What's My Line? - Phil, Dennis, & Lindsay Crosby; Joey Bishop [panel] (May 14, 1961)

MYSTERY GUEST: Phil, Dennis, & Lindsay Crosby
PANEL: Dorothy Kilgallen, Joey Bishop, Arlene Francis, Bennett Cerf

[@joelwinick1900]

Nellie Blanchard Winick - my grandma! I was 8 years old and got to stay up late to watch this the first time. Seems weird watching her at age 57 now that its 55 years later and I'm 63.

[@juliansinger]

She looks like she was quite a woman.

[@tonycevallos7513]

Did she live to a very old age? Seemed like such a nice person.

[@dogboyafternoon]

Fascinating full circle story. I can't believe Bennett Cerf used your grandma's profession to take yet another jab at John Daly.

[@carollambies4281]

Cool !!

[@rapunzelz5520]

Joel Winick that is so cool! See that you pass it on to your kids and grandkids!

[@erichanson426]

The kite lady had the nicest smile. She did seem nervous, which is why I am guessing John answered for her. Also, I know a lot of people give him crap, but I find Daily's answers amusing, and add to the show's quality.

[@debrareisdorf309]

I love how formal they all were!

[@leesher1845]

Joey bishop had such a droll sense of humor. 😂

[@keetrandling4530]

As a kid, I never really realized how truly funny Joey Bishop is. But that wide-eyed, self-deprecating questioning... and the places it takes you!

[@georgemartin1436]

Same here. He was so quick witted and seems so much more funny now!

[@deedee89321]

Same here. I always liked him, but now that I'm older I appreciate his delivery and subtle cleverness.

[@Menstral]

I dislike him

[@cynthiat6505]

“No kitchen should be without a kite”. Joey Bishop was so fast

[@dovbarleib3256]

Johnny Carson noticed that. So Joey guest hosted the Tonight Show admirably for over 170 times.

[@jennjenn61]

This is the first episode I've seen Joey Bishop actually smile, too bad he didn't do it more he had a nice smile

[@neilmidkiff]

jennjenn61 See his mystery guest appearance at kzbin.info/www/bejne/qnicpYGVqsiXotU from November 1960. At about eighteen and twenty minutes into the show, he gives beautiful smiles while the panelists are still blindfolded.

[@dearmakeupdiary]

jennjenn61 that man was so handsome 😍😍 I love his voice

[@dovbarleib3256]

He guest hosted the Tonight Show for Johnny Carson over 170 times in the 1960s and 1970s. He smiled a lot as guest host.

[@770WT]

Bishop's grumpy act got stale as he grew older .

[@juliansinger]

Mrs. Winick was having an awfully good time conspiring with John. Fun lady. Born in 1905, she worked with her uncle's bakery, and then an office job briefly, and then the kite company for 47 years, starting as a 'part time office girl'. She was definitely a Vice President -- of customer relations, among other things. Got a Woman of the Year Award from the Decatur YWCA in 1987. Worked for the ERA, and women's rights in general, her obituary was careful to note. (Also was a long-time Methodist.) Had, obviously, a bunch of kids and grand-kids.

[@dinahbrown902]

Her grandchild commented also..Joel Winick. Was 8 years old when this aired

[@juliansinger]

Stalwarts of various parts of Louisville, the Flahertys were involved with a variety of hotels and restaurants from the 30s onward. Claude for some reason didn't come on WML, but there were six brothers (who had 40 kids between them) and I think six sisters, who had a gracious plenty of their own children, so the crew of great-and-great-grandchildren are likely legion. Two of the brothers (Thad and Charles) went to WWII. The rest were mostly with the Brown Hotel, until they had a falling out and went off on their own (somewhat later). John was the longest tenured Flaherty; he died in 2009, at 87. He was co-owner of Flaherty III, along with Charles (Charley) and Thad. As mentioned, Roscoe, John and Thad also owned the Essex House Restaurant for quite some time. Charles died in 2002, Roscoe in 1996, Garland and Thad at some indeterminate point in the 90s, and Claude in 1981,

[@SueProv]

Thank you for all that info.

[@alskndlaskndal]

I loved Arlene's playful jabs at Bennett. :-) The panel was not too good in this one... although Daly wasn't helping with that misleading kitchen answer. :-)

[@leesher1845]

I love seeing the cursive and I do wish that it would be brought back to schools.

[@dovbarleib3256]

Dorothy is way off tonight. No one has a clue about the bartenders. Joey Bishop was right. The entire panel was way off tonight.

[@Muirmaiden]

The Crosby Brothers - Phillip (1934-2004) is the one who is seated; his twin Dennis (1934-1991) is the one standing on the left, Lindsay (1938-1989) is standing next to him.

[@maynardsmoreland]

None of the Crosby Brothers lived to be 70. Gary died of cancer, aged 62; Dennis of suicide, aged 56; Philip of a heart attack, aged 69; and Lindsay of suicide, aged 51. Being Bing Crosby's son was no easy task.

[@dgoldg]

I think they inherited a lot of their mother's issues too. She was apparently a severe alcoholic. The children from Bing's second marriage seem to have faired at least a little better.

[@Muirmaiden]

dgoldg I think the four boys from Bing's marriage to Dixie Lee had Fetal Alcohol Syndrome due to their mother's heavy drinking during her pregnancies.

[@markxxx21]

It's really odd because their mother was credited by everyone in getting Bing out of the booze and sober and as he got sober Dixie Lee got worse.

[@wodgerdog646]

I have read that Dixie was extremely shy and may have started drinking socially to overcome this. It seems she may have been lonely as well as Bing's career soared and he was away from home for large periods of time. So sad as it has long been established that Bing and Dixie adored each other. Kathryn (2nd wife) it seems was a more confident, self assured woman who was also socially outgoing and Bing whose career was slowing down by then was able to devote a lot more of his time with his second family. Bing was lucky enough to have 2 beautiful and talented wives who he loved and was loved by.

[@scottcarroll9201]

While I think a lot of the issues the brothers faced such as depression and alcoholism were a result of fetal alcohol syndrome, Bing admitted years later that he wasn't around as much as he should have been when they were growing up because he was often working. He corrected those mistakes with the children from his second marriage. They're all happy, well-adjusted, successful people.

[@sharonjudd7786]

Joey Bishop is great on this perfect show

[@eepanusstar5940]

I liked Joey's "tune in next week for a new panel".

[@ironduke2000]

Cracked. Me. Up.

[@eepanusstar5940]

@@ironduke2000 He was the best on the show for ad-libs-I saved his appearances-wish he had been a regular-sharp wit-never knew he was that funny

[@galileocan]

John deliberately threw off the panel by indicating that kites are likely to be found in the kitchen. I totally understand the panels' frustrated looks/comments upon learning surprisedly that the woman sold kites!

[@WhatsMyLine]

I've been watching some really, really early shows that I hadn't seen before from 1950, and one of the striking differences is that John was not yet in his groove of playfully deceiving the panelists at all, and this became such a big part of the show as it went along. He would even give them extra pieces of information and clarification to help them avoid getting off track. It's amazing to see this when you're so used to his being deliberately obfuscating (though usually not outright deceptive, as I would agree he was here!)

[@loissimmons6558]

If I ever brought a kite inside and put it down in the kitchen, I would have been told quickly and in no uncertain terms to take my kite and put it away where it belongs.

[@neilmidkiff]

Word puzzle addicts might argue that you can find K-I-T-E in KITCHEN, but that's the only way I can justify John's answer, and it isn't good enough for WML. I agree that the panel was right in feeling misled.

[@loissimmons6558]

@z If you saw my apartment, you'd realize that I am the furthest thing from up tight about where things belong. If you reread what I wrote, I was talking about what would have been said to me by my mother. I would have been directed to put the kite in the basement or my bedroom. For WML purposes, kites are not associated with kitchens, which was the point being made by Galileocan g : a yes answer to that question unfairly misled the panel.

[@bigcat618]

It's interesting that Bennett didn't ask the Flaherty Brothers one of his stock questions: "Are you in the food or beverage industry?"

[@tporchia7751]

Joey is hilarious😂

[@joycejean-baptiste4355]

Now, I'll go fly a Kite. It's very relaxing.

[@edwinrivera8449]

I find it amazing on how many people who are guest on this show made things (like Kites) and are no longer made in the USA today.

[@stephensaunders1845]

Google 'kites made in the USA'. There are plenty of them.

[@trickydick6152]

Amazing is the fact that Kilgallen seems not to understand the word "kite".

[@loissimmons6558]

I think, based on further conversation, she was having difficulty connecting a kite being in the kitchen. I did, too.

[@roberttelarket4934]

Cerf to Daly: Brilliant - Go fly Mrs. Winnick’s kite!

[@dovbarleib3256]

I put my kites down in what my mother called the Mud Room.

[@malcolmmarshall5946]

Daly misled the panel. Kites are not typically found in the kitchen.

[@AbcXyz-hz9jm]

John should let contestants answer for themselves!

[@stevekru6518]

Disagree. John should, as he does, expedite answers when contestants hesitate or when questions are complex syntactically, such as double negatives.

[@megancrager4397]

His job is to help them win!

[@leesher1845]

John had a habit of sometimes answering the questions before the contestants did.

[@RonGerstein]

He ALWAYS did this, since 2/2/50

[@nyhank1814]

The whole kite segment is odd. John Daly almost answers every question to the panel as if the guest isn't even there. And aside from her appearance, Dorothy really has trouble following the game here and in a few previous episodes. She repeats questions that have been asked and thinks they're talking about apparel at one point.

[@WendyDarling1974]

nyhank1814 She looks to me like someone who has not been giving getting nearly enough sleep or is trying to act “with it” despite lingering effects of alcohol or something. Definitely a tiredness thing, obvious in quite a few episodes leading up to this.

[@erichanson426]

I think it has to do with the guest. My guess is that if the guest feels nervous or mabey they would prefer Daily to answer for them.

[@TheProfessorpat]

@@WendyDarling1974 Yep, 1961 was not a good year for Dorothy… she often looked under the weather and a bit out of it.

[@megancrager4397]

@@TheProfessorpat wasn't she ill that year?

[@beadyeyedbrat]

The boys' mother, Dixie Lee died of ovarian cancer at age 42.

[@cdrugly]

17:12 Gotta take issue with John’s answer on whether a kite can be used as a weapon. Incendiary kites have been used since the 7th century, and most recently in 2018 in the Gaza Strip.

[@peternagy-im4be]

No. Just no.

[@wcwindom56]

Dorothy looks a little better here, she was lookingrough last few episodes

[@dinahbrown902]

I think she still does. Sad woman

[@megancrager4397]

Geez, the way people judge complete strangers 😬 You never know what's going on in someone's life. This show wasn't her only job either.

[@druidbros]

When John said the brothers were bartenders Dorothy looked like she was pissed!

[@jillgordon1003]

Eh, I don't see it. I think she just wishes she got the answer.

[@anneroy4560]

she never exhibits any good humour when guessing incorrectly ...

[@mynamedoesntmatter8652]

The costume jewelry is so stunning. I miss the styles of clothing and the way it’s made; accessories, jewelry, manners, proper grammar and enunciation - too much has left everyday life.

[@RonGerstein]

IDIOT THE WOMEN WORE REAL JEWELLRY

[@qazwiz]

oh, my.... KITES have been used as weapons, or more precisely delivers bombs

[@peternagy-im4be]

No. Just no.

[@EMomp]

If you notice in the beginning, John Daly gave a clue, stating "What's on tap", for the evening

[@brycehongola2425]

They wouldn’t stand a chance nowadays☮️

[@debrareisdorf309]

Lol, I was 8 years old then!!!

[@RonGerstein]

Gary Crosby was the most famous of the brothers, being a semi-regular on Adam-12.

[@scottcarroll9201]

Actually Gary wouldn't mean more to them than a city in Indiana considering they kicked Gary out of the group not long before this program aired. Lol

[@joycejean-baptiste4355]

Interesting, the bartender brothers look more like accountants. Lol!

[@RonGerstein]

You are racist

[@galileocan]

Dorothy........the stringy bangs just aren't working....

[@eepanusstar5940]

they sure are not-terrible hairstyle.

[@TheCosmicVagabond]

She looks like Mamie Eisenhower, FLOTUS at the time of the program. 😝

[@tedberwick3186]

Ty

[@williamdunphy352]

Ralph Paul is the announcer.

[@RonGerstein]

I would do Dorothy Killgalen

[@stevekru6518]

Kite seller answered her product could not be a weapon. Can you imagine a sharpened kite being flown into an enemy? Later kite seller mentioned many kites were sold to the US Navy to distribute with printed slogans to children surrounding the Mediterranean. Does that make her kites weapons in psychological warfare?

[@fionajones8231]

They were promoting peace.

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

BARTENDERS SELLS KITES 😜

[@beadyeyedbrat]

Things have certainly changed. I would not have let my kids put their kites in the kitchen.

[@breezycovergirl]

Uncle Bennett l love ❤️ you?

[@mikegendron3723]

Admittedly, John Daly, is eloquent, but most times a simple yes or no would suffice!! On this show, the guests were completely unnecessary with the windbag there!!

[@megancrager4397]

Drink some more hater-aid

[@beadyeyedbrat]

Why would you put a kite down in the kitchen?

[@peternagy-im4be]

Arlene drinking before the show?

[@dinahbrown902]

Sometimes, Dorothy has also

[@KC-kb6mg]

Who's the guest, Jon or the brothers?

[@franklesser5655]

I don't like Dorothy's hair in this. I hope she doesn't wear it like this again.

[@tugginalong]

Two of them (Crosby bro’s) committed suicide

[@peternagy-im4be]

That's great to know.

[@dinahbrown902]

Yep

[@galileocan]

What in God's name happened to Arlene at 4:15?? Was she trying to say "Monsieurs or Masters Flaherty" and just messed it up? Or...was it a mini-stroke moment similar to Dorothy's moment on a later episode? Her facial expression and speech was completely bizarre! Bennett had a slightly similar mispronunciation at 5:20 when it sounded like he said "Massers", but then again, Bennett seemed to have a speech problem with pronouncing words throughout WML. But does anyone know what happened to Arlene!??

[@graperonto]

She was slurring. Usually it was Dorothy was tipsy, but this night it was Arlene, it looks like.

[@CdnGeoff]

The plural of "Mister" is written and pronounced "Messers".

[@christinashelby6083]

Yes, it's a plural of the French "monsieur"--messieurs.

[@davyjones761919]

@@CdnGeoff q

[@peternagy-im4be]

Drinking before the show.

[@horatiohornblower5626]

Are Dorothy's eyes a bit muddy and puffy or am I wrong? Was she on drugs or is it just aging?

[@dinahbrown902]

She had alcohol and pill problems

[@yeahnoonecaresifyouarefirst]

Who kept flickering the lights? 😂

[@kristabrewer9363]

John needs to SHUT UP and let his guest talk!! (what's the POINT of having them on if they're not allowed to talk)!! After all these years of his long winded talks, I've been trying not to like him, but so far I can't. (but I CAN say, I don't like him AS MUCH as I used to)

[@peternagy-im4be]

Nobody criticizes John Charles Daly

[@markcornish2519]

I believe in this case, the kite lady was a bit nervous to speak

[@REpianist]

Arlene's pissed-off look at 5:20!!

[@sugarjoe50]

'Ol man Bing allegedly treated them like shit. Two of them committed suicide years later.

[@megancrager4397]

There's quite an assumption, based on nothing. They were grown men who could've had different things going on in their life. High expectations and feeling like you'll never reach them can also cause someone to give up.

[@RonGerstein]

​@megancrager4397 Bing Crosby was brutal with these 4 sons, using fists and objects to discipline them

[@dianefiske-foy4717]

Is it just me, or is Arlene sauced 🍸🍸🍸 this night? Seems to me that she is ☺️.

[@dinahbrown902]

Her and Dorothy sometimes show up for work that way

[@syd8802]

People say Dorothy's drunk no she's just high (and I don't see how she's drunk) and I want whatever Arlene's on( there both just high). JUST A JOKE

[@janetwilliams7665]

Dorothy looks really wasted on this episode. Wonder if it was the drink or if she was ill?

[@graperonto]

I would have said that about Arlene in this episode. She just wasn't with it. I thought she sounded tipsy.

[@pianoplayrpiano99]

Dorothy does seem out of it in this episode. I also thought she looked tipsy.

[@tporchia7751]

She looks like she's been crying, but Arlene looks buzzed, and is slurring

[@TheCosmicVagabond]

John Charles Daly always smoked weed with the panel before every show! 😎 🚬

[@dinahbrown902]

She was ill a lot because of pills and alcohol abuse. She misses a lot of work

[@tomcorey3722]

Joey isn’t funny. I don’t get his humor.

[@peternagy-im4be]

He's a pistol. A riot. A really funny guy.