Bennett Cerf - Oral History - Notable New Yorkers - Part 1

Bennett Cerf - Oral History - Notable New Yorkers
Interviewed by Robin Hawkins, 23rd of January 1968

The quality of the original recording isn't amazing, but I think it's very interesting to hear Bennett Cerf speak about WML - so I wanted to share it with all of you WML-fans out there :D
I have tried to improve and equalize the sound, so you don't have to turn the volume up and down all the time - Hope it works...

Part 1:
Bennett Cerf describes how he became a part of the WML panel

He then talks about:
Stopette
Arlene Francis, John Charles Daly, Dorothy Kilgallen
Louis Untermeyer

______________

Bennett Cerf, eminent publisher and punster, was a founder and chairman of Random House Books, a writer and editor of many humor books, and a popular panelist on television's long-running game show, What's My Line?

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Bennett Cerf
• What's My Line
• WML
• Stopette
• Arlene Francis
• John Charles Daly
• Dorothy Kilgallen
• Hal Block
• Louis Untermeyer

[sparkescadman]

Thanks for this interview...it's just like we are hanging out with Bennett and hearing what you'd ask him about WML! (to me, the greatest show on TV in its 1950-67 version!)

[lovemyjimmystewart]

We will always remember you Bennett.

[henrygrove100]

he's got to stop crunching on the ice cubes...reminds me of me!

[azdana]

@GJNCA According to Wikipedia, Killgallen thought that Sheppard was innocent and said the prosecutor "didn't prove he was guilty any more than they proved there are pin-headed men on Mars." She also gave a deposition in the Sheppard murder case that helped him to get a new trial, according to the book, "Murder One."

[BigBrother256]

It was often posited that her column was a bit of a gossip rag. She also (according to Bennet in other interviews) couldn't tell when things were on or off the record.

[JackPlatt]

What a difference in time! Bennett Cerf was such a professional class act! Probably one of the classiest people of the 20th Century. He was the President of Random House Publishing and great humorist! No one today could hold a candle to Mr. Cerf's humor and wit.

Tragically, Bennett Cerf died in 1971, but his legacy in radio, TV, writing, politics, and humor will never be forgotten! May you RIP Mr. Cerf!

[khtx]

Why disgusting? What did she do??

[tallpaul521]

Mr. Cerf -- "Dorothy's 'disgusting' column"..you cad.

[Houdanny]

Thanks so much for posting this! Loved hearing Mr. Cerf speak. He was one of great classic TV's men of great class. One of my favorite gifts was "Bennett Cerf's Book of Jokes." "How many balls of yarn would it take to reach the moon? One very big one!"  Okay, not a gem, but I was five, okay???

[ipmoic]

The "Famous Writers School"!

I had completely forgotten about that. Yeah, he ate crow at the end of his career.