What's My Line? - George Burns & Gracie Allen; Margaret Truman [panel] (Jun 6, 1954)

And here is my all time favorite mystery guest appearance (though I'm severely biased as a huge fan of George and Gracie). So absolutely charming, and especially a treat since Gracie made very few appearances on TV outside of their own show.
MYSTERY GUESTS: George Burns & Gracie Allen
PANEL: Margaret Truman, Steve Allen, Arlene Francis, Bennett Cerf
-------------------------
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[@fonso1030]

Gracie was amazing, I think she sensed the show was lagging and gave it away. One of the greatest teams in comedy 🎭 history

[@mjp29]

Either that or an idiot

[@seethevolcane-qj8ys]

Yes, Gracie knew the "knocks" were boring.

[@billolsen4360]

"Don't answer, George" Brilliant comedienne

[@Rosarium2007]

🤣

[@donnawoodford6641]

Did she forget herself?

[@kennethlatham3133]

I love it when the celebrity guest blows it by saying something funny. Jerry Lewis did it; Jack Benny did it by saying loudly, "Now cut that out!" to a panelist.

[@Soleman92]

Gracie was just such a doll. What a spectacularly talented lady.

[@juliansinger]

In addition to Gracie's comic timing, and George and Gracie communicating in pantomime, I love how much Daly enjoys them.

[@WhatsMyLine]

Yes! Although, who didn't? :)

[@jamesdavison2927]

I'm so very grateful that these are put here on KZbin AN ABSOLUTE TREASURE

[@willrothfuss8470]

Gracie never broke character. After the knocking, "Don't you answer George", in her own inimitable voice. Vintage Gracie.

[@4seeableTV]

She was a clever girl.

[@michaelbarlow6610]

That's interesting what Bennett Cerf said that if the viewing audience wanted to read about Dorothy Kilgallen's European vacation, her father Jim Kilgallen was substituting for her in writing her "Voice of Broadway" column for the Journal American while she was away on vacation in Europe.

[@billolsen4360]

My favorite was Gracie putting a dozen roses into water at their home, George coming in and asking where she got them and Gracie saying, "Don't you remember, George? I said I was going to visit Mrs. Grayson today because she was in the hospital and you told me take her flowers."

[@shuroom57]

​@@billolsen4360Omigod, lol! Hilarious!

[@theblake5356]

Steve Allen’s knocking bit is comedy genius. 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😅

[@generalpatzer6893]

George & Gracie were like huge stars of comedy back then. Probably one of the top 5 top comedy teams of all time!

[@wholeNwon]

Of course.

[@4seeableTV]

I love Gracie's clever ad lib "don't answer George". It even caught him by surprise.

[@johnloring5316]

Gracie Allen was one of the best comics of all time. George loved her so much and was happy to play straight man to her. After Gracie died in 1964, George slept in her bed for years to try to get over the loss.

[@heatherwhittaker6169]

I'm watching Burns and Allen every day..they keep me positive during this difficult time..I love those two..And Gracie so,sweet ...she is an icon.

[@chosenlight7289]

Me too!!

[@sunnyangiebeenestork1899]

Me three

[@christopherstarr8050]

she was magical

[@withasideofdoodles-5610]

ME, TOO!

[@debbigray1752]

I'm a huge fan too. We just watched the show where Gracie is a magician's assistant and our whole family is mimicking Gracie now. She is so funny

[@michellepost1016]

George and Gracie were both good looking back then and before.They loved each other so much, and he truly missed her after she died.That book he wrote of their life together was beautiful.

[@christineporter7562]

Yes it was. And neither of them had to curse or be half naked to entertain.

[@kevinw712]

I remember George from my childhood far more than Gracie (outside of the classic "say goodnight Gracie" line), I guess it was the usual part of their act that she was clueless about everything? because I found it a little curious she'd need to look to her husband to answer whether or not she worked in the entertainment business lol Surely she'd know that herself.

[@Rosarium2007]

Kevin W she was keeping in character

[@robposton2439]

Gracie's name fits her. She was the epitome of grace and beauty!

[@JRIJR75]

George wrote that before Gracie left home, she would always remove an item - a bracelet, ring, brooch, etc. That way she would ever be overdressed.

[@guyrestivo]

"Burns and Allen Show " is the funniest show of all time and (imo) and i'm grateful that i get to watch it even now......and boy do i love Gracie!!!!!

[@charles2241]

The thing that was so excellent about it, is EVERY one of the characters were funny, and usually every show was that way, though at times Ronny was fairly non-comical. I'd really have a hard time trying to decide which character was the funniest. I loved too that they were unconventional enough to give George that magic tv.

[@kristabrewer9363]

@Haro19 OG Me too. I'm 46, and just started watching the show a few weeks ago. For a show back in the 50's, this is pretty good show

[@user-kw7mr6xt9n]

"I'm going to ask our guests to use their voices now" "Don't answer George!" *outstanding move* (not even joking; that's the perfect response; it ended the round before everyone got too stumped, prevented the game from dragging, and was perfectly in character for Gracie)

[@blucy10]

I have no doubt that she did it purposefully. Genius move.

[@meirwise1107]

"Don't answer George".....that's classic Gracie.

[@JClark-34695]

"Don't answer, George!" Best What's My Line response EVER!!

[@karenmallonee3867]

During Covid-19 2020 I have been watching them everyday! What a wonderful program they had, too funny! They have me laughing constantly, what wonderful medicine!!! ❤️

[@listeningeyes3298]

Are you commenting on this game show AND/OR The George Burns and Gracie Allen television shows both?

[@karenmallonee3867]

Ok, I have watched this one episode now about 25 time...I just love George & Gracie, together!!! They're comedy is perfection, no other married comedy acts could ever come close! I'm a huge fan of the Nelson family (O.H.D.& R.), I love them to death, but even they would say, "We're no George & Gracie!" ❤️❤️❤️

[@CaseyTyler357]

This is my favorite WML episode! I love George and Gracie's TV and radio shows, and I'm so grateful to my grandparents for introducing me to them. I just wish it was easier to get a hold of the "oldies" so other members of my generation could discover them. Thank you What's My Line? for posting these!

[@amyreynolds3619]

The one with Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball is tied for 1st place with me.

[@stephenwestern]

I always felt sorry for the guests who were squeezed into the last two minutes, having come all the way to NY!

[@loissimmons6558]

On the other hand, it was almost always a guaranteed $50 for the challenger. And in this case, the challenger was from NYC. That was 30¢ for a round trip ride on the subway in 1954,

[@netram28]

Most of the last-minute guests were NYC natives who were on stand-by. They knew ahead of time that they may not go on at all.

[@kristabrewer9363]

me too

[@wholeNwon]

The show was difficult to time but I agree. They could have done a better job.

[@APCLZ]

i think 50$ was a lot of money back then, wasnt it?

[@tonyspinnelli730]

I just want to give Gracie a hug!! What a sweet woman she must have been!!! I met George Burns in Atlantic City after a performance, he was very gracious!!!!!!

[@moonlightray8493]

Steve Allen always (rather unknowingly) asks the most amusing questions! The mental imagery of him and Arlene just casually passing time inside a manhole is nothing short of hilarious, ahaha

[@TheCpage66]

Brigette Friang...an absolutely amazing lady. Part of the French Resistance during WWII and was captured by the Gestapo. She was shot while attempting to escape them and was then tortured and sent to the concentration camps... She wrote a great book called "Parachutes and Petticoats" and it is a very good read.

[@mikejschin]

She has quite a few books listed on Amazon and abebooks, most of them in French. Unfortunately, the only available copy of "Parachutes and Petticoats" costs $200. By the way, the sheer guts and determination of the French Resistance in the face of horrible risks makes a mockery of those who belittle the courage of the French people.

[@kennethlatham3133]

@@mikejschin That is true about the Résistance, and I am glad you brought it up. People should know about these things. There are lion-hearted people in every nation on earth.

[@meirwise1107]

It was an age of grace, elegance, good manners and all those old fashioned values that have gone with the wind never to return. Aaaah, nostalgia isn't what it used to be!

[@alexismorell-carrington-co6310]

Yeah and lynching, burning crosses on the lawn.. and separate entrances etc were such a good graceful age...

[@stanmaxkolbe]

@@alexismorell-carrington-co6310 Yes that is true in the South. This is NYC!

[@alexismorell-carrington-co6310]

Stanley Holewa I’m aware of that.

[@randallerickson175]

@@alexismorell-carrington-co6310 Are you saying it's better today with all the hatred, racism and the embarrassing assault on the Capital building by traitors to our United States? At least those on the panel spoke eloquently, dressed smartly and they ALL respected EVERY guest on the program, whatever the contestants skin color was.

[@alexismorell-carrington-co6310]

Randall Erickson missed the point darling, but no time in history has ever been all that great... for one or another reason. True solstice comes from the beyond. Toot a loo.

[@virginiahanna869]

Why is nobody commenting on the manhole guy? He's great!

[@WhatsMyLine]

Today's KZbin Rerun for 2/12/16: What can I say? This is my all time, all time, all time favorite mystery guest segment ever. I'm thoroughly biased, of course, but could anyone find George and Gracie anything less than completely irresistible here? This video used to have a LOT more views than it does now. I had to repost it several months ago for. . . "reasons". This had always been one of the most popular videos I posted on any channel, ever, but we lost all those accumulated views in the process of reposting it-- around 100,000 worth! George and Gracie will climb back up the ranks, though. Just need a little more time. :) ----------------------------- 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

[@ToddSF]

I'm glad this is back -- I saw it previously, but I was thinking of George and Gracie and wanted to see this again. They were lovely people as well as hilarious. I love watching re-runs of their TV show. I'm always proud to remember that Grace Ethel Cecile Rosalie Allen was born and raised here in San Francisco -- she went to parochial school at Star of the Sea Elementary at 9th & Geary -- next to the church of the same name.

[@wholeNwon]

It's my favorite, too. How could one not love Gracie?

[@daisyy99]

They were so delightful!! Such a beautiful couple!!

[@vietwarriorvet]

Great to see this in 2020 since I was only 7 years old when it was made. Still watching George and Gracie!

[@rusvaryag6172]

George would say " Gracie, how's your uncle Harry"? She would talk for 20 minutes and George became a BIG STAR!!!

[@sunnyangiebeenestork1899]

Or all I had to do was ask Gracie about her brother, and she talked for 20 minutes. I love them, that's why!

[@laurathornton1456]

I loved them! Gracie especially!

[@4seeableTV]

Me too. Sad that she would pass just 10 years after this.

[@soulierinvestments]

One of the great mystery guest spots - - ever. Also it contains factual evidence about the way live TV worked at that period of time . Post- two shows in live radio and pre- videotape in TV. WML 10:30 pm ET 7:30 pm PT

[@robertmelson2130]

I at first thought that this must be Margaret Truman's first appearance. At 2:52, when John Daly calls on her to start the free guesses on the first contestant, she gasps (in surprise, presumably) and seems a bit taken aback. Then at 3:41, JCD starts the questioning with Steve Allen and we can hear an intake of breath, again presumably from Margaret, relieved that she didn't have to be the one that starts., after which Steve Allen turns to her and says, "Got by that time," while we hear her say "Whew". As it turns out, this is actually her 2nd appearance, the first being 3 months earlier on 3/21/54. I thought she was a charming panelist whenever she was on.

[@listeningeyes3298]

Two of my favorite Mystery Guests😊!

[@loissimmons6558]

I wonder if the WML staff felt that Mme Friang might be recognized by Dorothy as fellow journalists and deliberately scheduled her for any available date when Dorothy was on vacation. And then it turned out that Arlene had recently interviewed her.

[@patrickryan1515]

George and Gracie -- delightful!

[@4seeableTV]

Gracie Allen may have played a ditz, but she was really very witty, as we see in the great ad-lib.

[@soulierinvestments]

What a line from Arlene: "Her advise in Indo-China was 'don't shoot.' " =wow= Too bad few people took that advise to heart for the next three decades.

[@stevekru6518]

Truer words were never spoken. Arlene should’ve been president

[@jtm726]

In an article of the Washington post called George Burns, for the love of Gracie George Burns has an interview in 1988 and i took a passage where he talked about Gracie Allen. "He wrote all her material and called her Googie. She called him Nattie and died in 1964, leaving him the keeper of her rather cockeyed flame. Of course, he has found new fame on his own as a hired pitchman and nightclub act, as well as starring in films ("The Sunshine Boys," "Oh, God!," "18 Again") and writing five books, several of them bestsellers. There are some people who think George Burns won't die unless he gets a guaranteed run of four weeks with top billing. .......But it's Gracie he's here to talk about. Deliciously daffy Gracie. With her flat, nasal voice forever nattering on to Blanche Morton and Harry Von Zell about her Uncle Harry or her missing brother. "Gracie didn't think she was dumb. Gracie thought she was smart. Gracie didn't tell a joke, she explained it." Like the time the couple's banker came to the house to try and straighten out their account: " 'Now, Mrs. Burns,' he continued. 'This check made out to Bullock's is torn in several pieces. I guess that was an accident?' " 'Oh no,' Gracie corrected him. 'I sent it to them that way.' " 'But why?' " 'Well, I didn't know how much I owed them. This way, they can keep what I owe them and send me back the change.' " Burns invented Gracie. "Yeah. Yeah." He rarely takes credit. "My credit was offstage. I was able to think of it. Gracie was able to do it. Without Gracie, I was nothing." He crosses his legs. "Grace was a dramatic Irish actress." (Puff.) "She used to make people cry." (Puff.) "I used to make people cry when I'd go on." (Cigar in mouth.) In her day, Gracie Allen was the most successful of the "Dumb Dora" characters. But comediennes today have abandoned that airhead persona (Suzanne Somers and Loni Anderson are exceptions) in favor of a sharper image. "If they pay 'em enough, they'll be dumb," says Burns. "But women are smarter now than they were in the '40s. "Gracie was smart dumb." Another pull on the cigar. "Here's how Gracie did it. I said to Gracie, 'Did the nurse ever drop you when you were a baby?' She said, 'That's the silliest question I ever heard. We were very poor. My mother had to do it.' " Did Gracie ever come up with her own lines? "No. Gracie was entirely different off the stage." In fact, Gracie Allen was extremely intelligent. She was also plagued with migraine headaches and later with heart disease, insecure about her own stature and wealth, badly scarred on her left arm from a childhood accident (she never wore revealing dresses because of it). Allen was also a woman who saw show business less as an art than as a steady job. Burns reveals that Allen's relationship with her supposed best friend Mary Benny (Jack Benny's wife) was often strained. "She {Mary} would lie a lot," Burns now says. He also confesses to have strayed from the marital bed once, in the early 1950s. "I had too many martinis that night," says Burns. "I have no idea who I did it with." (In the book, he identifies the other party only as a gorgeous starlet.) Plagued with guilt, he presented his wife with a silver centerpiece and a $10,000 diamond ring. "You know, I wish George would cheat again," Gracie quipped to Mary Benny years later. "I really need a new centerpiece." .....

[@heyporcupine]

This only goes to show that good TV is gone. This is what I grew up with. Good clean wholesome television. Fun and serious with no vulgarity. I miss shows like this.

[@bobbywimsy6741]

heyporcupine I agree. This kind of comedy is purifying relaxing and human, very human.

[@independentfilmchannel1476]

It's absolutely astounding how many great people appeared as mystery guests on that show over seventeen seasons. It was almost as much an honor as having your handprints in cement outside Grauman's Chinese Theater.

[@shuroom57]

I come here to binge-watch WML episodes and get away from the 21st century.

[@dreammerchant4442]

The very moment Gracie answer it's like the whole place had a over whelming amount of love that burst threw the whole place.it right away displayed the powerful amount of love and how well thought of they are to film industry and Hollywood yester year has not seen any one near this couple ..SO WELL EXCEPTED AND LOVE AND MISSED TODAY..APRIL 15 COVID 19 DAYS..

[@karenleemallonee684]

This episode just thrills my heart ❤️, love George & Gracie soooo much!!! 🌼

[@erichanson426]

Best episode of WML, in my opinion; not only a great mystery guests but only show I have seen where the panel got stumped on both times (I don't count the last 2 minute one)

[@MrPireasxios]

Interesting how respectful Steve Allen is. He stands to shake hands with everyone

[@jackkomisar458]

Two days after this episode aired, on June 8, 1954, British mathematician Alan M. Turing was found dead in his home near Manchester, England. Turing's work in deciphering the Enigma and Tunny machines, which the German army used to send coded messages, was important to the allied victory in World War II. Turing also made major contributions to mathematics, artificial intelligence, and the theory behind digital computers.

[@Lampshade51]

Gracie was not only a great comedy star, but a wonderful dancer (which is how she started on stage before she met George). Check out the film "A Damsel in Distress" where George and especially Gracie keep up with Fred Astaire!

[@wholeNwon]

Thanks for the reminder; I had forgotten that.

[@vintage.doll.1926]

Love that movie!!

[@EricVoegelin]

Allen is in good health here. A pleasure to see her expressions w/o a hint of her cardiac problems.

[@davidturk6301]

John almost gave it away at first while explaining the knocks. He first said “voices”, but quickly added “voice”, and the rest of the explanation.

[@margis.5873]

George: "Say Goodnight, Gracie." Gracie: "Goodnight Gracie." ❤

[@Jazbo777]

I love George and Gracie

[@FermatWiles]

Interesting fact: Brigitte Friang was abmember of the French Résistance against Nazi Germany and a survivor of Sachsenhausen concentration camp.

[@enigmatic9118]

I just love Gracie 💚 I am 24, and my favorite shirt is a "Gracie for President" shirt. Nobody ever gets the reference. Lol

[@kennethlatham3133]

One of my favourite lines (to the camera) by George Burns about his wife, on their sit-com: "You think Gracie's not sharp? Listen, she's got more brains in her head than you've got in your little finger".

[@WhatsMyLine]

Comments left on prior version of this video: thetiler 1 year ago I think i've had more fun watching these shows on youtube that I've had from any game show I've ever watched! This show is highly entertaining to say the least ! :) For me anyway! What's My Line? 1 year ago So glad to read that. :) It's a very addictive show, and as I said in the description for this video, this is my favorite mystery guest segment on any show. nandofigueira2005 1 year ago (edited) Brigitte Friang(1924-2011 was a French journalist and writer. She was born in Paris in 1924 and immediately after leaving school in Paris in 1943 joined the French resistance. Working in the same group as Colonel F. F. E. Yeo-Thomas, she was captured by the Gestapo, shot while trying to escape, then taken to Fresnes Prison and tortured, before being deported to Ravensbrück concentration camp. After the war, she was liberated and returned to Paris where she worked for four years as a press aide to André Malraux, before becoming a journalist. In 1953, she was sent to French Indochina as a war correspondent. There she undertook parachute training and was dropped, in the opening hours of Operation Castor, into Ði?n Biên Province, in the north-west corner of Vietnam. She made several combat jumps including one with Lt Col Bigeard's 6th ColonialParatroop Battalion at Tu-Le after which she accompanied the 6th on their retreat to French lines. She survived the war and returned to Paris where she worked as a writer and journalist until her retirement.She died 6 March 2011 at the age of 87. corner moose 3 months ago That was revealing. George said they watched the program at 7:30 every Sunday night. I never realized that the networks used to show live TV shows to the west coast in real time, rather than making them watch the kinescope three hours later, a practice I've always disdained, especially for shows originating in L. A.. MattTheSaiyan 4 months ago (edited) I think Margaret Truman is very charming in this episode. Also, I wonder how much survives of Arlene's series "Home". A lot of the 1950s daytime shows were discarded after broadcast, even more so than prime-time shows. In terms of the 1950s, the only thing which has a lower survival rate than daytime TV is late-night TV. jmccracken1963 1 year ago Another very good episode - although the panel was basically "skunked" by the contestants on this one. Margaret Truman is delightful as a guest panelist (and beautiful, too); whether as guest panelist or as Mystery Guest, her facial expressions (especially her eyes) are fun to watch, and she's a good questioner, too. The segments with Brigitte Friang and with George Burns and Gracie Allen are a lot of fun to watch - very entertaining, and the contestants in both segments have a good time stumping the panel. Thank you very much for sharing these with us!!!!! Johan Bengtsson 10 months ago I love it when the second contestant from Paris totally ignores Bennett when he tries to be funny and asks her if she could show some can-can for them! :) 10:44 mrpuniverse2 1 year ago George outlived nearly the whole panel A true Master A fact most my not know his last TV appearance or commercial was for Australian Rules Football in his last year of life The ad was in 1996 and he had show girls and all the ad can be found on you tube What's My Line? 1 year ago +mrpuniverse2 George did, in fact, outlive everyone else onstage with him! Buffoon1980 1 year ago +What's My Line? Wikipedia tells me that Margaret Truman lived to 2008. Which is good to know, I find her very appealing :) nowvoyagerNE 7 months ago +Buffoon1980 does she at all remind you of Ellen Degenerese in looks? Aaron Sakulich 11 months ago May I ask why it's not right to ask a woman if those are her working clothes? I feel as though I've missed out on a roundabout 1950s saucy joke... Golden 7 months ago Working girl = prostitute. joed596 6 months ago thanks very much :-) Jc Ripp 1 year ago Mr Dunham. Hairpiece from Woolworths PepsiMama2 1 year ago Love Love Gracie Allen... Julie King 1 year ago THANK-U SO MUCH Sal Bazaz 1 year ago I like john charles daly telling George and Gracie to "say goodnight" to the panel. Nice touch caroline n 1 year ago What a classy couple! George & Gracie. lemorab1 1 year ago Why is there nothing anywhere on KZbin of WML in 1952? Did someone destroy all the tapes from that year? I read somewhere that David Niven's only appearance as a mystery guest was among those lost. What's My Line? 1 year ago +lemorab1 Very few shows from before July 1952 were preserved. What's My Line? 1 year ago +lemorab1 Also, there's not "nothing" from 1950-52. I have most of the surviving episodes already posted, with more to come. Just look at the playlist for 1950-54. robert szvetics 1 year ago GEORGE AND HIS BRIDE THE BEST Aritosthenes 1 year ago ~ This is EASILY one of my very Favorite episodes as well!! ;'D To be fair, I can't exactly say that this is my sole favorite tho' - there are some other DOOZIES which you have so graciously uploaded. Maureen O'Hara and Sally Rand being but two other mystery guests (off top of head) that were just. absolutely.. Wonderful... lemorab1 1 year ago Thank you so much for this! I saw most of these as a kid in the 1950's. Dorothy, Arlene, Bennet and Steve were grownup models of smarts, sophistication, and elegance for me. These shows bring back wonderful memories. What's My Line? 1 year ago +lemorab1 Glad you enjoyed it. This is my all time favorite mystery guest spot. :) soulierinvestments 1 year ago Arlene's program was NBC "Home." It lasted three seasons. "The advise that she gave people in Indo-China was don't shoot." LOL Arlene. And considering all the mayhem that last through three decades there, that would be good advise indeed. rick charles 1 year ago George & Gracie were the best! Now THERE'S a love story. rick charles 1 year ago in reply to What's My Line? Thanks! I will find those!!! Sounds like good Christmas presents too. What's My Line? 1 year ago in reply to rick charles George's book about their life together, "Gracie: A Love Story" is wonderful-- anyone who loves the team should read it. Much less remembered and harder to find now is his first book, 1955's "I Love Her, That's Why", which was plugged pretty relentlessly on their TV show. Both books were bestsellers, and do a great job of showing off his overwhelming love for Gracie. He often said that with the amount of time they spent together, it was like three marriages combined vs a normal couple, What's My Line? 1 year ago in reply to soulierinvestments Arlene Francis was so absolutely charming, I wish I could see one of her "Home" shows despite having no interest in the subject matter at all. She had such an easy, dry, witty sense of humor and a radiant smile. I don't think I've ever seen her perform as an actress-- I believe she mostly acted in theater.

[@markcornish2519]

She's very good in the comedies, one two three with jimmy cagney and the thrill of it all with doris day

[@preppysocks209]

@@markcornish2519 Differing opinions. Arlene as a 57 yo pregnant woman in the unfunny Thrill of It All was silly to me.

[@smurfydude77]

What I'd really like to watch, at least once, is the conversation between John and the guest before they start the show.

[@TheFrizbaloid]

It takes someone very smart and witty to do what Gracie did. To come up with that line on the spot was genius.

[@vintage.doll.1926]

"Don't answer, George, it's a trap!" AND "Three knocks means 'We're not sure, but it could be.' " [The segment with George and Gracie starts at 17:01 if anyone wants to skip ahead to the good part!]

[@RisingTidesAC]

Gracie was a national treasure!

[@soulierinvestments]

Gil Fates mentioned the first contestant in his book. and Gracie is in a league of her own, here and everywhere.

[@sabinebeyer9249]

Hi Gary, I can understand, why this is your favorite mystery guest appearance, what a pleasure to see this. And the french journalist is really a interessting person, what a life! I think Margaret Truman would had been* a very good regular panelist *I'm not quite sure is the grammar right?

[@WhatsMyLine]

+Sabine Beyer Only since you asked about grammar-- really only since you asked-- it should be "I think Margaret Truman would HAVE been a very good panelist". But really, only since you asked. :)

[@sabinebeyer9249]

Thanks Gary, my school times are so far away and my daughter isn't at all times available to ask.

[@Robbi496]

Maybe Margaret could not sing very well, but she could write well and her father was one of our GREAT Presidents!

[@wholeNwon]

FDR should have kept him in the loop but didn't.

[@clash5j]

George never made any bones about the fact that Gracie WAS the act. He would say (paraphrasing) - I could just ask Gracie a question and she could ad-lib and go on for 30 minutes. That was the act! -

[@Steff2929again]

I can't believe I managed to miss this episode. I have watched 748. I only have a few more left. Just not sure which ones, so this was a pleasant surprise :)

[@suelutz5364]

I don't want to get to the end! I haven't been watching them in order, so I've already seen the last episode 😪

[@bluedoris88]

We had this show in the uk, but we didn’t have cash prizes,it was the bbc ,no commercial sponsorship

[@mikejschin]

One episode of the UK show is available on KZbin. Unfortunately, all of the others seem to have been lost or destroyed. But if you want to see more of Eamonn Andrews, he was the guest host on the US show at least once and a panelist 2 or 3 times. I did enjoy the UK episode: everything was familiar, yet different. Very much like everything I saw in London during my frequent visits there. It's been 23 years since I was last there, but I will always remember a fascinating country populated by wonderful people.

[@TheMaxou92]

Oh Gracie ❤️🌹

[@donlove3741]

George and Gracie !

[@robertmelson2130]

When looking up Margaret Truman's appearances to see if this were her first time, I found that a former WML panelist had died 2 days previously. Gov. Harold Hoffman. I guess it's no surprise that no mention was made on the program.

[@d.l.l.6578]

They were all so good natured.

[@ToddSF]

George just answered a question I've had for a while -- he said that he and Gracie watched "What's My Line?" every Sunday "7:30 in California". So they did show it live in California -- 10:30 p.m. in the Eastern Time Zone (including New York) would be 7:30 p.m. in the Pacific Time Zone (including California). I already knew people in the Central Time Zone saw it at 9:30 -- Central has always shown everything in Prime Time an hour earlier than Eastern. So I'll wage people in the Mountain Time Zone watched WML at 8:30 p.m. It might have been that way from the beginning. (By the way, I've always found Gracie to be adorably cute, this appearance included -- and everything she did was funny, including when she gave it away by saying, 'Don't answer, George!'

[@RayPointerChannel]

Yes, this reveals a bit of television history. Before the inception of the Coxial Cable, live shows originating on the east coast would be recorded as a 16mm Kinescope, which this is here. Apparently Los Angeles had just been connected to the Coaxial Cable by this time, as were most of the key cities. The rest of the country was in the process of being connected over the next four to six years. While Video Tape came into being in 1957, it was not widely used at the start due to its $300 per reel cost at the time. It was used sparingly starting in 1958, and its use expanded in the 1960s, becoming normal practice as costs came down.

[@loissimmons6558]

+ToddSF 94109 Ditto on your parenthetical remark at the end.

[@stevekru6518]

Arlene was brilliant. In the 1950s she warned against shooting in Indo-China when most people didn’t realize the immorality and stupidity until ten years later.

[@WhatsMyLine]

Classic scenes from the Burns and Allen TV show: kzbin.info/aero/PLHaioNpr_GDZteqZ9RaP6lRIsioXkn08R

[@WhatsMyLine]

Some rare Burns and Allen TV episodes can be found (oddly enough) on the You Bet Your Life channel here: kzbin.info/aero/PLHaioNpr_GDbMR49EIR36C-9iVeUP3hRV

[@JohnDonovanProductions]

I love Gracie! She was also on another show, information please, on which she stunned audiences by more than keeping pace with her fellow panelists.

[@michaelnivens6267]

This Is great - It Is much better when they cannot hear the celebs voices - makes for a much better , enjoyable game

[@markoperak5989]

Nice of Bennett for mentioning Dorothy at the end 🙂

[@Rosarium2007]

Love the outfit of the second contestant.

[@loissimmons6558]

Around the 5:00 mark, Bennett makes a motion with his hand to Arlene during the middle of Steve's gambit. At first I thought he was expressing impatience and he wanted Steve to speed up his line of questioning. But on further consideration, he might have been making a motion like an amusement park ride.

[@CCoburn3]

I love Gracie. And George ALWAYS said that she had the talent.

[@mikemorgan7893]

My mother loved Burns and Allen

[@hiyapal7719]

I love Steve Allen's strong chin and jaw. He had a very photogenic face.♡

[@davidcarroll1883]

Gracie was so sweet!

[@tiglilly8208]

They need to do a remake of this show today. DONT ANSWER George. I almost tinkle from laughing

[@james5460]

I bet they had Gracie's line scripted out. That was too perfect, and they had to end it quick to squeeze in the last guest. Still, perfectly delivered with exquisite timing. That was show biz royalty right there and the panelists, no slouches themselves, were impressed.

[@dovbarleib3256]

Manholes in South Florida need to be hermetically sealed to prevent alligators from popping through them. So they do prevent animals from popping through them.

[@ironduke2000]

The French contestant reminds me a little of Isabella Rossellini.

[@gphell33]

Their tv show was great, but let’s not forget the radio show. GRACIE ALLEN FOR PRESIDENT!!! The 1940 Surprise Party candidate.

[@franksantore2810]

The day of my mother and father's wedding. The night before--the night of their rehearsal dinner--was the final " Your Show of Shows" episode.

[@drumbum3.142]

"We're running ..BEHIND.. ...And .." 😂😂😂😂😂😂😆🤣😂😂😂

[@ald668]

SUCH A GREAT AND FUNNY EPISODE!

[@eepanusstar5940]

in later years Margaret Truman wrote mystery novels set in D.C. and they were great reads.

[@over50andfantabulous59]

Margaret Truman, president Truman's only child.

[@dancelli714]

I spotted that hairpiece a block away.

[@depaola63]

Classic !!

[@nadiazahroon6573]

I love Truman

[@poetcomic1]

Even with two minutes left they had to waste time on those stupid free guesses. That and the 'walk of shame' should have been ditched the first year. Also, the quickie guest after the celebrity was always rushed, no fun and even if they were interesting characters they were wasted. Would rather have spent another minute or two with George and Gracie.

[@oksills]

poetcomic1 BINGO!

[@wholeNwon]

Of course, it was stupid then. But we've come a long way since then...except in the quality of panels, moderators and hosts.

[@buttuflibana4962]

No the last two minutes deserved

[@stanmaxkolbe]

HOOAH! All three of them won.

[@dutchtea8354]

Miss Friang was the 9th known regular guest from a foreign country. The sixth time a duo/group appeared as the MG. At 1:03, Arlene introduced Steve as “Steve Breadbox Allen.” At 3:49, Steve asked, “Is it bigger than a breadbox?” He followed up by asking “much bigger”. These were the 44th and 45th usages. Steve said “good night boys “ the 31st time; Arlene the 12th. The third known episode when the panel was introduced in reverse order.

[@peternagy-im4be]

Please run for president

[@BlackIjs]

George was 58-ish in this episode. I remember him from Oh God with John Denver in 77 (very funny). Looks like he aged quite a bit in the next 23 years.

[@MrYfrank14]

in 1954 they called sewers and underground vaults, manholes? so, every part of the sewer was called the manhole? when i worked in construction, the manhole was the shaft that led from ground level to the sewer. usually a vertical pipe with steps . if the manhole was to give you access to something other then a sewer, like an electric room, that room was called a vault. you cant fit more then one person in a manhole. maybe in 1954 sewers were simpler and they were just a bunch of manholes . no pipes.

[@VideoNOLA]

The manholes used in low-lying areas like Miami indeed are voluminous, as they are intended to carry off lots of rainwater.

[@suziemills2201]

No one speaks that well today . My parents did but now it is awfully crass