What's My Line? - Ray Bolger; Johnny Carson [panel] (Apr 8, 1956)

[@donnacook8994]

Who doesn't just adore Roy Bolger? I loved his dance moves, and he was fantastic in the Wizard of Oz. Thank you for airing this, and I thoroughly enjoyed him dancing his way off the program!

[@saran3214]

It is so restful and peaceful to watch these programs. No cursing no vulgarity. Ladies and gentleman. Class and manners. It seems like I am watching them in real time, and not from 60 years ago. Like Arlene and Dorothy are still with us. Or so I wish.

[@ibnalhaytham]

Agree. I've been watching them in order since the first show, and I have almost forgotten that I am stepping into a time machine when I watch it.

[@shirleyrombough8173]

I truly agree with you. I love the way they bow to each other when they are introduced and calling each other when it is appropriate Miss or Mr. I love the formal clothes for men and women. I wish I had a job in which I could wear evening clothes every time I worked. And it is peaceful.

[@cadaverdog1424]

The classy qualities you list are not a part of our culture today , sadly. I almost didn’t know what you were referring to.

[@jimhanold9026]

Indeed.

[@aniskashiwram781]

So much class

[@fanfare100]

Johnny Carson was so young, but he still sounded exactly the same. And even then, he couldn't put down that pencil! lol

[@m.e.d.7997]

It must have been a security thing.

[@smadaf]

To me he sounds very different-not nearly so many years' smoking under his belt yet.

[@debbigray1752]

There are videos and photos of Johnny Carson playing the drum set. Both my siblings were drummers and it was second nature to drum on and or with anything. Johnny and his pencil are classic drummer moves.

[@sansacro007]

He was already 30, not so young as he looked.

[@johnandersen6752]

Wow, this episode had a Dorothy, a Scarecrow, and a man thought to be a lion tamer but was a tiger tamer-Oh my!

[@shirleyrombough8173]

John Andersen - Clever.

[@johnandersen6752]

Shirley Rombough Thanks!

[@princeharming8963]

Outstanding observation!

[@jazzmanchgo]

Heh -- Well played!

[@iampracticingpiano]

We couldn’t “bear” much more!

[@TheMartinick]

I saw Ray Bolger perform onstage at the Sands Hotel when I was about nine-years old! I so remember the audience clapping and appreciating his moves from 'The Wizard of Oz'. Very well-loved star.

[@jubalcalif9100]

How heartwarming ! THANKS for sharing your memories with us !!

[@ladyyuna2000]

Gerard Marenghi (January 24, 1920 - May 24, 2018), known as Jerry Maren, was an American actor who played a Munchkin member of the Lollipop Guild in the 1939 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film, The Wizard of Oz.

[@dieselnine1022]

@@ladyyuna2000 Did Gerald Marenghi live at Penny Farms in NE Florida? I heard that little community was mostly built for the Munchkin's to retire too.

[@zapkvr]

Stunning

[@danielquill]

@@ladyyuna2000 He sat next to Nikki Glaser on a flight once and they chatted. She said he and his wife were lovely.

[@iamintheburg]

Ray Bolger : What a charmer ! It's grand to realize how appreciated he was - the ovation was fantastic.

[@Camop-iz9kt]

Almost exactly 20 years after this show, Ray was a guest on "The Tonight Show" in March of 1976.

[@Lilbit09]

@@Camop-iz9kt Very cool, thanks!

[@m.e.d.7997]

@@Camop-iz9kt He Also made a memorable appearance on Little House on the Prairie with Eileen Heckart. Michael was always able to sign on the best talents in the Biz.

[@alexandraasbury9974]

Yes, I noticed that, too. What a guy!!!

[@leannsherman6723]

How wonderful to see Ray Bolger dance off the stage, and also acknowledge the audience which so few celebrities ever did.

[@sandybeach123]

I love Bolger's facial expressions. He "speaks" with his eyes and facial expressions.

[@bettaandfrogmom116]

That's probably why he managed to be as successful on film as he was on the stage. :-)

[@joangasparrelli9964]

Oh that wedding!

[@mcmlxii4419]

Ray Bolger was such a talented man.

[@leannsherman6723]

Yes!

[@Dolphin-cb9sq]

Always great to see how much fun John Daly is having.

[@alexandraasbury9974]

He is such a nice host, so polite and kind!!

[@attorneyrobert]

What a time capsule. We are so lucky to have so many of these wonderful shows preserved. Just as a historical note, "The Wedding" that was referred to several times was the Wedding of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, and Grace Kelly, in April, 1956.

[@trousleperson632]

Ray Bolger is such a character I love him😭👏👏

[@dianagager2308]

That little dance by Ray Bolger was just great!

[@carollee444]

Wizard of Oz one of the best movies ever made with Ray Bolger & others 😚

[@NatashaY94]

Thank you so much for uploading these. I can't tell you how much fun I've had watching them.

[@jubalcalif9100]

Amen to that ! I love these bodacious "blasts from the past" ! Good clean fun ! A nice change from the large amount of vulgarity we see in so many of today's programs.

[@alexandraasbury9974]

@@jubalcalif9100 I agree. There's nothing like the great stuff many of us grew up watching. Shows often had good morals like decency, love, and neighborly kindness. No longer the case.

[@leannsherman6723]

Me too!

[@BrianStorey-j5n]

Ohh..i love Ray ,, wish i could've met him

[@jenniferyorgan4215]

Thank you for the time and effort you put in, to bring these videos to us. These are wonderful vignettes into a bygone era.

[@pennytull7578]

Their not all dead yet.

[@Bigwave2003]

Impressive dance moves by Ray Bolger as he exits!

[@brersam9473]

Impressive? How about incredible?

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Wow! With that second contestant Dorothy really showed just how good she is at the game!

[@robertsprouse9282]

She was an old school newspaper reporter with Broadway as her beat. It was when she stepped out of that box, that her life changed, and not for the better.

[@thebluerobin]

Ray Bolber what a charming man. They don't make em like him anymore.

[@robertsprouse9282]

Have we run out of straw?

[@rickcharles5064]

Ray Bolger was a wonderful entertainer!

[@WhatsMyLine]

He sure was. I haven't heard/seen much of him outside of Wizard of Oz (of course), but I do have one episode of the radio series "The Big Show" that guested on, and he was delightful. He sang a sort of audience-participation number version of "Once in Love with Amy", which I take it was something of a signature tune for him? That's the sense I got from the audience response when he started singing it.

[@WhatsMyLine]

Rick, I'm beginning to think youtube hates you for some some reason. This must be the 5th time one of your perfectly welcome comments got flagged as spam, and I've told you that I added you to the list of pre-approved users, which is supposed to prevent this from ever happening again. Clearly it doesn't work at all! And your comment got flagged after I already replied to it, no less!

[@rickcharles5064]

What's My Line? Hmmm... wonder why? Never got anything saying I was flagged in any way. Any idea how I might fix this? Thanks for the pre-approvals!

[@WhatsMyLine]

I'm not surprised you're not getting any indication on your own that this has been happening. . . Given how poorly this works, you probably see your falsely-flagged comments sitting there plain as day for the world to see when you're logged in! And it's still only occasional. No idea what to suggest. But I am pretty diligent about checking the comments. The main problem will be on any episode where the ONLY comment posted is considered spam by KZbin, because I won't even get notified that there's anything there in the first place. I already did the only thing I know to do on my end to correct this, and you see how well that worked. ;)

[@WhatsMyLine]

The only other thing I can think of is that a human user flagged the post, but I can't imagine that happening except as an accident, and it's happened to your comments more frequently than anyone else's. Not trying to make you feel paranoid. . . ;)

[@alexandraasbury9974]

Ray Bolger, the scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz! I just loved him, Glinda, Dorothy, & everyone in it except the Wicked Witch. I grew up watching it every yr, since I was like 7. I think my parents might've seen it in the theater sometime after it came out. 🤩

[@battlegirldeb]

I'm so happy to see all the old show. Thank you for posting them.

[@WhatsMyLine]

You're very welcome. Glad you're enjoying the series. It's a true classic!

[@robertjean5782]

I agree totally 😊

[@JJ-un2mt]

I am only 58 years old but it seems I must have traveled through a time machine in that I have once had the great pleasure of meeting Ray bolger. He was the Grand Marshal at, of all things, the Temple City Camellia parade Festival in the late 70s in Los angeles. We chatted for a bit and I shook hands with him. What a pleasure that was to meet him. He was such a friendly man.

[@wynnssecret8243]

JJ-un2mt.........."of all things, the Temple City Camellia parade Festival" .....lol. I'm in So. Calif and a bit familiar with the area🤷😵‍💫🤔

[@terencedove5047]

Nineteen years later (in 1975), Rsy Bolger would present a Tony to Geoffrey Holder as Best Musical Choreographer for THE WIZ - which also won for Best Musical. Full circle...and quite meaningful when Bolger and Holder hugged each other...

[@jubalcalif9100]

Another fun episode ! What a treat especially to see the late great Mr Bolger dance at the end ! How ridiculous that back then they weren't allowed to even mention the name of other television networks ! Were they THAT afraid of the competition ! Silly rule ! But THANKS for sharing these wonderful "blasts from the past" with us ! CHEERS !! :-)

[@sdacj]

They technically weren't allowed but John often broke that rule - he'd say something like the mystery guest "has a new program on another network whose name we can't mention because it's NBC".

[@robertsprouse9282]

Nothing silly about it at all.. If a viewer had just cut the TV on and it was already on the local CBS affiliate's channel and an NBC guy came on WML and DALY said that the guest had a show with NBC, and the viewer suddenly remembered that they were going to watch something on NBC, the odds increase that the channel will get changed to NBC, than it would have been kept on CBS if only "another network" was used in the guest's description. That is absolutely indisputable. There were only three or four major broadcast nets then- NBC, CBS, ABC AND DUMONT(PBS came on in 1959 and only to limited regions of the country, ABC had only popped up in 1953) with DUMONT folding in 1957.. People did not have 500 choices back then, precious few had TV remotes. It was serious business then to ensure viewers were not going to "TOUCH THAT DIAL." Ad revenue dollars being sought then were part of a pitched battle. Its why with few exceptions, shows were not given a long time to develop audiences. Secondly, ad-revs were compared to the inflationary cost of living then, much higher in 1956.. There were, compared to the general population then and the amount of TV sets' owners(most folks who owned them had only one) back then, huge audiences with BIG DOLLARS fought for between the 3 big networks.. Audiences tallied up to 60 million viewers possibly... NO, they did not want anything making you "TOUCH THAT DIAL." It was a different world back then. A celeb in 1956 was not going to be able to plug a movie on a TV talk show like TONITE with STEVE ALLEN. TV AND MOVIES were competing for eyes and ears and for word of mouth. Twas very different then.. Twas totally different.

[@robertjean5782]

​@@robertsprouse9282Exactly, well stated😊

[@robertsprouse9282]

@@robertjean5782 , thank you..

[@virginiahanna869]

For all that complaining, I am still grateful to you WML@ YT for uploading all of these shows! I know it is a LOT of work.

[@jerrylee8261]

I'm hooked on WML. What a great spokesway of earlier more pleasant times.

[@shelvyaanastasia]

Obsessed with Ray saying "comedehh"

[@phtevlin]

"Scarecrow, I think I'll miss most of all." Wizard of Oz

[@DDumbrille]

The least you could do is get the quote right.

[@Camop-iz9kt]

Some of those fine lines around Ray's mouth are leftover from his months of wearing the Scarecrow makeup in Oz.

[@DDumbrille]

@Tony Davis ​ @Tony Davis Yes, in a eight word sentence. It's just frustrating. Never saw these BASIC typos even 10 years ago. And we wonder why you know who became president...

[@jerrylee8261]

@@DDumbrille I have to manfully restrain myself because I think Gary does not like politics in the replies.

[@robertsprouse9282]

@@DDumbrille, would that be JOKE BABBLIN?

[@jaytaylor7740]

Enjoyed watching this and reading many of the comments below. While spending a week in NYC during the 1950s would be wonderful, I'd go further and ask to spend 1956 there. Would get to see Ray Bolger perform, "My Fair Lady," and Judy Garland at the Palace, with the "Wizard of Oz" tv premiere thrown in for good measure. :)

[@jameswitt645]

This would be the beginning Johnny's pencil habit that he had throughout his years on "The Tonight Show."

[@secretsquirrel7300]

I'm guessing he'd been doing it for years.

[@Bolgernow]

Thank you so very much! My great great uncle would be so proud...

[@WhatsMyLine]

Is Ray Bolger your great great uncle? If so, it's great to hear from you. :)

[@Bolgernow]

What's My Line? he was, & thanks again. He would be humbled ;)

[@WhatsMyLine]

Bolgernow I made reference down below to an episode of an old radio show I love that he was a guest star on, The Big Show, 1/28/51. Have you heard that yet? It's wonderful. Almost definitely a part of this set on archive.org: archive.org/details/OTRR_Certified_Big_Show I'm pretty sure these are the mp3s that I encoded myself a long time ago, though they could be someone else's versions of the same shows, (fairly unlikely). I mention this only because If they're my files, the show with your great great uncle is in there. Unfortunately you can only download the entire collection as a giant 500MB zip file. If any of this interests you and you have trouble with the technical part, let me know. I'm sure I can get a copy of the show to you, it'd be a pleasure.

[@sammiwhite9575]

+Bolgernow you're like the third person who has commented this somewhere...

[@bethe192]

@@sammiwhite9575 noticed that as well.

[@golden-63]

How handsome Johnny Carson looks here.

[@libertyann439]

goldenthroat86 I think he was considering a moustache.

[@virginiahanna869]

Too bad his manners are so ugly.

[@erikbluefrog]

He does appear to have been trying a mustache. So glad he reconsidered. Even the hint of it makes him look quite unsavory.

[@shirleyrombough8173]

golden86 - He really was, was't he

[@shirleyrombough8173]

Handsome, I mean.

[@roymckenzie6241]

,,, I just wanted to take the time to thank you for posting this video ,,, I luv these old shows like this :) ,,,

[@PP-McFly]

Dorothy was like a hound, once she picked up the scent she would take it all the way. Seen that in many episodes.

[@Pashasmom1]

I wouldn't call her a hound. She was very astute, and she paid attention.

[@lmagigian]

She was a top notch investigative reporter, and astutely used logic, reason and the process of elimination to narrow down the possibilities and arrive at a conclusion. To watch her is to truly watch a genius at work.

[@amazinggrace5692]

She was a great journalist and that doggedness would very unfortunately cost her her life. 💕🐝

[@PP-McFly]

@@amazinggrace5692 i am so glad to have found WML on youtube. watched every episode during this pandemic lockdown

[@amazinggrace5692]

@@PP-McFly Me too!

[@taraxacum]

My parents got married in the same year as this famous wedding and my father passed away on the same day as Prince Rainier. I just figured out about the wedding by watching this show.

[@donaldmanthei1224]

Sorry about your dad.

[@taraxacum]

@@donaldmanthei1224 Thank you.

[@Marcel_Audubon]

Ray Bolger was a beloved guy

[@jubalcalif9100]

I have a notion to second that emotion ! One of American's most popular entertainers !

[@jubalcalif9100]

@e M I'll say what I please when I please. If you don't like it, don't read my comments....

[@stephaniecarrow4898]

I never knew Ray Bolger also did accents on top of all his other talents. Somwhere on KZbin is a clip of his complete version of "If I Only Had a Brain," with all the verses that were cut from the final edit of the movie. It's fun to watch the original scene in its entirety.

[@sophiaraniuk2665]

I love Ray Bolger ....he was born in the same town I was born in ....Dorchester Massachusetts...that he was loved by everybody is so true ....God Bless him and his craft which will live forever .....

[@michaelwalsh2498]

Fields Corner boy😁

[@ruthkidney3582]

I love this show. And I really like the comments. I learn so many interesting facts. Keep them coming!

[@HermanSays]

Dorothy Kilgallen was so adorable. Love her little giggle at 16:34.

[@poetcomic1]

Dorothy at the top of her game. Watch her with the tiger trainer. She could be outstanding at the game.

[@Lilbit09]

Dorothy was so intelligent, and didn't hide it- a treat to watch her circling in with her questions. A true journalist.

[@Beson-SE]

During the goodbyes to the panel Ray Bolger does some wonderful dance steps and kicks his legs high up in the sky. 20:30

[@henrygrove100]

my 3rd cousin once removed

[@blakenapier3125]

Your the Cousin of Ray Bolger Nice to Meet You I enjoy His Performance If He was Alive He would Play His Character again in LEGO Dimensions for Playstation 3 and Xbox 360

[@loissimmons6558]

+Johan Bengtsson He was certainly extremely limber. It almost seems that he is double-jointed but I find no reference to that in the brief biography I read on him. One thing I would have done differently in my life is take up dancing on a regular basis. Professional dancers seem to remarkably retain their health, youthfulness, trim figure and athleticism long after most other performers. Ray Bolger starred in a movie called "That's Dancing" with Liza Minnelli in 1985. He was about 81 at the time. He was also married to the same woman (his only marriage) from 1929 until his death in 1987, That impresses me even more.

[@josephbailey3968]

Johan Bengtsson Just like he did in the Wizard of Oz.

[@lynettepalecek3141]

@@josephbailey3968 That's what I thought.

[@leannsherman6723]

Arlene was always so gracious with the challengers.

[@secordman]

Watching these clips all night, I remember the 70's version but this stuff is classic. Thanks!

[@MeowingKittyCat]

Thank you so much for uploading these episodes! I love 1950s game shows, and "What's My Line" is one of the best, IMHO. Little bit of trivia -- in the 1970s, I went to see the Ringling Brothers circus, and saw Edwin Bale's son, Elvin, perform one of his daredevil acts. Apparently, Elvin represented the fourth generation of Bales in the circus.

[@WhatsMyLine]

Glad you're enjoying the videos! Just in case you're not aware, I also have channels for "To Tell the Truth" and "You Bet Your Life". TTTT: kzbin.info/door/ZkBUfTQ_tmKAlUV_sQqrTQfeatured YBYL: kzbin.info/door/UIbTdEI7D1AMyLATIdKq5w

[@MeowingKittyCat]

+What's My Line? I'll definitely be checking those out!

[@jerrylee8261]

@@WhatsMyLine Didn't like Groucho when he appeared on WML but did like him on YBYL. Added both an as icon on my comp.

[@sandragailgoudelock1531]

Ray Bolger was enchanting!

[@tommcdonal5131]

Our reality was appreciating the best of the Stars and Ray Bolger showed it as the Scarecrow in The Wizard Of Oz!!!

[@dadaevan]

Looking at a 30 year old Johnny and the legend Ray Bolger with wonderment!

[@deborahjones2045]

The panel speaking about the “wedding” must have been speaking of Grace Kelly’s upcoming wedding. I can imagine how exciting and extraordinary that wedding would have been to the entertainment community.

[@janetclaireSays]

Johnny Carson was so handsome when he was young and his appreciation of Ray Bolger's dancing showed a glimpse of his appreciation of talent on The Tonight Show. "The Wedding" must have been that of Grace Kelly!

[@Traderjoe]

Dorothy’s deductive reasoning is extremely impressive! Smart lady!

[@robertjean5782]

Dorothy was a investigative reporter for years 😊

[@vickihshallenberger3644]

I ❤️Ray Bolger! He was so fun to watch!

[@charlesbrooks9577]

The only thing i hate about watching these old shows is that almost 100 percent of the people on the shows are dead

[@m.e.d.7997]

Depressing.

[@dinahbrown902]

I’d hope so

[@laurahoward5426]

We all die

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

I was watching a movie from the 1980s the other day and realized most of the cast was deceased.

[@robertjean5782]

I attended the show often. I'm 87 still here😊

[@FilmCars]

Perfectly put and I couldn't have said it any better :-)

[@Rockaria23]

That is a very young Johnny Carson . . . Legend.

[@deboraholsen2504]

Once, while watching a KZbin video featuring old clips of Johnny Carson during various years from the The Tonight Show, it was obvious that one of the commenters was very young, because he or she had no idea who Johnny was or how well-known he was when this commenter asked about Johnny, "Who is this dweeb?" I thought, ' If this person only knew who he/she was speaking of!' On another note, "Heeeere's Johnny!" has significance for me because one of the most special times of my life happened on the same day as the very last time his show was on TV, which was on Friday evening of Memorial Day, 1992: 7 hours earlier I had become a mother for the first time!!! I was recuperating in my hospital bed that eve, when, suddenly, it was announced that it was the very last show ever with Johnny Carson! It made me a little sad, but I was so elated with my new little son, that the sad feeling quickly subsided! :)

[@kristabrewer9363]

He was VERY rude to that first guy. If he had've called ME fat, I would've been on the verge of tears :(

[@deerejohn7209]

@@kristabrewer9363 ...back then they called it "poking fun", still rude by his reaction. Though it is difficult to judge yesteryear's social norms by our present social norms.

[@nysavvy9241]

@@deerejohn7209 Yes you're correct poking fun. It wasn't mean spirited. Now everyone is so sensitive about all things and everything is considered disrespectful. I wish there was a happy medium.

[@deerejohn7209]

@@nysavvy9241 ... so do i

[@asteverino8569]

Wonderful Ray.

[@Beson-SE]

Nice of Bennett to give the credit to Dorothy for almost guessing the Tiger Trainer all by herself. 14:02

[@henrygrove100]

Bennett equals nice

[@blakenapier3125]

Paul Edelstein and Jonah Bengtsson So Happy He did it for Her

[@joncheskin]

Terrific questioning from Dorothy.

[@adamodeo9320]

Dorothy Kilgallen, RIP - rare human indeed

[@bbailey7818]

Carson looks so young! No one then except Marty McFly knew that some day he'd be the man who kept millions of us up past midnight or at least until after The Monlogue and do it for decades.

[@tammyhollandsworth6783]

Mr Ray Bolger also played on Little House on the prairie. Funny man!

[@biggerock]

I love watching these shows! The panel and contestants are all so well groomed, well spoken and well behaved. They're classy; unlike the folks on TV today.

[@stevekru6518]

This episode replete with fat insults was not at all classy. It was less classy than meaningless curses

[@marycleary7810]

This show is just lovely

[@alexapenn6399]

"Once in love with Amy Always in love with Amy - with the dancing - sigh. . .

[@buzzbang7930]

I like the formata Ray put under his name.

[@randysills4418]

Fermata

[@randysills4418]

*Kelly

[@karenmallonee3867]

Johnny Carson is so young and handsome...oh my! ❤️

[@Marcel_Audubon]

🤢🤢🤮

[@amymanns8023]

Johnny Carson is the cutest boy I ever did see. I still miss him. I was named for that song "Once in Love with Amy", and just love this episode.

[@EBLLC]

I bet Ray Bolger was a great guy to know! 😎

[@Free_Snooki]

Ray is so cute. My little scarecrow. _🐰💖_

[@TheJoyfulEye]

Forget "politically incorrect". Making personal remarks about someone's weight is just plain discourteous, no matter what time you live in. My mother lived during this time and would never have dreamed of being so rude.

[@Daleylife]

+Joyce Alice I'm only a few minutes in, so I'm not sure exactly who you are referencing as rude. But, the host as already told Karl to "take a small hike" down to the panel and to tell the panel "a big fat no" if they're wrong. It's uncomfortable.

[@blakenapier3125]

+Daleylife I did Honer Ray Bolger by Playing Scarecrow in The Wizard Of Oz School Play He would have been very Proud of Me and He did While He Was in Heaven and I Sing and Danced and other staff He done.

[@blakenapier3125]

Braddock E. Hutton Rest In Peace Ray

[@AthenaeusGreenwood]

These two phrases are quite standard for Mr. Daly's opening remarks, whatever the contestant's size or appearance.

[@WhatsMyLine]

Yeah, there's absolutely nothing whatsoever offensive in the phrases cited above, "a big fat no" and "take a small hike down the panel". I don't really understand on any level what would make anyone even a bit uncomfortable about this-- they're just colloquial expressions. Weight jokes, of course, are another story. But while I totally understand why people note their surprise nowadays at this sort of thing, right or wrong, weight jokes were considered perfectly acceptable back then, in the sense of social standards. Even Arlene Francis, the epitome of elegance and grace, made a weight joke every now and then about a contestant. It's jarring today, to say the least, and certainly I'm not doubting that there were plenty of people even back then who would never think of making such a joke (as with Joyce Alice's reference to her mother in the original comment here), but if Arlene Francis of all people was doing it, you can be pretty well assured that it was generally considered acceptable back then. I'm not justifying it, I'm just putting it in historical context.

[@tporchia7751]

Ray was as cute as he could be.

[@mikeadrover5173]

This is a special posting to this “channel”. Old films and early television must be saved and rebroadcasted to newer generations.’ As always, thanks’ for taking the time to support these films! And I support this site. ~M~

[@robertjean5782]

The generation that now exists wouldn't want to watch any of these shows. 😢

[@laurahoward5426]

Such lovely signatures

[@robertjean5782]

Cursive was required in the schools 😊

[@bigwilson8794]

Maybe I'm a stickler for the rules of the game, but Bennett should not have "helped out" Arlene on the Ray Bolger segment. There was no conference called.

[@m.a.6136]

Years later Cerf said they always knew who the mystery guest was but played along.

[@jubalcalif9100]

As I do when I take off my hat, you make a good point !!

[@mikejschin]

@@m.a.6136 What is your source for that? In the Bennett Cerf interview that I've heard he says quite the opposite, pointing out that the panelists were not good enough actors to pretend that they didn't know the MG. And on several occasions panelists, including Bennett, disqualified themselves when they had inadvertently learned before the show who the MG would be.

[@m.a.6136]

@@mikejschin I listened to an interview recorded in Cerf`s later years. I don't think he would lie and they made sure they knew who was doing what, where, and when. That is my source. From the Cerf's mouth.

[@mikejschin]

@@m.a.6136 Thank you for your reply, Michele. We seem to have different recollections of what Bennett said. Either way, the show is highly enjoyable and I'll continue watching all of the episodes for the second time.

[@beadyeyedbrat]

Ray Bolger was the consummate entertainer and he seems like a real sweet guy.

[@judyhensley3930]

Yes Sara ur right its a calm that comes with watching this show

[@claytoncoward1377]

Johnny was very funny. especially enjoyed the race track bugular

[@StaciArdmore]

Bugler playing the post parade at the racetracks! Now that's way out there!

[@charlesbrooks9577]

I loved him in the wizard of oz.

[@lenhummel5614]

I was about ten years old when this first aired❗WHAT A TOTALLY DIFFERENT WONDERFULL WORLD THEN❗ WML was such a classy, delightful game show.

[@EmilyGloeggler7984]

Awww dear Mr. Ray Bolger... :)

[@Walterwhiterocks]

The first contestant was from Greenfield Center, a small community roughly 3 miles from Saratoga Springs and Saratoga Race track.

[@leannsherman6723]

Quite the signature Ray Bolger had!

[@oobaka1967]

I was surprised to find that the big guy (Karl Rissland) made it to 76 years old. The tiger trainer made it to 81.

[@Lilbit09]

Oh good! Thanks! When I like the guest, and i liked both, I hope they have long happy lives.

[@larrylindenmeyer4390]

So great

[@richardblayneamerican8149]

Weren't we FORMAL back then! In the way we spoke, the way we dressed...Dad even told me to put on a clean shirt, good slacks, and combed hair...to go to the movies and sit in a dark theater! And how nicely we dressed when flying TWA or PanAm!

[@teresabolger2424]

“sure and how” John Daly replied, after Ray whispered if Bennett surf was tipped off. You can’t pull one off on a Bolger.

[@Robinjoy45]

a nice shout out for upstate NY and the Saratoga Racetrack!!

[@steveburrus5526]

Boiy no one knew as of this wml show that Johnny Carson would become a huge show bizness legend what with his 30+ years of doing the "Tonight Show "!

[@lindashelley3635]

Steve Burrus Apropos of that, did anyone else notice Johnny say @16.33 "I don't know what I have this pencil for!" It was obviously a prop long before he took over The Tonight Show!

[@mikejschin]

And let us not forget that the original host of "The Tonight Show" was former regular WML panelist, Steve Allen.

[@musicom67]

Johnny's pencil addiction started early in his career. Also, I liked how Ray equated a free display of his dancing capabilities on-show (he charges for that, don't forget) for a "free ticket to one of your lectures." God knows how much Cerf charged for that ticket :-)

[@christopheranton13]

Excellent!

[@shannahuffman4655]

I just love Johnny Carson

[@ThatBowlerDude]

as much as I think it's awesome Johnny was there, it makes me sad knowing that Fred Allen who manned that second spot and was supposed to be there had died a few weeks beforehand. RIP to all the panelists who have all since passed and Fred Allen.

[@jerrylee8261]

Wish Johnny could have been a permanent panelist.

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

I've never seen earrings like those worn by Arlene, covering the entire opening of her ears.

[@laurahoward5426]

I have a Ray Bolger autographed menu from the WALDORF from this appearance

[@dcasper8514]

That's super..

[@marshamariner7897]

All the old advertising products. I remember alot of them.

[@bruceaustin1373]

Love Ray Bolger!!!

[@observerguy5031]

This was not long after CBS canceled the "Johnny Carson Show". His agent (William Morris Agency) told Johnny that his chances of getting back on TV were better if he left Hollywood and went to New York. When Johnny got to New York he started making appearances as a guest panelist on G-T's game shows, like WML, TTTT, IGAS and Password. That led to ABC hiring him as host of Who Do You Trust. And the rest is history....

[@karlakor]

I am always embarrassed when the mystery guest is prevailed upon to perform by a member of the panel. It is usually Bennett who puts the guest on the spot, but Arlene has also done it on occasion. Ethel Merman handled it best when she refused, politely but firmly, which I find preferable to seeing the guest hem and haw and try to get out of it.

[@WhatsMyLine]

The problem a lot of times is that there were actual contractual restrictions on these performers and the panelists surely knew better. There was a big flap about this, as I vaguely recall, regarding Louis Armstrong singing a snippet from "Hello Dolly" when he was supposed to debut it on another TV program that week. Bobby Darrin in one show around 1961 actually gives this exact reason on air for not singing at the panelists' request, that he was contractually prohibited from it. You're right, it creates a lot of awkward moments, and John often seems a bit annoyed, to my eyes, when it happens. But then I saw another show from circa 1961 (wish I remembered which) where John Daly *himself* asks a celbrity to perform, and whoever it was did perform for a few moments! All very odd/awkward, but I love awkward moments like these because they're the closest we get to anything "real".

[@blakenapier3125]

Glad He got to Play Scarecrow in The Wizard Of Oz 1 They should have Had The Wizard Of Oz 2 The Wizard Of Oz 3 The Wizard Of Oz 3 The Wizard Of Oz 4 The Wizard Of Oz 5 The Wizard Of Oz 6 The Wizard Of Oz 7 And The Wizard Of Oz 8 with Same Stars with New Main Characters and New Antagonists and a Television Series with Same Stars and New Characters and New Antagonists.

[@gregh7400]

I find that behavior especially annoying. I cringe whenever I hear Arlene whine, "Oh please mr so and so, do something for us". I just want to slap her. These people are not trained monkeys and they shouldn't be prevailed upon to perform on the spot.

[@geniusmchaggis]

it was fun to see ray bolger dance here...it wasnt really much to ask of him and he obviously enjoyed it...PLUS it made me realize that Dick Van Dyke got a LOT from Ray Bolger!!

[@gregh7400]

True, however, there's no way of knowing how someone will handle it until after they have been put on the spot. Bolger handled it fine, but then he shouldn't have had to handle it at all.

[@blakenapier3125]

R.I.P Both of Them

[@virginiahanna869]

This one is really rough around the edges but I just can't stay miffed with the likes of Ray Bolger around!