullen is one of the icons of television history.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Bill Cullen was just about one of the greatest of the MCs, which is a real talent when done well.

[@RonGerstein]

And he suffered from polio as a child, which affected his legs, so sometimes he can be seen walking awkwardly.

[@Steff2929again]

Steve Allen always lifted the spirits. To me, he was the proper fourth member of the panel. Such a smart and funny guy.

[@anneroy4560]

Yes, if one cannot have Fred this Allen is the best replacement ...

[@RayNDeere]

I always liked how Steve introduced Jayne as "Your friend and mine"

[@dpm-jt8rj]

@Steph2929again Steve Allen is a delight!

[@zarabada6125]

@gcjerryusc not sure if you are joking, but they weren't related. Steve's father was Billy Allen. Fred Allen was the stage name of John Sullivan.

[@davidsanderson5918]

Totally agree with the original comment. To me, a great panellist should have the brainpower, resourcefulness and a distinct awareness of professional television etiquette. Too many of the other 'fourth panellists' were self-indulgent, inappropriate or impotent at the game. I appreciate that Tony Randall does a good job and becomes the regular soon but Cerf, Francis, Kilgallen and Steve Allen were operating on a higher collective wavelength. As well as that, NO other panellist matched Allen's wit.

[@christopherwilliams681]

Happy 100th birthday today, Bill Cullen! Feb 18, 2020.

[@lenas5613]

This was one of the best WML's! Steve Allen was his brilliant self, and the stumping of the panel by Bill Cullen was hilarious! He was a great, personable and genuinely nice guy! RIP both men.

[@shirleyrombough8173]

Lena S - My favorite panel line-up is Dorothy Killgallen, Steve Allen, Arlene Frances and Bennet Cerf. I hate to watch the episodes after Dorothy was killed. It was so tragic.

[@alanhumphrey4198]

I always refer to Bill Cullen as "Mr. Game Show"!!!

[@patbest7057]

Agree except accidental overdose more likely

[@richstrobel]

I've watched a lot of the mystery guests and this one is one of the best. That was a very funny segment with Bill Cullen 🤣

[@bluecamus5162]

It was a great episode, wasn't it. Cullen, with his polio and mobility issues, still had such a wonderful career and was able to serve in the Civil Air Patrol during WW2 as a pilot. What a man. And he made a great guest, here. He was obviously loved by the people of this show.

[@philliplehrman8213]

The presence of Mr. and Mrs. Allen marks this as a special episode highlighting (both implicitly and explicitly) the essential family nature of this historical program. They came into our homes and played parlor games and were so much more charming than anyone in the room.

[@Eddie_Schantz]

Bill Cullen was one of the best game show hosts in TV history.

[@rmelin13231]

He WAS the best. The most sought after. The busiest. He was the Quizmaster.

[@BebBeb-xs5oi]

I was born the same day this episode aired. July 9, 1961.

[@savethetpc6406]

Happy Birthday, +Beb7961 Beb7961! :-)

[@vickihshallenberger3644]

Bill Cullen has always been my favorite game show host. He always was very polite and seemed to possess a very nice personality. Rest in peace Mr Cohen

[@chrisneilson7221]

Days gone by for class and etiquette. The men on the panel stood up to greet women.

[@LarsRyeJeppesen]

So good to see Steve & Jane again.. great fun

[@brendacook9277]

I laughed so many times. Steve Allen, so witry, so funny!

[@hairyscotman]

Loved BILL CULLEN....great guy!

[@rogerrobin2774]

Steve Allen was such a huge improvement over that Blockhead Hal.

[@lynettepalecek3141]

Bill Cullen was my favorite panelist on "I've Got A Secret." I always admired him as a panelist and as a game show host. It was awesome seeing him as a Mystery Guest on "What's My Line?" I really enjoyed this show! 😄

[@alfredroberthogan]

I turned 2 years old during the OAD of this telecast.

[@nunosoares2329]

RIP Bill Cullen. Overdue condolences to the family :-(

[@sagarsaxena6318]

13:30 That snorting laughter from the contestant after hearing Mr. Daly's 'explanation' was just hilarious.

[@kevinjohnson4599]

Thank You so very much for posting another wonderful black & white episode of What's My Line with the late great Bill Cullen as the Mystery Guest. I LOVE IT VERY, VERY MUCH.

[@henryfarrell7211]

It was amazed that Bill almost blew it at the end when he gave his voice away but yet the panel still did not guess that was him that was a close call and it was a lot of fun that he stumped them well done

[@rmelin13231]

I thought for sure Steve would have picked up on that.

[@jennjenn61]

Cullen would've been great on WML. anyone who's watched IGAS for any length of time could see he was the best inquisitor/guesser on that show.

[@jmccracken1963]

You're right - however, as someone pointed out in a previous comment, in addition to all of his TV game-show work, he also worked a morning shift on the radio 6 days a week. WML?'s finishing time of 11:00 PM ET on Sunday would mean that he probably wouldn't have gotten home much before 12:30 AM, which would have meant that he would have gone to the radio station dog-tired and thus not at anything approximating his best on Monday morning.

[@tjamodio5254]

In that era Bill Cullen was ..... Mr. Daytime TV!!!

[@pp312]

I was mystified as to who Bill Cullen was as I'm in Australia and had never heard of or seen him before. Seemed like a really nice guy, and despite being 41 at the time he looked like a college freshman.

[@allenjones3130]

Jayne Meadows and Steve Allen--two showbiz icons! And Bill Cullen's falsetto in the MG segment was hilarious!

[@amberola1b]

I didn't know bill had polio as a child, it was really classy of the crew to respect him by not showing him limping and awkwardly trying to walk on and of stage.

[@RayNDeere]

That's why when he hosted game shows, he either was shown at the podium already or they had some setup where the stage rotated and he was seated. Mel Brooks had a story where he saw Bill walk one time and (not knowing about Bill's polio) thought he was being funny and imitated the walk.

[@janeiwasduncan8463]

Several times Bill played for charity and he gave his winnings to the Salvation Army because they helped his family during treatment for his polio. Bless him. Others should follow his great example.

[@richardpoplis6777]

Bill Cullen was a great game show host.. miss him

[@lynettepalecek3141]

@@richardpoplis6777 I agree and I miss him too.

[@kenhenderson1762]

That was why he had to turn down hosting the revived version of The Price Is Right in 1972. The new version required the host to be constantly on his feet. And as we all know the job went to Bob Barker.

[@c0mputer]

Such a fun show. I find myself smiling through the entire episodes, haha

[@5star555555555]

Love to see Bill as the mystery guest!

[@lynettepalecek3141]

Me too! 😊

[@BelievingRebel]

Bill Cullen was awesome! Always liked him.

[@michaelbaucom4019]

Yay, Steverino! Bill Cullen, a great MC. Good shiw

[@cherylcampbell9369]

Here's how much of a nerd I am: Bill Cullen was one of my childhood crushes/heroes.

[@JayTemple]

mine too!

[@danieljudge202]

Bill Cullen has always been my favorite game show host and what a fine man he was and with polio no less!!!

[@soulierinvestments]

Arlene Francis off in Germany filming the location shots of Billy Wilder's "One! Two! Three!" The whole thing got complicated in August 1961 when The Wall went up.

[@donaldleroy6502]

I just 💘 watching these shows, like almost everything before my time these are fantastic

[@kenhenderson7999]

Not many know this, but in his early days, Bill was a sportscaster, doing radio commentary for football and hockey in his native Pittsburgh. In the 1950's, Bill had one of the top-rated morning radio shows in New York. His main competitor in those days was Gene Rayburn. They both went on to long careers as TV game show hosts/panelists.

[@leannsherman6723]

I’m a native Pittsburgher, too. 😊❤

[@anthonycevallos9247]

My little brother was born the next day after this taping.

[@dcasper8514]

Little Anthony ?

[@rarnayro]

Everyone was dressed to the nines ....TO BE ON A GAME SHOW!!! I love it.

[@mshroye2]

Bill is one of my idols right up there with Walter Cronkite

[@badhairdye]

Real gems of people. Cullen was genuinely loved. TFP!

[@karlakor]

I don't imagine that Kellogg's ever imagined that its commercials on this program would be seen again so long after the program originally aired. The company made a better investment than it realized at the time.

[@WaltGekko]

Nor did other companies that were the sponsors. There was likely never the thought these programs would be re-airing 40, 50 & 60+ years later.

[@zarabada6125]

@@WaltGekko except that few of the other sponsors are still getting the benefit. For example, when was the last time you bought a product from Helene Curtis?

[@WaltGekko]

@@zarabada6125 Not the point. The point was no one could ever have realistically anticipated it.

[@zarabada6125]

@@WaltGekko that was the OP's point. You were expanding the point to include other companies that are also getting an advantage long after they would have expected. My reply was pointing out that there are few sponsors, besides Kelloggs, that are still around to receive an advantage from it.

[@JDAbelRN]

And to have the fortune yo keep a highly recognizable logo, such as the " Special K" logos and markings which have remained remarkably unchanged over the years. Much like the trade mark of "Coca Cola " remains the same and instantly recognizable the world over.

[@Walterwhiterocks]

I thought it was very kind and judicious for the director to cut away from Cullen as he walked from the chalkboard to John and again when he left to say goodbye to the panel. Bill had a distinctive limp when he walked, and even though most TV viewers knew that, it was still a kind gesture.

[@lynettepalecek3141]

I agree 👍!

[@tugginalong]

Bill Cullen was awesome. Steve Allen was as well. Jayne Meadows was great too.

[@kenyongray2615]

Jayne Meadows looked more and sounded more like her sister than other times I have seen her. Bill Cullen was great. He hosted a lot of game shows for many years. Notice how the camera did not show him walking. In fact, it was very rare over the years to ever see him walking on camera.

[@allenjones3130]

Indeed, it was rare to see Bill Cullen walking on camera, and that's because he had a pronounced limp due to childhood polio. Luckily Bill overcame this handicap and became one of the greatest game show emcees of all time. Rest in peace, Bill.

[@jasonbeard4713]

It was so classy of them to hide the fact of Bill's infirmity.

[@carollee444]

Bill Cullen was a nice, friendly guy 😊

[@patriciamooney928]

I loved Bill Cullen. He was in at the beginning of TV and made it in game shows. The truth is many of the panelists on these shows have little to no fame other than the show itself. Bill Cullen and Bob Barker have a lot in common.

[@nunyiabidness3525]

Mr. Daly's ability to juggle semantics would have suited him well if he'd been a lawyer.

[@dcasper8514]

Totally agree.

[@JayTemple]

He said he didn't play Password because he didn't want to cost the contestants money. That's a pity, because, with all his creative ways to say "yes" or "no," he would have had some dynamite clues for other words.

[@Dios67]

I love Jayne's cooing when she laughs.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Bill was an MC and it is hard to quantify what an MC does. Master of Ceremonies is not exactly Hollywood sounding. But we all know the great MC's like Linkletter, Clark, and Cullen were great showmen and talents!

[@alfredroberthogan]

TV MC and Newspaper columnist Ed Sullivan as well! A longtime CBS-TV neighbor-hour of WML on Sunday nights via TOAST OF THE TOWN/THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW!

[@richstrobel]

"Well mercy, with those credits you've got to be a television star." Great line.

[@Claptonfan]

I always get a good chuckle when people use the word Scotch, which is the drink, instead of Scott. My nanny was Scottish--not scotch.

[@loveisall5520]

You can see how much more consideration was shown in those days. Mr. Cullen was a polio survivor who had trouble walking and standing and I noticed that they didn't focus on it as you'd see today.

[@bloodgrss]

Indeed...

[@Lorgayle1]

I love Bennet Cerf. Wish I could have known him.

[@josephwilliams3185]

Back then these panelist dress up to the nines!

[@starababa1985]

It was common back then to wear a cocktail dress on Sunday evenings away from home, even if you were of modest means. Ladies of any social station enjoyed a touch of glamour.

[@charlesmeadows6285]

7/9-1961:Bill was a regular panelist on I’ve Got a Secret(CBS)while hosting the original Price is Right on another network.

[@BillyAlabama]

A WONDERFUL segment. Hysterical, start to finish.

[@Anonymouslives]

Bill Cullen seems like a great guy especially in his younger days.

[@LizaLil3]

My grandmother's brother knew Bill Cullen. i have a picture o fhim and my great Uncle Frank somewhere. That's like my only "claim to fame".

[@38ddkelly]

That's pretty cool, Elizabeth! Have you ever heard or read one bad thing about Bill Cullen? Never! He seems like he was one great guy.

[@shirleyrombough8173]

Elizabeth Little -Wasn't Bill Cullen the love of Betty White's life?

[@iammenuru]

Shirley Rombough that was Allen Ludden of Password Fame.

[@shirleyrombough8173]

Thanks for the enlightenment. Guess I got the two mixed up

[@alanhumphrey4198]

That was your " Brush with Greatness" like David Letterman used to do...

[@Nathanminooka]

John Charles Daly mentioned the show "The Price Is Right" on NBC on CBS for the first time before it came over to CBS before Bob Barker and Drew Carey.

[@jmccracken1963]

LONG before it came over to CBS. "The New Price Is Right" made its debut on CBS in the early 1970s. I remember watching Bill Cullen host "The Price Is Right" on NBC, in its original half-hour format, on occasion when I was very young.

[@rmelin13231]

Bill Cullen was the very first host of The Price Is Right.

[@galileocan]

A few notes - 1) Steve Allen is priceless 2) Jayne Meadows eyebrows scared the hell out of me, but she did dress pretty glam & 3) Interesting how the cameras deliberately ensured that Bill Cullen's limping from Polio would not be shown on television......& 4) I just have to mention again that Jayne scared me. Pancake makeup and the biggest eyebrows this side of the Mississippi

[@galileocan]

and Jayne's wig!!

[@galileocan]

She kinda reminded me of Baby Jane...

[@ryan8032]

And she's dripping with jewels!

[@Walterwhiterocks]

But an infectious laugh which I always liked.

[@mercedeslatapie9772]

Ms Meadows does over do her appearance, my opinion.

[@michaelnivens6267]

always liked Bill Cullen

[@orgonkothewildlyuntamed6301]

Jayne several times during Steve's questioning of the dog catcher "purred" so sweet sounding

[@coreybrix1215]

She has the cutest laugh

[@tporchia7751]

I like this episode

[@thamnosma]

I wonder what the most common "line" was on the program? Dog catcher came up quite a few times, bullfighter as well. Quite a few pilots of varying sorts.

[@cherylschaeffer6268]

I remember my dad telling me that as a courtesy the cameras never showed Bill Cullen walking. He had polio as a kid and one leg was shorter than the other so he walked with a limp. Things were a lot different back then.

[@tertommy]

Yup

[@jacquelinebell6201]

Steve was funny! "Snuff said lol.

[@williamdunphy352]

Hal Simms does the Kellogg's ads. Ralph Paul introduces the panel.

[@BillyAlabama]

Bennett’s standard ploy in the blindfolded segments is to ask a question, wait 1/2 second and then say, “I hear nothing.” Watch. Almost always happens.

[@Chuck0856]

Bill Cullen had polio and was in an accident, so the odd cut-aways when he was walking were done out of consideration. Class act in those days.

[@gnirolnamlerf593]

Charles: Yes. It was kind of necessary then. However, my guess is that today, Mr. Cullen would not accept being treated differently from any other panelist or guest, and no one would think it odd or pity him for limping. At the time this was broadcast (I was ten) it was not uncommon for people to see a person limping, or on crutches and say, "Oh, look at that poor man over there," so yes, this was done out of consideration both for Mr. Cullen and the viewing audience, who might focus on his physical disability instead of his outstanding abilities as an emcee.

[@vietdimas8894]

Bill cullen

[@robertmelson2130]

It's great to see Steve and Jayne back. Well, Steve, at least--Jayne looks a bit strange, sort of a sci-fi android look.

[@satori03]

whoever did her makeup did not do her justice

[@jamesfox2579]

@@robertcarran9585 I thought that, as well.

[@jeromonamaddox9238]

So random, but... this is the third episode that I've watched that featured a dog catcher, just today. So random...

[@denisep.2037]

“Are you a comedian?” “No!” Could’ve fooled me! Haha!

[@soulierinvestments]

Part one. He is not the first contestant to appear in kilts. Years before -- the staff had the sneaky idea to havea kilt maker appear in kilts.

[@shuboy05]

Which completely threw off the panel. They didn't guess the obvious until John flipped eight or nine cards. I love how Bennett wanted to ask one more question only for John to cut him off. While I can't be 100% sure, I think Bennett was going to ask what he was wearing under the kilt.

[@neilmidkiff]

@@shuboy05 From the way Bennett was leading up to the forbidden question in that earlier show, I can be 100% sure that your surmise is correct.

[@actownsend7288]

One question at a time people!!!’

[@leannsherman6723]

The best episodes were with Steve Allen. He was funny even when he wasn’t trying to be funny.😂❤ I wonder if Jayne Meadows appreciated his humor the way so many other people did.

[@bloodgrss]

She basically rode his fame for most of her 'career'...

[@COdenameraven123]

Bill Cullen

[@drumbum3.142]

I LOVE his facial Expressions.. (!) 😄😂😂😂🤣😂😂😂😄😂🤣😂😂

[@amberola1b]

about Jayne Meadows, have an original program for the Broadway show " High Button Shoes" featuring her sister Audrey Meadows, and in the stats about her it said she was born and brought up in China and didn't speak English until her parents returned to America. I wonder if Jayne was also born and partially raised in China and maybe also has to learn English like her sister.

[@savethetpc6406]

I think I heard or read about that somewhere as well.

[@loissimmons6558]

+amberola1b Jayne was older and also born in China, so she would have had a similar experience as Audrey. Jayne was born in 1919 and her family moved to Connecticut in the early 1930's.

[@musicaleclecto]

I'm surprised they didn't catch Bill's actual voice at 21:38

[@magnificentfailure2390]

As usual I am half a day late and two dollars short

[@soulierinvestments]

Cullen was easily the greatest game show host of that period -- host of a number of hit game show and short lived shows as well. This episode was made all the more fun in that Jayne Meadows and Cullen worked together in the mid 1950s on "I've Got a Secret." Cullen appeared twice on WML as a mystery guest -- but NEVER as a guest panelist. He would be a logical guest panelist, but why did it never happen?

[@WhatsMyLine]

Bill Cullen has long been my favorite game show host (leaving aside the special cases of John Daly and Groucho Marx). I didn't realize Cullen had *never* been a guest panelist. That is quite surprising, considering how many of the panelists from the other Goodson/Toddman shows did appear on the panel at one time or another.

[@5star555555555]

What's My Line? He was a guest panelist on the 11/19/50 episode, which no longer exists.

[@WhatsMyLine]

5star555555555 Thanks for the heads up on that, 5star555555555-- I didn't take the time out check the log for episodes I don't have.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Bill Cullen was a true wit and deserved to have a better career than panel and game shows. He was a longtime morning man on WNBC radio (NYC) in the 50's and announced many radio shows. I can see him as talk show host. Too bad he never subbed for Allen, Paar, or Carson to see how he would do. He was the thinking man's Art Linkletter (all respect to Art who I am a great fan of).

[@soulierinvestments]

Joe Postove As I recall, he also appeared often and for a long time in NBC Monitor Radio -- as did Arlene Francis and Henry Morgan.

[@poetcomic1]

Jayne Meadows as always over made up, over dressed, over jeweled. Baffling if you have ever seen how absolutely beautiful she is in simple garb and make up with natural hair.

[@benoitpellet1657]

This is true but that was a sort of « look » those days.

[@josephpalermo4538]

Jayne was s big phoney....no wonder she was replacing Arlene Francis....another even BIGGER phoney

[@Walterwhiterocks]

I always loved to hear her laugh.

[@poetcomic1]

@@josephpalermo4538 Let's just say both were rather 'theatrical'.... but the Holden Caulfield word is a bit much as both of them could charm others and make them feel good and at ease. A KIND thing to do and be.

[@YowzaBowzaWowza]

@@josephpalermo4538: go away

[@roberttelarket4934]

John is certainly voluble, drown you in words and will discombobulate the panel!!!

[@poolside123canadian7]

I love Jane’s elegance & brilliance!🥰

[@roseschi4763]

Bill Cullen was from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

[@cinibar]

Bennett askes, "Mrs. Miller. how's business"? Too bad she didn't tell him it was, "RRRUUF"... :)

[@dcasper8514]

Great response..

[@justrelax1539]

I thought for sure that Dorothy would have guessed Bill Cullen

[@morganrussell6783]

I got a secret Bill Cullen I 💖 this show 💖💯

[@scottlevin3966]

I never thought that bill Cullen was a mystery guest.

[@miketheyunggod2534]

Look at that young Bill Cullen. I only know him from The Jokers Wild.

[@49yt]

There is an effort to have a U.S. postage stamp commemorating Bill Cullen. The Bill Cullen Commemorative Stamp Project: billcullenstamp.livejournal.com/760.html

[@WhatsMyLine]

Doesn't look like this movement is going gangbusters - that post is from almost a year ago. It can be really inexplicable what the post office decides to issue a stamp for. There was a big push to get a stamp issued in Jack Benny's honor when, appropriately enough, the price of a stamp was 39 cents, and it never happened. I've been meaning to check out this relatively new book on Bill Cullen: www.amazon.com/Quizmaster-Life-Times-Games-Cullen/dp/159393730X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1401390333&sr=8-1&keywords=bill+cullen

[@booberry349]

Brought to you by King's of Battle Creek

[@jmccracken1963]

Jayne Meadows was a very beautiful and very gracious lady, but I have to agree with a number of comments that, between the wig and the make-up (eyebrows especially), she looks downright hideous on this episode. And that was unusual for her appearances on WHAT'S MY LINE? over the years..... That much said, this was a very entertaining episode. Thanks for sharing these with us!!!!!

[@markstuart6583]

+jmccracken1963 She came across as stuck up to me.

[@geemom04]

Jayne was over compensating for aging, I believe she thought alot of herself, at least she came off that way

[@siggylloyd3566]

@@markstuart6583 you come off as unaccommodating and judgmental. How about that?

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Well, Bill Cullen WAS an MC. Having been a disc jockey, that is as close to nothing as one can get in show biz. But, seriously folks, BC was probably about the most talented man or woman in his field.

[@kentetalman9008]

Jayne Meadows' nickname should have been "Bozo".

[@michaelnivens6267]

I do not want to lead you astray by barking up the wrong tree

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Are we allowed to call women "beautiful creatures" anymore like Bennett did Jayne? Maybe not pc, but a nice turn, I think.

[@gnirol]

Just as long as Dorothy could say the same about Steve.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Well. Are we saying that Steve Allen, as beautiful as he was is on a par with his wife? Today at 112 Jayne Meadows is far and away the most beautiful woman on tv.

[@geraldkatz7986]

Yes you can, but if she takes offense you were wrong in your assessment. If someone else takes offense she wouldn't qualify.

[@disvids8754]

Yes, it's B&W TV, but Jayne's hair certainly appears blond here, when she was supposedly a redhead in earlier appearances.

[@sweiland75]

4:19 he tugs at his bag

[@jimwilliams5565]

Seems like everyone loves bob in those days