What's My Line? - Herb Shriner (Oct 26, 1952)

MYSTERY GUEST: Herb Shriner
PANEL: Dorothy Kilgallen, Bennett Cerf, Arlene Francis, Hal Block
Many thanks to epaddon, as always, for providing a copy of this episode.
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[@SuperWinterborn]

The last contestant, Elizabeth Gilfillan: In this segment Hal Block really got to show what a nice boy he was, and it was both understood, and well received by Ms.Gilfillan. In my opinion, the both of them were very much alive. :)

[@mehboobkm3728]

It looks like Bennet Cerf was always old and he never changed his looks after around 17 seasons!

[@2508bona]

The last contestant stole the show in only three minutes.

[@savethetpc6406]

Chris Barat She certainly was a character!

[@Bigbadwhitecracker]

Chris Barat She stole the entire 17 year series! Truly memorable for both her and Hal

[@2508bona]

This is Nicky Barat, Chris' wife. Chris passed away from complications of his kidney transplant back in February. I know he loved bantering with you guys. Please keep it up and think of Chris when you watch.

[@savethetpc6406]

Chris Barat I think I had expressed my condolences to you on a previous occasion here on YT, Nicky, but it's worth repeating that I am sorry for your loss. I hope that it brings you some comfort to see some of the continued conversations evolving from your husband's comments on this channel. The segment of this episode that your husband referred to here was recently voted as a favorite by several members of the"What's My Line?" Facebook Group. I'm betting he would have agreed! (It is the segment with Elizabeth Gilfillan, which begins at about 21:31 in this video -- just click the numbers I just typed to make the video go to that part of the show.)

[@killerlalu1]

I came down here also to share how delightful and lovely I found the last contestant!!! Absolutely wonderful! 😊💜💜💜

[@sweiland75]

Here is the obituary of Mrs. Muir, the policewoman: WINIFRED TONI MUIR Mrs. Winifred Toni Muir, 83, of The Evergreens of Greensboro died Sunday, Sept. 1, 1996.A graveside funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3, 1996, in Westminster Gardens. The family will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. tonight at Hanes-Lineberry Funeral Home, North Elm Chapel.A native of New Zealand, Mrs. Muir met her former husband, John J. Muir, while he was a member of the Richard E. Byrd Expedition II to the South Pole in 1933-35. She arrived in the United States in 1935 and later became an American citizen.A very artistic lady, she performed at the Dock Street Theater and the Footlight Theater in Charleston, S.C. She was also a radio announcer and did shows for several radio stations in Charleston. In Greensboro she was one of the original eight ``meter maids/policewomen'. Mrs. Muir appeared on the television game show, ``What's My Line?' with host John Daily, in New York. She moved to North Wilkesboro where she taught crafts for clients of the Shelter Workshop, and worked at the Wilkes Art Gallery as an assistant director and a painter that participated in many art shows.Mrs. Muir returned to Greensboro and resided at the Aldersgate Apartments until 1992, when she was transferred to The Evergreens of Greensboro due to ill health.Surviving are daughters, Joanna Muir Price of Greensboro, Barbara Oliver Ruple of Hartsville, S.C.; six grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to ``Winifred Toni Muir' Fund, to assist those of special need, The Evergreens of Greensboro, 4007 W. Wendover Ave., Greensboro, NC 27407.

[@lottalady73]

sweiland75 Toni Muir 2:13 from Greensboro NC listed her occupation as a ‘policewoman’ but that may actually have been the least interesting thing about her. Her obituary in the Greensboro News & Record, which you quoted, tells it all. She was more of a performer and artist than a “lady policeman” and even at that, from the description in the obit, her ‘police work’ may have been limited to ticketing improperly parked vehicles. She may have raised Hal’s hopes when she said she was a “Miss”, but she was actually a thirty-nine year old widow at the time. Did anyone catch a New Zealand accent? I certainly didn’t!

[@waynehowell6160]

Miss Gillifan is sweetheart! Her reaction when HB kisses her is great. You'd almost think he knew what she did for a living.

[@Rosarium2007]

After the first two guests anything he might not need might be appreciated.

[@karenlkvm]

The first contestant said her outfit was from Montaldo's in NC. I remember there being one in my hometown of Durham, NC. In the late 60s my father gave my mother a new coat for Christmas. We were a blue collar family and Mom was a bit overwhelmed that it was from Montaldo's!

[@mtnman6557]

Yeah, Montaldo's was seen (by most of us blue collar folks) as a "steppin' in high cotton" type store.

[@soulierinvestments]

Second game. One Hal Block's most funny gambits. Ever. The double meanings lie rather thick on the ground. Dorothy rules -- she picked up on it immediately.

[@OrigamiMarie]

Her calculations of the second plotline via the audience laughs were fantastic!

[@larchmontmark1]

Herb Shriner??? He's one of only a couple of mystery guests that I never ever heard of till I saw the episodes here. BTW: Thank you a MILLION for putting these on here. I've spent many dozens of hours being happily addicted to these videos. I loved WML in the original days, and I find myself loving it even more now.

[@jerrylee8261]

I never heard of him either.

[@pammilner7161]

I never heard of him either so I read Wikepedka and he was on his way up when he crashed his car and killed himself and wife leaving 3 children.

[@estang1030]

He was a humorist and host of Two For the Money. His son Kin Shriner was a member of the cast of General Hospital for years. Unfortunately, Herb was killed in a crash along with his wife while vacationing in Florida.

[@joet840]

Hal block was actually good and civilized on this one.

[@peternagy-im4be]

Hal Block was brought on to liven up the show and boost the ratings. He was a riot. A pistol. A very funny guy.

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

Here's something to think about: that 73 year old contestant would have been in her early 20s when it became the year 1900.

[@helenellis]

Hal on good form this episode with all the contestants. And since I haven't seen it mentioned, this made me laugh: Dorothy: "Well does he bring people together who are interested in finding a life partner? Well what is the word for that? A marriage broker? " Hal: "A shotgun"

[@Imapeach1]

I finally got to see what Herb Shriner looked like. I spent alot of afternoons watching his son,Kin,on "General Hospital". He really does look,so much like his father. Thank you for posting these gems.

[@budderkupp1282]

It's so sad that Herb Shriner & his wife died together in a car accident..in Florida..in 1970..leaving their 3 children..Kin & his twin brother..age 16 and their 19 yr old sister. Herb was only 52 and his wife was only 43 when they died. The teens had to leave Florida & go live with their grandparents in Texas. It's amazing that all 3 kids were successful in show business..after losing their showbiz parents so early on. They did well..under such adversity.

[@MarthaCarnahan]

Scotty! I watched a lot of that show in my youth. Fun to see his Father on WML.

[@CarloQuinto]

This is a great episode! My Buddy, Hal Block, was great with the Matchmaker and got in a good one with the Facelifter. As always, John Daly, a tower of strength in the Moderator's chair. So glad to see Herb Shriner, so popular in the early 50's, sadly forgotten today.

[@librarybob1958]

+Charles Henry Hal Block, a talented, funny man, fired because his humor was too far ahead of its time in an Age of Conformity.

[@Ocelot2000]

I'm not sure about his humor being too far ahead, I think, yeah, part of it was that he was more outspoken than society usually allowed, but part of it was that society was also going the other way, in the sense that his comments were becoming too misogynistic in a world where women were getting more and more rights not to be treated like property and in a lewd way. I liked him on the panel, he made me laugh, but I would also catch myself going OMG he can't say that! I love the other three on the panel as well and was happy to see they kept their positions.

[@Beson-SE]

John tried to trick the last contestant (Face Lifter) to answer "yes" to the question if Hal Block ever could use her service. Instead she said "No, you wouldn't need it." Hal rose and gave the lady a kiss. :) 24:11 and her punch line is good too! 24:35

[@Bigbadwhitecracker]

Johan Bengtsson John's plan backfired

[@loissimmons6558]

Mindful of those who denigrate Hal, I thought him coming over to the last challenger was sweet. But both it and Miss Gilfillan's good bye at the end of her round took a lot of time. You can tell that Hal was getting the "cut it short" sign from off stage as they were close to running out of time as a result. He only has time for a quick "Good night, John" and no quip.

[@WhatsMyLine]

To be fair, Lois, John made the same sort of cracks about law enforcement-related contestants towards just about any comedian on the panel whose persona had a sort of "seedy" element (notably, in the uberclassic 1959 show with Groucho). You're still just getting started on the 750+ episodes available, so I can see how you might read it otherwise. John did make a number of uncomfortably pointed barbs directed at Hal towards the end of Hal's run, though, no doubt on that.

[@loissimmons6558]

What's My Line? Understood, Gary. And I was not being critical of John, whose body of work on WML I find to be excellent. His long run as host/moderator was well-deserved and his gaffes were few. If anything, I was contrasting the way Hal was treated compared to Bennett, but not judging it. Other than the first two Howards on the very early episodes, I like all the regular panel members on WML that I have seen so far or remember from the later episodes that I watched first run (or both). The only one I can't express an opinion about is Fred Allen. While I am familiar with his sense of humor in general, I am not acquainted with his WML work yet. I will say that, now that I have seen Hal in direct comparison to Bennett regarding their reaction toward women, I actually prefer Hal. He may be part wolf, but he's also part Teddy Bear and he telegraphs every move. While linked with a number of women, he never married. He once quipped that he remained a bachelor because "wives are too expensive". But my gut instinct about him from this distance is that he is someone who simply loves women and was honest enough to never marry because ultimately he couldn't choose between them. Bennett, OTOH, is a fox, a sly one. He can be just as risque when you take a deeper look at some of his remarks. But on the surface, being slyer and appearing more erudite, the offensiveness of those remarks is masked. While I wouldn't need to keep an eye on Hal, I'd be watching Bennett at all times.

[@WhatsMyLine]

Lois Simmons I've said this many times by now, but I might as well again: Fred Allen is the whole reason I started watching WML in the first place. I've been a huge, huge, huge fan of his radio work and his writing since I was a kid, and had read about WML being his only moderate success on TV, so when I discovered the GSN reruns, I was tuning in specifically to see Fred. I caught the reruns just after they'd passed by the episodes with Fred, and with 757 episodes in the rerun cycle, it took almost two years before GSN was back around to his era, 1954-56. By that point I was already long hooked on the show regardless of Fred Allen's brief tenure. The oddball thing is, as it turned out, I ended up pretty lukewarm about Fred on WML, where a lot of folks who know nothing about his prior career think he's just the cat's pajamas on WML. He never really got the hang of the game itself, and his style of humor, imo, didn't fit well in a game show format. But you'll form your own opinion when you get there! (And just to be clear, I didn't take your comment as a slam on John Daly in any way, I was just offering info from shows you haven't seen yet.)

[@MrJoeybabe25]

The last contestant (the 73 year old woman) was a hoot. Did John normally refrain from asking older woman their Miss or Mrs. status? He did ask her age though (which I'll bet he got permission from her before the show...he is too much the gentleman to spring that on her). She is now 135.

[@bigoldinosaur]

"Can't get by Stonewall Kilgallen."

[@MarthaReynolds]

bigoldinosaur boy, she’s good!

[@TheBraveIntrovert]

First time Arlene's heart necklace was mentioned...

[@ladya1953]

Purple Capricorn I have admired that heart for a while. I was surprised when royalties were mentioned and Arlene thanked folks for the business. Did she design it, I wonder?

[@julielovelace7189]

Shocking but Arlene was robbed 1988. Someone grabbed that necklace from her neck in NY. I don't know if they found the person or persons responsible

[@MarthaCarnahan]

@@ladya1953 I read somewhere that it was a gift from her husband, Martin Gabel. It would be interesting to learn where it came from !

[@su8483]

@@julielovelace7189 No.

[@lynettepalecek3141]

@@MarthaCarnahan I heard that too.

[@dancelli714]

Bad boy Block was very funny at times even though he was at times a crude loose wheel.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

The first contestant was wearing the latest French fashion from 1952; it was called "the curtain drape look".

[@algoritmosalfredohipicasig7116]

Love me some Miss Elizabeth. Top 5 WML Challenger.

[@erenunal]

look away when their line's revealed and try to guess along!!

[@lorijeangrandi4434]

Face- lifter was adorable.

[@dancelli714]

"TAKE A WIDE LOOP AROUND MR BLOCK"

[@VahanNisanian]

Originally, Fred Allen was supposed to host "Two for the Money", but the job eventually went to Herb Shriner. Allen DID fill in for Shriner one time, though. It ran for four years from 1952 to 1956 on NBC (later CBS) Primetime, and then for one season on CBS Primetime in 1957 with Sam Levinson. Its success proved that Goodson-Todman didn't need to depend on just Panel Games.

[@loissimmons6558]

Sam Levinson had been a public school teacher, teaching Spanish at Samuel J. Tilden HS in Brooklyn, the borough where he was born. My mom was already a big fan of his humor, and when he appeared to speak to the PTA where my brother and I went to school in the 1950's through 1960, she thought he was even more wonderful that a star of his caliber would do that. From then on, he was #1 on her list of favorites.

[@lynettepalecek3141]

Mark Goodson and Bill Todman also produced the game show "Classic Concentration" in the 1970s to the 1990s. Mark Goodson's daughter Marjorie was the model for Classic Concentration starting in 1988. She married Tim Cutt. I think that he was the Associate Director. They had one daughter, Hannah. Marjorie Goodson Cutt turned 59 on October 1st, I think. Mark Goodson and Bill Todman were the Mystery Guests on WML once.

[@Retroscoop]

I wonder if that "Bill collector, call me Bill" was equally enthousiastic about the whole thing, once her real job was revealed... :) Finding a wedding partner via the television, already in 1952... ! The pre-history of Facebook and all those love and marriage websites is revealed here, interesting :)

[@AaronHahnStudios]

WOW! 73 and looks fantastic. Hats off to her.

[@BillyAlabama]

I’m crazy about Elizabeth!! What fun!

[@rtususian]

When Dorothy used the term "life partner", for the marriage broker, I was surprised. I thought that term was coined just a relatively short time ago.

[@bluecamus5162]

That shocked me, too. I've been around since '59 and I'm sure I've never heard 'life partner' until the last 10 or 20 years.

[@dinahbrown902]

Everything new is old

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Wikipedia has very little information about Herb Shriner after the 1950's. It says he invested his money in real estate and collected vintage cars. Was he visible much to the public between 1960 and 1970 (when he died in a car wreck). I have no memory of him as a child (me as the child not Herb).

[@MrJoeybabe25]

I think Bennett's question to the policewoman "does your job involve instruction of any kind" should have brought a qualified yes. Many times, so many of you have needed to be instructed by the police in one way or another, huh?

[@MrWindermere123]

I've watched so many of these charming shows on KZbin in black and white that it came as a shock to hear John Daly say that the 2nd challenger was wearing a blue suit. Blue! You mean real life had colours in 1952? The first challenger wore a dress with a strange neck-line and won admiring remarks on her fashion sense, but we'll never know what colour that dress was. Mr Block was off-colour with his Groucho Marx impersonation but redeemed himself later.

[@Amcsae]

I've been watching so many of these lately. In one, there was a Game Show Network logo in the top right corner that was a very bright green, and it shocked me from the contrast! 😅

[@NoobsShadow]

This was the much maligned Hal Block's finest show imo. He showed wit, charm, and class. If this had been more the norm for him rather than the rare he would've continued as a fine panelist.

[@acyutanandadas1326]

Cause the joke was on him. Crudity was not funny then--even when it was funny--there was heavy censorship--which I think is returning with so much PC culture.

[@acyutanandadas1326]

Part2 I just noted that the last contestant walked off the other way avoiding Block

[@arrghhouse]

@@acyutanandadas1326 They ALL walked off the other way back then, except the mystery challengers.

[@caroler01]

Amen.

[@wonder-womyn]

The way he hits on the women is so creepy.

[@sweiland75]

"Don't tell me you're a lady policeman" I know times were different back then but I am surprised to hear Dorothy say that.

[@Ocelot2000]

I think it was less to do with the fact that she was a lady but with the way she was dressed and held herself like a Society girl. I think all their prejudices led to thinking she didn't look like a disciplinarian in that outfit.

[@jimmyneese8020]

Animal from Africa films K

[@kevincramer9235]

As you said, times were indeed different back then.

[@mehboobkm3728]

"lady" police "man"

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Interestingly "Two For The Money" would switch to CBS in 1953 and run until 1957 (with Sam Levinson as host for the final season). As of this WML, it was on NBC.

[@leesher1845]

Funny lines by Hal Bloch with the matchmaker.

[@donnacook8994]

Wow! The lady face lifter looks fantastic for her age! I love watching these shows!

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Herb Block at about 7:50 does another Grouchism. I think he has heard that he is on thin ice there and nervous.

[@jimkalafus8219]

Elizabeth Riddle Gilfillen 1880-1972. She attended Cornell Medical College ca 1900. 1930-1940 saw her working as a pianist. So she got her wish to live to 80!

[@neilmidkiff]

John gets a tiny bit of humor into his clarification 13:30 - 13:45 with "or condition, shall we say?" "Delicate condition" was then a common euphemism for pregnancy. Dorothy goes on to smile and bring up romance in her next question, as if John's comment had confirmed that she was on the right track.

[@puffnstuff12]

Hal's stunts are so hilarious.

[@elizabethmorgan2621]

We liked Hal Block. (Although at times he made us cringe.) He had a certain wistfulness about him, as if he really wanted to be liked. He had been such a successful comedy writer, I think that he couldn't understand why he wasn't well received on WML. We also observed John Daly giving him put downs quite often. Bennett, Dorothy and Arlene were really classy people, but John Daly seems a little pretentious, somewhat of a 'poser'. He could be charming at times, but still.....there was something about him that didn't ring true.

[@carolv8450]

He mentions his Chilton school a lot and Africa where he lived for a while. I think he wanted to impress people while the panel was the opposite. I do like him tho.

[@merryx-mart9943]

I did like Hal Block with the last contestant ...as you say , such a shame this wasn't the norm because he was sharp and exactly what WML needed in the very early days

[@Baskerville22]

A few of Block's questions to the Matchmaker were obviously given to him before the show to ask.

[@VahanNisanian]

Herb Shriner is the father of Stand-up Comic, and one time 1980's talk show host, Wil Shriner. Herb had a nice voice.

[@battlegirldeb]

Wil also has a fraternal twin brother Kin who plays Scott Baldwin on General Hospital off and on for over 37 years.

[@savethetpc6406]

I have to admit that I had never heard of any of the Shriners before (except for the Shriners' Club, but I don't think that has anything to do with their family). After reading all these comments, I checked out the videos that ***** linked elsewhere on this comments page, as well as some other Herb and Wil Shriner videos. There's a very nice compilation of Herb Shriner comedy bits, actually posted by Wil Shriner here on KZbin: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p3yZZJqagpKHeKs. It even includes clips from a show on which Herb Shriner and Fred Allen appeared together.

[@ladya1953]

Miss Gilfillan was a pistol! I loved her!

[@kali3665]

Herb Shriner was real popular in the 50s and 60s, and he is the father of Wil Shriner, a comedian in his own right who appeared on the Tonight Show a lot.

[@leesher1845]

The matchmaker, when he left the stage, acknowledged the panelists, too since at that time the producers still had contestants leaving the stage by walking behind John Charles Daly, which was very undignified and elitist given the fact that the celebrities always shook hands with the panelists when they left.

[@markoperak5989]

Not very surprising, but Dorothy was on fire that night!

[@SuperWinterborn]

Around 20:44. Hal Block: "Did you ever smoke Stopette?" ;) Herb Shriner was on another CBS program, but still had restrictions mentioning it because the programs had different sponsors?

[@savethetpc6406]

SuperWinterborn No, he was saying that his program was on another network, but it was also produced by Goodson-Todman. Somewhere on this page, I think Joe commented that at the time of this episode, _Two For The Money_ was on another network, though it moved to CBS later in its run.

[@WhatsMyLine]

SaveThe TPC I see that now you know how to use italics on YT/G+, you've adopted its use as part of your ongoing toolbox of means of expression. _Me too!_

[@SuperWinterborn]

SaveThe TPC You're of course right. I missed that with "another network". :)

[@Amcsae]

@@WhatsMyLine How does one make italic text on KZbin? I know how to *bold* text with asterisks, but have not learned any other secrets. (I've seen people write text with a line through it as well and wonder how that works, if you know that one, too!)

[@ToddSF]

I had to look up Herb Shriner -- I wondered if he might not be the father of Wil Shriner and his twin brother Kin Shriner. Turns out he was. I remember Will Shriner from many years ago when he hosted a daytime talk show (1987-88), and once he had his brother Kin Shriner on the program. Kin Shriner is an actor who has appeared for a long time on the daytime soap opera _General Hospital_ and its spinoff _Port Charles_. The Shriner twins were born in December 1953, more than a year after this episode of WML aired originally. Sadly, Herb Shriner in his wife were both killed in an automobile accident in April 1970. They collected classic cars and the brakes failed in one of them, a Studebaker Avanti. The twins were 16 when that happened and went to live with their grandmother.

[@loissimmons6558]

The twins were named after humorists Will Rogers and Kin Hubbard. I agree with Hal Block's comment in response to one of Bennett Cerf's questions: why would anyone get angry over being compared to Will Rogers? John Daly had to step in to straighten things out, and the naming of a son belies Bennett's comment.

[@VahanNisanian]

Herb and his wife tragically died young in a car accident in Florida in 1970. The car they were driving was a Studebaker Avanti. The brakes failed.

[@savethetpc6406]

***** So sad! :(

[@loissimmons6558]

Apparently Herb was a collector of classic cars and the Avanti was one of them. Not only is the story sad, it is ironic. First of all the Studebaker Avanti was a highly sought after and highly regarded luxury car. It's name is so prized that long after Studebaker went out of business, various other cars have been built under the same name. Second, Studebaker was one American car that was not primarily associated with Detroit. It was headquartered and had its primary manufacturing plant in South Bend, Indiana, Herb Shriner's home state.

[@ivanprekajski1993]

Last was Elizabeth Riddle Gilfillan (25 Jan 1880-Feb 1972) her father was Rev. Joseph Alexander Gilfillan (1838-1913).

[@carolv8450]

Hal was very good here! Too bad he couldn't adapt.

[@scottsmith7419]

Carol V Too bad, too. I think he is, especially by Cerf, unfairly maligned.

[@Lava1964]

I like to think I'm well versed on celebrities from past eras, but I'd never heard of Herb Shriner. I had to look him up. He and his wife were unfortunately killed in a 1970 car crash.

[@GOLDVIOLINbowofdeath]

Arlene’s in-laws from her second husband, Martin Gabel, were jewelers in Philly

[@joycejean-baptiste4355]

Mrs. Gillphillip walked barefoot till she was 19, I know she never heard the song about a dance called 'Bare Footin' by Robert Parker back in the 1966 until later. She did it first, Lol!

[@VahanNisanian]

I watched a couple of episodes of Herb Shriner's "Two for the Money", prior to watching this WML episode. Herb would basically spend about 5 minutes talking to three different teams of two contestants, then they would actually get into the gameplay. Gameplay was solid for a 1950's quizzer, from way before my time. Two teammates would alternate coming up with as many correct answers for a particular subject as possible. Each team played 3 games; each correct answer in Game 1 was worth $5, and depending on how much money was won, it would be doubled for Game 2 and Game 3.

[@savethetpc6406]

***** I watched the episodes that you linked also -- but *after* I'd watched the WML episode and read your comments. I found the actual game to be kind of fun, but most of the interview segments felt awkward and embarrassing to me.

[@WhatsMyLine]

SaveThe TPC Shriner's style grew on me as I watched the episodes of his TFTM that were rerun on GSN in the late 1990s. I was never a fan of his, but I thought he did a good job in a considerable more challenging ad lib format than Groucho had on YBYL (which was overfilmed in advance of broadcast and edited down-- TFTM was live). The game itself was quite clever and elegant, I thought.

[@savethetpc6406]

What's My Line? I only saw those two episodes and would be willing to watch more to see if Shriner's style "grows on me" too. He seems likeable, and I thought he was funny in the other clips I watched, but there were times in the TFTM interviews when he seemed to be struggling very hard to find something even remotely interesting to ask the contestants and other times when I thought some of the contestants themselves were a bit too well rehearsed and too "on." This WML episode was my first introduction to Herb Shriner, and it, plus the few other videos of him that I've watched over the past couple of days, are really all that I can recall ever seeing of him.

[@WhatsMyLine]

SaveThe TPC I've heard Shriner in a radio show or two prior to seeing TFTM, and his homespun "Will Rogers-lite" style didn't impress me. The thing about the interviews, I think, is that it doesn't appear that Shriner had prewritten jokes to fall back on, nor the benefit of editing, like Groucho did on YBYL. That means his batting average is necessarily going to be lower. I guess I'm judging with consideration of "degree of difficulty".

[@savethetpc6406]

What's My Line? But don't you think that, even totally off-the-cuff, Fred Allen could have made every one of those interviews a gem -- just as he did in his Town Hall Tonight presentations? If what ***** said is indeed true, and Fred Allen was originally considered for the show, I imagine it might have become just as classic as "You Bet Your Life" if Fred had had the chance to host it regularly! What do you think?

[@algoritmosalfredohipicasig7116]

Crazy Hal was born decades too soon, he would've been a hit in a Reality show like Jersey Shore. Only a Blockhead would ask if there's a product involved with a local government worker.

[@elainer6499]

Dorothy always had her mask pushed over and on crooked so that her right eye could peek out and see who the secret guest is. Why did they allow that? And clearly, she always had a heads-up as to the lines of the guests, asking so many questions where she clearly already knew the person's line when she started.

[@libertyann439]

That last lady did NOT look 73....I did the math. She was born in 1879!

[@elizabethmorgan2621]

Liberty Ann, she looked more like 73 than women in their 70's look today. All the women I know in their 70's now color their hair, dress like they're 40yrs. old, have kept their figures, etc. Currently, women in their 70's were Baby Boomers who grew up in the hippy generation and the Age of Aquarius.

[@ericmaine]

Love how the contestants are sly when questioning an attractive women ("Do you touch the people?" "Do you wear less than you are wearing now ?" "Do people come to you for this service" ) - it's almost as if they want to say 'Are you a hooker?"

[@davidsanderson5918]

Oh come ON!! It's not so much identifying the 'line' quickly that's a surprise. But there's no WAY Dorothy Kilgallen would get to ask the second guest's such questions which narrow it down to only one possibility within seconds. Especially when it is obscure. Surely??

[@scottpardee6303]

She heard Hal Bloch’s questions and could guess it had something to do with marriage.

[@soulierinvestments]

Hoosier was at one time a division of humor. Herb Shriner was the main practitioner of it after James Whitcomb Riley. However, he was originally from Ohio.

[@gabe-po9yi]

I’ve watched many of these episodes, and John Daly constantly gives too much away with the regular guests. It’s really irritating to see him practically spoon-feed the panel and it’s unfair to the contestants.

[@TheCinematicPackrat1]

I think his desire to be funny overrode his duties as a fair moderator at times. At this point in the show, the past handful of episodes have shown him getting into a bad habit of it far too often. Hopefully he reigns it in soon.

[@princeharming8963]

Poor Hal....No social filters whatsoever.

[@TheCinematicPackrat1]

Shriner's answers reminded me of Harpo Marx's horn gags, and that got me thinking. A wonderful MG would've been Harpo, because he would've been one of the few who would've thrown off the panel by using his real voice. Know Harpo would've been reluctant to ruin the illusion, but still a terribly missed opportunity, in my opinion.

[@budderkupp1282]

Well..Elizabeth Gilfillan (the last guest)..would be 140 years old today in 2019.

[@jackkomisar458]

Since she has been exercising and improving all this time, she probably looks 16 now!

[@listeningeyes3298]

Very sad AND uncalled for by a cowardly thief when Miss Arlene had her heart necklace stolen one day when she was older as she was walking in a park, long after this game show was off the air. P.S. Dorothy K. seemed surprised when the first contestant, the lady police officer, her pretty outfit was bought in the south, and not from the north. Dorothy K. apparently thought that southerners wore rags.

[@GOLDVIOLINbowofdeath]

I always laugh when I look at Bennett Cerf

[@NutsinBrazil]

From the questions asked until that moment I find it hardly unusual that Dorothy would have guessed "matchmaker" at that point. Something or someone might have tipped her off.

[@WhatsMyLine]

Today's KZbin Rerun for 5/21/15: Watch along and join the discussion! ----------------------------- Join our Facebook group for WML-- great discussions, photos, etc, and great people! facebook.com/groups/728471287199862/ To stay up to date with postings, please consider supporting the WML channel by subscribing. The WML channel already contains the complete CBS series, with new videos still being added on the weekends. kzbin.info/door/hPE75Fvvl1HmdAsO7Nzb8w

[@dutchtea8354]

Anyone else think that Bennett’s hair is starting to get noticeably darker in areas?

[@MrJoeybabe25]

There are times, and I hate to say it so blatantly, that Hal Block does not have sex on his mind. I shall not condemn him for it though.

[@adamodeo9320]

I need a time machine - so I could go back 65yrs

[@joycejean-baptiste4355]

It's interesting to me that Mr. Block always looks uncomfortable or in pain or something. His hands are almost always on his head or his face or chin. Maybe just a mannerism.

[@yeahnoonecaresifyouarefirst]

Revenge is a dish best served cold 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 Oh wow back then when people wanted to do the work! We live in a microwave world now

[@MrJoeybabe25]

As to the second contestant, the matchmaker, it is still the custom here in Israel for Orthodox men and women to go through a Shidduch which is a system of matchmaking in which Jewish singles are introduced to one another in Orthodox Jewish communities for the purpose of marriage. Dating in the orthodox community is unusual here.

[@miriamfeigenbaum3611]

At 14:49, when they are trying to come up with the word, it sounded to me like Hal actually said "a shadchan".

[@MrJoeybabe25]

I think he said "shotgun"

[@miriamfeigenbaum3611]

Joe Postove Well, i've listened several times and i still think he said "shadchen". The stress was definitely on the first syllable. I think that if it were "shotgun" both syllables would be stressed equally. But we'll never know for sure.

[@savethetpc6406]

***** He probably did say "shadchan." I couldn't find any definite confirmation that Hal was Jewish, but even if he wasn't, he probably hung around with enough Jewish people in his work as a comedy writer to pick up a lot of Yiddish words -- much as Fred Allen did. (I always find it amusing listening to how naturally Fred used Yiddish words on his radio programs -- much moreso than either Jack Benny or George Burns, who were both Jewish.)

[@savethetpc6406]

Joe Postove I couldn't say for sure about the matchmaking process in Israel, but I know that in the New York area, even very traditionally Orthodox singles who consult a shadchan for matchmaking help still go out on dates to determine whether the shidduch will work for them or not. If they like each other after the first date, they will go out on another date or even two, if the second date goes well enough. My understanding is that after 3 dates, they're either going to stop seeing each other because they're not compatible, or they will get engaged. Perhaps they might go on more than 3 dates before the actual engagement, but if they date more than 3 times it means they're very seriously considering marriage.

[@adriennegormley9358]

Only partway through w a tching yhis one. , but when I first saw Saul Strone, my first reaction was, whats Putin doing there, and has Russia perfected time travel.

[@Beson-SE]

The second contestant was a Matchmaker. Here is a trivia question to Joe Postove : In which musical do they sing, "Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match. Find me a find, catch me a catch"? :)

[@WhatsMyLine]

Johan Bengtsson "Jesus Christ Superstar"?

[@Beson-SE]

What's My Line? General Grant is the right answer! You win! :)

[@WhatsMyLine]

Johan Bengtsson Sorry I couldn't resist being a wise ass, but this question is way too easy for Joe. :)

[@MrJoeybabe25]

"Toad, The Super Frog"? It was on Broadway fro over 7,000 performances in 1964 and into 1965. It is about an Amish GodFrog who looks after his people, feeds them, eats them, looks at them, looks away from them, and most of all loves them, and unloves them. "Toad, The Super Frog" was the first 27 hour musical that served breakfast, which they did in between the 16th and 17th acts. The had Corn flakes, bagels with cream cheese and lox, 3 eggs over easy, 2 orders of toast ( I know that sounds redundant with the bagel, BUT THIS TOAST CAME WITH JELLY!). Bacon (3 strips) a tiny, very tiny piece of wedding cake from Julie Nixon's wedding, and a pot of coffee. I haven't seen the show.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

OK. "Fiddler On The Roof". One of the all time great musicals ever! I think "Toad, The Super Frog" was "off-Broadway".

[@Traderjoe]

The 73 year old lady would be 144 years old in 2023

[@leesher1845]

A lady policeman! 😂

[@peternagy-im4be]

Well spotted.

[@grammarofficerkrupke4398]

A Woman Police!? Surely not, I can hardly believe my eyes. Now, I've seen everything.

[@GOLDVIOLINbowofdeath]

I think Hal Block was channeling Groucho Marx

[@519djw6]

Of course, I'll go to Wikipedia for this, but I still have to ask, "Who in the hell was/is Herb Shriner?"

[@519djw6]

@Farque Matthews I don't know who Rob Shriner is, either.

[@peternagy-im4be]

God knows pal

[@VTMCompany]

15:56 Who?

[@savethetpc6406]

What happened to all the comments on this video? I know they were here a couple of days ago!

[@WhatsMyLine]

SaveThe TPC I don't know if you can see them now-- I can. I've seen this happen occasionally, for no discernible reason, and then it resolves itself for equally undiscernible reasons. Shocking, that.

[@savethetpc6406]

What's My Line? They're back -- yay!! :-)

[@VahanNisanian]

The two episodes of "Two for the Money" I saw: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jamwfWSkoa-GotE kzbin.info/www/bejne/l2iylZuorqx-nKc

[@neilmidkiff]

John occasionally gets the explanation of the game's rules a bit backward, and this is the first I've noticed in my third pass. At 9:44 he mentions "every No answer you can dig out of that panel" which is odd, since the panel does the digging and the contestant does the No or Yes.

[@miketheyunggod2534]

😝. 24:35

[@davidsanderson5918]

What's with Hal Block's defiant decision to peer at the man's signature rather than acknowledge the guest as he walks past the panel? Had I been Saul Strone I would be a tad miffed.

[@helenellis]

I think he's distracted by the curtain moving about - and you can just see someone standing behind it.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Was Herb Shriner ever very popular?

[@mehboobkm3728]

You must be a teenager!

[@DrRish-wx3wf]

Dorothy Kilgallen extremely intelligent and very classy. Unfortunately she was murdered. Greatest investigative reporter of her time.

[@peternagy-im4be]

Not murdered. Ok?

[@wandatisell2826]

She was killed.

[@peternagy-im4be]

Accidental death

[@MrJoeybabe25]

When HB uses the services of a matchmaker could he do something that he hasn't done before? Maybe, if taking out the garbage is one of them.

[@rambleonfromhere8780]

I thought the mystery guest pic in thumbnail looked like Harvey Weinstein

[@blueduck5589]

All episodes were made before women's lib!

[@soulierinvestments]

That darling fourth contestant. The production staff must have been geniuses to find these interesting personalities. You haven't been kissed by a man, dear, so much.as you've been manhandled by a Block. I'll bet this episode really convinced G-T to get Steve Allen as quickly as possible. I can practically hear Franklin Heller in the booth yelling, "Get away from that sweet old lady, you!"

[@savethetpc6406]

soulierinvestments I disagree. I thought that both Miss Gilfillan and the audience were charmed by Hal in this segment -- as was I! I thought he was at his best throughout the rest of the episode as well.

[@Bigbadwhitecracker]

soulierinvestments The entire episode was "the best of Hal Block". He was on top of his game. If there were any thoughts of getting rid of him, this should have convinced everyone - he should stick around. I'll defend Hal to the death on this one.

[@arrghhouse]

Prejudiced much?

[@dreamquesttv]

@@Bigbadwhitecracker People act like Block used to whip his dick out in front of contestants, or something, the way they talk about him. I like Hal a lot and wish he'd stayed. In fact, I actually like Bennett LESS because of his post WML? interview where he called Block a "clod". And love Henry Morgan even more for taking out some of the wind from that pompous stuffed shirt. Cerf's sons were very talented, however.