What's My Line? - Bob Cummings; Adolph Green [panel] (Apr 24, 1960)

MYSTERY GUEST: Bob Cummings
PANEL: Dorothy Kilgallen, Adolph Green, Arlene Francis, Bennett Cerf

[@sheilamarie3788]

Dorothy is my favorite. She always has been.

[@thunderball6908]

She's really wonderful. I am watching these one at a time while having some health issues and tbh, I am considering stopping at her last episode.

[@horatiohornblower5626]

Respect is a beautiful thing.

[@molliepopp7617]

I've always liked Bob Cummings. I watched his TV show way back when.

[@satori03]

Love that Bob? or My living Doll?

[@robinblankenship117]

Dorothy just nails these occupations! The questions she asks are part and parcel why she was a good journalist... Love this show.

[@username178able]

Love this program!I was impressed with the manners of the panel; Arlene & Dorothy stood to greet the older contestant ( Mrs Luce) They were all so refined; such a pleasure to see how witty, & intelligent they were. Love the banter among the regulars & especially between John Daly & the ever clever Bennett Cerf!!

[@sabinebeyer9249]

This is one of the rare occassions when Dorothy stands up for an contestant. Even higher than Arlene, she came only half up. Usualy its the other way round. Maybe she has higher respect, since she tried to hang wallpapers up herself ;-) I like the way John Daly pay a compliment to the paperhanger Lady. Quite a Gentleman.

[@geraldkatz7986]

The ladies stand when the contestant is elderly or clergy.

[@scotnick59]

Elizabeth Taylor, Andy Williams, Robert Wagner, Bob Cummings, Walter Brennan and Ronald Reagan did my favorite voice disguises in the entire series

[@tomgraves6463]

Art Carney is high on my list of favorite voice disguises... among many.

[@lopa2828]

Rosalind Russell, Shelly Winters, Irene Dunne & Greer Garson

[@nanaberry4120]

Rosalind Russell was great.

[@richstrobel]

Tony Randall was great too. One show inparticular..

[@Baskerville22]

Andy Williams by a country mile. Pat Boone did OK as well. I though Brennan was very 'pickable'

[@sandydog291]

Sounds like one person with 5 heads. I love Arlene.

[@daler.steffy1047]

Mrs. Grace Luce is 74 years old and has been hanging wallpaper for 40 years in her community! Now that is something to celebrate! I imagine that it cannot be the easiest of work, especially if you're working off of a ladder of some sort to reach up toward the edge of the ceiling, before gradually "working down" with the paper, all the while trying to match the sections/patterns of the wallpaper exactly. There is an artist at work! I'm 75 years old, and, presently, it's a challenge for me to walk over to the supermarket, which is a 5-minute walk away. So I commend her for having had the admirable ability and the tenacity to carry through on her artistic endeavors.

[@johnnytheyoungmaestro]

I find it incredible that Mrs. Luce was 74 and was doing all that physical work. I didn't even know what a paper hanger was until they guessed it! How awesome!! :)

[@romeman01]

Don Hewitt, cousin to the first guest, was to become the legendary creator and producer of the CBS News show Sixty Minutes.

[@loissimmons6558]

With the first challenger meeting the celebrities on WML, it was a clear case of Stars and Garters.

[@Kmac005]

Although it has been mentioned before, Bob Cummings was just five weeks shy of his 50th birthday. He was born on June 9th, 1910. But then again the question was whether he was OVER 50 years old, so he had a year and five weeks to spare.

[@noway7555]

This is the first time I have seen John deny the panel a conference. Dorothy was really pushing him on this occasion.

[@juliansinger]

Mostly a time thing. I've seen him do it a few times previously, as well, all due to time factors.

[@brookehanley3659]

She was something to watch on this show.

[@bluecamus5162]

I noticed Dorothy gave John a hard time tonight.

[@orgonkothewildlyuntamed6301]

good to see JCD really getting a kick out of the mystery guest's responses

[@brookehanley3659]

Dorothy looks beautiful.

[@josephschmoe4245]

+Brooke Hanley Yeah, she looks pretty cute here. I was thinking that. She had pretty eyes in my opinion. Looks good here, kind of went downhill towards the mid-60's before she was probably murdered.... and I tend to believe she was murdered.

[@josephschmoe4245]

+Brooke Hanley Here she was about 46 years old at the time.

[@brookehanley3659]

Looking good for sure.

[@lindapolson4102]

This is her best hairstyle.

[@stevekru6518]

Perhaps it’s foolish to criticize the appearance of a long dead, talented and accomplished woman with many laudable qualities, never looked the least bit attractive to me. On the other hand, Arlene, on a bad day, is gorgeous.

[@50n4133]

Adolph Green had been married to Phyllis Newman just three months before this show!

[@brookehanley3659]

Arlene looks at her best here too.

[@karenwayland6563]

Love That Bob was such a hilarious show, Cummings had great timing as a comedian. Very sad how his life ended. Another loss over drugs. He was such an advocate for healthy living at one time. All cause of that Notorious "Dr. Feelgood," who got alot of Stars hooked . Oh & yes I loved PHYLLIS NEWMAN & ADOLPH GREEN. She was always so funny on the talk shows & that laugh of hers was so recognizable.

[@1moredayof]

Bob Cummings was not only a pilot, but he was the very first licensed flying instructor in the US. The man who taught Bob how to fly was none other than Orville Wright. Bob Cummings surely led a fascinating life.

[@1moredayof]

Also, Dorothy really dolled herself up here!

[@lindanitzschke1315]

Did you know that, on his series, he had a car that he could change into a plane?

[@YY4Me133]

@1moredayof According to Wikipedia, Orville Wright did _not_ teach Cummings to fly. "While attending Joplin High School, Cummings learned to fly. His first solo flight was on March 3, 1927. Some reports of his learning to fly refer to Orville Wright, the aviation pioneer, as being his godfather and flight instructor. However, these reports appear to be based on either media interviews of Cummings or other anecdotal references. There is no historical record of Orville Wright having traveled to Joplin, Missouri either around the time of the gestation or the birth of Cummings, or during 1927, the year Cummings learned to fly. Cummings, born in 1910, would have only been 8 years old when Orville Wright had essentially stopped flying on May 13, 1918, as a result of injuries he sustained in an accident at Fort Myer, Virginia, on September 17, 1908. The report that Orville Wright taught Cummings to fly is also contradicted by Cummings' interview reported in the March 1960 Flying magazine. In the interview, Cummings described how he learned to fly "by trial and error, mostly error" during 3 hours of instruction from a Joplin, Missouri plumber named Cooper before he soloed on March 3, 1927. During high school, Cummings gave Joplin residents rides in his aircraft for $5 per person."

[@1moredayof]

@YY4Me133 Well thanks. I don't remember where I read that Orville Wright taught Cummings to fly. I thought it was Wikepedia, but it must have been some other source. Now I wonder if it's true that Bob Cummings was the first licensed flying instructor.

[@robertmelson2130]

I have been reduced to an absurdity. ToddSF 94109 pointed out to me recently that the scorecards for Sunbeam's sponsorship are different from each other, and I've finally, with this episode, enumerated them: ? = percolator; 5 = toaster; 10 = electric frying pan; 15 = refrigerator (?); 20 = electric iron; 25 = percolator; 30 = electric razor; 35 = toaster; 40 = refrigerator; 45 = frying pan; 50 = razor. If you think my doing this represents craziness, just wait. Someone will probably check me on it.

[@ToddSF]

Robert Melson -- Actually, ?=vacuum coffeemaker, not a percolator. Vacuum coffeemakers have virtually disappeared, having been replaced by drip coffeemakers. There are still two or three stovetop vacuum coffeemakers available these days, but they're hard to find. Neither 15 nor 40 could be a refrigerator because Sunbeam didn't ever make major appliances. I can't tell for sure what that rectangular item on the $15 card but I think it might be an electric alarm clock -- that "button" on top is probably the snooze. I did find a picture of a rectangular Sunbeam alarm clock with convex curvature and two narrow vertical panels in woodgrain at the outside edges on either side of the clock dial. 40 might also be an electric clock -- it's almost square -- and Sunbeam had a line of clocks powered by electric motors -- some were tabletop models including alarm clocks and some were wall-mounted. On this one, I can barely make out a frame around the dial, clock hands and numbers and markings, but it could well be my imagination. So here's my list: ?="Coffeemaster" electric vacuum coffeemaker; $5=toaster; $10=electric skillet; $15=electric alarm clock with snooze button; $20=steam iron; $25=electric percolator; $30=electric razor; $35=same toaster as before; $40=electric wall clock; $45=same electric skillet as before; $50=same electric razor as before. The toaster can be seen readily on line = chrome with Bakelite trim and what's unusual about it is that the toast slots are oriented crosswise rather than lengthwise and there's nothing to press down -- you put the bread in and that tripped a wire gadget in the main slot that activated a small motor that would lower the toast comparatively slowly and raise it comparatively slowly when the toast was done. Here's a link to a photo of the model of the Sunbeam "Coffeemaster" vacuum coffeemaker depicted: baharris.org/coffee/Vintage/Sunbeam%20C-40.jpg for those interested. You'll see why it isn't a percolator.

[@robertmelson2130]

ToddSF 94109 I knew you'd referred to it as a coffeemaker in your original post before I made the list, but, for convenience sake, i referred to it as a percolator. Your guess is better than mine on the oblong rectangle (the term I used taking notes)--calling it a refrigerator was to say it might have been an image of a fridge with its door wide open and was merely the best I could do; I knew it was likely wrong. Now, having recognized this as a bootless task anyway, I can tell you that they changed the cards twice within the next 6 months. I have a list of the next set which I hadn't intended to post: there are fewer different designs (the rectangle and the toaster are gone), and only one of the cards (denominations) is the same--the $45 one. I didn't bother to enumerate the third set of cards--at first glance it seems to be a mixture of old and possibly some new cards, the major obvious difference at a glance being the "top" card no longer has a question mark but rather the numeral 0. I also wasn't sure what the image on the 0 card represented: probably a razor, but it was a different image than the previous razor at the least.

[@ToddSF]

Awfully hard to tell on some of those since the images were deliberately pale. I found a picture of the rectangular alarm clock on line so I'm now sure of that one. I found enough square electric wall clocks to think that has to be it for the second item. I may look at the second razor to compare the difference. I note there were men's electric razors and women's electric razors and they didn't have identical appearances since the former were made for beards and the latter for shaving legs and underarms, so they were different. Maybe one is the Sunbeam electric razor for men and the other is the "Lady Sunbeam" electric razor.

[@robertmelson2130]

ToddSF 94109 Could be. I'm done with it. The operative term in my last post was "bootless". lol

[@robertmelson2130]

ToddSF 94109 BTW, According to TV.com Sunbeam ends its sponsorship of WML with the 12/18/60 program, being replaced by Allstate.

[@44032]

I just realized how much Bennett sounds like Elmer Fudd.

[@rmelin13231]

Kind of looks like him too.

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

I enjoy hearing Bennett introduce John Daly as the "panel mawdahwaydah".

[@miketheyunggod2534]

Adolph Green made it to 2002.

[@planetthunderstorm]

Well, Arlene made it to 2001 😘

[@jeffreygrossi2800]

Live a couple miles from Perryopolis , Pa. In Charleroi…

[@jvcomedy]

I don't think this was ever mentioned, but Adolph Green was married to Phyllis Newman who has also appeared as a guest panelist on WML.

[@philippapay4352]

@Jeff Vaughn - Newman & Green were married in 1960, so may not have yet been wed when this episode ran. She was about to get lots of recognition for her acting work on the Broadway stage, have two children with Adolph, and become a semi-regular on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show out of NYC, because they had good chemistry, she was a great storyteller, she had a contagious laugh, and she lived nearby thus was willing to fill in if Carson had someone who suddenly didn't show up. He called on her because they got along well. There was never a night she was on that was not funny. She was up there with David Brenner and Tony Randall as people Carson loved having on due to their humor.

[@jillgordon1003]

For a guy who makes garters, he sure was easily embarrassed

[@janereed1598]

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THAT OLD SHOW. I USED TO CUDDLE UP WITH MY NANNA AND WATCH EVERYONE WEEK

[@josephschmoe4245]

I've always wondered about Bob Cummings since my last name is also Cummings.

[@keymaninmusic]

I have two students named Cummings. One of them is black, the other white.

[@josephschmoe4245]

@@keymaninmusic It's a somewhat common last name I've found.

[@murrayaronson3753]

Whew! Can men use ladies' garters? This was a delicate matter in 1960. John Daly was a bit nervous about that. Times have changed!

[@tattiebogle4976]

Men used to wear garters - not the fancy lacy kind - to hold up their socks.

[@ladya1953]

@@tattiebogle4976 Also to hold up sleeves in office/clerk work.

[@neilmidkiff]

Part of the traditional costume of a "ragtime" pianist includes sleeve garters, too.

[@MrYfrank14]

garters can be used by ladies to sexually excite a man. so the man is using the garter even though he is not wearing it.

[@lopa2828]

In some films I myself see men using them. Even in the film "The amazing mr. Williams" I saw the male character using it when he disguised himself as a woman. And many times I saw Fred McMurry used it and he was not even disguised.

[@Merrida100]

This was brilliant!

[@scotnick59]

Bob actually turned 5O that year...

[@FlavioGirl]

my dad's 10th birthday :)

[@ahmadfadzil4104]

I figured What's My Line can't be done today because there thousands of Celebraties now.

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

MAKES LADIES' GARTERS PAPERHANGER

[@juliansinger]

Just because I like more information rather than less, here's Mrs. Luce's obituary. Also a stylin' slightly-after-the-turn-of-the-century wedding picture. (Very decided woman. Quite enjoyed her (and her massive corsage).) www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=106055369

[@loissimmons6558]

+juliansinger You called Mrs. Luce a "very decided woman." I'm not familiar with that phrase. Can you please define it?

[@debbigray1752]

Thank you for the obituary link. LOVED that her obit photo was with Bob Cummings from her night at WML!

[@terribelbliss9646]

John is testy tonight

[@carolyoung6732]

Terri Bel Bliss I think he still has a cold

[@michaelbyrnee9584]

Dorothy is absolutely gorgeous tonight! She is glowing...

[@kristabrewer9363]

John seriously needs to stop asking the person "with your permission" since he NEVER waits to get a response!

[@preppysocks209]

He is not asking. He is interjecting with a preemptive pardon. Have you heard the expression that I would rather beg for forgiveness than ask for permission?

[@brookehanley3659]

Good epi.

[@depressedhomo9330]

Is it just me or did the announcer sound different in the beginning

[@TheGadgetPanda]

That opening guest was really milking it. Had to have been the longest segment I've seen so far. Funny, though.

[@anneroy4560]

with John's encouragement!

[@lestertm7944]

The first did seem to know his product very well

[@Mmdmade]

This panel never walked outside 5th Avenue 😂

[@shirleyrombough8173]

Bennet continues his reputation as a skilled pun creator: "garter" dammerung. No one heard it.

[@jacklewis515]

At 12:19 ‘and they all moved away from me on the group W bench!

[@CarolAcciardo]

❤

[@davidarcudi230]

A man so fashionable he didn't carry a wallet because it creased his pants

[@Baskerville22]

Poor old Bob Cummings was a methamphetamine addict for the last 30 years of his life and he had several run-ins with the law from the mid-1950s due to his erratic behaviours caused by his addictions.

[@TheBraveIntrovert]

Dorothy was a little snippy and argumentative here.

[@ToddSF]

Purple Capricorn -- Not all that unusual for her, I've noticed. One reason I like both Arlene and Bennett better than Dorothy as regular contestants go is that they didn't take things as seriously and they seemed to have fun on the panel, no matter the outcome.

[@TheBraveIntrovert]

ToddSF 94109 I totally agree. Dorothy was way too serious about the game.

[@brookehanley3659]

She was great. When she was gone the loss was felt.

[@TheBraveIntrovert]

Brooke Hanley To each his own....

[@orgonkothewildlyuntamed6301]

watch a few more episodes you'll see that it was rare when she was anything otherwise

[@JLionelWaller]

"garterdamerung" I wonder how many people today would get that pun??

[@golden-63]

I got it!

[@lilybean835]

I hate the language that Bennett Cerf uses for someone who's supposed to be so educated. He refers to both men and women's bodies as "specimens" and that they look "robust." If it's a fat man he's "robust" but women get the laughter. Bennett refers to women's "chassis" and their figures. It's so awkward and uncomfortable. And he refers to people's careers as their "machinations" or he'll say "when you're done fiddling with it" or something. It's just so very distasteful of someone priding himself on being smart. It's repugnant. I love this show, please don't remove my whole comment just because I point out a few glitches where Bennett behaves horribly. I love every upload and am grateful.

[@Rhonda9199]

Bennett makes me feel uncomfortable sometimes...

[@davidturk6301]

Lily Bean - that’s how it was back then; this not an endorsement just a statement of fact. If you watch the shows that have attractive women guests, you will cat call whistles from the audience, and awkward comments by the panelists and even John Daily.

[@YowzaBowzaWowza]

Lighten up.

[@Mmdmade]

@@Rhonda9199 - you are so correct. On a different episode I wrote that Bennett has something dark about him. And that he is just creepy.

[@hopelewis5650]

Service is applied 14:51 LOL

[@Sam73157910]

Why does Bennett have to ask about a guest's age. He asked Bob Cummings if he was over 50, and Cummings answered no. My understanding is that Cummings was bornin 1908 and therefore was 51 or 52. But I don't think the gueast in suhc situations has to answer truthfully. One panelist nasked the same question of Jeanette MacDonald. When Benntt asked that question, Cummings should have said to Bennett: "Are you over 60?" That maybe Bennett would shut his big mouf.

[@brucealvarez9263]

He was born in June 1910 which means he was 49 when the show aired. He wouldn't have answered "yes" until sometime after June 9, 1961.

[@davidturk6301]

Sam73157910 - you ask to narrow the possibilities. Sometimes they ask if they’re under 30.

[@jacklewis515]

Everyone gott quiet

[@doclawyer]

Bennett's puns were terrible. Garter-dammerung!

[@WhatsMyLine]

Punning is an addiction that, as far as I know, there has yet to be a 12 step program designed for, yet it's an addiction more powerfully destructive than heroin. ;)

[@loissimmons6558]

+What's My Line? Maybe so, but unlike other addictions, it doesn't destroy the user, just those around the user (until I decide I've pun-ished them enough).

[@carolyoung6732]

I still can’t figure out what it meant. Poor John, it threw off his rhythm

[@neilmidkiff]

@@carolyoung6732 Bennett was punning on the last opera in Wagner's "Ring" cycle, "Götterdämmerung" (The Twilight of the Gods).

[@badhairdye]

@@neilmidkiff or "The Garters of the Gods." Actually I thought it was one of Cerf's best puns. Usually they are corny; this one was somewhat sophisticated.

[@yeahnoonecaresifyouarefirst]

Today in no one cares: Bob died a few days before I turned 1

[@satori03]

Bob Cummings was a hoot!