What's My Line? - Fred Allen's Debut; Buffalo Bob Smith & Howdy Doody (Aug 15, 1954)

Fred Allen's first show as a panel member.
MYSTERY GUEST: Buffalo Bob Smith & Howdy Doody
PANEL: Dorothy Kilgallen, Fred Allen, Arlene Francis, Bennett Cerf
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[@donnacook8994]

My Dad was in Korea and worked on the jets. Wonderful to see Major James and possibly a pilot of a jet my father worked on. I knew he must be military by his succinct answers. An honor to see an American veteran of the Korea War!!!

[@markbeames7852]

Chappie James was a retired USAF four star general. Passed away in 1978. Tuskeegee Airman.

[@matand5581]

Nearly 70 years later, Fred Allen is still hilarious!

[@Historian212]

Can’t stand him.

[@yeahnoonecaresifyouarefirst]

Isn't he just?! I love him so much and was so sad when he died! Although I wasn't even planned at that point 😂❤ Heck I even loved Hal block but most people can't stand him either 😂❤

[@nandofigueira2005]

Genius!

[@paulyricca3881]

WEAR JACK BENNY AT??

[@paulyricca3881]

@@Historian212 🥃👴🏻 GET OUT

[@ErisRising]

Major James later went on to become the first African-American four star general in the armed forces. A remarkably accomplished man.

[@Flapjackbatter]

James altso flew 78 missions over the north in the Viatnam war. At Ubon Royal Thai airforce base he was the wing deputy commander under Robin Olds. (Both big guys who had fantastic singing voices, according to people who was there.) He was altso famous for having a standoff with Quaddafi who had just taken control of Lybia. ( This while James was commanding a training wing at Wheelus.)

[@HariSeldon913]

He definitely had a bit of a twitch when the Navy guess was made.

[@ellenmarch3095]

Amazing they would be that progressive to purposefully highlight his intelligence and accomplishments. ❤

[@inkyguy]

Wonderful piece of information. Thank you for adding that. This episode would have been broadcast within just six years of President Truman’s Executive Order 9981 on July 26, 1948, to desegregate the U.S. military forces, resulting directly from the advocacy of civil rights organizations. It was the first executive action by a president to advance equal civil rights. As we can see, Major James’s addition to the fleet of fighter pilots was one of the innumerable benefits that resulted from a change in practice within just six years following 170 years of racist discrimination, both tacit and official.

[@mehboobkm2018]

​@@ellenmarch3095 Bennett was a kind person

[@fje6902]

Apparently, Chappie James is a legend. He was the first African American to be a four-star general in all the armed forces. This clip is gold.

[@captainobvious5650]

Daniel James Jr. was quite the decorated officer in the air force! 4 star general, a Tuskegee Airmen. Piloted the B-25, P-47, P-51 (obviously), F-80. Over 100 missions to Korea in the P-51 alone. Fabulous man and deserves our respect. OFF WE GO INTO THE WILD BLUE YONDER.... FLY HIGH JAMES!

[@contraryMV]

Thank you for doing the research so I didn't have to.

[@ClarenceHW]

Has my respect, great contestant.

[@Msubulldogs09]

That is fascinating and interesting to hear

[@rodericgray5202]

I totally agree!!!

[@ClarenceHW]

Man, when Dorothy gets her hooks in, she zeros in on the occupation quickly.

[@denissweet6639]

I love lots of moments on What's My Line, but Fred Allen's "it'll save us a lot of time if you just told me what you do" is probably my favourite WML moment. So wonderful, so funny, so charming.

[@preppysocks209]

on an earlier show, another guest panelist had already said the same thing

[@jimchabai3163]

@@preppysocks209 Wally Cox

[@inkyguy]

It’s such a wonderful understated and dry wit. I can see why he was such a beloved national treasure. I wish he were as well-remembered as Jack Benny or George Burns and Gracie Allen.

[@robertsprouse9282]

@@preppysocks209, Woody "loves family" Allen said the same thing a decade later.

[@trentaccid2177]

Met Buffalo Bob Smith and Howdy Doody at The Deptford Mall in Deptford N.J. in the later 80's and although I was not born when his show first came on I had knowledge of Bob and he was just a really nice person and got pictures with him and Howdy and it was such a big thrill to meet an innovator of Children Shows here in our Country.

[@timerover4633]

The more I watch these reruns, the more I appreciate Fred Allen, who died before I really can remember him on the show.

[@itsjohndell]

"Chappie" James is a legend in the history of the Air Force. I was amazed to find this clip.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

He was the first African American to reach the rank of Four Star General in the Armed Forces. He has a very interesting listing on Wikipedia en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_James_Jr.

[@steventrosiek2623]

Very intelligent and respectful gentleman.

[@jimboy819]

Bigger man than they portray him in movies.

[@inkyguy]

@@MrJoeybabe25, and this episode was broadcast just six years after the U.S. military was desegregated by Harry Truman in 1948. Such a rise is a remarkable accomplishment.

[@paulyricca3881]

@@inkyguy 🥃👴🏻 WHY DO RACE GOTTA BE IN DISS?

[@ginnylorenz5265]

There's something very sweet about Fred Allen.

[@lindabishop7656]

Aaahhh. .. these wonderful folks Really Loved and had such a good time with each other... When Mr. Allen and Ms Kilgalon died, their grief, shock and Love showed. ...all are gone now.... What a wonderful show. Bless you All, my Dear long past friends.

[@elia.8993]

Same here! I hope they are all laughing and joking together wherever they are now.

[@oldisbest470]

I sincerely wish Fred Allen, as well as his contemporaries, were more remembered these days. He had more natural talent than at least 95% of the so-called comedians now

[@brucemarsico6]

What comedians? Where? Not on television in the USA.

[@brucemarsico6]

@SavageArfad You my disagree with 'old is best' but, your judging todays talentless performers with those of a now distant past is hardly just. Most of the old ones have been dead way over a half a century...the USA was much different, people weren't so crass then, at least publicly.

[@RobertLofrano]

I agree

[@SpicyHobbit03]

I agree 100%

[@brucemarsico6]

That's difficult to do now (2020.) You'll have to dig down through the mounds of mediocre and ordinary 'entertainers' to truly find an accomplished and talented example of long lasting endurance. It's all superficial and self centered wallowing......just look at what's playing these days in Las Vegas.

[@jmoss491]

I love Fred Allen's smile after Buffalo Bob imitates him.

[@erichanson426]

Perfect answer to are you a comedian, when they laugh yes, when they don't, no. I love this show, so many good and funny moments.

[@diananutt1517]

@Eric Hanson. Yes❣️You could say that was "profound!" So much fun in these episodes. My first real chance to see Fred in action...though all we had when I was little until 1955 was a radio. I've fallen in love with the man and am googling more...especially his "feud" with Jack Benny.

[@soulierinvestments]

At least for me, this episode starts the golden age of WML with Fred Allen. For a landmark broadcast, a landmark contestant. Daniel James Junior eventually became the first African-American four star general.

[@loissimmons6558]

Based on one game play, I liked his humor a lot, as I appreciate dry humor. His game play, however, left much to be desired at the beginning. Of course there are many upcoming episodes with him. +gcjerryusc I thought for sure I would see you comment on the previous episode with a challenger from Columbia (SC) and Eva Gabor. I was looking forward to asking you whether I look more like Eva or Zsa Zsa. Notice how I sneaked the question in there anyway?

[@loissimmons6558]

+gcjerryusc Ah, flirting again! I'll give you 10 years to stop it ... okay, 20 years. :-) Today was the day to take old computer equipment to the recycling center in my county. I have a little more space in my apartment now. That's a strange combination of foods to be allergic to. I can't think of anything they have in common: a berry (same genus as cranberries); a dairy product with many different varieties (watch Monty Python's "Cheese Shop" skit) that vary based on milk source, pasteurization (yes or no), processing method, amount of aging and some with flavoring added; a condiment that basically vegetable oil, eggs and vinegar. I love all those foods (except for a couple of varieties of cheese) and ironically I was thinking of adding blueberries to my diet more often because they are supposedly one of the healthiest foods ... and it tastes a whole lot better than kale. As for the challenger from SC, SHE passed away not too long ago in her 80's. However, be aware that she was a female wrestler, wiry rather than muscular, but her gimmick was that she chewed bubble gum and at a critical moment in the match she would blew a big bubble and pop it in the eyes of her opponent. And what happens if you become allergic to bubble gum!

[@oscarbeltran4833]

gcjerryusc f

[@volzman2172]

Thank you for that info I googled him when I read your post.

[@gomphrena-beautifulflower-8043]

This is so much more meaningful in that this time was a dark time in our country where minorities were concerned.

[@bethdibartolomeo2042]

Fred and Dorothy are my favorite parts of What's My Line, they are the best, Fred for his humor, and Dorothy for her intelligence. With Bennet and Arlene, they all made the perfect panel. It's a shame he only lasted two years on the show. :(

[@LarsRyeJeppesen]

Beth Di Bartolomeo For me it was Arlene Francis and Hal Brock :)

[@gomphrena-beautifulflower-8043]

I’ll have to go with Beth’s evaluation; but all mentioned were absolutely epic.

[@musicom67]

Death'll do that...

[@auggie803]

-I love Dorothy the most. She is just a living doll that adds lots of glamor to the show.

[@inkyguy]

I had no idea it was that Fred Allen’s life on the show was that brief. He is such a presence that it seems that he was part of the program much longer than that, which is ironic and remarkable for someone whose stage persona and delivery were so deadpan and understated that by comparison he makes the buttoned-down, drôle English seem like over-caffeinated Italians.

[@terencedove5047]

This episode right here reminds me why I respect and love the memories of both John Daly and Groucho Marx. Both of the game shows that they hosted (WHAT’S MY LINE? and YOU BET YOUR LIFE) were classic examples of shows that included EVERYONE - which was a milestone during the 50s and 60s…

[@andrearichardson4374]

yes our reason why we live in this great land. As a military family going way back it was very nice to see him on TV. He is thanked by all for him and his family.

[@geraldineconnell2328]

I'm sitting in Buffalo Bob's bedroom as I'm watching this I bought my home from him. I watched the show as a child and in his presence i was five years old again.

[@satori03]

He was wonderful

[@ToddSF]

Good for Dorothy to figuring out "bill collector" for the final contestant in the short time available after the Mystery Guest segment!

[@inkyguy]

If anyone could do it it would be Dorothy. Her incisive mind was a force of nature.

[@GOLDVIOLINbowofdeath]

@@inkyguy sadly after her death, Cerf ridiculed her for it. He was a two-faced, liar, and a scam artist and it’s amazing how many people don’t research this because it’s all online. I just read a large part of his over 1000 page transcript of an interview he gave over 21 sessions at Columbia in their oral history project. He loves to talk about himself. He loves to denigrate all Gentile celebrities that ever appeared on what’s my line and he hated Dorothy and tells lies about her. He denigrates her, Bob Hope Judy Garland, Errol Flynn, just in one paragraph of transcript. He quotes conversations he could not possibly have been a party to between John Daly and Dorothy, but he doesn’t quote Dorothy, just John Daly now if you were telling the truth, why would you present Dorothy‘s side of the story at least pretend to?

[@dougtagg9162]

I like both Steve Allen and Fred Allen for different reasons. Both were funny.

[@leannsherman6723]

I ❤Steve Allen.

[@leannsherman6723]

Buffalo Bob left Howdy Doody behind.

[@leannsherman6723]

That Dorothy Kilgallen was smart. Very mysterious about her early death with a lot of unanswered questions.

[@elia.8993]

@@leannsherman6723 I think she could have been killed.

[@quizmaster85]

Fred Allen was definitely here to stay :) Such a shame he passed away just a couple of years later :(

[@bobbyslater1198]

I have some Fred Allen radio shows on cassette tapes.

[@inkyguy]

@@bobbyslater1198, I must try to find some of his work. My primary exposure to him has been from this program.

[@vernareed2692]

This show is hilarious!! They always have so much fun!!

[@tammycosby4495]

Major James’ facial expression, especially his eyes, was hilarious when Dorothy asked if he had anything to do with parks or playgrounds or natural phenomena.

[@balconi89]

I wonder if the panel could hear Howdy Doody moving around up there?

[@LaptopLarry330]

I don't think so. The acoustics in that theater in New York City, where "What's My Line?" was broadcast, were notoriously bad. The panelists frequently had to ask John Daly to repeat the answers of the contestants/mystery guests on the show, because they could not hear the words that were being spoken.

[@earlenepeterson8065]

My husband was one of Chappie personal pilots when He was a 4 Star General at NORAD. We were both stationed there and I made sure I was present at one of His lectures. He was quite the character. But I won't repeat any stories. His memory deserves that.

[@TheMikester307]

Oh, this panel was gold! And Fred Allen comes closer to guessing than he would have said he did!

[@janetmarletto6667]

I was wondering if Howdy Doody would show up. So glad ! My preschool years were entertained by him ,😍

[@janetmarletto6667]

Me,too! A daily ritual along with Clarabel the Clown and Princess SummerSpringWinterFall!😍❤😂

[@lawrencecunningham7321]

Arlene cannot stop laughing at Fred Allen being Steve Allen's son. She was so tickled and cute

[@TyrSkyFatherOfTheGods]

Just came back after watching episodes from the mid-60s. I swear, John Daly was 50 when he was born.

[@jvcomedy]

Haha! I totally agree. He was only 36 years old when the series started yet he looked 50 and then when the show finished 17 years later he at least looked his age. I'd love to see his senior picture from HS as I'll bet he looked 50 in it as well.

[@lemorab1]

As hard as it is for me to believe, John Daly in 1954 could be my son, given that I'm 68 now! When I first viewed that awkward WML debut show here a few years ago, it was hard to believe he was 36! But people in those days drank and smoked heavily, and most of them looked older than they were. The slicked back hair for men, tight pin curled hairstyles on women and the clothing styles aged everyone. These people were The Grownups for me, watching WML during the 1950's. I may have actually seen the original broadcast of this show, just before starting the first grade.

[@bdavis7981]

He was also a war correspondent.

[@Marcus-Oh-really-yes]

I think John Charles Daly was 35 when the show started on Feb. 2, 1950, and then turned 36 a few weeks later on Feb. 24. Mr. Daly made the show, in my opinion, and was a smart, funny and gracious host! I loved how he would trip up the guest panelists with his turns of phrase and unparalleled vocabulary. :-) The punny Bennett Cerf was 15 years older than John, so he would have been 52 when he first did a guest spot on the panel on Oct. 15, 1950, and then was almost 53 when he became a regular in the spring of 1951.

[@auggie803]

Daly was 50 at age 10-20-30-40-50+60.Probably the make up.

[@cbranalli]

who worked the Howdy Doody marionette ??? wikipedia doesn't seem to address this burning question - unless i somehow missed it. a little related family history vignette - i was about 5 years old when my Dad bought our first television set - sometime around about 1951. i had seen Howdy on other peoples' televisions - and was fairly aching to join the at-home Peanut Gallery. while waiting a few days for the tv to be delivered - my Dad couldn't resist the temptation to tease me as to whether this new television would be able to "get" Howdy Doody. when the big day arrived - and my Dad walked through our apartment door - returning home from his job at (NYC Electric Co) "Con" Edison - i distinctly remember giving him the glorious news "Daddy! this television DOES get Howdy Doody !!!" not sure exactly when i realized that Dad had been having fun with me. must have been some time before i graduated high school.

[@BigAl6405]

Great story, Charles. Simpler times

[@lemorab1]

But we still don't know who worked the Howdy Doody puppet.

[@augerontgen8240]

People today have not those manners anymore. They try to appear tough and wicked with cursing, steroids and silicone. Bennets Jacket suits him.

[@fuscinula]

I love how the host, panel and audience respected the African-American gentleman. This was the 1950s and the US was probably still segregated in Florida.

[@Rosarium2007]

Florida, like the rest of the South, was. They got dragged kicking and screaming away from segregation. Some would say while the laws have changed, equality is still not yet achieved.

[@saran3214]

@@Rosarium2007 You know zero about the south. Every single time a black person comes on one of you SJWs has to make some racial remark. Usually slamming the south. I am in Georgia. 30% black. What is the racial makeup of your state? You probably have very few minorities. Also, name the racial inequality that goes on today. People like you are the real racists. You cannot just enjoy a good contestant without making a comment about their race. Try seeing beyond skin color.

[@saran3214]

Every single time a black person is on the show someone has to make a comment like yours. How about just enjoy the contestant and not make a racial remark?

[@saran3214]

@SavageArfad So, they got treated the same as the white contestants then? Entertainers were different. They all worked together and usually all got along without these issues because the show had to go on.

[@BlueHen123]

@@saran3214 kzbin.info/www/bejne/bnyVhKKZo7p7qNE

[@TheBigMclargehuge]

I rewatch this one just to see Buffalo Bob say "Do do, yeah do do".

[@Lukecash2]

I heard that Bennett loved the Fred Allan eara. And I used to think his "attempts at humor" was him being a bad at it, but was part of the act.

[@loissimmons6558]

How convenient. They didn't even need to make a new name card (or move it, for that matter). Mr. Allen works just as well for Fred as it did for his "father" Steve!

[@johnritchi]

Benjamin Keeney (NOT Kenny!) was my grandfather. He was a WWI Vet, retired NYPD, and was even FDNY for a short time. But, he'll go down in history as a skirt blower at Rockaway Playland! Haha!! He did work at Rockaway Playland at the time, but as a ticket taker, among other things. He never operated a skirt blowing machine, though. That had (at least) two other contestants in the years following that they said operated the skirt blowing machine at Rockaway Playland.

[@juliansinger]

Mrs. Ruehrmund married her husband (Merle) in 1953. She may've been a "bill collector" at this point, but she eventually bought the place (the Ohio Bureau of Credit Services) in 1961. This went on until 1977, at which point she went into public service and was the auditor for her hometown of Marion. She was also a United Church of Christ person, and helped out both the Historical Society and the Humane Society. She and Merle had one kid, a daughter. Mrs. Reuhrmund died in 1977, at age 62; Merle died in 2015.

[@multitieredinvestor183]

I met Bob Smith in 1974 in Santa Ann El Salvador when he was riding a brand new motorcycle from the US to Argentina.

[@paulmcmurray3491]

I so miss Fred Allen.

[@carolv8450]

Nice man

[@soulierinvestments]

Smith's impersonation of Fred Allen is beyond classic. I wonder if that was a bonus or if the production staff knew that he could do Fred and hoped he would. Howdy Doody was broadcast on NBC from 1947 to 1960. A number of HD kinescopes survive: it would bedarned interesting to know if either Jonathan or Chris got recorded in a surviving Howdy Doody kinescope. And here comes by obsession again: the last hour long show of Buffalo Bob's magnum opus NBC broadcasted in color, videotaped in color, and preserved in color. G-T should have learned a thing or two from that example.

[@dizzyology7514]

+soulierinvestments My bet is that the Fred Allen voice was a happy accident. Fred had been asking whether the MG was using his regular voice, and you could see Bob Barker trying to think of an amusing response. He sure found one!

[@dizzyology7514]

Hmmm... (Fred Allen voice) we do seem to have a case of Scrambled Bobs here, don't we? I don't think I'll edit the comment to make the correction -- just leave the ball where I fumbled it for all the world to enjoy, :-)

[@savethetpc6406]

I was about to make a comment about that, Dizzy, but I see now that I don't have to!

[@libertubey2199]

They did, eventually.

[@wnychevy09]

Buffalo Bob and Howdy Doody did come back in the 1980s for a summer run it was in syndication show locally here in Buffalo on Channel 4 WIVB-TV

[@daviidtaplin1115]

Great MR James

[@WendyDarling1974]

OMG his Fred Allen impression!

[@dorisp9127]

"It's Howdy Doody time!! When I was about 5 years old, I watched Buffalo Bob and Howdy Doody in Houston, Texas. I remember the potato chips that were in a green bag, I believe it had a coupon on the bags and we collected "Looney bucks! We ate a lot of potato chips. At that time, there was only potato chips and Fritos.

[@b1i2l336]

Fred Allen is one of the most genuinely funniest people of all time.

[@wtju3883]

I think Arlene is absolutely gorgeous. Add to that her intelligence and I'm in total lust.

[@13ECHO20]

I concur.

[@knottreel]

She definitely is. She reminds me of that one girl in school who got her picture on every yearbook page and raised her hand for every question asked by the teacher.

[@WhatsMyLine]

Today's KZbin Rerun for 3/7/16: Fred Allen's debut as panelist! Fred appears here as a guest panelist, presumably being tested out as a replacement for Steve Allen, who would soon leave WML to begin hosting the Tonight Show. Goodson-Todman approved-- Fred was made a regular by the end of September. ----------------------------- Join our Facebook group for WML-- great discussions, photos, etc, and great people! facebook.com/groups/728471287199862/ Please click here to subscribe to the WML channel if you haven't already-- you'll find the complete CBS series already posted, and you'll be able to follow along the discussions on the weekday "rerun" videos: kzbin.info/door/hPE75Fvvl1HmdAsO7Nzb8w?sub_confirmation=

[@savethetpc6406]

I *_love_* Fred Allen on the panel, and he was hilarious in this episode -- most notably with his classic quip to the first contestant, "we could save an awful lot of time if you'd just tell me what you do" (around 6:35), but also all the way through! I'd forgotten how delightful this episode was, and it was great fun to watch it again after being reminded of it recently by a post in the WML FB group. Note that John Daly winks at Fred when he thanks him for his "visit" with them (beginning around 24:32 --wink at about 24:35). Most likely he knew there was a good chance Fred would be back for many more "visits!"

[@dawngordon6750]

I get sad when i realize dorothy and fred die in the next 11yrs rip u both

[@zekezacker9449]

Interesting that Daniel James Jr. attended then Tuskegee Institute (one source indicated he was on a football scholarship) before joining the Army and becoming an Army pilot at Tuskegee (though, sources differ on when he graduated from college). He was a stateside instructor pilot, among other things, during WW2, and he did not see combat until the Korean War. He also flew combat missions in the Vietnam war. In WW2, he became a bomber pilot, supposedly to better accommodate his tall frame (the war ended before his bomber unit was sent overseas), so it is interesting he flew fighter planes, to include a WW2-era propeller fighter, in Korea. (In WW2, tall people, such as Jimmy Stewart and George McGovern, tended to be selected for pilot duties in larger planes, i.e., those with less cramped cockpits, such as bombers).

[@robbob1234]

When Bennett asked "How are things this year, Mr Kinney?" I was hoping Mr. Kinney would reply "Things are looking up!" Bennett muttered a few seconds later "Things are on the rise!" so he was trying to set up a zinger after all.

[@ronmcgill7402]

Fred Allen looks like Buster Keaton a bit.

[@steventrosiek2623]

You're right. He sure does look like Buster Keaton.

[@robradical7213]

"Welcome to America, Mr. Kenny" Comedy gold.

[@patriciamontgomery3651]

Love when Fred Allen was on the panel.

[@orgonkothewildlyuntamed6301]

then make sure to fast fwd when they had guests who were elderly, overweight or not the prettiest you may change your opinion

[@allenjones3130]

I loved that joke Fred made about Wendy Barrie, a popular TV personality during the 1950s.

[@nandofigueira2005]

Bennett Cerf's humor is so unique that only he understood it.

[@postatility9703]

Whether Fred Allen stood up for Buffalo Bob or not,his unique wit was a great addition to this classic show. The only other panelist as funny as Fred had to be Groucho,although his appearances were few.

[@jimhanold9026]

The gentleman who works as a "skirt" blower reminds me of the classic movie scene where Marilyn Monroe's skirt was "lifted" over an outdoor air grate.

[@SpiderDrummer24]

James attended the famous Tuskegee Institute and instructed African American pilots during World War II. He flew combat missions during the Korean War and Vietnam War, and received the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, two Air Force Distinguished Service Medals, two Legions of Merit, three Distinguished Flying Crosses, a Meritorious Service Medal, and fourteen Air Medals.

[@accomplice55]

I miss Steve Allen already. :(

[@loissimmons6558]

It's understandable that John might have been confused on the location of Mr. Kenney's hometown. Staten Island is also Richmond County in NY. Once again, we have a case where a resident of the borough of Queens identifies as a resident of Long Island. But I am extremely familiar with Richmond Hill. It was my hometown for the first 8 years of my life. During that time, my parents took me and my brother to Playland on occasion. It was easy to get to from my house by car (on Cross Bay Boulevard over Jamaica Bay) or by subway (once it was completed to the Playland station and all the other stations on the Rockaway Peninsula except one in June 1956). My mother, being a sensible women around age 40, would have worn slacks, I'm sure, and wouldn't have fallen prey to Mr. Kenney's device. Playland closed in the mid-1980's when it's insurance increased from $50,000 to $400,000+. The official name of the subway station is now Beach 98th Street (although some of the signage, as of 2013 at least, still refers to it as Beach 98 St-Playland). A housing development sits on the former site of the amusement park. As to Richmond Hill, among those who were either born or resided there are Phil Rizzuto (former Yankee shortstop and announcer and WML participant who lived there and went to Richmond Hill HS), Jack Cassidy (born and raised there), Jack Lord (who attended John Adams HS, within walking distance of where I grew up; ironically when my family moved to the suburbs I was a visitor on a number of occasions to the estate where James MacArthur was raised when he was growing up), Bob Sheppard (public address announcer for the New York Yankees and New York Giants of the NFL for over 50 years: born in Richmond Hill and was chairman of the Speech Department at John Adams HS), Bernadette Peters (who grew up above a bar on Liberty Ave. on the border of Richmond Hill and Ozone Park, less than a block from my first home), character actor Vincent Schiavelli and Elizabeth Debbie Eden (nee Ernest Aron, the motivation for the bank robbery that was depicted in "Dog Day Afternoon").

[@juliansinger]

If the Mr. Keeney I have found is the correct Mr. Keeney, he was living on Rockaway Blvd in 1942, in, in fact, Ozone Park. (He was a policeman when he was dealing with the draft board.) He'd previously lived in Brooklyn; moved to Queens sometime after 1930. The line from police patrolman to amusement park worker is undoubtedly a long and twisty one.

[@TyrSkyFatherOfTheGods]

Isn't Queens located on Long Island?

[@loissimmons109]

@@TyrSkyFatherOfTheGods Queens and Brooklyn are located on the western end of Long Island, and also became part of NYC in 1898.

[@DieHard10901]

What a joy to see this stuff. The real me, not my pseudo-buddy here, was born in '51. My 1st 9 years on Planet Earth was in Boca Raton, Florida. I don't remember these shows. Just a faint memory watching Howdy-Doody, too. Reply to "stimopoet" two posts down from about a year ago. : I was too young to let the Deep South negative racial crap rub off on me, but yes, until Martin Luther King, Jr. , the marches and the riots eventually changed things relatively better for the most part, it was not very nice down south for the non-Caucasians...

[@markbleichwehl]

I grew up watching the great Howdy Doody and Buffalo Bob

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Bennett looks good in his dinner jacket. What ever happened to dinner jackets.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

In the late 40's Bob Smith was also the morning dj at the local NBC outlet in NYC.

[@loissimmons6558]

We never found out where the final challenger was from. A previous time when John neglected to ask, Bennett inquired. Not this time.

[@soulierinvestments]

Wendy Barrie was a panelist on very early WML in early 1950. I wonder if G-T were contemplating either Arlene or her for this panel. Anyway the thought of Wendy certainly cracked Arlene up

[@loissimmons6558]

Great information, especially since it appears that Miss Barrie's appearance was on one of the lost episodes. Even so, I wonder why Fred Allen used her name in that way (a la "whatever happened to Deanna Durbin") and why it cracked up Arlene so much. (I've had never seen her lose her composure by breaking up with laughter before.) Miss Barrie's career in entertainment was still quite at the time of this broadcast.

[@loissimmons6558]

+519DJW I didn't see your post among the ones that were saved by Gary from the prior version of the video before I posted the previous note. We independently came up with almost the exact same post (including the example we used). Hopefully it is a case of great minds thinking alike.

[@Sylvander1911]

@@loissimmons6558 I had assumed it was a reference to Wendy from Peter Pan, written by J.M. Barrie

[@jessicapigg]

Wendy Barrie's TV contract was terminated a few months after this show was aired, according to Wikipedia en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendy_Barrie

[@adamodeo9320]

Dorothy Kilgallen is super!!!!

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Between 1947 and 1953 Buffalo Bob Smith was the morning personality on WNBC/WRCA in NYC.

[@bobbyslater1198]

John Daly's favorite word: "Alright!".

[@WhatsMyLine]

Comments left on prior version of this video: stlmopoet 1 year ago Not trying to cause trouble. This was a long time ago and a different era. Just wonder whether southern TV stations carried What's My Line and if they freaked out about interracial handshakes and the like. What's My Line? 1 year ago It's very likely the show did get hate mail on this basis. There was discussion on one of the shows Sammy Davis Jr. appeared on as to whether he intentionally did not kiss the female panelists for the same reason. Even if he was familiar enough with the women to have done so, I'm sure they were all too well aware of how unacceptable that would have been to a lot of the country back then. For all the talk that crops up on these videos about how idyllic things used to be in the glorious past, we tend to forget that a lot of things were far, far worse. Yes, it's nice to see well dressed folks with good manners who can be charming and witty without profanity or lewd humor, but it wasn't all sunshine and roses in the 1950s! stlmopoet 1 year ago +What's My Line? Exactly. There were many things far better back then and many things far worse. I'm sure seeing a black person in a professional or officer role also galled the Bull Connor types. stlmopoet 1 year ago (edited) +stlmopoet P.S. : Bull Connor's real first name was Theophilus, which means lover of God. He was definitely misnamed. John Smith 11 months ago On Steve Allen's show,Steve kissed Eartha Kitt (if I recall right) and people sent him hate mail right away, so on his next show he publicly expressed his views, read the man's letter and humiliated the guy on television. bigoldinosaur 8 months ago I headin off to basic for the Air Force in 3 weeks. ZoneFighter1 10 months ago Are these names Fred makes jokes about real people or does he make them up? dylan plantenga Shared on Google+ · 1 year ago Agreed :( MattTheSaiyan 4 months ago Bennett Cerf's outfit is very interesting. balconi71 5 months ago Daniel James Jr. Was the first African American to reach the rank of 4-Star General in the U.S. Military. www.biography.com/people/daniel-james-jr-9352497 girlaubie 4 months ago +balconi71 Thanks for that link - I was just about to google him when I saw your post. dylan plantenga 1 year ago The first episode with (in my opinion) the famous 4 Arlene,Bennet,Fred & Dorothy :) Brendan Richards 6 months ago 6:48 - Fred Allen was here to stay. :) Johan Bengtsson 10 months ago +ZoneFighter1 If you are thinking of Fred Allen's introduction of Arlene as "the only lady who knows whatever became of Wendy Barrie.", She was a guest panelist on the show in 1950 but the show is lost to history. Brigit Kelly 8 months ago thanks, for clearing that up Johan Bengtsson 8 months ago +Brigit Kelly My pleasure! wiguy3 7 months ago also a character from Peter Pan Charoen Piancharoen 4 months ago tm22fl 5 months ago 9:37 - "Welcome to America, Mr. Keeney." Not even ten minutes into the Fred Allen era and he had me in stitches.. Owlz Eyez 8 months ago The Barrie joke was hilarious. 519DJW 6 months ago I'm afraid I don't get the humor in Fred Allen's Wendy Barrie joke. I looked her up and found that she was a movie and TV personality of the time. "Wikipedia" gives no indication that she dropped out of show business à la Deanna Durbin. Therefore, I'm wondering what was supposed to be so funny about "Whatever happened to Wendy Barrie?". Owlz Eyez 6 months ago (edited) +519DJW Hi. Our Arlene is the reason Barrie wasn't quite the daytime darling she might have hoped to have been. She was also a WML? guest panelist. once, back in 1950..subbing for Arlene. ^o,-^ Brigit Kelly 8 months ago Fourth contestant, couldn't help but think of "Roseanne Roseannadanna" by Gilda Radner.......RIP corner moose 8 months ago That was the best impression of Fred Allen I've heard. Bob Smith hailed from Buffalo, NY, hence Buffalo Bob. Jeff Smith 7 months ago Loved Howdy Doody when I was kid. Sheila B 10 months ago Wow, an Austin Healey sports car, that John Daly sure had good taste in cars. Abigal M. 8 months ago No! I love Steve Allen! Johan Bengtsson 10 months ago There is a show with another skirt-blower. Zac M. 9 months ago Can we bring back the skirt blowing machine? Sousa2886 10 months ago Dorothy Kilgallen is such a clever cookie. joed596 6 months ago thanks very much :-) Robert Romero 1 year ago I thought fighter pilots had a size limit? Mr. James was a big guy! daniel stanwyck 1 year ago Childhood favorites. Plus Fred allen. A treat. Leslie Gottlieb 7 months ago EEGEE Howdy Doody Ventriloquist Dummy Doll with Cowboy Boots 1972 NBC 30" www.ebay.com/itm/EEGEE-Howdy-Doody-Ventriloquist-Dummy-Doll-with-Cowboy-Boots-1972-NBC-30-/111583043692?ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT soulierinvestments 1 year ago Daniel James Jr eventually became? a four-star general.

[@jeffbrewer9411]

What's My Line? Sounds like the people commenting on race are making a bigger deal out of it than the people in the south you are attacking.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

I saw a skirt blowing man in virtual 1958 just the other day. You know who I'm talking about... That real entertaining guy.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

was this a "try-out" for Fred Allen? They didn't welcome him as"the new regular panelist". Did that come later?

[@LaptopLarry330]

I believe that it was. Fred Allen was a game show host on NBC at the time, and the show was about to be cancelled due to low ratings. He had a hit radio comedy series that ran until 1949. Allen then worked in various TV projects until he became a regular panelist on "What's My Line?" after Steve Allen left to become the host of "The Tonight Show" on NBC.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

See what happens when you hit your 30's? I asked this same question just now, two years after the above. Could we make a show out of that?

[@tylerlozano9849]

I wish I could have watched this show and I always wondered many years later why this never revived on PBS Kids or show reruns on PBS Kids on Saturday mornings in the 1990s

[@dutchtea8354]

Bob Smith & Howdy Doody were the 8th MG to be listed as duo or group MG.

[@sixpakshaker88]

How do you squeeze that guy in a fighter?

[@HariSeldon913]

He looked about 6'4", since John Daly was known to be 6'1".

[@RonGerstein]

Is this the first time WML had a black contestant (the jet fighter pilot) that was not a celebrity?

[@arthurharrison1345]

Howdy Doody was based on a caricature of Bob Smith's sister, Esther.

[@kevincummings8853]

WOW!! Chappie James, major during that taping but became a 4 star general

[@peternagy-im4be]

A rootin tootin four star general?

[@Rosey01222]

A footnote comment. Reportedly, each of these celebrity panelists were paid $500 per episode except for Dorothy Kilgallen who received $5,000. What's to consider are these amounts evaluated in the context of the 1950s. The days when earning $50 per week was considered a decent income.

[@tessar.9779]

Rosey01222 I’m pretty sure that it was Arlene who was paid more than the others. And she got around $1,000 per episode. Still, even $500 per episode is a huge amount of money.

[@stanmaxkolbe]

My Old Man showed me his vacation check (Two Weeks) $111.00 and that was in the late sixties!

[@jackkomisar458]

That's interesting. I wonder how much it would have cost to fix the acoustics on the set so that the guests could hear the panelists.

[@rharvey2124]

@Jack Komisar Think the stage was used for many other things and shows. So maybe the other activities were all scripted shows so if all the actors knew their parts the sound stage fix wasn't worth it. CBS may have only rented it. Anyone know? Wasn't this the place that became Studio 54?

[@DeLorean4]

Can anyone explain that Wendy Barrie joke from the beginning? It was so funny Arlene and the cameraman couldn't keep still.

[@AiMR]

Fred Allen got Howdy Doody's autograph after the show.

[@JMC01644]

Surprised that Fred Allen didn't stand up to shake Bob Smith's hand at the end. Thought that was customary for that time period?

[@ChristopherUSSmith]

GeorgiaBound Fred was filling in that week, so probably didn't get up to speed on the etiquette.

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

JET FIGHTER PILOT OPERATES SKIRT BLOWING MACHINE BILL COLLECTOR

[@AlleyCat1976]

Wonderful

[@terranova22]

Some of the mystery guests seem to be in a hurry to get out of there right after getting discovered, without chatting a bit first before exiting. Howdy Doody, and Salvador Dalí both left without saying anything. Kind of disappointing. I wonder if it was up to their discretion, or if they were short on time, or ?

[@jayheck1323]

Dorothy Kilgallen, Arlene Francis and Fred Allen were national treasures for years! Bennett Cerf was an insufferable snob and it's too bad he was a panelist for so many years. John Charles Daly was the most intelligent, articulate and interesting talk show host in the history of talk show hosts!

[@broughtbackin]

I agree with everything you said except I can't stand Fred Allen. I am now on my 2nd time watching from the beginning and I hope I can stand him until March 1956

[@Eddie_Schantz]

The best thing they ever did with this show was when they got rid of that idiotic practice of going over to see the panel and then each panelist got a free guess. That did noting but waste time.

[@stanmaxkolbe]

HOOAH!

[@rharvey2124]

Always assumed it was a safety measure to help fill the total time which coupled with the many times Mr. Daly skipped the walk and/or threw over all the cards stating the had run out of time being used also to manage the time. WASN'T WML PERFORMED LIVE FOR MANY OF THE FIRST SEASONS?????

[@Eddie_Schantz]

@@rharvey2124 I think it was performed live every Sunday night for the entire run of the show.

[@rharvey2124]

@@Eddie_Schantz Thanks.

[@josephlacerra8433]

Never found Fred Allen to be funny, and watching him as an 8-year-old I thought him scary. I was convinced that something terrible had happened to him to make him so scary looking.

[@dcasper8514]

Joseph LaCerra. He was determined to scare 8yr olds.

[@lemorab1]

At this time, I think Dominick Dunne was the stage manager for the Howdy Doody TV show. It would've been interesting if he had been on What's My Line? back then.

[@qz3536]

Very unfortunate that NASA was extremely strict when it came into existence. This gentleman would have made a great astronaut.

[@stevekru6518]

Major James was huge, perhaps the tallest contestant, and was well filled out. At $11,000 per pound to reach low Earth orbit, he was priced out of the astronaut profession. .

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Was this a try- out for Fred or did he have the job?

[@RobertLofrano]

I watched be this when I was a kid , now Howdy kind of creeps me out

[@iamintheburg]

The only episode of HOWDY DOODY that I really remember is the very last one : everybody gathered at our house that morning : Butch, and Bonnie, me and Karen and Boyd and who-knows-who : Clarabelle spoke for the only time : " Goodby, boys and girls. "

[@bobbyslater1198]

I have 40 episodes of Howdy Doody on DVD.

[@dcasper8514]

iamintheburg Clarabelle then became Captain Kangaroo.

[@thomasfambrot2879]

Howdy Doody was part of my childhood

[@williamdunphy352]

Lee Vines is the announcer.

[@crispincain5373]

General Daniel James Jr was a remarkable man. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_James_Jr.

[@lawrencecunningham7321]

Dorothy pulled that bill collecting out very well

[@timschmidt3784]

My father was a U.S. Air Force officer in the 1950s and 60s. It was known that when Major James flew, as he lifted the plane off the ground, he would announce to the control tower, "The jig is up."

[@atronish]

ABOUT FIRST CONTESTAN: DANIEL JAMES JR. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_James_Jr.