What's My Line? - Robert Preston; Allen Ludden [panel] (Mar 3, 1963)

MYSTERY GUEST: Robert Preston
PANEL: Dorothy Kilgallen, Allen Ludden, Arlene Francis, Bennett Cerf

[@Noone58319]

Bob Preston was BORN to play the role of Professor Harold Hill.

[@plasticweapon]

my favorite role of his is joseph dobbs in sidney lumet's child's play (1972).

[@magnificentfailure2390]

I never knew that WML? would so dramatically impact my life, but it has. I'm so grateful.

[@graperonto]

How wonderful that the thumb tack fellow gave everyone a package of thumb tacks!

[@ThatVeryArtGal]

How did they get the first contestant so fast? That was insane. What fun with Robert Preston!

[@brunoantony3218]

Robert Preston was fascinating ❤️

[@chuckendweiss4849]

It is nice to see the panel smile once they get stumped

[@heru-deshet359]

One of my very favorite actors. He's always reminded me of my father, who thank God is hale and hearty.

[@libertyann439]

No fair. Everbodys raggin on Dorothy tonight. She wasn't perfect but she wasn't evil either. And she accomplished a lot .

[@lvazzana]

It hardly matters what Preston did, he's always charismatic and sexy. Listen to the way he works in the Carol Burnett Special he recorded the week before, "Well, listen, we gave you all a week off last week." That special was really good and includes"The Bad Date", "The Duet", "I Died for a Living", and a hilarious closing number. Such a versatile entertainer. Wish there were more interviews recorded and written with him. He lived his life repeating the patterns of his own parents' lives. Ex: His mom was 4 years older than his dad - ha married Catherine who was 3 years older than him. (His mother was the one who directed him towards acting.) He was a philanderer like his father. One of his numerous affairs was with Glynnis Johns - notice in naming the all star cast of "Too Good to Be True", he names her first. It's a shame he never had children, but for the lifestyle he lived - career first - that was probably a better choice. He like so many would have lived a lot longer had he not been addicted to nicotine. Lung cancer took him in 1987 and we lost a real American treasure.

[@WhatsMyLine]

He truly was, and in far too few movies, so those of us not lucky enough to have seen him on stage really miss out today. His penultimate movie role in "Victor Victoria" won him a MUCH deserved Oscar.

[@mmbr01rrf]

What's My Line? NO, it didn't. Nominated once-zero wins. Two Tonys.

[@lvazzana]

***** Too bad he didn't receive an Academy Award. He certainly deserved it.

[@lvazzana]

SimonHale, Agreed!

[@AbbeBuck]

Sara Vazzana I so agree with you. How did you learn do much about Pres? (Bob Preston)

[@bannedheretic2971]

There's absolutely nothing worth watching on television right now, so I'm watching this.

[@joycejean-baptiste4355]

The Treasurer looks so distinguished that I thought they would get her line quickly.

[@Pudentame]

A one dollar bill signed by Mrs. Granahan would be worth something to collectors nowadays, because she was Treasurer before all of the silver certificates were withdrawn from circulation.

[@thinthin54]

The elevator guy had his ups and downs.

[@bluecamus5162]

Spoken like a true Cerf.

[@jasonayres]

But he did give us a lift.

[@DodderingOldMan]

Aw man, I was just watching, for the hundredth time, some Robert Preston performances, and started wondering if he'd ever been on What's My Line? I'm very happy (but not surprised) to see that yes, indeed he was.

[@dinahbrown902]

Ran into him and his wife on a plane in California in the 70s.

[@sdkelmaruecan2907]

I watched this episode because I just loved Preston in "Victor Victoria" and I didn't remember seeing him in an WML episode... I really enjoyed that episode, besides Preston, every challenger was enjoyable... I just found Ludden to be a weak guest but apart from him, it was a great show

[@thecatspajamas8918]

I’ve watched a bunch of these episodes recently and I think every dress Arlene Francis has worn has had pockets!

[@sandrageorge3488]

I love it!

[@jacquelinebell6201]

I didn't know who Kathryn Granahan was so had to google her. Wouldn't have been an awful lot of women politicians I'm guessing in those days. She was born in 1894. It always amazes me that there were people born in the 19th century on these shows.

[@lauracollins4195]

The thumb tack guy was quite likable. :)

[@loissimmons6558]

I thought he made some good points and he's the kind of guy you would stick with.

[@kevinhealey6540]

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor and the United States' entry into World War II, he joined the United States Army Air Forces and served as an intelligence officer in the U.S. 9th Air Force with the 386th Bomb Group

[@jmccracken1963]

The revival of George Bernard Shaw's "Too True To Be Good," in which Robert Preston was part of a truly all-star cast (he played The Robber), did, indeed, open at the 54th Street Theatre on Tuesday, 12 March 1963 (after 2 preview performances). It closed on Saturday, 1 June 1963, after a run of only 94 performances. The production was directed by Albert Marre, with sets and lighting designed by Paul Morrison, and costumes designed by Edith Lutyens Bel Geddes (Norman Bel Geddes's wife). And yes, it did have music: incidental music written by Mitch Leigh especially for this particular revival.

[@macedindu829]

This is so depressing. It's so insanely ahead of the sort of thing we see today, it's literally hard to believe.

[@washoe4827]

literally ?

[@macedindu829]

@@washoe4827 YES!

[@libertyann439]

Id love to see Arlene in one of her plays. I guess they didn't record those.

[@michaelnivens6267]

The Music Man !!!

[@CentralCassBasketball]

'there are only two choices' -- not anymore

[@soulierinvestments]

"Too True to Be Good: opened on 12 March and closed 1 June. If that is as long as they wanted, then I guess it is a success.

[@alexconverse4839]

Its amazing to look at stuff my great grandpa watched

[@moonlightray8493]

I love Arlene's look here - the flower in her hair and fur-trimmed V-neck collar made for such an elegant look! Dorothy looks cute too, but I can't help but feel that everytime she wears a bow in her hair, it comes across as a bit juvenile... I think her Betty Boop hairstyle suited her the best, haha John's "tacky" pun (and Bennett's reaction to it) were simply adorable; the ongoing banter between these two was always so charming!

[@hazelanderson1479]

17:00 Arlene hit the nail right on the head there 👏🏻👏🏻!

[@tomwarner2468]

But watching wml I figured out I was born on a Tuesday!

[@calliopivogiatzis2235]

I was too young when dorothy died. Given the circumstances of her death,only one person could have truly protected her,and that would've been her husband Richard kollmar

[@edisone1]

Incredibly handsome, wavy hair too ! I would kill to have such hair.

[@washoe4827]

then you would be "popular" in prison...

[@tomwarner2468]

Happy 4th birthday to me, then.

[@MadameChristie]

Oh God, Preston was hilarious with that fake voice of his XD

[@ironduke2000]

You stole my comment! I was laughing my head off.

[@jmccracken1963]

That voice reminded me of Raymond Burr's disguised voice when he made his one and only appearance as Mystery Guest on WML?

[@DodderingOldMan]

Brilliant, wasn't it? He really outfoxed them, up to a point.

[@jackseward7779]

The last guest had an incorrect identifier - he does not "redesign" elevator interiors. He just sells this service; hence, NO use of hands.

[@ihatey0utube]

i LOVE dorothy and arlene's hair!!!! dorothy's reminds me of Isabelle from animal crossing!! XDD i also love both their hair pieces!! XD

[@miketheyunggod2534]

I wonder how they came with that name, The American Thumb Tack Co.

[@leesher1845]

I hate it when they rushed through the final contestant;. it wasn’t fair to that contestant.

[@jvcomedy]

The last contestant looks like he could have been the father of comedian Gilbert Gottfried.

[@Omahabigbill]

Dead on!

[@ericstenzel6835]

Regrettably, cigarettes doomed Bob Preston.

[@tporchia7751]

Dorothy had one of her tics again at the end.

[@gailsirois7175]

That was strange...and a little scary

[@jadezee6316]

the last guest is doing an impression of ed Sullivan doing an impression of Humphrey Bogart...

[@JJohnston4Life]

I would love to see them do a remake of this today

[@slaytonp]

God forbid. It would be the same as what Disney did with Winnie the Pooh, or what happened to Peanuts after Shultz died--You can't resurrect the dead and past; you can only appreciate the memories that have been preserved. And then, there is the current TV protocol of 3 minutes of program interrupted by 10 minutes of about 10 different loud, obnoxious commercials, so one forgets what program one tuned in to in the first place. No thanks. I'll watch this from beginning to end of this one over and over. (I'm on my second round, now.)

[@bannedheretic2971]

It's a nice idea but they'd ruin it with political correctness.

[@slaytonp]

@@bannedheretic2971 Thanks for mentioning that objection specifically--on top of my own, I agree.

[@janetmarletto6667]

Me too. Here are some ideas: panelists: Wayne Brady; Colin Firth; Bernadette Peters; Sarah Jessica Parker. Back up Matthew Broderick . Moderator: Christopher Buckley.

[@miketheyunggod2534]

They did in the 70s with Arlene and it was terrible.

[@VahanNisanian]

Dorothy Kilgallen is back, and just in time for the St. Patrick's Day episode (which aired two weeks later). Is it true that her ancestors were Irish, and is Kilgallen an Irish surname? Wikipedia says that she was of Irish descent.

[@romeman01]

According to snippets from books at Google Books, shortly after Dorothy's father, James Lawrence Kilgallen, was born he was taken "to Chicago where his father, John, an Irish immigrant, worked as a stock handler in the yards." -- Lee Israel, Kilgallen, p. 15 "She was Irish on both sides. Her mother's maiden name had been Mary Jane Ahern." -- John Jakes, Great Women Reporters, p. 162

[@VahanNisanian]

romeman01 Thank you!

[@WhatsMyLine]

romeman01 I'm reading the Lee Israel bio myself now, thanks to a recommendation by Lorna Badeo. Excellent book, a real page turner-- and I had little to no interest in reading about Dorothy's life before this.

[@SuperWinterborn]

What's My Line? Maybe the book will change some of your view upon Dorothy. I haven't read any book about the panel-members, and when I began this "long journey into the WML-world", Kilgallen used to give me the creeps. But after 4-5 episodes, I slightly changed my mind, and began observing her, both as a human being, a woman, and a phenomena. I've found out a lot of interest, at least to me. She was nosy, and did wrongly many times, but she paid for it too. The other sides of her demands both sympathy and respect.

[@WhatsMyLine]

SuperWinterborn Yes and no. In some ways I gained some more respect, and certainly sympathy, for Dorothy after reading the bio. But honestly, none of the details from her life story make her any more or less annoying to me on the panel. But the producers wanted her to be annoying, and I wouldn't want the show any other way. I think that, although Dorothy had some very admirable qualities, she's exactly the type of person I would despise in real life: Self-deluded, self-centered, hypocritical, superficial, glamour- and money- obsessed, pious, judgmental, and competitive. She also, of course, possessed a brilliant mind, could write very snappy prose, and was (variably) a very supportive and loyal friend. But I could never warm up to anyone who did so much gratuitous damage to so many people's reputations over the years through her column, all for her own personal gain. She clearly had the chops to be a serious full time journalist had she wanted to go that route. But serious full time journalism doesn't pay for a townhouse on the upper east side of Manhattan.

[@alskndlaskndal]

When I heard Robert Sherman from Hollywood, for a moment I thought it was going to be the songwriter. John sounded a little ill tonight.

[@SuperWinterborn]

Reluctant Dragon I have noticed that since the baby arrived, John has looked more tired than usual, and there's some new fine lines around his eyes lately...

[@sabinebeyer9249]

+R.D. Dragon I thought that to. And isn't that funny: all the male guests on this episode are named Robert.

[@SuperWinterborn]

+Sabine Beyer :) !

[@Sylvander1911]

That was my thought, but then it would likely have been both brothers together as they worked as a team.

[@mdgraystone]

Imagine a time when selling thumb tacks was considered a legitimate/viable job.

[@gilliankew]

Any job that provides a service or product that others need should be considered viable and legitimate (except criminal activity, of course 🤪).

[@VC-Toronto]

He likely "sells" to office supply companies such as Staples or Office Depot etc or independent stationary companies/stores. Often in "olden times" someone such as this contestant might represent a number of companies who didn't have their own sales force.

[@bgh8904]

@@gilliankew He was sharp and always on point.

[@brucealvarez9263]

Is the Carol Burnett special on KZbin anywhere? I can't find it.

[@jmccracken1963]

As far as I know, it never has been. Nor is it available through any of the "bootleg" sources, such as Premiere Opera, Ltd. (though they do have the three TV specials which Carol Burnett and Julie Andrews did together available on DVD).

[@cdrugly]

21:08 Time Traveling Gilbert Gottfried!

[@pamelaphelps8427]

Sure miss hand shakes

[@44032]

23:34 Dorothy has another one of her 'hitches' similar to her famous "fighting the sneeze" incident that people interpreted as being related to drug or alcohol use. It sounds like a stutter of sort, perhaps something she does when she's tired.

[@hopelewis5650]

Mr Preston sounds like Mrs Doubtfire.😊

[@jasonayres]

(7:40) Have you ever shook hands with someone, in business or a party perhaps, and you just sense *something* that suggests that their attention is... elsewhere?

[@MrJoeybabe25]

It's amazing how young everyone was there. Bennett was the oldest at about 63 or 64 and I think Robert Preston was the youngest at 45 or so. Maybe Allan Ludden was younger.

[@jmccracken1963]

Allen Ludden was 45 when this episode aired. Robert Preston was 44 (he would turn 45 on 8 June 1963).

[@michaeldanello3966]

Arlene Francis "Well, What did you expect? You knew he wasn't a lady!" Not just two choices any more....

[@MareShoop]

One has to wonder in this day and age how a thumb tack salesman could make a living. 😬

[@VC-Toronto]

He likely "sells" to office supply companies such as Staples or Office Depot etc or independent stationary companies/stores. Often in "olden times" someone such as this contestant might represent a number of companies who didn't have their own sales force.

[@washoe4827]

... by selling thumb tacks !

[@gbrumburgh]

A rather tacky job!

[@thephotoplayer]

Did anyone else hear Dorothy slip “Robert” in her sentence at 18:18? There’s even a guy in the audience who catches it who says “ohhh!”

[@SR-iy4gg]

No. What are you listening to?

[@denisep.2037]

Nope!

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

*_TREASURER OF UNITED STATES_* *_THUMB TACK SALESMAN_* *_INTERIOR DECORATOR OF ELEVATORS_*

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Looks like Dorothy had another of her patented strokes near the end of the show. My dear:>(

[@SuperWinterborn]

Joe Postove She was clearly about to sneeze..(again) Nothing else.

[@libertyann439]

SuperWinterborn I was hoping that's what it was.

[@preppysocks209]

@@SuperWinterborn I doubt it, especially since she did not sneeze. People do not want to face facts.

[@SuperWinterborn]

@@preppysocks209 You can be "about to sneeze" without actually doing it. Women often supress sneezes, when in company with others, and even the more, when in public!

[@preppysocks209]

@@SuperWinterborn Yes that can happen. But not normally when accompanied by slurring one's words, especially when the same thing happened again not long later with no sneeze or use of hanky at all. When a person seeks to suppress a sneeze they normally pause from talking unless they sneeze and the word comes out with the sneeze. But it is not normal that the words be slurred. Can you ever think of a time when you slurred your words when you were sneezing or suppressing a sneeze or saw anyone else do so?

[@44032]

Preston's fake voice sounds a lot like Raymond Burr's

[@JJohnston4Life]

16:53 "Are you a man?" "There's only two choices." People in 2021: 😵 😂😂😂

[@RobARug]

Oh! Ya got trouble! Right here on What's My Line! With a capital T, that rhymes with G, and that stands for gender!

[@bgh8904]

They were right in 1963...

[@ccbsnyc]

Is that Wilma Flintstone on the panel?

[@SuperWinterborn]

ccbsnyc Wilma?!? It's Betty Rubble! ;)

[@ccbsnyc]

SuperWinterborn LOL!

[@jayterry9750]

Thumb Tack Guy: Dorothy asking if she would "put it in my hair"....John saying "women put virtually everything in their hair"...That's just the adorable banter that went on........BUT.... LOOK AT HER HAIR !! I'm old enough to remember this show and all the trending hairstyles these women flaunted, good or bad. It really angers and saddens me, and I cannot believe they let her go on with that PEKINGESE BOW flopping on her head. It's just cruel. I love this show, I'm NOT a Dorothy Fan, but I had to comment on this. Okay, she may not have been so comfortable or trusted to speak around, but come on...so, even the hairdresser hated her by then?..Sorry, I had to get it out.

[@ludenasan1]

DOROTHY HAD SOME HELACIOUS HAIR DOS/DON'TS.

[@scottsmith7419]

Barbara Ludena I liked her best when she did that sort of gypsy look in the early shows. She's not beautiful, but she is certainly is pretty in a very interesting way. something about her makes me always want to know more about her.

[@luissantiago8446]

Cruel to have a bow in your hair?!!!Really? Get a grip for heavens sake!

[@SR-iy4gg]

The bow in her hair looked fine to me. It was her hair and she obviously liked it the way it was. That's all that matters.

[@hcombs0104]

That was the look then, especially 1962-1963. Wearing bows in hair was as much a fad as the Twist.

[@dinahbrown902]

How would they know? Seriously there wasn’t any clue to lead them to that conclusion. Rigged for sure

[@besserman1]

Why the Mr and Mrs?

[@captng]

Its a scriped show not much of a game 🎯

[@carollee444]

Dorothys hair with a ribborn in it , is hideous 🤪

[@orgonkothewildlyuntamed6301]

Alan is a nice guy but i'm sorry he's one of the 5 worst panelists i've seen but i've only seen about 1/2 of the shows so he may move up if i feel there are even more inept panelists

[@sareptawickstromh3236]

orgonko the wildly untamed ugly T H

[@orgonkothewildlyuntamed6301]

unable to type more than 1 word at a time? i know a dr that can help you

[@SR-iy4gg]

@@sareptawickstromh3236 What is ugly and a T and an H supposed to mean?

[@lincolnguy1483]

There are still only two choices...God does not make mistakes. Only people do.

[@kentetalman9008]

Your god IS a mistake.

[@TheWeinmanfamily]

I hate what’s my line? But my dad likes it

[@SR-iy4gg]

And you felt the need to say that...why?

[@kentetalman9008]

Then don't watch it. Are you too stupid to understand that?

[@ludenasan1]

MR. PRESTON STOLE THE SHOW IN VICTOR/VICTORIA!! NOWADAYS THEY CERTAINLY COULD NOT GET AWAY WITH HAVING ONLY TWO SEXES!!

[@sharonannen8859]

* Every week we waited with baited breath for Arlene Francis to ask, 'Is it bigger than a breadbox?'. We who are old enough sadly remember when Dorothy Kilgallen committed suicide. *

[@kimhobbs6116]

Dorothy Kilgallen was murdered

[@Lisa-di1wi]

I was only in third grade when Dorothy Kilgallen died. And that's sad. She did the show on Sunday night, and then she was found dead the next morning. In fact, she died the day before the big New York City blackout. Also, and very sadly, her husband committed suicide in January of 1971. May they both rest in peace. Amen.

[@preppysocks209]

@@kimhobbs6116 No. The Manhattan DA recently reopened the case based on the newly printed "evidence" and after review of same declined to prosecute. Case closed. On the other hand, SharonAnne N also is incorrect as there is no indication that the overdose was other than accidental.

[@mw7584]

@@preppysocks209 Yeah right.

[@preppysocks209]

@@mw7584 Scoffing is not fact.

[@kristabrewer9363]

I honestly do not understand why John does what he does! He flips over those STUPID cards when someone had 45 points, and I've seen him on other occasions where the person only had 10 points and he leaves it at that!!

[@teddytodorova]

He flips them for different reasons. If panel guesses the occupation very fast and the contestant spent too little time on air, he flips the cards. When the segment was interesting and everybody had fun and good laugh, he flips them as well. He just flips them when he decides. At the end EVERYBODY gets 50 dollars, no matter how many cards are flipped. The cards serves for following the YES-es and NOs

[@gilliankew]

They all get $50 anyway, so it doesn’t matter.

[@SR-iy4gg]

Who cares?

[@bluecamus5162]

Yes, everyone gets the full amount just for being there, but keeping score helps keep a spirit of competition, which the panel seems to pride themselves on and keeps the audience more into it.

[@mjanavel]

Rigged!

[@kentetalman9008]

When smart people accomplish things, stupid people assume it's dishonest or magic.