What's My Line? - Mike Todd; Ginger Rogers; Martin Gabel [panel] (Feb 17, 1957)

[@dannydoc1969]

John Daly, "...the whole concatenation" wow. He was the best moderator in TV history. He kept the show moving, clarified answers with wit and intelligence, and respect for the guests. I doubt that any of today's so-called celebrities could even come close. The panel as well were always well informed, erudite, funny, and their English vocabulary & grammar leave today's sorry lot in the dust.

[@patricia7823]

Very TRUE

[@jerrynuelle3254]

So very well stated, Danny...I would only add that he had class, something rarely observed in todays genre who couldn’t hold a candle to John.

[@GaryBetterton]

What does "concatenation" mean?

[@donaldvelez9258]

Well said my friend… well said.

[@photonotavailable7936]

I love the classiness, the manners, and the grammar.

[@johnnyb9218]

I watch these episodes of WML & I find after awhile I have a perpetual grin on my face without even knowing it. It's not forced but sheer enjoyment of seeing such class & wit on television 62 years ago. Seeing the great Hollywood stars, and of course the panel are just amazing with their logic. John Charles Daly is such a good moderator. I thank the uploader so much for this for all of us to enjoy. Cheers from Australia mate.

[@barbarapalmer8224]

I agree with you Dune...l have become addicted to WML myself

[@friendofdorothy9376]

I love them all. But also get a little sad sometimes knowing almost everyone has passed away. Sometimes I’ll Google them, even the non-movie stars, just to see more about their lives and I’m always happy when I find they lived a long life.

[@mark_call_yerdogoff]

I agree! No one is near me now but I am smiling non-stop during this show and all others!

[@jerrylee8261]

Johnny, hear! Hear! I don't think Gary profits a great deal from this so the fact that he does do it is even more endearing.

[@jacquelinebell6201]

Yes! I listen and watch them while I'm out and there's always a smile on my face in public. Have to stop from laughing out loud sometimes! 🤣

[@JimmyFoxhound]

Every time I see Ginger in these shows she seems so happy, like she would have been a really wonderful person to know and be around.

[@kevinmarkey9441]

true story two old woman at a bus stop ane one says to the other i think fred astaire was the greatest dancer that ever lived and the other old lady i think ginger rodgers was the greatest dancer because she did everything that fred did but backwards and wearing high heels 😂😂

[@jackanthony976]

If she is such a wonderful person to know why is it that she found it necessary to marry five times?!! Maybe her husbands did not think she was so wonderful. She drove one husband to drink because of her straight laced ways and inflexible attitude.

[@patriciaannking8601]

@@jackanthony976 Dear sir, no one has ever "driven" anyone to drink. Her husband was responsible for his own alcohol addiction. Many movie stars of that era were more likely to marry because of the morals of the time. They only realized later that thay weren't suited for eachother. Many people are inflexible concerning what drinking does to the family.

[@dannysullivan8929]

@@patriciaannking8601 I agree with some of what you wrote but being inflexible is not limited to "what drinking does to the family". She could have been inflexible in a general sense, which makes it very hard to live with. And also, the morals of the time, as you so put it, have nothing to do with marrying five times. I would say that five times is rather ridiculous for one lifetime, regardless of the morals of the time. You can find out that you are not suited for someone without ever marrying them. Even back then, most people dated for a while before they got married and within that time period you should be able to determine if mutual suitability exists. I love Ginger Rogers. I think she's the greatest female dancer ever. She did a lot of patriotic work with Bob Hope during the wars in this country. She sacrificed her time and went overseas to enrich and bring love, hope and entertainment to the lives of many many American soldiers. And that is a truly truly beautiful and Christian thing to do. However... not everything is what it seems and with all due respect to this beautiful woman, being married five times is a little much. Have a great day.

[@TirranyLGurley]

@@dannysullivan8929 well I have you known that there are several celebrities that's been married more than twice Elizabeth Taylor eight times Joan Collins five times Zsa Zsa Gabor nine times Eva Gabor five Nicholas Cage five times Mickey Rooney eight times Larry King eight times Richard Pryor 7 times so from these people and many more you can in fact be married more than twice or more than once in that matter because of several different circumstances that revolves around the divorce proceedings or reasons for marriages breaking up needless to say a person should not be crucified or judged based on the amount of times they've been married there's more than one reason and more than one side of the story so let's not be too hasty in deciding once fate or reasoning behind such actions

[@jeffdownes2581]

In the early 80's I had the extreme pleasure to meet Ms. Rogers in an airport. I was around 7 years old and had a very nice conversation with her. I even got to briefly dance with her.

[@savethetpc6406]

jeff Downes That is so cool! How did it come about?

[@jeffdownes2581]

She just happened to sit in the row facing mine in the terminal. I was a very talkative little kid and thought it was really cool I was talking with someone who had made movies.

[@savethetpc6406]

jeff Downes Did you recognize her? Or did the adults who were with you tell you who she was?

[@jeffdownes2581]

I didn't know who she was then, but some people sitting around me did. She told me during our conversation she made movies is how I found out. I've seen a ton of her movies since.

[@drewstephans3436]

You lucky dog, even as a 7 year old that must have been an experience

[@bracken1000]

When you see long-gone celebrities who are younger here than you are now....

[@miketheyunggod2534]

🙁

[@kennethlatham3133]

.......which is a vicious kick in the head.

[@cynthiasoroka1838]

BLOWS THE MIND DOESN’T IT !

[@pattimaeda6097]

Yeah ages being equivalent they looked older back then

[@Beson-SE]

I wish that Martin Gabel would have been a regular male member of the panel. He was always very witty in a dry sense and never dull or selfish.

[@WhatsMyLine]

Johan Bengtsson While he was never on the show on a week-to-week basis, Martin holds the record for guest appearances at 112-- that's 50 more appearances on the panel than Fred Allen made. I do consider him something of a regular on that basis.

[@ryanschroer]

What's My Line? I think Gabel was a better fit for the program than Allen, honestly. Fred was witty and very funny, but I think Gabel just fit the humor and tone of the program. Fred throwing in weird lines related to nothing made me go, "Why?"..like asking Daly "Do you think Ike will run again?" I get that's a joke..but so many of his one-liners were so out of context. I love Fred..but he was a better fit doing radio comedy.

[@WhatsMyLine]

Ryan Schroer I totally agree, Ryan. I've said the same thing many times in comments on other videos. I first got into WML because I was already a HUGE fan of Fred Allen's radio work and books, and was a bit disappointed he wasn't better on WML, but it just wasn't the right format for him. It always bothers me that of the folks who do remember him at all today, most remember him specifically for WML, but his work on WML is really not what he deserves to remembered for.

[@ryanschroer]

I wonder what Fred would have done with the reality TV genre. He would have done something very creative because that was his strength.

[@TheBraveIntrovert]

Johan Bengtsson I Loved Gabel and Fred. I usually don't like the dry sense of humor because half the time it's just not funny, Gabel added Wit and charm like his wife Arlene. Fred was very funny as well with his random questions sometimes.

[@Kendell062]

I love how panel and host dress like they are going to a movie premiere every show.

[@jerrylee8261]

That adds even more class to the show.

[@maryzorn3365]

When my boys were in high school, they auditioned for region and area orchestras (1990’s). We always dressed to the nines for orchestra concerts but parents often wore shorts and flip flops to band concerts….

[@scottlevin4487]

Don’t you think we need to get back to that. Everything is too casual today,

[@royharris8979]

Thank you. It is always fun watching these videos. Believe it or not, once in a while I like to see the commercials they had on there.

[@barbarapalmer8224]

I love the commercials too.Roy.

[@robertjean5782]

I agree with you absolutely 😊

[@geraldinepayne2951]

Any one of these with Martin Gabel in it is my favorite. Did any man have a sexier voice and he never seem to mind Arlene's teasing and flirting. I imagine by the way she would look at him it was true love.

[@aileen694]

Geraldine Payne, I agree absolutely, about Gabel's attraction! Several times I've explained that to a couple of *male* commentators who try so hard to discredit him, for the stupidest reasons.

[@robertjean5782]

Exactly 😊

[@ald668]

This show is greatly entertaining!

[@bobhayett2376]

All these amazing people make me smile from ear to ear...John Daly was the most amazing TV personality of all times IMO.

[@sanderdeboer6034]

So cool to see a fellow Dutchman be on this show. And that he actually worked in my hometown Haarlem at the company Joh. Enschede that indeed prints money and stamps. I checked out his live and he actually emigrated to the USA in 1977 to Santa Barbara after this first visit were they fell in love with the country. He died in 2000 at the age of 90.

[@tomitstube]

ginger rogers is 46 here and still rocking a great dancers physique.

[@loissimmons6558]

One of my favorite lines about show business relates to Ginger Rogers. _Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, except backwards and in heels._

[@lemorab1]

Only she didn't. Astaire choreographed their dance routines and his steps were the more difficult ones. Her genius was in acting like dancing with Fred Astaire was the most wonderful thing in the world. I've read that later in life, he said she was his favorite dance partner. One of my fantasies is to time travel back to the 1920's and drink champagne, eat caviar, and dance the Charleston with Fred Astaire.

[@somewhere6]

She certainly did not do everything he did. One takes one's hat off to her work ethic and excellent acting but she was never even close to the dance that Fred was. After her partnership with Fred, she hardly danced at all in her movies and there is good reason for that.

[@accomplice55]

@@lemorab1 The Charleston? I'd rather do the Continental with him. :)

[@jerrylee8261]

Ginger was so graceful and strong to be able to do all those graceful leaps. When she is dancing with Fred I only have eyes for her. I loved the way she held her hands and arms.

[@loissimmons6558]

@@somewhere6 @lemorab I like the line because it is clever. I never let details get in the way of appreciating humor.

[@faithmapstone9982]

I love this programme, such a long time ago Yet comes across, fresh & very Relivent today. November 2022, Bath England ⭐️🌻⭐️

[@calvinghanian8439]

bennett cerf was married to ginger rogers' cousin.

[@dianefiske-foy4717]

calvin ghanian ... I was wondering about that. Thanks 👍🏻🥰‼️

[@ald668]

AN ADDICTIVE SHOW!

[@accomplice55]

Mike Todd had previously been married to Joan Blondell, who divorced him on the grounds of mental cruelty, claiming that he had once held her by her ankles outside a hotel window. It's also reported that upon news of his death, she stated that she hoped the SOB had screamed in terror as his plane plummeted to the earth. No love lost there.

[@shuroom57]

Interesting connection here, as Joan Blondell and Ginger Rogers both starred together in Golddiggers of 1933.

[@robertwiegman1]

Ginger Rogers was INCREDIBLE!!!

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

This was the only time I ever heard Mike Todd's voice. I would have thought he had a much deeper voice.

[@richatlarge462]

Being from Northern California, I find it interesting that the motorcycle cop from Los Banos referred to it as being between the two highways, 101 and 99. I-5, on which I've driven so often in my life near Los Banos, had yet to be built for another decade.

[@DonnieReno]

Ginger Rogers was a joy to watch 🤗

[@tubularap]

The handwriting of their names ... I remember as a child. I hope the art will be kept alive and return to full glory once again.

[@aileen694]

Tubular Ap, agreed! Handwriting is almost a lost art. I've actually been questioned "What is this? How does it work"? Young brains only see computer screens.

[@maureengauvin1768]

Penmanship or Cursive Writing as it is known today, (or The Palmer Method as it was known in my grammar school days!) is not entirely dead - yet. All 4 of my grandkids have learned it as part of their elementary education. I’m writing this in April of 2022, & they range in age from 14 down to 11.

[@robertjean5782]

Unfortunately not happening 😢

[@Swingguido]

Civilized, intelligent human beings.

[@francoaragosta4285]

Ab-so-LUTE-ly! Sadly, we'll never see their like again,

[@francoaragosta4285]

Ginger was 46 years old here and still had one of THE great bodies of all the. LOVELY person!

[@jerrylee8261]

I noticed how thin she was. She looked great.

[@simonatheod6867]

The motorcycle cop was a very fun guest

[@VahanNisanian]

Bennett Cerf and Ginger Rogers together is always a treat.

[@savethetpc6406]

***** I'm so glad she actually fooled Bennett in this one! Usually he guesses her way too quickly.

[@royharris8979]

Ginger Rogers, and Bennett Cerf "related"? How so?

[@VahanNisanian]

Roy Harris Phyllis Cerf was one of Ginger's cousins.

[@wookinooki9023]

wow Ginger Rogers had a trained classical voice, and it was quite nice.

[@shuroom57]

Check out the opening number she stars in of the movie musical, Golddiggers of 1933----she is fantastic!

[@shirleyrombough8173]

Amazing- A woman motorcycle cop in those days. I'm glad to see that.

[@TheCMLion]

He lived only a year and a month longer... such a shame. I wonder how different things would have become in Hollywood.

[@MarshalltonUMC792]

The first time I saw Ginger Rogers was the 1965 TV version of Cinderella with Leslie Ann Warren. I was seven at the tune. I think I’m going to watch it on Amazon Prime tonight.

[@yankeegirl5175]

My brother is named Michael Todd & my sister is Elizabeth. Both intentionally after the famous couple!

[@VahanNisanian]

Mike Todd died over a year later in a plane crash. Reportedly, Liz Taylor was going to be on the same flight that Mike Todd was in, but she was too ill to go on the flight.

[@carolv8450]

How sad.

[@josephlacerra8433]

Do you mean sad that he was killed, or sad that she was not? Just asking.

[@boognish999]

@@josephlacerra8433 what a dumb comment

[@davidgibson7615]

@@josephlacerra8433 what????

[@slaytonp]

Liz Taylor was "too ill" quite a lot.

[@TheBigMclargehuge]

I.. I think I've watched all of them.

[@robertjean5782]

757 videos😊

[@chrisbowen9043]

Very excellent episode!

[@VahanNisanian]

An addendum to my previous post: Ginger Rogers was also a guest panelist in February 1966, after Dorothy died. And good old Bennett was there, too.

[@joncheskin]

Bennett thought the first guess was Cecil B DeMille. Hilarious!

[@jerrylee8261]

I thought that he hinted that he thought the MG was Elizabeth at first.

[@preppysocks209]

I did not know until recently that Ginger Rogers made a movie with Ronald Reagan called "Storm Warning" in 1951. Rogers wasn't supposed to have been in it. The film was a Warner Brothers movie (Reagan's last before he left the studio) and their contract player Lauren Bacall refused to play in it as her contract called for. She was disciplined for having done so and Ginger Rogers was brought in. BIlled third was Doris Day as Rogers' sister, early in her career. It is the only movie I know in which Doris Day's character dies.

[@jerrylee8261]

That sounds interesting. Wonder why Lauren refused the part. I will watch for it on TCM.

[@rivaridge7211]

Doris Day always spoke very highly of Ronald Reagan - he was, in her words, "a perfect gentleman." Doris gave quite a heartfelt and affectionate tribute to the late President of the USA (and her former co-worker) when he passed in 2004.

[@shadykatie100]

@@rivaridge7211 Doris Day was always a class act.

[@richardrice8076]

It's a very good movie that is rarely shown, I recommend it.

[@algoritmosalfredohipicasig7116]

Ginger and Fred had wonderful chemistry in a variety of styles. Nevertheless, Powell and Astaire's tap dancing was tops.

[@lescoe]

Even the chalk was better quality than we have today. I wish I was born 50 years earlier.

[@ladyyuna2000]

RIP Mike Todd (June 22, 1909 - March 22, 1958) (aged 48)

[@robertjohnson3514]

60 years ago today... February 17, 2017

[@bigwilson8794]

I like the way John has to physically restrain Willem from meeting the panel (21:08)

[@joeambrose3260]

Seems like most of the mystery guests were hanging out with Bennett the night before

[@robertjean5782]

But he had no idea they were going to be on the show😅

[@operadog2000]

Jacqueline LoisAnn Delay Lief was born Dec. 8, 1921 and she died Sept. 21, 1990 at the age of 68.

[@michaelnivens6267]

The gorgeous Ginger used one of the voices she used In " Monkey Business " , a delightful movie

[@jerrylee8261]

I only watch Monkey Business because of unowho.

[@bostonblackie9503]

Bennet was married to Ginger's cousin, Phyllis Fraser.

[@soulierinvestments]

In this period, I think Kovacs and Todd and someone else male appeared in an unusual three-male WML panel featuring Elsa Maxwell as a mystery guest. Todd used WML to promote a CBS live broadcast of his party in Madison Square Garden to celebrate ATWin80D's first anniversary. Years later on NPR News, Walter Cronkite, who found himself embroiled as its master of ceremonies, went on the public record describing this party as the biggest disaster ever perpetuated on CBS. Cedric Hardwicke nearly fell off an elephant, and that one one of the lesser problems.

[@ToddSF]

Actually, Dutch money was definitely sold in the United States. Before the Netherlands adopt the euro as their currency, you could go to any foreign currency exchange in the U.S. and buy Dutch currency -- guilders -- and on my first trip to Europe, I did exactly that. You couldn't spend Dutch money in the United States, but it you had some, those same foreign currency exchanges would give you U.S. money for it on the spot at the posted rate of exchange, less a service charge for the transaction. Of course, all of that is true nowadays for the euro, among other currencies of the world. Branches of most large U.S. banks could do such exchanges, too, in either direction, but they typically would have had to order the money for you and it might take a couple of days to get the foreign money, such as Dutch guilders.

[@loissimmons6558]

+ToddSF 94109 If I understood the questions and answers correctly, the final challenger did not work for the Dutch government. He worked for a family owned business that was contracted by the Dutch government to print their bank notes. His company did not sell to the general public in Holland or any other country. They only sold their finished product to the Dutch government for whatever their contract stipulated. Thus, unlike someone who worked for the U.S. Bureau of Engraving, his company actually had a product, but his company never sold it to the public and never sold it in the U.S. Once it was sold to the Dutch government, it became legal tender and ceased to be a product.

[@suzieblaut7535]

When people actually had class & brains.

[@willemverheij3412]

The English of my fellow Dutchman and namesake is very good considering the time. While most of us are pretty good with English now, especially with older generations that's usually not the case.

[@soulierinvestments]

In 1956, the major films were deMille's "10 Commandments," Lang's "The King and I", Stevens's "Giant," Sirk's "Written on the Wind," Ford's "The Searchers." And Mike Todd's "Around the World in 80 Days," which won most of the Oscars that year. If anyone can figure that out, go right ahead. I cannot.

[@2508bona]

That is a puzzler for sure. Around the World is pleasant enough but TEDIOUS in places. Of course, nobody at the time regarded The Searchers as anything more than a solid Western. And I think 10 Commandments has aged better than Around the World in almost all aspects.

[@soulierinvestments]

After all these years, most of "The Ten Commandments" holds up remarkably well as a movie.

[@lemorab1]

+soulierinvestments I'll try. I saw it in 1956, when I was 8 years old, and Mike Todd was a master publicist and showman. The excitement over "Around The World In 80 Days" was unlike anything surrounding any other movie. Todd and Elizabeth Taylor were about the two most famous people on earth and the force field surrounding them must have swept the Academy voters into his pocket. Also, it represented David Niven's return to the Hollywood A-List after several years of career exile, as fallout from his feud with Sam Goldwyn. Sometimes, an inexplicable phenomenon lays waste to all forms of competition , regardless of merit. This was one of those.

[@44032]

Per Wikipedia, Around the World In 80 days made $42 million, (a huge sum in those days) but The ten commandments made $$122.7 million, so it was the box office champ for the year, despite Arlene's prediction.

[@josephlacerra8433]

As a nine-year-old, and despite the overwhelming hype that was going on, I had the feeling that Around the World in 80 Days was going to be a gigantic snore. I still have not seen it. I spent my money to see The Ten Commandments, like three times, from which I developed a lifelong love of Egyptology.

[@itsanalyne]

Wow that penmanship.. 🥰

[@Papageno2006]

Don’t becoming a motorcycle police officer require trading at a police academy?

[@Papageno2006]

Typo i meant doesn’t, not don’t

[@dougw.4788]

is it me or does nearly every celebrity from that time have a tragic story in life.

[@gabe-po9yi]

Mike Todd was the perfect man/husband for Elizabeth Taylor. So sad she lost him so soon.

[@robertjean5782]

Taylor had 6 husband's 😊

[@111111111Tiger]

Such a hoot - they need to bring this show back !

[@lewiscarey1593]

Who could you get, without hearing the crap Hollywood spews out of their mouth! Golden Globes is PERFECT EXAMPLE!! 🤪🤪🤪

[@voyaristika5673]

I wish. But these folks are classy and that's just not possible to duplicate today. Sad.

[@keithnaylor1981]

Todays celebrities are too smothered in their own self importance to give up their spare time for shows like this.

[@robertjean5782]

Not happening 😮

[@robertjean5782]

​@keithnaylor1981 Exactly 😊

[@johnlee-yo8jc]

Ginger Rogers was a singer.

[@accomplice55]

According to whom?

[@tugginalong]

Mike Todd had been married to Elizabeth Taylor for 15 days when this episode aired. He would die the following year in a plane crash. Ginger Rogers is one of the most talented celebrities in the entire movie industry’s history.

[@dariawells7438]

Anyone watching this episode, please don't Google "Mike Todd" if you don't know who he is until AFTER you watch the episode. Now I want to cry. :(

[@broughtbackin]

10 Commandments made TRIPLE the amount (box office) than Around The World in 80 Days.

[@soulierinvestments]

RE: Ginger Rogers. Arlene that would be rude. Helen Brown Nichols {"Phyllis Fraser" Mrs Bennett Cerf] was born in Kansas City, Missouri. Her mother was Verda Virginia Owens, daughter of Walter and Saphrona Ball Owens. Her two maternal aunts were Jean Owens, wife of radio actor Vinton Hayworth (uncle of "Rita Hayworth"), and Lela (Owens) McMath, mother of Virgnia McMath "Ginger Rogers,." born in Independence, Missouri.

[@angelacasselberry9623]

What beautiful genes in that family!

[@reneshay889]

Dorothy usually has very dark hair but did she some times have red or blond hair? Can't tell in black/ white.

[@aileen694]

Rene Shay, yes, I remember reading about her hair colour changes, both blond and reddish, I think. Glad she settled on the brunette. And I've always wished I could see the colours of their gorgeous dresses too.

[@reneshay889]

@@aileen694 I wish I could see the color of their dresses also. I have read that Arlene and Dorothy's gowns were beautiful!

[@alarahillton1343]

I actually thought the blond color here flattered her more. Much softer for her face.

[@robertjean5782]

​@@aileen694Dorothy hair was naturally black😊

[@shuroom57]

At 5:16, you can see Martin whisper to Arlene and she nods her head; it looks like they figured out who it was then!

[@lllowkee6533]

Thankfully, WOMENS hair shampoo and hair dressing equipment has come a long way!

[@misspad7282]

13 months after this was film, Mike Todd was killed in a plane crash.

[@jazzvampire]

In my humble opinion, one of the best years for hairstyles (on WML, mainly, otherwise not really!) Even with John's poofy style here...maybe it was a humid, rainy night out. Looks like he probably could have used a bit more pomade to tame it, but it is rather endearing as is!

[@mark_call_yerdogoff]

He would have used Brylcream

[@jazzvampire]

@@mark_call_yerdogoff They're basically the same - a water, beeswax and oil combination. "Pomade" is just a general name and Brylcreem is a brand. But yes, I can definitely see John using it in particular!

[@robertjean5782]

John had a toupee for many years 😅

[@Aannan]

Ginger seems like fun!

[@juliansinger]

Jackie Lief was born in Arkansas (as Jacqueline Delay), moved to California, became a Los Banos institution as the juvenile/motorcycle/bicycle officer, and died in 1990 in Chowchilla. (I have no idea who her husband was.) She was the kind of police officer 12 year olds write really bad poems about. The specific really bad poem in question: archive.org/stream/policepeaceoffic19571959sanf/policepeaceoffic19571959sanf_djvu.txt A bunch of AP history students in 2010 did some research on her: www.losbanosenterprise.com/2010/05/07/72188/ask-us-what-was-the-bicycle-club.html And, Ginger is fabulous as usual. (It's vaguely possible Mr. De Kempenaer is still with us. If so, he was born in 1910.)

[@robertjean5782]

He'd be 114 years old now😊

[@tomitstube]

pretty sure my mother wasn't watching, she was giving birth to me. mike todd had married elizabeth taylor 2 weeks earlier, he was 47 she was 24. one year later todd would die in a plane crash. when joan blondell (todd's ex-wife) was told of his passing she was quoted as saying, “i hope the son of a bitch screamed the whole way down.”

[@LarsRyeJeppesen]

The "yeah" girl in the audience sure participated often... or was the welcome applause a recording?

[@alexhu7939]

Lars Rye Jeppesen she is a claque!

[@aileen694]

@@alexhu7939 What is a claque? ...just googled it with that ? French spelling. And yes, we used to call it a "plant" or a "shill".

[@robertjean5782]

Actually it was my sister she was the shouter she attended regularly 😊

[@cynthiat6505]

Elizabeth Taylor said she was never happier than when she was married to Mike Todd.

[@broughtbackin]

She said that about ALL of her husbands.

[@ginnylorenz5265]

I love John, but have always wondered about his choice of hairstyle. Anyone know why he wore it that way? What would happen to it in a high wind? No disrespect intended. I find him very attractive.

[@WhatsMyLine]

It was an elaborate comb-over to conceal his bald spot.

[@ginnylorenz5265]

Thank you. And by the way.........thank you, thank you for all the great pleasure!!!

[@ritagreen5224]

What's My Line? I think it is a hair piece in the front?

[@robertjean5782]

He wore a toupee for many years 😊

[@thecandidcounterbalance1492]

John Daly didn't cut to a sponsor before saying goodnight like usual.

[@VahanNisanian]

How many episodes were there, where Bennett was surrounded by three other women on the panel? The only other one I can think of was September 20, 1964, which, tragically, doesn't exist anymore.

[@shuboy05]

The November 29, 1964 show. The panel was Dorothy, Bennett, Arlene and Carol Channing. There is also a Steve Allen show where Deborah Kerr had Bennett's seat so John was teasing Steve occasionally about sitting with three lovely women.

[@gwenniegirl50]

This episode aired February 17, 1957. Mike Todd and Elizabeth Taylor married just 15 days before on February 2, 1957.

[@anneroy4560]

She won the Best Actress Academy Award in 1941 for Kitty Foyle ...

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

9:25 Isn't that just the most perfect handwriting?

[@galileocan]

Could someone explain to me why the panel (especially Martin) considers Mrs. Leif to be a borderline Miss Universe? What is it I'm missing.......

[@cassiemoira]

Galileocan g Yeah, they kept going back to her looks over and over again. I didn't see it either!

[@sue9963]

Keep in mind the standards of beauty were quite different in the 50s. There was more of an emphasis on "wholesome American housewife" looks and being the sort of girl that a guy would "proudly bring home to his parents". Mrs. Leif definitely fits into that box. She has a small heart-shaped face, arched brows, and has nice cheekbones, but she is also wearing an extremely fashionable hairstyle and dress for that time. She gives off the impression of someone who takes pride in her appearance. And in the 50s there wasn't such an emphasis on straight white teeth that there is nowadays, so her crooked smile and slight double-chin wouldn't be seen as offputting.

[@gardenplots283]

Some people have a charisma in person that doesn't show up on screen or in pictures.

[@AnnieKCleary]

"crooked smile and slight double-chin wouldn't be seen as offputting" My face belonged in the 50s xD

[@SueSnellLives]

I was confused, as well. Sue99's explanation makes sense, however. I guess standards really were different, because in the episode with the first female mayor of a city in Colorado, they didn't whistler for her once, and she looked like some French actress -- totally drop dead gorgeous. They never said a word!

[@miketheyunggod2534]

They shouldn’t have had anyone on who is in a current picture. It makes it too easy.

[@jcboom6894]

They used celebrities that were in NYC to promote their opening of whatever.

[@robertjean5782]

Not necessarily they had Charlton Heston on no one guessed him!😊

[@riveranormanf.8770]

Mike Todd just married Elizabeth Taylor on February 2th, 1957 in Acapulco, Mexico. He was 47 and she was 24, it was their third marriage to both.

[@dancelli714]

PRINTING HIS NAME. First time I've seen that.

[@kennethlatham3133]

I noticed that too! I always make a guess before their line is revealed, and his meticulous non-cursive rendition of his named led me to think that his was a printing occupation, specifically a man who prints signs for roads & highways. I love graphology.

[@dailyowl6337]

Could someone please tell me what is Arlene saying around 22.35?

[@tomitstube]

+Katarzyna Kopeć it sounds like she says, "and i'm the girl that knows it's impossible if martin knows what he's talking about." she kind of fumbles over the wording making it hard to understand her.

[@neilmidkiff]

+tomitstube I hear Arlene saying: "and I'm the girl that knows that it's possible that Martin knows what he's talking about".

[@geraldinepayne2951]

@@neilmidkiffI think Arlene is saying, I'm the girl that knows it's imposable and Martin is the one that knows what he's talking about . Martin came from a family of jeweler in Pittsburg so when it comes to jewelry be should know.

[@helenahopkinson381]

Mike Todd Elizabeth Taylors third husband who died in a plane crash if I'm not mistaken.

[@kennethlatham3133]

Two observations: 1.) Money can most certainly be used to wage war 2.) Michael Todd's affable, humble and humorous personality make one think of the possibilities in motion picture production had he not perished in that flight, or lack of it.

[@thesweeples3266]

1) not specifically 2) ok

[@macmcleod1188]

It is very uncommon for people to use money as a literal weapon to directly into the life of another human being or to destroy enemy fortifications or enemy devices.

[@robertjean5782]

​@@macmcleod11882024 money has created many wars in the past 2 years and possibly WW2😢

[@jayonnaj18]

Mike Todd, I think, was the third husband of Elizabeth Taylor! He was killed in a plane crash and left Liz a widow!

[@antonmarino6568]

What did Liz Taylor see in this man?

[@soulierinvestments]

"Around the World in 80 Days." Todd's big movie canvas. Unfortunately he died young within a few months, so we never got to see what else he could do in movies. It had a great set of credits animated by Saul Bass. It was filmed in Todd-AO, which was the second-widest widescreen process ever. Todd hired some of the biggest stars for some of the dangest little cameos ever conceived for a long movie. Now if anybody likes this movie, chime right in with your comments. I do not remember much about it even though I have seen the thing twice.

[@waynehowell6160]

+soulierinvestments I think the biggest appeal for that movie is watching for the cameos. Take the scene in the western saloon, where the camera keeps giving us a shot of the back of the piano player's head. The whole scene plays out to the end before he turns around, revealing himself as Frank Sinatra.

[@ToddSF]

Todd AO was not only very wide screen in its format, but also used 70mm film instead of 35mm, so the resulting widescreen picture was very bright and had great color with very fine resolution.

[@galileocan]

What's up with John's hair?

[@bigwilson8794]

Galileocan g I think they ran out of gel

[@Teri_Berk]

@@bigwilson8794 Or, he didn't have time to gel his hair or simply didn't want to.

[@robertjean5782]

He wore a toupee for many years 😊

[@4508bluesky]

Elizabeth Taylor’s Mike Todd! ❤️

[@spudwas]

Mike Todd died in a plane crash on March 22, 1958.

[@youbetcha6880]

To think that Michael Todd appeared on this show just over a year before he died in the plane crash.

[@als.8690]

Their son is a nutter Liberal Berkeley radical..God bless

[@jackseward7779]

In re-watching over 50 episodes, I don;t think I have heard a mystery guest blab more than Mike Todd.

[@orgonkothewildlyuntamed6301]

Ginger for the first few questions was tunnelling Esther Williams' 1st appearance

[@johnodonohoe7602]

you know i share the comments about googling people i had never heard of and Wikapedia is great adding another dimension to what would have been so brief an interval(thirty minuet show) what a time machine and so much fun!

[@louisecoleman1339]

None of todays "celebrities" have anything close to the education of John Daly. Additionally, Bennet Cerf of Random House published the first American College Dictionary. Daly and the panel members were constantly vying for clever puns and other word plays. They were all very witty.

[@agalgonzalez]

Willem had quite the job, printing money.

[@royharris8979]

So, Phyllis Fraser, aka Mrs. Bennett Cerf, is/was a cousin of Ginger Rogers?

[@WhatsMyLine]

Roy Harris Yes.