What's My Line? - Dorothy Lamour; Ezio Pinza [panel] (Feb 20, 1955)

MYSTERY GUEST: Dorothy Lamour
PANEL: Dorothy Kilgallen, Fred Allen, Arlene Francis, Ezio Pinza
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[@gingerhaydon4693]

Dorothy Lamour...such class and beauty. I love how Ezio Pinza sang so beautifully "Happy Birthday"to John Daly.

[@1aikane]

Love watching these glimpses into the America that once was.

[@WilliamMurray-lr1bb]

we once had talent and class ...... long gone !

[@1aikane]

@William Murray agree somewhat. We have it now, but those people are shut out of the success today.

[@joncheskin]

Ezio Pinza and Dorothy Lamour give the show even more class than its customary high level.

[@werewolftoby]

“Go, Dorothy, go!”

[@lauracollins4195]

DigitalWerewolf - Yes, ha ha! At 23:25. :D

[@jackkomisar458]

When Arlene Francis introduces Ezio Pinza, she mentions how he enchants people "across every crowded room in the nation." She is referencing a line from the song "Some enchanted evening", which was sung by Ezio Pinza in the musical "South Pacific", which opened on Broadway in 1949.

[@rmelin13231]

I did not catch that innuendo. Good observation!

[@LANCSKID]

Well, now I can bore other people with that ‘fascinating’ piece of useless information.

[@norafakhreddine]

Heavens above, Today's my birthday! Pinza singing 'Happy b.day' out of a sudden has lit up my day for the past few seconds ✨ It felt weird but lovely!

[@icturner23]

What a nice coincidence. I hope you enjoyed your day.

[@geraldkupka8199]

@@icturner23 hi I'm

[@DanieltheTruebadour]

Whereupon she was told, "You can park-ere." (The New York jazz club Birdland was named for Charlie Parker (Park;-ere) known as "Bird.")

[@juanettebutts9782]

Dorothy Lamour had beautiful handwriting! Lovely woman all around.

[@lauracollins4195]

Juanette Butts - I agree. I’ve liked her in everything I’ve ever seen her in. She’s a class act.

[@MyzteriousLadyX]

You brought back memories of my dad. He thought she was the poster girl for Oh La La!!!

[@allenjones3130]

Pinza was another operatic basso who became a superstar. Rest in peace, Ezio.

[@wchumphries]

Loved Ezio Pinza singing Happy Birthday to John

[@zardozyo]

What a voice. John cried a bit, don't blame him.

[@ciroalb3]

Alas, they would have had to pay royalties for that kind wish

[@weldonstevens1165]

Who murderd Dorothy Kilgallon??? About Dec. 1965. There should be a Tribute. She. Was sooo Great 👍

[@preppysocks209]

@@weldonstevens1165 No one murdered Dorothy. She died of an accidental overdose. The Manhattan DA recently reopened the case and concluded after investigation of new allegations that there was no basis to prosecute. Case closed.

[@stanmaxkolbe]

@@preppysocks209 HOOAH!

[@over50andfantabulous59]

At 63 the only shows I watch are from 1980 and lower years at this point. Thank you so much for these uploads. I hit "play all" and that is exactly what I am doing.

[@loissimmons6558]

There was at least one connection between Dorothy Lamour and Fred Allen. In 1947, she emceed a variety comedy radio show called "Front and Center". It was a summer replacement for Fred Allen's show.

[@JustinDesrochers]

Amazing to see Ezio Pinza!❤ Sad that he died not more than 2 years after this in '57

[@FairwayJack]

Dorothy Lamour in the Johnny O'Clock movie was so beautiful

[@jaqatlantic]

Johnny Apollo, rather (I think).

[@brittanypowell8360]

I wish this show would come back. Of course it would not be as good as the original. Very entertaining, I love it.

[@michaelnivens6267]

Just watched Dorothy Lamour with other stars , John Wayne , Jack Warden , Lee Marvin & Cesar Romero In Donovan's Reef , a great movie

[@donnacook8994]

Loved Ezio singing happy birthday to John!

[@LANCSKID]

Thank goodness for the mute button.

[@davidarcudi230]

Are you a glamour girl? Yessssssss

[@jpireri6777]

It's hilarious that John Daly is still referring to the worm episode from so many weeks ago. He must have gotten an awful lot of letters.

[@loissimmons6558]

One might say that it was a steady Diet of Worms on WML. That's quite remarkable, since it had been 410 years since the last one took place, and 434 years since the most famous one during which Martin Luther was called on the carpet by Emperor Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire (and with full agreement of the Papacy) and was declared to be a heretic.

[@jessicaphillips4542]

@Jonny Boy which one is it

[@jamespfp]

It suddenly struck me as I watched the follow-up episode from one week later that ( a ) What's My Line? is "reality TV" in a much more real way than "Survivor" ever was, and ( b ) The pile of letters that the show and Daly got regarding worms is charmingly reminiscent of the billions of characters that have been typed in KZbin comments in the years post 2006. It wasn't only reality TV in other words but also a kind of social media.

[@dancelli714]

As Bennett would say, "Nothing sarong with her."

[@kitcat9447]

You made me laugh 😂

[@leomarkaable1]

From 2023...what classy and beautiful people, never to be seen again.

[@adco]

I like that Fred Allen

[@jerrylee8261]

He's the greatest and the best panelist as far as humor goes.

[@LANCSKID]

It seems that you have to be called Allen to appear on this show.

[@soulierinvestments]

Pinza does even "Happy Birthday" brilliantly.

[@ToddSF]

Ezio Pinza was nearly 63 when he made the instant appearance on WML and still had a great voice. Sadly, he died a little over two years later.

[@rogerpropes7129]

Lana Turner had to kiss him, said he had rotten teeth and Roquefort breath.

[@stevekru6518]

Brilliantly, and possibility illegally, since the song was copyrighted. Did the producers obtain permission to use the song?

[@karenmallonee3867]

Brava! ❤️

[@lisahinton9682]

@@rogerpropes7129 Is that necessary? Seriously, what's the point of such a rude and cruel remark? For all you know family members may see your comment. Plus, your comment is neither useful nor kind, and possibly not even true.

[@Rhonda9199]

This was aired on John Daley's 41st birthday!

[@Paul71H]

Wow, I would have guessed he was in his mid to late 40s in this episode, just based on his appearance. It seems like people aged more quickly way back when. Maybe it had something to do with smoking.

[@lisahinton9682]

@@Paul71H Everrrryone smoked back then, and most men drank at every business lumch and then every evening at home. I remember my dad poured himself a drink every evening and sipped on it while my mom finished preparing dinner. Other kids' dads did the same. I do think the smoking especially aged people, and the almost daily drinking didn't help.

[@otakurocklee]

Damn... he looks much older than that.

[@fdowd5467]

People looked much older due to smoking, drinking and lousy diets. They also died allot younger then todays seniors. I would have taken Daley for at least 50.

[@sw5114]

@@Paul71H He looked 10 years older than that. Smoking was done by very many people in the news and entertainment businesses back then .

[@Sylvander1911]

Second game, Bennett would have noted that they never said where in Vermont he was from, and obviously , had they identified the town it would have been much easier to get the job.

[@lilybean835]

i was thinking the exact same thing. Bennett would have pegged that right off.

[@magnificentfailure2390]

I'll always love this show.

[@garrettmeadows2273]

How lovely!

[@skyedog24]

Dorothy was on point as usual.

[@robertjean5782]

Dorothy K, was a investigative reporter for years 😊

[@sandyschmidt6438]

Awesome show brings back slot of memories, love it

[@piddles11]

Dorothy Lamour is gorgeous

[@krystonjones]

I wonder if John’s epitaph says “I would say this: I am no longer breathing."

[@gregmoorhead7203]

Groo Vin8tor ~ Too funny! Love your comment.

[@esmeephillips5888]

'Within the terms of reference of this program, it could be maintained that I am no longer in a state of viability.'

[@accomplice55]

"The panel will have to dig."

[@kennethlatham3133]

Mmmmmmm, you COULD say that the necessity to intake oxygen, in order to enrich the human body, is no longer a factor at this time or +oppANY time save the past, thereby nullifying and disqualifying any and all claims to my being in possession of us life form.

[@lisahinton9682]

@@kennethlatham3133 Would've been much funnier if you had proof-read your comment before posting! Could've just read straight through instead of herky-jerky stopping and starting, trying to figure out all those errors.

[@adamodeo9320]

what a great time what great people - I was born too late!

[@helenmilner1946]

Ezio Pinza was one of my fathers’s favourites. Haven’t heard that name for so long

[@LANCSKID]

Is he related to Needleson Pinza?

[@poolside123canadian7]

Imagining Jack Benny in a 1905 maternity dress. Seems like something he’d do.😂

[@juliansinger]

Since I had to look it up: Fred mentions Birdland at about 1:00. Birdland was/is a jazz club in New York, which Charlie (Bird) Parker was relevant in. It closed in '65, and then re-opened 20 years later, in a new location. www.birdlandjazz.com/history/

[@jerrylee8261]

Tks, kind of an inside NY joke and had no idea what he was talking about.

[@debbigray1752]

I first knew about Birdland when the Muppets did there fabulous rendition of the jazz venue but with muppet birds. Very whimsical.

[@trukeesey8715]

@@debbigray1752 Birdland song KZbin copy/paste into searching field: Smith, Huey Piano - We Like Birdland - 1958

[@waldolydecker8118]

'Birdland' was a jazz club named after Charlie 'Yardbird' Parker, the leading figure in post-WWII American jazz music. When it opened on 52nd and Broadway in Dec 1949, it was the most famous night spot of its kind. EVERY leading figure in jazz and other musics played there; hundreds of performances were broadcasted live via radio, many of which survive and are still listened to today. A fledgling Harry Belafonte did his very first public singing (with Parker and Miles Davis) at Birdland in 1949.

[@jackkomisar458]

Dorothy Kilgallen asks Dorothy Lamour, "Are you blonde?" Dorothy Lamour answers, "Not tonight, no." Variants of this joke on different episodes always got a big laugh. I wonder why they didn't get tired of it after a while.

[@belindaalbright8798]

The audience changed weekly. When I went to see George Carlin and Jeff Foxworthy, the bits we all heard before were still funny, maybe more so because it was a live show. Same when going to a concert. The atmosphere enhances the music experience. I believe the same was true on WML.

[@trukeesey8715]

Dorothy Kilgallen was murdered because she declared that she was going to peach on the vatican agents responsible for the slaying of her friend JFK. Copy/paste into KZbin's searching field: BOYCOTT the CORPORATIONS bit 1.1 1

[@magnificentfailure2390]

@@trukeesey8715 How are we to trust someone who can't even copy/paste a url?

[@icturner23]

I’ve never known a programme have so many different title designs.

[@loissimmons6558]

Miss Lamour's career was in a dry spell at this time. She had appeared in "The Road to Bali" with Hope and Crosby in 1952 and she didn't appear in another movie for 10 years when she did a cameo as herself (a singer) in the next and final Road picture, "The Road to Hong Kong". At this point she became more of a nightclub singer and performer in musicals at dinner theaters. She would also make her first dramatic appearance on the small screen in 1955 and on Broadway in 1958 in a musical. But when this episode aired, she legitimately replied "no" when asked about television and Broadway.

[@johnpickford4222]

What musical did she do on Broadway in 1958.

[@loissimmons6558]

@@johnpickford4222 "Oh Captain!"

[@esmeephillips5888]

She was not really associated with nightclubs. Officially she had retired in 1953 to raise her kids with her second hubby; but by then she had lost her box office with a string of inferior movies after leaving Paramount. In the public mind she was too old to continue as a glamor girl or be chased round artificial foreign landscapes by Bob and Bing. When they brought back the Road formula in '62 she had a walk-on but Joan Collins was the foil.

[@johnpickford4222]

Esmee PhillipsJoan Collins, Queen of the B movies, the poor man’s Elizabeth Taylor, with only her tits to lead the way. The foil to two old geezers that couldn’t remember if they got it up where it goes. Dorothy Lamont deserved better than a walk-in.

[@Fatherofheroesandheroines]

A new model every year? Wow that's a lot of babies lol

[@scottpardee6303]

Bennington College is now co-Ed, and seems to be thriving. I have visited it several times. It’s wonderful to see the president in 1955.

[@mal1465]

How funny watching these old television shows where the women wore their mink stoles..I remember my mom getting “all dolled up” and grabbing her mink going out the door. My sister now has it

[@kulturekritik9665]

Dorothy gives a classic side-eye at 7:54. lol

[@trukeesey8715]

Dorothy Kilgallen was murdered because she declared that she was going to peach on the vatican agents responsible for the slaying of her friend JFK. Copy/paste into KZbin's searching field: BOYCOTT the CORPORATIONS bit 1.1

[@normanmathews]

I was a dancer in that Dorothy Lamour national tour of Hello, Dolly!. Lamour was a joy to work with. For those interested, there's a 5-minute audiobook excerpt on KZbin of my time with her, taken from my autobiography, The Wrong Side of the Room: A Life in Music Theater, in which there is an entire chapter devoted to the tour. Here is the link to the excerpt: www.youtube.com/@normanmathews

[@diamondstud322]

That was so funny Fred forgot to introduce Arlene by name...the cameraman had no idea who to focus on! 😂🤣😂

[@AllenMQuinn]

So ironic how nowadays if you just want to know a lady or gentleman's age all you got to do is go on Google or Wikipedia. Can't get away with it nowadays!

[@murrayaronson3753]

If the information is right!

[@barrykendrick3146]

It used to be the one lie that was always acceptable: a woman's right to lie about her age.

[@murrayaronson3753]

Wikipedia and/or Google may not always be right.

[@irenefatica3687]

Michael Patterson life

[@accomplice55]

@@Fisher-King I see what you did there. :)

[@robertchamberlain7202]

I grew up enjoying the road pictures.

[@drumbum3.142]

LOVE the "Come Hither" finger ,! 😂😂😊😂

[@FigaroHey]

Just looked at the date & realized it's 20 February 2021.

[@sutherland9]

I love how John Daley pronounces "Arthur" as "Ahthah" at 2:54

[@princeharming8963]

It's known as the 'mid-Atlantic' accent. It was not quite English and not quite New England/ Boston. It was taught to young actors to give them a sort of upper crust bearing.

[@spongevee1]

@@princeharming8963 I believe he was South African?

[@princeharming8963]

@@spongevee1 - Yes.. he was born in South Africa.

[@sdacj]

@@princeharming8963 He was born and raised the first decade of his life, and thus began his education in South Africa. His mother (who taught him how to talk as a toddler) was British and his father was a Boston Irishman. As a little boy he had a nanny who was Scottish. At 10 years old, he began school in the US in New Hampshire then moved to Boston where he worked for a while then went on to live in Washington DC. His accent was the sum of all those parts - he once said that "I have a quaint illusion that I don't sound funny" when referring to his accent, and told a WML contestant that he'd had to learn how to "speak American".

[@princeharming8963]

@@sdacj - Well, I think that's just wonderful. 🤗

[@soulierinvestments]

Fred Allen does gambits well, as illustrated in game one. New model. Oh Buruther!

[@44032]

Steve Allen did a better job of looking perplexed.

[@morganrussell6783]

Happy Birthday 💖💯

[@gregmoorhead7203]

LOVE Fred Allen!!!

[@jerrylee8261]

Me, too. What a wit. Have never seen him looking healthy which may explain his early death. He brings a lot to WML. My favorite panelist.

[@markiangooley]

I always think of the song “Video killed the radio star” in association with Fred Allen. It took a few years but I suspect that loss of his radio stardom and the sharp rise of television helped bring about his untimely death.

[@44032]

Morbid thought: One panelists would be dead in a year, (Allen), one in two years (Pinza), one in a 10 years, (Kilgallen) and one in 46 years, (Francis). Arlene had 78% of their remaining years. Each day is a gift- that's why they call it "the present".

[@norafakhreddine]

Steven Chappell Thanks for the enlightenment!

[@g-r-a-e-m-e-]

I know, and we all have to go, but the very sheer number of the episodes here allow us to relive them, as though they were broadcast now. We get to know the panelists, and John, and enjoy their performances, even though they are all gone. It is altogether a charming show.

[@donaldmanthei1224]

Arlene had a long life. I'm glad of that.

[@44032]

@Mark Richardson Re-read the last sentence.

[@john81566]

Fred Allen is so funny😂

[@LANCSKID]

About as funny as toothache.

[@bannedheretic2971]

Notice how nobody used the word pregnant.

[@esmeephillips5888]

Like 'I Love Lucy', where it was 'expecting'. The expectation was of a 'blessed event'.

[@LANCSKID]

Or ‘up the duff’ or ‘up the stick’ …

[@ltrain4479]

Fred was obviously given lines by the producers for the first contestant.

[@slaytonp]

Steve Allen also seemed to have been fed lines when he was first to question a contestant. They did get laughs. though.

[@peternagy-im4be]

Lines of what?

[@paulmorin6569]

In the case of Steve Allen it was patently obvious. (Joke questions)

[@salbazaz7261]

Fred is a winner two weeks in a row. Senator and now sells maternity clothes.

[@yeahnoonecaresifyouarefirst]

😲❤ He said she twice and nobody caught on 😂

[@MauriatOttolink]

Amazing that Lamour was very severe looking most of the time. Not especially glamorous, Somebody said something which made her smile. OH BOY! She's glamorous OK!

[@jamespfp]

15:11 -- Listen real carefully now. "Technically and literally it isn't." :D Take that Daly.

[@esmeephillips5888]

In JD Salinger 's 'Franny', published in this year, the heroine says an arty girl who might have attended Sarah Lawrence or Bennington college looked as if she had spent a whole train ride painting or sculpting in the john, or as if she was wearing a leotard under her dress. Would Dr Burckhardt, the somewhat moody president of Bennington, be pleased or insulted?

[@FigaroHey]

I wonder why, when they clearly know, for example, that it's maternity clothes, they ask sometimes quite a few time-wasting questions instead of just asking directly, 'Is it maternity dresses?'

[@icturner23]

You wonder why they are entertaining on an entertainment show? Are you under the impression that the goal is to finish as quickly as possible so that they can have dead air time at the end?

[@bambi274]

Audience laughing giggling about a maternity dress and having babies. How cute

[@LANCSKID]

Ridiculous. But then, they are Americans …

[@joiefulton4015]

Wow, is it me or does Fred look "uncomfortable" about asking about maternity dresses. "Does one get one every year?" Good gravy Marie, one doesn't get maternity clothes like they get a checkup from the doctor.

[@robertjean5782]

My mother Marie had a baby every year for 9 years 😊

[@kathrynoneill5862]

I could have sworn they remade this show.

[@LANCSKID]

Yes … another Corny-Oldshite Production.

[@robertjean5782]

In the 70s was a flop😅

[@LANCSKID]

@@robertjean5782 Irritating Soupy celebrity suck-up nonsense.

[@kitcat9447]

The "no" to teaching women something wasn't quite fair

[@suelutz5364]

He didn't teach. He was the president. Administration was his job.

[@kitcat9447]

@@suelutz5364 right, I understand but I still think it wasn't quite fair. I think they should have got a qualified yes on it

[@WrestleNiceGuy121]

Enzio Pinza

[@WrestleNiceGuy121]

O.K. it is Ezio Pinza

[@bigoldinosaur]

"I thought this was What's My Line not What's My Name." HA first comment.

[@LANCSKID]

Not ‘Let’s Snort a Line’.

[@patricklenahan8396]

At 7:46 the contestant and John Daly goofed and let them know the item was worn by women ("she could" wear it they said) when the sex had not yet been determined.

[@jonathanmoeg1202]

It was in response to whether Italian movie stars would wear it and at that time in history especially I think it is fair to say the phrase "Italian movie stars" was synonymous with "Italian goddesses".

[@oobrocks]

If u want to fool someone, stick to 1 accent...the more u do, the easier for the guesser

[@cyndifoore7743]

As usual, Fred Allen cuts down women.

[@MauriatOttolink]

Born in this country? European accent..Met Hitler before the war? Studied Electronic Engineering in Europe before the war. Invented a war time anti German torpedo device? Born in USA? EH?

[@pamelaanis715]

Hedy Lamar

[@LANCSKID]

I once met Herr von Krappenhaus if that helps?

[@jeffreyenglish1815]

Imagine shaking hands and kissing on the cheek. Never today.

[@LANCSKID]

Always in the prestigious circles I mix in. What a wit!

[@mrsandmom5947]

John was only 41 , but looked 55

[@teresal5174]

Smoking, receding hairline, perhaps- and people generally looked older than their age in those days. Also seems younger people looked more mature, carried themselves with more dignity and decorum.

[@donaldmanthei1224]

Life expectancy was much lower then. People do look younger longer today.

[@jerrylee8261]

Was thinking he looked older than 41. Smoking has no redeemable qualities and that's from someone who smoked for 10 yrs but quit decades ago.

[@sdacj]

@@teresal5174 he also worked almost constantly. News articles of the day reference the fact that he and his wife and kids never once took a family vacation, and he was home to eat with his family maybe one evening in seven. He worked around 80 hours a week, every week. Even on What's My Line, the four shows he missed were because of work responsibilities - he was never away on vacation and never took off when he was sick.

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

MATERNITY DRESS SALESMAN PRESIDENT OF WOMEN'S COLLEGE

[@peternagy-im4be]

Please remove this moronic troll from the comments section. Unfortunately today's awful society is full of infantile pathetic little brats fully intent on ruining people's pleasure on using social media. Thank you.

[@scottpardee6303]

Sorry, but I’m glad to see these.

[@judylutz1702]

The things the audience found so funny then wouldn’t bring any kind of a reaction today. What’s funny about maternity clothes?

[@kristabrewer9363]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA did you notice Dorothy's eyebrows raise at 8:02-8:03? She knew John was going into one of his rambles and I could tell she didn't like THAT lol (I'm glad I'm not the only one) I like John, but I don't find him funny anymore. He can't seem to get through one episode without stating some line that makes absolutely no sense! and then he makes those stupid faces. It was funny the first few times, but now when he does that, I just sigh (like I did tonight)!

[@stevekru6518]

Krista, perhaps you binge watching many episodes. When watched only once per week John’s monologues would be less tedious

[@michaelnivens6267]

@@stevekru6518 - JD would ramble , but not any more than Kilgallen does - she can be Insufferable sometimes - plus It Is because of convoluted questions her & Cerf sometimes ask that lead to some of John's " rambles "

[@MrWindermere123]

Fred Allen doesn't know when to shut up - he is treading on other people's comments without being very funny. An old pro like John Daly can laugh it off but I would find it annoying. I think it's because Mr Allen had his own show on radio and was the centre of attention, which he isn't here. Ezio Pinza does more by saying less.

[@LANCSKID]

Another ‘Cornyshite Productions Inc.’ show.

[@darilynadams7281]

Dorothy is saying too much for her answers.

[@LANCSKID]

She sure loves to run her word hole, uh?

[@maggiejohnson5891]

So silly how women were so sensitive about age. Give me a break. Like it changes anything

[@drewsmusical]

John Daly while very nice presumes always he knows better than the individual