Frank Gifford on What's My Line

[44032]

The Giants had defeated the Redskins that day, 28-14 so Frank's TDs accoutned for all their scoring. Four weeks later they would crush the bears 47-7 in the NFL Championshp game at Yankeee Stadium.

[enm97]

Can you imagine a guy of Gifford's star quality NOT be recognized as well as NOT be a mystery guest? This had to be very early in his career.

[observer9670]

I'm sure Bennett knew right from the start. He was the panel's sports fan and often attended Giants games.  I'm surprised that they didn't have him sign in as "Mr. X".

[larry930legend]

That seemed too easy.

[cauchamar]

It's hard to believe this young man is the same as the old man who had the wife and the scandals. It really seems like two different people.

[NickInfante92]

this man had a great nfl career with the giants

[Kate8790]

Wow, Arlene got away with a lot, hehe. I love it when she flirts. It's hilarious!

[OnCloudNine62]

Wow! Frank was extremely handsome! What a babe!

[eqsmooth]

How Frank ended up w/that whack job Kathie Lee is a mystery. he should have gone for Arlene. she is witty and cute. Frank was humble back then. i had no idea Bennett Cerf was so famous back then. The creator of Random House. A publisher. Interesting.

[jojojigaboo]

should have asked frank if he harassed stewardesses for anal sex !

[nirvgardengod]

what a flirt !!!

[berezin99]

He looks like Eric Lindros

[berezin99]

That Bennett Cerf was one smooth dude.

[tomkes100]

EDH bless you I fully agree with you but sadly dont expect to see those 2 great paal shows return anytime soon, a "gay" version of IGAS appeared 2 years ago on GSC and it sickened me i was depressed. Besides even if they cae bck wheres the class urbane witm sophistacation the real charm charsima the real STARS of TODAYS celebrities. They cant hold a candle to WML Daly,Frances,Cerf,Kilgallan,Fr­ed Allen Steve Allen ,Marty Gable,Joey Bishop. I( got 500 episodes. I LOVE It.TOMKES

[tomkes100]

Stubby kaye was doll of a guy I knew fro 1000 performers this tv film historian knew including the cast of WML & I Got a Secret. What a panal show the very best. What CLASS URBANE WIT etc. The great Fred Allen had just died when this wa done live. We need more shows like this. ah for 1956 again. TomkEs I should know

[EDH1712]

@tomkes100 It's hard for someone like me to imagine those good old days......To have known such personalities!....I'm envious, tomkes. I hope WML and IGAS will return to the television lineup on GSN soon.

[whythehell99]

Wow watching this nowadays is so weird and awkward. Especially Stubby Kaye's questions. I kept thinking, no Stubby he's not a prostitute!

[senoramariposa]

Stubby Kaye!  What an adorable charmer he was!

[eheaven3]

I thought Kathie Lee played tight end.

[torchkit]

Dorothy pretty much nailed it right away, except she was confused by the "salaried" part.

[khtx]

Hahaha Arlene.... lol

[forest3823]

should of had Chuck Bednarik on the show. Tht would of scared Gifford.

[SultansReturn]

I'm not trying to be funny or be wise but a close family friend was a sports writer in New York and for years claimed that there was a rumor that Frank Gifford was gay, or a switch hitter, and I'm just wondering if anyone else heard that too? it doesn't matter if it was true or not, if not true then one would assume he got a lot of pussy in those days.

[spacepatrolman]

He played a detective in a pilot for a tv series called turnpike, filmed on the new jersey turnpike in 1960 ,I dont know if it was ever on tv maybee it will be in youtube someday .

[TruthExistsNoMore]

Dorothy was assassinated by jews.

[MRSUMONE]

hahhh!?

[operjxm]

omg !! Arlene !!!

[XMLarry]

Frank was also a mystery guest on the syndicated version of WML after starting to announce on Monday Night Football. One of the blindfolded panelists asked him if he was on a regular tv show (yes). The next panelist asked if this was a talk show :) It got a lot of laughs! (His answer was: "Sort of")

[franzy1]

Arlene: "You've got a lovely back, I don't care WHAT condition it's in!"

Lucky for the sponsors that Frank wasn't a tight end.

[proken58]

I can't beleive that he wasn't a mystery guest. Although in the early 60's he was a mystery guest, but this was after he had a local New York City football TV show in addition to being a Giants player.  Becuase of his TV experience as a player, Gifford easily transitioned into broadcasting after retiring, becoming WCBS-TV's sports anchor and CBS Sunday football commentator in 1967, then moving on to Monday Night Football with ABC.

[MisterEvasion]

These days almost every starting NFL player, even a punter or lineman, has so much media exposure that his occupation and team would likely be identified before he put down the chalk.

Back then pro football had long yet to come of age to rival baseball as the national game.

[SueBeaWho]

I want Dorothy's dress :-)

[sknyrd77]

Arlene = COUGAR

[bitterchew]

where was Howard Cosell those days

[prchristman]

Wikipedia says he was practicing law in Manhattan from World War II until 1956. He did a WABC radio show featuring Little League players starting in 1953, and gave up law for full-time sports broadcasting in 1956. Now where was Don Meredith?

[Tubewings]

I think he was beginning his freshman year at Southern Methodist.

[prchristman]

John should have fined Bennett Cerf on this one. Or penalized him 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct. Bennett should have kept quieter and disqualified himself if the questioning had come around to him. Interference is the call on this play.

[Muffy2314]

You're right

[prchristman]

I think at least one of the panelists could have flirted with an "illegal use of the hands" penalty if she'd had her way with Frank Gifford. :)

[EDH1712]

I don't blame her. He was looking mighty fine back then. ;))

[Muffy2314]

Arlene---what a flirt.

[UofLCardFan08]

Arlene flirting with every burly good-looking man that appeared. ;-)

[UofLCardFan08]

*flirted

[Lava1964]

Red Grange was a famous back for the University of Illinois in the early 1920s. He was the first college superstar to make it big in the NFL.

[soulierinvestments]

Red who??

[weatdamal]

Thank you for posting!

[bigred997]

Why didn't they wear blindfolds? You'd think they'd know their hometown players.

[UofLCardFan08]

I know. That's strange.

[silverscreenbooks]

The NFL was not that well known back then. It wasn't televised like it is now (or even in the 60's). Baseball players on the show always had the blindfolds for them because everyone knew them. I'm guessing this was very early in Gifford's career.

[VonCringe]

This aired on 12/2/1956. Gifford started with the Giants in 1953; 1956 was kind of his breakout year in the pros where he became a star. The producers should have known that Bennett would know who Gifford was, as it is obvious in watching these programs that Cerf was a sports fan.

[Muffy2314]

I loved Bennett. Bennett did not often solve the occupations, but was very good at celebrity guessing. he seemed to be a great griend of John Daly. while he's often overlooked his personality and intelligence were essential to the panel.