What's My Line? - Nelson Eddy; Stanley Kramer [panel] (Jan 31, 1960)

[@geoffm9944]

Nelson Eddy was a superb singer and a real gentleman. His films with Jeanette McDonald will never be forgotten.

[@annakaminski4406]

The respect given to the guests & each other is wonderful. To day's so called movie stars could learn a lot by watching these shows.

[@keithhyttinen8275]

So could any corporate board.

[@waynebrasler]

Nelson Eddy loved his multi-faceted career. He and Jeanette not only enjoyed working with each other; they also were devoted to each other.

[@bluecamus5162]

My parents adored MacDonald and Eddy and I can see why. Wikipedia presents their relationship as unusual, to say the least. I would like to better understand them as well their respective marriages to others. I would like a good biography.

[@williamhiles7404]

Arlene and Dorothy always looked stunningly elegant. Great memories of things that never be again. In The Days of My Youth. LedHed Steven 🎶 🎸 🎹 🎸 🎶

[@allenjones3130]

I remember seeing two films directed by Stanley Kramer--the courtroom drama "Judgement At Nuremberg" and the comedy "It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World". Both films are masterworks.

[@MauriatOttolink]

I gotta admit that I froze WMLine and sneaked off to find him and Miss McDonald Mr Eddy, of whom I, as a still active, 80 year old jazz musician am WELL aware but with whom I am not familiar. Oh Boy! Weren't they so damned good on the ear!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@philippapay4352]

Trivia about this specific episode: it is the night of the wedding of Adolph Green & Phyllis Newman. They were friends with the Cerfs and Gabels (Phyllis sang at Bennett's funeral/memorial service). As Bennett was headed out on a month-long business and pleasure trip, I am not sure the Cerfs were able to attend the wedding. The Gabels were and Arlene left it briefly to go do her spot on WML and then returned to Martin at the wedding reception, as the wedding had been a small affair at the Green family apartment in Manhattan.

[@bluecamus5162]

I wonder how far back the relationship between the Greens and Gabels go. Phyllis's parents were sideshow entertainers and Phyllis's dad billed himself as 'Gabel the Graphologist'. (according to Wikipedia)

[@philippapay4352]

@@bluecamus5162 I don't know, but can take an educated guess or two based on having read the memoirs of Moss Hart, Phyllis Newman Green, Bennett Cerf, and Arlene Francis Gabel a long time ago. Gabel is not an uncommon German Jewish name, so that probably does not signify in terms of choosing a character or stage name. Martin Gabel came from Philly (I am from Philly): a suburb on the northern border of the city, but in Bucks County where some show biz elites, like Moss Hart and the composers and writers at his level who worked on Broadway or wrote for Bennett Cerf's Random House had homes, as it's easy driving or train distance from NYC. Ginger Rogers & her cousin, Phyllis Fraser, were among their regular guests and Bennett married Phyllis after they met there. Moss Hart was his best friend. However, when the Gabels vacationed locally it was in Harvey Cedars on Long Beach Island, NJ, and I do not know of their having hobnobbed with the Bucks County set where they could perhaps have met Adolph Green and his set early on, leading to a lengthy friendship in adulthood. (Arlene was from Boston.) Phyllis Newman's memoirs do not mention reasonably local vacations beyond their summer home in the Hamptons that exploded. She also never mentions the Gabels as close personal friends, as she does Lauren Bacall, Felicia Montealegre Bernstein et al who were present for her child-bearing years and Broadway and breast cancer. When the Gabels bought a home outside Manhattan, it was next to the Cerfs in Mount Kisco, NY, where they had land and a swimming pool and spent their weekends with their son who was best friends with the Cerfs' younger son. Their sons even went to the same boarding school and university. We can be pretty certain the Gabels and Greens would have known one another, seen each other's work, enjoyed one another's good company at swank parties or charity events and Broadway openings. But, I do not see evidence of a close friendship there from the memoirs I read.

[@GracieAlleyn]

Love Nelson - he was so funny in this one!

[@ToddSF]

Dorothy introduced that ancient debate as to whether a tomato is a fruit or a vegetable. I note that the following items are considered vegetables in a culinary sense, but are actually fruits in the botanical sense since they are the seed-bearing organs of the plants on which they grow: tomatoes, tomatillos, chili peppers, bell peppers, cucumbers (including pickled ones), zucchini (courgettes) and all other kinds of summer squash, pumpkins, all kinds of winter squash, chayote, eggplant (aubergine) and bitter melon. The only true vegetable I can think of that is used as a fruit is rhubarb.

[@philippapay4352]

@ToddSF 94109 - Yes, the worlds of science and the culinary arts and agriculture do differentiate between produce being a botanical fruit while a culinary vegetable. I think salt is the only mineral we eat on its own in large quantities, not merely included in the other food. And corn is a culinary vegetable while being botanically a grain. And mushrooms are fungi. Who were the benighted souls who had to find out the hard way which ones were poisonous and which edible?

[@beadyeyedbrat]

They're performers, it's who they are. They can't help giving long answers.

[@efesgirl999]

I love WML. A *different* kind of reality show! I was born a little too late, though..I'm crazy about John Charles Daly...

[@Linda98671]

efesgirl999 Me too.. he is clever and I love his looks..

[@shirleyrombough8173]

efesgirl999 - The sister has a very pleasant expression on her face.

[@yawlltube]

'I show a lot of things when I have guests.' Ever-naughty Arlene.

[@davidreid8075]

Such politeness! Modern TV is ugly in comparison.. I love W.M.Line..

[@savethetpc6406]

This was one of those rare instances when the women stood up to shake hands with someone -- out of respect to Sister Mary Christina.

[@TheBraveIntrovert]

SaveThe TPC Yeah it was rare, but Arlene stood up a lot for political figures, religious figures and older people.

[@ToddSF]

Purple Capricorn -- Arlene would stand up for any member of the clergy or any nun, but Dorothy wouldn't stand if they weren't Roman Catholic.

[@anneroy4560]

She gets so excited she stands up as soon as the nun started to sit down ...

[@lynnedonaldson4010]

@@anneroy4560 I loved Dorothy’s little curtsy to the sister

[@leannsherman6723]

Very good, Bennett. You got it just in the nick of time.

[@leannsherman6723]

Even the cameramen were good on this program. They always managed to focus in on each panelist’s expression when they discovered the line.

[@gbrumburgh]

Nelson Eddy seems like a genuine nice guy...noticing no star attitude whatsoever.

[@CzechMirco]

8:03 - Here we see Bennett Cerf salvaging victory from a blunder he previously made and which was typical for many inquiries on WML: when he asked whether children went to see her and she replied affirmatively, he subsequently failed to ask whether it was ONLY children who visit her or whether adults visit her too. This way all of them immediately assumed that it was some kind of service intended exclusively for children and it led their reasoning astray.

[@battlegirldeb]

I've seen this episode before now. Never notice that Dorothy stood up while John was walking Sister Mary Christina to her seat . My mother said that's what you do in catholic school. That's where she was at the time this was aired on TV.

[@carolv8450]

Dorothy did stand up then, or is that what you meant - it was very brief.

[@neilmidkiff]

She gave a little bow or curtsy - I don't know what Catholics would call it, but it appeared to me to be a gesture of respect that couldn't be done sitting down.

[@Noone58319]

JCD was absolutely goofy and adorable in this episode.

[@TyrSkyFatherOfTheGods]

I kind of wish John had asked the nun, "Miss or Mrs?"

[@ginnylorenz5265]

You just made me laugh out loud. Funny you saying it three years ago, and me just now seeing it. Thanks!!!!

[@Hades2607]

Or today 5 months later. that is comedy at it's best. Funny does not require a 5 page routine.

[@RobertJacka33degree]

And be cancelled by the Catholic television comm. Not likely...

[@RobertJacka33degree]

At the time these were filmed, they had to pass a standards test that was over seen NAB, television code usually having church groups and others monitor, and as funny as it might have been to ask miss or mrs.

[@TyrSkyFatherOfTheGods]

@@Hades2607 Yeah, I still think it's funny, too!

[@miketheyunggod2534]

The first one was one of the better games on WML. One of the better shows as a whole.

[@juliansinger]

Dr. Sr. Mary Christina was born a Tilk in Wisconsin, took orders in 1951, and planned (as of 1959) to go be a missionary dentist relatively soon in Tonga, or the Soloman Islands. I haven't found anything about her after that. A picture of her and three fellow nuns, graduating from Marquette in 1958: cdm16280.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p16280coll1/id/650/rec/1

[@SR-iy4gg]

I couldn't believe it when he guessed Nelson Eddy!

[@gailsirois7175]

Doesn't ever surprise me...cheating helps

[@marbury2403]

Bennett Cerf must have had an amazing life even outside of the show.

[@chuckendweiss4849]

Manners are missing today. To see all panel members stood for the nun

[@gailsirois7175]

I think people would stand for her today as well. I have actually WITNESSED this

[@soulierinvestments]

At least Kramer can ask questions -- which was more than what director Otto Preminger did on WML. The first contestant was one of the more memorable -- ever. WML had an affinity for specialist nuns: A nun who was a mechanic made an appearance. Gil Fates reported in his book that Hal Block referred to a Dominican Nun in full habit as "You Doll." At least Bennett got on track and solved the line -- the rest of panelists seemed lost in a Catholic high school. 

[@loissimmons6558]

Class ... *Class* ... *CLASS!!!* *SHUT UPPPPP!!!!!!* Thank you.

[@kennethlatham3133]

@@loissimmons6558 I know Cheech & Chong when I hear/read it!

[@sulfileife2]

How do you make the animations at the beginning?

[@josephlacerra8433]

Daly handed the dentist nun's vocation to Cerf on a platter, with his talk of the reluctance of children to go to her.

[@philippapay4352]

Joseph LaCerra - John was deeply in love with himself, yet overall a very good moderator. But there are times when his onanistic need to spotlight himself, when others were not doing so for him, got the better of him and he could not shut off the logorrhea and gave away the game with some aspect of his lengthy monologues.

[@davidsanderson5918]

Philippa Pay Looks like you're fond of wordy monologues yourself!

[@juliansinger]

Mr. Tuttle died in 2014, after a very productive lifetime of pickle products. (The company was sold to some conglomerate in California in 2009, alas.) Obit: www.startribune.com/gedney-tuttle-led-m-a-gedney-pickle-company/252074491/

[@hopelewis5650]

Apparently these people didn't buy their own pickles

[@williamlynnroden]

If I was around then, I would've had some chives sent over to Bennett and Phyllis.

[@sandybruce9092]

I am not Catholic so I was surprised than Nuns can have professional jobs outside of the Church!

[@davidsanderson5918]

Pickles and butter sauce. Yuk! :)

[@dariawells7438]

22:40 - Dorothy being a little passive-aggressively snarky about Bennett not sharing the list of potential mystery guests with her. I feel sorry for her since she seemed not to be well-liked by the other panelists. I like her, personally.

[@rdbjrseattle]

3:12 Dorothy knew her etiquette.

[@rtflone]

How many pickles could a pickle packer pick if a pickle packer could pack pickles?

[@RonGerstein]

1440

[@rtflone]

@@RonGerstein I actually wrote that incorrectly. Should have been: How many pickles could a pickle picker pack if a pickle picker could pack pickles? Different context same result, let's assume the number remains unchanged shall we?

[@marycleary7810]

Picked are manufacture. Cucumbers aren't .

[@sandybruce9092]

Doesn’t everyone know that cucumbers grow on a vine? You can even look at a pickle and see where the stem was originally!

[@RonGerstein]

Pickles are really pickled cucumbers.

[@gailsirois7175]

John lost the game for the Sister ...big mouth..let them answer for themselves...she was doing great till he butted in..he gave it to her anyway, as he should

[@sanseifromkofu728]

I thought he was just giving an honest answer. I think Bennett was on the track anyway.

[@gilliankew]

Mr.Tuttle was very handsome, in a Clark Kent kind of way.

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

DENTIST PICKLE PACKER

[@rezzer7918]

John has impressive command of the English language.

[@MrWindermere123]

I suspect that the high social class of the panelists stopped them from guessing the pickle packer because pickles are probably too humble for their refined tastes. The panel often show their city background when asking about farm animals and farm crops. Bennet said in this episode that they ignore the disguised voice of the mystery guest and simply read who is in town and likely to be on the show, which spoils the fun in my view because it becomes a background-reading contest rather than a guessing game. Bennet said too much!

[@shirleyrombough8173]

John Gee -Not necessarily. I don't find them snobbish at all.

[@davidsanderson5918]

Roly And Me. Dubious on both counts. Firstly.... people are New Yorkers where food is a BIG BIG BIG pastime. They don't just have a sandwich they have a SAMMITCH two feet wide with all the trimmings including the pickles. Secondly....Bennett's comment was NO surprise to anyone!! Pretty much by the ninth or tenth episode of anyone watching this show they get the message loud and clear that the panel simply look at who's in town, indeed in Kilgallen's case she had to because it was her job! What Bennett said was no surprise to anyone in the audience or the viewing public....BUT it may have been to Nelson Eddy, which is why he said it!

[@neilmidkiff]

Is this a manufactured product? "No." Then this product is something that nature provides? "Yes." I've never seen a pickle vine myself, so these two exchanges a little over 12 minutes in seem to me to be misleading, and kept the panel off the idea of a *processed* natural product for the whole segment.

[@davidsanderson5918]

Neil Midkiff Pickles to me comprise of a whole array of options including gherkins, onions, shallots, cauliflower. None of them are manufactured and are provided by nature, despite the 'pickling'.

[@neilmidkiff]

@@davidsanderson5918 Do you spend much time in the kitchen? If you did, you'd understand better the difference between cucumbers and pickles, between apples and apple pie, between beef and beef jerky, between strawberries and strawberry jam. Nature provides the first; somebody has to *make* the second of these.

[@sandybruce9092]

Pickles were once cucumbers!!! I’m a city girl and even I know that! Just like raisins were once grapes, etc.

[@Mmdmade]

John Daly had a few on this particular evening……. lol

[@RonGerstein]

No

[@rdbjrseattle]

I get him mixed up with Stanley Kubrick.

[@messiahapostle8239]

Praising God-JESUS with her Doctoral Degree as Dentist.

[@geoffm9944]

It seems as if Bennett Cerf was tipped off once again.

[@scottpardee6303]

Bennett said he checks who’s around town. That’s what they did. It wasn’t cheating.

[@jacquelinebell6201]

He just knows who is around. He's very cluey to who might be on. It's just good figuring.

[@debbigray1752]

What is a "high protein vegetable"!?! ...legumes!?!...but they are not high protein. Oh Dotothy.

[@accomplice55]

Of course legumes are high protein.

[@thesweeples3266]

Absolutely there are legumes and other vegetables that are high in protein. Oh debbi.

[@leannsherman6723]

Finding out who was around town was essentially cheating, which Bennett seemed to make a habit of.

[@RonGerstein]

It's not cheating. If the mystery guest is in the entertainment field, the panelist should be aware of which celebrity is in the New York City area.

[@kennethlatham3133]

Well how about that. John Charles Daly was from South Africa. I guess that means he became an African-American.

[@accomplice55]

That is correct.

[@thesweeples3266]

Do we owe him reparations?

[@RonGerstein]

He was born in Johannesburg, South Africa.

[@LarsRyeJeppesen]

Dentists require physical dexterity? Threw the panel off

[@loissimmons6558]

Of course it requires physical dexterity. Doing dental work is like pulling teeth!

[@davidsanderson5918]

Lars Rye Jeppesen So would you say dentists DON'T require physical dexterity. They'd be pretty floppy and hopeless with the hands if they didn't.

[@LarsRyeJeppesen]

@@davidsanderson5918 well in that case you could say that about anything.. chess players have to move the pieces, for example

[@slaytonp]

@@LarsRyeJeppesen I wouldn't want a chess player doing my root canal, however.

[@gilliankew]

They have to work in the confined area of the mouth, often performing delicate manoeuvres.

[@cathykinn4516]

Dorothy standing for the Nun is typical of the Public v Private lives of that day - she shows respect for her Religion publicly but in Private she had a child with someone other than her husband. And Mr Daly was Catholic too? Yet was on his 2nd marriage. As for Mr Eddy - seems very childish, silly - his relationship with McDonald is still debated. Judy Garland didnt rate him, according to Dirk Bogarde. Interesting how so many institutions etc revered in those days are less so or not now. Interesting comment about Arlene being in 2 places on this night, a Wedding incl. Dorothy's 'adoration' of Cerf contrasts with his comments on her later. Pity they didnt bring back the funnier fella who used to occupy Cerf's place in the early days of the show. Would have been interesting to see if his style was still 'vulgar' or whether the show had become more risque, fashions etc were less stuffy. Why did Cerf tour so much?

[@galileocan]

Sorry, but I think Stanley Kramer was a useless panelist. He was totally off track, didn't follow the other panelists line of questioning, and was a little on the dull side as well

[@preppysocks209]

it having been established that the sister's work was therapeutic immediately before his turn, his question was illogical. But I am sure that it is very hard to do this well in one's first appearance, particularly someone not used to acting in front of an audience.

[@kristabrewer9363]

Pleas tell me John was JOKING! Last episode a person had 30 points and 40, and he let it go. This episode, the sister had forty FIVE points and he flips over the last card WOOOOW

[@teddytodorova]

All of the contestants get 50 dollars. The cards are only to follow YESes and NOs

[@thesweeples3266]

I hope you can get over your anger and confusion over people getting a small handfull of five dollar bills more than 60 years ago.

[@jonetix08]

Why do they have to mention where they going on vacation? It seems so like they're bragging about it. Who cares? They do this all the time! It's annoying and terribly impolite and lacking manners!

[@thesweeples3266]

You mean the regular cast members notifying there audience they wont be on the show next week? Your right, how odd.

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

Take a downer, honey.

[@RonGerstein]

I am very curious: When did you go insane?