What's My Line? - Ernie Kovacs & Edie Adams; Tony Randall [panel] (Sep 9, 1956)

[@shirleyrombough8173]

I just love this show. I may need an intervention.

[@Rogermarch]

I know how you feel Shirley. And I’m in Australia.

[@drumbum3.142]

No.. . ... No You don't.. ... Lol

[@thomtlc2]

As far as I'm concerned, this show provides all the therapy most of us need.

[@Mmdmade]

I just realized that Tony Randall looked the same all his life. Lol

[@sdgakatbk]

I've been going through all the shows in order and I don't think a single show has failed to entertain.

[@robertjean5782]

I agree, on video 240😊

[@Merrida100]

This is so enjoyable without commercials. I'm referring to the snippets of modern commercials that is. I think the original commercials are fun to watch. I love watching black and white programs. Very comforting.

[@freddyfurrah3789]

I love no commercials.

[@robertjean5782]

​@@freddyfurrah3789if they're the old ones😊

[@starababa1985]

When Kovacs died, he left a substantial amount of debt behind in the form of back taxes. Rather than declare bankruptcy, Edie worked for years to pay it all back, most notably through her Muriel cigar commercials. For this she was greatly admired by a sympathetic public.

[@davidletasi3322]

She also took a part in the movie " It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World" to offset Ernies debts. She was a grand lady, and Ernie, a comedy genius!❤

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Ernie Kovacs was 37 here. I always thought he looked at least 10 years (or more) older than he was. What a great loss when he died in a car crash in 1962.

[@jubalcalif9100]

I was thinking the same thing ! He looked much older than he was. I am sure smoking all those cigars did not help. But he was a comic genius and I totally agree that his early sudden death in that auto crash was a truly great loss ! :-(

[@MosaicRose99]

I noticed that quite a few people from the past looked older than their age by today's standards. Then again the celebrities from the past weren't really using Botox and fillers and a lot of modern-day plastic surgery.

[@jubalcalif9100]

@@MosaicRose99 As I do when I take off my hat, you make a good point ! Since most people smoked back then, I think that was the main cause they looked older. And as you astutely pointed out, there wasn't as much cosmetic surgery then....

[@Rosey01222]

The cosmetic procedures and surgeries in wide use today by the celebrity world weren't yet available in that era. Back then they all did the best they could enhancing their appearance with make-up and hair styling.

[@slaytonp]

@@Rosey01222 And don't forget that the lighting and photography has improved a great deal since then. These early shows were rather harsh on looks.

[@kali8188]

"Well, the male half IS a comic strip with a cigar!" No argument there! These two were so talented; I miss them - there's no one like them today.

[@timerover4633]

When you had Ernie on a show, you never had any idea what would happen. He was a fantastic comedian.

[@drumbum3.142]

One of the Best. Absolutely Genius and Brilliant. Left us way, too early/soon... I imagine a LOT of Folks would/will "viciously" disagree with this triumvirate but I lump him in with Mel Blanc, and Buster Keaton for Most Original, Phantasmagorical Funny Humans of All.. Thyme.

[@funkeekatt]

Edie Adams' exaggerated impression of Marilyn Monroe was great.

[@funkeekatt]

@@jerrylee8261 One of my favorite movies.

[@funkeekatt]

@@jerrylee8261 "What is this? A staring contest?"

[@funkeekatt]

@@jerrylee8261 It's a line from It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World. Fast-talking Phil Silvers says it to the two gas station attendants when he pulls up. I also love when Jim Backus says, "It's the only way to fly" while getting drunk and piloting a plane.

[@funkeekatt]

@@jerrylee8261 I think Tracy was perfect since he was known for his many comedies with Katharine Hepburn. Remember his character was retiring. It's a movie I own and have watched dozens of times to the point where I know all the dialogue. "Monica, now let's forget about the door, uh?"

[@saran3214]

Dorothy figured out the pearl diver's occupation, as usual, and Bennett gave her the credit. Very good of him.

[@tomitstube]

true, but cerf did figure out petrillo when it looked over.

[@steventrosiek2623]

Cerf was a real gentleman.

[@Lilbit09]

@@steventrosiek2623 He always is ;-)

[@stevestites9762]

Steven Trosiek really? I think he was a total elitist snob.

[@philippapay4352]

@@stevestites9762 Cerf travelled the nation selling his books and getting good libraries established for institutions and organizations because he so admired accomplishment and he adored ordinary people and how they live and what their locales have to offer. If you notice, more than most, he always knows the products and various art forms, sports and so on of many areas he has visited, he often speaks of wonderful folks he met where he had just travelled and what they'd introduced him to that he'd not known of, and he speaks with admiration of the regular people he meets on his travels and how interesting their products and services were. He is older here and just happens to publish people who became well-known partially because he published them and championed their artistry. They were likely the friends he visited on weekends in the country, but he did not elevate them above citizens he met around our nation. One can admire achievement and not be a snob.

[@analinares1630]

This is, in my opinion, the episode where Dorothy looks the most beautiful. The hair and the dress, she looks lovely.

[@patrickfallon6192]

Ana Linares I always thought she was very pretty

[@sagarsaxena6318]

always loved her giggle. Dorothy was really adorable.

[@stevekru6518]

She looks as good as her physical limitations allow. She has many admirable qualities but beauty is not one of them. Perhaps those who think otherwise are affected by the halo effect

[@daniellamcgee4251]

@@stevekru6518 Popular views on beauty are shaped by the society of the time. Beauty is also in the eye of the beholder. Beauty seen is not always purely from surface appearance, but also radiating from inner beauty. Therefore beauty is subjective, and arbitrary. Therefore, there are no right or wrong answers in regard to beauty. Except, obviously, if you don't agree with me, then you're wrong!!! 😜

[@stevekru6518]

@@daniellamcgee4251 I’ve been wrong before and expect to be wrong again, but you’re right in that the determination of beauty is a combination of cultural and subjective elements. My comment was based on our culture. When the subjective component takes over, one can reach solipsism and abandon objectivity. Put in more practical terms, if we each published a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition magazine and yours had models that looked like Dorothy at her best, and mine had Arlene, one of us would quickly become intimately familiar with Chapter 11.

[@soulierinvestments]

The first time Tony Randall appeared on WML. One down, 66 times to go to 1967 for one of the most prolific post-1956 WML guests.

[@neilmidkiff]

soulierinvestments The first time through watching these, I didn't notice the reference to the Broadway play of "Inherit the Wind". I just found out from ibdb.com that it was Tony's fourth Broadway play, and that he was third billed, in the role of E. K. Hornbeck, the journalist character modeled after H. L. Mencken (played by Gene Kelly in the film). Pretty impressive credit for a youngish actor!

[@ilanamillion8942]

The panelists are such a smart group of people. This was a great show no matter whose line they were trying to figure out.

[@Monkofmagnesia]

Kovaks loved Dutch Masters cigars. I wonder if that is what he was smoking. Kovaks was a true comedic genius, who influenced television in a huge way.

[@richardspeziale]

actually, from what i read, he had far more discerning taste in cigars - he even purchased a mountainside in Cuba. but he became good friends with a Dutch Master exec when Kovacs noticed the exec carrying a Berthold Brect book, and DM Cigars became a dedicated sponsor of his shows. then after Kovacs' death, Edie was the sexy DM spokesperson for their commercials in the '60's

[@pulmon66]

This episode was the highest rated in the history of "What's my line" , garnering for CBS an audience in excess of 27.250,00 viewers at the 10,30 to 11pm slot. This had little to do with the panelists, let alone the mystery guest. but was the dirtect result of the Ed Sullivan Elvis telecast from Los Angeles, CA that led the Sunday evening line up for CBS, one drawing 60,710,000 viewers. Sullivan was in a hospital, and he saw it from his room there. The "US$64,000 Challenge", and the "GE Theatre" , which ´preceeded "What's my Line" also reached their highest ratings ever, that same night, both drawing in excess of 28.500,000 viewers. And it was all thanks to Elvis.

[@originalzig]

Though this show was produced 20+yrs before I was even born, I find it highly entertaining! Thank you for sharing, just love old TV....something about the era/times if you will. Even as a viewer it makes you want to guess along. Would be great to have this show now, bring on stars and the hard working people together...I would watch every week. I am sure others would agree. Thank you.

[@DeathBringer769]

+Jeremy Ziegler John Daly makes the entire show for me though. He was irreplaceably good, and even coming halfway close today you'd be hard pressed to find someone who could pull it off like he could. I'm sure someone who doesn't personally like John as much as I do wouldn't find the lack of his presence to be as much as an issue though. I never liked any of the other hosts they've had.

[@loissimmons6558]

Admittedly I am not up on culture now the way I was up to 20 years ago. But I would also be hard pressed to come up with people with enough talent and stature to be moderator and regular panelists on a revamp of WML. They would have to be young enough in case the show had legs comparable to the original version, but not too young that they would be tempted to move on to other things. You wouldn't be able to get the biggest stars as regulars. Plus the show would likely need to originate out of LA now, as many more of the celebrities are out there rather than in NY. And the final difficulty is that so many celebrities are far more controversial now, even news anchors. And with so much more intrusion into the lives of celebrities, you never know when one who seems to be squeaky clean will suddenly blow up on you. There are a number of celebrities who at one time were much beloved but are now persona non grata.

[@djdon60]

+Mr. Ziegler. I couldn't agree, more, Jamie. I wasn't born, til '60; I'm enjoying the heck, out of these recordings. Got eyes closed, now; is it Walter Brennan & Olive Oyl?

[@jubalcalif9100]

Well said and well put ! My sentiments exactly ! :-)

[@GingerHey]

Zig Ziegler, I don't think the magic could be made in today's culture and the lack thereof of manners and grace. WML had peoplel with class that also had perfect chemistry with each other.

[@jrbleau]

I love this episode!

[@michellecalling]

Edie Adams did a great impersonation of Marilyn Monroe

[@ellemathews9840]

What movie?

[@MrAngel53944]

Tony Randallstown looked the same in 1956 as he did in the 1970's when he was on "The Odd Couple

[@jubalcalif9100]

How true ! The late great Mr Randall didn't drink or smoke and was a lifelong student of physical fitness. Bless his heart... :-)

[@PrenticeBoy1688]

Randalstown is a town in Co. Antrim. Are you from Ulster?!

[@ilanamillion8942]

I always loved Tony Randall and it's true that he never changed in appearance. He is much missed.

[@CarlDuke]

For those who may care Ken Rosewall and Lew Hoad were two great Australian tennis players. Hoad at the time was the reigning Wimbledon champ and both men were members of the then champion Davis Cup team.

[@loissimmons6558]

+CarlDuke Be still my heart! From your screen name and avatar, I detect another Brooklyn Dodgers fan! The Duke of Flatbush was my childhood baseball idol, although I loved all the players and was terribly upset when the team moved to L.A. For many years, Duke Snider and Carl Erskine were roommates when the Dodgers went on road trips and during the season they lived near each other (along with Pee Wee Reese and perhaps Rube Walker) in Brooklyn (often in the Bay Ridge section). I've read that the neighborhood kids would let Duke take some cuts during their stickball games and he could easily hit it three sewers. Brooklyn honored Carl Erskine a few years ago when a new shopping center and reconstructed Exit 15 off of the Shore Parkway led to the creation of a new street and it was named Erskine Street. Gil Hodges and Jackie Robinson have been honored as well. I am waiting for Brooklyn to honor some of the other greats from "The Boys of Summer": Pee Wee Reese, Roy Campanella, Don Newcombe, Clem Labine and Carl Furillo in particular among the stalwarts on all those pennant winning teams that brought the only World Championship to Brooklyn. Were Oisk and Duke your favorite players? Or did you also actually live near them and meet them when they lived in Brooklyn. Also for those who care, on 9/9/56 Ken Rosewall defeated Lew Hoad for the 1956 U.S. Open Tennis Championships Men's Singles title when they were still contested on the grass at the Forest Hills site before they were moved to Flushing Meadows. It was a mild upset as Hoad was the number one seed coming into the tournament and Rosewall #2. Hoad defeated another Aussie, Neale Fraser (#5), to reach the finals, while Rosewall defeated the last U.S. player in the tournament, Vic Seixas (#4) to get there. Here's a brief (~1 min) video of the finals highlights, including Rosewall's winning shot. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3eqpXd6g718jKs Tony Trabert of the U.S. had won the 1955 championship, but he was unable to defend his title as he had turned pro after his victory. Rosewall's victory started a string of 7 straight years where someone from Australia took home the winner's trophy for Men's Singles. A U.S. player wasn't victorious again until 1968 when Arthur Ashe won. The center court stadium at Flushing Meadows is now named for Ashe. It was something of a friendly rivalry for Rosewall and Hoad. For good measure they also won the men's doubles championship in 1956, defeating Seixas and Ham Richardson (US) in the finals. And it was a trifecta that year for Rosewall. He teamed with Margaret Osborne duPont (US) to defeat Hoad and Darlene Hard (U.S.) for the mixed doubles title in 1956. Hopefully Rosewall brought an extra empty bag to carry home all that hardware. To make the 1956 list complete two U.S. players competed in the women's final, with Shirley Fry defeating Althea Gibson. Miss Gibson had won her first Grand Slam titles that year in France (singles) and at Wimbeldon (doubles). It was the next step in her fabulous career. Many experts consider her the best women's player ever, despite the odds she faced comparable to Jackie Robinson. She would eventually be a celebrity guest on WML. In women's doubles, duPont and Louise Brough retained their title over Fry and Doris Hart. One of these two teams won the women's doubles title every year from 1942 to 1957: duPont and Brough from 1942 to 1950. Fry and Hart from 1951 to 1954, and then duPont and Brough for three more years. Chris Cerf would have made a pretty good scout for WML mystery guests, although we have no way of knowing if Rosewall and Hoad were on their way home by the time WML aired. And as amateur tennis players, they would not have been allowed to accept any appearance fees from WML under the arcane rules at the time.

[@robertfiller8634]

@@loissimmons6558 Always fascinating to read your comments, Lois!

[@1jamyc]

and it was the 2nd weekend in September, so the US Open Tennis tournament was happening in NYC.

[@violinda.]

Such a fun, classy show

[@wookinooki9023]

Ernie Kovacs was ADOOOOOOOOOOOOOORABLE.

[@tporchia7751]

Dorothy does look very nice.

[@robink620]

She always looks lovely.

[@Rosey01222]

Edie Adams looks so tired and worn out here. Must have been both demanding, exhausting and, yes, exhilarating living and working with a energetic dynamo like Ernie Kovacs. Both of them certainly creative talented performers.

[@Marcel_Audubon]

she was in rehearsals for her Tony winning turn in Li'l Abner - don'tcha think that mighta had more to do with her being tired than living with her husband who she loved did, sweetpea?

[@Beson-SE]

The second contestant, Casey the pearl diver, discovered the largest pearl in the world. John held it up and announced that it weighed 1100 carats and was worth $100,000 in 1956. 15:50

[@kristabrewer9363]

Not sure why you said the exact same thing they did, but I wouldn't pay 100 000 dollars for a Pearl. I wouldn't even pay that for a HOUSE

[@twinsonic]

@@kristabrewer9363 where do you live then? A dump?

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

@@kristabrewer9363 Where do you buy a house for under 100 grand? Something made from cardboard and glue?

[@skipstreet]

​@@ChrisHansonCanadamaybe he lives deep in the woods.

[@robertjean5782]

​@@kristabrewer9363You couldn't buy a decent house for that amount now😊

[@Beson-SE]

This is Tony Randall's first appearance on WML.

[@soulierinvestments]

This is the first time Ernie Kovacs appeared on WML. In 1957, G-T considered him as a permanent panelist.

[@kali3665]

"The male half of the show IS a comic strip with a cigar!" Dang straight! And absolutely delicious....

[@dkeat301]

The Petrillo Bandshell, in Grant Park Chicago, is named after the first guest.

[@anthonym9923]

I remember watching a Bugs Bunny cartoon when i was a kid and Bugs made a mention of Petrillo over musical royalties. As a kid i got a big kick out of it because I thought was referring to my hometown's mayor whose name was Petrillo :-)

[@christopherdunne7848]

The actual Bugs cartoon in question was called “Hurdy Gurdy Hare,” where Bugs is making money as an organ grinder using a huge gorilla to get his cash. Saith Bugs, “I sure hope Petrillo doesn’t hear about this!”

[@ModMokkaMatti]

Is anyone buried beneath it?

[@domenicv7962]

Edie Adams grew up in Grove City PA. A friend of mine lived a couple houses away....Nice and simple larger frame house on a shady small town street. She came back to visit often...

[@loissimmons6558]

Ernie Kovacs was my mom's favorite comedian. That they were both Hungarian played a part in it, I'm sure. But Ernie was a comic genius for sure. When I was able to watch his shows (often sneaking out of bed to do so until I was caught), his sketches always made me laugh. And Edie Adams could sure make a lovely appearance, even in cigar commercials! kzbin.info/www/bejne/nnjSmX-FqJ1noZY +gcjerryusc I found this clip of Ernie Kovacs and Edie Adams with Edie doing her Marilyn Monroe impersonation. Perhaps you will find it more to your liking. It also gives a look at some of the special effects which Kovacs originated. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zqm9loqOjcyHf7s A tribute to Ernie Kovacs when he was inducted posthumously into the TV Hall of Fame, with clips of his work, remarks by Carl Reiner, Jack Lemmon and Edie Adams (who pronounces his last name with the correct Hungarian pronunciation - it means blacksmith in Hungarian). There are also clips of his childhood in Trenton (NJ) where my mom and grandmother knew other people in the Hungarian community there. Ernie got his start in Trenton and Philadelphia before moving on to the big time on both coasts. kzbin.info/www/bejne/q53ahZpqf9CClas My mom had a brother who was also named Ernie. At some point in his life, he moved to L.A. He was a good enough vocalist to sing on Hungarian radio. As a result he got to meet Ernie Kovacs and the Gabor sisters.

[@robertfiller8634]

Thanks Lois for sharing - I watched your link of Edie doing her MM shtick - nagyon vicces! (My name (Fillér) translates to penny in English, and can be found on Hungarian currency and postage stamps from early in the 20th century)

[@loissimmons6558]

@@robertfiller8634 My brother collected stamps when he was a kid and had a book with the pictures of stamps from around the world. Since my grandmother (nagymama) still corresponded with our relatives back in the old country, his book was heavily skewed toward stamps from Magyar Posta (including from before WWII because Hungarians don't throw out anything, including old letters). That was a long time ago and I am fairly certain he didn't keep the stamp book. But I have a vague memory that due to the size of the stamps, all lot of them just had an "f" rather than the name written out in full.

[@peternagy-im4be]

The prop cigar was somewhat overdone....

[@djdon60]

I've watched, now, many of these episodes, on KZbin. Have watched, also, quite a few of Mr. Kovacs's television appearances. He, really, WAS a comic genius, wasn't he? I was going to guess, "is it Mr. Jinks, with an head cold?!(anybody...?) What a tragedy. I teared, up, at this 'reveal.'

[@lindajohnson4204]

I think there's a little Brando in the head cold. But I love the Walter Brennan!

[@mw54470]

I really enjoyed Lil Abner. I wish I could have seen Edie Adams as Daisy Mae!

[@AthenaeusGreenwood]

And imagine in addition - 5'11" Julie Newmar (later of Catwoman fame) as Stupefyin' Jones!

[@robertzastrow4648]

Just thought of this, but it's impressive how the panelists treat all the mystery guests with the utmost courtesy, friendliness and respect, irregardless of their nationality or race. In this episode, the young Japanese man who was a Pearl Diver (this being taped only 11 years after the end of World War II, when Japan was our enemy who we were fighting). Other episodes have featured Russian citizens (when our country was in a Cold War with the USSR).

[@donaldboomer6313]

The Media today gives the wrong impression of the American past. People at this time and before did get along and were certainly happier in general compared to the present media controlled society. Few understand the harmful impact of modern mass communication whose ownership now in the hands of a small group of people keep the public in constant turmoil, agitation and anxiety. The last 20+ years have been increasingly unhappy for our nation, as wealthy people and organizations seek to brainwash people with their race baiting and warmongering agendas. We all are being corralled into a form of serfdom through these information control methods and the parallel destruction of our laws and constitution.

[@robertjean5782]

Russians also fought in WW2 and many other countries 😊

[@michaelclark6223]

Anyone else think Kovacs is doing an impression of Walter Brennan ala Meet John Doe (at least at the beginning)?

[@Lilbit09]

Yes! Almost saw that sideways smile.

[@michaelnivens6267]

most definitely and a very good Impersonation

[@jamesjoyce9207]

Edie's facial features here are so cute..almost unrecognizable from her later look

[@loissimmons6558]

She definitely went more glam later on. But she was also coming as fast as she could straight from rehearsal for a part in which she plays a pretty but simple country girl, Daisy Mae in Li'l Abner. So she wouldn't have had that much time to glam up for her appearance. I can assure you from experience that glam takes much longer to achieve, and for most of us the best glam results are done by a makeup professional rather than trying to do it ourselves.

[@loissimmons6558]

In looking at Edie Adams' later work, it would appear that she eventually played off of her most successful roles as she became known for doing impersonations of Marilyn Monroe, Mae West and other glamorous female stars. That was how the public became familiar with her and she wasn't one to disappoint her public, especially with lots of debts to pay off after her husband's death in a car accident. By all accounts, Ernie Kovacs was the love of her life, but a combination of life circumstances and his idiosyncrasies left her in poor financial shape. On the negative side, Ernie didn't believe in paying income taxes. In addition, he often spent far more on special effects for his television shows than the show was making. (One example was spending the entire special effects budget for a show, $12,000, on a bit that lasted less than ten seconds.) But there was also things beyond Ernie's control. When he divorced his first wife, he was awarded custody of his two daughters, a rare occurrence at that time. (His first wife was diagnosed as mentally ill.) During a visitation, she kidnapped the girls. Ernie spent a lot of money on private detectives and attorneys to get them back. Then, when Ernie died, wife #1 sued for custody of the children, claiming that Edie was an unfit parent. Edie won, in no small part due to the children's testimony on her behalf. The younger daughter emotionally referred to Edie as "Mommy" and her birth mother as "the other lady". Then Edie became involved in a protracted legal battle with her mother-in-law who refused to believe that her son had run up as many debts as he had. She accused Edie of mismanaging Ernie's estate and also tried to gain custody of Ernie's children (the two from the first marriage and one with Edie). While Edie won both cases, that was more money that went to attorneys. However, Edie proved to be far better at business than Ernie. Refusing help from a benefit performance that show business friends wanted to do on her behalf, she eventually paid off the mountain of debts and by 1989 with the money made from commercials, performances, a cosmetics line, a clothing line, a chain of beauty salons and an almond farm, she was a millionaire. And so a sweet middle class girl born in the Scranton/Wilkes Barre area of Pennsylvania and graduate of Tenafly HS becomes a glam millionaire. I can't argue with success.

[@alfredostling2509]

Living with Ernie Kovacs would age anyone . I here he was very hard to get a long with . Maybe that's why he died in a car accident too .

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

She became like Jayne Meadows later in life, with a face full of horrible make up.

[@waynezimmerman1950]

The year after John Daly said that Ernie Kovak didn't do movies, he appeared in Operation Mad Ball(1957) starring opposite Jack Lemmon, and in 1958's Bell Book and Candle; as part of a fantastically zany supporting cast(Jack Lemmon as well) for the leads; Kim Novak and James Stewart(one of my very favorite movies; and an inspiration for the TV series: Bewitched.)

[@edgabel6814]

I was waiting for Ernie to do Marilyn!

[@juliansinger]

I was a little dubious at first about Mr. Petrillo's fame, but Bennett's reaction (and wikipedia's page on him) convinced me the panel really did need to be blindfolded. Don't think they would need to be for most labor leaders, though. Other than like, George Meany. Edit: Because I had to look it up -- Bamberger's (as mentioned by Casey's interpreter at 16:43) was a big ol' chain of department stores. It was bought by Macy's in 1929, and eventually (in the 80s) got re-branded as part of Macy's. But in the meantime, the non-Macy's version was a big part of New Jersey department store culture. Also, its Newark flag-store was the original broadcasting antenna spot for WOR. (It moved to the Empire State Building in 1953.) Because I had to look it up, Part II -- Rosewater and Hoad, who Bennett mentions at 24:58, were two amazingly good tennis players I'd never heard of (before my time, and I wasn't into tennis history as a kid, unlike baseball or hockey). They had just had an epic battle at the US Open final (then known as the US National Championship) in New York, that day.

[@vidpie]

From Petrillo's obituary in the NYT: "Mr. Petrillo was elected president of the American Federation of Musicians in 1940, a time of change because of new technologies. Talking pictures had thrown thousands of theater musicians out of work, and juke boxes and radio stations played recordings, or ''canned music,'' costing the jobs of studio musicians. ...A round-faced, bespectacled man, he was one of the most controversial and best known of the nation's labor leaders. His most noted fight came in World War II, when he defied President Roosevelt - music was regarded as important to national morale - by calling a strike against recording companies to protest a lack of royalties to musicians... ...Mr. Petrillo for years held immense power in New York because of the city's importance in the nation's music and dramatic life: he could put a musical show or night club on the union's ''unfair'' list and prevent union members from playing there... ...In Mr. Petrillo's heydey, radio listeners were often reminded (of him) when, at the end of radio broadcasts a voice said the music was provided through the cooperation of the American Federation of Musicians, ''James C. Petrillo, president.' ...In 1958, facing a revolt by some Los Angeles union members, who believed his policies were blocking jobs in television, and believing that new labor laws necessitated more polished, educated labor leaders, Mr. Petrillo resigned the union presidency but remained on the board for a while."

[@loissimmons6558]

+juliansinger The main Bamberger's store in Newark was also where the closest thing to a radio dynasty, three generations of morning radio personalities on WOR-AM (710) got their start in 1925 when the broadcast engineer filled in for the on air personality and the station executives decided that they lived the engineer better. Thus started the show that became known as "Rambling With Gambling" on WOR from 1925-2000, moved to WABC (770) from 2000 to 2008 as "The John Gambling Show) and then returned to WOR in 2008. In 2014, the show returned to NJ on WNYM (970) and finally came to an end in 2016. It started with grandfather John B. Gambling, was turned over to father John A. Gambling in 1959. was co-hosted by son John R. Gambling from 1985-91 and then the son as sole host for the remainder of the broadcast. A rare picture of all three generations: 3.bp.blogspot.com/-FHF_vDqMekA/U4dXf0erjuI/AAAAAAAAs78/kY9LWJIZ1TA/s1600/gamblings.png

[@preppysocks209]

According to wikipedia, the actual reason why Petrillo was forced out of his position in 1958 was his opposition to integrating the separate Black and White musicians' unions

[@paulmorin6569]

@@preppysocks209 if that was the reason then bless him. Even if he had done nothing else.....,..

[@Art1_Sec8]

adjusted for inflation, that pearl is worth $937,436.57

[@Art1_Sec8]

@@cdrugly didn't know that. Lol

[@kenowens9021]

Soooo, that's Petrillo!!!!! His name is mentioned in many movies as comedy lines but never seen him before.

[@Vitte4]

Edie Adams: Wow!

[@Marcel_Audubon]

Petrillo was head of the American Federation of Musicians for 18 years taking them on strike from 1942-44 and again in '48 to (successfully) win musicians royalty rights.

[@geraldkatz7986]

11 years since WWII, and they speak fondly of imports from Japan. Even the concept someone from Japan can move to Chicago and no one thinks anything of it. The wounds have healed. Politics is politics, but the U.S. and Japan are still good friends today. Japan can mourn Hiroshima with no hostility. The U.S. can mourn Pearl Harbor with no hostility. It's nice.

[@luishumbertovega3900]

Tony Randall and Edie Adams didn't have scenes together but both were in the cast of that 1-derful Rock Hudson - Doris Day movie Lover Come Back. Edie was the VIP Girl !!!

[@elle5031]

Ernie and Edie make a great couple...

[@TheWriterWalker]

I believe there is beauty (and ugly crudeness) in every culture and race. This show demonstrates the beauty of White America. I love it.

[@TheWriterWalker]

@tinwoods, I see it in the politicians, in general, and in those who are actively destroying the America represented in the WML videos. That is why I prefer any White House that wants to preserve or restore what has made America great.

[@sandrageorge3488]

Supposed to be no politics in these comments.

[@TheWriterWalker]

@@sandrageorge3488, you and I must have different understandings of the word "politics."

[@Beson-SE]

Edie Admas doing her Marilyn Monroe imitation. :) 21:50

[@RobertJonesWightpaint]

The most missed comedian of my lifetime, and I'm not even an American. He had genius - so tragic a loss.

[@williamscheuer5933]

I was still very young but remember both Ernie and Edie. He died so young in that Corvair crash. It was actually Edie’s wagon he drove and she apparently drove the Rolls home after trading cars, as I understand it. Edie owning a Corvair?!

[@patrickfallon6192]

Edie looks so different then she does in the movie Mad Mad Mad World

[@michaelnivens6267]

this is 7 years before the movie

[@brookehanley3659]

And “The Apartment.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Arlene's gown. Googoo gawgaw!

[@robertjean5782]

She could wear a raggedy dress and still look gorgeous 😊

[@darkangelmichael6148]

Ernie loved Edie's impersonation as much as The Panel did. Nice guy...supportive.

[@jimbomb3893]

14:23 daly makes the interpreter laugh. Awesome

[@robertjean5782]

Daly let the panel get out of hand, letting the 3 give answer's 😅

[@bebetigre1252]

class.

[@shirtless6934]

Ernie Kovacs later died in a Beverly Hills car accident. Dorothy in her June 4 1962 gossip column said his death was a boost to those who advocated the wearing of seat belts.

[@robertjean5782]

Dorothy and her secretery would be found murdered 2 years later 😢

[@erichanson426]

Another accidentally flip at 7:30 when Randal said he is not a boxer. Then Daily said, "No" and flipped the card. It should have been, Yes he is not a boxer."

[@jackkomisar458]

This was Tony Randall's first appearance on WML, and John should have cut him some slack and given him a "yes". But the regular panelists would have asked, "Am I correct in assuming that you are not a former boxer?" and John would have answered, "Yes, you are correct in assuming that our guest is not a former boxer, no."

[@OnCloudNine62]

Is this before Ernie joined the panel? If not, wouldn't they have recognized the smell of his cigar? Or at least it would give out a clue as to who it is.

[@amybrown7723]

***** It was after but I'm sure a lot of mystery guests smoked cigars, although maybe not while they were on the show, so it wouldn't necessarily be that much of a giveaway

[@loissimmons6558]

There have been a good handful of MG's who smoked or at least chewed on a cigar while in front of the blindfolded panel. George Burns comes to mind as one of them. I've often wondered if it was a clue for the panel, but up to this point I have not heard a panelist make mention of smelling the cigar. And at this time, John Daly smoked cigarettes during the show, so that might have helped to mask the odor.

[@slaytonp]

@@loissimmons6558 In those days, a lot of people smoked, including the panelists, so most people were more "immune" to the smell of tobacco smoke than we are now--although even then, I thought cigar smoke was more distinguishable than most others.

[@robertjean5782]

​@@slaytonpDepends on type of cigar😊

[@chrisn7259]

The acoustics must have been terrible in this studio. So often the panel couldn't hear what the guests were saying.

[@norelcopc2431]

The show was done in a large theater and not in a television studio. The sound went up and out toward the audience.

[@ckersh74]

Frank Lloyd Wright was a mystery guest one night and even he made the comment that there were poor acoustics in the theatre.

[@LarsRyeJeppesen]

ckersh74 He was around 87 at that time, so.... but yes

[@shuboy05]

When I watched that, I had a funny thought that Frank Lloyd Wright was probably thinking of ways to fix the problem when John brought up the acoustical issues....

[@richardspeziale]

was it CBS Studio 50 (now the Ed Sullivan Theater) or perhaps Studio 54 around the corner?

[@QuestoPiccoloKaiju]

17:32 Gil signaling to John possibly?

[@Lilbit09]

I thought he was just looking at the clock as he frequently did.

[@bigwilson8794]

I love Arlene as we all do, but I wish she would keep her mouth shut when it is not her turn. Example: 15:40

[@DeathBringer769]

+Dick Wilson 9:05 Let the man talk Arlene!

[@joycejean-baptiste4355]

Wow, I've been to Macy's Bambergers in downtown Newark N. J. back in the day but never knew they had a pearl that big in their jewelry department, Lol!

[@willemverheij3412]

Ernie Kovacs could have made for a pretty good Gomez Addams I think.

[@robertjean5782]

Definitely 😅

[@DocFunkenstein]

I never noticed before, but Helen Mirren is a dead ringer for Arlene Francis.

[@loissimmons6558]

Perhaps the most famous version of an Edie Adams cigar commercial, based on a song from "Sweet Charity". It dropped the takeoff on the Mae West line ("Why don't you pick one up and smoke it some time?") but continued the sexy glam image of the other Muriel commercials. kzbin.info/www/bejne/foaViImVr8yFotE

[@skyedog24]

I watched a video on KZbin and Ernie Kovacs was involved in a single car accident in downtown LA possible alcohol involved there were no witnesses.DOA RIP. We liked him best in Bell book and candle. He would have had a great future way too early on this one!!

[@miketheyunggod2534]

Edie Adams was hot.

[@TheWriterWalker]

Good save, Bennett!

[@opencourse3472]

Marilyn Monroe impression: 21:34

[@dante844]

12:11 I love that reaction

[@michaelnivens6267]

Once again Dorothy starts throwing a hissy Just because she gets a no

[@gbrumburgh]

I would think once the panel gets a whiff of a cigar, it would narrow it down significantly. Berle, Marx, Kovacs, etc.

[@kennethlatham3133]

Or Burns & Allen! Once it was established there were two of them, and they were being funny.

[@robertjean5782]

🎉it was enough distance from the panel, they didn't smell it 😊

[@Rosarium2007]

That very last exchange between Bennett & John

[@gintgotham]

Who was the director on this television show?

[@robbob1234]

Franklin Heller

[@alfredostling2509]

I didn't know that Ernie Kovacs died in a Car Wreck . I thought he had died of Cancer or something like so many people back then did .

[@accomplice55]

At the corner of Wilshire and Santa Monica Boulevard. His daughter by Edie Adams also died in a car crash. Poor Edie. :(

[@brookehanley3659]

More people dying of it now actually.

[@robertjean5782]

​@brookehanley3659 larger population more wrecks 😢

[@yuckyool]

These were heavyweights. Kilgallen had a story about JFK's assignation that probably got her killed. Cerf was a member of the Algonquin Roundtable.

[@BiffJackson-o4i]

Edie Adams looks like a hostage.

[@44032]

They kept waiting for Marilyn Monroe to appear and she never came. I wonder why.

[@brucemarsico6]

Neither did Elvis Presley...…...

[@tomitstube]

i don't think she did television. she definitely didn't need the publicity.

[@brucemarsico6]

Elvis Presley was never on this show. Clark Gable wasn't. Loretta Young, Grace Kelley, Perry Como, Katherine Hepburn, Audrey Hepburn,Rock Hudson, Rita Hayworth, Burt Lancaster, Anne Baxter, Spencer Tracy, Marlene Dietrich, lots of singers and dancers that were famous in the fifties were never guests....maybe they just didn't want to.Joni James was never a guest nor was June Christy or Stan Kenton, Ann Margret.....list goes on....

[@lindajohnson4204]

@@brucemarsico6 I believe that Burt Lancaster and Rock Hudson were both mystery guests.

[@brucemarsico6]

@@lindajohnson4204 If they were I've never seen the reruns on youtube. I don't remember seeing one with Shirley McClain or Marlene Dietrich either.

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

PRESIDENT OF AMERICAN FEDERATION OF MUSICIANS PEARL DIVER

[@RedAndBlackZone]

At 23:31 there is a darkened frame of a couple in evening wear with red titles at top "ATTENTION" and bottom "SMOKERS" of screen. Is this possibly an ad or a warning of some kind? Haha I sound a bit like one of the panel.

[@WhatsMyLine]

It's a stray frame or two from a commercial for a smoking cessation product.

[@RedAndBlackZone]

+What's My Line? Thanks.It did look like that. I often explore odd frames like that - a odd obsession of mine🙃

[@RedAndBlackZone]

+What's My Line? Great work with channel by the way!

[@WhatsMyLine]

RedAndBlackZone Thanks-- glad you enjoy the videos! Sometimes you can see a stray frame or two from the **original** commercials, as opposed to the modern commercials added for reruns. Almost never in these WML recordings, but quite often in the "To Tell the Truth" shows as they aired on GSN (I have a separate channel for TTTT.)

[@loissimmons6558]

+RedAndBlackZone That brief stray frame was quite ironic following a segment featuring Ernie Kovacs smoking his cigar.

[@cluny]

one month after Dumont went dark on August 9.

[@peachesj4748]

They couldn't smell that cigar?

[@robertjean5782]

No😅

[@peachesj4748]

@@robertjean5782 They could, and for some unrealistic reason, they had to pretend that they didn't. Someone else on here asked a similar question about the cigar smell.

[@robertjean5782]

@@peachesj4748 If they could smell it a panelist would have mention it. As they did with other smoking MG

[@peachesj4748]

@@robertjean5782 They could smell it. Now reply to the other person on here that asked about the cigar smell.

[@robertjean5782]

@@peachesj4748 This is 70 years ago get over it. Email Kovacs :)

[@pukulu]

Ernie Kovacs was only 42 years old when he died in 1962.

[@robertjean5782]

😢

[@Chosimba13]

Dorothy got so selfish and flustered at the end over her own inept ability to understand a line of questioning. I'm glad John cleared the air and putt her in her place real quick. lol the way only Mr. Daly could.

[@accomplice55]

Possibly the first time the words "inept" and "Dorothy Kilgallen" have appeared in together in a sentence.

[@williamsnyder5616]

This is a request, if anyone can find this episode of ''What's My Line.'' I was raised in Grand Rapids, MI in the 1950s and one of our beloved citizens was Father Hugh Michael Beahan. aHe was on WML, but it wasn't because he was the pastor of St. Andrew's Cathedral, but because he was a disc jockey on a local radio station. Father Mike was a gregarious man and he stole the show when on WML by beating John Daly in calling for a CONFERENCE. I've been looking all over for this episode but haven't found it. Is it here?

[@robertjean5782]

740 videos 😮

[@RoosterPisces2U]

Yes. I've seen it before. It would help if you knew at least what year he appeared then search the channel for videos during that year. I'm watching in chronological order now. Good luck finding that particular episode.

[@michaelnivens6267]

why Is cerf allowed to continue when he gets a no

[@michaelnivens6267]

and again they are allowed to confer again - poor John ,he Is dealing with children who Ignore the rules

[@robertjean5782]

​@@michaelnivens6267This is rare, but shouldn't be allowed😢

[@cheowteetan3762]

18:28

[@rangerboy7877]

dorothy was really dopey tonight

[@robertjean5782]

Dorothy was a investigative reporter for years 😊

[@cjmacq-vg8um]

tony randal was in the broadway version of "inherit the wind"? what part did he play? Felix Unger the court photographer?

[@accomplice55]

He played E. K. Hornbeck, a journalist modeled on H. L. Mencken. It was a very important role and had a great line: "I may be rancid butter, but I'm on your side of the bread."

[@cjmacq-vg8um]

@@accomplice55 ... thanks for that. i still can't picture him in any part in that play. you know, ole tony had quite a successful career on broadway in the 50's and early 60's prior to his tv appearances. but i still can't picture him on broadway in anything.

[@juanmonge7418]

Tony had a trained theater voice. This was before actors were miked for performances. He did “Inherit the wind” during the week, and “Mr. Peepers” on the weekends. He didn’t take a day off for over a year.

[@willen2416]

Gene Kelly portrayed this character in the excellent movie adaptation that featured Spencer Tracy and Fredrick March in the starring roles.

[@JustFunandGames]

I googled a list of the largest pearls ever found and this one was not mentioned, hmm...

[@BeckaReus]

It looks similar to the Gogibus Pearl, but that one is only 126 carat, and was found in the middle ages.

[@michaelnivens6267]

Lol ,Tony says Marilyn Monroe because Edie does such a marvelous Impression of Norma Jean.

[@kovacsgyorgy5043]

I never expected to see so many adds embedded in this stuff.

[@robertjean5782]

Couldn't snip out, without damaging the kinescope😢

[@richardr8753]

Johnny Daly made a mistake in the scoring with the head of the music union. Tony Randall said you are not a former boxer. He answered no and Daly flipped a card. The answer was yes he is not a former boxer.

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

13:48 Bennett behaved like a total effeminate queen. 21:50 Edie's imitation of Marilyn was amusing, though not very accurate.

[@robertjean5782]

Send her an email 😅😅

[@waynegarrison2481]

When the panel speaks out of turn ALL cards should be turned over that's cheating.

[@robertjean5782]

I agree totally outrageous 😢

[@iamintheburg]

What's a Japanese sandman ? Or who ??

[@loissimmons6558]

"Ther Japanese Sandman" was a popular song at one time, music by Richard Whiting and lyrics by Raymond Egan. It was written in 1920 and was the first record by Paul Whiteman, with vocals by Nora Bayes, and sold over 2 million copies. It was used quite frequently for many years in cartoons that had a Japanese theme, particularly during WWII to mock Japanese characters in the cartoon. "The song is about a sandman from Japan, who exchanges yesterdays for tomorrows. The number has a very Oriental atmosphere, and is similar to many other songs from the interbellum who sing about a dreamy, exotic setting." (Wikipedia) Here's the 1920 original version: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6Gzp4mMiaiSa80 And the anti-Axis powers 1942 Looney Tunes cartoon (the Japanese character is introduced ~4:40): kzbin.info/www/bejne/f3_af56sh7Rja9E

[@Lilbit09]

I wondered if it was a racial slur of some sort. Arlene was rather prone to that, trying to be amusing .

[@robertjean5782]

​@@Lilbit09outrageous BS 😮

[@northernbrother1258]

It's weird to have the panelists introduce each other then the host...it's like they haven't figured it out yet.

[@dadakijito]

It's part of the courtesy they extended to one another, the same courtesy as when they said good-night to one another. They were being polite. 😉

[@robertjean5782]

It's called proper etiquette 😊

[@kristabrewer9363]

Why did he say Marylin Monroe? and why did John give it to him? I know he was joking, but still, I thought they were supposed to be accurate on this show?

[@Chosimba13]

That was one of Edie's trademark impressions, anyone in their time would have understood.

[@robertjean5782]

Cerf often got his way!😊

[@madeleine9907]

That cigarr must smell!