What's My Line? (Roy Campanella Mystery Guest)

[@cadaverdog1424]

Steve Allen's reactions during the appearance by the woman who ran a nudist camp, were PRICELESS!! I have watched him dozens of times in that episode: his takes and timings as he reacts to the audience's laughter, is incredible. The great comedians are [were] simply FUNNY innately, and didn't even have to rely on prepared jokes and routines. You either have it or you don't . For someone as debonair and genteel and suave as Steve Allen to be so amusing is a tribute to his true, deep talent. He was able to dominate those moments without doing so via a huge ego or time-hogging. So wonderful to watch.

[@Celisar1]

What a lovely woman the first contestant was! Not only very attractive but intelligent, humorous and self- confident.

[@elaineteeter9485]

Roy Campanella lived in Glen Cove, NY and operated a liquor store between regular season games. On January 28, 1958, after closing his store for the night he began his drive home. His car hit a patch of ice, the car skidded into a telephone pole and overturned, breaking his neck. The accident left him paralyzed from the shoulders down. With physical therapy he eventually regained substantial use of his arms and hands. He was able to feed himself, shake hands and gesture while speaking, but he required a wheelchair for mobility for the rest of his life. He wrote his autobiography, "It's Good To Be Alive" which was published in 1959. Michael Landon directed a television movie on the book. Campanella was played by Paul Winfield.

[@soulierinvestments]

The first game is really one of the funniest WML games ever. It has a classic Steve Allen gambit, and spontaneous witticisms from Arlene, and John Daly shows he is the master of interpretive semantics. What is not to love?

[@shirleyrombough8173]

soulierinvestments - I love this. They had so much fun!

[@shirleyrombough8173]

The second contestant was really cute.

[@TopperMadeline]

The first contestant is really enjoying herself.

[@cadaverdog1424]

The panelists were wonderful but only human: Cerf had staffers at Random House researching for him [on paid RH time] as to which celebrities were currently in NYC or the area, etc., so he could predict that evening. A few of them had 'indicators' planted in the front rows of the theater [starting row E/first few rows were blocked off, etc.] with various semaphoric signals/hints. HOWEVER: What a pleasure to see clips of such witty and well-mannered people!! The gentleman standing to say goodbye to the female mystery guests asd they departed, some mystery guests such as Salvador Dali and others kissing the hands of the female panelists!! Such class, a bygone era in our age of rudeness and lack of manners, I believe. I am curious as to whether or not anyone also feels this way. And always leading the proceedings: the one and only one-of-a-kind debonair gentleman, John Daly!! Wow!! How can you not simply just ADORE him??!!! I can just imagine if the show were on today: Rap 'artists' with names like 'Lil' Cool ABCDEFG, flavor-of-the-month mediocre actors, etc. And the audiences of the original show actually knew of and recognized, with enthusiasm, persons who were not even in the realm of Top-10 celebrities, great artists in their fields, such as Dali, Frank Lloyd Wright etc. Just one quick take or look from the likes of Steve Allen, one brilliant quip by Arlene Francis, genuinely, involuntarily funny types such as Buddy Hackett and Fred Allen, such moments are worth hours of entertainment today. And Dorothy Kilgallen: Rest in peace. Such a tragic death [whatever the truth may be.]

[@Yowza78]

Roy Campenella's signature was so graphic and artistic.

[@frenchjr25]

What's really funny about the lipstick demonstrator is that Steve Allen was absolutely wearing lipstick while questioning her. Makeup for TV in the 1950s was quite heavy.

[@ColonelJack1]

The first contestant was a real stunner! And she enjoyed her visit, stumped the panel, and was very pleasant to look at (or did I already say that?).

[@cadaverdog1424]

When 'Campy' was in his first two years with the Dodgers, he still had teammates who called him 'half-breed'!!??! Even in locker-room jest, and allowing for a less PC, rougher time period, it is just AWFUL to imagine this could ever have been so. Despite all of the race-related problems we live with today, there actually HAS been progress, which is great to realize. Sad and tragic accident Campanella had, but the remainder of his life was an inspiring saga that gives me goosebumps merely typing here about it. Class act for sure.

[@cadaverdog1424]

Always a pleasure to get feedback from stupid people.

[@thomashulsey8495]

Any sports figure is always uncovered almost immediately.

[@Beson-SE]

Well, who can blame him?! Who wouldn't do the same. :) The first lady was stunning beautiful!

[@sdacj]

John gave the panel a huge hint with the race track guy - after the panel's wild guesses he said they didn't get the ABSOLUTE right occupation, and that the panel had to get it SPECIFICALLY, which let the panel know that at least one wild guess was on the right track.

[@shirleyrombough8173]

She does model something- lipstick.

[@MrWindermere123]

This show evolved and got better in its long run: it's more exciting for the panel members to walk on rather than, as here, to be already seated when the show begins. It's also more respectful that the challenger in later shows leaves by shaking hands with the panel members rather than vanishing behind Mr Daly. As for the 'perp walk' in front of the panel and the rushed greetings - that is simply embarrassing for all who are involved. I wonder if John Daly advised the producers how to improve the show - he was a news journalist whose job was to hold people's attention and who must have sensed which parts of the show were dull.

[@Walterwhiterocks]

Quite likely.

[@rayizard5687]

I've been looking for a clip of the first contestant - one of the funniest ones to me, especially in regards to Steve Allen

[@timothycarley7348]

Contestant#1 was a "Hottie"❤

[@haggis655]

I may be wrong but I think this is the only mystery guest who did not answer a single NO. Every question was answered with YES. Kilgallen voluntarily passed though all her questions were answered with YES.

[@MickTheQuickk]

Why did Roy look at John before answering every question, including "is it baseball"?

[@soulierinvestments]

Gil Fates wrote that certain animals were always good for a laugh. Rabbits for example.

[@shirleyrombough8173]

soulierinvestments - I bet Mr. Houston didn't have to work hard to breed his rabbits. Sorry, a corny comment.

[@Trainwreck144]

Interesting to have had a game without any comments from John. I suppose he wouldn't allow that.

[@stephaniemccoy9602]

oh come oooooon lol

[@cantorgasma]

Did you ever notice that John almost always holds hands with the ladies in front of the blackboard. Especially the young and attractive ones.

[@alansorensen5903]

He holds the men's, too. It's for blocking and to direct their next moves, I'm aguessin'. You'll notice he holds the chairs for the women but not the men, though.

[@caroldannenberg9778]

@@alansorensen5903 , Yes, and with the men it's more of a hand on the lower arm than a hand-hold. And yes, it is to turn them a little more towards the camera.

[@libertyann439]

Steve must have worn make up in his act. Roy is chewing gum.

[@joeymitchell9636]

Mm,fifty shows

[@uselessjoe]

they zeroed in on him faster than Cooter Brown. THEN HE HAD A car wreck and was parallized for the rest of his life> wHAT A shame; he was doing so good

[@janeiwasduncan8463]

Who is Cooter Brown??

[@Walterwhiterocks]

@@janeiwasduncan8463 The other catcher on the Dodgers at the time. Today he might be referred to as the "back up" catcher.

[@allenjones3130]

Rest in peace, Roy.

[@uselessjoe]

Haha…google cooter brown…sometimes also cootie brown

[@uselessjoe]

Haha…

[@markxxx21]

Is Roy Campanella chewing gum

[@caroler01]

DOE John What? You couldn’t hold a candle to Roy Campanella.

[@caroler01]

And?