Strange Moments From What's My Line

Here are a few clips of what were possibly the strangest moments of this lauded CBS Game Show, which aired on Sunday Nights for seventeen years (1950 - 1967) and was hosted by John Daly. This classic program, the premise of which simply was a panel of 4 celebrities try to name a contestants occupation, was a staple of mid 20th Century television. The show aired live every Sunday, and sometimes there were some unforseen events. Here are a few of them. First, Mystery Guest Melina Mercouri and John Daly are a bit rattled by an intruder who suddenly pops up and starts to shill for a "dating service" before he is quickly escorted away by Johnny Olson and producer Gil Fates, the next one has Buddy Hackett introducing long-time show stalwart Dorothy Kilgallen and she appears to be drunk possibly, which is rather unsettling, and finally, comedian Henry Morgan expresses displeasure at also long-time stalwart Bennett Cerf's uneasy intro and him and John Daly's dull banter. All from the early to mid 1960s and all very strange!

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• What's
• My
• Line
• CBS
• John
• Daly
• Mystery
• Guest
• Intruder
• Buddy
• Hackett
• Dorothy
• Kilgallen
• Game
• Show
• Bennett
• Cerf
• Henry
• Morgan

[galileocan]

Henry Morgan is an ass. Sorry...correction....Pompous ass

[Sept11Discovery]

I don't think Dorothy was drunk...I think she just had to sneeze.

[cosycleaner]

I'd need booze and tranquilizers to cope with introducing Bennett Cerf too.

[Magic1962]

I miss the cordiality offered by tv programs in the old days.

[lecagot2]

@CrackerLance Na-uh! Henry Morgan was a great man.

[lecagot2]

I used to want to be like Henry Morgan. HE WAS SO COOL! Shame they are all dead now. The great generation.

[jarotra]

I remember Henry Morgan well - always a legend in his own mind.

[msdemos]

The thing that strikes me so squarely about the Henry Morgan thing, is how does ANYBODY choose to be so rude to another person, knowing they will have to face not only that person, but everybody else at some point later? And it's one thing to do it in private, but to then decide to be such an INCREDIBLE ass on national tv ??? Wow....

Thank you very much for posting these, "StooGP".......REALLY fascinating !!!

[msdemos]

@Indygoguy

Thank You, "Indy"! I can't believe so many people here automatically assume Kilgallen's drunk (and yes, I know she had abuse issues).

If you think about it drunk people, even VERY drunk people will slur their words, but (usually) make SOME kind of sense. This immediately struck me as a brain-related issue. Especially since (according to someone who saw that episode) the rest of the show went on without incident. How does somebody who is supposedly drunk, suddenly sober up ?

[shaneu1]

@cursenfumble According to my unabridged Webster's, a "sanitarium" (alternately, "sanatarium") is "a sanatorium (residential) establishment for patients." A sanatorium, not "sanitorium" as you spell it, is defined as "a residential establishment for patients undergoing treatment for alcoholism or tuberculosis." Thus, the more speific "sanatorium" would've been preferable, but the more general term, "sanitarium," also fits. Both terms have become archaic, not being considered "p.c." today.

[cursenfumble]

Thanks for the upload--Wow, all that unease in one show; first poor Dorothy's gaff and then pompous ass Henry--rude! I like the way J.D. gave poor Bennett his props by finishing the story and giving Henry a good barb! One more thing I don't see anyone else commenting on that I noticed was When B came to his seat he looked as if he at first was going to maybe give her a cheek kiss or something and I'm betting that when he noticed the smell coming off of her, quickly steered clear!