What's My Line? - Victor Borge; Steve Lawrence [panel] (Dec 15, 1963)

NOTE: There is a short bit missing from the interview with Borge at around 23:30. This missing bit appears to have been lost on the original videotape before the kinescope was made from it (this was a prerecorded episode) as opposed to a broadcasting/recording/digital glitch or a clip lost in the editing of the WML at 25 special (note there is no evidence of a film splice whatsoever, just a clean jump). I've checked into 3 different versions of this episode aired at different times on GSN and they all have the same issue, which leads me to conclude that the segment, sadly, is simply lost forever.
MYSTERY GUEST: Victor Borge
PANEL: Arlene Francis, Steve Lawrence, Dorothy Kilgallen, Bennett Cerf
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[@poetcomic1]

Victor Borge first marketed Rock Cornish Hens in the U.S. When a friend asked him if he knew anything about breeding chickens, Borge said, "No, but the chickens know what to do."

[@kenyongray2615]

Victor Borge was a tremendous comic and musician with the ability to combine them both into one act. That takes a lot of talent. He was great even in his 90's. Thanks for the video.

[@inkyguy]

I remember when he played in Moscow in the early 1990s. It was like a holy moment had been created. The audience was deeply moved by his playing.

[@wschmrdr]

First guest is Katherine Stubergh, who founded what is now known as the National Presidential Wax Museum in South Dakota a few years after this appearance.

[@DeathBringer769]

"He wanted to be here tonight as a matter of fact but he's confined to bed with a very bad... haircut." LOL Victor Borge always slays me!

[@SergioFersan1991]

Deathbrewer Confined to* you mean

[@davidsanderson5918]

Funnier without the dots between bad and haircut. :)

[@DeathBringer769]

@@davidsanderson5918 He slightly paused before saying "haircut" which is the only reason I put it in there. Was trying to phrase it like him :)

[@robertmelson2130]

13:45 "I'm a doorknob salesman." I don't believe I've ever seen the panel take a "stumping" so cheerfully before. All the panelists are laughing, and Arlene even says, "that's the best one we've had in a long time."

[@preppysocks209]

Part of the reason, I am sure, is that John for once let the guest say what he did, rather than reveal it himself. Eamon Andrews did this a few times when he hosted, and it is much more effective and funny in my opinion and gives the guest something to say besides "yes" and "no."

[@michaelclark6223]

Yes, they should have done that more often. Whenever the guest had good diction, they should have announced their line. Perfectly hilarious.

[@drumbum3.142]

One could say they Handled That, very well .

[@aprilove2005]

Many years ago, I had nothing to do on a Saturday afternoon, so I bought a ticket(when they were still affordable) to Victor Borge's one man show. was I surprised! this man was a comic genius. I sat there for 2 hours and laughed until my sides ached. I never knew there were so many things you could do with a piano. An afternoon well spent.

[@maynardsmoreland]

I'll always remember Victor Borge's 'punctuation' routine that he did on "The Electric Company" in the early 70s.

[@WhatsMyLine]

maynardsmoreland I didn't remember him doing that routine on "The Electric Company"! (A show I watched a lot as a kid. . . ) That routine had been part of his act for many, many years. Perfect material for a kid's show.

[@savethetpc6406]

What's My Line? maynardsmoreland That's always been my favorite Victor Borge routine! I remember it from a PBS special originally, I think, but I also remember seeing him use it for true educational purposes (though still humorously) on "The Electric Company."

[@savethetpc6406]

Victor Borge was hilarious on this episode -- this was by far my favorite of all his WML appearances! :D

[@Vitte4]

It's amazing that the panel as a whole seemed to forget that, at the beginning of Victor Borge's appearance, it was established that he was a comedian. Once they also discovered he was also a musician, that should have decided it right there. But they kept going 'round and 'round with establishing what type of musician he was!

[@johnmonkus4600]

This could be funniest mystery guest appearance of all. Victor had everyone in stitches and it's the only one that makes me laugh just thinking about Victor's best line of all. To get maximum hilarity, start watching the episode at the last few minutes of the 2nd challenger.

[@Vitte4]

Borge @ 21:04 "(Van Cliburn) wanted to be here tonight, as a matter of fact, but he's confined to bed with a very bad haircut." LMAO!

[@MrJoeybabe25]

My family and I were at the NY World's fair in 1965 and we had a ball. Everything was so exciting and forward looking. I'll never forget the AT&T Pavilion and the "picture phone". Wow, and push button phones too. No more of that terrible dialing and wasting good finger time when you could be pointing at something or using it for more important things. Even though I was only eight at the time, I remember feeling sad that most of the fair would be torn down shortly after it closed in 1965. I thought why go to all that trouble of constructing those nice buildings just to tear them all down. Gee wiz. Oh and we had Belgian Waffles and my Dad got free orange juice!

[@savethetpc6406]

Joe Postove The "Unisphere" is still there.

[@robertmelson2130]

+Joe Postove I am so envious. I was 11-12, and I drooled from afar (about 1000 miles far) over the prospect of being able to attend. I sent off for a 1st day cover (and still have it) of the commemorative stamp issued in conjunction with the fair, and I obtained a pen pal through the Parker Pen pavilion, a boy my age from Barry, Glamorgan, Wales, with whom I enjoyed corresponding for several years afterward. Your post (and this period of WML episodes) brings up old aches.

[@loissimmons6558]

+Robert Melson Approximately the same age I was during the 1964-65 World's Fair. I grew up in the same borough until I was 8. Then we moved to the suburbs. My family went with my uncle who drove all the way from southern California to attend. We encountered long lines (especially to get Belgian waffles) and my mother kept saying how much better the 1939-40 World''s Fair was. In addition to the Unisphere, the NY State Pavilion (including the Theaterama), the Hall of Science, and the Port Authority Heliport (now Terrace on the Park) still remain. The Singer Bowl, renamed Louis Armstrong Stadium and used in the U.S. Open tennis tournament, lasted until 2016 when it was torn down to make room for newer facilities.

[@donlove3741]

Went in 1964. It was fantastic. Remember the Uniroyal ferris wheel , GM exhibit with the Buick Century joystick car , the Bell telephone exhibit with the TV the size of a wall made of CCDs showing a football game with players 10ft tall , the animatronic Lincoln from Disney. The Sinclair dinosaurs..... As you can tell a 10 year old was really impressed. I do remember the waffles and the OJ as well. You are right it was forward looking and optimistic! Was a great time.

[@charis128]

I got to see him perform. He was wonderful. Very talented.

[@teddytodorova]

12:10 Dorothy: Well, if Steve wouldn't keep it in a particular room of his home... Steve: I keep it in your hand... 13.05 It might be a race track Well I wouldn't keep it in my home and Dorothy wouldn't hold it in her hand This is one of the cutest segments. And Victor Borge the cherry on the cake. Irritating that a bit from the interview is missing.

[@hizgrase]

Yea what’s up with the missing clip of victor borge.

[@enrigoletto]

He is confined to bed with a very bad haircut, that's pure genius...

[@bannedheretic2971]

It's good they stopped making contestants walk by the panelists for an inspection.

[@jessicaphillips4542]

Dorothy was smart in the conference about the doorknobs

[@robertmelson2130]

1:23 Steve Lawrence introduces Dorothy as doing a "mean mashed potato". We've heard a lot of references to her doing the twist as well. I sure would like to see footage--wonder if any exists?

[@danilorainone406]

I searched for this on video/film somehwere everywhere I think it was on yt maybe yahoo when they had stacks of everything on yahoo answers,, borge appeared in a copenhagn auditorium for a formal occasion wearing tux n tails,the king and queen of denmark in the front row of seats,borge stands stage centre.,,rt hand in the vest lapel,,;it is a great privilege to be here on a warm spring day in copenhgen.. and with their majesties ( bows head) in the front row, a coupla great danes,,truly a great occasion,,'

[@kentetalman9008]

I like the fact that Arlene is wearing her "Mrs. Claus" dress for Christmas.

[@VahanNisanian]

Videotaped on December 8, 1963, immediately prior to that night's live airing.

[@johnmorley8812]

The same day my father was born...December 15, 1963!

[@AllenMQuinn]

I'd be very surprised if Rowan Atkinson didn't get a tiny bit of inspiration for Mr. Bean from Victor Borge haha

[@devingibson4463]

Nice to see the panel and the audience having a good laugh considering the tragedy that happened the previous month.

[@soulierinvestments]

RE: Daly's embarrassing question about Borge's birds. Years before, Borge appeared as an X, panel blind folded, with the occupation "raises cornish game hens." Poultry is not an easy thing for a musician to do in Connecticut; he lost money in the long run. The hens in the long run didn't prosper either.

[@VahanNisanian]

Gary, upon looking back at some episodes, I noticed that the first time the announcer said "Live from New York" for the live episodes was on #583 10/1/61.

[@hopelewis5650]

Before Saturday night Live used it.

[@neilmidkiff]

Dorothy asks at 7:27 if the contestant had anything to do with the graphic arts, and the answer is given as yes; her follow-up includes sculpture in the list of graphic arts. But all the sources I've checked define graphic arts as those that work on a flat surface: drawing, painting, engraving, printmaking, typography, and so forth. Some definitions even exclude painting, concentrating on the use of line rather than color.

[@wewokakid3379]

Victor Borge... super funny even without his piano & mutitude of sound effects...!!!

[@kelseymathias3881]

I got to shake his hand after his show in 1986 in California! Nice man!!

[@peternagy-im4be]

About as funny as a cancer diagnosis.

[@VahanNisanian]

When this aired, they were in the studio, taping two future episodes. They aired on December 22, and December 29, 1963.

[@loissimmons6558]

Interesting that they chose to have three taped episodes rather than air one of December 15 episodes live.

[@richstrobel]

Love Victor Borge. He was a very funny man.

[@peternagy-im4be]

About as funny as a cancer diagnosis.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Future WML host Larry Blyden starred as Sammy Glick in a two-part television production of "What Makes Sammy Run" broadcast on September 27 and October 4, 1959, on NBC Sunday Showcase.

[@usermikes]

I remember watching them when they built the World's Fair in Flushing, Queens NY..

[@peterburritt2290]

Just noticed Johns parting hair line of different colour on the left side as you look at him

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Nothing dangerous about a door knob? I object. I was in my Dad's shop when I was a kid and one fell off the shelf and hit me in the head!

[@savethetpc6406]

Joe Postove And I can't tell you how many times I've banged my hip, bumping into a doorknob! I thought it might have been proper if John had qualified that "no" with something like, "not intentionally so" or something, but I'll let it go. This was a fun segment, both because the panel was truly stumped, and because the contestant was not shy about answering on his own, and there was therefore no need for long-winded interpretations from John.

[@toinimoore3463]

Well when I was little those brass door knobs hurt when you are little and hit your head on one and the glass ones never hurt I think they were more attractive too.

[@lopa2828]

I accidentally got hit by doorknobs many times so it's dangerous to me 😈😄

[@lopa2828]

@@toinimoore3463: what happens when the glass breaks ??!!!

[@carollee444]

Good show!

[@MrJoeybabe25]

A door knob ain't the easiest thing to put on either. You had to drill holes and put in both sides of the door knob one at a time. Lots of times my Dad was called out to a job late at night to unlock a front door (lost keys), and my job was to hold the flashlight. I was quite good at it.

[@loissimmons6558]

+Joe Postove You mean your father didn't write this song about you? kzbin.info/www/bejne/iKHUZGitrqmcbas

[@DebbieFaubion]

Oh goodness...how long had Daly been sitting on that last pun? Lol

[@savethetpc6406]

DebbieFaubion And fittingly enough, "At Random" is also the title of Bennett Cerf's book of memoirs, largely focused on his career experiences as publisher of Random House.

[@skyedog24]

Wow imagine that being on the ground floor of kwikset when it was just in a few States . 💰

[@VahanNisanian]

Dorothy's hair looks exactly the same here, as it did on the 12/8/63 episode. That's how you know this episode was taped on that day.

[@savethetpc6406]

***** And I like this hairstyle the best of all those that Dorothy sported during this time period.

[@yeahnoonecaresifyouarefirst]

I'LL TELL 'EM! 😂❤

[@sferrell1000]

I was wondered, Dorothy always hated rock and roll, but she does a mean twist and mashed potato at the Peppermint Lounge.

[@loissimmons6558]

Dorothy hated rock and roll (and preferred jazz) until the twist became popular with the middle aged set at places like the Peppermint Lounge. Then she jumped on the bandwagon and made the scene with the rest of the in crowd.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Bennett says "reh-productions" and Miriam Webster Online has the guy saying "ree-production" Is Bennett from Los Angleiss?

[@savethetpc6406]

Joe Postove Bennett was born and bred in New York City. He just has some odd speech patterns.

[@amberola1b]

At the end of the previous weeks episode Bennett looked like he was royally pissed at John about something, and gave him a nasty look. and it looks like at the top of this show during the introductions there may still have been some friction between them,as I didn't see the usual friendliness between the two when they were exchanging quips

[@crazynelo]

Why did I find out about this show only now? So classy! Why can't we have such a show today? I am sadly way too young and non native, so could anyone be so kind and tell me who was the man with the bad haircut Victor was joking about?

[@neilmidkiff]

Van Cliburn, young American classical pianist who had won the Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in Moscow in 1958. He had been a Mystery Guest on August 3, 1958, and March 11, 1962, and would return on April 5, 1964. He had been a guest panelist April 19, 1959.

[@rtflone]

American culture in general was much classier then and the show reflects the culture. The same is true today only vice versa..

[@MrJoeybabe25]

I never knew Victor Borge's connection to Cornish Hen. Does he have a bucket?

[@vxenon67]

Any transcript then of the seconds that was lost? As in what was said?

[@perryjohnson1801]

Has anyone noticed how Arlene kept looking at Mr. Kramer? She had similar looks to other dark hair handsome men on the show.

[@thardingau]

The panel was pretty slow with Victor Borge. How many comedians play a musical instrument? Finding out which instrument would have nailed it quickly.

[@loissimmons6558]

Steve Allen, Jack Benny, Henny Youngman, Dudley Moore, Ray Stevens, Roy Clark, Liberace (who the panel mentioned) come to mind in the space of a few minutes: both comedians who play a musical instrument in their act and musicians who tell jokes or do comic parodies in their act.

[@soulierinvestments]

RE: the missing bit. Censors may have removed that missing bit. Someone may have said something. RE: Dorothy's mean Mashed potato. Not Dorothy's side dish but one of those dopey dance crazes of the 1960s.

[@WhatsMyLine]

I tend to doubt that, though-- it's possible, I guess, but that would mean the CBS censors were watching videotaped episodes of WML, and demanded cuts *prior* to airing. There's no point to censoring the videotapes *after* airing, and I can't imagine the show was originally broadcast with an unexplained 30-60 second gap in it.

[@savethetpc6406]

What's My Line? soulierinvestments The glitch seems to come immediately after Victor mentions doing a show for another network (23:19). They were usually very lenient with that, but perhaps they really didn't want it mentioned this time and blocked out a reference to the other network?

[@savethetpc6406]

soulierinvestments I still don't understand how she could be so into those 60s dance crazes and yet so against rock & roll.

[@garyd.7372]

As +SaveThe TPC mentioned, the missing 'gap' at 23:30 came just after Victor Borge plugs a coming show. I'll throw out a theory that Victor said it would be aired "next Tuesday"; or some such, not remembering that this show was being taped for broadcast a week later, making the date incorrect, so someone later edited out the date reference. Or - the recordings were being kept by Rose Mary Woods, who became President Nixon's secretary and alleged mis-handler of White House tapes :-)

[@loissimmons6558]

+SaveThe TPC I suspect that it was neither the music or the dancing. Rather it was because numerous A list celebrities had gotten into the craze. In fact one theory about why the twist craze died out so quickly was because too many middle aged people had become involved with it.

[@jamesart9]

Did Rowan Atkinson take his Mr Bean voice from Victor here???

[@drumbum3.142]

"We've, had... him .. - ...on the PANEL,?.!.??? !🤔🤨o.Oo.O" 😂😂😂🤣😂

[@kristabrewer9363]

Steve Lawrence is pretty cute!

[@RonGerstein]

He is still alive (12/1/23)

[@henningandersen9027]

The game is only fun if there is no help - meaning that they should make do with the mystery person answering yes or no. Peeriod.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Who was Dorothy referring to when she asked Victor Borge' if he had a residence in Montreux Switzerland?

[@savethetpc6406]

Joe Postove I never know who Dorothy's thinking of with those deliberately esoteric questions of hers...

[@robertmelson2130]

+Joe Postove Probably Noel Coward, who had a residence in Montreux at this time, but possibly others, as it was a resort and a popular place for Brit tax expatriates. I dunno, now, after having watched it. By this point, Dorothy knew that he was a comedian and played a musical instrument, which might not fit Noel Coward so well. NVM

[@AllenMQuinn]

Ha I can see why it drove Bennett crazy when he talked about it in an interview.

[@loissimmons6558]

Maybe it was the idiot with the flare gun as this Deep Purple song described perhaps the most famous event to take place in Montreux. kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIbadnyqbsqtba8

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

*_MAKES FIGURES FOR WAX MUSEUMS_* *_SELLS DOORKNOBS_*

[@MrJoeybabe25]

When was this taped?

[@savethetpc6406]

You must have posted before ***** did. His comment, above, states: "Videotaped on December 8, 1963, immediately prior to that night's live airing." And another related comment by Vahan makes note of the fact that Dorothy has the same hairstyle in both episodes.

[@admiralpercy]

21:04 Who is the violinist they're referring to? Sounds like "Van Clybert" or something?

[@WhatsMyLine]

Van Cliburn, a pianist, not a violinist. He was actually a mystery guest on WML himself twice, and a funny one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZClqo1jm66ohbc kzbin.info/www/bejne/rWKbnqJjl5eXapo

[@admiralpercy]

Thank you!

[@WhatsMyLine]

Admiral Percy You're welcome!

[@artygunnar]

Y, E,S Yes!!!

[@hizgrase]

Sometimes I feel like John daily quits the questioning too fast. The first lady they could’ve gone further in guess that it was wax or whatever did they just run out of time?

[@wschmrdr]

Is the semantics really all that interesting to watch? They basically got it, but good of John to throw the rest of the cards over to save that time, especially since she'd rather her line be that of a dancer instead of sculpting the faces of Presidents.

[@juanr9446]

23:21 ¿?

[@MrJoeybabe25]

C'mon. c'mon! Here they have a door knob salesman, when my Dad was sitting at home being a locksmith not on the show. My God! A door knob salesman is only as good as the locksmith who puts it on!

[@savethetpc6406]

Joe Postove And here I foolishly thought that you'd be mildly appeased by the closeness of this man's profession to that of locksmith, Joe -- silly me! ;P

[@MrJoeybabe25]

SaveThe TPC I was interested, but jealous that a DOORKNOB salesman would get preference over a trained locksmith. Gee wiz, how many dark nights did the dk guy get up out of bed and put the screws back into a doorknob. Oh the ignominy!

[@savethetpc6406]

Joe Postove Lol.

[@loissimmons6558]

+Joe Postove We have finally discovered the problem: your father was sitting at home. A person can't sit at home in West by God Virginia or wherever you were living and be on the show. He has to go to New York City.

[@Baskerville22]

Boring Borge

[@Rosey01222]

Victor Borges, an annoying presence here just as I remember him years ago on TV. I never could figure out his popularity as he certainly wasn't someone of cutting edge wit or unique comedic talent. A little boy masquerading as a grown up messing with your head was his shtick.

[@astridmikkelsen8830]

You are the first person I have heard say anything negative about him,and it was beyound rude!! WoW !!

[@Rosey01222]

@@astridmikkelsen8830 being a performer in the entertainment world leaves a person open to public perception and commentary. To express dislike isn’t rudeness, it’s an individual opinion. Opinion of all varieties provide valuable information for those working in entertainment allowing them to gauge their popularity with an audience. Victor Borges himself would have recognized and understood this concept.

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

I agree. I loathe him.