What's My Line? - Fred MacMurray (Mar 15, 1953)

MYSTERY GUEST: Fred MacMurray
PANEL: Dorothy Kilgallen, Steve Allen, Arlene Francis, Bennett Cerf
Many thanks, as always, to epaddon for providing his copy of this episode!
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[@ChadQuick270W]

These four made the best panel for WML? in my opinion. Just perfect!

[@lauracollins4195]

Chad Quick - I agree! This is the Dream Team.

[@shirleyrombough8173]

Chad Quick - I agree.

[@gailjackson8941]

I agree!

[@lethaluks2942]

I miss Fred Allen. This episode is before he died but I also like Steve Allen

[@tejaswoman]

They're pretty good, but Fred is still better than Steve.

[@leesher1845]

Arlene was so smart and Steve Allen was hilarious. Thank goodness they got rid of that business of the contestants leaving by walking behind John Charles Daley. It was so much more dignified when they were able to shake the panel’s hands just like the mystery guests did.

[@sophiemorrison9820]

I agree that the contestants walking behind john Daly as they left was an awkward part of the early shows. Walking in front of the panel was equally awkward. The first couple of shows with Untermeyer and Hoffman was a bit boorish. Examples: do a rumba step, bend over and touch your toes, walk and balance a book on your head. I think the show had difficulty finding its place because of the newness of panel shows and the competition of the other game shows. I'm happy to see that it finally found its footing. As a child I loved watching everything about it from the introductions to the "goodnights". I try to imagine what it might be like to resurrect the show today. I'm happy it hasn't been redone. I don't think it could do it justice judging by the brief summer episodes of totell the truth and match game in last few years. It was of its time and best to be left in its time capsule.

[@lllowkee6533]

Difficult to imagine just WHO came up that ‘walk of shame.?’

[@blaq7427]

The most underrated actor from that era = Fred MacMurray

[@mikejschin]

Agreed. He was adept at both drama and comedy. Loved his performance in "The Caine Mutiny".

[@marysepradet6515]

yes I love this actor, I am French so I cannot really measure if he was underrated or not in the USA , but he is great , for me he is a kind or "ideal man "

[@echoecho3108]

Trivia bit: In 1939, artist C. C. Beck used MacMurray as the initial model for the superhero character who became Fawcett Comics' Captain Marvel.[15]

[@purrrfect6032]

@@echoecho3108 Very interesting! Who would have known. Thank you.

[@echoecho3108]

@@purrrfect6032 😊👍

[@soulierinvestments]

Steve to Fred MacMurray. "Do you do light comedy?" Sure. "Double Indemnity" was pretty funny. We laughed all the way to the graveyard.

[@gardensofthegods]

soulierinvestments Great film put him on the map as a serious and great actor

[@poetcomic1]

@@gardensofthegods Also, the heavy in Caine Mutiny and of course the sleazy boss in The Apartment. But he loved working for Disney when he was older and had the most fun being funny and lovable.

[@JudgeJulieLit]

@@poetcomic1 His "absent minded professor" man-next-door exploratory-scientist character broke the mold.

[@marc7491]

It's amazing how much better the show is with Steve Allen as a panelist!

[@marthawoods8807]

This show is so clean and amusing. It's wonderful to have in this world

[@rmelin13231]

I agree. Fun, entertaining, and it always makes me smile.

[@cathykinn4516]

Clean? Surface only. Cerf was exposed by Jessica Mitford & Dorothy was cheated on by her bisexual husband who disowned her son by her bisexual lover. 1950s Decency.

[@zekezacker9449]

Fred MacMurray was medically disqualified for military service in WW2; he subsequently became a well paid actor during the war years (several Hollywood actors were off doing military duty). He was able to get a contract for My Three Sons that allowed filming of all of his activity at the beginning of the taping season (ie, all of his portions of all of the episodes were filmed first, and then the remainder of all of the episodes were subsequently filmed without him), so he was free to do movies or other activities the remainder of the year (without knowing any details, his first contract was with ABC, and ABC, being a newer TV network in that era, apparently had lenient contracts to attract stars).

[@susanvonthun620]

How did they handle rewrites or changes ?

[@KingFahtah]

Fred MacMurray was still best known for movies. That is going back.

[@AaronHahnStudios]

And Collette was best known for getting her 'Bell' rung. ;-)

[@m.e.d.7997]

Yes but also “My Three Sons”

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

@@m.e.d.7997 Not at that time. My Three Sons started in 1960.

[@71gmf]

I think it's the first time I see Steve Allen taking and winning a wild guess without any hints from the other pannelists!!! He must have known Fred MacMurray very well

[@mjacobsable]

I know Fred Macmurray mainly from My 3 Sons. Having seen this WML episode, I feel like I need to check out his movies.

[@m.e.d.7997]

Made some greats.

[@MilkmanNorm]

He made some great ones with Billy Wilder. Double Indemnity, The Apartment..

[@CamhiRichard]

And "The Absent Minded Professor" and sequel "Son of Flubber" are fun, too. Especially the ending of the former: the army is going to shoot down Fred in his flying Model T Ford near the Capital Dome. An assistant warns the General that congress is in session, so he pauses in his countdown, for two seconds, and then resumes. The thing that finally stops him from demolishing the building is the fact that it's just been given a new paint job.

[@lauracollins4195]

Mark Jacobs - I particularly enjoyed his performance in The Gilded Lily with Claudette Colbert in 1935. :)

[@bjmajor]

He made a ton of Disney movies!!

[@angelajoseph6709]

Wow! I didn't recognize Arlene with her dark hair. The blonde color she wore later was much nicer and helped her looks.

[@El_Ophelia]

I disagree. I like her dark hair much better. Same with Dorothy.

[@grantgullikson9018]

Now I have a little time to watch these WML tv shows . I have always enjoyed watching these videos of the Show .

[@call2872]

He was definitely on par with Barbara Stanwyck in Double Indemity. Equally brilliant, they both carried the film.

[@beeenn649]

Fred MacMurray is probably the most underrated actor all time. He was in some of the top-rated movies like The Cain Mutiny, Double Indemnity and The Apartment and yet he never received an award. It goes to show you how fucked up Hollywood is.

[@neonknights]

The hotel plumber girl is the first left-handed person I've seen on this show. :)

[@lynettepalecek3141]

This show had several left-handed contestants.

[@TheBigMclargehuge]

Such a terrible shame I can't see the colors of their clothing.

[@stanmaxkolbe]

1950's didn't have color back then. Delux invented color in the 1960's

[@TheBigMclargehuge]

@z yeah I feel that but I want to see their clothing. We have entirely different dyes now. The colors they wore will never exist again and even if you get the clothing they've probably faded over the years.

[@lynettepalecek3141]

@@stanmaxkolbe Wrong. They did have color in the 1950s, but it was extremely expensive to produce. It's also extremely expensive for people making these videos and other videos to upload them in color.

[@rotagbhd]

@@stanmaxkolbe The United States first broadcast color in 1950.

[@rotagbhd]

You can easily take a screen-shot and have the image colorized in seconds.

[@VahanNisanian]

There is no mention of Hal Block following his departure. The only time they mentioned him after his departure was on the 15th anniversary show.

[@WhatsMyLine]

The 15th anniversary show is coming up on Sunday, Nov 9th-- with original commercials!

[@Beson-SE]

When Steve Allen says "I think she's a doll", he uses one of Hal Block's old phrases.

[@janinegaston6068]

***** It makes sense that Block's name was mentioned on-camera very few times after his departure and then only regarding telegrams he sent that congratulated his former colleagues on the show's various anniversaries. Gil Fates said in his book that the increasing gap between the show's sophistication and Block's vulgar sense of humor had been the reason Goodson instructed Fates to fire him. Fates told only part of the truth, according to a 1987 video interview with Franklin Heller that you must visit Beverly Hills to watch. Anyone can visit the Paley Center for Media for free. KZbin never will give you the Heller interview. The most important reason for Block's firing is that Fates caught Block using the assistance of his sister, who was seated toward the front of the studio audience, to cheat during a segment with a jazz drummer named Mildred Landwehr from Trenton, New Jersey. Block's sister pantomimed playing the drums while Fates, who stood on the side of the proscenium arch stage, looked at her without her awareness. The audience clapped when Block "guessed" the contestant's line. Evidently, he was a great actor. Watch the kinescope from February 8, 1953. Or you can click below to read comments by tv.com bloggers who have seen the relevant kinescope but have not watched the color videocassette of Franklin Heller talking in 1987. www.tv.com/shows/whats-my-line/episode-141-93121/

[@savethetpc6406]

Janine Gaston I just went back and watched that Feb. 8, 1953 segment, to which you referred ( What's My Line? - Jack Benny (Feb 8, 1953)). The Mildred Landwehr segment begins around 8:40 of that episode. If Hal Block's sister in fact tried to pantomime a hint to her brother, and if he saw her do it, he very clearly made a deliberate decision not to use her clue. He only got "drummer" after calling for a conference and getting the suggestion from Dorothy, who had used logic to deduce it.

[@savethetpc6406]

Janine Gaston After I wrote the above comment I checked out your link to the comments on TV.com regarding the Feb.8, 1953 episode. In fact, those comments completely debunk Heller's assertion of Block's cheating on that episode. My impression is that those commenting on that TV.com page have watched or are at least familiar with the content of Heller's interview, but based on what they have seen for themselves on the episode, they don't believe him. I agree with them.

[@NormAppleton]

Bennett "I can hear the logs rolling" LOLOLOLOL

[@Taela28]

Is it me or is the next week’s person often the same picture?

[@melianna999]

Fred MacMurray 1908 - 1991

[@GOLDVIOLINbowofdeath]

Jules went bankrupt advertising on WML

[@thinthin54]

Kaufman had a warm personality 😆😅😜😁

[@mitch89014]

How did Steve get Fred?

[@lechatbotte.]

The actual Josephine the plumber. Wonder if they took this smart girl as the model for Josephine.

[@johnrogan9420]

Not the first fire eater

[@boognish999]

Steve Allen makes the same comments that hal block would have made when an attractive contestant comes out but yet hal block is a pariah. I don't get the double standard.

[@rotagbhd]

Cerf was the true perv.

[@aaa7189]

@ 19:11 - Always have been a man......Sadly you can't say that today

[@johnrogan9420]

Fred McMurray was a notorious cheapskate.

[@ingriddines9199]

The

[@wadecottingham]

best comment ever!

[@clearfield2009]

I hate how invasive John Daly is allowed to be when he literally puts his hand on the faces of the guests. He touches them in an extremely obnoxious way and puts his face right in theirs. Sorry but lord - how can any guest get away from him? They have to put up or shut up.

[@peternagy-im4be]

Calm your skin down

[@carmenilardi276]

I love this episode, but the feedback is awful and I'm not sure I can watch this again.

[@Rosarium2007]

Audio is fine for me.

[@6falconsue]

I'm 66 years old and I finally get to stay up late enough to watch so many of the WML shows I missed as a youngster. Thanks for posting these videos--a baby boomer's delight. There's a lot of intrigue behind WML that I'm now discovering. Oh, and Hi Ho Steverino!

[@WhatsMyLine]

You're very welcome-- I'm glad you're finally able to catch up on the shows. :)

[@TheBigMclargehuge]

So you finally moved out of your parents house at 66

[@bgdavenport]

I am just a couple of years younger....same story for me.

[@Amcsae]

@@TheBigMclargehuge until they were on KZbin, it could be difficult to watch. I never had GSN, let alone watching the first run.

[@sstavsky]

@@TheBigMclargehuge Very funny!

[@dominicpiscopo7915]

Arlene Francis was always so charming n lovingly I could just watch her forever

[@robertholmberg6485]

I always enjoy "What's My Line"! It would be great if more modern television programs as entertaining, informative, and respectful and clean

[@thunderball6908]

I think the keyword here is respectful. All shows today try to manufacture conflict and arguments for attention. It's just bad for everyone.

[@maxreger100]

I don't think anyone mentioned Mr. McMurray's musical talents--which were mentioned a lot when he was questioned on this show. He played a mean saxophone and sang very well. He had a lovely, long career and his wonderful California ranch now produces delicious wines!

[@loissimmons6558]

Both singing and playing an instrument were mentioned briefly, but Steve Allen guessed correctly so quickly that they never had a chance to go into great detail.

[@gardensofthegods]

Interesting do you know what the name of his Ranch was or is

[@neilmidkiff]

Fred sang and played the saxophone in the Broadway production of "Roberta" (1933-34), by Jerome Kern and Otto Harbach.

[@harvey364]

@@gardensofthegods Just do a search for "MacMurray Estate Vineyards." Once you get to their website, look under their Legacy tab for a brief mention of Fred.

[@lynettepalecek3141]

I have the first season of "My Three Sons" starring Fred MacMurray. In the introduction of each episode, someone is playing the saxophone 🎷. I really liked how they have a drawing of the legs and feet of the 3 sons with the 2 older boys tapping their feet to the music. I don't know if Fred MacMurray is playing the saxophone 🎷 then or not.

[@vonsboy]

Lavaughn Garner was my mother, she passed in 1994., sadly she never got a chance to see this, I was 4 years old when this aired.

[@sdkelmaruecan2907]

Sad to read that... but I guess this WML channel is mostly a treasure for the children or grandchildren of the contestants, it's sad that these people didn't probably even watch themselves on TV as there was no VCR at the time, those were the days where fun was declined in the present tense and you couldn't keep a trace of it... so we've got to be thankful to have the Internet and KZbin to resurrect these old programs and to 'somewhat' resurrect the people who participated in.

[@mj6962]

V. Mickey Aww how cool! How lovely and pretty she was!

[@MusicIsLife-bc3gy]

She looked like a lovely and sweet girl--something about her smile reminds me of the young Judy Garland.

[@NoobsShadow]

She seemed like a lovely midwestern girl from America's greatest generation.

[@pollypocket2282]

What a beautiful and charming contestant she was! It's a shame she never had a chance to see this, but it is such a wonderful time-capsule for you and your family. God Bless!

[@zekezacker9449]

in most all of the WML shows, John is very adept at explaining his rulings - most folks could not do what he does. His recall of what has been said/asked or not said/asked is impressive, especially since I have never noticed his taking any notes.

[@kenhammscousin4716]

He's very sharp. These were the days before Teflon

[@tejaswoman]

It is impressive, though he does have the advantage that as he already knows what the person's line is, he knows what answers were close calls or careful evasions, so they would stick in his head better than they would in the head of a panelist whose mind is busy ruminating on the possibilities.

[@blueduck5589]

No question; Mr. Daly really knows what to say, though he wastes a lot of time trying to say it.

[@laurahoward5426]

John Daly was a great newscaster, or journalist....

[@nataliajimenez1870]

​@@laurahoward5426He was a war correspondent, a White House journalist during the FDR administration and one of the first to report the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was definitely a talented journalist and not just a game host

[@soulierinvestments]

MacMurray had a fantastic career. To think that his long career got BETTER and bigger in the 1960s what with "My Three Sons" and "The Apartment" and a contract with the Disney Studio. I have a particular fondness for "Follow Me Boys."

[@lynettepalecek3141]

He was really good playing a widower with 3 sons in "My Three Sons." That was a great show. I have the first season on DVD.

[@mtnman6557]

He was great in The Absent Minded Professor movies too. After seeing that movie, we went to the store & got a pkg. of Flubber as soon as it was made available. *and yes, we put some on the bottom of our shoes to see if we would bounce real high too (we were young kids); we didn't bounce, but the Flubber itself did indeed bounce high.

[@VahanNisanian]

John Daly receives a shiny new desk, beginning with this episode.

[@garyzerr9821]

Fred McMurray's daughter was in my graduating class at Loyola Marymount University in 1978 and Fred did a really great job as the commencement speaker, after making some jokes about how we all must have thought how dull he was (not!).

[@JudgeJulieLit]

He was iconic in Hollywood film "Flubber" and "Son of Flubber" and as "The Absent Minded Professor," feigning to be a bumbler.

[@gardensofthegods]

He was great in those early films that put him in the map as a dramatic actor especially double indemnity which made him a heavy.

[@JDAbelRN]

@@gardensofthegods my favorite Noir film of all time. Not to be missed.

[@gardensofthegods]

@@JDAbelRN yes , great film , I can't believe how many people have never seen it .

[@mp01juve]

Opening music to Double Indemnity is so haunting

[@SuperWinterborn]

8:39 "The oily bird gets..." Daly tries "a Bennett", and his facial expression says a lot. ;) Btw, I think Bennett was a very gallant person, and I wouldn't mind getting a compliment from him. :)

[@ladya1953]

Fred was a very nice looking man.

[@StephenBurrus4444]

It's odd seeing Fred MacMurray here in his younger days; people of my generation really only remember him as being the father on "My Three Sons"...but MacMurray had a distinguished career as a motion picture actor. He stars opposite Barbara Stanwyck in one of my favorite film noirs, 1944's "Double Indemnity". Having grown up watching "My Three Sons", it's always strange seeing MacMurray in any kind of dramatic role. In this episode of WML, the panel's recognition of him is testament to his acting long before "My Three Sons" made its debut. One side note about Fred MacMurray: he hosted one of the first infomercials I can ever remember from the 1970s. I remember during commercial breaks of "Cross Wits", MacMurray was the spokesman for Chisenbop, a Korean counting method that attempted to make a go of it in America in the mid 1970s. Although not successful here in the USA, Chisenbop is still used in South Korea.

[@lynettepalecek3141]

I have the first season of "My Three Sons" on dvds. That show debuted on September 29, 1960. Stanley Livingston, who played Chip Douglas was 7 years old and his brother Barry Livingston was 5 years old. Stanley Livingston appeared in two episodes of "Ozzie and Harriet." He played one of several boys who went over to the Nelsons's home to watch a "famous" cowboy perform on TV. Of course, the cowboy wasn't really famous. Stanley was pretty good as a child blonde 👱‍♂️ actor.

[@sophiemorrison9820]

I think Stanley Livingston was an excellent child actor in his early my three sons episodes. He seemed to have lost naturalness as he became a preteen/teenager and older.

[@tejaswoman]

Chisenbop! As a child of the '70s, I definitely remember being fascinated by all those news stories about kids who could do rapid mental math using just their fingers. Never knew the origins until I read your comment.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

I know it's been said, but unlike anyone else on the panel, Bennett's looks changed very little from the early 50's to the show end in 1967.

[@shirleyrombough8173]

Joe Postove - I thought that also.

[@slaytonp]

While Arlene got more attractive.

[@lllowkee6533]

Bennett and John had a lot more hair here than in the ‘60s.

[@strafrag1]

Wow, this was great to see. 03/15/53 was a Sunday. I was born Wednesday 03/18/53.

[@retrogamerdad9621]

"I wonder if he'll ever come back." I did a double take as I thought for a moment Mr Block had returned. Indeed Mssrs Cerf and Daly had comments of a similar nature. No, I can't believe Block was fired for his flirtations. I'm a firm believer in the story that the sponsor was unhappy with that one wisecrack he made at their expense (which wasn't even remotely insulting to them).

[@purrrfect6032]

There was one young lady by facial expression was not happy with his comment and I thought so too. But on the whole I think he was charming.

[@debbigray1752]

For several weeks they had both Steve Allen and Hal Block on the same panel and SA contributed so many more laughs and fit in well with the panel. Seemed a no-brainer to not renew Blocks contract.

[@tracydelmere2271]

Lavaughn was my grandmothers sister. I've been looking high and low for this episode. I'm glad I finally found it. She was so young!!! So stylishly dressed and so pretty!!

[@vonsboy]

Who was your grandmother? So we are related.

[@joncheskin]

Steve Allen had a great guess on Fred MacMurray. I did not think he was anywhere close.

[@katydid1955]

Amazing how he guessed that with nothing but "do you still have most of your dark hair?" Unbelievable

[@lynettepalecek3141]

@@katydid1955 He had more information than that. You obviously weren't paying attention.

[@lynettepalecek3141]

@Jonathan C. He put together the clues from the other panelists.

[@rivaridge7211]

I think Steve may have picked up something from Fred's voice, which stood out a bit, in the first question or two. Some of the celebrities have given themselves away (in this regard) during the show's run.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

As I watch this in Israel it has been 23 years since Fred MacMurray died on November 5th, 1991. By the way, he played the saxophone.

[@WhatsMyLine]

I knew that-- but only because he showed off his saxophone skills on an early Jack Benny television show!

[@soulierinvestments]

"My Three Sons" did have that sax-based theme song. Sax-based.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

soulierinvestments Lawrence Welk had a semi-hit with the theme.

[@cbass2755]

I love Fred MacMurray!! I watch My Three Sons all the time. I wasn’t born at this time, I came 4 months later in July. How fun watching these great shows today in 2022 that nothing today compares too. These game shows were really the greatest. Fred’s movies were also fantastic….talented man in both acting and music. It seems many actors back then had other talents other than acting.

[@saran3214]

Watch Sing You Sinners if you want to see Fred's fine singing voice.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Unfortunately Steve never had any success on Broadway. Dorothy mentioned his upcoming debut in "Pink Elephant". It ran for five performances. Ten years later he wrote the music for a play on the early life of Sophie Tucker "Sophie" which ran for eight performances. Steve was smart to never give up on television (although one may say that TV gave on him) so he always worked. He even did radio in the 80's and 90's.

[@TheBraveIntrovert]

Fred did a lot of movies with one of my favorite actresses Claudette Colbert

[@lauracollins4195]

Purple Capricorn - I like the two of them in the Gilded Lily from 1935. :)

[@lynettepalecek3141]

@@robertcarran9585 I have "The Egg and I" on a DVD. That movie also introduced "Ma and Pa Kettle" and their 15 children. I have all 10 "Ma and Pa Kettle" movies on dvds. That movie "The Egg and I" was a great movie!!

[@ghshinn]

This was a great show. I especially like that Fred MacMurray was "channeling" Richard Haydn, aka Edwin Carp. He was the actor who played Detweiller in the film The Sound of Music. In earlier days he invented the Edwin Carp radio character, a "fish expert." He resurrected the character on the Dick Van Dyke Show.

[@2508bona]

Also, the cartoon inventor Clyde Crashcup on THE ALVIN SHOW was a vocal imitation of the Carp character.

[@ghshinn]

Chris Barat I had to look that up, as I'd never watched The Alvin Show, but I think you're right. The Professor Crashcup character does seem to be an imitation of Haydn doing Edwin Carp.

[@loissimmons6558]

+ghshinn I remember that episode of the Dick Van Dyke Show. If I recall, Rob had the idea of bringing to the Alan Brady Show a lot of the old time radio performers who had once been stars but were no longer in the limelight because of television. And the show did give the spotlight to Arlene Harris and Bert Gordon (radio's "The Mad Russian") in addition to Haydn. It was a heartwarming episode on a great show. ("The Return of Edwin Carp": season 3, episode 27)

[@shelleynobleart]

Great knowledge!

[@cricketrecords1411]

He didn’t play Detweiller in “the sound of music.” That was Ben Wright. He played Uncle Max.

[@KingFahtah]

There were perks to being on that panel. FREE CHICKEN!

[@WhatsMyLine]

Today's KZbin Rerun for Sept 30, 2015: Watch along and join the discussion! ----------------------------- Join our Facebook group for WML-- great discussions, photos, etc, and great people! facebook.com/groups/728471287199862/ Please click here to subscribe to the WML channel if you haven't already-- you'll find the complete CBS series already posted, and you'll be able to follow along the discussions on the weekday "rerun" videos: kzbin.info/door/hPE75Fvvl1HmdAsO7Nzb8w

[@innotafanofanyofjlbjlbissd6777]

How the hell do you downvote what’s my line ?

[@keithnaylor1981]

Wow a fire eater! I used to be a fire eater but I gave it up as it caused heartburn!

[@doloresdelgreco8500]

Im glad when they eliminated the part were the guest had to parade in front of panel

[@jadezee6316]

Fred MacMurray...a better actor than given credit for...was at his best of course in double indemnity...... he was also known as one of the cheapest men in hollywood.....finding someone who actually saw him pay for something was near impossible

[@rivaridge7211]

Yes, I once heard Shirley MacLaine say that Fred MacMurray (whom she worked with on "The Apartment") still had the first dollar he ever earned. According to Shirley he came onto the set (everyday) with a brown-bagged lunch from home. In any event, Mr. MacMurray was certainly a fine actor - cheers to his memory!

[@redcan5254]

How did Allen guess Fred MacMurray (???) ... His voice was Well Concealed and the information that the Panel learned was somewhat Misleading ... yes, he was a musician before he got into the Movies and he may have sung once (?) in the Movies ... but (???) ... Anyway ... I am just Surprised ... August 17 2022 (2108 hrs)

[@davidsanderson5918]

Ahhh at last a left-hander (like me) signing the board. For a moment I thought they'd re-arranged the set!!!

[@vonsboy]

She was left handed both I and my brother are left handed as are my two children and one grandchild.

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

As a left handed person myself, it was always difficult for me to write on a chalkboard. While trying to glide the chalk it would always get stuck on the board. It glides better using the right hand.

[@VahanNisanian]

Don't bother asking Gary for the next episode (Pat O'Brien in his first of two MG appearances). It no longer exists.

[@sdkelmaruecan2907]

I liked John Daly's joviality all through this episode, in fact, everyone's in such a good mood, you gotta wonder if it has anything to do with the relief of not having to deal with Hal Block anymore.

[@nanaberry4120]

well, also not having to deal with Benett's obvious loathing of Block made things easier too. Cerf went on vacation for Block's final few episodes, only returning when Block was gone for good. (Edited because autocorrect changes stuff it shouldn't!)

[@michaelnivens6267]

@@nanaberry4120 - I liked Cerf and he was great ,but he was also somewhat of a snobby prude

[@belindaalbright8798]

I don't know that Hal Block was missed by anyone. He was crude and boorish, today he would have had harassment lawsuits.

[@Farrah300]

I saw an episode that had both Fred MacMurray, and his lovely wife, June Haver.

[@jdano9029]

One of the very few episodes, if not the first, that has zero dislikes.

[@WhatsMyLine]

The downvotes on these videos are basically meaningless. 99% of the time, they're left by people who are angry at me personally because they don't like the way I moderate the comments. I try to ignore it!

[@jdano9029]

+What's My Line? In hindsight, I figured there might be something personal about the dislikes, as WML is a very likable show with nothing that might generate dislikes on its own merits. In fact, I always apply a "like" to each episode; they're so much fun to watch.

[@WhatsMyLine]

J Dano I really appreciate that-- clicking thumbs up helps a lot with the search rankings, as does leaving comments!

[@golden-63]

The surest way to attract dislikes on a youtube video that has none, is to mention how the video has no dislikes.

[@mikejschin]

In some later episodes, I've seen comments in which people said they clicked "dislike" because they were offended by the occupation of one of the contestants. For example, big game hunting, raising minks, and jumping into water with a horse.

[@Baskerville22]

It's cruel to put a guest on with just 90 seconds left in the show.

[@lotusbuds2000]

bennet cerf looks pretty much the same in each episode...an older gentleman

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

HOTEL PLUMBER MAKES CHICKEN COOPS FIRE EATER

[@Baskerville22]

Over my many years i've noticed that the bigger the movie star, the more likely it is that they respond generously, kindly and sincerely with their fans and the public generally. Those 'stars' who behave more dismissively, abruptly and even rudely, are those who remained on the fringes of real stardom, or who have had minor success and major disappointments. Fred MacMurray belongs in the company of the good guys.

[@gloriasmall9323]

I am 80 years old and I too get to stay up all night long!! (at last!) Fred has always been a fave. A charmer, mostly. Except in The Pushover. He was despicable!! I loved him anyway.. 💋

[@keithhyttinen8275]

I knew it wouldn't take John long to "have a conference" with that first contestant. Cutie!

[@donnacook8994]

Fred MacMurray was very funny, and I couldn't stop laughing! 🤣 Wonderful actor! I loved My Three Sons, and anything he starred in.

[@kristic4472]

they always miss the fire eaters!!

[@cathykinn4516]

Another free plug for a Cerf publication. This show should have been called 'The Random House Publicity Show' No wonder he genuflected to Daly - "Can I plug my latest book again tonight Jawn? "

[@jaworskij]

A game show on at 10:30 PM EST? Isn't that a bit late?

[@keithhyttinen8275]

Sometimes it got a bit risque, for the 1950's. Thus the late air time.

[@perpieta]

So again the preview guest is the same guy at 25:33 as shown in several older episodes, such as 1952's Oct. 12, Nov. 23, Nov. 30; 1953's Jan. 11. Anyone know why the same picture was used? Was it really part of the original airings?

[@WhatsMyLine]

I'm sure these bits were part of the original airings, no question there. These shows aired live and were never intended to be rerun. There's no conceivable reason why anyone would have tampered with the films after the shows aired to insert a promo for the following week's program. :) As for why they reused the same photo, I assume they figured no one was going to remember a picture flashed on the screen for a few seconds at the end of a show by the time the next one aired a full week later.

[@perpieta]

Thanks. I was just wondering if the official taped versions on file contained a "ringer" (a placeholder -- a stock face like the one I've mentioned, I've also seen a couple of the same female faces used more than once), which would be replaced when the show actually aired.

[@WhatsMyLine]

perpieta Not sure what you mean by "official taped versions on file". . . the kinescopes of WML are literally films created by pointing a film camera at a monitor in the studio as the shows went out live. It's an exact record (in poor quality) of what went out on the air, live, that night. They did reuse the photos for these fake preview teasers for the next show, as you noticed, but John was speaking the words, live, in each of the programs where the photos were reused.

[@perpieta]

Thanks. That's what I was wondering--if ringer photos were used for "the shows [that] went out on the air, live, that night."

[@marysepradet6515]

love Fred Mc Murray and Jack Lemmon !

[@johnrogan9420]

Could have been the twin brother of Richard Nixon

[@ruthkidney3582]

I so love how this show contradicts the perception we have of that era. It was so much liberated via sex, race, etc. Just look at the careers of women and other races in this time! Love it. Hate what the people of our day have indoctrinated in so called education of our youth. So many lies. So proud of my country, the great USA!

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Why would they have to think of a chicken as an animal in a broad sense, as John said?

[@WhatsMyLine]

Only because John labored under the misconception that animal=mammal.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Oh.

[@soulierinvestments]

If you think that a bird is different than a plant or a mineral, then I guess a bird is an animal. It is like the first very broad classification. It's like someone trying to figure me out asking first off if I am carbon-based form.

[@loissimmons6558]

+What's My Line? Also, the challenger initially responded "no" when questioned if it had to do with animals. So the person who built chicken coops was under the same misconception. And the lack of science knowledge has been discussed on many prior episodes.

[@academyofshem]

Fred was a bit of a puzzle. Warm and friendly onscreen, a nasty miser offscreen.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Did they tape the radio show (it was on tape, no) on Sunday night when they televised live?

[@WhatsMyLine]

Joe Postove The info I've found indicates that the 1952-53 radio series was also live, broadcast on Wednesdays. It may have gone to transcription later in the run, but started out live.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Thanks! Do you know if it was sponsored?

[@MrJoeybabe25]

What's My Line? Here's a radio show from David Von Pein's Old-Time Radio Channel. It was transcribed. Was the radio show on NBC at any time? WHAT'S MY LINE? (1953 RADIO EPISODE)

[@madeleine9907]

Allen showed his front teeth like sticking out like the plumber girl...I think that was rude of him, she was such a nice girl.

[@peternagy-im4be]

Please don't be so silly

[@peternagy-im4be]

Other panelists made just as crude remarks as Hal Block did and nothing is said. Talk about double standards.

[@rotagbhd]

Agreed. Bennet Cerf is was more pervy than Hal ever was. He constantly makes suggestive comments about Arlene during the intros, which I am sure his wife must have enjoyed hearing him fawning over her every week🙄

[@SaxonC]

Arlene always makes me smile 😃

[@pattyajones]

Am not understanding the Chicken Coop one? Why was the panel led to believe this was something to be worn?

[@DanieltheTruebadour]

A friend has the clever moniker Handy Ma'am emblazoned on the side of her tool-filled van.

[@lllowkee6533]

This is the PERFECT panel…. Also would be with Tony Randall.. I love Steve and Bennett.

[@julegate]

I always enjoy the different jobs people had, especially the women.

[@starababa1985]

It's interesting how Fred could handle both sinister and comic roles so well.

[@sharonstallo6836]

This shows rigfed

[@lindaroper2654]

This is the first time I saw the men not stand up for those that come to shake their hands on the way out .

[@leesher1845]

I hate when they rushed the last contestant. That wasn’t nice or fair.

[@CJ-jf9pz]

Was there just not that many famous actors/people back then? I don't get how they seem to always figure out who it is so fast.

[@jarst50]

I think it might be because actors would go on the few shows that existed back then to promote something like a movie or stage show. They probably saw or heard them on another show promoting something.

[@VahanNisanian]

19:09 Oh, Bennett! When he said "And always have been".

[@waynehowell6160]

This was one month after Christine Jorgensen's sex-change operation had come into the public eye. She was the first American known to have such surgery.

[@loissimmons6558]

+corner moose Actually about three months after. Her story hit the front page of the New York Daily News on Dec. 1, 1952. However, she didn't return to the U.S. and the NYC area where she was born and raised until a month before this program aired. Quite frankly, I found Bennett's remark far more distasteful than anything Hal Block ever said or did. People should never be treated as a joke simply because of their identity.

[@YY4Me133]

It's odd to see Arlene Francis with dark hair.

[@kevinmiller6380]

Never knew Fred MacMurray ever appeared on a game show.

[@joycejean-baptiste4355]

The fire eater has burned out a couple of front teeth.

[@iamintheburg9820]

I've never noticed an episode where the male panelists remained seated to shake hands

[@rotagbhd]

Many of the previous episodes they remain seated.