What's My Line? - Dick Powell (Nov 7, 1954)

[@art.demirjian9721]

Great pleasure and very entertaining show! 😊

[@Amolibros]

I love it when Re. Blitch told Bennett he could do what he wanted! Got a good laugh. :-)

[@joycejean-baptiste4355]

Yes, I liked that too. But I would be careful pronouncing her name.

[@chuckendweiss4849]

I flew LAX to JFK first class the seat was facing to the rear. We faced June Allison and her kids. As we were stared to land and wheels locked in place. Ms Allison youngest son yelled out We are falling. He got the Look from his mother. We saw his farther at the gate. Ms Allison told us sorry about him yelling Mr Powell smiled at as

[@leahmollytheblindcatnordee3586]

I was also happy to see John mention that it didn't matter whether we were democrats or republicans, we could all enjoy it. Very nice to not have put some sort of bias forward.

[@mtnman6557]

Back when everyone believed in the Constitution* as well as why American was formed in the 1st place (to do away with authoritarian rule!). *except for a faction of pro-Nazis in/around 1939

[@beadyeyedbrat]

I loved Kukla, Fran and Ollie ❤

[@cynthiaharrell2144]

Love Dorothy's pearls.Everyone looked so elegant back then.

[@sherrihinton8567]

I and millions adored Powell.

[@bwayland1290]

DICK POWELL was so funny here. He was such a talented man. His career had many transformations; from Heartthrob Singer in the 1930's, to Film Noir lead in the 1940s,. to Actor, Producer, Director & head of 4 Star Productions in the 1950s. He dominated TV in the mid 1950s to the early 1960s. He died at the height of his career on Jan.2, 1963, at the age of 58, of Cancer. He & June Allyson were a great Hollywood couple ; despite the fact that June thought she might have been in love w/ Alan Ladd. Dick & June stayed together only to face the unfortunate fact that time was not on their side.

[@bwayland1290]

The other Major Players were David Niven, Charles Boyer, & as mentioned Ida Lupino. I recently ran across an item that said Rosalind Russell was also involved in the beginning of 4STAR. Most of the shows are available on UTUBE. Also, in the early 1960s there was 'The Dick Powell Show. ' In the premier of that series, the 1st episode called, " Who Killed Julie Greer ?" Dick introduces a character called Amos Burke,which of course went on to become "BURKE'S LAW." I'm sure if only Dick Powell had lived he surely would have starred in that as well. A little more info. I found interesting was what a major force he had been in the beginning of Steve McQueen's career. I truly believe he enjoyed helping actors w/ their careers. It's such a pity he left us too soon. I believe he would have continued to bring great entertainment to the world.

[@bwayland1290]

gcjerryusc​​ I don't think you are alone in that . Last week I ran across "77 SUNSET STRIP, " it's on ME TV 3AM Central. There are alot of Networks that are aiming at the Baby Boomers now, the newest retired viewers are a big demographic for them. All of these are on Network TV: here's just a few, Movies TV Network ; This TV ; Decades; Cozi TV.; Get TV; Grit TV, (mainly westerns ). I did see Dick Powell's 'Zane Grey Theater ' on this. Last week I discovered a new one called 'Comet ' a Sci-fi & basically campy Horror. Last, but not least, there's BUZZER, which shows 'WHAT'S MY LINE. ' Hope this helps you .

[@MariaPerez-zm6hj]

So sad. They made a beautiful couple.

[@MariaPerez-zm6hj]

I read June Allyson felt neglected by Dick Powell, and Ladd was just a plutonic relationship and didn't last saying the love her life was Richard (that was Powell's name) she went into a big depression when he passed away became alcoholic, later she met the latest husband sobered up and were together for 30 year until her deah in 2006. She said she was lucky she had met David.

[@randysills4418]

There is a wonderful program on KZbin hosted by Burt Reynolds and featured June Allyson, Ginger Rogers, Esther Williams and Jane Powell. Ms. Allyson relates some very funny stories stories which included one about her early relationship with Dick Powell. ❤

[@joncheskin]

Tough for a bunch of New Yorkers to conceive of someone counting fish for a living, but it is actually a lot of fun to visit the Bonneville Dam where they have a salmon viewing area where you can watch the fish go up the fish ladders.

[@Rosarium2007]

And for the record the city she was from is, despite John’s mangling of the name, called Skamania (SKA-mania) and it is located on the north side of the Columbia River 47 miles east of downtown Portland.

[@philippapay4352]

Jonathan C - Bennett travelled the country in his work, as did Arlene and Martin Gabel and others from the regular and semi-regular panel on this show. There are many city slickers still (even in our lack of reading, learning times) in big northeastern cities who are aware of the region in question, have at times lived on the Pacific Rim, know of the unusually violent and beautiful properties of the area where the Columbia River flows into the Pacific Ocean (though we now have a White House occupant who thinks that's a waste of water), and many of us have been to the Bonneville and other dams around the nation. The well-read in the literature of this nation would think of dams as the "dynamos" during an intense period of infrastructure activity. Schools teach about the lock, dam structures, and fish ladder. (There are even those in the megalopolis of the northeast corridor who have friends who all but live in the Clatsop Spit.) Dorothy, a native of Chicago, was the one who was snooty about NY. Arlene was a Bostonian, Martin was a Philadelphian, Tony Randall was from Tulsa, so many on the panel were from other parts of the country, except for Bennett and Robert Q. Lewis in this episode happened to be from NYC. Fran Allison was a native of Cedar Rapids, IA, who lived in suburbs of Los Angeles most of her career. As with all regions, there are those who have expansive interests and the good fortune to pursue them, even if only in books for some, and there are those who choose not to know about anything much beyond their supper platter and the tchotchkes that may be on sale at the local mall. I do not assume parochialism of anyone until I know them. The Pacific NW is a treasure.

[@daler.steffy1047]

@@philippapay4352 I sure hope you know what you're talking about, because I sure don't!

[@philippapay4352]

@@daler.steffy1047 Kind of you to be concerned that I know my own mind and I, in fact, do. If you read to the punctuation and know the episode and prior comments made about it, my comments make perfectly good sense. I am expressing how broad the experiences of the panel were, their varied backgrounds plus how well-educated & well-travelled they all were for both the types of work they did & also for vacationing & visiting diverse areas.

[@libertyann439]

It was a different time when we could just get caught up in the movies and the songs without knowing every detail of their lives. Like a beautiful flower, contact withers them.

[@lauracollins4195]

liberty Ann - Very nicely put, how true.

[@davidsanderson5918]

On the other hand, if we're balanced about it (rather than gorgeing upon gossip magazines like some people) we can still enjoy their magic and mystery in the movies but also appreciate that they were human too if we know their background and what happened to them. In some cases what they manage to do on screen is made even more remarkable if we know how troubled they were in real life. Apart from all that, I had no idea Dick Powell was married to June Allyson! Lovely to know.

[@stanmaxkolbe]

@@davidsanderson5918 I didn't know he was married to June Allyson either?

[@WhatsMyLine]

Glad to do it. There are months more of episodes to come if I keep posting two a day.

[@leahmollytheblindcatnordee3586]

thank you for all of your work.

[@yeahnoonecaresifyouarefirst]

Yes! Thank you so much! I was actually talking about you today how you opened up a whole new world for me.... Like I said in that phone call... Fell down a wonderful rabbit hole and I don't plan on coming out..... That being said, this is the third time I watch what's my line whole

[@ToddSF]

Fran Allison! Of the puppet show for kids, "Kukla, Fran and Ollie" -- later "Kukla and Ollie" after Fran quit.

[@syd8802]

I just love watching these and oh Dorothy 4:50

[@supergristmill6195]

Mr. Johnny O'clock. Dick Powell was a great gangster actor. Love him.

[@loissimmons6558]

June Allyson was one of my favorite actresses of that era, perhaps even on the top of the list. I especially loved her playing opposite Jimmy Stewart. It's not easy for me to identify with glamorous, but I can identify with adorable ... and June Allyson was adorable with a capital A.

[@AaronHahnStudios]

Theres a List!? I like to think of all people as equals.

[@dutchtea8354]

Mrs. Blitch was the 5th known guest to present John with a small gift.

[@rmelin13231]

Love these stats! (I've said that before, I know).

[@WhatsMyLine]

Thanks for the correction, hopicard-- I edited the description. I'm glad you're enjoying the shows!

[@smadaf]

"The nice thing about America is that both-all of us can be happy being Democrats or Republicans." 9:08

[@leahmollytheblindcatnordee3586]

Yes!!!!!!

[@yeahnoonecaresifyouarefirst]

Amen!

[@randysills4418]

Unfortunately, not so much these days. It is a shame that compromises have pretty much gone out of the political picture...

[@Mmdmade]

I espouse to neither so I’m overflowing with happiness! 🎉

[@drsunshine1959]

That was once true.

[@warrenhfrye5218]

It was nice to see a learned and eloquent southern lady on this show.She was cultured and didn't seem intimidated at all by the cast and moderator.

[@gingerhiser7312]

For what it is worth, Mrs. Blitch was a vocal advocate both for women's rights and racial segregation.

[@redcan5254]

Mrs Iris Blitch could light up a room with her charm ... I wonder if she took any heat for that last name ... Iris Blitch: April 25 1912 - August 19 1993 Dick Powell: November 14 1904 - January 2 1963 Jack Walsh (Trenton Strongman): 1929 - June 2 2006

[@TheBlackhawkbrat]

I noticed John Daly pronounced the last name VERY carefully.

[@Mmdmade]

I do not trust her at all. Very insincere

[@GCoop1985]

Ms. Blitch was not a good person...A little research showed during her time in public office she was a staunch advocate of racial segregation.

[@mistiinseattle]

Oh wow that's great! I love these!

[@soulierinvestments]

The year before, Fran Allison and her troupe were involved in an experimental color TV broadcast that also featured Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops. Unfortunately, there would be no way to record live color TV until 1958. Georgia, incidentally, produced the very first female U S Senator, way back in 1922. She was ancient; she served for a day; but it was a start.

[@stephensaunders1845]

Mrs Blick, charming though she may have been, was an ardent segregationist - so she didn't really maintain a progressive tradition.

[@MrWindermere123]

I was curious to know what the Q stood for in Robert Q Lewis - there aren't many male names beginning with Q. After a look at Google, it turns out to be a joke which Robert Goldberg (his original name) continued by saying it stood for Quizzical. The only name I guessed that it might be was Quentin, but I was wrong!

[@floris.927]

i assume this was the first fish counter because there had been a lot of them and the panel became much quicker in nailing their lines afterwards.

[@WhatsMyLine]

I recall seeing a few fish counters over the years, but it's not as if they appeared regularly enough to be obvious to the panel when they did. I think the producers did a wonderful job of mixing up the occupations from show to show to keep the panel guessing.

[@algoritmosalfredohipicasig7116]

Kukla, Fran and Ollie, the panel really misses Arlene in this episode.

[@JanetM-ro6xc]

Kukla, Fran and Ollie wasa childhood favorite along with Howdy Doody! So nice to see Fran Allison!

[@zekezacker9449]

That was probably the most exposure, and on national TV, the Georgia gum turpentine makers have ever had - marketers now can easily convert such exposure to a dollar equivalent of advertising (such monetizing is one of the things mentioned when selling sponsors/ads at sports venues, Nascar, or whatever).

[@blaireholden4]

I love how the men stood up when greeting Mrs. Blitch! Men are nowhere near as gentlemanly nowadays.

[@geraldkatz7986]

Because feminists told them to stop doing it. They can open doors themselves, thank you very much.

[@dinahbrown902]

Not many ladies left

[@dinahbrown902]

A few still do. Women ruined it for those of us who enjoy men being men and women being women

[@beckypatton8557]

I don’t object if a man opens the door for me. I don’t object if anyone does that.

[@beckypatton8557]

I think we should be kind to others. That is what God and Christ would have us do.

[@mistiinseattle]

Thanks for keeping these coming ! :)

[@SheilaB]

Just what was it that the first contestant gave to John? Also, do you think Coca Cola send Bennett a crate or three every time he gives them a name check? He seems to mention them a lot!

[@boognish999]

I think it was whiskey. Coca cola's headquarters is in Georgia so I assume that is why Mr Cerf suggested that.

[@waynehowell6160]

Sheila B Gum turpentine. She said it was her hometown's main product.

[@boognish999]

Well damn, that's not nearly as interesting now. ;)

[@philippapay4352]

Sheila B - Bennett always mentioned the local business and agriculture of a region. So if he had someone from Indianapolis, he invariably asked first if their work was in any manner related to the Indianapolis 500. When folks were from Atlanta, he mentioned Coca Cola because of its being a huge employer there at its HQs. He did this with pig farming in parts of Iowa and aeronautic firms at their HQ locations. He even knew some of the locations of private small aircraft mfg. firms when someone from their locale came to compete. He travelled the country selling books as the head of one of the world's major publishing houses. He made it his practice (and he was a curious person by nature) to learn about the region he was visiting to offer his wares to their local university libraries and even the libraries maintained at HQs of major companies not to mention all the local libraries in neighborhoods of areas nationwide. He was from money. He was an only child. He was wildly successful, so he had no need to polish Coke cans to get a free shipment to his home.

[@WhatsMyLine]

Today's KZbin Rerun for 3/25/16: Watch along and join the discussion! ----------------------------- Join our Facebook group for WML-- great discussions, photos, etc, and great people! facebook.com/groups/728471287199862/ Please click here to subscribe to the WML channel if you haven't already-- you'll find the complete CBS series already posted, and you'll be able to follow along the discussions on the weekday "rerun" videos: kzbin.info/door/hPE75Fvvl1HmdAsO7Nzb8w

[@hopicard]

Thanks for all these wonderful WML-Videos! Just one tiny mistake in the description: It was Arlene Francis missing in this episode; Dorothy Kilgallen was on the panel instead.

[@1928gerry]

Bennett ruined many of a celebrity guest whom he knew personally. He should have passed and let the others have a chance.

[@boognish999]

Totally agree. Bennett was all about Bennett.

[@WendyDarling1974]

1928gerry How many times did Bennett as it he’d just had dinner with one of the guests?

[@TheGreatAtario]

I'd hardly call getting more shooting-the-breeze time with the celebrities "ruining"

[@robertjean5782]

I agree 💯 😊

[@0801Steve]

Too bad Dorothy didn't get a chance to feel Mr Walsh's muscle.

[@anneroy4560]

I love Dick Powell, he could sing, do light comedy & heavy drama ...

[@geoffm9944]

Bennett I think was often tipped off when it came to identifying celebrity guests. Sadly, Bennett’s ‘guessing’ the celebrity after only a matter of seconds ruined the game for the guests and the audience.

[@MBSPUHR842]

I mean, if you recognize someone's voice because you know them personally, shouldn't you disqualify yourself?

[@robertjean5782]

​@@MBSPUHR842Agree 💯 😊

[@44032]

Per Wikipedia, Ms. Blitch "was a vocal advocate both for women's rights and against racial desegregation.....A staunch segregationist, in 1956, Blitch was among the 95 Southern senators to sign "The Southern Manifesto" in oposition to the Brown vs. Board decision. (Wikipedia meant Congresspersons, not Senators). of course, you could hardly have been elected to Congress in Georgia in 1954 if you didn't share that point of view.

[@libertyann439]

Democrats aren't what they used to be.

[@rebl1128]

Came here to say this.

[@erichanson426]

@@libertyann439 yeah it does seem like Democrats are a totally different set of people than they were 60 years ago

[@preppysocks209]

I don't know about House members, but there were 3 Southern senators, all of whom were reelected, who refused to sign the Southern Manifesto: Lyndon Johnson, Albert Gore Sr, and Estes Kefauver. Most Southern members of Congress from 1954 did not later switch parties when Barry Goldwater ran for President, but Mrs. Blitch did. Being pro-women's rights and anti-Black was an unusual combination for 1950's politicians.

[@dutchtea8354]

@@erichanson426 Now different than they were 10 years ago.

[@galileocan]

Iris the Congresswoman must have been so grateful for the letter "L"

[@dinahbrown902]

👍

[@Jay-j4w3x]

Cerf....Mr. Killjoy

[@ggsilik5577]

Surprised there aren't any comments about Robert Q Lewis not shaking the second challenger's hand.

[@donaldcasalone4243]

Two days after I was born

[@davidsanderson5918]

When does this guy with the big laugh in the audience go home? 1955 by any chance?

[@davidarcudi230]

I don't know if it's a rug...but Powell had some great hair

[@robertjean5782]

Toupee 😊

[@larryeagleson3182]

Dick Powell did not wear a toupee.

[@soulierinvestments]

Fortunately, the U S representative was not running in 2016 or her last name would be irresistible to the opposing party. I am trying to figure out what New York sophisticates would do with turpentine. You cannot mix a cocktail with it

[@brucec6095]

+soulierinvestments I would like to have seen what Fred Allen might have done with her name.

[@philippapay4352]

soulierinvestments - If they could not mix drinks with the turpentine and probably would not use lard in cooking, maybe they could mix the two and come up with a chest rub for bad winter colds. Though, I suspect they had painting supplies in their basements, so could have employed the turpentine with them, if it were the correct type of turpentine. I don't imagine with kids who had school projects and such that they would have been bereft of such supplies and only considered painting when they had to call the contractor for the new dining room decor. Maybe their household help could figure out a good, non-poisonous use for it.

[@philippapay4352]

@@brucec6095 I adored Fred Allen. Yes, John Florence Sullivan would have had a good time with her name and it is one of the few things I did not like about this show. I was reared that it was way off base, beyond the pale to make fun of someone's family name or even their given name. It becomes an identity marker for most people. Various panelists were inappropriate even with the tribal nation names of American Indians. And John Daly almost never managed to call anyone by the name they presented themselves as. He called a Joe, Joseph, and he'd call a Joseph, Joe. He had to act all the time as though he knew some personal preference of theirs that only the initiated knew. He did this especially with guys.

[@atronish]

ABOUT LAST CONTESTANT, JACK WALSH: www.nysun.com/obituaries/jack-walsh-77-worlds-strongest-man/34735/

[@joycejean-baptiste4355]

Robert Q Lewis said an interesting occupation for Mrs. Blitch.

[@ryanschroer]

I love Bennett's comment. I can't say what her relationship would be to Bob. Bob was gay, hmm..wonder what that would have been?

[@darleneofthetallpines5742]

I assume that was Bennett's way of almost calling Bob a son of a blitch.

[@robbob1234]

@@darleneofthetallpines5742 You KNOW he wanted to say it! Probably weighed the pros and cons for quite a few seconds before easing off. LOL

[@darleneofthetallpines5742]

@@robbob1234 For sure!! LOL

[@darleneofthetallpines5742]

And it would have been one of Bennett's best quips ever!

[@hot88s18]

Did anyone notice Dorothy addressing "Mrs. Bitch" at 4:58 ?

[@jennybrown75]

I've noticed that many contestants as well as mystery guests repeatedly lick their lips - from nervousness I'm sure - but the manner in which Mrs. Blitch did just drove me crazy!

[@dutchtea8354]

She stuck her tongue out 14 times that we could see on camera.

[@fosbury68]

Skamania, WA

[@soulierinvestments]

The panel over the years occasionally got small gifts -- but this is the only time I remember Daly getting something combustible. I wonder what modern political opponents would do with her last name in a campaign.

[@loissimmons6558]

Fortunately John didn't drop the bottle. In addition to being combustible, it is also flammable (the two are similar but not the same) and an irritant to those who breathe its fumes, especially for people with asthma and other breathing issues. Ironically, in small amounts as part of an overall formula, it is used in products like Vicks Vapor Rub. It's one of those examples that if a little something is good for you, more of it isn't necessarily better for you.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Mrs. Blitch was a charming woman!

[@dnhy7951]

Waal, she was also a segregationist.That isn't so charming.

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

CONGRESSWOMAN (JUST ELECTED) COUNTS FISH IN COLUMBIA RIVER PROFESSIONAL STRONGMAN

[@peternagy-im4be]

Please remove this complete and utter troll from the comments section.

[@beadyeyedbrat]

Dick Powell died much too young 😢

[@JamesRichards-mj9kw]

Hardly.

[@rickcharles5064]

What "special training" do you need to be a strongman?

[@loissimmons6558]

Physical training: lifting weights, etc.

[@Merrida100]

Actually, if you're lifting the amount of weight he is, you *do* need special training indeed.

[@MrRwk314]

Strength

[@WendyDarling1974]

Rep. Blitch is so charming and was indeed a pioneer. Too bad she was a segregationist. :(

[@Baskerville22]

The first guest, Mrs Blitch, looks a lot like Margaret Mitchell. The 2nd guest, the fish counter.....said there was a "product". Clearly counting fish is a SERVICE.

[@bneale]

June Allyson was having an affair with Dean Martin and Alan Ladd during this time.

[@accomplice55]

I understood that her affair with Dean Martin was in the 1940s.

[@rezzer7918]

Watta buncha arrogant ah's

[@boognish999]

"You do not work for a profit-making organization?" asks Robert Q Lewis. What an irritating question! Why repeat what was already established?

[@dutchtea8354]

Fred and Bennett both did that often, too.

[@thesweeples3266]

I guess because he was not perfect

[@MrJoeybabe25]

All those ladies wearing gloves! You'd think there was an epidemic or something!

[@hopelewis5650]

Not everyone had access to a mani/pedi. Gloves were acceptable.

[@kristabrewer9363]

She' gets paid counting fish in the river?! What kind of a JOB is that?!

[@juliansinger]

A specialized one. "The Corps is required under the Endangered Species Act to ensure a 97 percent survival rate for fish transiting the dam," you see.