What's My Line? 5 Feb 1961 Part 4 Mystery Guest Dorothy Kilgallen

[LisaDawnn]

Dorothy was KILLED. Now, why?...no one know and that's where the conspiracy starts. Dorothy also drank quite heavily but perhaps knowing the things she knew, made her want to forget at times. But it's been said she was killed for one of several (inter-related) reasons. 1) She knew more about the JFK murder and/or 2) she knew about UFOs and the governments' involvement 3) and/or she knew about Marilyn Monroe's murder. Take your pick. She was very good friends with Marilyn.

[giuraesuda]

Jill Kollmar works with interior design, such as the annual Los Angeles event called "Design House." She doesn't work with fashion or wardrobe. Both of her parents enjoyed interior decorating their brownstone on Manhattan's East 68th Street.

[MsJKG123]

Met Dorothy Kilgallen's son today....he is a great guy! Super awesome sense of humor!!

[calihartley2010]

@MsJKG123 Which son, Kerry Kolmar or his older brother?

[Jantv81]

@calihartley2010 Daughter Jill never speaks of her mother (Dorothy) and refuses all interviews. Last I heard she was living in the Los Angeles area involved in fashion design.

[calihartley2010]

@Jantv81 Thanks for the info. I am glad she is doing well in life.

[Belugawhale8]

I hate how Martin and Arlene aren't sitting next to each other!

[mabroussardii]

@okonh0wp Martin Gabel was an actor, primarily stage I believe. He was also one of the most fortunate men alive as he was married to Arlene Francis.

[Porkularpie]

She had no chin

[liagiba989]

Anthony Perkins is so handsome and dreamy. You will be missed, Anthony. :'(

[gabsylv]

Dorothy looks tired but quite cute here.

[calihartley2010]

@gabsylv I agree.Dorothy looks cute

[MegaObserver1]

Of the WML regulars and semi-regulars, only Bennett Cerf and Arlene Francis were never mystery guests (John Daley was the final prime-time MG). Although I'm not sure about Martin Gable.

[soulierinvestments]

@MegaObserver1 Bennett Cerf appeared as a mystery guest early in syndicated WML. Martin Gabel appeared as a mystery guest in 1960 and 1965 when the producers tried the gimmick of putting the spouses of the panel on as mystery guest. YouTube has both of those clips under heading of "What's My Line spouses."

[okonh0wp]

@soulierinvestments who was martin gabel? how could Kilgallen get away w/being mystery guest if she was on the panel every week except this one? wouldn't the others have thought where's dorothy?

[lttguys]

@MegaObserver1 Martin Gable was a guest when he appeared with the other 3 husbands and wives of the panel...was a great show!

[TheCorly1]

i love the way the panel says goodnight at the end of each show so sweet :)

[badumpy]

Such a better time to live than now...so much more inncocent.

[scuttlebuttlin]

@badumpy  Not so innocent. We had the cold war going on and racial unrest was rampant....Each generation has their own devils to deal with......

[Jsd8675]

"Do you feel queer on that side?" haha how words change.

[calihartley2010]

@Jsd8675 That shows how disgusting this society has become.

[merdehappens]

2:50 : Don't mouth bad things, the camera is always watching...

[soulierinvestments]

( 5:59 ) > ( 6:16 ) -- early luscious periods

[RutherfordClubb139]

Dowwnload the audio from this clip at searchripgrab doht cohm.

[henrygrove100]

Debbie Reynolds cheated, she looked thru the glasses.

[bigblondman1]

@ptevlin not necessarily true. there was a lot of controversey as i recall. she was an investigavtive reporter and she had some info on the kennedy assasination that certain parties did not like. supposedly she died of an overdose of drugs but there were fingerprints on her neck that suggested foul play.  so you decide.

[Jantv81]

One thing that does come across, at least to me is how fond that in fact that John, Arlene, Bennett, Dorothy were of each other. Especially after Dorothy's death.

[Jantv81]

I liked her squeaks...

[henrygrove100]

@Jantv81 me too!

[Jantv81]

RIP Dorothy Kilgallen 1913-1965.

[henrygrove100]

@Jantv81 :(

[BetteDavisMimic]

AMEN!!! FIrst Last and Always in Hollywood Royalty there is ROSALIND RUSSELL......my aunt Betty was my Auntie Mame and they were SO similar.....i miss them both still so badly even today.....god love them both

[sbutler0727]

Thank you for posting this. This clip is yet another of those classic What's My Line? clips that could never be duplicated. I have heard that John and Dorothy did not get along toward the end of her life. I don't know if it is true or not, but if it is it is sad.  In any case, thanks for posting this.

[jamierourketen]

she knew who killed kennedy

[JubalCalif]

Anthony Perkins on "What's My Line"? Heavens to murgatroid....never saw one of those episodes before! Strange to see Dorothy on the other side of the panel. She certainly did have what they call a "receding" chin. She had a long term feud with Frank Sinatra, who called her the "Chinless Wonder". I don't know what she called him. Fascinating episode! THANKS for sharing it with us! Happy New Year to one & all! :)

[UDIETHATWAY]

I think Debbie Reynolds peeked....she was playing with her pencil throughout the entire show and asked terrible questions and all the sudden - do you write for a newspaper comes out of her mouth.....I think she cheated.!!

[henrygrove100]

@UDIETHATWAY I agree! She's a cheat!

[1Th1617]

IEnjoyHippies, you should do some research before you so easily and blithly accept the reason for "her fatal demise." Even the coroner's report stated "cause of death unknown." You may enjoy hippies, but THEY certainly didn't accept every load of crap shoveled down their throats by "the authorities."

[xander7ful]

Poor Dorothy did look under the weather there. And Arlene was so gracious to stand up while greeting her. I hope she got her well-deserved rest in Florida.

[HowardOfOz3565]

Oswald was in the Marines, not the Army and barely qualified as Marksman, The lowest rating

[sprintbass]

i think you are absolutly right...its sad because this was 45 years ago...kilgallen was popular..she had her own radio show which ran many many years (breakfast with dorothy and dick) she did whats my line and was international reporter, quite a proud feat for a woman of her time IN a time when woman were meerly slated to be housewives..from all i found about her she did have a few affiars..it was rumored her husband dick was gay..back then though ppl married to cover things..still do it seems.

[sprintbass]

hello again..

well when it comes to kennedy getting killed if oswald was guilty or in on something he waws not the only one..ive seen the zupruder film over and over and when i see the fatal shot it does not appear to come from behind him if oswald did it i think he shot the shot that went through kennedys neck and hit govenor connelly.but i dont think he hit the fatal shot..it had to load each shot indidvuisually and then re-aim...but thats a whole other topic either way the whole thing is sad

[sprintbass]

hello there...

well my blaming the government is not meant to be seen as a fashion thing...the whole JFK thing is still unanswerd..there is no clear indication on anything..there is a good book which is ofcourse out of print called kilgallen by lee isreal..according to johnnie ray (dorolthys secret lover) he says the book is accurate and he says he thinks there was a consiracy..i think that vid is on you tube under his name in 1981..just saying, there is no clear answer on this 44 yers later.

[sprintbass]

but dont you think its a bit strange how she died...she announced she would crack the kennedy case and suddenly she was silenced...there was alot surounding her death...the book she was reading when they foun d her dead was a book she already had finished..the way she was dressed it raised alot od suspision...no doubt they all loved to smoke and drink back then but i dont think she killed herself accidently or on purpose..reason is there is no concreate finnialized end of her life..loose ties

[chrishanson70]

Dorothy looks very good here, fully recovered compared to her thin and frail self in episodes before this.

Arlene does have a terrific outfit this evening, I'm surprised they don't have her sitting next to Martin though.

[calalilygirl]

Arlenes ensemble looks very current by todays fashion standards. Stunning

[evolgub]

seeing as how she apparently had a substance abuse problem, isn't it possible that she accidentally overdosed and was not murdered?

[bkohatl]

Dorothy was one of the first to stand up and say that Dr. Sam Shepard was innocent. The Judge at the trial told her that he knew Sam was guilty. This was before the trial ever began.

[CarlyIsAGangster]

Wait why was Dorothy in the hospital???

I was soo happy to see Debbie Reynolds on the panel!!

She's such a great woman.

Arlene looked really REALLY pretty in this episode.

Like she always does. :]

[soulierinvestments]

Dorothy in hospital in 1958 and here in 1961 and in spring 1963 for the same reason -- problems associated with her alcohol and substance abuse addictions.

[CarlyIsAGangster]

Ahhhhh I knew she did have problems with that.

But was she open about it? Or did they just say hospitalization as in rehab?

[soulierinvestments]

No. They talked about it in the vaguest of terms.  Newspaper reports talked about anemia.

[1Th1617]

CarlyIsAGangster, people were not "open about it" then. Especially, not women. And wasn't that a convenient "explanation" for how she died. Perhaps that's NOT how she died.

[alanwatts1]

soulierinvestments: "Dorothy in hospital in 1958 and here in 1961 and in spring 1963 for the same reason -- problems associated with her alcohol and substance abuse addictions."

Wrong. Several newspapers reported that her 1958 hospitalization was for "exhaustion and anemia." Regarding 1961, her African American chauffeur said 15 years later, "I don't say 'drunk.' One of the things that brought it about was having one or two drinks and not eating. Her system ran down that way."

[rentatrip1]

D.K. attended the JFK inaugural after wards she was admitted to a NY hospital the exact circumstances are un-clear, John Daly stated On TV that D.K. had "fell down" and injured herself- there is actually no reason to use the term Addictions as of the date of this telecast because D.K. had duly taken part in ALL of the WML broadcasts up to this period, to slurr her reputation without base on fact is to blemish the lady's hard owrking career - Altough the whole issue is clouded in mystery

[CarlyIsAGangster]

Hey I wasn't dissing her.

She was a great woman. Alcoholic /drug addict or not.

I like her.

[staytunedfor]

Dorothy seemed to relish being on the other side of the stage, despite her nervousness. I love when they surprise the panel with either one of their own or their family members.

Arlene looked particularly stunning.

[UofLCardFan08]

How would you know, logansGT? None of us knew her.

[logansGT]

How would I know, CardFan? Well, there's this little thing called Google.....maybe you've heard of it.

Try using it, you clueless lemming.

[UofLCardFan08]

Yes, because google is the answer to all the world's questions?

[logansGT]

You'll probably have trouble with this concept, CardFan, but Google has the answer to many of the "world's questions."

Unfortunately for you, it will help only if you're intelligent enough to use it properly.

[UofLCardFan08]

Sweetie, I've used Google plenty of times in my life.

And for the record, Sinatra was just as nasty. Once, he sent Dorothy a tombstone with her name on it.

[logansGT]

"Sweetie?"

(Hmmm.....this must be the standard ploy of keepin' your enemies closer.)

Btw, how did you know that I'm sweet? Oh wait, you must have Googled it.....lol.

But seriously, my little cumquat, Sinatra probably sent her the "tombstone with her name on it" because he had his fill of her vicious New York gossip column.

Have a nice day (*_~)

[bfyau]

And lets not forget that Sinatra was connected with the Mafia - so maybe the tombstone was also a warning - keep it up and you will be taking a little ride: banga bang. But I think that Dorothy's efforts with Jack Ruby may have been to show to people that she could be an investigative reporter (AKA a real reporter) - not just a gossip reporter.

[logansGT]

You may be on to something, bfyau.

Maybe wanting to be a "real reporter" was the thing that led her into a situation in which she was over her head.

Another angle on it is that it's possible that her killer(s), knowing Sinatra's ties with the mob, used that to take the spotlight off themselves and the real reason she was murdered.

[soulierinvestments]

Probably not the answer to all the world's questions but an extremely useful place to start.

[MerleOberon]

Don't forget our Debbie was dumped by Eddie Fisher, who was doing the wild thing with Liz Taylor, probably hardened her up a little.....

[13loomisst]

Thanks very much for sharing this.

[ronaldt491]

Note that all but Debby got a hug/kiss from Dorothy. I assume there was a reason for that.

[shoredude2]

I assume that the reason that Debby didn't get a hug from Dorothy is because the men usually stood, while the ladies did not, for the mystery guest. Arlene stood most likely because she and Dorothy were friends.

[torchkit]

Where's Bennett?

[soulierinvestments]

On his 1961 vacation.

[13loomisst]

Quite interesting, and entertaining. Thanks very much for taking the time to post the whole show.

[OldTimerGoGetter]

Thank you, this segment was so cute!

[PatinPDX]

Thank you so much for posting this. I was a young kid in the 1960's, and Mom would wake me up to watch WML with the family. I always enjoyed the Mystery Guest spots as a kid but now I really appreciate the regular contestants more. Watching how the panel could piece together the clues is fascinating, and the humor with a number of occupations is priceless. Too bad a show like this could NEVER survive these days. We've all become too jaded, I think. Thank you again for posting this.

[BlaDidaDida]

how come anthony perkins gets to this show?!

[funnygal200]

It was great seeing DK as the mystery guest. Thx for posting!

[johnsidney]

I was only ten years old in 1961 and I have a question.

I was just wondering if the general public knew at the time about Dorothy's pills/alcohol abuse? If not, and probably not, what reason did they give for her absence?

Also, does anyone know if the WML first episode right after she died is here on You Tube? I haven't found it.

Thanks so much to all of you that take the time to put these wonderful episodes on here. I know we all really appreciate it.

[soulierinvestments]

On WML broadcasts they would say she is ill, recovering in the hospital. In 1960 and 1962, TV watchers with eyes to see and ears to hear certainly saw the obvious. In 62, she became anorexically thin and noticeably slurred her speech.

The live broadcast after Dorothy died featured "What's My LIne Maureen O Sullivan." YouTube once featured the whole broadcast. The 7 Nov 1965 live broadcast a few hours before Dorothy died appears in its entertaining entirety on YouTube.

[sknyrd77]

Yes, the clip (just after her death,is on youtube) . I saw it about a month ago. Kinda hard to find because its not the "main" part of the heading....

[sknyrd77]

Found it. Look under "Maureen O' Sullivan Whats My Line". This was the first episode after her death, and Dorothy is alluded to at the end of the broadcast.

[gymnastix]

She is more than "alluded to."

At the very beginning of the broadcast John Daly speaks about Dorothy's death, and the wishes of her family that the best tribute to her would be to play the regular games on the program which she appeared for 15 years, just as "WML?" had done after the death of panelist Fred Allen some ten years prior.

Daly's tone throughout the broadcast is understandably somber.

[gymnastix]

An obvious, dark pall hung over the entire show, leading up to the good-night speeches in which every panel member, including guest panelists Kitty Carlisle and former panelist Steve Allen (both long-time, Goodson-Todman family members) paid tribute to Kilgallen.

This was a sad show, even more so than following Fred Allen's death, as Kilgallen was the only on-air personality besides Daly who had been on the program since the first broadcast.

[gymnastix]

And, in my opinion, the program never again had quite the same feel, even allowing the continued presence of punster Cerf & the chipper Francis with the eloquent moderator Daly.

But I haven't viewed the 11/14/1965 "WML?" episode on Tube in awhile. So perhaps Daly's intro to it was edited out, the one uploaded now not the same as I watched previously.

[nicksacop]

I think if you look for WML 11 15 65 you might find it. her last appearance was 11 08 65 with Joey Heatherton as the mystery guest

[gymnastix]

Actually, the dates of those broadcasts were 1/07/1965 for Kilgallens last WML? appearance, 11/14/1965 for the Kilgallen tribute episode, one day off in each case.

But Kilgallens official, last appearance on TV was a pre-recorded episode of the daytime To Tell The Truth on the very day of her death (11/08/1965), in which she & Arlene Francis appeared in disguises (voices also altered) as contestants, with actress Joan Crawford, the object for the panel to guess the real Crawford.

[soulierinvestments]

And it irks me that Goodson-Todman did not save that videotape of the Crawford - Francis - Kilgallen episode. Aside -- Douglas Edwards / CBS broke the news of Kilgallen's death in a regularly scheduled afternoon news brief right after the broadcast of TTTT.

[gymnastix]

Due to news of Kilgallen's death having already become widespread, CBS newsman Doug Edwards did a voice-over immediately following that "TTTT" broadcast, informing the preceding program had been pre-recorded at an earlier date, prior to Kilgallen's death earlier that day.

[gymnastix]

Then the very next day, perhaps as if following Broadway's longstanding tradition of theaters collectively dimming their marquees in honor of a recently-deceased actor, the Northeast coast of the U.S. (and Ontario in Canada) incurred an electrical blackout, as if saying good-bye to the "Voice Of Broadway" columnist, radio & TV personality who was a guest in American homes as part of a weekly, Sunday evening, television tradition for 15 years.

[gymnastix]

I realize the blackout was coincidence, but Im going for symbolism here. And with the most populated city in the U.S. in the dark (along with the rest of New York, New Jersey & New England) the day after Kilgallen's death, that represented a large segment of the American viewing public that watched WML? every week.

I like to think of the "Great Northeast Blackout of 1965" as the most civilized part of America dimming its lights for Dorothy Kilgallen.

[soulierinvestments]

I am old enough to remember the TV news coverage of the blackout. And the day before, I remember watching ABC Evening News as Peter Jennings reported Dorothy Kilgallen's death. Somewhere in YouTubia is that 7 November 1965 broadcast with her last appearance. In it, she identified a contestant who sold dynamite. ABC News used that amusing clip in its report. "I don't know anyone else in the dynamite family."

[UofLCardFan08]

I like her signature

[UofLCardFan08]

Thanks alot, soulierinvestments

[Imthecuteone]

I like how Arlene showed some interest in Dorothy's well being. Like saying "my dear girl, how are you?" and saying "we're so glad to see you" In one clip somewhere, a poster had thought Dorothy had low-self esteem. I think she had a bit of low-self esteem especially with talk of her and Johnnie Ray, like maybe she thought no one cared about her except him. I wonder what her kids thought around that time. It was nice to see that Arlene showed that she was concerned for her.

[1Th1617]

I always felt there was something phoney sweet about Arlene. As if she could turn in a minute. I don't know if that was true; it's just what I felt from her.

[Imthecuteone]

I had heard Arlene was like that, in front of the camera she was sweet and everything but off camera she wasn't exactly like that. But after Dorothy died, from the look of Arlene, you could tell she was upset. I'm sure she didn't want anything like that to happen to her. About her being killed, I agree. Accidental death or not, I can't see her overdosing in any case just before she was about to break big news. When the cops investigated her death, they didn't spend much time with it either.

[NorbertR33]

Thanks for posting this wonderful "What's my Line""episode!

[soulierinvestments]

And thank you for posting all your WML clips for us to enjoy.

[Dutchfan33]

THANKS!!!!!!!!

Dorothy Kilgallen is great,I love her!

[hangtime9873]

Dolly Mae did look, as Lee Israel's book says, "smashing" in her fur-trimmed frock. Ms. Israel's biography of Ms. Kilgallen uses this episode to illustrate how Ms. Kilgallen's addictions were beginning to effect her work as well as her looks. Poor thing...she was one of the earliest celebrity victims of medical ignorance regarding barbituate use. I think she died from too much "pills and liquor" and nothing else.

[soulierinvestments]

Well put. Well written. Whoever prescribed those barbs did Dorothy a world of hurt. Alcohol is a drug too. It is interesting to speculate what Dorothy's newsreporting career could have evolved into if the drugs hadn't taken a toll on her -- and killed her at a young age.

[gymnastix]

Both you & the previous poster are correct regarding Dorothy Kilgallen's obvious drug usage.

I have personal experience with that frequently lethal combination of alcohol & barbiturates, myself having ingested a large quantity of alcohol, cough medicine and Phenobarbital on two occasions.

And the effect produced by such mimicked exactly the tongue-tied speaking manner of Kilgallen during one of the panel introduction segments of "WML?"

[gymnastix]

Sorry, I don't recall the date, but it's here on Tube as "Worst Moments of 'WML?," to that effect.

To this day I wonder how I survived one of those drug-riddled nights, passed out in a car while friends went to a relative's swimming pool the whole afternoon following that night.

More recently, a few years ago, I lost a friend to a combination of alcohol & barbiturates. She had been a heroin addict for a decade, but 'twas only the booze & pills cocktail that "done her in."

[gymnastix]

And that girl, my late friend, was once beautiful enough to have been a model, seriously..

I don't know if the JFK murder story had any bearing on Kilgallen's death. But it's obvious she was physically ill for quite some time before her still-premature death.

It is possible any alleged conspirators in a JFK cover-up plot took advantage of the very public face of Kilgallen's illness, to make it appear was just the final straw in a long period of self-abuse.

[gymnastix]

Still, had Kilgallen not been a long-term self-medicator,. possible her physiology would have allowed her to survive even a few, slipped mickeys.

[1Th1617]

hangtime9873, I think she died from being killed. She was the ONLY person whom Jack Ruby wanted to see for a one on one interview. She told friends that she was going to "break the JFK murder wide open" and carried around a briefcase with her writings. After she "died" the briefcase was found empty. The official autopsy report was "cause of death unknown."

[Yowzoe]

I'm no conspiracy theorist, but Kilgallen's death comes closest to feeling "right" as any I've ever heard of.

I hope it will be uncovered one day. I hope someone will step forward to tell the truth...if there is anyone left.

[1Th1617]

I don't believe in conspiracy "theories", either. But I do believe in conspiracy FACTS. And Dorothy Kilgallen's death SICKS to high heaven. I believe it was MURDER. And I hope and pray the facts come out some day, too.

[Yowzoe]

I'm all for the truth coming out, and her death does seem to fit a pattern. Anyone who thinks covert political assassinations do not take place is severely closing their eyes to history.

I'd really love to see some old-timer come forward with information.

Any word on that movie on her death? Apparently it is being dropped.

[spagandtuna]

@1Th1617 I don't believe one can murder him/herself. Why don't folks face up to the reality that where there's smoke there's fire. This lady was a chronic substance abuser and her fate was its natural outcome.

[okonh0wp]

@1Th1617 i just learned about that case, and i think it is murder and noone cares though

[nicksacop]

She looked frail. I believe she had been in a ' special hospital ' for pill or alcohol ingestion. She was a bright, intelligent, and witty person...who knew too much about the JFK assassination.

[gottamatch]

soulierinvestments, I was looking everywhere for your usual informative tidbit comment and realised YOU posted this video haha.. thank you thank you thank you soooo very much!!! I've heard you talking about a DK mystery guest WML before and couldn't wait to see it and it certainly didn't disapoint!

[jkosmatka27]

Thank you so very much for posting this !

[BobbyColePopMusic]

Dorothy is looking puffy here. Effects of the alcohol is starting to be noticeable.

[rosaf19]

They might not have guessed her immediately just from knowing she wrote for newspapers, if they were really convinced she was elsewhere. She shouldn't have given herself away so soon.

[Bigwave2003]

Like many of you, I never knew Dorothy Kilgallen, John Daly or Arlene Francis before these "What's My Line?" clips and now they are like family. The show sparkles with warmth, intelligence, civility and good fun!

[carolineorchange21]

"Thaank you Arlene..."

[Imthecuteone]

she could also be called "Dorothy, the singing reporter." lol

[Imthecuteone]

Debbie could have stood up to give Dorothy a hug or something.

[nicksacop]

agree, but DK could have written something about her in the paper..especially since her divorce from Eddie Fisher.

[Imthecuteone]

The look on Dorothy's face when she sits down, you can tell she looks uncomfortable or awkward..lol

[Imthecuteone]

And it's interesting to finally see Dorothy on the other side of the fence in this..and i love her little squeaks for yes and no..how entertaining. I wish the panel hadn't guessed her quickly, or atleast up to $45 then be guessed..lol I would have loved to see how long she would last up and there and what other voices she would do..lol And she really did look scared, that poor thing..lol

[Imthecuteone]

omggg im getting ready to watch this!! the episode i have been waiting for for the longest time!!!!!

[mca1218]

Oops!! Terribly sorry (as JCD would say, prefacing a 'small conference')- I never thanked you, Soulier. This particular clip is wonderful, and this 47-year-old vintage television junkie appreciates it.

[ClassicFilmFan]

Thank you very much for posting this episode, I was already wondering when someone would do it! That was wonderful - i'd love to hear Dorothy sing as well, haha ;D And Arlene's remark is so sweet - now thats a comeback! *btw, these early 60's end credits do look great (:*

[allegrazie]

This was great, soulierinv., and thank you for posting it. Do you know how long she had been away? What was the last episode prior to her hospitalization? Is it posted?  Anybody? Thanks.

[mgushulak]

She did look strange facing the panel instead of sitting on it. I was afraid John would slip up and call upon her to ask the next question, just as he did with Steve Allen when Steverino made one of his mystery guest appearances.

[saraismyname]

Thank you so much!! Been wanting to see this for soooo long! :D and it was soo cute!

[EDH1712]

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this. As someone else posted, one can see how vulnerable she is here. She looks lovely.

Rest assured the game was never the same without her. Thank you again, Soulier.

[mca1218]

OMG...This made me cry a little...why'd it do that? I dunno the details of Ms. Dorothy's illness, but it felt very much like a homecoming for her- especially when Arlene refers to her as "my dear girl." And it's probably the most vulnerable we've ever seen her- demure, sweet, and genuinely nervous- I think she tells Arlene she's scared to death, while holding on to the calming Mr. Daly. Welcome home, Dottie.

[keithcop]

I too like this and appreciate it being posted. How nice that she received such a thundering welcome from the audience.

[LindaSetonCase]

Wow, this is exceptionally endearing footage of Dorothy, isn't it? I mean, I like Dorothy anyway but she seems so vulnerable here, you know?

[dialectgirl]

Wonderful! Dorothy and the panel (Arlene, Martin and John) really seem like a family here, no sign of animosity. The whole episode is spoiled by Debbie Reynolds - what a shame! Otherwise this episode would probably rank among the best.

[poopyhead30]

Wow, thanks for posting this! I was looking for something like this. I wonder if any of the other regulars were on as a mystery guest. I know Fred Allen was and Martin Gabel was a few times, but what about Arlene or Bennett? I would LOVE to see those clips if they were ever a mystery guest. But, thanks again for posting this! Love it!

[soulierinvestments]

We can find both of Fred Allen's mystery guest appearances on YouTube, as well as [his wife] Portland Hoffa's mystery guest appearance.

We can find both of Gabel's Sunday night mystery guest appearances on YouTube -- they were spouse mystery guest gimmicks.

Supposedly Gabel appeared as a mystery guest once in syndication. I have never seen it.

Bennett Cerf appeared once as a mystery guest early in 1968 syndication. I have never seen it.

Arlene never appeared as a mystery guest.

[wmbrown6]

You forgot Ernie Kovacs' mystery guest appearance in 1957, during his very brief run as a regular panelist - as well as Steve Allen being a mystery guest while still a regular panelist.

[gymnastix]

Also, Jonathan Cerf & Peter Gabel appeared together as Mystery Guests on an episode, as well Peter Gabel solo on another occasion.

And there was a show on which the four spouses, of whichever of the then-current panelists, appeared as Mystery Guests; as well two segments in which the agents & secretaries of the panelists appeared before their respective, blindfolded clients & employers.

[gymnastix]

I also seem to recall a segment in which at least one of Kilgallens young children appeared as one among several Mystery Guests.

And I know Edie Adams was a Mystery Guest, but not sure if during Kovacs' brief stint as panelist. I know Jayne Meadows was used to fool husband Steve Allen, at least once (right after their marriage), as a Mystery Guest.

[gymnastix]

But never was Mrs. Virginia Daly, the wife of moderator John Charles (and daughter of U.S. Chief Justice & former California Governor Earl Warren) a Mystery Guest.

Nor do I think any relatives of Hal Block, Harold Hoffman or Louis Untermeyer were ever contestants on "WML?"

It would have been fun to have seen John Daly sit on the panel at least once in the 17 years (perhaps for an April Fool's show?), as well to have had Arlene Francis as a Mystery Guest., like Dorothy in the video seen here.

[henrygrove100]

@gymnastix I think he sat as a mystery guest the last show.

[lray1948]

@soulierinvestments Gabel appeared as a guest along with the other panelists' spouses, and it is shown on youtube clip "Best of Arlene Francis-What's My Line?"

[BethBetteJulie]

Soulier you dark horse! Thank you so much I think we have all been dying to see this!

[JenPol]

BLESS YOU! I have been DYING to see this - thank you so much for posting!