What's My Line? - Dimitri Tiomkin; Shelley Winters; Martin Gabel [panel] (Dec 9, 1956)

NOTE: This is the first show with Martin Gabel on the panel. Gabel was married to Arlene Francis and had quite a distinguished acting and producing career of his own before becoming a fixture on WML (he made well over 100 appearances). No wonder he became such a fixture: Gabel was one of the very best of the guest panelists, charming and witty and quite good at the game itself.
MYSTERY GUESTS: Dimitri Tiomkin [famed Hollywood composer]; Shelley Winters [film actress]
PANEL: Arlene Francis, Martin Gabel, Dorothy Kilgallen, Bennett Cerf

[@stuartharris2165]

Can't believe this was Martin's first show, he was so good at the game from the very start. No wonder he clocked up 112 appearances on the panel.

[@elidaze5868]

Arlene is the funniest regular panelist in my opinion. In fact, I think she's the most consistently funny and fun panelist ever on the show.

[@ginnylorenz5265]

Dimitri Tiomkin......creator of magical music. Tremendously evocative music.......a tremendously valuable part of any movie he scored.

[@yatinexile7144]

🎶 Rollin' Rollin' Rollin' Rawhide! 🎶

[@mtnman6557]

Don't forget Rio Bravo! *it gets my vote for not only best western, but best movie -> it had everything; story, action, humor & great musical score + the singing talents of Ricky Nelson & Dean Martin (hit was My Rifle, My Pony & Me)

[@hopicard]

I am surprised that it took so many years until Martin Gabel was invited as a panelist for the first time! He was very smart, especially in this episode.

[@WhatsMyLine]

Gabel was a wonderful panelist, I agree. I was also surprised to see he hadn't been on earlier. But they sure made up for lost time by having back so frequently from this point on.

[@Beson-SE]

What's My Line? Just a few weeks before this show, Tony Randall made his debut on WML. Martin and Tony would be the two most frequent guest panelists.

[@brookehanley3659]

Tony was the male Dorothy Kilgallen. Played seriously and to win.

[@Bigbadwhitecracker]

Martin made a fantastic debut!

[@tessar.9779]

I recently read that Mr. Gabel was put on the Red Channels list (among many many others, so I‘m not sure how valid my theory here is ;)), an extension of Hollywoods Black List. Maybe that could be why he never appeared before? Anyway, I am glad that they decided to invite him on the panel more frequently. The episodes with him and Arlene are always my favorite. They seem so comfortable around each other (except of course whenever Arlene makes some of her remarks that make Martin blush, even through the black and white screen :D).

[@joncheskin]

Dmitri Tiomkin is an amazing musician--Russian genius like Shostakovich or Rachmaninoff. His score for The High and the Mighty was so good that I found myself listening to the score and ignoring the movie.

[@susannahwhite7561]

El Did and many others!

[@WAL_DC-6B]

The score for "The High and the Mighty" is a beautiful melody, but the words written for it somehow fail to achieve the same level of enjoyment.

[@Brad4Ellis]

I refer to Dmitri Tiomkin as “Shostakofiev.”

[@perfumeaddict1204]

The Green Leaves of Summer by Dimitri Tiompkin was the first piece of music I ever learned to play.

[@paulamiles9559]

That's a beautiful song. What's your instrument?

[@JayTemple]

Fun fact about Dimitri Tiomkin: John Ritter owned a copy of the sheet music to "High Noon" signed by Mr. Tiomkin. His father Tex recorded the song for the movie.

[@MrWindermere123]

Martin Gabel is or was a small man but with a deep, resonant voice which must have been the product of voice training and projection during his acting work. He has a genuine affection for John Daly without going in for the boyish teasing that Bennett Cerf enjoys. He also knows when to shut up and let the others take their turn, a welcome talent after Fred Allen's mutterings.

[@johnjaybonstingl9007]

Hey! I liked Fred.

[@jadeshannon5583]

I love Shelley Winters.I really beleive she is just as beautiful with her personality as well as her looks.She was an incredible actress too. fan always

[@susanb2015]

She had a terrific personality!

[@mtnman6557]

She was perfect in her role in Winchester 73

[@Merrida100]

Arlene is just one of the most loveliest people I've ever had the joy of seeing. She's stunning, just absolutely gorgeous, and she always and without fail conducts herself impeccably and beautifully. She's perfection in every way.

[@maggiejohnson5891]

She was also very rude to her husband and treated him like a child. No. Not perfect

[@perfumeaddict1204]

@@maggiejohnson5891 Never seen that on hundreds of these programmes

[@beebee46321]

I think Arlene Francis is absolutely gorgeous and funny. You can tell that Martin and Arlene also have a loving relationship

[@hizgrase]

What a sweet little humble man. (Dimitri).

[@WmGood]

At the end, John asks for Red Cross donations for Hungary which is in the midst of an ill-fated revolt against Russian rule. As a result of that terrible situation of 1956 we, the United States were fortunate to have acquired a number of Hungarians who fled to here and overall they are outstanding citizens who contributed much to our country.

[@mcrp_]

Tiomkin, one of my favorite composer of film music and Winters was beautiful in Saskatchewan with Alan Ladd and in the Poseidon Adventure was still acting incredible!

[@biggerthanacadillac]

What a wonderful window into a bygone USA was this delightful programme. The ladies, SO feminine and All so genteel, especially John Daly......a paradigm of manners. How standards have plummeted.

[@laurahoward5426]

I liked the way you lumped John Daly in with the women😁

[@charliecrouton9164]

John Daily is a master at taking charge and an absolute genius when it came to time keeping.

[@battlegirldeb]

Watching this episode made me look up what play Shelly Winter was in back in 1956. This one of the things I like about these old show they lead me to other things I never seen before!!

[@Brad4Ellis]

Did you find what I found? Following Hatful Of Rain, she opened Girls Of Summer by N Richard Nash on Dec. 9th, shortly before this broadcast.

[@Brad4Ellis]

PS: I think Sondheim wrote the title song.

[@ToddSF]

From Bennett's remark during the introductions, I gather this episode represents Martin Gabel's first appearance as a guest panelist on WML. He would prove to be the most guest panelist who appeared most frequently during the entire run of WML. I actually have enjoyed seeing his guest panelist appearances -- nice to see Arlene Francis and Martin Gabel appearing together. They clearly loved each other, nice to see. Arlene wore that diamond heart pendant often for a reason -- Martin's gift to her.

[@rogeroge50]

Arlene was never inhibited being next to Martin, which I enjoyed immensely.

[@bobtaylor170]

Dmitri Tiomkin was so ingenious. A Russian native, he could write something like "A Time to Remember," which sounds more haunting than any actual mid 19th century American ballad I can think of, yet which still retains a subtle Russian quality. Somebody whose work I admire very much.

[@sagarsaxena6318]

"What do you mean 'Good night' "? damn that was witty.

[@preppysocks209]

The year before this appearance, Shelley Winters made "Night of the Hunter," the only film directed by the MG of two weeks earlier, Charles Laughton. He had helped her act earlier in her career, as well as her costar, Robert Mitchum. On youtube, you can find interviews of Shelley Winters offering her high opinion of Laughton as a director and what a great experience she had making that film.

[@quizmaster85]

Right from the get-go, Martin Gabel showed his worth as a truly amazing _What's My Line?_ player.

[@Beson-SE]

Dimitri Tiomkin studied harmony and counterpoint with Alexander Glazunov at Saint Petersburg Conservatory in Russia, and piano with Ferruccio Busoni in Berlin. www.dimitritiomkin.com/ Mr Tiomkin repeats the speech he gave at the Oscar Awards in which he didn't want to thank his producers or directors since he considered them almost his enemies. Instead he thanked all of the earlier composers who had influenced him in writing music; Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart, Johann Strauss, Richard Strauss, Oscar Straus, and ca 50 more names. 9:39

[@josebelindo1641]

10:12

[@josebelindo1641]

Prokofiev said everybody at the conservatory was an idiot compared to himself including the teachers

[@jennybrown75]

Those pearls are very becoming to Dorothy. I searched for a picture of her with red hair but didn't come up with anything, so I'll just have to imagine. The fashions are not the least of the many fascinating aspects of this show for me - if I can't see them in color I'm happy now to be able to observe them at least briefly at the introductions. If Dorothy and some of the other panelists would only stand still there for just a moment!! Always on the go, those ones : )

[@loissimmons6558]

+Jenny Brown I was immediately taken by the beauty of Dorothy's pearls. A few weeks earlier, she had on a single strand metallic necklace that hung down way too low and didn't work well. She would have done better to double it up at two lengths. But her pearls tonight were exquisite and accessorized her gown perfectly.

[@poetcomic1]

"I'm from San Francisco." "Oh, you lucky person, what a beautiful city." Sigh.....

[@janetmarletto6667]

San Francisco was fantastic in the 50's and 60's. Such a beautiful city!

[@laurahoward5426]

Back when San Francisco was HEAVEN🥰

[@Beson-SE]

Arlene: I'm sorry. I am not paying attention to you Martin, just like at home! 15:30 I am so glad Martin Gabel finally has joined the panel and he guessed the bookmaker and that the MG was Shelley Winters! :)

[@loissimmons6558]

That line by Arlene was a funny one, as was Martin at the end when he said to Arlene, "What do you mean, good night?"

[@kenretherford1197]

Why did Arlene marry a dork like Gabel?

[@greydogmusic]

why do you think he was a dork? He had a pretty varied career. I would say succesful, and he knew his legacy, "In 'Who's Who,' you'll find me in the Fs--married to Arlene Francis," he once said.

[@suible]

KEN RETHERFORD let's see, he is charming, supportive, loving, intelligent, witty, etc. Oh, he is not great looking. Shrug. Priorities. He is one in a million.

[@loissimmons6558]

I enjoyed Martin Gabel on the panel. IMO, the negative remarks I saw about him on previous episodes (in anticipation of the permanent guest panelist slot) were unfounded. If what I have read is true, that this show grew out of parlor games that were played in the homes of some of the long-standing panelists, it isn't surprising that Martin Gabel would be comfortable with playing the game. No doubt, he also watched WML and Arlene whenever he could.

[@rogeroge50]

It took me awhile to appreciate Martin.

[@jools01]

15:32 “martin i’m not paying attention to you, it’s just like at home” 😂

[@constantreader7944]

Shelley Winters was so damned gifted an actress. Watched Lolita recently. Oh, wow, off the hook!

[@fshepinc]

The play that Shelley Winters was in was The Girls of Summer, and the incidental music she mentions was by Stephen Sondhiem.

[@bethe192]

I like Arlene. Alot. But i cant quite figure out how her face looks older? albeit still lovely...than the rest of her ?? Could it be the makeup and hair of those times?? Even my beautiful mom, looked 20 yrs younger in the 60s than in her younger days in the 40s. LOL. Fun times, no matter when tho. I miss these people, the class, the elegance -- just too rare now. I so loved her pendant when I was a little girl. One Christmas, dad stuck an imitation version in my then 8 yr old's stocking. Man. That holiday was MADE. Miss you Arlene, et al. 😘

[@sansacro007]

Arlene's dress is a knock-out. The best of 50's style. Gabel such a class act and I've always thought unexpectedly attractive.

[@vbacs22]

24:17....my god, that was unexpected. John Daly mentioned my nation, what an honor! Good old 56', in December it was already too late to do anything.

[@Beson-SE]

The world was watching and no one came to your support. Unbelievable!

[@LarsRyeJeppesen]

Johan Bengtsson That would have meant ww3

[@loissimmons6558]

+vbacs22 Always good to meet a fellow Magyar. My maternal grandparents came to the U.S. from Hungary through Ellis Island at the end of the 19th/beginning of the 20th century. And when I was 4 years old, I had three adult relatives (cousins and one spouse) who came here in 1957, managing to escape after the Soviet Union put down the revolution. By December, it certainly was too late to do anything other than send relief aid. We can long debate but never know what would have happened if a strong show of support had been extended to the new Hungarian government at the end of October when the initial Soviet response was to back off and perhaps even withdraw their troops. Alas the uprising, which was totally spontaneous at the beginning, was ill-timed, occurring just before the U.S. Presidential election and when the world situation was already a sticky one with the Suez Crisis ongoing. In the same manner, many reasons have been put forth as to why the Soviet Union leadership reversed course from backing off to forceful intervention. If we don't know for certain what caused them to change policy 180º, it is hard to say whether a strong show of support by the U.S. and NATO would have caused the USSR to back off further or escalate tensions with a stronger response on their part.

[@keithnaylor1981]

Arlene at her wittiest!!! In the years after this show Dimitri Tiomkin wrote the very moving theme for The Fall of the Roman Empire, 1964, as well as music for The Alamo, 55 Days at Peking, and many other movies.

[@leannsherman6723]

Shelley Winters did her own swim scenes in the Poseidon Adventure.

[@Finians_Mancave]

Did Tiomkin say he was a member of the Friends Society? That's another name for the Quakers. That certainly adds another dimension to the fact he wrote the scores for both Friendly Persuasion (about a family of Quakers) and High Noon (the Grace Kelly character is a devout Quaker who threatens to leave her husband as he faces a showdown with the outlaws).

[@WmGood]

No, Mr Tiomkin was Jewish from the Ukraine. A genius, absolutely no doubt about that!!!!!

[@michaelclark6223]

I believe he said he was a member of SESAC, instead of ASCAP or BMI.

[@laurahoward5426]

Shelly Winters, 2 Oscars❤

[@drumbum3.142]

I'm Honestly (QUITE) Surprised they weren't blindfolded for Cheompkin.. o.O (i.e. rather STUNNED.. ...No one Recognized him.. O.o)

[@juliansinger]

Mrs. Hemphill was related to (in some way-- possibly/probably married to) Edward Hemphill, the sleep mask guy on the Oct 9, 1955 show. She has a 1962 trademark on a sleep mask, actually. (Gabel being part of the Easy Aces & Wells Mercury Theater crews does rather explain why I found his voice vaguely familiar.)

[@laurahoward5426]

I loved FRIENDLY PERSUASION

[@lilybean835]

It's always such a shame that after all these years, they still never balance the time out and that poor last person gets rushed about. John may say 2.5 minutes but they're lucky to get 60 seconds. They never fixed that problem.

[@WhatsMyLine]

I totally agree!

[@leannsherman6723]

What a sweet man that composer obviously was…

[@sanseifromkofu728]

I feel like there wasn't much screen time for Dorothy in this one, which is unusual.

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

Odd that Arlene's husband was there, and it was one of the times when she didn't wear the heart necklace.

[@TheBlackhawkbrat]

I noticed that too. It certainly would have been especially appropriate for her to wear it that night.

[@bigwilson8794]

I've been watching so many of these that I am beginning to know the audience members. I've already commented on the "laugher"(also heard on many of "The Honeymooners"), but I would like to know more about the female who says "Yay..." all the time (e.g. 17:49 in this episode)

[@suzycreamcheesez4371]

+Dick Wilson Like Lucille Ball's mother said "uh oh".

[@garyzerr9821]

Dick Wilson I am convinced this is a child, either of the panel ( Dorothy maybe because this voice is loudest when she enters) or a production person who brings their child. This starts in late 1955 and is loud enough that Tong Randell made a comment about it at his debut on the psnel

[@lliamjurdom9505]

A young Shelley Winters !!!!

[@mistiinseattle]

Yay keep em coming :) and LOL I do the same thing Debra said... google on the contestants and panelists.

[@WhatsMyLine]

Don't worry-- There will be two a day for many more months to come!

[@stephaniemccoy9602]

What's My Line? yay :)

[@sandrawallin3832]

What's My Line? I certainly do appreciate these uploads. I am 51 and had never heard of this show, now I think I've watched at least 100 episodes. It's very entertaining, the panelists and Mr. Daly are so well spoken, making poetry of the plain English language. Love the clothes, hair and makeup styles of Arlene and Dorothy.

[@WhatsMyLine]

Sandra Wallin It's an extremely addictive show. There's a ward at the Betty Ford Clinic for WML addicts. Glad you're enjoying the videos. :)

[@rangerboy7877]

dororthy looked good tonight, her hair was nice.

[@ANTINUTZI]

... Tiomkin composed some of the most terrifying music for what is considered a breakthrough American film. Quite resonant of Bartok.

[@williamdunphy352]

Hal Simms is the announcer.

[@kenshiloh]

Tiomkin is too over the top for some. I think he is great. A favorite is the opening scene to DOA, but he is great throughout.

[@fshepinc]

Heavens, what a typo! Stephen Sondheim!

[@patrickryan1515]

Never a big fan of Ms. Winters, but I did enjoy her appearances on "Roseann".

[@hopelewis5650]

The song Green Door was on the flip side of Love Me Tender.

[@davidsanderson5918]

Martin Gabel came on stage but didn't acknowledge or look at his lovely wife Arlene at all. That takes some doing,

[@taboracho621]

I admire Dorothy she's very smart but why is she always butting in. The rest of the panelists deserve their own time to be funny etc. Sure we want to see if they guess their line but we want to have some fun in the process.

[@rogeroge50]

Sometimes serious is fun to some!

[@maggiejohnson5891]

He looks like a bookie

[@paulamiles9559]

Geez Louise- how does Martin get it right b4 the panel even gets out 4 questions,?

[@jennybrown75]

Alas, I am quite ignorant in regard to the subject of nightcaps (as wearing apparel, that is ;)) so I am curious as to why or how the second contestant's occupation was specific to bald-headed men. Might they require one substantially different from non-bald-headed men?...Hmm....Extra "grippage" perhaps?

[@JackDecker63]

+Jenny Brown From what I understand, it is the shape of the cap. Most bald men like the cap only to cover their baldness and not any of their hair so they don't sweat on their hair part. I was with a bald friend once and he shopped for such a thing. He tried on all types to find the one that most matched his bald spot.

[@jennybrown75]

How interesting! I would only describe someone as bald if they had no hair at all, such as Yul Brenner or Patrick Stewart, so that may explain my "puzzlement". Thank you for clarifying!

[@JackDecker63]

+Jenny Brown Yup, they can have hair on the sides of their head and none on top and still be called bald. A lot of men these days simply go full bald when that happens.

[@loissimmons6558]

+Jenny Brown I am assuming that bald men would be more likely to feel a draft of cold air (which is what made it a somewhat seasonal product) than men with a full head of hair or women.

[@laurahoward5426]

Warmth....

[@kenshiloh]

"Now, ladies and gentelmen, here's Elvis doing, "Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin'" Um, no.

[@MrYfrank14]

why did bald-headed men need night caps in 1956?

[@mcrp_]

To not head freeze

[@laurahoward5426]

Warmth

[@JuroJack]

What’s this about a revolution in Hungary?

[@nomerson]

Cd

[@kelhapam]

they always ask the women if they are a Miss or Mrs....but never ask them men if they are married.

[@ladya1953]

This was simply for precision in address. The catch-all term "Ms." had not yet come to be. And since people were usually more polite in mixed company, to refer to a new acquaintance by his or her first name was simply not done, unless the person requested it. Contrast that with today's informality and over-familiarity. I find the older I get, the more I miss the esteem that we used to afford our elders. Today getting older is deemed somehow shameful; indeed, we older folk are sometimes treated like worthless objects of derision.

[@starababa1985]

Miss, Mrs. and Mr. are courtesy titles. Asking a woman if she was Miss or Mrs. was not necessarily a direct inquiry into her marital status, but rather prompted by the wish to use the correct form of address.

[@laurahoward5426]

Their is no formal address for single men

[@ncooty]

John's appeal for assistance to Hungary is sadly ironic in the modern context of the Orbán regime's creeping authoritarianism, and support for it from the current U.S. administration.

[@peternagy-im4be]

Love the guy.

[@waldolydecker8118]

24:15 Daly talks about Pres Eisenhower's push to get millions of American dollars to the Eastern European country of Hungary, to help fund its rebellion against Soviet/Russian domination. Ukraine engaged in a similar struggle today.

[@lestertm7944]

I know for a FACT that. Kilgallen utters way too many lies about cerf

[@wayneyadams]

I would not want to follow a celebrity, especially if it is a movie or TV star.

[@bigwilson8794]

Personal opinion: not too impressed with Mr. Gable. The put on "cultured" diction and the snobby demeanor. But that's just me.

[@robertmelson2130]

+Dick Wilson Your opinion of Martin Gabel may change if you're watching these in order. A few years later Mark Goodson tells the story that someone, in hearing Gabel's diction, asked him if he were English. Gabel replied that he was merely affected. Goodson went on to say that Gabel was one of the least affected people he'd ever met. Remember that M.G. is by profession a thespian, and that "cultured diction" is what puts food on the table. Also, I've come to admire the man for his honesty and "honor". That's an old-fashioned term, but it's one that Martin Gabel uses and strives to adhere to. I apologize for rambling on about him, but I've really come to admire the man after starting off with an initial opinion probably similar to yours.

[@suible]

Robert Melson Gabel was wonderful!

[@peternagy-im4be]

He may possibly be a Bostonian.

[@rogerpropes7129]

It is amazing how such a stupid program could have entertained so many Americans and lasted so long, rather like tic-tac-toe or poker.