What's My Line? - Judy Holliday; Tony Randall [panel] (Feb 23, 1958)

MYSTERY GUEST: Judy Holliday [film/theater actress]
PANEL: Dorothy Kilgallen, Tony Randall, Arlene Francis, Bennett Cerf

[@TyrSkyFatherOfTheGods]

The 78 year-old "little old lady" bartender waving at the audience was priceless!

[@Brian-uy2tj]

Judy Holiday won the Oscar for one of my favorite movies of all time "Born Yesterday" (1950) She was wonderful.

[@poetcomic1]

Judy, we loved you and still do every time we see you on film.

[@erichanson426]

I think it is so nice when Daily throws all the cards in, especially when the guest didn't have a chance at all.👍

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

It's always a joy to see elderly contestants that were born about 20 years before the 20th century.

[@MrWmJosephSmithIII]

The bartender was charming and lovely.

[@tjbnyc76]

I love the sweet little old lady bartender contestant. She mentions at the beginning of her segment that she never misses the show -- and you can tell: she's very clear and definite in most of her answers, rarely looking to Daly for confirmation or advice. She's clearly sharp as a tack!

[@bigwilson8794]

Todd Brandt and it's so cute the way she turns to the audience and waves on the way outl

[@Rhonda9199]

I love how they all stood for her!!!

[@44032]

In fact, her reactions are basically identical to Daly's

[@frederickreece4256]

i guess Im kinda randomly asking but do anybody know of a good website to stream new tv shows online ?

[@Deejaay83urj38]

Isnt she just! And shrewd! She hesitates to reply, with the purpose of confusing! She wasn't giving away one inch. Unlike the mail and who wasn't sure of the most obvious things

[@yvonnerocchio8445]

It's a pleasure to watch a TV program that has endured the test of time. Enjoyable, classy & entertaining.

[@oldwestguy]

And, sadly, far too many shows today are lacking all three.

[@kenretherford6428]

Want to chat?

[@marthatorres2827]

Maybe they should show this program in schools to show students how to conduct themselves.

[@luissantiago8446]

@@marthatorres2827 The show would violate every PC standard. Not "diverse," or "inclusive," enough to appeal to people these days.

[@carlogiottones348]

I was not in the US at the time of these shows, so I just came across them, but now I am hooked - for the class, the refinement, the demeanor the shows seems to exude. Other times, other standards - now shows value shock and vulgarity, rather than manners and respect. But the most intriguing aspect is the "time machine" effect - this is really like going back in time and seeing people - privileged people certainly - dealing with the issues of their times. And we can just Google them and see when they died, where their career went, - almost spooky, but very intriguing.

[@poetcomic1]

Seeing Judy I have an overwhelming desire to watch Born Yesterday again real soon.

[@JRobbySh]

I agree. But another film I remember with fondess is one she plays against type with an actor also playing against type, “Full of Life.” Also taking part wonderful character actor, whose name I forget.

[@accomplice55]

@@JRobbySh: Her co-star in that was Richard Conte.

[@josephlacerra8433]

I watched many of these episodes as a child, and it is a pleasure to revisit them now; quite nostalgic. I was allowed to stay up late to watch WML, as my mother and grandmother loved it and thought it was a treat for me, and it was. I find that I still am less interested in the mystery guests than the 'common' guests.

[@tompaulcampbell]

What time was in on back in the day?

[@jackkomisar458]

@@tompaulcampbell It was on at 10:30 p.m. on Sunday in the Eastern Time Zone.

[@gilbertotongco1054]

The panelist including Dorothy Kilgallen and Arlene Frances were so respectful. They stood up to say goodbye to an elderly lady.

[@JackDecker63]

Yup, that made me smile.

[@ruthwayneperry3097]

I saw that too

[@laurahoward5426]

Etiquette demands it Men stand for everyone, women stand for the elderly

[@billding7073]

Judy Holliday, sheer genius. Gone too soon.

[@ToddSF]

bill ding -- Very sad that such a talented and brilliant woman died in 1965 at age 43 from breast cancer. I think they might have been able to save her nowadays given advances in medical treatment. She was reportedly a genius at mathematics with an IQ tested at 172, but acting, singing and dancing was what she loved to do. She got that Best Actress Oscar for "Born Yesterday", but I love her best in the 1960 musical film "Bells Are Ringing" in which she reprised the role she originated in the 1956 Broadway musical of the same name. She was a major talent and a bright star on stage and screen.

[@bigwilson8794]

Classy Tony Randall disqualified himself.

[@KckStartMyHeart]

Haha... "So, how long do you think it will be until someone actually takes a trip to the moon?" Wow...I love these old shows for this very reason: hearing such speculations about the future :)

[@lauraminer9542]

KckStartMyHeart As I recall, it was sort of wild speculation at the time. When JFK announced the intention to get a man to the moon in ten years, most people sort of fell off their chairs.

[@lauraminer9542]

KckStartMyHeart Isaac Asimov told me he always figured we would get to put a man on the moon but never in his wildest dreams did he think we would be watching it live in TV.

[@keymaninmusic]

Namedropper!

[@rivaridge7211]

Oh, Judy Holliday! What can be said about her other than beautiful, intelligent, and incredibly talented? "Bells Are Ringing" was a huge Broadway success and our Judy was awarded the starring role in the film version which went into production about two years after this WML segment.

[@PapaLynn1]

So amazing, first that they moved the curtain time for Bells are Ringing because she was going to be on TV, and equally amazing that they moved the curtain earlier to 8:00!!!! Things used to start soooooo much later!!

[@tjb1952tjb]

Judy Holiday........gone far too soon. Such a delight!!

[@MrWmJosephSmithIII]

Judy was such a gem in all her movies!

[@WitoldBanasik]

Just think the charming lady in black was born in 1880, and started her career as a bartender in XIX century... Time flies...

[@terryniblett9329]

The 20th century...

[@stevekru6518]

Yes, she likely started working no later than 1897

[@keithnaylor1981]

Considering that it takes an alert brain, mathematics, and a good memory to be a bartender that woman was amazing.

[@esmeephillips5888]

Showbiz's second great Judy. As a comedienne she knocked Monroe out of the park. Best since Lombard, another who left us too soon.

[@alskndlaskndal]

I love when they have contestants from the space program. It's so interesting, and must have been exciting to witness all the advances being made. We still go to space but always to the same place... hopefully we'll get to Mars before too long!

[@fairlyvague82]

‘How long do you think it’s gonna be before someone *does* take a trip to the moon?’ I could’ve told him 😆

[@Deejaay83urj38]

That 78 yr old bartender gal . . If that's not an old school American, I don't know what is. "Well, I could . ." Gold

[@algoritmosalfredohipicasig7116]

I beg your pardon, Mr. Daly, the panel never would've guessed "Dives for Diamonds in Brazilian Rivers."

[@lllowkee6533]

Love the bartender! Good for her..

[@harlow743]

Miss Holiday was a great talent that we lost too soon....

[@JulieStJohn-jb4cy]

You can’t mistake her voice. She got a little too careless there. If I had been wearing some blinders, I would’ve guessed her by her voice also. Another wonderful show, and I was so impressed at how many of them knew the first contender. They stayed in the know, didn’t they!

[@poetcomic1]

'The Right Stuff'. We miss those guys like that.

[@MrYfrank14]

6:47 -back when "simulator" was a new word and Daly wanted to make sure he got it right.

[@sandrageorge3488]

The village of Little Valley is 6 miles from me 😊. The second guest is from there.

[@juliansinger]

I really want Mrs. Morris's hat. Also, Stand-Up Watch Alert: Everyone did.

[@robbob1234]

And she waved to the audience, getting the "Daly Double" for those of us who watch for these things! :)

[@tomitstube]

love judy holliday, great comedian. they were still advertising for people to come on the show, that wouldn't last i'm guessing.

[@Bambi_Harris_Author]

How interesting that Bennett asks about speculating on when someone might make it to the moon. Puts things in perspective as far as that we are definitely viewing the past

[@JLionelWaller]

Bambi Harris And the answer is ....... Approx 11.5 years ...

[@ToddSF]

Bambi Harris -- It took over 3 years before the first human being even made it into space -- Yuri Gagarin -- on April 12, 1961. Alan Shepard was the second person and the first American to be launched into space on May 5, 1961, less than a month after Gagarin's space flight. 20 days later, on May 20, 1961, JFK as President spoke the commitment "before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth." The first moon landing occurred on July 20, 1969 with Apollo 11. I am amazed that it only took a tad over 8 years after the first man was launched into space to put people on the moon. A lot of technology had to be developed for any of that to happen. The first artificial satellite (unmanned, of course) ever placed into orbit around the earth was Sputnik I, which was launched October 4, 1957, not quite four months before this episode of WML aired.

[@steveburrus5526]

I woinder why Donald Farrell never became one of the seven original NASA Mercury astronauts?! Did he no t have the "right stuff" to be one?

[@victorbeaumont443]

Get me u tube please

[@loissimmons6558]

+Steve Burrus Apparently Farrell was one of many logical candidates who were passed over for one reason or another. www.airspacemag.com/space/first-up-1474936/

[@gabe-po9yi]

Sometimes John Daly gives too much away. After the panel established the diamond guy dealt in a product that was most used by women, Arlene asked if it were bigger than a breadbox. When the man said no, John followed up with, Noooo, but we wish it were, making it pretty obvious it’s something of value.

[@hcombs0104]

The great Judy Holliday certainly could NOT disguise that very distinctive voice of hers.

[@leesher1845]

That 78-year-old bartender barely shook Dorothy Kilgallen’s hand, but she made sure to look at the audience as if she were a celebrity. LOL 😂

[@lopa2828]

She was a celebrity of her own right, she was 78 and bartender for 50 years

[@aprilove2005]

Born Yesterday---her gem of a role!

[@chope6786]

Their chat and speculation on going to the moon was so neat to watch. Little did they know it would truly happen but not for about 10 more years.

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

I laughed when Tony Randall introduced Arlene as one of the theater's "finest actresses." Arlene was never known as a great actress. 17:05 Arlene had to go and spoil the fun by naming Judy Holliday too quickly. It was nice to see Tony disqualify himself to carry on the fun.

[@princeharming8963]

Greatest tv show ever. (Perhaps... with the possible exception of the Andy Griffith Show.)

[@gwarlow]

Prince Harming Could we add "Dick Cavett" to that list?

[@stevekru6518]

Twilight Zone, I Love Lucy, a few dozen others until Sopranos, Homeland, Americans, Billions

[@algoritmosalfredohipicasig7116]

1st Guest: Panelists put on your blindfolds, please.

[@davidsanderson5918]

Synchotron ....yeah and happens pretty often of late.

[@sandrageorge3488]

Another person from Little Valley, I've stated before just 6 miles from me.

[@yeahnoonecaresifyouarefirst]

I can't be there, I won't be born for another 31 years 😂❤

[@leemclaury6251]

Donald Farrell. I can’t find him when I google him in 2019 . Who knows what happened to him ?

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

*_Airman First Class U.S.A.F._* *_Bartender_* *_Dives For Diamonds in Brazilian River_*

[@obiwil]

The Space program was so interesting to the American Public then. They knew his name right away....his name is not so large in history books now. ( 2023 )

[@bigwilson8794]

John didn't know the people's names or marital status until they walked out and signed in? Its funny to watch him struggle with the names based on the penmanship on the board (Mayte, is it? Mayte Morris? Is it Mrs or Miss Morris?" What was written on his index cards?

[@Celisar1]

Interesting question, but on the other hand he must have known the names quite often, because he seemed to have no trouble with the most difficult handwritings.

[@robbob1234]

@@Celisar1 Not to mention those written in foreign alphabets!

[@shawnkdodds]

Some of those signatures on that chalkboard would be worth a lot of money today but were just wiped away

[@accomplice55]

No, they weren't. The contestants signed pieces of black paper. They occasionally come up for auction on eBay.

[@sandrageorge3488]

I can't say I have ever seen anything Judy Holiday was in. I was born in 1960.

[@accomplice55]

She died in 1965, but they do show old movies on TV.

[@susanbschu9210]

Watch TCM- I discovered old movies and I was enthralled when I first saw Judy - she was absolutely terrific, as were others .

[@SueProv]

I was born 3 years later and Ive seen a couple of things. She won best actress for Born Yesterday.

[@Eddie_Schantz]

In reguard t the first guest, from the time this show aired it took 11 Y 5M 25D to walk on the moon. (4164 days)

[@KeatShadows]

Judy passed away at the very young age of 43.

[@Baskerville22]

Judy Holliday here looks a lot like Janet Leigh

[@franktheo2055]

{The Very Lovely Gladys Glover}🌹🌹🌹💕💗💗.

[@philippapay4352]

Again, John Daly does not mention the program Judy will be on, but talks about his friend who is involved with it and where they knew one another from, etc. without getting to the point of her request until the very end when she asks him outright to make the statement about the altered showtime of her play's performance due to it.

[@jimmygoodrich9590]

The show was mentioned person to person hosted by Ed Morrow

[@philippapay4352]

@@jimmygoodrich9590 Edward R. Murrow was a much better journalist than was John Daly. Though, Daly was good at keeping WML moving through its paces. But, he was just dreadful at interviewing most of the guests. It was so bad producers found that they could not use the Mystery Guest segments for a 25th anniversary special when they went through them, because they were so much about him and when he did talk about the work of the MGs he used the same platitudinous phrases with too many.

[@kathyyoung1774]

Eleven years later an American landed on the moon. God bless the USA!

[@freddyfurrah3789]

July 20th 1969

[@TheBraveIntrovert]

Why is it that Arlene usually introduces Bennett when he comes back? It seems When he is gone they switch up Arlene and Dorothy, but when he comes back they switch back.

[@AllenMQuinn]

Arlene & Bennett just gelled better on a regular basis. Dorothy and Bennett together would be too tense cause they're both very intelligent and competitive. Arlene is more easy going (tho just as intelligent), but she's not as hardcore as either of them so she was good middle man (or woman). I know there were a few occasions where he got a bit annoyed/snippy with her. If I remember correctly, he admitted (and you can see it from time to time), some of her methods of asking questions and just some of her mannerisms drove him crazy (I think one time he mentioned how it drove him crazy how she'd throw some random/out of the blue personal almost name dropping questions in there).

[@neilmidkiff]

The Cerfs and the Gabels were close friends and neighbors. I have a vague recollection that Bennett and Phyllis subdivided their Mount Kisco estate so that Arlene and Martin could build their country home on a corner of the property; I hope I'm getting the details right.

[@stevekru6518]

@@AllenMQuinn Having watched many episodes I do not agree that Arlene was “just as smart as” Dorothy and Bennett. Arlene was smarter, and certainly more clever and quick witted. I’d put Bennett in second place. Dorothy almost keeps up but works harder to do so, but admittedly these impressions are subjective.

[@esmeephillips5888]

@@AllenMQuinn Daly became more mouthy and egotistic as the series ran on. He had been a reporter asking big names concise heavyweight questions, then keeping quiet to get the answers. Maybe that frustrated him and WML brought out his showbiz, name-dropping traits as well as his talkativeness. Whatever, between Daly and Dorothy things might have become too tensely combative, had Arlene not been there to spread her balm. She was the show's true 'moderator' as well as the eye candy. No wonder she was the highest paid panelist.

[@rickcharles5064]

DANG!!! Was hoping the bartender would make it to Dorothy. They may have been on a first name basis.

[@JLionelWaller]

rick charles She would have recused herself in that case, like she did with the Airman.

[@rickcharles5064]

John Waller Sorry, was being facetious.

[@ToddSF]

rick charles -- I kept thinking of the possible answers for all of Arlene's questions to the bartender, but if Dorothy had been the one asking them. For example, "Would I use this product?" and "Would I use it every day?"

[@Banks-gd1in]

Why did Mr Daly say Abernathy when the first man was signing the board

[@neilmidkiff]

He was joking with names at random, also mentioning Fotheringay.

[@langevinlovebird]

How come this video is not playing?

[@WhatsMyLine]

Because youtube is being a huge pain the ass. This is about the 4th time this has happened to a perfectly fine video in the last week. Give it a little time, it sometimes fixes itself. If not, I'll repost. This is making me seriously angry, a huge waste of time. (Not directed at you, of course!)

[@WhatsMyLine]

It fixed itself. None of this had anything to me! Very frustrating.

[@44032]

Classic example of Dorothy hogging the camera by asking unnecessary questions when she knows what it is at the end. You can see the bittersweet bemusement on the faces of Daly and the other panelists as well Daly's flipping of the cards so as not to deny the young man money for her stunt.

[@shirleyrombough8173]

I think honestly you are making things up about Dorothy. If she is hogging the spotlight then so are the others. When I was in my college's performance of Oklahoma! and it was time to take our final bows two female chorus members thrust themselves in front of me I don't know how I got the courage but I just did it back to them. A hazard of performing.

[@accomplice55]

How would her asking more questions deny the panelist money?

[@44032]

@@accomplice55 The contestant normally gets money for each 'no' answer and she kept asking questions she knew would get a 'yes'. Daly saw that and flipped all the cards to give away the full $50. .

[@williamhiles7404]

Not many liked Kilgallen in the day. LedHed Steven 🎶 🎸 🎹 🎸🎶

[@matthewbbenton]

If the lady bartender was 78 in 1958, that means the Civil War ended only 15 years before she was born.

[@justjohnney]

is this playing for anyone?

[@hopicard]

Not for me!

[@WhatsMyLine]

It fixed itself. None of this had anything to me! Very frustrating.

[@hopicard]

What's My Line? Yes, indeed... Weird, but the final result is good :)

[@justjohnney]

hopicard worth the wait

[@joycejean-baptiste4355]

Grandma is a bartender.

[@hopelewis5650]

Arlene everyone does have a bar in the bathroom, of soap.

[@leesher1845]

Did not like how they rushed those final contestants. I think that was rude. They should’ve come up with a different format even if it meant not having a final contestant.

[@netram28]

The show aired live. They had no way of knowing how long it would take the panel to guess the first three rounds. Each week they had a different amount of time left over to fill. The fourth contestant was always engaged on a stand-by basis. Many of them lived close enough to NYC to provide their own transportation to the studio.

[@briansanford1721]

Since when has alcohol become a stimulant?

[@williamhiles7404]

Alcohol has always been classified as a stimulant/depressant. First it stimulates, then depresses the central nervous system. LedHed Steven 🎶 🎸 🎹 🎸 🎶

[@marionpines8980]

18:38

[@bigwilson8794]

I guess this is the first show where an image of the State of Florida appears on the flip cards?

[@craig7680]

Dick Wilson No, there have been previous episodes.

[@davidsanderson5918]

No it's bern a while. And in fsct a few episodes ago I thought to myself how it looked like the cards were damaged or torn but as you say it's the shspe of Florida!!

[@shirleyrombough8173]

Probably because one of the sponsors was Florida citrus fruits

[@briansanford1721]

Bennett again FALLS into fame and fortune. Inherited wealth is the bane of this Country.

[@williamhiles7404]

Publisher of Random House. LedHed Steven 🎶 🎸 🎹 🎸 🎶

[@parsnipmcgee329]

The guests might have done better without the MC piping in so often.

[@terryniblett9329]

C'mon Dorothy, quit beating around the fuckin' bush!!

[@lissettesbloom8223]

Did anyone see how the Bartender did not want to shake Dorothy ‘s hand?

[@waynej2608]

Why wouldn't she?

[@oldwestguy]

After watching it, I don't think she was reluctant to shake Dorothy's hand at all... it looked like she simply got distracted in conversation with Tony Randall, and had to "rush" her handshake with Dorothy.

[@shirleyrombough8173]

No. Again, your imagination.

[@stevekru6518]

An alluvial diamond diver who lives in Scarsdale and works in Brazil? He can’t physically compete against indigenous teenagers. What’s next, a Himalayan mountain guide who commutes from Paris to compete with Sherpas? The contestant must own the company.

[@daisyflowerrose2005]

Diamonds ar e almost the exact opposite of a useful product you liars

[@justjohnney]

not industrial diamonds

[@JLionelWaller]

daisyflowerrose2005 Actually, not quite correct, while most natural diamonds do wind up in jewelry, a lot of diamonds are used in industrial applications. If natural diamonds are too small, or imperfect, they can wind up in industrial uses. Everything from grinders to watch movements.

[@cellom.9227]

Useful if you are proposing marriage to someone...

[@cynthialyman2636]

How about a diamond stylus needle for playing old-school vinyl records?

[@shirleyrombough8173]

Diamonds are a useful product in some areas of manufacture due to their hardness.

[@jerrywood4508]

Cerf is such a cheater.

[@geriejones4723]

Bennett Cerf is extremely annoying!