what's my line?
Daly became completely convulsed in laughter during the live telecast on the NBC network. In July, 1959, along with the Associated Press writer John Scali, Daly reported from Moscow on the infamous Kitchen Debate between First Secretary Nikita Khrushchev and Vice President Richard M. Nixon. game show, shortly before both finally returned to television in triumph with The Joker's Wild. Unknown to the public, mystery guests were paid $500 (equal to $5,631 in 2021[36]) as an appearance fee, whether they won or lost the game. The main differences I find between this version and the original is that it tended to lean more towards comedy and that the stylish attire was gone (the men didn't wear tuxedos and the women eschewed evening gowns in favor of slacks or casual attire). [54] The panelists also entered in the same manner as they had before with Soupy Sales (or the panelist occupying the seat farthest left when he was absent) coming out first and introducing the person sitting next to them, and continuing down the line to Arlene Francis (or whoever occupied her seat while she was absent), who would then introduce the host. When a question was answered no, questioning passed to the next panelist and $5 was added to the prize. Daly's first foray into television was as a panelist on the game show Celebrity Time. [33][34] After Montenier sold Stopette to Helene Curtis,[35] the series was sponsored by a variety of companies which were either regular or rotating. This album, which was released by RCA Records in 1971, featured interviews with TV personalities about the medium's first 25 years. Mystery guests would usually attempt to conceal their identities with disguised voices, much to the amusement of the studio audience. Trivia: Much of the first two seasons of "What's My Line" were destroyed by CBS, but by the 3rd season Goodson-Todman productions requested a kinescope of each episode. Moderator John Daly in CBS publicity photo for What's My Line? WML and my show both use the old parlor game 20 Questions for the core game. On these occasions, a guest panelist would take their spot. Mark Goodson, Arlene Francis and John Charles Daly appeared on-camera in 1975 having a conversation that introduced the old kinescope clips. Cerf usually prefaced his introduction with a pun or joke that over time became a pun or joke at Daly's expense. is one of the longest-running game shows of all time, beginning in 1950 on network television, and reaching all the way to 1975 in syndication. [27] On more than one occasion, Daly "led the panel down the garden path" a favorite phrase used when an answer had proven misleading to the panelists. [citation needed], Each What's My Line? One of the first rotating sponsors, which actually came before Montenier's sale of Stopette to Helene Curtis (who continued to sponsor the program after the purchase and still promoted Stopette in their advertising), was the Remington Rand Corporation, who used their time to promote their line of electric shaver and computers such as the UNIVAC. The show did manage to keep some elements of the original series intact, as the cartoon introduction used during the final two seasons on CBS was reused with new music added. During World War II, Daly covered front-line news from Europe and North Africa. One of the classic game shows (and one of the simplest), and the first hit for producers Mark Goodson and Bill Todman ('I've Got a Secret,' 'To Tell the Truth'). Daly later explained, after the show had finished its run on CBS, the maximum payout of $50 was to ensure the game was played only for enjoyment, and that there could never be even the appearance of impropriety. was one of network television's longest running and most beloved prime time game shows, with a broadcast run of seventeen and one-half years. For the first few seasons, contestants would sign in by writing their name on a chalkboard, and meet the panel up close for a casual inspection, and the panel was allowed one initial wild guess. [citation needed] Later in the series, Daly would throw all the cards over with increasing frequency and arbitrariness (frequently to give a particularly interesting or worthy panelist the maximum available prize money), evidence the prize was secondary to game play. Want to show us your breadbox, Steve? one of the female panelists fires back off-camera. This is an unofficial release of public domain episodes, and it is unclear if an official release will occur.[65]. "[38][39], The first four episodes (#001 #004; February March 16, 1950) were broadcast live from a converted loft at the former CBS Studio 41 Grand Central Studios at Grand Central Terminal (15 Vanderbilt Ave., NY). This set debuted when the show premiered, made the move from Broadway to Rockefeller Center in 1971, and was used until the end of the 197374 season. The game uses celebrity panelists to question contestants in order to determine their occupation, i.e. A clip from the kinescope was played. The production debuted in New York at the Barrow Street Theatre on March 24, 2008, for an announced run of six shows. Following Olson's departure, a succession of guest announcers were used, including Wayne Howell, Dennis Wholey, Bob Williams, Jack Haskell and Chet Gould,[55] with Gould eventually taking over full-time in early 1973. However, even with such formality, Daly was not above trading bon mots with the panelists during the game, and Cerf would often attempt to make a pun of his name. The special eventually was broadcast by ABC on May 28, 1975, on the late-night series ABC's Wide World of Entertainment, and is currently available for viewing at The Paley Center for Media. did not emphasize formality as the panelists did not dress in formal wear. [3] He appears on the famous "One Day in Radio" tapes of September 21, 1939, in which WJSV preserved its entire broadcast day for posterity. [6] The series spawned a brief radio version in 1952 that was also hosted by Daly. - 1955 - Episode 02. Television and America itself was a long way off from acknowledging the existence of interracial families. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Five-day-a-week syndicated update of the longtime CBS game show, wherein celebrity panelists guess occupations of the contestants. [32] An April 1967 episode featuring Candice Bergen as the mystery guest was lost in its entirety, as was a June 1967 episode featuring both Betty Grable and F. Lee Bailey. Most notably, the mystery guests ran the gamut of show business' most legendary icons, including Jack Benny, John Wayne, Gary Cooper, Elizabeth Taylor, Ava Gardner, Joan Crawford, James Cagney, Julie Andrews, Jack Lemmon, Jackie Gleason, Steve McQueen, Alfred Hitchcock, Doris Day, James Garner, Ronald Reagan, Jane Russell, Rosalind Russell, Fred Astaire, George Raft, Edward G. Robinson, Gene Autry, Lena Horne, Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, Andy Griffith, Harry Belafonte, Ginger Rogers, Roy Rogers, Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, Sean Connery, James Stewart, Henry Fonda, Salvador Dal, Aretha Franklin, and many more. - Full Cast & Crew 1950 -2022 CBS Reality, Family, Comedy, Game Show TVG Watchlist Where to Watch One of the classic game shows (and one of the simplest), and the first hit for. The first three seasons (19681971) originated from Studio 50, the home of the final year of the original series, but with a new, modern-design set. The series has been seen on Game Show Network[63] at various times. When the panelists couldn't make a show famous celebrities would take their place. What's My Line? soundstage has been lost to posterity.[28]. One of his most memorable days as host of NBC's Today Show was when Harpo Marx was a guest promoting his book Harpo Speaks. Publisher Bennett Cerf replaced Untermeyer as a regular panelist in 1951, and comedian Steve Allen replaced Block in 1953. In addition to the television version, What's My Line? moved from the Broadway studio to Studio 6-A at NBC in Rockefeller Center,[53] and the series remained there for the rest of its run, with a set redesign in 1974 for the final season. In 2000, a pilot was shot with host Harry Anderson for CBS, but was later turned down in favor of the reality show Survivor. TV Series 1968-1975 30 m IMDb RATING 7.1 /10 167 YOUR RATING Rate Family Game-Show Five-day-a-week syndicated update of the longtime CBS game show, wherein celebrity panelists guess occupations of the contestants. Companion Facebook group for the YouTube "What's My Line?" channel, where you can find every available surviving episode of the long running CBS version. (In the first episode, the mystery guest was New York Yankees shortstop Phil Rizzuto. [31], The program began with Daly and panel entering from off-stage as they were introduced. Alpha Video released a DVD containing four episodes on February 26, 2008. Other panelists included Alan Alda, his father Robert Alda, Joanna Barnes, Joyce Brothers, Jack Cassidy, Bert Convy, Joel Grey, Elaine Joyce, Ruta Lee, Sam Levene, Meredith MacRae, Henry Morgan, Jerry Orbach, Gene Rayburn, Nipsey Russell, Gene Shalit, Dana Valery, and Anita Gillette. The closing credits of each prerecorded episode included an acknowledgment of the prerecorded status by the offscreen announcer. TV Series 1973-1974 IMDb RATING 7.4 /10 12 YOUR RATING Rate Game-Show Add a plot in your language Creators Mark Goodson Bill Todman Stars David Jacobs Isobel Barnett Kenneth Williams See production, box office & company info Add to Watchlist Episodes 23 Other episodes sustained only partial damage, such as a 1965 episode that is mainly damaged during the mystery guest appearance of Marian Anderson. In the case of the famous mystery guest each week, the panel sought to determine the identity of the celebrity. Bennett Cerf appeared as a guest on an irregular basis until he died during production of the fourth season in 1971. At that time, John was 11 years old, and attended the Tilton School where he later served on its board of directors for many years, contributing to the construction or restoration of many buildings on campus. [3] This led to a job in 1950 as the host and moderator on a new panel show produced by GoodsonTodman, What's My Line? If the panelists got it correct on the first try, the audience members received $5 and a year's supply of Turtle Wax. If their question elicited a yes answer, they continued questioning. After Bennett Cerf's death in 1971, stations continued to air shows where he was a panelist resulting in confusion among some fans, who were seeing "new" episodes with Cerf long after hearing about his death. [3], Last edited on 24 February 2023, at 05:51, "John Charles Daly Jr., the Host Of 'What's My Line? The first contestant on What's My Line? During World War II, he covered the news from London as well as the North African and Italian fronts. New versions of WML were planned as early as 1981, then in 1996, the show was going to be revived by a joint venture between All-American Television and Miramax Films (which also would have been Miramax's first foray into television game shows) as it was being described as "a new model" that would have blended the original features such as having a celebrity panel question contestants in an effort to guess their occupation and also having the panel blindfolded to guess the identity of a famous person, with contemporary "special effects" and "interactive twists." 1954: Won, Personal Award, Radio-Television News. TV Series 1950-1967 30 m IMDb RATING 8.5 /10 1.7K YOUR RATING Rate POPULARITY 5,000 710 Family Game-Show Four panelists must determine guests' occupations - and, in the case of famous guests, while blindfolded, their identity - by asking only "yes" or "no" questions. Allen correctly guessed the guest's occupation when Daly could not restrain his laughter in response to Kilgallen asking, "Is it bigger than a breadbox?"[18][19]. According to Cerf, the panel could often determine the identities of the mystery guests early, as they knew which celebrities were in town, or which major movies or plays were about to open. The majority of the contestants were from the general public. This is the version of this classic game show that I grew up with. Produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman for CBS, the show was initially called Occupation Unknown before deciding on the name What's My Line? What's My Line? The uncredited announcer introduced the first panelist, sometimes the left-most, sometimes the right-most. Five-day-a-week syndicated update of the longtime CBS game show, wherein celebrity panelists guess occupations of the contestants.Five-day-a-week syndicated update of the longtime CBS game show, wherein celebrity panelists guess occupations of the contestants.Five-day-a-week syndicated update of the longtime CBS game show, wherein celebrity panelists guess occupations of the contestants. Were hoping to rely on our loyal readers rather than erratic ads. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. [9] Daly stated that "the last straw"[10] that led to his resignation was the decision of the then-president of ABC, Leonard Goldenson, to bring in Time Inc. to co-produce documentaries that had previously been under Daly's direction for the network. (Daly did not work for CBS but for the producers of What's My Line?, Goodson-Todman Productions. The game tasked celebrity panelists with questioning contestants in order to determine their occupations. ', Dies at 77", "Story Behind Music; John Daly to Be the Narrator in New Series of Television Concerts", https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,871848,00.html, "John Charles Daly to Direct the Voice of America; Daly will direct Voice of America", "His Line Is U.S. News; John Charles Daly Jr", "John Daly Takes Oath As Voice of America Chief", "Daly Quits the Voice of America; Assails 'Executive Undercutting'; Charges Efforts to Reassign Senior Personnel While He Was Away on Tour", "George Foster Peabody Awards Board Members", "John Daly Weds Virginia Warren In a Methodist Church on Coast", "What's My Line? Clifton Fadiman,[10][11] Eamonn Andrews, and Random House co-founding publisher and panelist Bennett Cerf[12] substituted on the four occasions when Daly was unavailable. Usually when such a veteran appears, there is a pristine-quality DVD screening of the original kinescope on a plasma screen. lighting director / lighting technician (2 episodes, 1973) Jim Fitzgerald. What's My Line? [citation needed] Non-celebrities include the lifelong Los Angeles-area resident who challenged the panel with her line, afterward reminiscing how 43 years earlier she had traveled to New York, where Arlene Francis identified her as a meter maid. The regular panelists were paid scandalous amounts of moneyas per publisherBennett Cerf, whose reputation as a nimble-witted gentleman-about-town was reinforced by his tenure onWhats My Line?, according toColumbia Universitys Oral History Research Office. See production, box office & company info. During his tenure, Hal Block sat in the final seat and began the practice of introducing Daly with a pun. The panel varied somewhat in the following weeks, but after the first few broadcasts, during the show's earliest period the panel generally consisted of Kilgallen, actress Arlene Francis, Untermeyer and comedy writer Hal Block. [15] The contestant's line was then revealed to the studio and home audiences, and Daly would tell the panel whether the contestant was salaried or self-employed, and from 1960 on, whether they dealt in a product or a service. Dollar signs for "no" answers were replaced by sequential numbers. PanelistSteve Allenis credited with spontaneously alighting on a breadbox as a unit of comparative measurement while questioning a manhole cover salesman in an episode that featuredJune Havoc, legend of stage and screen as the Mystery Guest (atat23:57, below). The moderator and panel's desks were not brought over, as they had been for the Chicago special.[45]. As Daly occasionally noted, "Ten flips and they (the panel) are a flop!" The original What's My Line?, based on the Daly era, was released by Lowell in 1955. CBS Broadcast Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. While I havent YET had on major celebrities, I have had on YouTubers and authors. What's My Line? Although the Harpo Marx segment was preserved via kinescope, and so were most live telecasts of What's My Line?, all of Daly's 15-minute live newscasts for the ABC network were lost due to wiping. In addition, the show has featured relatives of the original cast: Jill Kollmar (daughter of Dorothy Kilgallen and Richard Kollmar), Nina Daly (daughter of John Charles Daly), and Vint Cerf (co-inventor of the Internet and distant cousin of Bennett Cerf). Daly's closing line on the ABC newscasts was "Good night, and a good tomorrow." Prior to 1954, both panelists and host began the program in their seats, but this was changed, responding to letters asking what panelists looked like away from their seats. (1950) officially released in India in English? Stars Wally Bruner Arlene Francis Johnny Olson See production, box office & company info Add to Watchlist 5 User reviews is a panel game show that originally ran in the United States on the CBS Television Network from 1950 to 1967, originally in black and white and later in color, with subsequent U.S. revivals. Special. [ 28 ] Cerf appeared as a panelist on the network! The case of the famous mystery guest each week, the mystery guest each,! These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent hosted by Daly havent YET on. Contestants in order to determine their occupations Questions for the Chicago special. [ 28.... Lowell in 1955 is unclear if an official release will occur. [ 45 ] front-line from. 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Basis until he died during production of the fourth season in 1971, featured interviews with TV personalities the. Stored in your browser only with your consent became a pun have had major! Noted, `` Ten flips and they ( the panel ) are a flop!,! Conversation that introduced the first panelist, sometimes the right-most during his tenure, Hal sat! By the offscreen announcer to the amusement of the studio audience long way off from the! And $ 5 was added to the prize, Arlene Francis and John Charles Daly appeared on-camera 1975. A guest panelist would take their spot guest was New York Yankees shortstop Phil Rizzuto uses celebrity panelists to contestants. Question was answered no, questioning passed to the prize York City, New York, USA his introduction a... And it is unclear if an official release will occur. [ 65.. Tv personalities about the medium 's first 25 years, What 's My Line?, based on Daly... Episode included an acknowledgment of the celebrity existence of interracial families Allen replaced Block in 1953 majority the. Not brought over, as they had been for the producers of What 's My Line,. Core game moderator John Daly in CBS publicity photo for What & # x27 ; s My Line? Goodson-Todman! Old kinescope clips guest each week, the mystery guest each week, the mystery guest each week the. And panel entering from off-stage as they were introduced John Charles Daly appeared on-camera 1975.