What's My Line (Desi Arnaz Mystery Guest) (1952)

Arlene Francis, Bennett Cerf, Dorothy Kilgallen, Hal Block

[@randysills4418]

Desi Arnaz and Dorothy Kilgallen knew each other from when he was on Broadway in the late 1930s...Dorothy's husband was in the show that Desi was in called Too Many Girls...

[@ddayle]

I don't exactly recall ever watching this show when I was little. I was born in '64. I believe it went until '67? I probably did see it as a small child. But I'm glad I discovered it here. It was a truly great show. It's provided me with a lit of laughs in the last couple of years.

[@maryzorn3365]

Don’t know where you lived but, as a child in East Texas, we only got one station and it was an NBC affiliate- loved visiting my brothers in Houston to see all the great half hour comedies on CBS and ABC: Lucy, the Real McCoy’s, Stoney Burke, and game shows like WML and To Tell the Truth.

[@lisamoroney3036]

I don’t remember it either - I was born in ‘66

[@nsnopper]

I was born in Feb. 60’. My memory is of the later version of What’s My Line when Larry Blyden hosted from 1972 - 74. It was syndicated, and ran in the afternoon or early evening. The ever delightful Arlene Francis was still appearing regularly as a panelist, along with Soupy Sales. I have no memory of the 1950 - 67 version because, well for 10 years I wasn’t here, I was 7 when it went off the air, and it was on Sunday nights, 10:30 EST. I was subject to parental martial law and an enforced bedtime.

[@monjiaitaly]

I love (loved) Desi Arnez, without him I love Lucy would not have succeeded. IMO

[@janesmith8308]

***** actuallty, it was Lucy who persuaded the producers to use her husband. They did originally want him, but she said that without him, there would be no show. Desi was the brains behind the show, but Lucy ran the roost.

[@monjiaitaly]

Jane Smith maybe that contributed to their breakup. I did hear that he wondered, but having an over aggressive partner might not help and I do love Lucy :).

[@michaelmantle6043]

+Jane Smith If they did originally want him, why would it have been necessary for Lucy to persuade them to use Desi? Proofreading is fundamental.

[@catholicpriest1]

+Jane Smith Lucy wanted to get Desi of the road (with the band). Desi was not the most faithful husband on the face of the earth.

[@jaelredfern7381]

They didn't want Mr. Arnaz because he was Cuban. Desi and Lucy were married for 20 years.

[@poetcomic1]

That walk in front of the panel was vaguely unsettling. Especially with Dorothy Kilgallen looking at your hands. I'm glad they dropped it.

[@karensheline6958]

Me too, it took up precious time.

[@justincraig398]

What?

[@daisyy99]

Love Desi Arnaz and Lucy and whole show. Wonderful band leader! The panel and audience had so much fun!

[@RetroSpectrumEntertainment]

Thanks so much for uploading full episodes of this gem. Back when humans were people.

[@chinor6416]

Sometimes I wonder if humans are more brainwashed now than they were then.

[@leesher1845]

Well said.

[@bkavanaugh863]

Love SEEING THESE WHOLE SHOWS THANKS A BUNCH!!

[@justincraig398]

Dorothy is amazing at this show !!!!!

[@MySpace662]

Desi was able to hide his accent very well, but Arlene was able to read through the lines.

[@TheCometHunter]

Hal Block makes my skin crawl. I was SO glad when Goodson/Todman kicked him off the show!

[@vickihshallenberger3644]

He's creepy!

[@1madDogz]

I think Hal would have been perfect to today’s TV, he just wasn’t appropriate for 50’s TV.

[@lisamoroney3036]

Why was he kicked off

[@lorraineb.4698]

I thought he was fine

[@scotnick59]

THE most beloved Cuban ever

[@jaelredfern7381]

Si.

[@iamintheburg]

Wytheville, VA, had nothin' and no one like Dorothy or Bennett or certainly, never ever like the immortal Arlene : no way and/or how did we have anything other than Sunday night and the show from New York City. We plain folks were entranced by these glamorous, charming, and oh-so-chic persons....how I yearned for a school-free Monday so's I could beg to stay downstairs and watch this program. It improved immeasurably as it went through its incredibly long run of seasons. Until youtube, I could only see these eps if I went to the Museum of Television in New York - and I'd always make the effort to get there when I visited NYC.

[@jetnut89]

I thought for sure Desi Arnaz was going to fool them!

[@MrWindermere123]

Two points about this episode: firstly, the timing was perfect in that the mystery guest kept them guessing for so long that there was no need to bring on a 3rd challenger for 2 or 3 minutes simply to fill the slot in the TV schedules. Often an interesting person was rushed on and off and his or her appearance was wasted. Secondly, a conflict! In Bennet Cerf's comments on the show after it finished, he said that his puns and humour made Hal Block's comedy redundant and that's why Mr Block was dropped from the show. Other people say Hal Block was drooling too much over the female challengers, and this episode shows him doing just that. He had an off-putting habit of rubbing his face during close-ups which other people were professional enough to avoid. Louis Untermeyer was worse than Hal Block for different reasons but the producers were right to 'let them go'. Onwards and upwards!

[@pikemeredith5604]

Desi always reminded me of actor Dirk Bogarde, they could've been related!!

[@karensheline6958]

That second contestant was a lot of fun….as well as with Desi !!!

[@thomasralabate5645]

Have times changed...Bennett refers to Arlene as “girl” and Arlene refers to Block as “gentleman”.

[@shirleyrombough8173]

How embarrassing to have to walk the gantlet and have to answer such personal questions or have their physical person be fair game. I am so glad they discontinued that practice.

[@MustafaJackson]

WHAT'S MY LINE? is one of the main reasons I love 1950s television Game Shows; I however am not a fan of Mr. Block's wit or lack there of and I am pleased that they eventually replaced him on the panel.

[@vickihshallenberger3644]

He's a dirty old man imho!

[@SF1906Survivor]

Very funny 👍. Thanks for posting!

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Ah...the old days when wearing maternity clothes at a wedding would bring a big laugh!

[@donnacook8994]

Desi was hilarious 😆😂!!!!!

[@TheEggplantThatAteChicago]

Nicely put.

[@leesher1845]

Charming woman in the first segment.

[@madeleine9907]

Love it 2020 💫

[@lisamoroney3036]

2022 !

[@georgemartin1436]

2023

[@robadootwo]

Have you ever noticed that Arlene Francis gets about 80% of the mystery guests correct !

[@lauragriffin6512]

I was just thinking the exact same thing.

[@maryzorn3365]

I think it’s because she knew them personally.

[@bemore1134]

Aye-yie-yie-yie-yie.🙂

[@nsnopper]

Oh, that reminds me, I need to run out and buy some Stopette.

[@MrUhwoody]

The lady Marine has pretty eyes.

[@stevekru6518]

In one of Block’s insufferable attempts at humor, he implied he would join the Marines. Can anyone imagine a national crisis so immense the Marines would lower standards enough to enable his recruitment

[@janetmarletto6667]

Obviously not an officer in USMC. Their bearing is evident!

[@jasonburns4071]

Thank Heaven they got rid of the 'Free' guesses. Interesting that the sets were very 'drab.' Almost as if they thought that spending money on a 'bright' set was wasted and that only the panel and contestants were important. It may also have been because the war had only recently ended...well...relatively...and they simply couldn't get hold of decent set materials.These days the 'sets' come with a 'bright colour' warning...or should do...

[@catholicpriest1]

Sets were rather simple in the early days of television... sometimes just a curtain with furniture in front of it. Sets became more stylized and complex in the 1960s.

[@jasonburns4071]

Bob Sewvello Yes. They didn't see the importance of a 'glitzy' set and who can blame them? I get a nightly fix of WML. Sends me to bed in a good mood. The British version...with Eamon Andrews was as dull as ditch-water...The American version had it right once the 'usual' panel was installed. I'm sure you know the panellists I'm referring to.

[@joannsmith150]

+Jason Burns I believe you meant to say "dish water". :)

[@shirleyrombough8173]

Jason Burns - Frankly I could do without the bright lights and bells and whistles if the performers were as talented, elegant and witty as these are.

[@mcmlxii4419]

Given that the shows were in black and white, what else would the sets be but "drab"?

[@Baskerville22]

Block's mind & mouth were always fixated on the physical attractiveness of any comely female guests

[@lorraineb.4698]

Bennett did it too

[@madeleine9907]

John Daly looked old for about 30 years and also Bennett.. Arlene looked younger instead!

[@NJack-uu8ej]

I laughed along with those on the show when Bennett asks the young lady (<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="791">13:11</a>) if it's worn "below the neck" and then adds hilariously, "getting into Hal Block territory!" Block was such a pill-hard to take. Great that Bennett got some comic mileage out of him.

[@Lava1964]

Maybe. I assumed she bought the maternity dresses for retailers. In that case she might just get a commission on any sales.

[@bethearly4593]

I am constantly amazed at how repressed a country we were back then - maybe the whole world. A recurring reaction to all things related to pregnancy, sex, women's bodies, etc was met with great tittering and laughter from the audience while at the same time many statements made by men regarding the beauty and physical attractiveness of women was seen as okay. In addition the whistles and cheers when beautiful women walked on. This is also "sex" related and appears to be approved. It is disconcerting. It is no wonder that women finally got fed up with it all.

[@ncfeline1959]

Love his hair

[@jonnysteele9280]

Babaloo

[@henchyheld3925]

Actually the Second Woman said she's from Forrest Hills Long Island. Forrest Hills is in Queens part of New York. Not Long Island.

[@pattimaeda6097]

Dorothy during the perp walk was bizarre

[@5star555555555]

They won $5 for each "no" they got.

[@suiko2fan2]

$5 then has they buying power of about $50 dollars today.

[@twinsonic]

No shit, Sherlock

[@bettycogswell9851]

No wonder they let Block go....Good riddens...

[@lorraineb.4698]

Desi actually did not have a significant accent when he spoke English

[@orgonkothewildlyuntamed6301]

Madeline Topper you replied to yourself? lol

[@Ulvenok]

If she buys dresses surely she must eventually sell them, if it's a job...

[@shirleyrombough8173]

Dᴀʀʟᴜʀ Nᴀᴍsɪʟʟ - The position of buyer was to try to discern what a store should carry next season that customers would want to buy. After viewing various products in the type of their employer carried they would order or buy it for their employer to sell. People still do that today though maybe viewing the product on line these days.

[@bkavanaugh863]

I found Hal Block funny. I know he was annoying to some though.

[@michaelmantle6043]

+Brooke Kavanaugh Hal Block was a fine comedy writer who worked for some big names in "the business". However, his constant sexual innuendos directed at female contestants were sometimes over the top for the mores of that time, and after numerous warnings he was finally shown the door at the behest of the sponsor.

[@vickihshallenberger3644]

I found Mr Blocks innuendos very offensive!

[@lorraineb.4698]

Me too

[@golden-63]

Imogene "Cocoa"!

[@michaelmantle6043]

+goldenthroat86 In the history of WML, Mr. Cerf mangled the names of many famous people. It always amazed me that a man of his purported intelligence could be so stupid so many times. Priceless.

[@catholicpriest1]

+Michael Mantle A man who built Random House Publishing couldn't be stupid.

[@michaelmantle6043]

+Bob Sewvello Perhaps stupid was a poor word choice. Mr. Cerf displayed his ignorance of many popular celebrities by mangling their names. He also frequently mispronounced names of cities, historical places, etc. He may have been a genius, but was oblivious to many things that the other panel members weren't.

[@WitoldBanasik]

+Michael Mantle Well, on one occassion Mr. Cerf said that whales are both mammales and fish. Some of his remarks was awkward to say the least, but he was a good friend of John Daly and of the rest of the Mutual Admiration Society over there... that's it.

[@lorraineb.4698]

Lol😂

[@tonyhoughton6857]

Brock is married to sable who used to wrestle in WWE

[@nadiazahroon6573]

My dad was good looking like him same hair skin

[@cammpike]

whats this have to do with newly weds

[@JoyfulMK]

This TV show as made at a time when being pregnant when getting married was not socially acceptable. The audience laughed at the idea of a woman wearing a maternity dress for a wedding.

[@Yowza78]

Sometimes Dorothy is so insulting.