What's My Line? - Sid Caesar; Martin Gabel [panel] (May 19, 1963)

[@mikejschin]

Sid Caesar was a pioneer of television. His "Show of Shows" ran from 1950-1954. His writers included the young Mel Brooks, Neil Simon, Larry Gelbart (creator of the TV series MASH), Carl Reiner, Selma Diamond, and Woody Allen. Steve Allen once said that Sid's show was where all young comedy writers wanted to be. Isaac Sidney Caesar passed away in 2014 at the age of 91. RIP, Sid.

[@bencheshire]

Sid doesnt need an introduction, but I suppose younguns could be coming by here.

[@bluecamus5162]

It astonishes me that Caesar did 139 episodes of the 90-minute 'Your Show of Shows' over the course of 4 years, and did them all LIVE, did them in consecutive weeks, and maintained high ratings. I don't believe there's an entertainer, cast, or director alive today that would attempt ONE live 90 minute sketch show, let alone 139.

[@judywhiting4684]

One.of THE MOST TALENTED BRILLIANT.comedian/actor..EVERRR...and so humble and kind......miss you...

[@Gypsyqueen-lt7tq]

Sid was one of my all-time favorite actors -- in addition to being a legendary comedian. I find it beyond sad that he's not very well-remembered today -- all the legends who worked for him (Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, Woody Allen, et al.) were at least gracious enough to remember him fondly. If it weren't for them, he'd be *totally* forgotten . . . .

[@kenyongray2615]

Miss Tany was a lovely young lady. Sid Caesar was great. The mention of Gordon Cooper brought back a lot of memories of all those early space flights. Those were brave men. Thanks for the video.

[@igkoigko9950]

Very brave at a time when rockets often exploded and the environment of space was unknown and could have required more radiation shielding than could be launched. Perhaps the two greatest human accomplishments have been the moon landing and the rapid development of mRNA vaccines.

[@reinacoffee8557]

Sid Caesar, wow!!! One of our greatest comedians and entertainers of all times. Loved him also on "Vegas Vacation". many years later with Chevy Chase...."I won, I won!" He sure did!!!

[@ilzamaria6424]

' the first and last mrs.Gabel ' Lovely way to introduce his lovely wife

[@pronkerpronker6708]

This reminds me of the exciting days of the early space program and how we schoolchildren collected clippings and discussed the events in class.

[@mikejschin]

It is impossible to convey to anyone after our generation how exciting the space program was in those days. Our school even used to have televisions brought into the classrooms so we could watch space launches. Nothing since has captured the imagination of the young to nearly the same extent.

[@Musicman81Indy]

@@mikejschin I was only 3 months old when this show was aired, and I was much too young to know about the Mercury or Gemini programs. But I totally agree with you about the early days of the space program being the most exciting in our nation's history. I first became interested in the space program in 1971, with the flight of Apollo 14. The Apollo program was magical. I was totally fascinated by the whole thing. Today as I look back on some of the old Mercury and Gemini flights, I can't help but wish I had been born about 10 years earlier so i could appreciate the history of it all. I LOVE this stuff.

[@jackkomisar458]

There is a painting by Norman Rockwell of two NASA technicians helping astronauts John Young and Gus Grissom suit up for the Gemini 3 flight on March 23, 1965. The technician on the left in the painting, helping John Young, looks like the first contestant, Joe Schmitt.

[@Gypsyqueen-lt7tq]

Oh, I had to make a screen grab of the great Mr. Caesar @ 16:38 (when he's pictured, with a very soulful expression, right above his name card). I just adored him & fellow "Yonkah" Art Carney -- they were among the finest actors of their generation (or any other, IMHO) and are not as well-remembered as they deserve to be. Thanks so much for posting!! :)

[@drednm]

Sid Caesar was brilliant in LITTLE ME. He payed seven roles.

[@markschildberg1667]

The show was perfectly done, but for some reason, it only ran for a few months.

[@maynardsmoreland]

RIP Sid Caesar.

[@jackkomisar458]

Sid Caesar was in one of the funniest sketches that has ever aired on television, "This is your story" from the series "Your Show of Shows." This sketch is available on KZbin.

[@JanetM-ro6xc]

Thank you for sharing this!😄😄

[@jppitman1]

Here, here! Some ‘over the top’ comes across as just plain stupid, dumb, and unfunny. But “This is your story” just takes the cake in sheer zaniness, screwballiness, and hilarity. Talk about setting the standard.

[@gordonkelly7447]

I'm 70 and remember this show as a child. Arlene is such a fun person and Dorothy is smart. I love it! They are so polite and happy. Not crass or obscene. Very unusual today.

[@TheBraveIntrovert]

"I have a Cuckoo at my house" LOL

[@robertmelson2130]

6:49 Martin Gabel: "As my wife will tell you I can't do anything with my hands...so I'll pass." Arlene, who was next, passed up a slow, hanging curve-ball here.

[@jmccracken1963]

But she did get a good "zinger" in later on, during Ria Taney's contestant segment: MARTIN (to contestant): You have an addiction to the word "No." ARLENE (to Martin): That's a good thing for young girls.

[@algoritmosalfredohipicasig7116]

John was probably pulling on his ear since that was their sign for "don't go there."

[@davidsanderson5918]

No whistles for Ria Tawney?!? She's absolutely LUSH!!!

[@daler.steffy1047]

From this man's perspective, I totally agree! She IS beautiful; and she conveys a most animated countenance that shows, or reflects, beauty, intelligence and humility, all in one!

[@mistermac56]

Joseph (Joe) W. Schmitt was a NASA space suit technician for 25 years, from the early days of NASA's Mercury program in 1958 until he retired during the early part of the Space Shuttle program in 1983. Mr. Schmitt passed away on September 25th, 2017 at the age of 101.

[@lorihansen8674]

I love when both Martin and Arlene are on the panel together. His love for her is so obvious! How many men today would commit to have one wife forever?

[@medievalhistorybuff]

A lot of them if the women are worth it.

[@aileen694]

Alas, I lasted one year! I was glad to read these comments here. Several times, I've responded to viewers criticizing the duo Arlene with Martin. I say his appeal is his energy, humour, professional accomplishments and that gorgeous voice! Martin could park his slippers under my bed anytime!

[@deboraholsen2504]

@Aileen: AND Martin's kindness toward and respect for Arlene :)

[@deboraholsen2504]

@Rich CCR: My Mom was completely and totally worth it, and so were her 4 little girls, yet our father had an affair and left all of us for the other woman! Yet, my Mom is the most wonderful, lovely, and kind person I have ever met! To our father, none of that mattered.

[@TheConorsmithusa]

"How many men today would commit to have one wife forever?" Only a woman would say that! A rather sexist woman who obviously had bad marital problems in the past....

[@sandrageorge3488]

I never did see Sid Caesar's show , but I have seen him in a few movies.

[@CarlB_1962]

The director was clearly uneasy about displays of affection between the panellists, judging by how quickly he cut as Arlene went to kiss Bennett on the cheek and, towards the end of the show, when she ruffled Martin's hair. Love WML and this channel is among the best on You Tube imo.

[@waldolydecker8118]

Probably has more to do with the hard time clock of the program's direction rather than the director having some speculative "unease" with panelists PDA. Mystery guests have kissed panelists on here for years and not once has the direction shown any quick-cut unease. This is the direction staying on its routine, mundane schedule, not hyper-unease.

[@CarlB_1962]

@@waldolydecker8118 Good point, I hadn’t thought of that.

[@c0mputer]

@@waldolydecker8118 I agree but I do think that a Martin Gable tends to avoid public displays of affection with Arlene. Many times she touches him and he moves away or on one show right before Christmas at the end Arlene says to Martin, “You may kiss me” and he just smiles and says goodnight.

[@APrintmaker]

I was very sorry to read about Arlene's misfortune in this comments section. The comment I want to make has to do with the large number of Astronaut related guests they had over the course of the show. Being in grade school at the time I remember how everything about the space program was notable and exciting... it is only later that it became so routine that a space shuttle could go up and be back without anyone taking much notice... until there was a disaster. During Mercury, Gemini and Apollo I remember being amazed about it, and everyone else was amazed about it too.

[@robertmelson2130]

Franklin Hoffman Like you, I remember the excitement of those days. I recall that Mom would get me up, the countdown would be put on hold (probably multiple times), and I'd eventually have to go to school without seeing it light off. Well, not every time, but often enough. Actually I had the thought when I saw this guest that it had been quite a while since they'd had a "space" guest on the show, after having them relatively frequently in 1961 and early 1962. In 1961 there were the two X-15 pilots, then Admiral Koch who picked up Shepard (5/7); in 1962 there was T.J. O'Malley (3/4), Nancy Lowe(3/18), and the Navy pilots who spotted Carpenter(5/27). The last space related guest was over 10 months ago on 7/15/62: Bob Shennum, who designed Telstar. I list all of these with the caveat, "I think". I probably left someone out, at the least, but at one time I was trying to keep track, and I still have my notes.

[@loissimmons6558]

+Robert Melson I was in grammar school in the early 1960's and I remember them wheeling in TV sets on carts into the classroom so we could watch key moments in those early U.S. manned space flights.

[@jmccracken1963]

O'Fallon, Illinois (the town that the first contestant came from), is in downstate St. Clair County, a bit to the east of St. Louis, Missouri. Given its proximity to Scott Air Force Base and a number of defense-industry factories, it has quite a stable citizenry - and is, in fact, one of the most rapidly growing communities in the area these days. The Penguin Restaurant, at 21 West 9th Street in New York City, looks as though it was quite a nice, homey, upscale restaurant back in the day. (There is a postcard picture of the "library" dining room, one of three dining rooms in the restaurant, posted online.) "Little Me," starring Sid Caesar, Nancy Andrews, and Virginia Martin, was approaching the end of its successful 257-performance original Broadway run. It had opened at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on Saturday, 17 November 1962 and would close on Saturday, 29 June 1963. It has been revived on Broadway twice since then: once for a month in early 1982, in a revised version starring James Coco, Victor Garber, Mary Gordon Murray, and Jessica James; and once for about 3 months (after 43 preview performances!) in late 1998 and early 1999, starring Martin Short and Faith Prince.

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

*_SPACE SUIT TECHNICIAN (DRESSED ASTRONAUT COOPER FOR FLIGHT)_* *_RESTAURANT DOORMAN_* *_MAKES BIRDHOUSES_*

[@isolde1802]

Love this episode.

[@mehboobkm3728]

Ria Taney must be one of the hottest contestants on WML. I was surprised not to hear any whistling in the background!

[@MrJoeybabe25]

The fall of '63 brought a new "Sid Caesar Show" which ran semi-monthly (with Edie Adam's new show). Both failed at the Home Box Office.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Arlene says to the lady Doorman "they come to you IN DOORS..." I expected some chuckles in the audience but apparently it was a bit too quick for them. Jeepers!

[@ralphturner3798]

Sid Caesar did not disguise his voice enough.

[@TheCometHunter]

It drives me up a wall that Bennett Cerf asks 18-word questions when an 8-word query would do just as well.

[@ModMokkaMatti]

What else would you expect from a publisher who wants to sell more words to the populace?

[@harveyudell9650]

One word for the interactions : dignity.

[@timshafer4598]

Arlene Francis was always so elegant and classy.

[@vaec58]

Mr. Schmitt died in 2017 at 101 years old...

[@dearmakeupdiary]

wow, he had a long life 🙂 hope it was good in general

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Bennett Cerf is a hero in the fight for freedom of speech in the United States. According to Wikipedia "In 1933 Cerf won United States v. One Book Called Ulysses, a landmark court case against government censorship, and thereafter published James Joyce's unabridged Ulysses for the first time in the United States (one chapter had been published in Margaret Anderson's and Jane Heap's The Little Review, a Chicago-based literary magazine, which had led to its being found "a work of obscenity"). In 1933 Random House, which had the rights to publish the book in the United States, arranged for a test case to challenge the implicit ban, so as to publish the work without fear of prosecution. It therefore made an arrangement to import the French edition of the book, and to have a copy seized by the United States Customs Service when the ship carrying the work arrived. Despite advance warning to Customs of the anticipated arrival of the book, the local official declined to confiscate it, stating "everybody brings that in." He and his superior were finally convinced to seize the work. The United States Attorney then took seven months before deciding whether to proceed further. While the Assistant U.S. Attorney assigned to assess the work's obscenity felt that it was a "literary masterpiece," he also found it obscene within the meaning of the law. The office therefore decided to take action against the work under the provisions of the Tariff Act of 1930, which allowed a district attorney to bring action. Cerf later presented the French-language book to Columbia University.

[@stlmopoet]

He's a hero for free speech, indeed. Unfortunately, toward the end of his life he got involved with that "Famous Writer's School." Not sure how aware he was of the true nature of the school, but it wasn't a reputable institution. Jessica Mitford wrote an article about it for The Atlantic: www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1970/07/let-us-now-appraise-famous-writers/305319/

[@savethetpc6406]

Joe Postove Bennett writes about this situation with the "Ulysses" book quite extensively in his book of career memoirs, "At Random." The details of how they managed to have a very specific copy of the book, complete with many critical reviews and essays on the importance of the work, admitted as evidence in the case are even more fascinating than the general idea -- which is an impressive undertaking indeed.

[@savethetpc6406]

Joe Postove I read your original comment and wrote my previous comment about Bennett's involvement with publishing "Ulysses" yesterday. Coincidentally, today's New York Times Book Review section (dated August 24, 2014, but it came with today's paper - Aug. 23rd) features a new book called "The Most Dangerous Book: The Battle for James Joyce's 'Ulysses' " by Kevin Birmingham. The review itself mentions Bennett Cerf in two different paragraphs, and I'm sure the book discusses his involvement further. However, if you don't want to read anything negative about Bennett, don't read either the review or the book. The second mention of Bennett Cerf focuses on a negative comment made about him by Birmingham in the book. Although the reviewer sort of defends Bennett, I personally felt upset by what I read. Here's a link to the review in case you want to read it anyway, but don't say I didn't warn you.... www.nytimes.com/2014/08/24/books/review/the-most-dangerous-book-about-joyces-ulysses.html?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Ar&_r=0 Also in today's book review section was a review of a book on another topic I had seen discussed in WML comments recently. I'd have to look back through the comments sections of some of the videos I've watched during the past few days in order to find the original discussion, but the book is called "Whatever Happened To The Metric System? How America Kept Its Feet" by John Bemelmans Marciano.

[@WhatsMyLine]

SaveThe TPC I don't remember reading any comments about that book! Stupid, stupid, stupid notifications system! Stupid, stupid, stupid!

[@savethetpc6406]

What's My Line? There was not a discussion about the Marciano book, but there was a discussion about the metric system. I think perhaps SuperWinterborn had asked about use of the metric system in the U.S., and you had answered that it was promoted a lot in the 1970s but pretty much given up by now, except for the way soft drinks and spring water are bottled. I'll try to look for the original comment later and post a link to the book review there (if I can find it).

[@VahanNisanian]

A week later on May 26, Arlene was driving her white convertible to CBS Studio 52, to attend that night's taping. Suddenly, it slipped on the rain-soaked highway, she lost control of the car, and it crashed into another car, which killed one of the 5 inhabitants inside of it. Arlene missed three tapings, because of this serious injury. Until June 9, three different women filled in for her in this order: Kitty Carlisle, Dina Merrill, and Phyllis Newman. When Arlene came back on June 16, her right arm was in a sling.

[@VahanNisanian]

***** Indeed.

[@VahanNisanian]

ZoneFighter1 You idiot. It was NOT Arlene's fault someone died that night, nor did she intend to kill someone. The car accident WAS 100% out of her control. There was NO way she could have avoided that. Same thing with the dumbbell incident. If you think she was a mass murderer, then screw off.

[@WhatsMyLine]

ZoneFighter1 You clearly don't know the facts on these stories. How was Arlene even remotely responsible for her car going out of control? How was she responsible for a freak accident involving a dumbbell falling from her balcony when it wasn't her that put the dumbbell there in the first place, or the one who knocked it over? Even if she *had* been the one who knocked over the dumbbell, these things are called "accidents". They're known to happen. They're called "accidents" because they're *not intentional*. This must be the first negative word I've ever read from *anyone* on Arlene Francis, and unsurprisingly, it's totally absurd.

[@VahanNisanian]

What's My Line? Gary, thank you so much for backing me.

[@WhatsMyLine]

***** Well, I agree fully, as I think any sensible person who knows the facts would. But, please, no more name calling. It diminishes your own dignity and weakens your perfectly valid argument, by allowing others to perceive you as a crank (which you're NOT.)

[@sandygort]

I wonder if the doorman ever became an actress. I hope she had a good life, whether she had an acting career or not.

[@dbarker7794]

She certainly had a face for the movies.

[@leesher1845]

Sid Caesar was born Isaac Sidney Caesar, and at Ellis island they changed his original name of Ziser to Caesar.

[@poetcomic1]

at 20:30 you can see the chalk 'half box' that the guests are supposed to stand in. I don't remember that before.

[@teriannebeauchamp254]

poetcomic1 I see it at 10:10 too. I would have never noticed it without this comment

[@neilmidkiff]

Those have been showing for about a year, if you look carefully. I think the marks may be tape instead of chalk. I left a comment recently on one of the 1962 shows, but the "search comments" function on KZbin is very flaky and I can't locate it now. For real chalk marks, see the August 12, 1956 show from Chicago.

[@kennethlatham3133]

The birdhouse lady looks like she could be the mother of actress Catherine Keenor.

[@soulierinvestments]

This post falls under the category of Morbid Alternative Universe Speculating. The 26 May 1963 auto accident that involved Arlene Francis killed two people. If she had also died in this wreck, this episode would have been her last WML appearance. Husband Martin Gabel would have been with her during her last appearance, making the historic broadcast record even more poignant. If that had been the case, this might have also been Martin Gabel's last WML appearance, since TV producers are notoriously sensitive to The Appearance of Situations.

[@rapunzelz5520]

I just looked up the account of that bad accident. There was another accident ahead of this one and when Arlene hit the brakes and skidded on the wet road, the car jumped the median. The court did not charge her criminally. So sad. That has to be a hard burden to bear. I know it would be for me.

[@deejay8403]

I would be incarnated (born) approximately 19 hours after the start of this telecast

[@rll1954]

Bennett Cerf and Dorothy Kilgallen were sharp!

[@michaelbarnhart2593]

Ria Taney was a very lovely young lady. :-)

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Oh man!

[@algoritmosalfredohipicasig7116]

Classy charm, those were the days.

[@miketheyunggod2534]

The panel members are famous in their own right, but when a big star comes on they act like fans like we would be.

[@davidleedutton]

I wonder what became of Miss Taney, the aspiring actress.

[@TheCometHunter]

Probably the same thing that happens to most aspiring actresses. Either their career hopes get sidetracked into the world of business, or she found someone and got married.

[@20alphabet]

The lady who makes birdhouses has birdlike features.

[@lauracollins4195]

20alphabet - Yes she does! She strikes me as confident and pretty. :)

[@robertmelson2130]

dizzyology I know it's way past the point of topicality, but...remember your challenge to find JCD's making an error in grammar? After finding one, I haven't been listening for it for a long time, but something he just said caught my attention: 2:09 "But I can say wizard quicker than he can." I believe he meant to say, "But I can say wizard more quickly than he can".

[@kentetalman9008]

On several occasions, Daly said "from whence". Since whence means "from where", the phrase is redundant.

[@soulierinvestments]

One of the color-WML kinescopes that has gone missing is a 1967 episode in which Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca appeared as mystery guests. They were plugging an upcoming "Sid Caesar Imogene Coca Carl Reiner Howard Morris Reunion Special." That too has apparently turned up missing as well. When Carl Reiner created "The Dick Van Dyke Show," Reinier based the fictitious variety show star Alan Brady somewhat on Sid. Hard to believe that NBC and Your Show of Shows producers Sylvester Weaver and Max Liebmann did not do a better job preserving "Your Show of Shows." Considering the volume of entertainment it and Caesar's Hour produced in 1950 - 1957, rather little of it has survived to the present day.

[@WhatsMyLine]

Apparently Comedy Central used to rerun sketches by Caesar that haven't been released on DVD (possibly on VHS, though-- I'm not sure). I've been trying to find someone who recorded these ever since Sid passed, no luck.

[@loissimmons6558]

+soulierinvestments Your use of the phrase "turned up missing" reminded me of the phrase that two WML panelists (Bennett Cerf and Louis Untermeyer) among others had attributed to Samuel Goldwyn: "include me out".

[@the_lost_navigator]

In other words - Respect to the men 'behind' the suit...

[@MrJoeybabe25]

I hate to pick on John Daly tonight, but sometimes, well he's too much. He made a very interesting historical reference to the name of the second contestant Miss Taney, and then assumes that everyone knows what he's talking about. For the record, Roger Taney was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court leading up to and during much of the civil war.

[@barrykendrick3146]

Joe Postove Abraham Lincoln signed an arrest warrant for Chief Justice Taney as Taney ruled against Lincoln for one of the many thousands of his imprisonments w/o right of trial. The warrant was never served.

[@robertmelson2130]

Joe Postove I didn't think twice about John Daly's comment, but your post has had me pondering. If you asked a person to name two chief justices who served before his lifetime, the most likely answer is going to be, "I can't name one," thus making your point. :-( But if he could come up with an answer, he'd likely say, "John Jay and Roger B. Taney", I believe. Don't forget John knew his American history (cf. his two IGAS appearances); I bet he could name a few!

[@TyrSkyFatherOfTheGods]

+Joe Postove I'm a Canadian, and even **I** know who Roger Taney was. He wrote for the majority in the Dred Scott decision.

[@jmccracken1963]

He will live forever in infamy as being the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who wrote the majority opinion in the 1857 Dred Scott v. Sandford decision.

[@neilmidkiff]

I knew who Chief Justice Taney was, but I didn't know how the family name was pronounced. I'd add John Marshall to the list of historical Chief Justices that most should know.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

John has a bad habit, sometimes of just flipping the cards over and giving in. I realize that if there is a time problem, or if the panel was so far away they were never going to get to the area of interest, but gee whiz, here it is only 7 1/2 minutes into he show, Bennett had cracked open some space for the panel to take this further (and I think given a few minutes they might have won the game) But John wanted to talk and so Damn the game, I guess. Frustrating!

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Lots of times Johns interview with a contestant was more interesting, but when the panel was on the hunt, I was into it.

[@erichanson426]

I sometimes wonder if it was a production thing, asking, because it got worse as the seasons went on, and the people in charge kept letting him to do it.

[@rpc717]

They were interested in spending some quality time talking to this man, so rather than let the panel spend two minutes trying to narrow down what he had to do with the space program he just gave in and used that time to talk about it with him.

[@bgmeadows6085]

Alcoholism derailed Sid's career. He sobered up and became a fitness advocate.

[@philippapay4352]

@BG Meadows - Happily for us and sadly for him, the demands of his show with Imogene Coca involved memorizing and hour and a half's worth of material all the time. That is a lot to handle if there are any types of distractions in your life. We all got to benefit from watching a great artist at work while it lasted - golden.

[@Gypsyqueen-lt7tq]

Well said. Sid was one of my all-time faves. Always found it heartbreaking that the fraction of his classic shows that are still around today came from his own personal collection -- I mean, couldn't NBC have preserved the kinescopes? He deserved better, IMHO . . . .

[@philippapay4352]

@@Gypsyqueen-lt7tq Many shows like this were considered "throwaway" entertainment, unlike the work of Shakespeare or Chaucer: just a little something for the unwashed masses. He was a comedic genius in what was to become remembered as the Golden Age of television. His pieces are masterworks of one of the most difficult art forms because he had to write, perform, direct others, etc. for the entire program: a one-man band. Things that go beyond the pleasantries of craft into the realms of art should have been shown more respect. Many kinescopes and much film were lost in the Universal Studio fire of 2008, which included film and other media. I do not know if kinescopes that had not previously been destroyed were included in that. It was a true artistic disaster for film, TV and music.

[@Gypsyqueen-lt7tq]

@@philippapay4352 Thanks for the info. re: the 2008 fire -- I'd heard a bit about that, but didn't realize the extent of its devasation. How tragic. And I totally agree w/ the rest of your post!!! My grandma was a huge Sid fan. She showed me "Mad World" when I was all of 4 years old & made sure I knew that "The Dick van Dyke Show" all of Mel Brooks's comedies were inspired by Sid's classic shows. I just wish they all could've worked together much longer -- and, in interviews, they all seemed to feel the same way, which is incredibly poignant.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

After leaving ABC News in 1960, what did John do, other than this show? I know he did "Today" at least once and did assorted appearances on other shows, but it seems like the weeks could be long with just What's My Line as your only main gig. Did he ever go back to work for CBS News at all?

[@markschildberg1667]

He became head of Voice of America after WML went off the air in 1967.

[@Kmac005]

If Sid's writers were right, Sid Caesar was the strongest person they'd ever met. There is the famous story of Sid lifting up a desk that had Woody Allen attached all with one arm and yelling, "FUNNIER!" before dropping the desk. Sid also held Mel Brooks by his tie with one hand while Mel dangled outside the window of their writer's room several stories off the ground. And both incidents occurred because the writing was not funny enough. So, they were inspired to write funnier jokes.

[@peternagy-im4be]

That's pretty funny and you're a funny guy

[@soulierinvestments]

RE: last contestant. Well, it gives pleasure to the BIRDS. I hear that one time a person who made cat houses appeared on WML. The title read "Makes houses for cats." Well, that clears THAT up. Arlene herself solved two of the four. Not bad.

[@loissimmons6558]

+soulierinvestments The title did make it clear that the more risque meaning of cathouse wasn't being referenced.

[@wyatt_kincaid]

I wonder if the Alfred Hitchcock thriller "The Birds" which was released that same year (1963) was already playing in the movie theaters yet. In reference to the last contestant who made birdcages

[@neilmidkiff]

@@wyatt_kincaid IMDB has 29 March 1963 for the US release date for "The Birds", so the answer is yes.

[@deboraholsen2504]

I LOVE how Arlene said the word "no" is good for girls!!! ...Brings back many memories all throughout the 1980s while I was on dates, of either the boy/man trying to touch me in unauthorized places on my body, or actually asking/suggesting that we have sex! I was amazed how many times it was necessary for me to move their hands away! No, no, no!!! What is with all you guys??? Why can't you wait??? Why can't you just enjoy a girl's or woman's company??? ...I can only imagine how many abortions, hurt feelings, and ruined lives would not take place if only guys would act a lot more respectful toward girls while on dates! ...Yes, NO! is GOOD for girls (and everyone else too - the fetus whose life is at stake, The young man who could easily become a father, as well as all four parents of the girl + boy on a date, plus their siblings, plus many others. Wrongdoings never only affect the people directly involved; they affect many people! For all the reasons above, I can't even, in good faith, allow my daughters to date alone until they're 18! They'll need to have double dates or group dates until then. ...I love Arlene!!! "No" is good for girls! ...And please, do not deny that this is what she meant! Also, I understand there will be some backlash thought from males to the effect of, "Hey, we're not always the ones!", to which I reply, "True, not always, but 90% of the time, you are the ones!"

[@pablosolis1589]

Stadistic brought by Kellog's

[@igkoigko9950]

90% of sexual aggression being male is reasonable statistic for the first decade after puberty at which time the numbers start to approach equilibrium and flip a few years before menopause. That’s my estimate.

[@danielfronc4304]

Wow, now I'm really impressed with John Daly! While 99% of people would pronounce "Taney" as "tan-ee" it is indeed pronounced as he did. It's an early American name of distinction, a Taney sat on the Supreme Court and then there's the town of Tanneytown, Maryland. Props to Mr. Daly.

[@loissimmons6558]

In fact, Roger Taney was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court for over 28 years, having been appointed to that position by President Andrew Jackson. Previously Jackson had appointed him to three different positions that put Taney in charge of a cabinet department: Acting Secretary of War, Attorney General, and Secretary of the Treasury. Even so, Taney is known mostly for authoring the majority decision in the case of Dred Scott v Sandford. Taney thought the court was settling the slavery question. Instead, it exacerbated the division between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions in the country.

[@RalphOnofrio]

Sid Caesar had a very long career......Vegas Vacation......Anybody remember???

[@erichanson426]

When asking if the product, which was a birdhouse was seasonal, that should have been a yes, cause birds fly south for the winter.

[@Walterwhiterocks]

Not all of them. "No" was indeed the correct answer.

[@erichanson426]

@@Walterwhiterocks opps, didn't think of that, your right, and thanks

[@AF-ib8ec]

Before watching this, the only time I watched anything sid Caesar was on was the Donny and Marie Osmond movie going coconuts

[@hcombs0104]

How disappointing. Somehow I wanted to think the Birdhouse Lady made the birdhouses from scratch, sawing the wood herself from wood bought at the local lumberyard, using her Chevy pickup. Wearing overalls but with makeup.

[@algoritmosalfredohipicasig7116]

There's a rather unflattering caption @3:07 someone might care to remove, if that were possible.

[@blackhawkswincup2010]

How the HELL did Bennett Cerf figure out this guy worked with Gordo Cooper?!

[@PerMortensen]

That launch had happened just a few days prior and was big news. Heck Bennett even makes an offhand remark about it during his introduction of John. The show often features people who have some job relating to big goings on at the time, so when he had found out that the man worked for a federal non-profit making organization then it was a fairly short leap of imagination to go down that road.

[@dinahbrown902]

I know right

[@mehboobkm3728]

"I've a cuckoo at my home."

[@dancelli714]

In the 1980' s I was a DOORMAN, Miss Taney is a DOORWOMAN. She sure was a looker. There should have been more whistles when she came on stage. Back then they would describe a man that was a nurse as a MALE NURSE because it was so rare back then and so was a DOORWOMAN. I Knew one, she was rather husky. You're really a glorified guard. I had to get physical with a few folk's. Most of the time, no problem's with unruly folk's though.

[@shirleyrombough8173]

Did Arlene ask if he was Sid Seizure?

[@jools01]

24:34 😂

[@leannsherman6723]

Love the cursive!

[@Baskerville22]

Why do the male panelists' ears look so unnaturally white ?

[@richatlarge462]

I see what you mean. I'm guessing that the makeup people failed to apply makeup to the ears, with the result that the light reflected off the ears as it shouldn't have.

[@dannydoc1969]

How often do you hear, today, moderators use the word, Concatenation. TV has gone severely downhill when it comes to intelligence, and class, as personified on WML.

[@poetcomic1]

Dorothy made a funny joke about space suit guy being a sort of 'space valet' but the poor dear just didn't have the timing to tell jokes and didn't get a laugh.

[@keithhyttinen8275]

Never found Sid funny. At all.

[@karenedmiston4721]

In 1963 there was no political correctness. Instead of doorman, it should have been a door person.

[@peternagy-im4be]

Wrong. Anyone who constantly go's on about political correctness and wokeism is a loser. A lifelong loser.

[@rasputinsliver3196]

Would that the Big Brother-ish "political correctness" evil weren't tyrannizing us now.

[@Mmdmade]

Poor Martin. Arlene emasculated him....... I truly don’t like her.

[@kentetalman9008]

You are SO WRONG!!!

[@dadakijito]

@@kentetalman9008 An opinion is an opinion, not a fact. Just because someone does not think the same as you does not make their opinion "wrong" or any less valid than yours - and vice versa. Get over yourself.

[@carollee444]

Cerf was a Jerk🤪🤪🤪

[@dbarker7794]

He has a son at Hahvud!!! 🧐

[@MrJoeybabe25]

I hate to pick on John Daly tonight, but sometimes, well he's too much. He made a very interesting historical reference to the name of the second contestant Miss Taney, and then assumes that everyone knows what he's talking about. For the record, Roger Taney was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court leading up to and during much of the civil war.