What's My Line? - Peggy Lee; Ben Gazzara [panel]; Martin Gabel [panel] (Feb 28, 1960)

[@photo161]

The great Peggy Lee had a very long career and sang into the '90s when many of us caught up with her. It's a bit startling therefor to be reminded of what a stunningly beautiful woman she was in her early prime...beyond her singing she was a prolific and highly successful songwriter as well.

[@melancholiac]

For example, "He's a tramp" and "We are Siamese" in Lady and the Tramp

[@kevinp2722]

Listening to John’s anecdote at 6:00 really struck a chord. We often find ourselves reminiscing about the ‘old days’ and it’s interesting to hear someone do the same thing nearly 60 years ago

[@geoffm9944]

The one and only Peggy Lee. A really great singer who could sing jazz, soft ballads and pop songs!

[@robertmelson2130]

I have always admired Martin Gabel. At 5:47, when Arlene is being dishonest about "trading" instead of "training", you can hear him say, "Be honorable", to which Arlene replies, "Be honorable? In Television?" It's a testament to Mr. Gabel that he was successful in his field with such a handicap.

[@pyccoye]

+Robert Melson I looked at his biography. There is no reference, so can you educate me on what was his "handicap"?

[@robertmelson2130]

+pyccoye That he was an honest, honorable man. That strikes me as a handicap in show business in general and, as Arlene's reply indicates, television in particular.

[@pyccoye]

Even though he played a villain in a Western I saw, he was suave and sophisticated even in that role. The voice was refined and commanding.

[@loissimmons6558]

It occurred to me during this group of episodes in February 1960 where Martin was filling in for Bennett, that if Burgess Meredith had not taken the role of The Penguin on Batman, that Martin would have been a good choice.

[@lauracollins4195]

He’s a class act.

[@rivaridge7211]

Peggy Lee (in my view) was one of the most talented singers/songwriters of the 20th Century. Judy Garland is also regarded as being one the best from the same era, and in a 1967 interview, Judy was asked who her favorite female singer was, and without missing a beat she replied, "Peggy Lee."

[@drednm]

The great Peggy Lee! One of the best and most durable singers of the 20th century ... she could sing anything. She also won a Oscar nomination for her acting!

[@jjcameron7977]

Fabulous Peggy! Great lyricist and singer!

[@Kuklapolitan]

Ms. Lee bears the distinction of having her photograph on my wall of talent...and she was astounding. She was a woman with such a golden voice she could sing the phone book and make you believe it was her own composition.

[@ironduke2000]

Man, Peggy Lee is the epitome of early-60s glamour.

[@photo161]

all-time glamour...!

[@Ceelle2]

Sometimes when you know the behind the scenes story it is interesting to see the person in public. She was very insecure as a person...always looking for love, sometimes in the wrong way....but she was a trailblazer for women in music taking control of her arrangements.

[@clffliese26]

My two favorite songs of Ms. Lee's are He's a Tramp and the Siamese cat song, both from Lady and the Tramp.

[@hcombs0104]

@@Ceelle2 I guess her first husband (the father of her only child) was the great love of her life. Sadly he died in 1965.

[@jackkomisar458]

At 8:58, Arlene Francis says to the first contestant, the livestock auctioneer, "You're in the barter business, are you? The contestant doesn't understand, so Arlene says, "For money, just for money." But barter is not for money. Barter is the exchange of something of value for something of equivalent value. The auctioneer was not in the barter business.

[@jaykauffman4775]

Peggy Lee was a unique artist. Unlike any other and above just about all of them

[@nunosoares2329]

Rest In Peace Peggy Lee. Overdue condolences to the family for your loss. 😔💐

[@ToddSF]

Peggy Lee (1920-2002) was born Norma Deloris Egstrom in North Dakota to a Swedish-American father and a Norwegian-American mother. She was 5'6" tall, but I think she always looked taller than that, probably due to high heels and the fact that she almost always performed in a long gown with a hemline near her ankles. Her gowns almost always displayed her shoulders and were frequently strapless. She had quite a stage presence when she sang. She wrote a long of songs lyrics, too, including some for Disney where she also did some singing, as in "Lady and the Tramp". She actually was quite a good lyricist and, of course, when she wrote a song and sang it, no one ever did it better.

[@johannarhymer1093]

Love these shows

[@jewell92]

I had forgotten what Gazarra looked like back then. So young!

[@savethetpc6406]

Arlene was really the sneaky one on the first contestant -- I'm quite sure she said "training" in her original question (5:26).

[@JohnSmith-ls2dt]

She played to win. Even when she is goofy. : )

[@jewell92]

I swear that I heard"training", too.

[@kulturekritik9665]

That Arlene! But that kind of makes up for the times that John has screwed her over.

[@annjanssen8423]

Arlene showed a different side of her persona in pulling that one if Dorothy had done that she would have copped much more flack.

[@mikejschin]

Peggy Lee was known as Miss Peggy Lee and became the inspiration for the Muppet character Miss Piggy. In fact, Miss Piggy's original name was Miss Piggy Lee. The "Lee" was dropped as the character became more famous because Jim Henson and his crew didn't want to upset Peggy Lee.

[@ottovonjizzmark9864]

Damn, I kinda feel offended for Peggy

[@hcombs0104]

The great Peggy Lee. I find myself wondering why she was not given more opportunities as an actress in feature films. She could have played earthier types than Doris Day. Hollywood's loss.

[@dancebandleader]

hcombs0104 You bet. I saw the performance in "Pete Kelluy's Blues", and there should have been more. I prefer her Decca andearlier Capitol work, Some of those later Capitol LP's (after 1965 or so) find her (to me) usinga voice that sounded to me that she had less energy.

[@dmnemaine]

@@dancebandleader She was also in the 1952 Danny Thomas remake of "The Jazz Singer".

[@tumarbongrox6074]

Peggy Lee probably refused to lay on the *CASTING COUCH* and have sex with the director or the brass of the studio producing the movie! Many leading or supporting roles for actresses at that time were given to them if they were willing "LAY DOWN" to get the acting role.

[@annakaminski4406]

Respect & fun = a wonderful show.

[@donnacook8994]

Loved the lady auctioneer! 🥰👍

[@daler.steffy1047]

Wasn't she a complete delight! Just when I thought she didn't quite have a certain sense of "some greater understanding" of what was being said, she comes up with telling Arlene that she asked too many questions; so that said to me, "Here is a woman, (i.e., the auctioneer) that knew how to Conduct Business!" I was impressed with her.

[@vickisawyer7405]

I love this show! And what a concept - smoking on tv...

[@poolside16190]

If you’ve ever seen Lady & the Tramp, you’ll know the multi talents of Peggy Lee!🤓

[@dalehall2067]

I still love her song Is that all there is

[@Mimi12350]

I love this show 🤍🤍 Peggy Lee 🤍🤍🥰😍

[@cathykinn4516]

The Auctioneer woman reminds of Dorothy Malone in 'The Big Sleep' - very self assured, the way she took her glasses off. Very firm with Dorothy who, not for the first time, took all the credit after the others had done all the groundwork.

[@jreklesstheyung4469]

My grandma was in season 10 episode #452

[@marywebb9127]

Is it a lost episode?

[@sdkelmaruecan2907]

I like how WML can be a reflection on the evolution of female fashion from the 50s to the 60s... in one decade what a leap! Girls in the earliest episodes were still dressed as if they were going to a prom and even their elders had clothes that look very 40s... but by 60, judging by that auctioneer's style, it wasnt a big deal anymore to dress like a doll... by the way I love her style, maybe she was geeky by the standards of the day but there is a very modern look about her...

[@williamlynnroden]

Toward the end of his career/life Ben played a character in the movie "Road House" that I just HATED, seeing him here so young and lively is such a pleasure. I wish he would have been on more than just a couple of times. He's quite good for not being one of regulars.

[@bogieviews]

He was a great villain in Roadhouse. I had not seen him after Run for Your Life. Always enjoyed him.

[@williamhiles7404]

Peggy Lee gave me Fever when I was very young. Oh yeah. LedHed Steven 🎶 🎸 🎹 🎸 🎶

[@boognish999]

"you asked about three questions there" I Iove when people "own" Dorothy Kilgallen.

[@FungusMossGnosis]

That wasn't an own, since the guest could have answered yes to any one of them, but instead let Dorothy go on to make that silly crack. All the panelists have that tendency to ask more than one question at a time here and there.

[@MWood-ry8uu]

So then history will note, John Daly was once nearly auctioned off for $125. That's $1,100 in today's economy.

[@kulturekritik9665]

Awww. Mrs. Haytis looks a lot like my grandmother, gone now for 50 years.

[@bogieviews]

Was he worth it? I like his confusing clarifications.

[@minkstole977]

ben gazzara is an angel

[@Baskerville22]

He is now

[@ironduke2000]

The auctioneer seemed a little carried away when she met Ben Gazzara.

[@johnnyaingel5753]

Loved her so much as a boy god bless

[@preppysocks209]

Peggy Lee was never a boy.

[@kennethlatham3133]

@@preppysocks209 You beat me to it! Ha! You rat!

[@galileocan]

Very sad - as the camera is on Ben Gazzara during the first contestant, you see the smoke from his cigarette. He eventually got throat cancer, that would lead to the pancreatic cancer that ended his life.

[@robertsvorinich890]

Ben Gazzara. Run for your life

[@jeaniedouglas8096]

Ben Gazzara! What a BABE!!

[@roseannsanders2778]

I agree! I had a huge crush on him when I was a young girl and always watched him in "Arrest and Trial" on TV.

[@orgonkothewildlyuntamed6301]

i sometimes catch the cattle auction they usually go from $6K - $8K each no wonder steakhouses are expensive.......

[@erichanson426]

Wow, I didn't know cattle could be that expensive.

[@wmadamzzz]

I'm 73 years old and was 11 when this show was on. I have lots of memories of watching this with my parents on Sunday night. Peggy Lee was a big deal then; can't say as I remember her here on this particular episode, but it's always fun to see her. If you have time, take a look at this recent tribute to her on CBS Sunday Morning kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZnTeoxmZZmakKc

[@sansacro007]

the auctioneer was darling and clearly nervous! But she did well!

[@toreckman8899]

Shame on you Arlene. You said ‘training’.

[@cathykinn4516]

PS 🥳PEGGY LEE🥳 Effortless Class. HUGE TALENT. Wrote songs too. See the film of her composing 'He's a Tramp' for Disney. Disciplined, no slackness but FUN.

[@daler.steffy1047]

I was really charmed by Peggy Lee; and having been born in 1948, I was able to appreciate some of her hit records at the time she had recorded them. But perhaps somebody can enlighten me on this issue: Why is it that so many famous and extremely talented individuals have a problem holding on to a marriage? It seems like many of these often multi-talented people went through 3, 4, and (even) 5 divorces, with marriages that often lasted no more than 6 months to 4 years. I simply don't clearly understand all the issues around that. I do know that being a famous performer of some kind does require a great deal of work and travel and mingling, and often in "intimate" ways with a lot of different people. So perhaps all of "that' has some bearing on "meeting the challenges" that come with maintaining a marriage commitment.

[@ToddSF]

Peggy Lee was so fine!

[@marywebb9127]

Ben Gazzara was a good looking man!

[@nadiazahroon6573]

The voice of Lady from Lady and the Tramp.

[@echoecho3108]

No. Miss Lee did 4 voices in Lady and the Tramp, but not Lady. She was Darling (the baby's mother), Peg (the dog who sang He's a Tramp), and Si and Am (the cats).

[@scottpardee6303]

Ben Gazzara is smoking a cigarette! I thought they had stopped that years ago!

[@rmelin13231]

Horrors!

[@FermatWiles]

It is so obvious that Arlene Francis was the dominant figure in the marriage.

[@jimboy819]

She definitely wore the pants in the family.

[@greeneyes2256]

If you had ever seen them in person, off stage, and relaxed, you’d know that there were no ‘pants.’ They adored one another and were completely supportive of each other’s careers and both were strong role models for their sons.

[@FermatWiles]

@@greeneyes2256 So you knew them or why did you see them off-stage?

[@Baskerville22]

Martin couldn't believe his luck....

[@peternagy-im4be]

@@Baskerville22 i own a talking dog.

[@BathshebaE1]

Why is the background of the money cards the State of Florida?

[@jackkomisar458]

It represented the sponsor, Florida Citrus. The money cards did not always have an image, but when they did, the image represented the sponsor.

[@BathshebaE1]

@@jackkomisar458 Makes sense. Thanks Jack!

[@fixfireleo]

I wonder what the population of Wyoming was back then? Its's only about 500,000 now.

[@geoffm9944]

Dorothy sometimes spoilt the celebrity spot by guessing the celebrity’s name far too quickly, and this was a case in point. Dorothy was an excellent panelist, but her success in guessing the name of celebrities within a minute or so was infuriating! I suspect she did her homework before the show.

[@sallyhaid7030]

No more infuriating than Arlene lying about her question.

[@bgh8904]

Most people that are the celebrity are promoting a project. So if there is a big name, they know what the big projects are so it limits the options. Especially back then. They all take is seriously, should she sit there and pretend she doesn't know and fake questions? Infuriated? You just don't understand how things work in life.

[@susanrutherford866]

The poor woman had barely sat down and dorothy had to spill the beans

[@andreaplummer3841]

To be fair, she had to be prodded by Martin Gabel to say it. She was fine to let the game continue.

[@jeffreygrossi2800]

Great singer but loved her eyes…

[@steveburrus9347]

I wonder just how long the yiung woman aiuctioneer's life was? And also how many auctioneers are still out there doing that kind of a job?

[@Tahoenjr]

If she was Mary Page Wightman, then 1975 is when she died.

[@janicegipson4691]

4 yrs from your comment, auctioneers are still used all over the place, weekly livestock auctions in most counties in my state. Also estates & antiques/collectibles. An auction is too much fun to be taken over by the ‘net or a pandemic....

[@orgonkothewildlyuntamed6301]

the 1st contestant looked cute w/o the glasses exc im not sure if her one tooth was gold or bad?

[@VahanNisanian]

Why is this episode two minutes shorter than normal? Was this a victim of GSN's notorious speed-ups?

[@WhatsMyLine]

For some reason I'm just seeing this comment thread now! GSN does not appear to have ever sped up the WML series, though they were, as you noted, Vahan, notorious for doing this with more modern shows. I'm always at a loss to explain the shorter shows. A handful are a full 5 minutes shorter than usual with no apparently missing segments, and no explanation I can find for the length. What I can tell you is that if it's short, this is the way it aired on GSN. If the show was truncated due to a recording error of some sort, I would have noted it.

[@gaelengesser9484]

Ben Gazzara, OH, MY!

[@ToddSF]

Dixie Alexander -- Ditto. He wasn't gay, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy the view. He definitely improved the scenery on WML.

[@ToddSF]

You're right, there isn't anything wrong with that.

[@soulierinvestments]

Elaine Stritch nearly married him. Elaine, however, got sidetracked by a huge crush on Rock Hudson. years later, she observed about this development, "and we all know what a bum decision THAT turned out to be." Well, you know. Live and learn.

[@leom9286]

Peggy Wightman Looks like naughty librarian that look she gave him at 3:08 Can I visit your dressing room???

[@biondanishgenomeinstitute8193]

"Can we rule out horses, cows and sheep?" and they got a yes .. hmmm

[@mon_avis2978]

Wow, was Ben Gazzara handsome at age 30.

[@shirleyrombough8173]

She did say training, didn't she? It's not a big deal but she's usually more honest.

[@Konsker]

pretty peggy lee

[@tugginalong]

What did she say?

[@peternagy-im4be]

I own a talking dog.

[@youbetcha6880]

If that first guest, Page, were alive at that age today, she'd probably have pink hair and a nose ring. But, alas, this was 1960. But she still had an edgy look!

[@Mmdmade]

Arlene did not like the livestock girl. And there was a dark energy about her.

[@vicheakeng4884]

22:51

[@vicheakeng4884]

22:57

[@dinahbrown902]

Arlene said training,what a cheat

[@jacquelinebell6201]

John could have taken her up on it. Everyone heard. Not cheating, just wanting to get a yes. It's a fun show.

[@waldolydecker8118]

19:22 Dorothy was referring to Peggy Lee's album, "Latin a la Lee," which had just been released the previous month. The LP was very popular and led to a sequel the following year, "Ole ala Lee." These were two of the better known albums in her discography.