What's My Line? - Arthur Godfrey; Kitty Carlisle, Ph Newman & Tony Randall [panel] (Mar 31, 1963)

[@The_A_Cast]

Kitty’s reaction to winning was priceless! 😂

[@VahanNisanian]

Kitty Carlisle was also on the panel the night of the Kilgallen tribute.

[@ReynaHerichan7769]

There are similar facial expressions and voice between Kitty Carlisle and Arlene Francis. But nobody could beat Arlene. She was the best.

[@briane173]

Arlene was all class, vivacious, mischievous and what a sense of humor. I dunno how Martin Gabel scored her but he picked a peach. All woman.

[@janetmarletto6667]

Kitty Carlisle is the model of the glamorous, fashionable, sophisticated, New York lady of the theater. I would not be surprised if Arlene looked to her as a role model. Arlene's evolution is evident during the few years.

[@roberttelarket4934]

Francis and Carlisle were both detestable! Dorothy was supreme!

[@kentetalman9008]

@@roberttelarket4934 What the hell is wrong with you? The pot calling the kettle detestable.

[@Dolphin-cb9sq]

Such a pleasure to watch this show.

[@moonlightray8493]

As far as "replacement" panelists go, this was a pretty good lineup! Kitty, Tony, and Phyllis were all seasoned game-players who knew how to ask relevant questions without wasting too much time, and all of three had a hearty sense of humour as well.

[@maynardsmoreland]

Arthur Godfrey may be the most forgotten of the big stars of early television.

[@Lava1964]

He was his own worst enemy.

[@BeIIeDoc24]

Kitty was so cute when she got the line right! And Phyllis really is always a delight! I'm so bratty, I usually don't watch if my homegirl Arlene isn't on...but doubly so, without Dorothy. However, I know Kitty and Phyllis are game players, and they wouldn't disappoint!

[@soulierinvestments]

Godfrey’s 1952 appearance [fortunately saved on kinescope] is one of the funniest mystery guest spots of that era. Hal Block was hysterical more or less literally. It is no accident that Godfrey made his first appearance in ages one night when Dorothy is not around. He detested Dorothy; the two of them had been knocking pieces off of each other publicly for years. One of my TV history books reports that publicly Godfrey called Dorothy a liar “or words to that effect.” In 1964, the two of them buried their hatchets, fortunately not in each other. He made a guest panelist appearance.

[@stuartharris2165]

With reference to the first panelist Mr Patterson, his wife appeared in the edition dated Apr 13 1958. Clifton Fadiman hosted that night and this time Arlene picked up on the fact the circus was in town and guessed the occupation with only $5 on the board, however at Dorothy's behest he flipped all the cards over.

[@briannesbit6617]

This is a good episode.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Arthur Godfrey and John Daly do indeed go back a long way. There is a very famous recording, a set of tapes or cds of 24 hours of radio station WSJV Washington DC on September 21, 1939. It starts with the Arthur Godfrey Morning Show and continues all day and night until sign off. It is a great package, which may already be available for free on the internet. John Daly was AG's announcer and newsman on that morning show, and he wasn't more than 26 years old at the time.

[@romeman01]

During the mystery guest appearance by Pat Boone, Daly said: "When I first started in this game, in Washington, Arthur Godfrey, whom I knew, not at all did I think as much for me as he did for you -- in my side, it was news -- every time I did a news show he'd come in and criticize it and sometimes it was RUTHLESS criticism, but it taught me a great deal."

[@WhatsMyLine]

Very interesting! I'm an old radio buff, and I wasn't aware of this recording. (Nor even that there are surviving recordings of John Daly in the old radio era). Blew my mind when I first listened to the early You Bet Your Life shows on radio before they went to TV. Fenneman was already the announcer, but the Elgin American commercials were actually all done by a fellow named Myron Wallace. Who later became much famous under the first name "Mike". Few things are more surreal than hearing Mike Wallace asking the ladies in the audience, "Have you looked at your compact lately?"

[@soulierinvestments]

What's My Line? I have heard some of the recording. It is available on some Old Time Radio sites. It has sports and an FDR fireside chat, and Godfrey in the morning. He is really easy on the ears early in the morning. He was potent stuff even in 1939

[@jethro1963]

WJSV COMPLETE DAY - Thursday, September 21st, 1939, radio station WJSV in Washington, D.C., recorded their entire broadcast day -- from sign on to sign off. archive.org/details/OTRR_NonCertified_WJSV_Complete_Day

[@jethro1963]

jethro1963 This is probably a better link (individual files) that can be streamed or played without downloading archive.org/details/OTRR_WJSV_Complete_Day_Singles

[@TyrSkyFatherOfTheGods]

Kitty Carlisle, Phyllis Newman, AND Tony Randall?! I feel like I'm at a chic opening party on Broadway!

[@slaytonp]

Kitty Carlisle was married to Moss Hart, who was one of Bennett's closest friends. All in all, they were generally a close-knit group.

[@robertmelson2130]

The last contestant's father, Harry Wheatcroft had been the first contestant on the 3/12/61 episode with the same occupation. Chris is a lot more conventional (for the times) in appearance than his father, Harry's having relatively long hair and wearing a checked suit with a plaid shirt and straight tie.

[@WhatsMyLine]

Robert Melson Great catch!

[@Merrida100]

I recognized the name WHEATCROFT and being from England and remembered the exact same thing!!

[@philippapay4352]

@@Merrida100 Yes, I remembered the name and thought the "subject was roses" and then recalled that his father looked like one might have expected an aging hippie to look right in the era between the beatniks and the hippies in pop culture. The son seems so very Oxbridge from that era. I came to it because I kept having flashes of the "Mrs. Miniver" contest. LOL.

[@WitoldBanasik]

Charming Phyllis and witty Kitty... smashing episode !

[@poolside16190]

Arthur Godfrey was probably the best example of “you should never meet your heroes”. Apparently he was a real hardass to work for and a real mean, stubborn man. Strangely enough, so was Tony Randall apparently.

[@soulierinvestments]

RE: Bennett’s Comment about audience response to second contestant. The good manners on What’s My Line? always amaze me. Interesting to note, however, that even on Sunday night WML that people associated with the IRS got some boos. I remember when an IRS director visited WML and got a rather frosty reception. Nowadays I don’t think IRS directors would do publicity appearances even on Diane Rehm.

[@The_A_Cast]

The class and mannerisms of the people on this show is the reason I binge watch this show. I wish more people were like this today!

[@michaelnivens6267]

rest In peace , Arthur - a wonderful entertainer

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Just Bennett............................He said it was an unusual seat (left wing) for him. I don't remember ever seeing him in that seat, and it must be a rare thing, any seat but his anchor chair. Phyllis must have been the first to ever sit in the end chair as she said she was the first woman ever to introduce John. It was nice to see her genuine excitement at getting the first contestants line.

[@stuartharris2165]

Sadly what Phyliss says is actually wrong, in the early days of the show it wasn't unusual to see Dorothy introduce John Daly.

[@gailsirois7175]

Well maybe. Just maybe he won't be able to see the board AROUBD his mask from that location..we now know he does that..his cheating has been proven...by mr. Danny kaye...

[@jacquelinebell6201]

He was in that seat sometime earlier that year or later last year. That's the second time I've seen him there.

[@jacquelinebell6201]

Martin Gabel sat there sometimes when Bennett was away.

[@andreswatson5777]

Kitty Carlisle was the most elegant and intelligent lady when she sat in on What's My Line? and on her home show To Tell the Truth. Her extensive background in Broadway Theatre and the arts is why I say this. I'm an avid fan of Ms. Carlisle and respect her very much.

[@wcwindom56]

Mr Wheatcrofts father was on not too long before this

[@soulierinvestments]

Kitty looks absolutely overjoyed that she got it right out of the shoot --- ur chute.

[@soulierinvestments]

zardon4 Point taken. But her emotion looks real and it makes for entertaining TV,.

[@savethetpc6406]

soulierinvestments zardon4 I have no doubt that she truly was as excited and happy as she looked -- you can't fake that kind of reaction! Though it's true that she was already a pro on TTTT, this was her first stint as a WML panelist, and to not only guess the contestant's line on her first game, but to guess it so quickly and efficiently was indeed something about which she deserved to be proud and happy. It was fun to watch her joy and excitement over it -- it literally made me laugh out loud. :)

[@neilmidkiff]

+SaveThe TPC It's just possible that her reaction was a deliberate impression of how Arlene would have reacted to guessing it. Kitty was a trained actress and a close friend of Arlene, and I'll bet she was a regular viewer of WML. But of course the incisive questions and sharp intuition that got her to that point couldn't have been "put on" in the same way. As others have mentioned, Kitty had years of game show training on TTTT. I remember her well as one of the sharpest panelists from the Garry Moore era of that show when I was in my early teens, so it's great to see her here. I don't think I ever saw the original series of WML, which must have run from 9:30 till 10 pm Central time, past my bedtime on the night before a school day when I was eleven (in 1967) or younger. But I'm just old enough to remember the culture and issues of the early 1960s and many of the personalities seen here, so am appreciating greatly the chance to enjoy these blasts from the past.

[@neilmidkiff]

+SaveThe TPC It's just possible that her reaction was a deliberate impression of how Arlene would have reacted to guessing it. Kitty was a trained actress and a close friend of Arlene, and I'll bet she was a regular viewer of WML. But of course the incisive questions and sharp intuition that got her to that point couldn't have been "put on" in the same way. As others have mentioned, Kitty had years of game show training on TTTT. I remember her well as one of the sharpest panelists from the Garry Moore era of that show when I was in my early teens, so it's great to see her here. I don't think I ever saw the original series of WML, which must have run from 9:30 till 10 pm Central time, past my bedtime on the night before a school day when I was eleven (in 1967) or younger. But I'm just old enough to remember the culture and issues of the early 1960s and many of the personalities seen here, so am appreciating greatly the chance to enjoy these blasts from the past.

[@snowden67]

Kitty was probably genuine in her excited reaction to getting the occupation. She could get very excited. Look for an episode of Password with Kitty on it here, and she is almost spastic whenever her team scores points. Also, on the 1990 TTTT revival, even at age 80, a staffer described her as delightful to have on the panel because she seriously loved playing games and "she played that game for blood".

[@mikejschin]

During the opening credits, a package of Kellogg's individual serving box cereals is shown. Notice that one of them is called "OKs" and has a depiction of Yogi Bear on it. This was somewhat of an anachronism, as Kellogg's had discontinued that cereal in 1962. In order to continue using the same machinery that produced OKs, the company introduced a new cereal with the same shape: Fruit Loops. Here is a commercial for OKs, starring Yogi Bear: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6PFZmaNg8x_eqs. Those who have seen WML episodes with commercials will recognize the voice of Dennis James as Yogi's interlocutor.

[@bbailey7818]

I remember eating OKs as a child. I'd forgotten about them until I saw the box. Looking back, it seems weird marketing to call your product just "OK." May have been very popular in the Sooner State.

[@williamdunphy352]

Johnny Olsen is the announcer.

[@salvatorecollura2692]

I can see at least one reason they always kept Bennett in the anchor position. For some reason when the guest shakes hands on the way out with someone who remains seated first and then the men suddenly pop up it has an awkward look. Much more fluid when Mr Cerf is already standing as the guest approaches.

[@maynardsmoreland]

Arthur Godfrey was beginning to stabilize his career at this point after a decade of bad press (firing Julius LaRosa on air, firing other cast members known as 'Little Godfreys', buzzing an airport tower in his DC-3). He oozed warmth and charm, but bad publicity led to a steady career decline. I've always liked his novelty records and I have the WSJV set referred to in another post. He was likeable and listenable, and at one point in the broadcast, he refers to the day's broadcasts being recorded for posterity, though there is no further exposition.

[@maynardsmoreland]

I remember him doing "paid compensation" commercials in the late 70s-80s, talking about medical care support. He brought up losing a lung.

[@romeman01]

I was extremely fond of Arthur Godfrey as a child. I listened repeatedly to the Christmas with Arthur Godfrey LP produced by Columbia as well as his enormously popular "Too Fat Polka" and "For Me and My Gal" 78 rpm recording. I also enjoyed listening to him on the radio in the late 1960s or early 1970s. However my mother informed me that he was not the person that he seemed to be, but was in reality, contrary to his affable public image, quite an unpleasant person -- grouchy, complaining, imperious -- and that she knew this from an encounter that her mother unexpectedly had with Godfrey over a period of time.

[@soulierinvestments]

Godfrey was for a while a demigod in television and radio. It’s hard to explain why. He trafficked in a folksy-ness that lent itself well to commercial endorsements. A considerable chunk of CBS’s profits - at one point, almost 20 percent - was tied to his 3 programs. There was a CBS vice president in charge of Godfrey. That’s all. His had a demigod ego to match. From 1948 to 1953, he was so astronomically popular he could do no wrong. Then he fired LaRosa, and then a bunch of other associates, then his public actions became erratic. Then his brilliant career went bung. In 1963, he still had "Arthur Godfrey Time" and would have a number of TV guest spots in the next few years, and a few movie roles as well.

[@romeman01]

I think a great deal of Arthur Godfrey's success derived from the rich quality of his voice and his studied ability to use that voice in an appealing way. He did the funeral broadcast for FDR for CBS (available online). Some clips from his TV show are available over at archive.org , one or two including grotesque flirtations with much younger women, which nonetheless brought howls from the audience.

[@loissimmons6558]

I remember Arthur Godfrey very well from my childhood. There was a time when his endorsement of a product was like money in the bank for that company as well as the CBS network which could charge top dollar for commercials on his programs. He was considered by the viewing public to be the most forthright celebrity in terms of using and believing in the products he endorsed. Lipton Tea comes to mind immediately as one of the things for which he was a spokesperson.

[@Damon_Strong]

15:45 She was peeking through the space between her nose and the mask. That's why she had her head turned to her right. Cheater!

[@vingotaq777]

Kitty Carlisle was ❤❤

[@roberttelarket4934]

I've always called her Kitty Carlilsky.

[@Fush1234]

He thinks about not dying while he’s on his way

[@bluecamus5162]

At the time I first heard the question, I thought to myself, "He's not thinking, he's praying!".

[@erichanson426]

My critic's have different things to say about that.😀😀🙂

[@davidpierce3]

On the Wheatcrofts ... I found an interesting blog article about Harry Wheatcroft and his family, written by his son, that some of you might enjoy reading ... Hope the link works. Harry was quite a character! They no longer own the rose growing business. thegardenstrust.blog/2015/07/04/harry-wheatcroft-the-red-rose-grower/

[@goldenchick85]

I just finished doing my taxes on my own for the first time, so I find the questions posed to the second contestant really hilarious, lol

[@FrankIsAlwaysRight]

Near the end for good old Arthur…

[@galileocan]

OMG - Miss Meagher's eyebrows just kicked Joan Crawford's right to the curb

[@rtflone]

I thought Arlene and Kitty were sisters - they had similar voices, smiles and facial expressions. And both were on tv game shows. What did I know I was a dumb kid in 1963..

[@michaelcaza6766]

Dorothy was recuperating from an illness, in other words her drug habit got the better of her this week and she was detoxing. The poor woman suffered greatly with addiction and it finally took her life.

[@scottlevin3966]

I love what the ladies are wearing here. They were so elegant. Try to get any guy to look that good today.

[@washoe4827]

most guys don't like to wear dresses...!

[@soulierinvestments]

I adore Phyllis Newman, and she does not have the advantage of reviewing KZbin 's record. Phyllis Newman is utterly incorrect when she says she is the first girl to introduce Daly. Arlene introduced him a number of times, Dorothy introduced him several times as well. Deborah Kerr introduced him the night Lucille Ball made her first mystery guest appearance. Elsa Maxwell introduced him one night. She is the youngest woman to introduce him, that is for sure. And that she got to introduce him, not the more venerable Kitty Carlisle, indicates clearly to me at least that G-T was grooming her in case she replaced Dorothy Kilgallen.

[@WhatsMyLine]

They should never have invited Phyllis Newman back after that blunder. ;) I'm beginning to think you're actually Gil Fates in disguise. How can you possibly know all this stuff off the top of your head???

[@BeIIeDoc24]

haha I was about to say the same thing! i wonder who told Phyllis that lil oopsie!? FIRED! haha ;) And Dorothy and Arlene probably rolled their eyes in bed :D

[@romeman01]

We all sit at the feet of SoulierInvestments when it comes to knowledge of What's My Line?.

[@maynardsmoreland]

zardon4 There's one late WML ep (66-67) where Phyllis Newman enters in a shimmering dress. The audience clearly reacted. It looked incredible in B&W which made me miss the original color video all the more!

[@soulierinvestments]

What's My Line? It's a memory curse.

[@galileocan]

Oh for God's sake Kitty, he's just a human cannonball - relax!

[@dbarker7794]

The tax lawyer looked like she could be Angelina Jolie's grandmother. Good episode.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Old AG was trying to disguise his voice, but not doing a terribly good job of it!

[@ModMokkaMatti]

So in other words, he was doing a goodly terrible job, just as he did with conducting himself with those who were on his staff, only to find themselves employed soon elsewhere.

[@robertmelson2130]

Am I mistaken or did Dorothy and Johnny Carson have a feud too? (I'm aware of the Paar-Kilgallen one). If so, it seems more than coincidence that two weeks in a row someone with whom she "feuded" appears on the show when she's not here. Last week Carson was a guest panelist, and this week Godfrey is a mystery guest.

[@kristabrewer9363]

I always thought that Kitty and Dorothy looked alike!

[@Walterwhiterocks]

I don't see that at all

[@kentetalman9008]

@@Walterwhiterocks Neither do I.

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

*_HUMAN CANNONBALL_* *_INCOME TAX LAWYER FOR U.S. GOVERNMENT_* *_GROWS ROSES_*

[@cathykinn4516]

Wow - Mr Wheatcroft's Business, Garden Centre, is still going, he's 86 now. Horticulturist is what they should have described him as altho "grows Roses" sounds nicer.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

When I first got a look at Mr Wheatcroft of Nottingham, I would have guessed a rock and roller or a communist. But I guess they didn't much like having either on the show (they would make exceptions for the former).

[@WhatsMyLine]

Well, think about it, Joe. Why would they? Communist is not a profession! ;)

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Good one, Mr. Daly! :>)

[@loissimmons6558]

+Joe Postove I also thought he was a rock and roll singer.

[@preppysocks209]

I thought he was very composed, articulate with a modulated voice, had presence. An excellent guest.

[@janetmarletto6667]

I prefer Kitty Carlisle. She is consistently elegant in every way. Arlene seems to be playing a role; her transformation appears to be a result of her growing affluence. She craves adulation. Kitty is more self composed and self confident. Phyllis Newman is not in Kitty's league.

[@TyrSkyFatherOfTheGods]

Arthur Godfrey sucks a lot of oxygen out of a room.

[@ModMokkaMatti]

He sucked the blood out of a number of people on his staff.

[@Dios67]

Mr. Wheatcroft sounds like Ewan McGregor doing Obi Wan Kenobi.

[@markxxx21]

"Mr Patterson, you have a very broad pair of shoulders..." Geez Bennett why don't' you ask to make out with him :o)

[@washoe4827]

he'd have to leave the closet to do so...

[@kentetalman9008]

Cerf definitely had a thing for guys with broad shoulders.

[@macmcleod1188]

He was married with children. Everything wasn't sexualized back then