What's My Line? - June Allyson; Shelley Berman [panel] (Apr 2, 1961)

[@davidsanderson5918]

June Allyson's whisper just sounds like June Allyson straight away!!

[@samdash4706]

John mentions the last guest, Luis Chu (whose line is a disc jockey for a Chinese station), had just published his first novel Eat a Bowl of Tea. It was the only published work by Chu, who died in 1970. Today it is considered a seminal work of Asian-American (and particularly Chinese-American) literature. If you ever take a course in the subject, you will likely be assigned to read the book. It was made into a movie in 1989.

[@mikejschin]

This episode inspired me to read Chu's book. It's very good: interesting characters, story line, and insights into life in Chinatown in the late 1940s.

[@virghammer1]

Thanks a ton, both of you ! Really want to check out this book now. 🙏🏼

[@Lokus199]

Nice giggles attack from DK and Shelley Berman

[@bp.andrewherron8539]

Shelley Berman always gets the giggles. Such fun.

[@jennjenn61]

I wasn't familiar with Shelley Berman so I looked him up & was surprised to see he's not only still alive but has been with his wife for over 70 years!

[@dpm-jt8rj]

He passed in September 2017, RIP. Very funny man.

[@savethetpc6406]

@@dpm-jt8rj I'm sorry to hear that, but thanks for giving us that update.

[@angelajoseph6709]

dpm1982 Wow! He lived a long and blessed life. Wonderful long marriage. May he RIP.

[@louisianagrandma9787]

With that particular hair-do, June Allyson, at quick glance, looks a lot like Rose Marie from "The Dick Van Dyke Show"!

[@arbyfatbuckle1733]

Berman's laugh attack was priceless.

[@ilzamaria6424]

@@CelineOracle I think he had a oroduct in mind, whatever It was, and the question made him imagine someone using it in a bizarre way. I wish someone had asked him, for he just could not stop laughing, and I started laughing alone, for no other reason than watching him !

[@malcolmmarshall5946]

I think they were thinking of sitting on the toilet.

[@robertmelson2130]

Is it my imagination, or is the lighting markedly different? Shadows on the sign-in board seem darker and sharper, and the panels faces seem to be underlit while at the same time the overhead lights seem brighter as well. On the other hand, perhaps it's just the video quality.

[@louisianagrandma9787]

June Allyson's hairdo is very reminiscent of Rose Marie from "The Dick Van Dyke Show".

[@reno1uest]

I just adore Shelley Berman in this episode.

[@soulierinvestments]

Dorothy’s question about the sensibility of sitting on the product surrounding by other plumbing questions brings to mind toilets, which probably explains why Berman went hysterical. CBS censors would allow WML to deal with bathtubs and beds and associated products, but toilets were off and I mean OFF limits. The Perils of Living Television. Berman disappeared from WML after this broadcast for nearly two years. Either he was very busy - which is certainly possible or the producers got ticked that he fell to pieces on live TV - which was probable. Ironic that Berman went off his rocker during a sequence about rocking chairs.

[@savethetpc6406]

Well, even if the producers thought he was being unprofessional, I found the whole event hilarious and very fun to watch!

[@tomitstube]

+soulierinvestments  - i find it hard to believe the show held berman to task for his crack up, (it got huge applause) they were from what i heard always looking for a comedic side to the show, i believe you're right about the thought of standing in a toilet that set him off, the first thing that came to my mind as well.

[@juliansinger]

I shall hope it was that he had a lot of work, because I've been enjoying him. (Though less, to my startlement, than I have Joey Bishop, whose first appearance left me flat, but he's grown on me.)

[@rogeroge50]

@@juliansinger Joey Bishop has dry humor like Bob Newhart, which I enjoy!

[@ninarue]

June Allyson had the most wonderful smile

[@JENEAN32]

Amazing to see June Allyson here. Fast forward 30 years and she’d be doing commercials for Adult Diapers and or incontinence liners

[@ladyyuna2000]

She's one of my favorite actresses of all time.

[@davidsanderson5918]

teneka wyatt That's unfair really. She had many years of good work. I remember her for The Glenn Miller Story, co-starring with James Stewart. That alone is better than anything on most people's CVs.

[@siggylloyd3566]

"Hi, I'm June Allyson, and while I'm talking to you I'm taking a dump."

[@JLionelWaller]

Just goes to show that she is normal human, aging out like everyone else.

[@druidbros]

I wonder why Dorothy didnt have the glasses type mask after she had such trouble with the tie kind after last week. I like her new hair style.

[@ToddSF]

+druidbros -- It's because Shelley Berman was wearing it, so Dorothy had to wear her old one.

[@markxxx21]

I agree her hairstyle suits her

[@libertyann439]

Because it was more feminine than the others. And that was Dorothy.

[@Nicolas-zb9uw]

Did you know it was trendy ?.....

[@wiguy3]

Pickled hearing....COME ON! Pretty funny pun guys.

[@johnwright2399]

Thank you so much cheers

[@noobsshadow1369]

I'm pretty sure based on how Shelley and Dorothy started laughing so hard they thought he made Out Houses or Port-a-John's.

[@geoffm9944]

June Allyson was a wonderful actress. She personified charm and style and with her sparkling smile and enthusiasm for people, she won a huge audience of admirers. I loved her DuPont drama series back in the late 50’s and early 60’s. She will never be forgotten.

[@bluecamus5162]

A striking June Allyson moment for me was in the film 'Executive Suite' when she was playing catch with her son. She caught and threw like a pro and her athletic prowess in the scene was impressive.

[@Marcel_Audubon]

she was a drip, she and that repulsive Van Johnson heralded the beginning of the end for MGM

[@williamhorton9763]

June Allyson had the Bogart lisp that gave her away.

[@cynthialyman2636]

Both Dorothy and Arlene look especially lovely here; possibly it's their hairstyles.

[@Bigbadwhitecracker]

Yeah I agree

[@ericstuart7748]

I don't find Dorothy attractive. Her face is too big.

[@jamesfox2579]

Very much so, indeed!!❤️

[@shirleyrombough8173]

And their dresses as well.

[@jacquelinebell6201]

I don't like Dorothy's hairstyle tbh. The shape doesn't suit her. She has a very small face. It's just not her style.

[@jamesfox2579]

I just ❤️ June Allyson!

[@buffbill-t2i]

I once had a collection of old movies on vcr tapes, Whenever I felt I needed a little cheering up I would always pick one of her films always had a wonderful smile and fun way about her!!!

[@erichanson426]

That joke about pickled hearing was funny 😀

[@joe-vz6hx]

june was so adorable - when she playfully looks at daly after he compliments her about dancing, good god I want to just whisk her away lol - but why almost no talk after she was so quickly guessed, disappointing

[@johnmh1000]

What a wonderful girl June was. I think that John D and probably most of the watching males would fall in love with her. I'm very sad that she is no longer with us.

[@bluecamus5162]

That was a funny moment-- I think her and John actually touched noses on that one. And yes, they should've brought Mr Chu back later (since he was local) and instead, spend that time talking to June.

[@JLionelWaller]

What no talk??

[@MauriatOttolink]

Bennet said "Collector" and she was described to the audience as a Collector NOT an Agent! Bennet got it right!

[@sherry-lynnbeardslee4288]

I really love Shelley laugh, it really made my day.

[@shirleyrombough8173]

Both Arlene and Dorothy wore really pretty dresses this night and John brought a groan-worthy pun.

[@mathewfullerton8577]

Once again Mr. Daly gives a "neon sign" explanation of an answer to broadcast an answer when the product was the rocking chair (". . . a specific office").

[@preppysocks209]

except the panel did not take a hint

[@davidsanderson5918]

Not keen on the extra light on the panel here. It's like putting the big light on in your living room to find something then leaving it on.

[@elspethcoogan1499]

I know what you mean when you refer to the “big light” in the home, which is often what I call the ceiling light. I personally prefer having the tables lamps on instead.

[@stephaniemccoy9602]

Poor Shelley. I suffered through horrible laughing attacks that I couldn't get out of plenty of times.

[@dinahbrown902]

😊

[@bluecamus5162]

I sure would like to know what set him off. Was it Dorothy's question about "sitting down in it"?

[@rogerrobin2774]

Knowing Bergman, it was surely something dirty.

[@Ransomhandsome]

@@bluecamus5162 toilet, maybe

[@oz_jones]

​@@Ransomhandsomethat's what i thought too 😅

[@VahanNisanian]

No other WML panelist makes me laugh harder than Shelley Berman.

[@savethetpc6406]

His laugh attack certainly was infectious -- I couldn't help laughing along myself!

[@johnlewis9158]

the halcyon days when people looked intelligent spoke intelligently and behaved intelligently

[@davidfritz1331]

+john lewis R.I.P.

[@cynthialyman2636]

So well put.

[@themajor743]

Television before the downfall of civilization.

[@davidsanderson5918]

Of course it's deliberately stilted for the show, particularly Daly's elaborate explanations. People didn't talk like that in the street and equally people could talk like that on a show now. I take your point though.

[@gbrumburgh]

Oh, yes. These days women wear tube tops that accidentally expose their breasts when they jump up and down, men wear tee shirts with crazy sayings and both sexes fall on the ground writhing in ecstasy when they win a prize.

[@jeffzest8393]

Bennet loves the ladies! Always a comment on beauty when an attractive contestant.

[@joycejean-baptiste4355]

Rocking chairs are very relaxing. Everyone should have one. It went over all the panelists heads, Lol!

[@kentetalman9008]

Unless you have a cat.

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

U.S. INCOME TAX COLLECTOR MAKES ROCKING CHAIRS (MADE PRESIDENT KENNEDY'S WHITE HOUSE ROCKER) DISC JOCKEY FOR CHINESE MUSIC PROGRAM 😜Arlene and Bennett gave their best snobbery by ignoring Shelley Berman's laughter. UGH!

[@yawlltube]

'Hope you come back to WML another time.' Now that's a first.

[@Bigbadwhitecracker]

Yeah that was a weird exit line.

[@Banks-gd1in]

Strange

[@sharonjudd7786]

Arlene Francis is divine!

[@iamintheburg]

I'm suspicious that the three regulars knew Miss Allyson and were being sports, while newbie Berman didn't know to play along.

[@tugginalong]

Why John Daly calls on Bennett Cerf to be the first when the celebrity is a female is a question I’d love to hear his answer. Often times, Bennett would ask if they’re a voluptuousness blonde based on the applause and often times they’re a cute actress.

[@asteverino8569]

Loved Mr Berman. cracking up non stop.

[@daniellamcgee4251]

Ah.....those heady days of smoking rocking chairs. Bennett knows what I am talking about.

[@friggsnowden5210]

So thankful to have found this channel. Being able to watch episodes back to back when my darling parents had to wait makes me feel spoiled. I have shared this channel with both of them ❤️ I thank the Good Lord they are still with us.

[@MauriatOttolink]

That incomeTax lady had a face fit for Hollywood.

[@Danno682]

I’m guessing Bennet Cerf and June Allyson were close friends since he was the panelist she kissed on the way out

[@RonGerstein-tf5tp]

They were very very close.

[@markalancirino]

Several episodes back, John made a comment to the effect that he couldn't see the numbers on the cards, just the blank backs. Now, I notice someone has written on the backs of the cards "1 down and 9 to go", etc. Why does that excite me?

[@mikejschin]

You have contracted a condition known as WML Syndrome. There is no cure. The only way to alleviate the symptoms is to watch more episodes and enjoy them. :-)

[@joycejean-baptiste4355]

Interesting job, my income tax instructor was a former employee for the IRS. She was very thorough and had a look on her face just like the contestant here. Lol!

[@jvcomedy]

It's funny how people from years ago look so much older than what they are. Shelley Berman had just turned 36 prior to this video yet he looks 56.

[@ToddSF]

+Jeff Vaughn -- On the other hand, Arlene is 53 here and I thing she looks great, despite the harsh lighting in this episode.

[@dannybex]

+Jeff Vaughn Berman was a heavy drinker. And also just think how much older he'd look without his toupee...

[@elisabethlinz4256]

Poor Shelley Berman has a resemblance with Markus Söder, contemporary Bavarian politician..... :--))

[@juliansinger]

Detail on the chair company: www.thekennedyrocker.com/history.html Life article from 1961, with a picture of everyone who worked at the company: books.google.com/books?id=-FEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA20&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=2 Mr. Page is still around; his wife died in 2005.

[@joycejean-baptiste4355]

Mr. Cerf has nice corny jokes and puns.

[@dh3279]

June Allyson was just precious. Always seemed so sincere and adorable.

[@suziemills2201]

Women were so poised in those days . Now trashy is the rule

[@FordbyFor]

Aired the day I was born!

[@AnnA704-aa]

And 4 days before I was born! Nice to meet you 😊

[@kguy152000]

LMAO. Pickled hearing.

[@sanseifromkofu728]

6:02 One of the few, if not only, times that question didn't get a hearty laugh from the audience.

[@cathykinn4516]

Dorothy K's hairstyle suits her, takes years off, her usual was rather stuck in the 194os. Mr Cerf's humour was surprising in someone usually described as urbane or sophisticated. Hal Block was funnier.

[@dotsywotsy18]

Regarding Shelly Berman's laughing attack, John Daly said I didn't know Shelly was English. He finally got Bennett's joke. What am I missing here?

[@cdrugly]

Dorothy with a new do. I wonder if that’s because she got her mask hung in her hair during the previous episode?

[@dpm-jt8rj]

Here's an odd statement, but the second contestant has a nice pair of eye glasses. I have always wanted a set of glasses just like those along with a pair of sunglasses with the same type frames.

[@jaengen]

What do I think of June Allyson? Well, it Depends…

[@MauriatOttolink]

June A. Star of my teenage dreams. Broke my heart when she learned of the death of Glenn Miller. AND that husky sounding voice... 1950's where are you now we need you?

[@juliansinger]

Mark already noted some stuff, but, have a link to the career history of Miss Mottonen: prabook.com/web/person-view.html?profileId=56459 She also established a scholarship for U Wyoming student in the College of Business who's got need and a good enough GPA.

[@Steve_1999]

I assume that he makes old rocking chairs because nowadays they do have moving parts.

[@dinahbrown902]

Gliders

[@linjicakonikon7666]

Back when there were grownups.

[@marycleary7810]

Arlene’s dress is gorgeous

[@janeiwasduncan8463]

Wish it were in color...

[@lopa2828]

They all were

[@algoritmosalfredohipicasig7116]

June-Liked her in Glenn Miller Story, Shelley-Laughing is contagious. Bennett-"Is it eaten or smoked up?" Whatever was he thinking?

[@janeiwasduncan8463]

She worked with Jimmy Stewart a few times and loved her in each one of them☺️☺️☺️🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@Sublette217]

The P&P Chair Company announced that it was closing in December 2008 after 82 years in business.

[@erichanson426]

Can someone tell me what was so funny about Dorothy asking if it is something you sit down in to maker of rocking chair.

[@sandrageorge3488]

They thought she meant a toilet.

[@dinahbrown902]

Gutter minds in these “respectful people “🤣

[@donnacook8994]

June Allyson's voice was incredible and unmistakable. Shelley Berman was just so much fun, and made me laugh out loud. Great show! 👏👏👏

[@Marcel_Audubon]

something awkward about how the June Allyson segment ended

[@carolynkayhanson2524]

I was born and raised in Idaho Falls, Idaho! What a treat to have my home town mentioned on this wonderful show!

[@1jamyc]

With the tax collector, Arlene asks about a diploma from college, then John gives a long answer. about a college diploma. He is usually so precise with his words. I got a degree from college, and a diploma from high school. I know its trivial minutiae, but that what these comments are for, right? :)

[@lennypearl]

I believe Lois Mottonen's last name is Finnish, although originally Möttönen

[@martincontreras444]

La realeza de Hollywood jun Allison una superestrella adelantada para su época. Su magnífica sencillez su personalidad fuerte etc.

[@jeffzest8393]

What did Gabel find so funny?

[@RonGerstein-tf5tp]

Who is Gabel?

[@janetfeuerstein149]

All this beautiful cursive writing

[@leannsherman6723]

Funny rocking chair segment😂

[@sgsmozart]

Bennet Cerf calls the female tax collector a " lovely girl" rather than a " woman"....

[@jeffzest8393]

Normal at that time. In fact, girl is still used referring to contestants in beauty pageants, and still applies to young women.

[@WinterlyHeights]

19:50 - Aww...I'd consider June Allyson a singer...

[@Bigbadwhitecracker]

Well, she did do musicals at MGM. To be fair they should have stressed that a bit better. I'm really not a fan of hers though. To me she wasn't anything special.

[@preppysocks209]

Of course she was a singer and a dancer in many MGM films before becoming exclusively a dramatic actress. I wonder if she and her husband, Dick Powell, both were so determined to leave musical performing behind them that they not only stopped doing that kind of work and reimagined their images, but tried to erase their prior musical performing from both the historical public record.

[@leannsherman6723]

Sibilant - good word!

[@donnalynch1484]

Dat panel don't know how to asked questions,fooli

[@ahgfl007]

That's as bad as what do a fire hydrant and a dog have in common ..... K9 P

[@loissimmons6558]

IMHO, I have to say that yours is worse. :-)

[@ToddSF]

As to JFK's rocking chair . . . . President Kennedy was assassinated on Friday and two days later, on Sunday, I was looking through the huge Sunday edition of the Los Angeles Times. There was an advertising insert in color for a particular store found in Southern California (and perhaps elsewhere) -- I've long ago forgotten which store -- and on the page featuring toys was a windup toy of JFK in his rocking chair. You wound it up and a little piston at the back would make the chair rock while a music box played the tune "Happy Days Are Here Again". Needless to say, such items are planned and put together for a Sunday paper well in advance of the release date, but I remember how tasteless that toy seemed two days after JFK's death by an assassin. I was 11 years and four months old then. I'm sure that toy was removed from store shelves immediately at most retail locations that sold it. Strange how famous JFK's rocking chair had become in three years, but he was immensely popular. I remember the talk that circulated, that President Kennedy likes rocking chairs and had one brought into the Oval Office and probably had another one in the residence area of the White House. He had them at Camp David and the Kennedy residences in Hyannis Port and Palm Beach, and one was always brought with him on Air Force One when he traveled around the world. He said it helped relieve his lower back pain from his war injury on PT109.

[@tomitstube]

+ToddSF 94109 - jfk suffered from many physical ailments, no doubt the rocking chairs were a source of comfort and probably made it easier for him to get in and out of chairs.

[@chrischeshire6528]

I was 9 years old at that time and I remember the toy rocking chair also. It was made by Kamar and was musical. It probably was sold at Sears. There is one on E bay as of this date.

[@ToddSF]

Chris Cheshire -- I think you're right, come to think of it -- that color insert in the Sunday paper was almost certainly a Sears ad. I have no doubt that such an item might be something for collectors today, along with those "First Family" comedy LP's with Vaughn Meade impersonating JFK and other comedians providing voices for other family members and associates . . . . Suddenly, what had been popular and funny no longer was.

[@markalancirino]

+ToddSF 94109 I have a copy of that LP!

[@jmccracken1963]

There were actually two volumes of "The First Family" recorded. The first is by far the most famous, with many copies of the LP made and sold. But there was also a second volume completed and released on Cadence Records a week or two or three before JFK's assassination. (I found a copy dirt cheap - maybe $4.00 for the LP - a number of years ago in a used record shop on the north side of Chicago, on Montrose Avenue just a bit west of the Ravenswood "L" tracks.) Ironically enough, the last band on Side 2, after a number of skits, was a recording of Vaughn Meader as himself, asking grade-school students in New York City what they thought of President Kennedy, and their responses to his question. Needless to say, Volume 2 had a very short shelf life.

[@Appleholic1]

Today is Junes birthday Oct 7

[@RonGerstein-tf5tp]

Today is June 18th, not October 7th.

[@preppysocks209]

In 1948, no one could have predicted that 6 actors working on the same film, MGM's "The Three Musketeers", would be future WML MGs and that two others would be future guest panelists (a few were both). Besides June Allyson, the other future MGs were Van Heflin, Vincent Price, Gene Kelly, Lana Turner, and Angela Lansbury. The future guest panelists were Gig Young and Keenan Wynn.

[@sherry-lynnbeardslee4288]

I also 💕 Bennett jokes, he is really something else special.

[@DaxShaw]

I'm pretty sure they frequently, if not always, knew who the mystery guest was. There's no logical way for him to jump to June Allyson so quickly.

[@juliansinger]

Enh. I dunno. If you study up on who's in town, and also get a wild suspicion, it all works out. Just depends on if you consider studying up on who's in town to be cheating.

[@loissimmons6558]

With June Allyson's very first answer, it seemed to me that she didn't disguise her voice very well. Shelley Berman was correct, her sibilance (or as June called it, her lisp) was very distinctive.

[@Marcel_Audubon]

nope ... she laughed at one of the responses ... I was surprised someone didn't guess it faster after that - very distinctive laugh

[@gailsirois7175]

They did

[@Traderjoe]

This was in the early 60’s, given the Kennedy reference. From episodes I have seen from the 1950s and onward, I do not detect even the slightest hint of racism directed at any of the myriad guests that had appeared a decade before the activism towards equality and race relations and the turmoil that seems to have sprung as a result of that activism. Since here we see people treating all races, genders and persuasions treated with the utmost respect. Do you notice it? But after the activism and sit-ins and protests, the tensions seemed to increase dramatically. How can we explain that prior to protests of inequality and racism, that none seemed to exist on this show? Consider the audience responses to seeing celebrity guests of color and ethnicity, the audience reaction was completely respectful and approving. You can read public mood by audience reactions. I never sensed ever a hint of any kind of racism or abhorrence at any racial or ethnic guests. To me, this proves that we were not a racist country, and that the activism sowed the seeds to more recent turmoil that we are experiencing right now. To reiterate, we were fine before the activism. The activism is what caused the turmoil that we are in now. Think about that. Please.

[@kristabrewer9363]

WOOOW!!! John had NO right WHATSOVER to flip over those cards. Not only did Bennett guess her job, but she ALREADY had 30 points! I had hoped by NOW that the producers would have talked to him about this! I still like John (I can't seem to NOT like him even when flipping over those cards for no reason), but I DO hope the producers talked to him about that!

[@gailsirois7175]

Again... didn't happen last week..was 60+ years ago

[@gailsirois7175]

Nothing can be changed

[@siggylloyd3566]

@@gailsirois7175 gee, you don't say!

[@kevinwachs5905]

I doubt that the producers fretted over giving the contestant an extra twenty dollars.

[@geraldkatz7986]

The show wasn't about the game. The first season was about the game. It was boring. The show is about the interactions. The game is the McGuffin premise but isn't important. Like the points of Whose Line Is It Anyway, it doesn't matter.

[@donnalynch1484]

Foolish questions.

[@Retroscoop]

Again an income tax collector ? There were at least 2 other ones on WML ! It's like all those policemen taking part in real crime TV shows, telling of course this was the "most bizar case in my entire career", after which indeed rather frivolous murdercases were explained to the flabbergasted TV audience.

[@jackkomisar458]

The producers of WML were especially fond of tax collectors, people who wash cows, people who raise and sell worms, and women who dive 40 feet on horseback into a tank of water.

[@markxxx21]

This show is certainly sucking up to Kennedy. They didn't have nearly the coverage for Eisenhower.

[@libertyann439]

Markxxx Well they were Democrats. Except Dorothy.

[@Bigbadwhitecracker]

Fake news even back then

[@gbrumburgh]

John and Jackie Kennedy introduced the Camelot era and brought a refreshing beauty, youthfulness, charm and vitality to the country.

[@gailsirois7175]

Brand new President..get over it

[@kentetalman9008]

I remember that time. Members of the Kennedy family were very much in the news, whereas you rarely heard about the Eisenhowers.