What's my Line? Cyd Charisse

[2legit64]

Cyd Charisse was absolutely stunning. The way she moved was absolute poetry in motion.

[hmaltravers]

@2legit64 Amen! They don't come any classier than Cyd.

[necktieguy1]

The greatest dancer in movie history! I love you, Ms. Charisse. Thanks for this post.

[Vitte4]

A very sad night for the WML team. John's parting words to Charisse at 2:38 -- "You had some question whether you should be here tonight" -- was due to the sudden passing of beloved panel member Fred Allen the very night before.

[beatlesfreak89]

@Vitte4 Was the panel replaced by another man named "Allen"? I hear Daly saying "Mr. Allen" at 0:59.

[Vitte4]

@beatlesfreak89 That's Steve Allen -- no relation to Fred.

[AlexandreFilho1705]

Gosh, she was gorgeous. And danced wonderfully. And had a stunning body.

[franklindavid]

Accomplished dancer! Talent we miss today.

[62easthar62]

Would only come on the show if she could wrap her legs around John Daly's earlobes.

[leahblashful]

Most of these entertainers were on the show to "plug" their broadway show, etc. That's why everyone guesses quickly.

[twiwonder]

Gosh, she was a beautiful dancer. Love you, Cyd. Miss you. :(

[MrFalconford]

To refer to technique, to Cyd, boy that guy didn't have a clue.

[gtlfb]

As Fred Astaire once said, "When you've danced with Cyd Charisse, you stay danced with."

[iluvmusicals21]

I just saw Cyd in The Bandwagon with Fred Astaire, "Dancing In The Dark" is one of my all-time favorite dance routines.

[5star555555555]

Is this the mystery guest from the episode after Fred Allen's death?

[geesteves]

lovely... absolutly lovely...

[MattTheSaiyan]

She was beautiful, even in a black and white kinescope recording.

[stormycape]

A Most Beautiful Woman!

[RedNoir]

it's charisse (like risk!) I thought it was like REECE oops my bad

[longn4longhair]

@RedNoir So did I.

[RedNoir]

@longn4longhair I asked my mom she said I'm right and they were saying it wrong on the show!

[eb641]

That complete malaprop Bennett Serf couldn't pronounce anyone's name correctly if their name was John Brown ...And He the then head of Random House !!!

[miniixio]

Her voice is so cute!

[doravine13]

lol.! XD

we hav tha same name.!

but i say mines diffent

[UDIETHATWAY]

Gloriously beautiful..how true.

[eheaven3]

My dad had three favorite stars, favorite in terms of most beautiful, and they were Cyd, Ava and Rita. And now that I'm no longer a mere lad, I agree wholeheartedly with my dad. Or, to express my reaction to the WML appearance of stunning Cyd: wow wow wow!!!

[peregrinusnoctis]

Your father had exemplary taste--not to mention a seeming weakness for elegant, exotique brunettes! My own weaknesses have always been for Leslie Caron, Audrey Hepburn, and Cyd Charisse--two gamines, and a heartbreakingly stunning thoroughbred.

[eheaven3]

Thanks. And I suppose you're right about all three of the aforementioned Hollywood goddesses (Charisse, Gardner and Hayworth) were, technically, brunettes, although on the big silver screen Rita was a ravishing redhead; and that's how I'll also think of her.

[cargirlit]

The goddess of beauty and charm

[primelimelite]

Just wait on it -- if the words "Broadway" or "New York" haven't been spoken already, they will come out from the mouth Bennett Cerf -- guaranteed! LOL

[hankaaron1961]

What year is this? Because I saw her in the credit sequences for "The Silencers" (1967) and she looked much younger than here.

[RockOfCashell]

1956

[Muirmaiden]

A real lady. Gone but never forgotten. RIP.

[RockOfCashell]

Hello Hounsfield

Cyd´s real name was Tula Ellice Cyd changed from S I D was her nickname (short for sister)

[etraig]

to elaberate, her name was Tula Ellice Finklea. her nickname was "sid", it came from a little brother who tried to say "sis". she married her dance teacher, Nicco Charisse, then the spelling of "sid" canged to "cyd', to be more exotic.

I believe she later married singer Tony Martin, whom she was with until she passed on.

Man, could she dance! I was watching "singing in the rain" the other night.

[Hounsfield]

what kind of name is cyd?

[semretmu]

was Marilyn Monroe ever in this show. if you have any of her: would you shared with us.

thanks

[soulierinvestments]

Marilyn never appeared on WML.

[MonroeSmile]

i dunno for sure, but i doubt it, seeing as Marilyn was very nervous. shame though, that would have been wonderful otherwise!

[soulierinvestments]

I can watch Cyd in "The Bandwagon" over and over and never get tired of it or her. There are those who say that "Singin in the Rain?" (which featured Cyd in the Broadway Ballet Production fantasy) was the greatest musical of the 1950s, but "Bandwagon" is close. When she and Astaire danced in the park in the dark or when she and Astaire hoofed amid the wreckage of the production number for "You and the Night and the Music" ("Dance Fools Dance!), it is beyond great.

[OldTimerGoGetter]

And I loved her in that red dress in "The Bandwagon" and in that green dress in "Singing in the Rain."

Actually, "The Bandwagon" was the very first musical I've seen in my life...I think I was 12 years old at that time...and ever since then I've been in love!

[andrebontemp]

cyd was really beautiful talented and most of all charming

and unpretentious a great lady !!!

jmb

[OldTimerGoGetter]

I would like to declare that at least in my book (allow me to wink here...) Cyd Charisse has the nicest legs...nicer than Marilyn Monroe's!

[baracuda5555]

Although, I like the current comedies and shows on TV, The older programs such as this one, lend a certain degree of class and sophistication absent in todays programs.

[ConfusedSponge]

she's like the only one mystery guest that didn't sign her name in cursive!

[26mae1987]

she was so talented omg legend her ann miller and rita hayworth my fave legends

[zgreggz82]

What did the host say after asked if she was a blond? Thanks.

[J3J3]

i think he said something like "great for steve allen, i always say"

[torchkit]

Hurray for Steve Allen, I always say."

[sanantoniosquare]

Whoever said she had botox was really dumb. There was no botox in 1955.

[GretaGarbo]

@sanantoniosquare Yes, and in 1955 Cyd was a young woman. Did not need plastic surgery. But I agree: There Was NO botox in that time.

[PDZZL]

@sanantoniosquare Actually botox was first found and used in 1927

[PDZZL]

@sanantoniosquare Actually botox was first found and used in 1928

[RockOfCashell]

@PDZZL @PDZZL

Your right but it was not used for plastic surgery until 1992

[TheTubePortal]

@sanantoniosquare Of course there was LOL Botox has been around since the dawn of time. It began to be used by "plastic surgeons" in the 1930s. Although I agree with you that Mrs. Charisse was not here.

[MattTheSaiyan]

Classy Panalists, Classy Contestants and Classy Everything! 5/5!

[stickstr8up]

What's with her left eyebrow?  Looks like La Charisse had a little too much of le botox before she came to the studio.

[lustre5]

Sounds like everyone has been pronouncing her name wrong: Not Chareese but Charihse.

[oldschooljamz87]

Does anyone know what year this is from?

[soulierinvestments]

March 1956. This is the episode broadcast the Sunday after panelist Fred Allen died suddenly. The male panelists and Daly wear dark street clothes in mourning for that reason.

[mca1218]

Look at the walk when she comes in-- the straight back, the erect posture and poise. Clearly a trained ballerina!!

[kittyprison]

wow is she tiny! she really cute!

[wmbrown6]

Miss Charisse was actually 5' 7½" - less than six inches shorter than John Daly. This was to be her only "WML?" appearance.

[videosoulbygregg]

Tiny at 5'71/2"?

[PhillipCreeper]

They should have coached the audiance on not giving away so much when they cheer.

[bitterchew]

Steve Allen looks unusually slim

[26mae1987]

one of the best dancers ever light as air but still my fave is will always be rita hayworth however both are beautiful stars always will be!

[ConfusedSponge]

same here. you should check my other comments on hayworth n cyd

[tjbnyc76]

RIP, Cyd. Such an elegant lady.

[soulierinvestments]

March 1956 -- the panel wears street clothing instead of evening wear because this is the mourning broadcast after the sudden death of panelist Fred Allen. Somewhere in YouTube there are clips of that particular memorial broadcast.