What's My Line? - Clifton Fadiman host; Bob Hope; Cesar Romero [panel] (Apr 13, 1958)
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ก.ย. 2024
- NOTE: Clifton Fadiman is the substitute host, Fadiman essentially invented the role of urbane moderator of celebrity panel quiz shows on radio with the long running "Information, Please".
MYSTERY GUEST: Bob Hope [comedian]
PANEL: Arlene Francis, Cesar Romero, Dorothy Kilgallen, Bennett Cerf
![What's My Line? - Joe E. Lewis; Dana Andrews [panel]; Faye Emerson [panel] (Oct 12, 1958)](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/FUZhtAKRaX0/mqdefault.jpg)
Arlene is so gracious to all of the guests. What a sweet woman.
On the day of this episode, a dramatic musical event unfolded in Moscow, at the International Tchaikovsky Competition. A young man from Texas gave such a wonderful performance at the piano that the Russian audience gave him an 8 minute standing ovation. The judges were not sure if they would be permitted to declare an American to be the winner, so they called the Soviet Premier, Nikita Khrushchev. Khrushchev asked if the American was the best, and they said that he was. Khrushchev replied, "Then give him the prize". This competition launched the international career of Van Cliburn, who returned home to a ticker tape parade in New York, the only time a classical musician has ever been so honored.
A few months after the competition, on August 3, 1958, Van Cliburn would be the mystery guest on WML.
What a great piece of historical trivia. And the WML connection is enhanced by the fact that Cliburn later even served as a panelist!
That was so sweet of Dorothy asking Fadiman to flip all the cards as Daily would.
Eh…
It was very touching. Another reason Dorothy is my favorite.
Daly*
I think that Clifton Fadiman did a fantastic job filling in for these two episode's. John Daly' shoe's are huge ask to fill. I would have liked to have seen more of Clifton. I also enjoyed when Bennett and Eamonn Andrews filled in. Can't say the same for the syndication version of WML that followed. Love everything about 1950-1967 shows.
I have never seen any shows after John Daly's last appearance as host in 1967 and I don't want to.
@lemorab1 The syndicated shows, also produced by Goodson-Tallman, ran 1968 - 75, 8 years.
Arlene is so smart and classy, putting together the human cannonball was excellent.
I loved the way that she explained how she came up with it.
My mother had a date with Cesar Romero in 1948 when he was touring with Tyrone Powers for the movie captain from Castile.He was a complete Gentleman who bought my mother a dress and shoes. My mother was poor but dead drop gorgeous and met her in the street of Havana as he was promoting the movie through Latin America
What name did your mother use in 1948?
I have been watching dozens of these shows over the past few months. I met this woman's daughter last year in Nashville. She owns an antique store called Pia's, and Pia's grandfather developed the 'human cannonball' act. There is a painting of this lady on display there.
I live in North Alabama an often do short trips to N'ville. I must plan to go to this shop on my next visit! Thanks for Posting this information!
Let's keep in mind that Clifton Fadiman was the brilliant moderator of the radio show "Information Please." That was an academic type show. Mr. Fadiman took a more scolarly approach here on WML-- that's all. I can assure you that he was not a stuffed shirt. He was an erudite man with a terrific sense of humor. Yes, of course John Daley was undoubtedly the best, but I thought that Cliff did a fine job filling in here.
Hear hear
I agree. I think he did a good job. He probably wasn't going to lounge all over the pretty girls like John lol.
There's no doubt about it...the show just isn't the same without John Daily.
I agree. John Daly and Dorothy, after she’s killed 🤔. Glad to be able to see these episodes with her in them.
@@dianefiske-foy4717 no one is the same after they're killed.
Wasn’t it drugs that caused her demise, rather than homicide?
@@judithsweeney2553 that was the official determination but the whole thing was very fishy and the 'official' story was never completely accepted. The belief is that she was murdered because she said she knew who killed Kennedy and that she was going to expose them. She did say that. And then...no more Dorothy.
@@judithsweeney2553 - no it was one of Bennett Cerf's puns
I love this show - one of the greatest for its time. Well spoken, and classy panel. I also love to hear them drop quick comments about the upcoming trips the others are taking.
People knew, for example, that the expression is 'champing at the bit' (as Clifton Fadiman says at 7:14), not 'chomping' as so many inaccurately say it today.
After reading so many comments stating how "horrible" Mr. Fadiman was, I was surprised when he wasn't. Would ANYONE be JCD but JCD? Of course, not. Was Mr. Fadiman a bit chatty with the guests and so ran short on time for Bob Hope? Yes, but he was pleasant.
We are all entitled to our opinions. My humble opinion is Mr. Fadiman was fine. He could certainly have been significantly worse.
Eager to watch the next video to see if he settled in a little better.
This is 22 December 2019, so wishing all What's My Line? fans a Merry Christmas!!
And 12 months later wishing all a happy and HEALTHY holiday and new year. Last Christmas who expected the pandemic of 2020!
We didn’t know what we were in for only 2 and a half months later!!
I confess that I didn’t know who that substitute host was. His name didn’t even sound familiar and I’m over 60.
Arlene and Dorothy were so gracious.
Don't like him or his attitude
I love Arlene’s dress in this episode. But then again, both Arlene and Dorothy always dressed so lovely and feminine. So much class. I missed this era , having been born 12 years later. Thanks so much for uploading. I’ve been watching in chronological order and learning so much history, pop culture, (and vocabulary too). Thanks again. These are wonderful.
Also the guests dress for the show. The lady guests seem to have been given a budget for clothing judging by the outfits they wear.
Or maybe people just were taught to dress respectfully and for the occasion back then. I remember when I was in elementary school in the 70s, the teachers would always dress nicely for work, but by the time I started teaching in 1999, I was shocked at how casually they dressed for work, compared to before!
Deborah Olsen I agree- I remember the same - I’m a teacher as well - and it’s the same here. It doesn’t seem to be getting any better . 🤷♀️
Sometimes watching these old shows bring back such wonderful memories that who did what or said what isn't an issue....just enjoy the moment like we did back when they were first on TV....
Thank you, Ms. Kilgallen, for letting all the cards been flipped for "The little Cannonball"!!! (I'm beginning to like you better already)
THANK YOU, Bennett !! I was in Pittsburgh, unable to imagine how Arlene guessed Mrs. Patterson's occupation : I could only think, " Maybe in Arlene's raucous girlhood she 'dabbled' as ammo . "
Very good, Dorothy! I was thinking hard at my phone screen, and you must have heard me through time & space and reminded the gentleman what John whould have done 😄
My recollection of Mr. Fadiman was being judge and senior editor at Book of the Month Club. As well as editor of dozens, if not hundreds of books like The Lifetime Reading Plan. My favorite that I grew up with is The World Treasury of Childrens literature!
It's nice to see Cesar Romero outside the Adam West Batman show. I'll have to look up more of his work later.
Jesus! He'd been making movies since the freakin' 1930's! What the hell is wrong with you?
He also had a TV show called " Passport to Danger"..I use to watch it back in the 1950's..& still do now on TH-cam..
He was in The Thin Man, one of my favorites, Springtime in the Rockies with Betty Grable & John Payne, Disney's The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, with young Kurt Russell.
That's just a few, he had a long, varied career.
Thank you for your interest in Cesar Romero....we have a facebook group for him called :Cesar Romero~The Latin From Manhattan" and would be happy to help you with any questions you have....facebook.com/groups/ciscogirl46/
Batman was later in his career. Yes, do look up his work.
"Thats going to be a great help to us Caesar." Hilarious.
Dorothy is one to talk. She is always asking the MG questions that show that she is a show business insider "Were you at El Morocco this week?" "Have you ever been a guest in my home?" How could those questions ever help her fellow panelists? Of course they couldn't -- they were designed for her and her alone to get the answer. But when Cesar tries the same thing, she gets angry. Not surprisingly, this thin skinned woman can give it out but she can't take it.
I think that sometimes the panel tries to get the MG to laugh so that they can use that to help them guess him or her easier
In the 11th grade, a substitute teacher showed a film in English class that was narrated by Clifton Fadiman. Afterwards, the class was asked to write a paragraph about the film, and to name the narrator. I was the only student who wrote down Clifton Fadiman. The teacher noted that, though he said he didn’t think much of my paragraph.
That was very sensitive of Dorothy Kilgallen to tactfully suggest that the substitute host flip all the cards.
Mrs Pattersons husband (also a human cannonball) was on the programme on March 31 1963. This time, Kitty Carlisle picked up the circus was in town and quickly guessed the occupation.
There's no Kitty on this show tonight.
@@sandrageorge3488: He said in 1963.
This really does increase my appreciation of John Daly. I think he should have taken a vacation from time to time just to emind us how much we should value him. As the credits start to roll at 24:56 you can hear the panel talking. I couldn't make out much, but I think Arlene says something that contains the word, "John" after which at least a couple of them laugh loudly?
+Robert Melson I do agree! I always thought John was a fantastic moderator but when he is gone for an episode I appreciate even more so! And Yeah after a couple of times listening to it, it sounded like she said "he is going to be on next week!" then they burst into laughter but I could be wrong.
+Ashoodle You're probably right...especially since Fadiman IS going to be on again next week (and they knew it!). Have you also seen Bennett Cerf as moderator on 9/29/57 and Eamonn Andrews (the host of the BBC version) on 6/28/59? I rather liked Eamonn Andrews' taking Daly's place. I started off cool towards him, but warmed up considerably by the end, having been especially impressed at how he handled the panel.
I saw the Bennet Cerf episode and that is when my appreciation for Daly as a moderator blossomed. And no, I haven't watched the episode with Eamonn Andrews yet. I think i've only seen that little clip where Arlene yells "Murder!" But yes, I look forward to watching that episode now.
The prettiest dressers had the plainest job.
The one who made the dog collar had a beautiful gown
Hahaha his impression of John Daly! 🤣🤣🤣
This might be the episode where the panel deliberately didn't guess Bob Hope was the mystery guest . Cerf describes this show in a 'Notable New Yorkers Radio piece . Hope was promoing everywhere a very bad film according to Cerf and the panel knew he'd be on .
+ nick nicely I don't think this is that episode. In the interview to which you refer, Bennett Cerf says that the panelists said the names of many other comedians, including "obscure" ones. They don't do that here. I do believe, however, that they must have known it was Bob Hope because he did absolutely nothing to disguise his voice. Also, considering the long and loud applause at the beginning, Bennett's first question normally would have been a statement about how the person obviously was a well-known entertainer of long-standing within the industry and not "Are you a sports figure?" They had to keep the show going, though, for the sake of the audience.
+nick nicely Check out the WML episode from June 26, 1956 with Bob Hope and his daughter, Linda. When Arlene says, "I think we know who this is," she follows that up with, "Jack Benny." Bob Hope laughs but obviously expects her to say quickly after, "Bob Hope." She doesn't. She (in a convincingly innocent voice) asks, "Was I wrong?" Then follows a rapid fire round of names of comedians--and non-comedians (such as Gregory Peck!). Bennett Cerf "guesses" Zeppo Marks (whom he mentions in the Notable New Yorkers interview as being one of the people the panel said instead of Bob Hope. The episode occurred two years before this (1958) episode, which would fit Bennett's claim that Bob Hope was angry for two years. To be honest, though, he does not seem even miffed and he certainly doesn't walk off in a huff. He stands immediately but John Daley has him sit down, then they have a relaxed discussion which includes mentioning the movie by name (That Certain Feeling). Arlene, during the discussion, compliments him and the movie. I think Bennett Cerf's version of the events may have been a bit of creative history on his part.
Thanks to +John Smith, +gary D, and +Robin Chanteuse Dylan who discuss the possibility of this episode as being the one in the comments below (posted about 2 years ago).
Ironic that Dorothy suggested that mystery guest Bob Hope could run for president. Actually, he couldn't as he was born an Englishman.
Mr. Fadiman did a pretty good job but you can appreciate the job that John Daly does. Mrs. Breyer was a handsome woman. Bob Hope could be on a Hollywood Mt. Rushmore. Even though not born in the United States ( hate to disappoint the audience but no being American born, he could not be President) he is more American than most Americans. He gave up a lot of his holidays to entertain troops overseas. Thanks for the video.
Freeze at 2:09 and 23:47 : thanks to the amateur camera work, we get to see Twice the What's My Line Banner that sits above the stage entrance. It appeared on TV on occasion -- particularly with very tall guests
Good eye.Thanks!
Now this is one of those show were John finally gets a break.
A break from What's My Line but he was only off because he was working at his "real job" as Vice President of ABC news. All the WML episodes he missed were because he was working - quite an impressive record of never calling in sick or going on vacation in 17 years! His first wife once wrote that they'd never taken a family vacation; John was quite a workaholic.
*_Human Cannonball_*
*_Makes Dog Collars_*
My mother was a toddler when she first saw Bob Hope in Palm Springs. She lived two doors down, and he often said hello, or waved to her. 😁
Clifton was great and very genial. As others have said, no one could top John Daly, but Fadiman did an excellent job in his own right and I enjoyed the slightly slower pacing and more chatting with the non-celebrity guests about their professions.
Bennett Serf has such an amazing smile!
fifty dollars seems like such a small amount, even for that time period
In "that time period" a quiz show wasn't about the money. Back then, money didn't mean the same thing it does today. Money was nice, but that's not why we watched. We watched because of the people. The movie stars and other celebrities. The inherent fun of a quiz show. To see if you could play the game better than your favorite star could.
Besides: in 1958 the average weekly wage was only $70-75. So 2/3 of an average paycheck wasn't anything for the man-on-the-street to sneeze at!
The US nationwide average price of a gallon of gasoline was 30 cents in 1958.
$50.00 would buy you 166 gallons of gasoline in 1958.
so, it would be like winning 166 gallons of gasoline on a game show today.
Inflation calculators generally under estimate these things but, 50$ in 1958 is about equivalent to 500$ today well, time of writing (2023). And its even more if you compare it to some actual product, for example if you spent 50$ on white bread in 1958 you would have to spend 612$ in 2022 to get the same amount of bread.
it doesn't compare with some prizes on today's game shows, but its not a game show, its a panel show, and the guests are not the main stars they are only on for a few minutes not. Unlike some game shows today where contestants are on for the entire show or even a season. These guests are not contestants in the same way, they are a small part of the entertainment. Also, often guests from out of town were flown in for free (at least according to the ad spots that claim American airlines arranged for their travel). Separate from regular guests, mystery guests were paid 500$ on top of however much of the 50$ prize they won, and the panelists were paid much more. (at least from what is posted on Wikipedia).
Love the great Bob Hope on this episode! Love him !
Apparel for dogs? Dorothy’s top 2 guesses: muzzles and eyeglasses. Lol she’s usually so sharp.
The occupation of the camera operator is clearly not a camera operator.
Cliff did a good job. That was entertaining.
My dad saw Bob Hope when he was engaged in the New Zealand German battles prior to WW2. Bob visited the New Zealand soldiers in Cyrenaica.
Is there anyone else, who thought of Newman from Seinfeld, when looking at Fediman?
And just a annoying.
Who let that 'Joker', on? :) Always, nice, seeing Cesar Romero! As, for Mr. Fadiman, I think the shows are gonna run a little long, in John Charles Daly's absence. If Mr. Cerf doesn't ask that first contestant, "Where did they find a woman, of your caliber", I'll be disappointed! Oh-nice solve, Mrs. Gabel! Fair JCD impression, too, Mr. Fadiman. Hang, on-a cannon, except for imperceptible reflex, does not move. Correct? Good job, Dorothy, getting Mr. "Information, Please", to flip, all, the cards. Oh-just, saw your comment, "Super..." Fine attention-paying!
Ironically Bob Hope couldn't have run for president
Now everyone knows Arlene's secret to successful guessing of the guest's line. Surprised she admitted how she uses the audience.
WRT all of the references to Hope's trip to Russia, this is the one that resulted in his book _I Owe Russia $1200_, and in the 4/5/58 episode of his show. (I find his books to be like peanuts; I can read (or, in the case of peanuts, eat) a lot of them at once, until I suddenly realized I'm beyond tired of them, and stop abruptly.)
I am pretty sure that earlier today or yesterday I watched an old To Tell the Truth and she was there with her husband.
"Dorothy would you like to run the show?"
did rod serling ever do one of these?
11:04 “You wanna say hello to these effete Easterners?” 😆
Anyone noticed that Mr. Fadiman and Mr. Daly have similar hair style
Bern Bennett is the announcer. 0:37
That is what Fadiman looked like?? Not what I envisioned
They dressed so elegantly in the earlier years on the show. In later years they dressed more casually it seems.
The WML shows from 1950-67 were broadcast mostly live on on CBS on Sunday at 10:30PM in New York City, so the panelists wore evening clothes. The syndicated WML shows from 1968-75 were video taped, with five episodes a week, that could be broadcasted anytime, morning, afternoon, or evening by the local TV station, so the panelists were more casual focused.
@@RonGerstein Oh, okay I didn't know that. Thanks for the insight.
Why didn't Bennett "try again" as host?
Probably because he didn't enjoy doing it.
+What's My Line? not to mention that he was terrible at it and everybody knew it including him.
He mentioned on the last show how Ernie Kovacs's mischievous shenanigans tripped him up, which is totally understandable!
@@Bigbadwhitecracker glad you thought so. He was a great host!
He was too awkward
The MC didn’t do it right with the dog collar contestant. They should have continued questioning to find out what she does with them. Does she sell them or design them. John always did that.
He isn't John Daly
Now for some strange reason I want to watch "The Lemon Drop Kid".
The panel was misled by the answer about westerns. Of course, Hope's were comedy westerns (and good ones, at that). But, really, it is hard for me to wade through this not Daly led show.
tricky dick Painful at best
Then be quiet, don't watch it again, and stop ruining it for us who aren't prejudiced!
Were there cowboys? Yes. Were there horses? Yes
Then it was a western. STFU!
It was them purposely playing with Hope's vanity. They knew it was him and decided beforehand to not guess him. It was hilarious to see them do this. They are ordinarily very sharp on who is in town. Dorothy, especially, was very funny in this segment.
Mrs. Patterson was one of the Zacchini Family (Victoria, to be specific), whose father, brothers, and sister all were involved in being human cannonballs at one point or another. She shows up on a 1957 episode of TTTT, too, which I shall have to visit later. (Mrs. Patterson's sister Duina eventually retired to sell delicate antiques, which I consider proper irony. Victoria seems to have retired (in 1962) to raise her daughter.)
The Patterson's act, in 1961: th-cam.com/video/D6t0BcQnGVI/w-d-xo.html
Zacchini? Shows what a difference one little vowel can make. Substitute a "u" for an "a" and that family of human cannonballs would have been squashed!
The Zacchinis brought the only case the Supreme Court has ever heard on the right of publicity (1977). A TV station showed the entire human cannonball act of one of the Zacchini's on the air without Mr.. Zacchini's permission. The Court required the TV station to pay damages to Mr. Zacchini, rejecting the TV station's argument that the First Amendment was a defense to Mr. Zacchini's civil lawsuit.
Bennett's comment about westerns illustrates to me a bias against westerns that seemed to exist on this show. It is almost impossible to believe they never had James Arness as a mystery guest. Especially when you consider he starred in the top rated show on CBS (and their cash cow) the entire run of WML I think the same kind of prejudice existed against character actors of which their were so many good ones of that era. With the exception of Walter Brennan. Where were Dabs Greer or Murray Hamilton, Arthur O'Connell, Henry Morgan, Edgar Buchanan, Arthur Hunnycut, Strother Martin, Dub Taylor and their ilk?
Don't forget that Arness was in California, and extremely busy doing "Gunsmoke." A trip to NY wasn't on the cards for him, also because of his painful leg which necessitated shooting all his stand up and walking shots early in the day. In fact, anybody in a Western series on TV would have had a hard time clearing their schedule enough to make the trip to New York during the season.
James Arness wouldn't have appeared for any price - he was so private he was known as the Greta Garbo of Dodge City.
With the challenger who hails from Pasadena, Bennett mentions the Dodgers. While he never indicated being a fan of the Dodgers, Bennett was a sports fan in general and a baseball fan in particular. He was clearly displeased with the Dodgers and Giants leaving NYC for the west coast. And he knew the baseball season would be starting the next day.
Baseball officially arrived on the West Coast on Tuesday, April 15, as unpleasant for NYC fans of the Dodgers and Giants as the due date for income tax returns. The Giants hosted the Dodgers that day in their temporary (two years) home, the former minor league ballpark, Seals Stadium. The Giants won that first game on the West Coast, 8-0. Of course, it was also the first game of the Dodger-Giant rivalry in California. About 7 months earlier, the Giants beat the Dodgers, 3-2, at the Polo Grounds: the last game between the rivals in NYC. Future Hall of Famer Don Drysdale happened to be the losing pitcher in both contests. The Giants finished third in 1958, bolstered by a slew of rookies: Orlando Cepeda, Jim Davenport, Willie Kirkland, Bob Schmidt, Leon Wagner and Felipe Alou. Meanwhile the Dodgers fell all the way to 7th and their first losing record since 1944. But the Dodgers would have the last laugh the following year when they brought the first World Series and baseball championship to the West Coast. The Los Angeles Dodgers would win five World Series before the Giants won their first in SF in 2010.
They (both Mr Fadiman and John Daily) always mistakenly call Bob Hope Robert but his name isn’t Robert it’s Leslie.
I'm wondering if anyone knows whether or not this was the episode that Bennett Cerf referred to in his book "At Random" where he wrote that he had a hunch that Bob Hope would be the mystery guest, as he was in town promoting his latest film? Then he and the other panel members agreed NOT to guess it was Hope just to use up his time.
LOA1955 -- I think we'd have to search for each mystery guest appearance by Bob Hope and see what the outcome is as a process of elimination. If this particular episode is the only one where they didn't guess him, then it must be the one Bennett was talking about. However, he said that Hope was annoyed with the panel and he doesn't seem to be.
ToddSF 94109 I think it was the one where Bob appeared with his daughter.
The episode in Cerf's book was indeed the 6/24/56 episode with Bob Hope and his daughter. The book is quoted at length in the comments to that episode posted in this channel. In this episode, Hope says at 23:20: "The last time, they guessed me in about six seconds and then they needled me for two minutes."
+Gary D. Here on YT is an upload of 5 parts of 'An Oral History, Notable New Yorkers' from 1968 with Robin Hawkins. Pt 4 is where Bennett tells how it was arranged beforehand that he'd kick off the round of questions when Mystery Guest came on. Bennett said he asked, "Are you a comedian?" On the 1956 Bob & Linda Hope episode, Arlene asks the first question. Just goes to show how Bennett's memory was not keen. It's no wonder, what with 17 years worth of WML episodes he paneled.
John would’ve had something smart to say about whether dog collars were used by either men or women. Weak.
Who WAS this Clifton Fadiman guy anyway? What was his chief/principal "claim to Fame" to get this temporary job of hosting What 's My Line?
+Steve Burrus
According to Cliff Clavin from "Cheers", it is also a little known fact that he was the inspiration for a CBS crime drama of the 1980's and 1990's: "Jake and the Fadiman". :-)
He hosted Information Please on radio for years and briefly on television, besides working in publishing and the Book of the Month Club.
I dodn't care for his hosting for this show
Nothing wrong with this temporary host. What's wrong is with people who don't like change if you ask me
Lol. When Arlene got the first contestant, Bennett, during the applause, said where'd you get that idea. I was thinking the same too. At first I thought she should have backed out because she knew who she was. At least it's clear to me now.
+Stephanie McCoy
I was also glad to hear the explanation. If there was only a way to send it to anyone who claims that WML is fixed and make sure it autoplays upon receipt.
Dorothy says, "that's a great help to us" when Romero asks if the MG knows him personally, what a hypocrite. She is always asking bizarre questions, like "did you lose your wallet out of a helicopter?" "Did we meet at the hotel in Greece?", and the like, questions that only she would know the answer to, and never help the other panelists.
I actually don't remember who said it but someone was talking about her doing that and they said " At a party did you take a piece of shrimp off of somebodys (can't remember who it was) plate and proceed to throw it into Lucille Ball's pool while Dean Martin sang with Peggy Lee."
Although I love the panel. When they say those things...it is to brag of who they rubbed elbows with and where all they have been. Lol
I have never heard the expression, which Dorothy uses regularly, ever uttered by any other human being,
What expression?
@@accomplice55: I’m gonna guess it’s the “weenie” phrase.
What elegant dressers they were...so sad that fashions today are trashy.
The camerawork is atrocious in this episode! Plenty of out of focus shots and miscues.
I've read something about a technicians's strike. Certainly get views of the set that usually do not show up.
That would make sense, then. You're right about unusual camera shots in this episode.
+soulierinvestments Yep. Not sure when it ended, but it started April 8th or so, and was still going as of April 12. IBEW, this was.
Thanks for the explanation about the technician's strike! I think some of the reason that this episode is uncomfortable to watch is the unstable camerawork rather than the substitute host, who is (I think) unfairly blamed. Of course Fadiman isn't Daly; nobody could have filled in as moderator without our regretting John's absence. On second viewing of this episode, though, the moderating is better than I remembered and the wobbly and fuzzy shots are worse than I remembered.
Concerning several other episodes there have been comments about John Daly holding contestants and people hypothesized it was for camera angles. Perhaps photography here is poor because the interim MC didn’t help position the guests
I guess I’ll never complain about Daly again. Fadiman, get out!
Why would you complain about Daly in the first place?
I think bennett was sceptical on how arlene guessed the lady who was shot out of a cannon
Arlene is very clever. And Bennett is often more suspect on how he gets his answers so quickly!
@@jacquelinebell6201 hmm but that was way too quick.
The moderator really trashed Dorothy.
Sorry-- referring to what exactly?
Listen to the tape.
Mark Giardina Okay, never mind. I've posted over 500 episodes by this point-- I don't remember them by heart nor have time to rewatch a whole episode to understand a five word comment if you're not willing to explain it. You're not obligated to, of course, but I was interested in what you meant if it didn't require my rewatching a 25 minute long video.
The moderator referred to her as being stupid.
Mark Giardina Well, I think I definitely would have remembered that. . . !
I still don't know the specific part of the show you're referring to, but I believe you must have misheard whatever was said. If Fadiman really called Dorothy "stupid", that would have wound up as one of the most infamous moments in the entire history of WML, an otherwise extremely genteel and polite program.
7:47 how would she have guessed that? I smell fish.
Here's the fabulous Ms Patterson (aka Victoria Zacchini) performing her "transportation" feat of skill.
th-cam.com/video/D6t0BcQnGVI/w-d-xo.html
thank you.
Fadiman is the guy who embarrassed Chico by asking " Are you working or still living off of Grouchos' money ? What a jerk
Hope and Nixon both had the same type of nose.
Im sure they knew it was bob hope !!!!
This Clifton Fadiman did a great job but I'd rather John Daly.
Clifton Fadiman wasn't impressive. I actually found him a bit condescending. I definitely preferred Bennett as the fill in host
I thought he did a pretty good job. Filling Daly's shoes isn't easy, but he seemed pretty comfortable. (I didn't pick up on whatever it was that you found to be condescending.)
*****
Definitely uncomfortable, self-conscious--and defensive! I'm so used to a relaxed and happy show, this one has been hard to watch.
This is just my opinion, but as opposed to being condescending, I think he just had kind of a wise guy/sarcastic personality and it was all in fun. I sensed the panel also knew this and they seemed to have fun with it, especially Dorothy. It seemed to rub off on everyone as the panel even exchanged some good natured barbs with each other.
Galileocan g -- I note that Bennett said he hated moderating WML when he did -- he hoped he'd never have to do it again. Eamonn Andrews, an Irishman who hosted the British version of What's My Line? filled in once for John Daly, I think, but he wasn't as good as John Daly as moderator -- not nearly as personable and warm and ready to comment. (Andrews also served as a guest panelist a number of times and was even a mystery guest.) John Daly was simply the best moderator WML ever had and he was simply irreplaceable.
Ya like the old somng goes John Charles Daly [from Johanessburg South Africa] was "Simply The Best". Yeah RIP Daly.
When people had class.
And the cheating continues...are you shot out of a cannon ? Brorher...
They should've got Bennet back as host! He was a great host! I'll admit, this guy had a few funny moments, but I didn't like this him at all!
I suspect Bennett didn't want to, after the last time. He was so stressed out about it. They may have asked him.
Well Mr. Daly's substitute doesn't stand near the contestants or hold their hand or arm as he greets them and directs them to sit down. I'll have to get used to him. Lol!
Proof of how important John Daly was as host of this show...this guy was terrible.
Cesar Romero introduced Dorothy kilgallen as a great communist?!
Columnist
Good grief....
This host is awful. He seems like a used-car salesman or a funeral director. Or a televangelist.
Wow, this really shows how integral John Daly was to the show. This was just awkward and cringe worthy from beginning to end! 😩
How ludicrously uncharitable and un-What's My Line-like to criticize the job Mr. Fadiman did! He was a charming and gracious host. He was filling in for the absolute master for the very first time, but he made the show enjoyable to watch in Mr. Daly's absence.
Don't wet your panties over it, honey!
I'm sorry, but a cannon is NOT a form of transportation!
I agree. It is tempting to compare the substitute to the regular, but in this case it is called for. John would never have changed the challenger's answer to yes as it would tend to be misleading. And yet, because of the audience's reaction to it, it was part of the clues that led Arlene to make the intuitive leap to the correct answer.
Lois Simmons: You're probably right. But I also found it interesting that when they asked the dog collar lady if the product could be used by people, her answer of "no" was allowed to stand, thereby giving them a nice shortcut. John Daly would have probably jumped in and said the product could indeed be used by both men and women, and he'd have been right. One uses the product to put on a dog and thereby have the ability to attach a leash. Or do dogs actually use the product themselves?
no but being shot out of a cannon is a form of transportation
+PhilBagels I suppose. Although, he did say "within the frame of reference used on this show." Technically, not wrong, y'know. Bein shot out of a cannonball indeed transport Mrs. Patterson from one place to another. I believe Mr. Bennett Cerf picked up on this by asking which direction this "transportation" stuff might go. Arlene later explained that the mention of transportation and the audience uproar helped. I'd rather account him for failing to mention - & I'm certain that Mr. Daly would, without giving away too much - that it's not what an ordinary person would call a conventional mode of transportation.
Horrid host..
Ryan Schroer Fadiman was an excellent host-- he actually invented the job of panel show moderator on radio's "Information, Please". He just couldn't fill John Daly's shoes, but no one could. The producers realized this themselves and wisely decided after 1959 never to air another WML without John present. All the other cast members were absent from time to time, but never John after 1959. He missed only 4 shows in the entire run of the series.
He was perfect for the show..and I think the downfall of the Syndicated version was no Daly.
I didn't mean he was a horrible host period..just for WML. I think Bennett did better actually. He understood the show and didn't talk down to panelists.
You're a horrid commentator. Get over it!
I found him to be condescending, and he wasted so much time with the contestants they had to cut Bob Hope short. Daly was much better for the very unique task of moderating WML.
I don't like that host. Hes having a hard time being himself.
Please don't be so silly
C'mon Romero, Kilgallen is hardly the "shining light of television'
Be honest. Isn't it hard walking around, with a big ol' stick up your butt?
Can’t believe John is gone for two weeks!
Fadiman was awful!
The shallow basin pharmacodynamically radiate because colt significantly suspect before a fallacious gum. mysterious, little tanker
?
Did Dorothy and Arlene get paid extra to wear stupid looking dresses?
I agree that Arlene's dress was awful. I liked Dorothys
The worst thing about Arlene's dresses were the huge stupid bows in the back.