Louis Armstrong on "What's My Line?"

[StrummingSparrow]

poor Louis. I was expecting it to go like this. so undeniably recognisable.

[xOxAgataxOx]

His smile is intoxicating.

[dalxzzx]

i love the way he wrote his name! yes, delicate one.. sooo amazingly smooth!

[betterthanacid]

"I wish you could stay and get higher"

"Oh, I'll get higher next time" *wink*

Whoa, there, you guys.

[MsClaraBug]

delicate one...:D

[neonknights]

Louis Armstrong: proof that talent is talent regardless of social class, race or education. A true genius, his music shall live forever.

[RetroTony1959]

Wow! I couldn't make out a word he was saying. I think old Satch was smoking some dope weed.

[LowRising89]

Can't believe how controlled the applause was for him!! I've never seen an episode where a celebrity guest was cheered so unenthusiastically.

[Brentstarga]

TRUE entertainer



[loveyourgirlblue]

I love him he is so cool

[Ardsgaine]

"I'll get higher next time." lol. 

[wattever333]

FINALLY! someone who makes an exit!

[rickw1100]

I was waiting to see how he would describe that distinctive voice!

[dbmrhi]

I see trees of green, red roses too

I see them bloom for me and you

And I think to myself what a wonderful world.

A fantastic memory from my past.

[cauchamar]

Louis was high as shit.

[TXPRiNCEZZ09]

i actually clapped!!!

ive been on here watching i think every episode...times lk these im really thankful for youtube and the ppl that take the time to put these classics up...i would of never seen it otherwise! Thanks! x

[whirlyfan]

great clip

[ShiningforceHero]

i wanna hug him

[M1sT3rM4nJr]

Brilliant, simply brilliant, but yet sad at the same time to see how far from true entertainment we've fallen in modern times.

[Octopodaex]

This one made me smile so much, what a lovely person he is.

[Urbino237]

Look at that million-dollar smile! What a warm, kind, sincere gentleman who also happened to be 'gifted beyond human' as a jazz musician, one of the few whose influence is not only still felt today but also whose influence includes two instruments - his voice and his horn. (To see a heart-warming photo of Louis, go to Google/Life photo collection, type in his name and scroll through for a b & w of him with a group of young black girls on the street, one of whom appears to be singing for Louis.)

[bolder2009]

@Urbino237 That's a beautiful photograph. Thanks!

[SatchmoSings]

Armstrong isn't as tall as I thought; on one TV special, he's standing next to Bing Crosby and Crosby was taller.

He's perhaps the greatest person in his field; his star keeps rising and shining, brighter all the time.

PS--Leonard Bernstein will probably also be looked upon this way in a few years.

[UteLube]

I love how he writes his signature

[zildj1an]

He seemed like such a jovial guy! Wish I were old enough to have met him.

[1simaddict1]

Awww he tried LOL.

[SatchmoSings]

Look at my nickname here on "Youtube."

[RafaelDivoz]

@SatchmoSings wow

[DJUnionX]

Like he was Cubba Golding Jr.'s grandfather.

[NickInfante92]

this man was renowned for his charismatic stage presence and voice almost as much as for his trumpet-playing

[TheCorly1]

do es anybody no if youtube has the whole episode?

[OldieMusicMan]

"I'll get higher next time!" Ha!

[Kingofcorrect]

it's Cookie Monster!

[nickelwindow53]

This was the 1950s how did a black man get on a show like this? I bet they didnt even air this episode in the south.

[notthatbasic]

@nickelwindow53 I'd guess they showed Louis Armstrong with how massive of a star he was.

[nickelwindow53]

@notthatbasic okay, he was one to cross color lines.

[SatchmoSings]

@nickelwindow53 That may be a good point; for that matter Armstrong never performed in the South, either.

[heyangeeh]

I love how he takes his sweet time writing his signature. The man's a legend.

[MsSarjen]

@heyangeeh And what a beautiful handwriting he had.

[heyangeeh]

@MsSarjen Indeed. And that smile too!

[slye1991]

I love how he doesn't talk because he knows it will give him away

[STEPASAUR]

the man exudes joy, legend!

[skydome29]

Who picked this one because you thought there's no way they could mess his voice up with anything?

[andybpiano]

Red beans and ricely yours...

[jimaroo100]

One time Mr Armstrong was going to perform on a tv show with some other musicians.... the network wanted them all to be black but Mr Armstrong insisted on his friend Jack Teagarden getting the gig - because they had been long time friends. The network would not go along and Louie lost the job. But he was loyal to his white friend Jack Teagarden. What a gentleman he was even when attacked by all the 60 liberals for being a tgom. He never responded with hatred or harsh words.

[wntoply6]

@jimaroo100 i didn't know the liberals of the time ever attacked mr armstrong. please tell me more, and specifically who the liberals were that foolishly attacked him.

[jimaroo100]

@wntoply6 it wasn't white liberals but black commie/libs like the Black Panthers (bobby Seals and Eldridge Cleaver and the Stokely Carmichael SNCC (Student Non violent Coordinating Committee). Things haven't changed... if you are Black today and a conservative, they will call you a Tom.... think Dr. Thomas Sowell, Dr. Walter Williams and of course Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas who are all called Toms. 

[wntoply6]

@jimaroo100 excuse me, ass, but the only commies in this country, the truest definition are the right wing religions. they hold total control of their people with fear, thus keeping them uneducated, intolerant and extremely bigoted. and it seems you are a prime example of that.

now go away, you're bothering me with your "sarah palin" intelligence and history revisionism!

[goatface1000]

@jimaroo100 What's that to do with Louis Armstrong?

[msmclendon1]

I think he was pretty high that time, actually. But I'm sure Louis is always down for getting higher.

[serpentisma]

they got him at 2:35, and to be honest, i'm surprised louis even lasted that long. even at the mumbling i probably would have guessed him instantly. can't hide something so one-of-a-kind like that voice.

[grabit1]

Louis Armstrong was America's greatest ambassador. Back when it mattered. He should have been both Secretary of State and Ambassador of Jazz. Dual titles.

[mongobobo]

He did like the reefer.

[DerAdventurer]

I always defended Armstron should have received the Title of Sir for what he has done to the music world... LOL

What an amazing man!

[thehahashow1000]

 makes me smile

I have a hard life RESPECT me plzz

[paully9999]

Satchelmouth you are the best, none better after you, wish you were still playing man.

[binaway]

How could Satchmo possibly disguise that wonderful voice.

[urbachmilf69]

"I only wish you you could have gotten higher..."

Satchmo: "Well, I'll get higher next time around" lol

[irish89055]

john daly didn't misinterpet this: " the Japanese have attacked Hawaii by air".........

[weenerfier]

Louis Armstrong is definatley my favourite person ever to live and the best musician!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bigborn973]

i hope they save the signing boards. armstrong have a such a beautiful hand writeing

[amenic1894]

Satchmo was the greatest

[IDOLODORO2]

they should put his picture on th five dollar bill -that's how important to american musical culture he is

[MsSarjen]

Oh... so much smoking in that voice.

[shakenednostir]

Usually the panelist will ask the guest mystery challenger after she or he is revealed to perform. If it's an opera singer like in the instance of Leontyne Price, Arlene asked her to sing an aria, which she kindly deferred. Or in the case of comedian Art Carney, Mr. Carney conjured the request and emulated John Daley. It was great to see Mr. Armstrong perform on his own accord. He caught the panelist and Mr. Daley off guard. Great Talent Mr. Armstrong.

[BitterBosh]

"Well I'll get higher next time."

Weed jokes, I love 'em!

[piggy978]

That would've been soooo hard for Louis, trying not to sound like he does

[zildj1an]

What a guy! What an entertainer!

[radconserv86]

I remember a song from a commercial that he did. "I went down to St. Jame's infirmary. Saw my baby there. She was stretched out on a long white table..." I always wanted to hear the rest of the song.

[radconserv86]

A great talent.

[TroyBertrand]

He'll be sure and get higher next time, lmao

[zx7gp]

I knew that was gonna be a short game!Love ya Louis

[Cosmic86x]

one of the greatest musicians of all time !

[ipmoic]

Bennett had a terrific ear. He often was the first to recognize voices.

[ClassicsWEREandARE]

I love him....he's so cute in his own way! I love it! I love his voice too!

[irvingklaw57]

Didn't last three minutes.

[cantor0305]

too easy

[spagandtuna]

Thanks for posting. BTW, what do you think of the Armstrong Museum there. Is it worth the trip?

[roots66]

@spagandtuna Unfortunately I've never been (don't get back to that area too often), but I've heard nothing but fabulous things about it.

[MANUELFARINELLI]

John Daly was a gentleman.. very kind and very sweet.. look while he is welcoming the great Satchmo Mr. Armstrong. Two great men!!

[MrJeffnow]

That was great to see where he could rest and not play. Thanks! Once again Mr. Armstrong was the best!

[damone77]

He just couldn't hide that voice LMAO!

[ajdukujac]

best tv show ever in american history. hands down.

[terentii]

@ajdukujac The great thing about the Goodson--Toddman game shows was that they had CLASS! Can you imagine a game show today with a host like John Daly, and panelists like Arlene Francis, Kitty Carlisle, and Bennett Cerf? The closest we come to them now is Alex Trebek, who isn't even American. :-(

Back then, we'd wait all week for the nighttime versions of What's My Line, To Tell the Truth, I've Got a Secret, and Password, and we'd talk about them the rest of the evening and the next day.

[dialectgirl]

Thank you for all the new WML clips!!! :):)

[soulierinvestments]

Gil Fates claimed that Louis Armstrong sang "Hello Dolly" for the first time on TV on What's My Line, Feb 1964.

Arlene Francis' mask is sort of scary.

[roots66]

I think I have that clip but on VHS...I'll see if I can find it and transfer it to DVD.

[philperson]

That's not true. Louis recorded "Hello Dolly" on December 3, 1963. The "What's My Line" appearance your referring to is March 22, 1964. Dolly was a hit record by that time.

[soulierinvestments]

"first time on TV"

[SIMPFANN]

God bless Satchmo- it's been said a thousand times, but he was truly one of the greatest American entertainers of all time. Seeing him or listening to him always makes me smile because I know that whatever he does I'm gonna have a fun time hearing it.

[roots66]

One of the all-time greatest jazz innovators too.

[JubalCalif]

@SIMPFANN

I second that emotion! Very well said & well put! He was truly unique! THANKS for your intelligent, articulate, thoughtful, sensitive & interesting comment! :-)