What's My Line? - Jack E. Leonard; Steve Allen [panel] (Dec 20, 1964)

MYSTERY GUEST: Jack E. Leonard
PANEL: Arlene Francis, Steve Allen, Dorothy Kilgallen, Bennett Cerf
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[@kristabrewer9363]

I always love when Steve Allen's on

[@waldolydecker8118]

He's simply the best...how could you not.

[@Walterwhiterocks]

Leonard was great as an MG. I always enjoyed his sense of humor and that classic delivery. Unlike many mystery guests, he didn't really want the panel to guess him. Funny man.

[@Paul71H]

Watching these "What's My Line" episodes from the mid-1960s, it really drives home how much of a revolution our culture went through in the late 1960s, with the sexual revolution, the hippie movement, the Vietnam War protests, the coming of age of the baby boom generation, and so on. If I compare these 1964 episodes of WML to episodes of Match Game 74, it feels like 30 or 40 years must have passed in between, though it was really only 10 years. The differences in humor, propriety, manners, clothing styles, set design, formality, music, and on and on are simply jarring. And yes, I know that they are two different shows, and that WML may have been a bit more formal than other game shows of the same era, while the 1970s Match Game was more of a free-for-all than other game shows of its era. But even taking those differences into account, it's still hard to believe that only 10 years passed between this show and MG74.

[@patrickfrancis1877]

Very true observation...the manners and of course black and white TV was still going strong

[@megancrager4397]

Well put. In just a decade, such drastic changes absolutely seem jarring.

[@ralphalden4277]

Jack E. Leonard was one of the funniest mystery guests! His facial takes and quick wit were genius. Very good episode

[@Swampzoid]

I've been watching What'sMyLine on youtube almost every night for the past 4 years. I love Dorothy the most. She is just so sharp and fascinating. All the regular panellists and Mr. Daly I have grown to love and I get a sense of comfort just watching them play this simple yet very fun game. I often think about what ever happened to some of the contestants. I like the glimpses you get into a random persons life from that now long gone era. I'm 53 and so I do recall it being on television I didn't see it much if ever. I far more recall To Tell The Truth. I guess as a gay boy, that spectacular image of Kitty Carlisle was difficult to forget. But now I feel that What's My Line is much more exciting than TTTT. Thank you for the having these videos up to enjoy on KZbin.

[@Chris73388]

Dorothy is my favorite too

[@sandrageorge3488]

I like the way Jack E. Leonard mouths I love you to Arlene. He talks so fast also. Really funny.

[@virginia7191]

Jack E Leonard was really enjoying himself!

[@taraxacum]

During the introductions Steve Allen said of Dorothy, "And now a young lady of whom it seems to be possible to safely say that it begins to appear that she has a steady job on What's My Line." Oh dear.

[@mikejschin]

John makes a faux pas at the end of the Norma Olmsted segment, when he says that she counts "males that are spayed..." Male dogs, of course, are not spayed; they are neutered. At the end, Bennett comes out with a good pun when he tells John that as fellow dog lovers, John calls "a spayed a spayed".

[@waldolydecker8118]

If her dog counts were always wrong, John could have been right - she was counting all the male dogs that had been spayed and was always coming up with zero. Well, it was a funny thought for a second, but after typing it, even I don't even like it, lol.

[@DanieltheTruebadour]

You may call a spayed a spayed - except when it's a neutered.

[@abradley2198]

What a great show with wonderful people

[@VahanNisanian]

Recorded on December 13, 1964. First pre-taped episode with Johnny Olson saying "And now let's meet our What's My Line" panel", without the words "From New York".

[@leannsherman6723]

Geez - Dorothy guessed all three including the poor young Santa Claus. The advantage was of course, that he got the full amount of $50.

[@loissimmons6558]

According to what I found online, Norma Olmsted and her husband had a son, Robert, who died of cancer at age 49 in 2009. At some point Norma divorced Robert's father and reverted back to her maiden name. It would also appear that she is still alive.

[@terencedove5047]

24:32... Bennett: "John, from one dog lover to another, you certainly call a spayed a spayed!" [a spade a spade] (Laughter at the pained expression on John's face; then...) John: "It takes a lot to come back from one of those, but..."

[@suible]

Oh ... NOW I get it. Thanks ... I guess. I thought Daly looked awfully pained ... Sigh. Thanks for explaining.

[@VahanNisanian]

And on the subject of Louis Jourdan, his episode that aired a week later after this, was taped on November 22, 1964. Johnny Olson was still saying "From New York" in his introduction for pre-taped episodes at that time.

[@cathykinn4516]

The hissing of the mystery guest was one of the best verbal decoy duck's - he deployed it at just the right moments. Sobering to consider Dorothy did not make it to another Christmas.

[@erichanson426]

Due to some of the questions being asked and how Leonard responded to them, made this another funny mystery guest segment.

[@princeharming8963]

I Love the reception Leonard got. He 'played' sort of a caustic character, but people really liked him. In times when he was just being himself, it seems that he had a good heart, and appeared to be very grateful for his success.

[@Historian212]

My father loved him.

[@waldolydecker8118]

7:25 The first guest was the show's makeup artist. JD notes that before the guest became a makeup artist he was an actor who appeared on Broadway in "The Time of the Cuckoo," Arthur Laurents' mid 1950's play set in Venice that I believe starred Barbara Bel Geddes (I could have that wrong, as I am going on memory). The play was later the basis for the 1958 movie "Summertime" (Kate Hepburn), then the 1965 musical, "Do I Hear a Waltz" (Sondheim).

[@markxxx21]

The Santa / actor said he was 21, which would put him born in 1943. An Internet search of Royce Caracappa has someone born in 1943 and die in 1976 (age 33)

[@pangaeuspress]

Royce worked for a time as a photographer and art director for Living Fashion, which was published by 16 Magazine. He married a girl by the name of Elmira Pangrazio. Although he worked in New York, he's buried in Forest Lawn in Glendale, California. I can't easily find any information about how he died, though. He seems like a nice, talented man. Tragic.

[@TyrSkyFatherOfTheGods]

Alas, a little research reveals that lovely Royce died at the tender age of 33, in 1976.

[@dariawells7438]

How did he die? :(

[@contardi]

That young ?

[@daviddavisvideo]

I googled with his name in parentheses and found a page from a 1971 Loving Fashions magazine listing him as art director.

[@Sylvander1911]

I wonder sometimes if the panelists pay attention to the previous answers. Bennett's guess of Jackie Gleason was belied by previous clues - for one thing he starred in his own regular series. Earlier it had been established that the MG didn't appear on a regular series and was only supporting when he did appear.

[@sylviacohen8987]

I always enjoyed his humor

[@markthomas6703]

You'd think she'd keep it a secret that her play went from Broadway to Paramus, NJ in a few weeks

[@LarsRyeJeppesen]

Idea: John Daly should have put himself on as a mystery guest. He could switch between his own voice and a "disguised voice".. that would have been fun.. the panel would never have guessed him

[@user-iv9xw3vs6c]

Lars Rye Jeppesen well......he did that, the very last episode, and they recognised him right away

[@LarsRyeJeppesen]

@@user-iv9xw3vs6c Dang.... cheers.. I'm doing them chronologically so I guess I'll have something to look forward to..

[@user-iv9xw3vs6c]

Lars Rye Jeppesen so sorry for the spoiler😞

[@LarsRyeJeppesen]

@@user-iv9xw3vs6c No worries :) ... I actually look forward to it.. I'm up to 1966 now

[@preppysocks209]

One reason he was guessed so quickly is that he answered very quickly. There were no conferences or elaborations or leading down rabbit holes. The timing was completely different from the standard MG segment. Of course it was difficult to fool people he knew so well on the last episode, but he didn't try very hard.

[@soulierinvestments]

Jack E Leonard was on the panel the day after I was born. As I recall he identified the mystery guest on that epoisode. Jane Powell. She sang for a living.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

What did you watch on TV the day after you born? I had an easy birth (my Mom did, too). I skated out of my Mommy's vulva right into the arms of our doctor. I asked him my name, he said Joey, and skated away, inadvertently ripping the cord out of my Mom. I still have that cord attached today, in memory of my birth.

[@loissimmons6558]

The first challenger must have had quite an imagination and the ability to transmute matter if he "makes up the What's My Line? panel"!

[@janetmarletto6667]

The makeup artist was a treat. We know that such people exist. It's rare to meet them. Kudos!

[@MrJoeybabe25]

When Arlene asked if he was slim and good looking that gave it away!

[@soulierinvestments]

RE: Arlene's comment about that young dishy Lord and Taylor store Santa. I will bet that she always got what she wanted for Christmas. ho ho ho

[@cruiseboston638]

Wow ...during Jack Leonards appearance Arlene tossed out the comment (as to not waste a question) "you cant be Santa" because she was hoping for an audience cue or laughter to whether she was close or right. . Then she did it again by saying you cant be Johnny Carson....again not asking it as a question. Bennett did it too...saying to Arlene with no conference caled........Milton Berle, Red Buttons etc. It just struck me as slightly sneaky or desperate lol

[@leannsherman6723]

Wow - that Dorothy Kilgallen was smart; she figured out the dog taxes.

[@VahanNisanian]

Usually, GSN cuts out the part where John says "From (sponsor's name here)" going into commercial.

[@VahanNisanian]

On the next episode to be posted here, Louis Jourdan returns.

[@kristabrewer9363]

Did he say a cartoon series for 5 MINUTES?! I can't see THAT lasting!

[@loissimmons6558]

According to an interview with Jayne Meadows, in the early days of the Goodson-Todman panel shows, the female panelists were responsible for their own makeup, hair styling and wardrobe. Jayne noted that she was not that successful in show business when she was chosen to be a regular panelist on "I've Got a Secret". She ran out of gowns to wear by the third show and realized she would go broke if she had to buy a different gown to appear every week. So she persuaded Goodson-Todman to arrange for gowns to be provided for the female panelists in exchange for the store getting a plug. But presumably the women would continue to do their own hair and makeup. The presence of a makeup artist for WML on this episode indicates that at some point the show was profitable enough that the ladies no longer needed to be concerned with these details.

[@Walterwhiterocks]

Ya think ? Geez.

[@bygodsgracejourneytohealin8368]

The last guy Royce who works as Santa Claus looks like Jim Carreys doppelganger

[@karensmith5318]

Dorothy knows the questions to ask..

[@elisabethlinz4256]

I wonder if this fabulous Mr X was not only responsible for the panelists' makeup, but also for the flamboyant hairdos of Dorothy?... :-))

[@waynehowell6160]

This must have been the very first WML I was allowed to stay up and watch. Bedtime must have been before 9 for a 12 year old.

[@WhatsMyLine]

corner moose I know who you are!

[@waynehowell6160]

I'm pretty sure I know who you are, too, WGW.

[@PhilKuhlenbeckGOOGLE]

The dog counter lady is hubba hubba hubba.

[@wcwindom56]

taxes on dogs? good grief

[@kristabrewer9363]

LOL, I was wondering what that was too

[@justjohnney]

So Arlene's show, "Beekman Place," went from Broadway to Paramus, NJ?

[@WhatsMyLine]

John Yang It was just that successful, yes.

[@soulierinvestments]

To think that Arlene got to get out of Manhattan and spend the holiday season working in Paramus. The glamour of it makes my head spin.

[@WhatsMyLine]

soulierinvestments It's unfortunate that the humor of your statement will be largely lost on those who, unlike me, are lucky enough to have no knowledge of Paramus, NJ. :)

[@MrJoeybabe25]

What's My Line? Didn't Paramus have one of the first malls in the United States?

[@WhatsMyLine]

Joe Postove I don't know whether they had the first, but that's about all that Paramus is known for: shopping malls and giant chain stores. And I mean GIANT. Think of your average sized "Banana Republic" clothing store. The one in Paramus will be 12 times the size of that. And they're all like that. A real center of culture. :)

[@bobflewin3024]

The panelists were impeccably dressed unlike the bums we have today

[@MrJoeybabe25]

The reason Jack was not a motion picture star is because 70mm had yet to be developed. Shockingly, In 1973 he collapsed shortly after finishing a performance at the Rainbow Room in New York City, and died the next day at the age of 63 after undergoing emergency cardiac bypass surgery. At the time of death, due to dieting, Jack was down to 105 pounds.

[@savethetpc6406]

Joe Postove Are you joking again? Jack E. Leonard's weight really did go up and down quite a bit throughout his showbiz career. He is much heavier in this episode, for example, than he was in his previous WML appearances, when I remember John and the panel all commenting on his impressive weight loss. And I looked him up and found that most of your information about the circumstances surrounding his death is correct. But if he had really been down to 105 lbs. at the time of his death, I think he would have died of malnutrition rather than a heart attack!

[@MrJoeybabe25]

SaveThe TPC Me, joking? You must be serious!

[@Baskerville22]

Dorothy, with mask askew, was always going to identify Jack Leonard

[@poetcomic1]

"...are you slim and good looking?" Jackie Leonard NOT. I loved him when I was a kid.

[@StewartElworthy]

What's with Dorothy's hair?

[@DanielField2023]

I Wonder too.

[@carolv8450]

It looks like she has a topping to it.

[@aileen694]

She's wearing a feather headpiece on top@

[@kristabrewer9363]

I KNOW! (usually her hair looks good)

[@wiedep]

Somebody not show up?

[@savethetpc6406]

wiedep Are you wondering why they had their own make-up man on as a contestant? It could be that they just thought that this would be a fun trick to play on the panel (which it was -- and a very entertaining segment, imho), but I also couldn't help wondering if he might have been a last-minute substitute for a contestant who didn't show up.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Would you say that 75% of Jack's comedy was delivery and timing other than actual content. I mean if you listen to what he actually says, it ain't that funny. But it's the way he says it.

[@SuperWinterborn]

Joe Postove He lost a golden opportunity to say "Not after this show" though, when asked if he used to sing on his shows. I mean that the voice-breaking exercises could ruin the voice of anyone... ;)

[@MrJoeybabe25]

SuperWinterborn I didn't realize until just now that the "E." in his name stood for eating

[@SuperWinterborn]

Joe Postove About time to start your diet, JoeJoe? ;)

[@MrJoeybabe25]

I think so, Undees. I had so much to eat at my sister's tonight. Fish (gefilte of course) all kinds of side dishes, then chicken and rice, oh yeah a soup course, then apple pie and (non-dairy) ice cream. I stole two apples from her refrigerator, but I'm afraid I'll bust a gut if I eat them. I can hear them now, cooing to me..."Joey...Joey..eat us sweetie...eat us"....what can I do? I'm helpless. I don't want to go down to skin and bones.

[@SuperWinterborn]

Joe Postove Eat them! Then begin to consider your new life with a sensible diet. Further discussions about this topic will be via e-mail. Good luck Joe! :)

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Was Jack a semi-regular on Jack Paar's weekly show? I know he showed up quite often on the late night show.

[@JG-op4de]

Those dimples on Royce.

[@garrison7888]

Before Rickels it was Jack.

[@drzarkov39]

Carson once had Leonard and Rickles on the same night. Leonard talked circles around Rickles. Rickles was laughing so hard, he couldn't get a word in edgewise.

[@sanseifromkofu728]

16:05 Was that Jayne Meadows' distinctive laugh I heard in the audience?

[@Dios67]

Santa looks like Jim Carey's brother.

[@yeahnoonecaresifyouarefirst]

Why was that first encounter weird? Then it got better. Also, do you have hiccups? 😂

[@smurfmama2020]

Pushing the Kellogg’s like it was the Pfizer of the time.

[@soulierinvestments]

Second contestant. I have this image -- 23, 24, 25, 26 . . .oh wait that's a cat.

[@loissimmons6558]

I sense a Far Side cartoon panel in there somewhere.

[@robertromero8692]

male dogs are neutered, not spayed, John Daly.

[@christopherjones8517]

You paid taxes on dogs, unreal!

[@bailinnumberguy]

I love this show, but doesn't the panel overdo it a bit w/ their wardrobe? They're dressed for a state dinner while playing 20 questions.

[@WhatsMyLine]

Yes, they "overdo it", but this was an intentional part of the allure of the show, the glamour element. Particularly the women's dresses-- the reason they changed the opening so that everyone walked onstage rather than being introduced while seated was specifically because of all the letters from viewers requesting to see the women's dresses.

[@gilliankew]

It was Christmas. They always dressed well but they were extra specially togged out, most likely to go to a special dinner after the show.

[@waldolydecker8118]

Also in a macro sense, television, although not new to American home living rooms in 1964, was still a relative new addition (less than 10 years) for many homes. The first televised Presidential debate had just occurred in 1960. The early years of mass TV were generally more formal in dress for pretty much all the shows (with noted exceptions) compared to today's TV 60 years later. Celebrities might wear just about any kind of casual clothing on TV today, instead of at least a jacket and tie/dress, which would have been the standard in 1964.

[@angieloomis8796]

@@gilliankew ,,

[@MrJoeybabe25]

I wonder if they're all going to lie about what a wonderful Christmas they had, next week

[@WhatsMyLine]

Why does this bother you so much? As has been discussed, this was done all the time, on many, many different programs that wanted to give the air that they were being broadcast live. It's a completely standard practice, still being used today.

[@VahanNisanian]

Joe Postove Joe, you gotta learn to accept the fact that this was (and still is) a common practice in pre-taped episodes. Please. Do it for me, and everyone else on this channel. We'll be very happy for you if you do.

[@Beson-SE]

What's My Line? During the end credits Johnny Olsen even says "this was prerecorded".

[@49yt]

Think about it. If you were watching this show on Dec. 20, 1964 and they said nothing about Christmas at the end of the show, would you not think: "What the heck, they didn't even mention Christmas! What's with that?" I think they were correct in pretending that it was Dec. 20, just for the sake of the show's appeal to the viewing public.

[@soulierinvestments]

These people could not possibly have a bad Christmas. So when they say in advance how wonderful Christmas was, it is not a lie. Just prophecy on tape.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Jack was not really funny...like his descendant, Don Rickles. He was sharp, had great timing and was fun to watch. But when I've seen him, he relies so much on his regular shtick which starts with a wise-acre remark and devolves into his patented mumble. I like Fat Jack. But he's no Don Rickles

[@Fush1234]

Jesus. What on earth does she have on her hear. Looks like a dead bird.

[@bobflewin3024]

The panelists were impeccably dressed unlike the bums we have today