You gotta love how, unlike all the glamour GIRLS on WML, she doesn't hesitate in answering the "whistling" question. "Cute", sure, but at [perhaps] 57, she can hardly be called "young".
There was no one like Lily. French down to her tippy-toes. Transfixing in person, and oh so chic. A big voice, NOT a tiny one! A even bigger persona. Ambitious, serious about her art and career but also delightful, entertaining, sparkling. On the other hand, very matter of fact about her life and its demands. Obviously, chic. When she appeared on "Your Show of Shows" with Imogene Coca it was the talk of the nation the next day. They looked like twins!
Where the small voice comments started I have no Idea. To see her in Person was mesmerizing. I saw her in 1948 (her blonde period) she was quite over weight at the time. Probably the panel could not believe the transformation. She definitely had lost pounds and had plastic surgery done. The tone of her voice you could never mistake her for any other singer.
She had the audience on their feet time and time again. A moment in time never to be forgotten.
Thanks. You seem quite clever yourself. I'll bet you'd blend seamlessly as a panelist. :)
Do you happen to know whether, next to the Order of the Garter, there's also the Order of the Suspenders, or the Order of the Bra? And, if so, what are their mottos?
The answer to both questions is "yes". The Order of Suspenders have the motto; "Keep Up the Good Work". The Order of the Bra was formed by the management of the "Rawhide" Bra Company of Nebraska, whose mission statement was to "Head Them Up and Move Them Out".
I think NOBODY could take her place. She was a delight for many years and couls sing beautifully, especially in her youth. Her highs were fantastsic, but they didn't last forever, but she remained singing for a long, long time. She had a 22 inch waist and was beautiful in costume. They say she had a small voice, but it was beautiful. Nobody was ever likeher and they never will be. She's compared to Sutherland, but the two cannot be compared!
I have a 1947 St. Louis high school newspaper interview with Pons and her husband was present. She was very funny and very endearing and oh so French. The kids adored her and knew all her music (it was a different world then). She was proud to have become an American citizen; at think by that point most Americans had claimed her for themselves, citizen or not. She is beautifully dressed, coiffed and made up here to the point of being enchanting.
What a trip to see beautiful, petite LILY PONS on WML! She was delightful but I wish she could have spoken more. Her voice was incredible..especially her unforgettable rendition of the BELL SONG from Lakme, which she sang in I DREAM TOO MUCH. Legendary talent. Thanks so much for sharing this charming vignette from WML!
@soulierinvestments Probably the young Russian soprano Anna Netrebko, but I don't know much about her personality, how she would come off on a show like WML.
Love that dress!!!!!!!!!!!!!
markedwardindc 2 months ago
5:56 video: What's My Line? Lily Pons (April 12, 1898 – February 13, 1976).
mkworkman 10 months ago
You gotta love how, unlike all the glamour GIRLS on WML, she doesn't hesitate in answering the "whistling" question. "Cute", sure, but at [perhaps] 57, she can hardly be called "young".
63utuber 1 year ago
There was no one like Lily. French down to her tippy-toes. Transfixing in person, and oh so chic. A big voice, NOT a tiny one! A even bigger persona. Ambitious, serious about her art and career but also delightful, entertaining, sparkling. On the other hand, very matter of fact about her life and its demands. Obviously, chic. When she appeared on "Your Show of Shows" with Imogene Coca it was the talk of the nation the next day. They looked like twins!
waynebrasler 1 year ago
Where the small voice comments started I have no Idea. To see her in Person was mesmerizing. I saw her in 1948 (her blonde period) she was quite over weight at the time. Probably the panel could not believe the transformation. She definitely had lost pounds and had plastic surgery done. The tone of her voice you could never mistake her for any other singer.
She had the audience on their feet time and time again. A moment in time never to be forgotten.
strick3769 2 years ago
What is the Latin expression Cerf quotes in his last question? I couldn't make this out.
EvenEvenOdd 2 years ago
It's not quite Latin, but is Old French (fitting, bearing in mind the nationality of this guest celebrity!)
It is the motto of Britain's Order of the Garter, and means "shame upon him who thinks evil upon it".
The expression is "Honi soit qui mal y pense".
Note how the panelist cleverly puns the last word with her surname!
daigress 2 years ago
Thanks. You seem quite clever yourself. I'll bet you'd blend seamlessly as a panelist. :)
Do you happen to know whether, next to the Order of the Garter, there's also the Order of the Suspenders, or the Order of the Bra? And, if so, what are their mottos?
EvenEvenOdd 2 years ago
The answer to both questions is "yes". The Order of Suspenders have the motto; "Keep Up the Good Work". The Order of the Bra was formed by the management of the "Rawhide" Bra Company of Nebraska, whose mission statement was to "Head Them Up and Move Them Out".
spitfireJEJ 1 year ago
@spitfireJEJ I hear the motto of the Order of the Enema is: "Up to no goods."
EvenEvenOdd 1 year ago
@EvenEvenOdd it's the (French) motto of the House of Windsor, honi soit qui mali pense, a pun (typical of BC) on "Pons"
ciroalb3 1 year ago
I'd love to know what Arlene says to her at 5:45 - could be "You look so ..."
Arlene also says something ao Dorothy that's unintelligible, but they take long looks at Lily Pons as she exits.
perlster 2 years ago
Arlene tells Lily, "You look like a dream!", then tells Dorothy, "Isn't her dress heaven?"
tjbnyc76 2 years ago 2
Arlene said "You look like a dream."
torchkit 2 years ago
and how she dressed! They knew what it was to be a star.
ciroalb3 2 years ago
I think NOBODY could take her place. She was a delight for many years and couls sing beautifully, especially in her youth. Her highs were fantastsic, but they didn't last forever, but she remained singing for a long, long time. She had a 22 inch waist and was beautiful in costume. They say she had a small voice, but it was beautiful. Nobody was ever likeher and they never will be. She's compared to Sutherland, but the two cannot be compared!
sfatlarge 2 years ago
Lily Pons , a wonderful voice but Sutherland and Sills, were better.. .Pons had a lighter ,smaller voice better compared to Roberta Peters.
Etnalleb 2 years ago 2
I have a 1947 St. Louis high school newspaper interview with Pons and her husband was present. She was very funny and very endearing and oh so French. The kids adored her and knew all her music (it was a different world then). She was proud to have become an American citizen; at think by that point most Americans had claimed her for themselves, citizen or not. She is beautifully dressed, coiffed and made up here to the point of being enchanting.
waynebrasler 2 years ago 2
What a trip to see beautiful, petite LILY PONS on WML! She was delightful but I wish she could have spoken more. Her voice was incredible..especially her unforgettable rendition of the BELL SONG from Lakme, which she sang in I DREAM TOO MUCH. Legendary talent. Thanks so much for sharing this charming vignette from WML!
erzbet07 3 years ago
Wonderful, darling Lily. Always enchanting and one Hell of an opera singer.
waynebrasler 3 years ago
According to Wikipedia, this lovely woman is 57 years old here.
kolst8406 3 years ago 4
Good Lord, and she doesn't look a day over 40! :)
lalagonegaga 3 years ago
Very charming! And see how they all dressed up and how gentle are their manners. They really had respect for the public.
SENAFOREVER 3 years ago 11
Class with a capital C. Makes me think -- If WML were on the air today, what cute young opera singer could a modern panel identify?
soulierinvestments 3 years ago 12
Diana Damrau perhaps
LadyEmmaHamilton 3 years ago
Michael Jackson?
meanwiddlekid 3 years ago
Probably Fleming or Netrebko.
rmm413c 3 years ago
@soulierinvestments Anna Netrebko..but only if you're willing to leave class completely out of the equation..
alithecrab 1 year ago
@soulierinvestments Probably the young Russian soprano Anna Netrebko, but I don't know much about her personality, how she would come off on a show like WML.
CarloQuinto 9 months ago