What's My Line? - Hugh O' Brian; Martin Gabel [panel] (Dec 24, 1961)

MYSTERY GUEST: Hugh O' Brian
PANEL: Arlene Francis, Martin Gabel, Dorothy Kilgallen, Bennett Cerf

[@tonykool5347]

It is a shame that this show, which is so simple to produce could not provide the same entertainment value today because there would not be a talented panel such as these 4. The show lasted 17 years on prime time for a reason.

[@stevekru6518]

Tony Kool Tony, I agree the panel is talented, erudite, sophisticated, but disagree that the qualities of the panel could not be replicated. Some 21rst Century celebrities are at least equally intelligent, polite and talented. Consider, Shaq, Tom Hanks, Elon Musk, Mark Cuban, Patrick Stewart, Bruce Willis, Jennifer Lawrence, Mayim Bialik, Jennifer Doudna, Christy Turlington, Ashley Judd, Katy Ksy, Angela Bassett, Tom Selleck, Sigourney Weaver, Lupita Nyongo, John Urschel - please excuse misspellings - and many others

[@tonykool5347]

@@stevekru6518 Steve we will have to agree to disagree. That show was for that time, the talent matched for that time. It was simple entertainment. Today, the talent matches for this time. I do not see Fred Astaire being anything today, but then he was tops DURING that time. When I watch that show, I must relate to that time. If I watch that show from today's perspective it is old and boring. When the show was produced in the 70s, even with some of the same folks, it has lost something really due to it was the 70s. We do not live in a simple society today, we live in a very demanding and hi tech fast moving. There were up to 4 guests in a 1/2 hour then, today, you would be lucky for two, as commercials are longer than 30 seconds. I still watch this show and enjoy it, as well as many other 50s shows. I have no clue what is on current TV. I am not old either. I was not around when these shows aired. So I have no clue why I prefer these to new ones. BTW, I would not say ALL 50/60s shows are better than today. However, on a higher percentage basis, I would.

[@JLionelWaller]

@@stevekru6518 Sorry, fue to his health you would probably have to scratch Bruce Willis

[@bbailey7818]

I remember dimly some shows from this period and I have a few old TV Guides from the 50s and 60s. There were some fantastic shows on. The problem? No way with the tech then that you could time shift, record or DVR to see all those shows. The conflicts must have been frustrating.

[@diannemiller1895]

Disagree..... think there could b 4 classy well dressed educated people that could b on a panel and get this show up and running again. Just set up ground rules, b pleasant, hav a sense of humor and show respect.

[@karlakor]

When this program first aired, I was probably in bed, trying hard to go to sleep on Christmas Eve. I was in second grade then, and I wonder whether my parents were watching this show as I lay awake eagerly anticipating Christmas morning.

[@rambleonfromhere8780]

What a handsome man mr o brien was

[@leesher1845]

This program featured so many accomplished people.

[@queencerseilannister3519]

Rip Hugh. He just died a few months ago at 91.

[@thesixshooter6506]

I've watched so many of these episodes and this is probably the greatest success the panel ever had in guessing the lines/celebrity guest. And nearly all of the games very quickly too. Marvelous and charming television from an equally-so time in America.

[@shirleyrombough8173]

Sadly society as a whole accepted racism and bigotry as the way things were. What's My Line struck out in new ways with the most acceptable black or brown guests. Nat King Cole for example.

[@pameladunn1381]

I met Hugh O'Brian several times many years ago. He seemed like a very nice and friendly man.

[@janeiwasduncan8463]

Hugh was among the many stars and stars to be who appeared on Perry MASON!

[@joeambrose3260]

Prove It. Post photo

[@gramirez72]

I used to work for Hugh's youth leadership organization back in the 90s. By then, he was a grumpy old alcoholic. Fantastic organization, though.

[@leesher1845]

Hugh O’Brian was strikingly handsome.

[@lynettepalecek3141]

This episode was broadcast on my 5th birthday!!! 🥳🎂

[@davidburke2697]

I was 4.

[@bannedheretic2971]

Back when no one gave a second thought when introduced to a priest who is director of Boys Town.

[@gramirez72]

Exactly my thought. My god. 900 some boys!

[@lindafurr2404]

I’ll bet the boys who lived in Boys Town could tell some horror stories.

[@Noone58319]

John Charles Daly is the consummate gentleman.

[@carlosbauza1139]

Not so. He cooked a beef with one of the panelists.

[@TheJulianhuang]

I love him so much

[@keetrandling4530]

Good ol' Martin! Keeps up with what's going on in his home town

[@erichanson426]

Both Arlene and Dorothy always wore such nice jewelry

[@leemclaury6251]

Hugh O’Brien was a hunk of a handsome man .

[@rambleonfromhere8780]

Man O Man was he ever !!!!!!

[@gramirez72]

Rumor in the industry was that he was also well-endowed.

[@queencerseilannister3519]

@@gramirez72 🤣🤣🤣

[@wiguy3]

good lord....he was so handsome.....and nice.

[@annakaminski4406]

The respect & friendship is admirable. Something missing in today's so called movie stars.

[@parkzed3855]

Anna Kaminski Definitely. None of the negativity & hatred of today.

[@joycejean-baptiste4355]

Thanks for the memories. My grandma used to watch this show when I visited her. Interestingly Wyatt Earp was also the name of a security guard where I worked in the 1970's. His parents must have loved the character. Lol! I also had a landlord named Robert Stack in the early 1970's. And I had a coworker named Robin Williams. Maybe I'll name my next grandchild Bennett and Cerf as a middle name.

[@bluecamus5162]

And if it's a girl? How about Dorothy Arlene Jean-Baptiste.

[@joycejean-baptiste4355]

@@bluecamus5162 Sound's delightful.

[@Walterwhiterocks]

Please spare him. Don't burden him with the name of such a pretentious character.

[@shirleyrombough8173]

Pretentious? No. Erudite, educated, witty, yes

[@estellejefcoat2677]

I miss seeing Dorothy Kilgallen.

[@RonGerstein-tf5tp]

She was murdered

[@shirleyrombough8173]

I won't watch an episode without Dorothy.

[@finishercar]

Hugh O'Brian was so handsome! 😍

[@gbrumburgh]

The play Hugh O'Brian would open on Broadway on Christmas Day, was FIRST LOVE and starred Elizabeth Bergner during tryouts in Philly and Boston. She left the show before it arrived in New York, having been replaced by Lili Darvas. The production still had problems yet opened at the Morosco Theatre in New York City and flopped.. It closed after only 24 performances on January 13, 1962.

[@shirleyrombough8173]

Imagine putting so much effort into the opening of a show yet having fail.

[@shirleyrombough8173]

having it fail.

[@TheBraveIntrovert]

The days when their shows aired on and near Holidays....

[@buckjohnson1119]

And it was the norm to embrace the holiday celebration, of Christmas. 🎄

[@Mai2727]

The panel was on fire this episode, I've never seen a mystery guest introduced so early.

[@lilybean835]

Dorothy and Bennett were the only ones who pronounced his name correctly. You go girl, Dorothy!

[@alphabeast8700]

Hugh O'Brian was one of the most Beautiful Men In the World!

[@wookinooki9023]

wow. 2 minutes ago, I saw the Carol Burnett & Mickey Rooney sketch about Boys Town.

[@soulierinvestments]

RE: Hugh O'Brian's mystery guest appearances. He appeared a number of times, but most memorably as Sunday WML's second-to-last mystery guest, late August 1967 on videotape -- the Sunday before John Daly's last mystery guest stunt.

[@gramirez72]

I worked for Hugh O'Brian's youth leadership organization back in the 90s, in Los Angeles, near UCLA. Wonderful non-profit organization he started back in the 60s, right around the time this episode aired, and still going strong nearly 60 years later. O'Brian and his organization has done amazing work for high school sophomores all over the US and Canada and gradually expanded to many other countries over the years. Extraordinary organization. Fun times. Fund-raising dinners at the Beverly Hilton. Met a few celebrities. Including George Michael, who came to our office to do community service for that lewd act he was arrested for at a restroom at Will Rogers Park. Lol! As for Hugh O'Brian, I got along with him fine, but, man, was he a grumpy old man in the office, and an alcoholic! RIP Hugh.

[@frantrictantric]

Santa has the right idea, just visit people once a year.

[@carolyoung6732]

Holy crap! Hugh O’Brien is incredibly handsome!!

[@jacquelinebell6201]

Hugh O'Brien is an extremely good looking man!

[@BeIIeDoc24]

aw a sweet moment for bennett and dorothy :)

[@alskndlaskndal]

Good night for the panel... I've seen some of the British WML. Would be fun to see some of the other international versions.

[@WhatsMyLine]

Wish I could see more of the British version. There's only one show on youtube that I ever found.

[@BeIIeDoc24]

What's My Line? i know! i really wish we could see the episode with arlene on the british version.

[@alskndlaskndal]

What's My Line? From what I've heard, BBC wasn't very good at archiving their shows in those days. I wouldn't be surprised if most of them are lost, sadly.

[@WhatsMyLine]

Reluctant Dragon Very true, about the BBC wiping videotapes, but I know from a friend in the UK that they rerun the old version of WML over there. I don't know how many episodes survive, but a whole heck of a lot more than you can find online, that's for sure.

[@1jamyc]

They didn't mention it, but this episode was obviously not aired live. Two clues; they didn't announce "live from NY..." at the beginning, and doubtful the priest would be available at 1030pm on a Christmas Eve (especially so far from "home")

[@larrygrebler5054]

Didn't think of any of this. You are probably right.

[@randysills4418]

After Hugh O'Brian died, three adults came forward stating that he was their Father. I believe that one may have come forward earlier. I believe that they all lost their cases.

[@jeffrandall4046]

/shrug...ok.

[@VahanNisanian]

Taped earlier the same night as the December 17, 1961 episode.

[@333mrwill]

How do you happen to know that, sir?

[@soulierinvestments]

there are a number of websites that record the details of WML episodes. TV.com comes to mind.

[@WhatsMyLine]

The tv.com listings are unbelievable. I wish I had looked there before I started using a different log (which I want to stick to it for consistency's sake). I don't know who put the tv.com listings together, but I have to guess more than one person was involved. It's like a lifetime's effort!

[@jamesr1703]

I don't know why, but I always have to eat a bowl of cereal when I watch WML.

[@parkzed3855]

Comfort food.

[@donaldmanthei1224]

K-e double l - o - double good - Kellogg's best to you. I'm from Michigan and have lived in Battle Creek.

[@ericsamuelson5656]

CBS eye on the TV screen after What's My Line fades to black. Time for bed kids or else Santa won't bring your presents.

[@MrCraigblaze]

Hunk alert!

[@MrCraigblaze]

Hugh O brian such a stud!!

[@ludenasan1]

I'VE SEEN FOLKS WHO WORKED AT WML FROM BRAZIL, UK AND NOW VENEZUELA- HOW MANY COUNTRIES HAD A FORM OF WML?

[@Nicolas-zb9uw]

The answer is on Wikipedia .

[@rangerboy7877]

dorothy looked nice tonight

[@jmccracken1963]

The Internet Broadway Data Base (IBDB) and I have certainly been good friends today, in comments on the WML? episodes from the last 2 months of 1961....... Despite all of the well-wishes extended to Mystery Guest Hugh O'Brian for the success of Samuel Taylor's "First Love" on Broadway, the play proved to be a quick flop on Broadway. It did, indeed, open at the Morosco Theatre on Christmas night 1961 (Monday, 25 December 1961) - a little more than 2 weeks after "Blood, Sweat and Lt. Poole" finished its run at the Morosco - but it for only 3 weeks (24 performances), closing on Saturday, 13 January 1962. Hugh O'Brian and Lili Darvas played Romain Gary and Nina Kacew; among others in the cast were Zohra Lampert, Jack Bittner, Sandor Szabo, Tim O'Connor, Boris Marshalov, Reynolds Evans, Sasha von Scherler, and Rex Thompson. (Daniel Keyes played four minor roles; he would later go on to write the book "Flowers for Algernon," which Hollywood made into the movie CHARLY.) The play was produced by Roger Stevens and Frederick Brisson, in association with Taylor. The production was staged by Alfred Lunt, with sets and lighting designed by Donald Oenslager and costumes designed by Theoni V. Aldredge. While Hugh O'Brian did perform in the theater hither, thither, and yon over the years (and this was mentioned in his appearance as Mystery Guest on the next-to-last-aired episode of the CBS WML?), "First Love" proved to be his final stage appearances on Broadway. His only other previous appearances in a featured role on Broadway had been in early January of 1960, when he replaced Andy Griffith as Tom Destry in the musical DESTRY RIDES AGAIN for a week, while Griffith took a well-earned week's vacation.

[@vivianrodriguez2403]

Healthy girl who eats a lot of Kelloggs. Was that supposed to be a compliment? 🤦🏽‍♀️

[@dinahbrown902]

I quess

[@user-xj1fu8bd8m]

I think Hugh O" Brian tried to quick draw with Audie Murphy?????

[@dominicpiscopo7915]

Arlene Francis looked really tired Wow but still very charming n alert

[@FlockOfHawks]

[ source : wikipedia ] I do NOT believe we are all born equal. Created equal in the eyes of God, yes, but physical and emotional differences, parental guidelines, varying environments, being in the right place at the right time, all play a role in enhancing or limiting an individual's development. But I DO believe every man and woman, if given the opportunity and encouragement to recognize their potential, regardless of background, has the freedom to choose in our world. Will an individual be a taker or a giver in life? Will that person be satisfied merely to exist or seek a meaningful purpose? Will he or she dare to dream the impossible dream? I believe every person is created as the steward of his or her own destiny with great power for a specific purpose, to share with others, through service, a reverence for life in a spirit of love. - Hugh O'Brian, The Freedom to Choose.[20]

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

No modern day celebrity would possess the brains to say that.

[@jobeLewOOH]

. . . . Christmas comes but once a year, how nice it would be if Bennettt wasn't here! LOL

[@Vitte4]

Daly manifests the curious ability of being pedantic with panelists while being unctuous with guests. Though Irish in name: a true New England Brahmin, he.

[@MrWindermere123]

Eek! A Catholic priest in charge of 900 boys has a different nuance these days. I believe that the Catholic church in the USA has had to compensate many victims of sexual abuse, but Father Wegner bears no suspicion of that.

[@gabrielebader3748]

Very rude of Bennett to say and presume that Suzie eats a lot of Kelloggs...

[@beckyyule1228]

I think he meant it as a compliment, because it is meant to be healthy. Kellogs was the sponsor of WML too, so he wouldnt say anything bad about it

Do you think that's more rude than having a Catholic priest working in a boys town as a guest? That's just sick.

[@kristabrewer9363]

Um, ok (I'd find it rude if someone basically told me I looked good to lol)

[@washoe4827]

@ religion poisons everything...

[@igkoigko9950]

@The tragic and disgusting fact that some and perhaps many priests molested boys does not mean all or most did. Besides, inviting the priest could not possibly be rude at a time before the abuse became widely known.

[@Eddie_Schantz]

Here is another example in the last game while Arlene is doing her last questioning, Bennet could not keep his big mouth shut and gave it away. It is insane that the producers constantly let him get away with that.

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

*_DIRECTOR OF BOYS TOWN_* *_GROWS AND SELLS MISTLETOE_* *_DIRECTOR OF WHAT'S MY LINE IN VENEZUELA_* 13:12 Hugh should have asked, "Does the athletic field include the bedroom?"

[@miketheyunggod2534]

Venezuela was one of the richest countries in the world until Socialism took over. ☹

[@dianemutchler9213]

Correct! And it's 2023, and America is quickly following in its tracks.

[@dougw.4788]

anyone else get the heebie jeebies when this father was the director of boystown?

[@WhatsMyLine]

www.boystown.org/

[@ludenasan1]

NO

[@lilybean835]

No. Not at all.

[@cookielady9995]

Really?! Knock it off! What a terrible thing to say about someone! He was a great man whom gave his all to help others.

[@LadyPizzAzz]

nope...reminded me of my late Uncle who did some counseling services for Boystown and was a well known and respected business man in the area..He had nothing but respect for the organization. Infact he took me to the place when I visited him though we couldn't really tour around the facility much

[@edithsymmans3273]

I loved this show, enjoyed watching it... Where Hugh O'Brian is concerned I am not a fan.. He was making a movie with the great WWll hero Audie Murphy when he called him about his ability to quick draw, making out he was faster than Audie.... O'Brian was calling Audie a coward to which he responded by saying, lets's do it for real, saying he had killed 350 men and one more wouldn't make any difference. At the appointed hour which came and went, O'Brian stayed locked in his trailer with blinds drawn, man was such a coward.

[@ludenasan1]

I READ BACK THEN THAT HE ALSO SHOT HIMSELF ONCE IN THE FOOT DOING A QUICK DRAW...DUMB TO BE USING LIVE AMMO IN SUCH A WAY.

[@disvids8754]

That is so absurd that I have to respond - a year later. A "quick draw" - or lack thereof - has nothing to do with being " a coward", so that story stinks like the fertilizer it is.

[@davidpierce3]

Apparently, O'Brian had challenged him to a fast draw contest, but when Audie finally accepted, Audie insisted on using live ammunition, which was completely insane. O'Brian was hardly a coward by backing out. Someone might have been killed.

[@kristabrewer9363]

:( what was WRONG with the producers of this show? After all these years of John flipping over those cards for absolutely no reason whatsoever, they STILL have not yet talked to him!!

[@igkoigko9950]

Nothing is wrong with the producers.. Apparently, in their judgement most of the audience appreciated the generosity. As it happens, I agree.

[@geraldkatz7986]

It's not really about the money or the game.

[@dinahbrown902]

🤣

[@beadyeyedbrat]

The producer or director was probably standing there with a cue card telling him to do it.

[@Anna-zy8sj]

He was so handsome!!!

[@Fush1234]

What she ever saw in him … god only knows. The mind boggles.

[@kentetalman9008]

Fortunately, not everyone is as shallow as you apparently are.

[@orgonkothewildlyuntamed6301]

watch a vid of her on the show when they introduced color she literally ages 10-15 years barely average looking & that's factoring how b/w film hides a LOT

[@Fush1234]

Goodness was t Francais sharp.