One of the more interesting puns Bennett has shared...he has many, many of them in the various books he released over the years.
This is probably one of my favorite episodes from later in the CBS run. It was great hearing two of my favorite plays mentioned (DDTW and Dinner At Eight), seeing the talented Miss Price, and *love* Arlene's gorgeous, very sparkly dress!
Wow. 'What's my Line' brings back memories of my youth. I do not agree with another blogger who said that the show should have run forever. The reason for this is because, given the lack of civility in society, not to mention the inability by many individuals to say anything without interjecting 'you know?' twice in every utterance, it would have become a parody of itself. Best that WML remain within the time-frame of the 20th-century.
I'm sure "La" Price was uncomfortable sitting next to and shaking the hand of a sick John Daley...I know she ran to wash her hands. It all about the Voce.
Poor John Daly! He's so charming, but he sure was woozy that night. :( It was great seeing Leontyne Price, though...one of my favorite singers of all time. What a classy lady. And hahaha to Bennett Cerf. Why do they always ask these opera stars if they are involved in sports? :D
swanningaround: I agree with you. That's my recollection of operatic life at the time. I never saw that particular episode. But I remember, life in America was certainly changing for the better at that time. Who could have predicted where it would go from there!!!!
Every time I see Leontyne Price, I feel so happy. She is such a nice person and has such charisma. You can see the love that everyone feels for her wherever she goes.
The divine Diva, Miss Price! No one, ever, sang Leonora in La Forza del Destino as she did. Words cannot capture the joy that she brought to opera lovers in her heyday. What a treasure of a singer, Brava!
Lovely. Never saw (or heard) the lady speak before- just as plain folks. Nice for WML to feature her in her Metropolitan prime so gorgeous!! And, as is often, it's Arlene who makes the correct guess and has the most wonderful reaction. Bravissima.
What a charming episode. LP is one of the greats and early on she was a very sweet southern girl with a magnificent voice. Only later did she become 'regal' and I thought a little full of herself. She was profiled in dozens of magazines and in those days that was the way to fame. Most opera companies by this time were fed up with Callas's demands and no-shows, not to mention a voice that had seen better days. LP was an up and comer with a great personal story. Always loved Phyllis Newman.
Half the people in this clip are still with us. I always like seeing living people (currently living - you know what I mean) on these WML clips. It makes me feel that the world we live in has a living link with the show.
How come Woody Allen didn't do game shows later on in his career? He would have been perfect for Hollywood Squares. Also $20,000 Pyramid. Not so much Tattletales.
He's taken the "tune" ("tun" actually) out of opportunity and inserted "knock", making opporknockity, and then put tune is in place of knock, so "opportunity only knocks once" become "opporknockity only tunes once".
@dialectgirl He's taken the "tune" ("tun" actually) out of opportunity and inserted "knock", making opporknockity, and then put tune is in place of knock, so "opportunity only knocks once" become "opporknockity only tunes once".
The piano tuner's name was Mr. Opporknockity (my spelling), the expression in English is 'opportunity knocks but once' (meaning, you only get one chance to achieve what you want). So the piano tuner punned on his own name (which sounds like the expression 'opportunity knocks') and his profession (piano tuning), hence 'Mr Opporknockity only tunes once'.
I'd say that during this time period, she was not that well known outside of the elitist East Coast. The better known female Opera singers in the rest of the country would have been Roberta Peters and Maria Callas because of their regular visits on TV variety shows, etc.
Are you kidding?! By 1966, LP was an international star --in Vienna, London, Milan,and San Francisco--and New York. This TV appearance came five years after her Met debut, by which time she had already made many bestselling and Grammy winning recordings, appeared on NATIONAL TV (many times), and had just opened the new Met, on TV. Of course, she had become a nationally known star much earlier--in 1952---when she appeared as Bess in the touring Breen-Davis production.
bigred. I was working in broadcasting during the 1960s. I can assure you that Leontyne Price was much much bigger and played much more often than Marai Callas at the time. The other big star was Victoria de Los Angeles, but Leontyne was even bigger than her. Maria seemed to become more famous after her death. To my mind, Leontyne was always the more famous in the public eye at the time.
On Sept 16, 1966, Price starred in Antony and Cleopatra by Samuel Barber, commissioned to open the Met's new Lincoln Center theater. Barber tailored Cleopatra's music to Price's voice.
The opera flopped. Franco Zeffirelli buried the music under heavy costumes, a multitude of extras and animals, floating steel clouds, a pyramid, a barge, and a rotating Sphinx. The turntable broke down in rehearsals; Price was trapped inside the pyramid. Can't buy fun like that.
In 1963, Dorothy Kilgallen missed 10 of the first 18 broadcasts and recording sessions, and Phyllis Newman substituted in those 10 sessions. I suspect G-T groomed her to take over for Kilgallen if her health at the time had not permitted her return to WML.
For some reason Newman did not work out as a permanent WML panelist after Kilgallen's death, but she appeared regularly both on Sundays and in syndication.
Thanx for posting this funny sequence. Man? LOL Girl LOLOF.
We get this rather darkish look to the 1966-1967 kinescopes, because they are b&w records of color broadcasts. How I wish G-T had the foresight to save a color videotape of this episode, what with those gorgeous gowns and LeonTyne Price.
The pun is the highest form of humor. 2:06 I do not know why Woody Allen looks so pained, since some of the better puns ever done came from Mr. Allen.
Phyllis Newman was ever so dense.
jslasher1 2 months ago
In all venues of entertainment there are those who don't keep the standard of excellence...they ARE the standard! Without doubt, Leontyne Price is!
lttguys 7 months ago 2
She is gorgeous!
genesislover 8 months ago
Shining! Lovely!
yes4albert 9 months ago
Gorgeous woman
1madDogz 9 months ago
Interesting that Woody Allen got the thread --probably by the depth of her glorious voice. Once he mentioned Opera it was an easy solution.
maxreger100 11 months ago
Okay so I never really liked Phyllis when she appeared and why does she always make that face and look up when she is blind folded? Drives me nuts.
Kate8790 1 year ago
@Kate8790 she can see and is cheating??
1singit 6 months ago
A delight, a delight! AND, she has such nice schoolteacher-ish handwriting, too!
klavierspieler72 1 year ago 2
One of the more interesting puns Bennett has shared...he has many, many of them in the various books he released over the years.
This is probably one of my favorite episodes from later in the CBS run. It was great hearing two of my favorite plays mentioned (DDTW and Dinner At Eight), seeing the talented Miss Price, and *love* Arlene's gorgeous, very sparkly dress!
delightfulstar 1 year ago
Arlene Francis was so elegant. Bennet Surf's neuyawk accent was a bit much, though.
jslasher1 1 year ago
Wow. 'What's my Line' brings back memories of my youth. I do not agree with another blogger who said that the show should have run forever. The reason for this is because, given the lack of civility in society, not to mention the inability by many individuals to say anything without interjecting 'you know?' twice in every utterance, it would have become a parody of itself. Best that WML remain within the time-frame of the 20th-century.
jslasher1 1 year ago
This show should have run forever
Robert4770 1 year ago
That was a badddd pun!
dagwood39 1 year ago
As a child, I used to watch Leontyne Price on PBS and LOVED her. She and Beverly Sills were my favorites.
xander7ful 1 year ago
@xander7ful Same here. What a delight.
americangalbasseyfan 1 year ago
I love seeing an opera star in the popular media. It was a vogue time in the entertainment world.
cricketbat 1 year ago
Price is so charming and sweet. Love the speaking voice, put on and straight. I missed this episode way back then. Thanks for a most enjoyable post.
Trinite33 1 year ago
I'm sure "La" Price was uncomfortable sitting next to and shaking the hand of a sick John Daley...I know she ran to wash her hands. It all about the Voce.
ocfoster 2 years ago
Poor John Daly! He's so charming, but he sure was woozy that night. :( It was great seeing Leontyne Price, though...one of my favorite singers of all time. What a classy lady. And hahaha to Bennett Cerf. Why do they always ask these opera stars if they are involved in sports? :D
Mkristinect 2 years ago
swanningaround: I agree with you. That's my recollection of operatic life at the time. I never saw that particular episode. But I remember, life in America was certainly changing for the better at that time. Who could have predicted where it would go from there!!!!
ebony1911 2 years ago 2
Every time I see Leontyne Price, I feel so happy. She is such a nice person and has such charisma. You can see the love that everyone feels for her wherever she goes.
swanningaround 2 years ago 19
The divine Diva, Miss Price! No one, ever, sang Leonora in La Forza del Destino as she did. Words cannot capture the joy that she brought to opera lovers in her heyday. What a treasure of a singer, Brava!
Brahmsfourth 2 years ago 3
Lovely. Never saw (or heard) the lady speak before- just as plain folks. Nice for WML to feature her in her Metropolitan prime so gorgeous!! And, as is often, it's Arlene who makes the correct guess and has the most wonderful reaction. Bravissima.
mca1218 2 years ago 3
How civilised TV shows were back then- all in evening wear, calling each other Miss This and Mr That, shaking hands... charming!
alwayspaul29 2 years ago 29
@alwayspaul29 Really it was the way business was conducted during that era.
SockBoy65 1 year ago
What a charming episode. LP is one of the greats and early on she was a very sweet southern girl with a magnificent voice. Only later did she become 'regal' and I thought a little full of herself. She was profiled in dozens of magazines and in those days that was the way to fame. Most opera companies by this time were fed up with Callas's demands and no-shows, not to mention a voice that had seen better days. LP was an up and comer with a great personal story. Always loved Phyllis Newman.
chucknyc123 2 years ago
full of great voice.
mm9913 2 years ago 2
She can write so well on a chalkboard! I have tried it and my vertical penmanship is terrible!
vp1981ad 2 years ago 3
Half the people in this clip are still with us. I always like seeing living people (currently living - you know what I mean) on these WML clips. It makes me feel that the world we live in has a living link with the show.
wmlfan9 2 years ago
THANKS FOR THIS FOOTAGE
tatters1232006 2 years ago
Leontyne is a national treasure...What a voice! Thanks for sharing this. I appreciate it.
priscillaofmanila 2 years ago
Gee, I wish I knew who was singing at Basin Street ..
1borito 2 years ago 5
@1borito It was 'Louis Armstrong'!
vp1981ad 1 year ago
CHAAAAAAAAIL... Why is my Leontyne talking sooo Low ?
SinginFool82 2 years ago
So that the panel won't recognize it. They are all New York show business folk. It worked - they thought she was a man!
6744sorn 2 years ago
A wonderful surprise. I didn't know she made this appearance. Thank you.
superdooperstupor 2 years ago
This is amazing footage!
Thank you so my for sharing!
Brent
BrentAudi 2 years ago
"have been" Sorry I left out a word while typing.
elzuzo267 2 years ago
"Did you ever say 'We will bury you'"? Why would Woody have thought the guest might have Khruschev?
elzuzo267 2 years ago
Nice chalkboard handwriting.
tenornmd 2 years ago
How come Woody Allen didn't do game shows later on in his career? He would have been perfect for Hollywood Squares. Also $20,000 Pyramid. Not so much Tattletales.
Gnillob802 2 years ago
Phyllis Newman sounds like Barbara Feldon.
myrnaturner 2 years ago
Could someone please explain Bennet's pun? Thanks.
dialectgirl 2 years ago
Is it a play on the expression "Opportunity knocks only once"? That's all I can make of the pun. LOL
EDH1712 2 years ago 3
Oy! :S
dialectgirl 2 years ago
Yes.
liedersanger1 2 years ago
@EDH1712 It is. Surprised there wasn't a riff of boos from the audience for that bowzer
RayNDeere 1 year ago
@EDH1712 That is correct.
LoudCitizen 10 months ago
He's taken the "tune" ("tun" actually) out of opportunity and inserted "knock", making opporknockity, and then put tune is in place of knock, so "opportunity only knocks once" become "opporknockity only tunes once".
gedcke 1 year ago
@dialectgirl He's taken the "tune" ("tun" actually) out of opportunity and inserted "knock", making opporknockity, and then put tune is in place of knock, so "opportunity only knocks once" become "opporknockity only tunes once".
gedcke 1 year ago
@dialectgirl ,
The piano tuner's name was Mr. Opporknockity (my spelling), the expression in English is 'opportunity knocks but once' (meaning, you only get one chance to achieve what you want). So the piano tuner punned on his own name (which sounds like the expression 'opportunity knocks') and his profession (piano tuning), hence 'Mr Opporknockity only tunes once'.
MarthaDelios 1 year ago
I'd say that during this time period, she was not that well known outside of the elitist East Coast. The better known female Opera singers in the rest of the country would have been Roberta Peters and Maria Callas because of their regular visits on TV variety shows, etc.
bigred997 2 years ago
Are you kidding?! By 1966, LP was an international star --in Vienna, London, Milan,and San Francisco--and New York. This TV appearance came five years after her Met debut, by which time she had already made many bestselling and Grammy winning recordings, appeared on NATIONAL TV (many times), and had just opened the new Met, on TV. Of course, she had become a nationally known star much earlier--in 1952---when she appeared as Bess in the touring Breen-Davis production.
liedersanger1 2 years ago
bigred. I was working in broadcasting during the 1960s. I can assure you that Leontyne Price was much much bigger and played much more often than Marai Callas at the time. The other big star was Victoria de Los Angeles, but Leontyne was even bigger than her. Maria seemed to become more famous after her death. To my mind, Leontyne was always the more famous in the public eye at the time.
swanningaround 2 years ago 4
That was my recollection at the time. I agree with your assessment.
ebony1911 2 years ago
I cannot say that I have ever seen the panel join in the applause for a mystery guest before. Very striking.
romeman01 2 years ago
what is the name of this show?
TreblesBasses 2 years ago
TreblesBasses, the name of the program is What's My Line (abbreviated all over this page as WML).
romeman01 2 years ago
Paraphrase From Wikipedia
On Sept 16, 1966, Price starred in Antony and Cleopatra by Samuel Barber, commissioned to open the Met's new Lincoln Center theater. Barber tailored Cleopatra's music to Price's voice.
The opera flopped. Franco Zeffirelli buried the music under heavy costumes, a multitude of extras and animals, floating steel clouds, a pyramid, a barge, and a rotating Sphinx. The turntable broke down in rehearsals; Price was trapped inside the pyramid. Can't buy fun like that.
soulierinvestments 2 years ago
In 1963, Dorothy Kilgallen missed 10 of the first 18 broadcasts and recording sessions, and Phyllis Newman substituted in those 10 sessions. I suspect G-T groomed her to take over for Kilgallen if her health at the time had not permitted her return to WML.
For some reason Newman did not work out as a permanent WML panelist after Kilgallen's death, but she appeared regularly both on Sundays and in syndication.
Thanx for posting this funny sequence. Man? LOL Girl LOLOF.
soulierinvestments 2 years ago
We get this rather darkish look to the 1966-1967 kinescopes, because they are b&w records of color broadcasts. How I wish G-T had the foresight to save a color videotape of this episode, what with those gorgeous gowns and LeonTyne Price.
The pun is the highest form of humor. 2:06 I do not know why Woody Allen looks so pained, since some of the better puns ever done came from Mr. Allen.
soulierinvestments 2 years ago
Wow, thanks for posting! I've always been such a huge fan of hers.
hkk321 2 years ago
Has Woody Allen ever been a mystery guest on WML?
Poor Mr. Daly with that cold of his.
tehsonek 2 years ago
Comment removed
soulierinvestments 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Woody Allen: according to Imdb --
26 Sept 1965 Mystery Guest
3 Apr 1966 Mystery Guest
13 Aug 1967 Mystery Guest
7 July 1963 Guest Panelist
5 Jan 1964 Guest Panelist
1 Mar 1964 Guest Panelist
THIS CLIP 18 Sept 1966 Guest Panelist
8 Jan 1967 Guest Panelist
26 Feb 1967 Guest Panelist
soulierinvestments 2 years ago
@soulierinvestments How could this comment possibly be flagged as spam?!
WBensburg 1 year ago