What's My Line? - Paul Ford; Peter Cook [panel] (Jul 14, 1963)

MYSTERY GUEST: Paul Ford
PANEL: Dorothy Kilgallen, Peter Cook, Arlene Francis, Bennett Cerf
Many thanks to epaddon for providing this episode (and just in the nick of time, too!)

[@allenjones3130]

I chiefly remember Paul Ford as Mayor George Shinn in the film version of "The Music Man". He was a great character actor.

[@robertprestisr7239]

boooooooooooooooooooooooo

[@gregh7400]

Paul Ford was always hilarious in Sgt Bilko, but my favorite movie he was in was "The Russians are coming, the Russians are coming".

[@MrTantalust]

I recently noticed how perfect he was in Advise & Consent [1962].

[@gregh7400]

@@robertcarran9585 I agree.

[@photo161]

Oh yes! He was riotously funny in that film!... He's the funniest comic actor, I've ever seen, bar none.

[@keithhyttinen8275]

Yep. He was hilarious in that great film. Him and Carl Reiner.

[@Noone58319]

And in The Music Man.

[@bartbarton3082]

This was a visit with old friends of earlier times, most enjoyable, thank you

[@VahanNisanian]

Last live episode of the 1962-1963 television season. The next 7 weeks will be all nothing but pre-taped episodes. Live tapings resumed on September 8.

[@donnacook8994]

Peter Cook was charming and funny, and definitely easy on the eyes. Loved this show! 🥰

[@davidsanderson5918]

Hearing Peter Cook makes me wanna get my old Pete & Dud LPs out again. Him and Moore makes such a great pair. Or at least did for a while!

[@kennethlatham3133]

Lol, "Frog & Peach" restaurant!

[@barbaras2669]

I adored them in the original "Bedazzled " film.

[@richatlarge462]

The pole vault record, then under 17 feet, is now over 20 feet.

[@pressureworks]

Paul Ford as radio operator in its a mad mad world. Keep calm men !

[@RonGerstein-tf5tp]

He was an air traffic controller.

[@pressureworks]

@@RonGerstein-tf5tp no. He operated the radio in order to try and talk the 2 men in the plane down.

[@RonGerstein-tf5tp]

@@pressureworks the 2 men were Buddy Hacket and Mickey Rooney.

[@pressureworks]

@@RonGerstein-tf5tp yes I knew that, Eddie Haskell. I just don't know their character names.

[@leesher1845]

I like that Paul Ford acknowledged the audience. Very few of the celebrities did that.

[@slaytonp]

It was mostly those with a decided stage career in front of audiences who recognized that the audience is essentially where their success (of any performer) comes from and respected the audience by acknowledging it. Those I've noticed to do this on this program, were mostly comedians, who were all too aware of this fact. Big movie stars and their ilk without a stage-- theater background didn't ever give the audience so much as look on this program.

[@richatlarge462]

I've read various comments here before about how Dorothy and Bennett don't get along. But I've really started noticing in 1963, whenever Dorothy introduces Bennett, that when he comes out she looks away at the other panelists and ignores Bennett, to avoid any eye contact with him. This is already the third time in the 1963 episodes that I happened to notice this.

[@sandrageorge3488]

Maybe he was pressuring her to finish her book.

[@rtflone]

Dorothy had got in the habit of divulging behind the scenes goings on about the show in her column. Details her fellow panelists considered not for public consumption also made their way into her column. John and Bennett, both considered these public disclosures a betrayal of confidence and, needless to say, weren't at all happy with Dorothy who seemed oblivious to their concerns. Her heavy (alleged) alcohol and drug use may have been a contributing factor..

[@rtflone]

@@sandrageorge3488 Don't believe Random House (Bennett) was Dorothy's publisher..

[@leesher1845]

I never noticed that.

[@frjohn65]

​@@rtflone Random House WAS her publisher.

[@johnraymond1298]

Paul was cast in the movie, “Grease” but died of a heart attack 2 weeks before filming began in 1978. Loved the voices he did for Bob Costello at the old 34th St. RCA studios in 1956.

[@philippapay4352]

God bless her, Arlene yet again reminds everyone of what the Mystery Guest is there to promote so that the publicist, agent, producers, etc., don't all have heart attacks that it is neglected. Daly was off to the races about who all would or wouldn't recognize his voice and, as he so often did, totally neglects the reason the Mystery Guest is there because he's talking.

[@miketheyunggod2534]

Peter Cook's questions are usually thought of as he's asking them. 😜

[@YOGI-yl4ff]

Paul Ford did a movie with Jim Hutton, Maureen O'Sullivan and Connie Stevens called "Never Too Late. Cute movie made in 1965. Always enjoyed him. Did not realize that he did the play first until this moment 21:45. He must have been great in the play.

[@jmccracken1963]

He didn't create the role of Mayor Shinn in "The Music Man" (David Burns did), but, at some point during the show's original Broadway run (19 December 1957-22 October 1960 at the Majestic Theatre, then 24 October 1960-15 April 1961 at the Broadway Theatre), he did play Mayor Shinn.

[@bryanspindle4455]

I was just thinking of It's Never Too Late. It's probably been over forty years since l saw it.

[@benjaminhill5315]

That was a great dress on Carolyn Dougherty!

[@michaelnivens6267]

Paul Ford ,one of my favorites- A Big Hand for the Little Lady

[@michaelnivens6267]

and The Music Man ( the film )

[@bluecamus5162]

I see Arlene has her hand tucked in a pocket as she arrives to protect that healing collar bone. She lost the sling 2 or 3 weeks after her accident, but I see she still can't let the arm dangle.

[@jayrice5156]

Love Arlene's dress.

[@saywhat8173]

I wonder if any guest exaggerated their " line" just to get on the show?

[@Lily-cn8ut]

Peter cook 😍

[@davidsanderson5918]

Without fail I always pre-empt Dorothy's concern after a segment when she picks up on something that was misleading. She and I were on a wavelength I think. :)

[@770WT]

It's same Peter Cook never became a blockbuster star .He had a ton of talent .

[@peternagy-im4be]

He was huge. Absolutely massive. A true giant.

[@RonGerstein-tf5tp]

He was a partner with Dudley Moore

[@harrysharp3838]

Let's not forget the mayor of River City...

[@PartTimeSarah2]

Oh boy, Peter is so handsome here! And this is still very much in his posh accent days. 😍😍😍

[@MrJoeybabe25]

I hate to be so bold, but I would commit a small crime if the first contestant would investigate me. I'll bet Bennett would too.

[@CarloQuinto]

Joe Postove I'm from Philadelphia and would like to have Ms. Dougherty investigate me...very thoroughly!

[@washoe4827]

benny would rather be "investigated" by her husband, i suspect...

[@joelfogelsanger5773]

That Peter Cook was a tall glass of water.

[@joelfogelsanger5773]

Paul Ford was excellent as Mayor Shinn in "The Music Man"

[@peternagy-im4be]

Yeah he was ok i suppose.

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

*_PRIVATE DETECTIVE_* *_MAKES POLES FOR POLE VAULTERS_*

[@IFStravinsky]

I live in Philadelphia, and I've never seen a woman here as beautiful as the first contestant.

[@washoe4827]

are you blind ?

[@IFStravinsky]

@@washoe4827 No, I live in Philadelphia.

[@gbrumburgh]

Dorothy has worn this same two-tone dress at least four or five times this past season.

[@jessicaphillips4542]

I wonder if she was having money troubles

[@hopelewis5650]

So what.

[@greglehmann7234]

Paul Ford voiced Colonel Howard Fuzzby on Peter Potamus Breezly Bruin cartoons.

[@rayg4360]

Heard Mr Daly use the word pacific,when he means specific, a few times

[@BillyBronco73]

Does anyone know where I can get some 1960s Geritol? I want to "FEEL STRONGER ".

[@preppysocks209]

It only "helps you" feel stronger -- it doesn't actually make you feel stronger. Typical 60's advertising but in the 1970s the makers of Geritol were still given the largest fine ever by the FTC for false advertising of this product.

[@Kat-fw9se]

Billy Bronco lol Walgreens carries it

[@slaytonp]

My father in law, who owned and ran a cocktail lounge, kept it behind the bar for customers who actually ordered it. It did contain quite a bit of alcohol, but I can't document the exact amount.

[@dinahbrown902]

🤣

[@leannsherman6723]

I bet Bennett Cerf liked that first contestant.😂

[@FlavioGirl]

peter cook was best known for being dudley moore's comedy partner in the u.k.

[@gkmacca1]

No, he's best known for being a comic genius.

[@mattwalton5306]

Paul Ford is the Mayor of River City

[@VahanNisanian]

Does the Miss Universe special John Daly and Arlene Francis hosted exist anywhere?

[@jazzvampire]

There are snippets of it uploaded on KZbin, but the quality ranges from horrible to mildly annoying!

[@VahanNisanian]

Elsie M. Just got done seeing it. Arlene & John were co-respondents, while Gene Rayburn hosted, predating Bob Barker's 19-year tenure by 6 years. The special also has June Lockhart plugging Crest toothpaste, and one of the greatest British entertainers, Peter Sellers, was a Judge.

[@savethetpc6406]

***** Elsie M. Here's a whole web page about it, which includes several KZbin clips: www.veestarz.com/pageants/universe/mu1960s/1963a.html. I haven't watched them yet, so I'm not sure how many of them include Arlene and John.

[@neilmidkiff]

John catches himself just about to complete an embarrassing spoonerism; at 18:35 he says "the ammearance of our..." but realizes what would come next and stops before saying "pystery guest" which would sound like something you ought not to mention on television.

[@joycejean-baptiste4355]

Hmmm, I thought Dougherty was pronounced Doherty with the g silent. Learn something new every day.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Did Bennett own some of Random House or was he just an employee?

[@kbunky69]

Bennett was founder and own % of company very wealthy

[@WhatsMyLine]

He was a founder of the firm, so I'd have to assume he was an owner, not just an employee.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Kenneth Martino What % was that Kenneth?

[@mikejschin]

Bennett was a 50% owner along with the other founding partner until 1936, when they took in a third partner. The third partner withdrew in 1956, so Bennett reverted to 50% ownership. A few years later, Random House did a public offering of 30% of its stock, so Bennett's share would have gone back down to 35% by the time this episode aired. Random House was later acquired by RCA. This information, along with a lot of other great stuff, is in Bennett's memoirs, "At Random". The book has a few references to WML, but not nearly enough.

[@shirleyrombough8173]

@@mikejschin thanks for that information. I always wondered about that.

[@Baskerville22]

Pole-vaulting is a sport "that teams play" ? The guest & John said "yes" to that . Very odd. John intervenes far too much and often answers questions before the guest has a chance.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

I don't think Bennett was allowed to judge beauty pageants. I'll bet Miss Universe...no wait a minute, you said that the next 7 shows are taped, so I was going to say that Miss Universe would be on next week or soon. But she will eventually, I suspect. And the panel will get it rather easily. Don't they usually do well with beauty pageant gals?

[@WhatsMyLine]

I *know* I've heard reference on one of these shows, perhaps from later in the run, to Bennett judging a beauty contest (though I can't remember which pageant it was, Miss America or Miss Universe),

[@WhatsMyLine]

Found this quote on the amazon product description for Bennett's book, "At Random": ". . . Cerf was a true personality, whose other pursuits (columnist, anthologist, author, lecturer, radio host, collector of jokes and anecdotes, *perennial judge of the Miss America pageant*, and panelist on What’s My Line?) helped shape his reputation as a man of boundless energy and enthusiasm and brought unprecedented attention to his company and to his authors. ":

[@MrJoeybabe25]

What's My Line? Radio host? Any clue as to where and when?

[@WhatsMyLine]

No idea! I can't find any other reference to him on radio but here. Possibly that's an error? Except that it's from a book description, so it would be a bit surprising. If it's not just a gaffe, then presumably the book would have the answer on that.

[@savethetpc6406]

What's My Line? I read the book, and I don't remember reading anything about him being a radio host. I also can't find anything about radio in the index, except for Radio Corporation of America (RCA), which merged with Random House in late 1965. But I don't think the book mentions the Miss America pageants either, so the writer of that product description may have been consulting another source for information about Bennett. I also don't know how many times in all Bennett judged the Miss America pageant, but I only remember two years in a row (in the 50s, I think) when he mentioned the fact that he'd be judging it on the WML episodes I have watched -- and I think he would have mentioned it every year, had he been doing it every year. I think Arlene had some type of role in the Miss America Pageant one year too (possibly 1961 or 62 -- it seems I remember her talking about it not that long ago, in terms of when I watched the episodes, but sometimes my memory for how far back certain episodes were betrays me). It could just be my memory at fault for not remembering the other things from Bennett's book too, but I think I would have remembered if he'd mentioned being a radio host.

[@debbigray1752]

Dorothy's hair is noteworthy. One of my least favorite looks.

[@leannsherman6723]

Peter Cook was handsome and charming. ❤

[@safepethaven]

Is that a mini gum ball machine on Dorothy's head?

[@RonGerstein-tf5tp]

Yes

[@kristabrewer9363]

Is Dorothy wearing false eye lashes? she looks different And why was she skipped over the first time in round 2?

[@ihatey0utube]

false eyelashes were just as big of a thing for people to wear as it is today so most likely yes :)) also it may have been accidentally destroyed or removed in some way :))

[@juanettebutts9782]

Her eyeliner is wider and darker, sweeps up at the outer edge. I noticed it last week. It makes her eyes more noticeable.

[@NIgHTMaReFortyTwo]

1:52 Screenshot that shit