TRUE STORY: When Martin Luther King was in school, he wrote an essay about Marian Anderson. Twenty four years later he heard her sing n Washington,D.C. before he delivered his historic "I Have A Dream" address. I was there.
Look at Arlene Francis… she is class meeting class. She stood up with all the respect she could give to a great human being. Ms. Anderson is the epitome of class, beauty, and elegance. I wish I can go back in time, and meet her.
Every single comment for this video is in total praise of Marian Anderson and she deserves every little bit of it. She had the most beautiful voice and always carried herself with the utmost dignity and poise. She was a wonderful person by any measure. I just want to keep going..........
To me, Miss Anderson is the epitome of what human beings should aspire to be. There’s almost a sacredness to her grace and dignity. A true grande dame.
Sacredness. Yes, that’s it. We are viewing an historic moment from the past and a person all Americans should learn of, despite the current hiding and theft of our shared history in many states.
I was surprised to learn that Marian Anderson was born in 1897, so she was well into her 60s at the time of this show. She did not appear to be that age at all! She went on to live a very long life, passing away at age 96. What a national treasure!
I remember the 50s and 60s - and African Americans were usually either ignored or not treated well in the media. "What's My Line" had a long history of including African Americans and treating African American mystery guests with respect. That should have been ordinary and commonplace, but it was not.
I found myself crying from the moment she began signing her name and that studio audience erupted in one of the warmest ovations I can ever remember hearing on that program. It really speaks to the high esteem with which she was regarded.
You were not alone in your tears. From the moment she signed her name through Arlene standing. Remarkable woman, talent, and heart. Essence of humanity.
@@jefolson6989 It was evident and easy to sense her humanity and grace. And, to know what she had been through. There are few Americans who would garner this kind of awe and honor. Thank God for this woman.
This was good show.... Miss Anderson was the epitome of class, beauty, graciousness and spectacular talent. Just note the way the ladies on the panel stood when greeting her. I only saw this for Eleanor Roosevelt. The panel is so classy and especially Arlene Francis,
One of the best things about whats my line was the face that there was great respect and acceptance of men and women of different races in the entertainment field when, in that time period it wasn't widely accepted or respected
@ Were she still alive, I'd probably have you ask Marian Anderson about the goodness of the Daughters of the American Revolution back in 1939. She'd probably be very dignified about it, and shift the conversation to the goodness of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. Ms. Anderson was classy like that.
They did it not because they wanted to, but because there was NO other choice. Let's be honest here.... they only wanted people in there homesfor domestic purposes only..... a d today much of those same attitudes exist! Today is December 31, 2018
Of course you would say i this...."regardless of race or color".... you probably weren't even alive at this articular time, therefore, I wouldn't expect someone such as yourself to understand.. next time just time skip over my. Comment, don't read it, then you won't have to worry about whether it makes any sense or not .... happy new year!
This was the day Marian Anderson gave her farewell appearance at Carnegie Hall. She could have easily appeared that night on the Ed Sullivan Show, but instead, she chose to appear on a favorite show of hers, "What's My Line?"
Her farewell tour ended at Carnegie Hall, as you said, but it began at Constitution Hall in Washington, where she had been denied the ability to perform due to her race in 1939.
A contralto, Ms. Anderson portrayed Ulrica in Verdi's "A Masked Ball" at the Met in the 1950s, thus becoming the first African American singer to perform on the Met stage.
From the New York Times article of the same day: "...My mission is to leave behind me the kind of impression that will make it easier for those who follow." "I forgave the D.A.R. many years ago. You lose a lot of time hating people."
This is why I love this show. WML featured African American performers at a time when they were not on television a whole lot. All the biggest names appeared on there, from the videos I've seen on here. And Mr. Daly and the panelists always treated them with dignity and respect. This was an outstanding program and should be remembered as one of the greatest programs of that era.
"And on the 7th day you rest." Brilliant, lovely Arlene! And what a cool thing for the gentleman who fixes windmills.. to travel halfway around the world, to be in the States for six months.. and then be featured on one of the most popular television programs of the day. What a great experience! Ms. Anderson. A lovely, and supremely talented legend.
What I love about watching these episodes is that I then read up on or source the work of these marvelous guests. Thank you for the enlightening and beautiful experiences.
Actually it's all covered by the rules of etiquette. Gentleman always stand when a lady enters the room, rises at the table or approaches. Ladies, when greeting another lady, may remain seated unless the approaching lady is older than them or obviously of higher social standing, in which case they also rise. Ms. Anderson was obviously a person of enormous stature so pretty much anyone short of the Queen would be expected to rise in her presence.
A friend of mine was at the concert in Washington when she sang at the Lincoln memorial years later she was at the same place for the I have a dream speech !
My mom saw Marian Anderson in the mid 50s. Said it was an incredible experience. The Daughters of the American Revolution won't allow this classy lady to sing.
It didn't matter. Eleanor Roosevelt then arranged for her to sing at the Lincoln Memorial. Ms. Anderson's snub by the Daughters of the American Revolution was not unusual for Black entertainers of that era. Even in the '60s, this happened to Black entertainers.
I was very pleased that John introduced her as MISS Marian Anderson, a form of respect that was not frequently accorded Black artists - in ANY field (at that time).
I LOVE watching this show! I can't get enough! It's so delightful, entertaining and just so much fun! The comradarie is wonderfully uplifting! ❤️👏❤️👏❤️👏❤️👏🥰
I just finished watching a Marian Anderson documentary that featured a brief clip of her 1965 farewell concert at Carnegie Hall . She was, indeed, wearing the same gown she appeared on WML? in; so she must have gone directly from Carnegie Hall to the taping...
Thank you for presenting this and for you labor in correcting it! If anyone deserves to be presented 'true to life', it is this extraordinary woman. What a beautiful human being.
What isn't mentioned in the episode is that April 18, 1965, is also the date of Marian Anderson's farewell performance at Carnegie Hall, which is what had occasioned _The New York Times_ to publish the article that Arlene and John referred to.
The farewell tour ended at Carnegie Hall, as you say, but it began at Constitution Hall in Washington, where Ms Anderson had been denied the ability to preform due to her race in 1939.
Glad you were able to find the video! I regret not having listed the names of all the contestants back when I was posting these, which would have made a lot easier for folks like you to find videos with your friends/relatives. Hindsight's 20/20. :)
+Joe Postove Whoa! That's about 6 days before my sister Judith Marie Alabaso was born in San Diego, California. How about that great video post-production editing? Thank you all so very much, Joe Pstove.
Thank you "What's My Line?", for correcting this gem, in fact I am a fan of "What's My Line?" too, and like Mr Cerf was like: "It was a great honour to have Miss Marian Anderson" on that programme!!...
But, of course, he didn't wish Dorothy to come back soon like John, Abe and Arlene did. As much as I like the banter between Bennett and John, his continuous slighting - and I'm holding my temper - of Dorothy is just down right rude, especially is you look at the way he treats the guest women panelists in the post-Dorothy era. He couldn't be kinder and more welcoming to them.
While 18 April 1965 was the final concert-hall concert of Marian Anderson's official "farewell tour," she sang at at least one more concert a couple of years later, when she appeared as a soloist in concert with the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra during their summer concert series in Chicago. The conductor that evening was her nephew, James DePreist, who went on to a long and highly distinguished career as an orchestral conductor, particularly as Music Director of the Oregon Symphony Orchestra. (I remember some wonderful Grant Park Symphony Orchestra concerts conducted by James DePreist in the late 1980s, when I was working as the supervisor of the ushering crew for those concerts at the Petrillo Music Shell.) How do I know this? A couple of years ago, WFMT-FM re-ran a Studs Terkel interview with Miss Anderson and Mr. DePreist on its weekend "Best of Studs Terkel" presentation; the interview originally aired a few days before Miss Anderson's performances with the orchestra. And 1967 sticks in my brain as being the year that that interview aired originally.....
Unless my ear deceives me, Miss Wilhoit has been living in Texas much of her life, not a recent transplant from Illinois. I've only spent any significant time in Chicago and Champaign, so can't speak from knowledge of every region of the state, but I've never heard a Midwesterner drawl Teh-ix-uz that way, as at 3:55.
Miss Anderson got more consecutive NO's from the panel then any of the Mystery guests. It went straight to 50 dollars fast. How could you just forget about the concert stage?
Interesting that the frame of reference for entertainment here that the panel can extend to encompasses movies, stage, television, theatre, nightclubs but not to CLASSICAL performance in the concert hall. They just don't think of it. Strange because in the 60s and 70s people were still buying classical records avidly and on the BBC there was even a TV quiz show on classical music called "Face The Music" which my father loved. As a music teacher in my fifties I've witnessed the concert hall and classical music become increasingly remote from people to the point now where it's entirely absent from almost everyone's lives, let's face it. If you asked anyone now about Toscanini, at best they might think it was a type of pasta. But hey this was 1965!!.....I didn't expect to see the beginning of it THIS early! Fortunately Daly makes up for the panel's shortcomings with an impressive speech about the woman before she leaves.
“Oh Cosmo!” Anita Gillette’s character, Mona, from the 1987 film “Moonstruck”. Mona accepts the gift of a gold bracelet that has charms of birds and stars.
Great job restoring this episode. Seeing Ms. Anderson is a real treat. It is a shame that the producers and editors of the 25th anniversary WML program treated the kinescope so poorly in reassembling the portions they had removed.
Marion sang at a church just a few miles from where I live now while visiting Richmond Va. for the 30th NAACP conference. Good story on wikipedia leading up to the occasion.
Apparently Marian Anderson gave the last concert appearance of her career on the very day that this program was broadcast! "She launched her farewell tour starting on October 24, 1964 at Constitution Hall concluding at Carnegie Hall in New York City on April 18, 1965." www.greatblackheroes.com/entertainment/marian-anderson/ PBS has a well-written biography covering the challenges and triumphs of her career www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/biography/eleanor-anderson/ .
What's My Line? Loved John zinging Bennett when he asked the windmill question! I'm a late comer here. The episode looks fully complete and perfect. Was the episode originally missing Ms. Anderson's appearance? Possibly because maybe southern stations didn't carry the segment?
Sorry Wendell, but I must take issue with your extreme generalization about "Back when America..." This delightful TV show featured a small group of elite Americans, a publisher, distinguished actresses, etc. Another popular show at the time was The Beverly Hillbillies, which portrayed a slightly different set of "manners, class..." And one of the things that made Ms. Anderson so extraordinary was how she had persevered and overcome the vile treatment she'd faced from fellow Americans who also had manners and command of our language, but who thought themselves civilized despite being grossly racist, a mindset that persists as we head into 2022.
April 9, 1939: "[Marian Anderson] was invited to sing in Washington by Howard University as part of its concert series. And because of Anderson's international reputation, the university needed to find a place large enough to accommodate the crowds. Constitution Hall was such a place, but the Daughters of the American Revolution owned the hall. 'They refused to allow her use of the hall," Keiler says, "because she was black and because there was a white-artist-only clause printed in every contract issued by the DAR.' One of the members of the DAR was first lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Outraged by the decision, Roosevelt sent a letter of resignation and wrote about it in her weekly column, "My Day." "They have taken an action which has been widely criticized in the press," she wrote. "To remain as a member implies approval of that action, and therefore I am resigning." The DAR did not relent. According to Keiler, the idea to sing outdoors came from Walter White, then executive secretary of the NAACP. Since the Lincoln Memorial was a national monument, the logistics for the day fell to Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes. It was Ickes who led Anderson onto the stage on April 9, 1939." (An estimated 75,000 people were fortunate to see and hear Ms. Anderson sing that day. She actually eventually got to sing in Constitution Hall years later, after the DAR had changed its rules and apologized. In 2014 they hosted a 75th anniversary concert in the same hall to commemorate her performance at the National Mall. )
Miss Anderson had concluded her farewell tour earlier that day, on Sunday, April 18, 1965, at Carnegie Hall. She is wearing the same beautiful dress on "What's My Line", that she appeared in during the concert.
Anita appeared on the new "What's My Line?" in the 70's, as well as on a slew of celebrity panel game shows at that time, especially on the Bob Stewart games (most notably, the New York-based $10,000, $25,000, $20,000, and $50,000 Pyramids).
Marian was a great classical black singer who broke many barriers of racial discrimination in her field in the United States. However, in Europe she was free from it and commanded immense success. She lived in her own village,
I attended a performance by Leontyne Price at Carnegie Hall. When she took the stage she let the audience know Marian Anderson was sitting in a box seat (right across from mine!) WOW, the audience went wild. That was a privilege X2!
Wow, Marian Anderson was a legend, unfortunately way before my time. I did get to experience Leontyne Price in Porgy and Bess as part of a film appreciation class. 2/24/19 #BlackHistoryMonth
Abram Solman Borowitz (Abe Burrows) helped write "Duffy's Tavern" on radio. He and Goodman Ace also wrote that comedy program with Danny Kaye -- Eve Arden -- and Lionel Stander. Hard to explain why a show with that kind of talent was short-lived. His own radio shows originated from KNX in LA. On Broadway Burrows wrote, doctored, or directed such shows as "Make a Wish," "Two on the Aisle," "Three Wishes for Jamie," "Say, Darling," "Guys and Dolls," "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," "Cactus Flower," "Four on a Garden,"" Can-Can," "Silk Stockings," "Breakfast at Tiffany's," "Good News" (1974 revival). Abe had a son named James Burrows who became with "Mary Tyler Moore" and then "Cheers" one of the great TV directors.
soulierinvestments Thanks for the info. I never realized that Abe and James Burrows were father and son. I didn't even think of the connection. Coincidentally, I went to see a local community theater production of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" this weekend. It's a cute show, but very dated now and rather cynical.
While watching the windmill segment, it occured to me that not once, not ever, has any panel member ever used the term white collar or blue collar in a question or comment. "Blue collar" was first used in 1924, so I find it incredible that the one term that best broadly describes the nature of a job is never used. I believe this must be intentional, given that white/blue collar has class connotations.
Wow, Anita Gillette on the panel of the original WML. Of course, she would be on the panel numerous times on the syndicated WML. Also, it was classy for John Daly to state that Marian Anderson was known for her beauty, though to clarify, Ms. Anderson was not, in any way, being down on herself after she said no to Abe's question about being known for beauty. To top it all off, she stumped the panel, one of the few who pulled it off.
The stumping was fairly easy, given the presumptions that go along with the general lines of questioning associated with celebrities, though. The seeming rule that a famous entertainment figure is by default connected to film, television, Broadway theater or popular music make it fairly easy for classical musicians who don't have extramusical notoriety (Van Cliburn, for example, whose fame had less to do with his prodigious musical talent than with how it won him a Russian music competition at the height of the Cold War). Leontyne Price was almost able to stump the panel as well more than a year later for the same reason, but for Arlene's more timely presence of mind after a good Woody Allen guess. 😉
Robert Mitchum did it just a few weeks earlier. Always more entertaining when the MG wants to win and does not think they are not a famous person if they are not guessed.
The Houston Astros were an expansion team created the same year as the Mets, 1962. They were originally named the Houston Colt .45s and changed their name to the Astros concurrently with moving into the newly constructed Astrodome in 1965.
Such a shame the panel didn't get it but it is hard to guess an icon of that stature would be mystery guest unless they thought opera or classical music but they were thrown off by primarily.
![What's My Line? - Olivia De Havilland; Martin Gabel & Carol Channing [panel] (Aug 8, 1965)](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/l4VYeZjSdhU/mqdefault.jpg)
![What's My Line? - Olivia De Havilland; Martin Gabel & Carol Channing [panel] (Aug 8, 1965)](/img/tr.png)
![What's My Line? - Eli Wallach, Anne Jackson & Alan Arkin; William Shatner [panel] (Mar 14, 1965)](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/XqPXZ5QaNmc/mqdefault.jpg)
![What's My Line? - Mahalia Jackson; Governor Quinn & Betsy Palmer [panel] (Jan 22, 1961)](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/21zfqrUEpug/mqdefault.jpg)
TRUE STORY: When Martin Luther King was in school, he wrote an essay about Marian Anderson. Twenty four years later he heard her sing n Washington,D.C. before he delivered his historic "I Have A Dream" address. I was there.
Look at Arlene Francis… she is class meeting class. She stood up with all the respect she could give to a great human being. Ms. Anderson is the epitome of class, beauty, and elegance. I wish I can go back in time, and meet her.
It was so nice to see John and the panel give Marian Anderson the praise, respect and accolades she so richly deserved.
It sure was. This literally made me tear up. ❤
@@dri.m.5031 How could it not? Stunning moment from the past.
Every single comment for this video is in total praise of Marian Anderson and she deserves every little bit of it. She had the most beautiful voice and always carried herself with the utmost dignity and poise. She was a wonderful person by any measure. I just want to keep going..........
When Mr. Daily said to Miss Anderson: You do us a great honor Madame", He said it all.
She was truly a great lady.
They all stood to greet Miss Anderson. One of the greatest women of the twentieth century.
Anita got half way up not fully like Arlene
But they all still gave her the accord she was due. That will be remembered...
@@SueProv If you look carefully when the blindfolds came off, Anita's face suggested she had no idea whom she was looking at.
To me, Miss Anderson is the epitome of what human beings should aspire to be. There’s almost a sacredness to her grace and dignity. A true grande dame.
Sacredness. Yes, that’s it. We are viewing an historic moment from the past and a person all Americans should learn of, despite the current hiding and theft of our shared history in many states.
I was surprised to learn that Marian Anderson was born in 1897, so she was well into her 60s at the time of this show. She did not appear to be that age at all! She went on to live a very long life, passing away at age 96. What a national treasure!
Amen
There isn't much television footage of Marian Anderson, so it is amazing that this exists.
If you treat yourself to some of Miss Anderson's music, you will get chills. She was THAT GREAT!
Miss Anderson a humble, modest and so distinguished lady. Besides one of the greatest voices of the 20th century.
Look at all that beauty and grace! The panel was given such a treat to spend a few moments of their life with Ms. Anderson and her legendary voice.
I love how Marian was treated with the respect and dignity she so deserved...
I remember the 50s and 60s - and African Americans were usually either ignored or not treated well in the media. "What's My Line" had a long history of including African Americans and treating African American mystery guests with respect. That should have been ordinary and commonplace, but it was not.
@@nycbearff Exactly, 'What's My Line' was all class, all the way, and led the way.
Marian Anderson was an American treasure and will be forever treasured in our memories.
Marian Anderson was a great, great lady. Thank you for restoring this Mystery Guest segment, at long last.
I found myself crying from the moment she began signing her name and that studio audience erupted in one of the warmest ovations I can ever remember hearing on that program. It really speaks to the high esteem with which she was regarded.
You were not alone in your tears.
From the moment she signed her name through Arlene standing. Remarkable woman, talent, and heart. Essence of humanity.
Me too. Not sure why her presence so moved a grown man to have tears rolling down my cheeks.
Add me to the list. It was so heartwarming to witness the enthusiasm and respect from host, panel, and audience.
I’m on this list as well, please. My reaction is the same with Louis Armstrong’s appearance on WML?
@@jefolson6989 It was evident and easy to sense her humanity and grace. And, to know what she had been through. There are few Americans who would garner this kind of awe and honor. Thank God for this woman.
I love Marian Anderson's signature.
This was good show.... Miss Anderson was the epitome of class, beauty, graciousness and spectacular talent. Just note the way the ladies on the panel stood when greeting her. I only saw this for Eleanor Roosevelt. The panel is so classy and especially Arlene Francis,
Oh yes and Dorothy should have been on that show.
Yes! The lady panelists also stood for Helen Hayes -- three wonderful women who abundantly deserved this tribute.
They also stood for Frank Lloyd Wright.
Also for Bishop Sheen...
One of the best things about whats my line was the face that there was great respect and acceptance of men and women of different races in the entertainment field when, in that time period it wasn't widely accepted or respected
Donald Kramer I was thinking the same thing!
@ Were she still alive, I'd probably have you ask Marian Anderson about the goodness of the Daughters of the American Revolution back in 1939. She'd probably be very dignified about it, and shift the conversation to the goodness of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. Ms. Anderson was classy like that.
They did it not because they wanted to, but because there was NO other choice. Let's be honest here.... they only wanted people in there homesfor domestic purposes only..... a d today much of those same attitudes exist! Today is December 31, 2018
@@mylesburris3885 your post makes no sense. This show respected everyone on it, regardless of race.
Of course you would say i this...."regardless of race or color".... you probably weren't even alive at this articular time, therefore, I wouldn't expect someone such as yourself to understand.. next time just time skip over my. Comment, don't read it, then you won't have to worry about whether it makes any sense or not .... happy new year!
Arlene's look after discovering who the mystery guest was! Just priceless!!
Really was !
This was the day Marian Anderson gave her farewell appearance at Carnegie Hall. She could have easily appeared that night on the Ed Sullivan Show, but instead, she chose to appear on a favorite show of hers, "What's My Line?"
Her farewell tour ended at Carnegie Hall, as you said, but it began at Constitution Hall in Washington, where she had been denied the ability to perform due to her race in 1939.
@@preppysocks209, you are right and Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt is the reason she perform.
A contralto, Ms. Anderson portrayed Ulrica in Verdi's "A Masked Ball" at the Met in the 1950s, thus becoming the first African American singer to perform on the Met stage.
She radiated beauty and grace from within.When her voice first touched my heart so many years ago, it was there to stay. What an extraordinary woman.
From the New York Times article of the same day: "...My mission is to leave behind me the kind of impression that will make it easier for those who follow." "I forgave the D.A.R. many years ago. You lose a lot of time hating people."
Thank you for sharing that.
This is why I love this show. WML featured African American performers at a time when they were not on television a whole lot. All the biggest names appeared on there, from the videos I've seen on here. And Mr. Daly and the panelists always treated them with dignity and respect. This was an outstanding program and should be remembered as one of the greatest programs of that era.
I agree. I grew up with this show and they treated every guest with respect. John Daly was a class act.
A legend! And I’m glad the panel stood to greet her, as they should!
"And on the 7th day you rest." Brilliant, lovely Arlene!
And what a cool thing for the gentleman who fixes windmills.. to travel halfway around the world, to be in the States for six months.. and then be featured on one of the most popular television programs of the day. What a great experience! Ms. Anderson. A lovely, and supremely talented legend.
What I love about watching these episodes is that I then read up on or source the work of these marvelous guests. Thank you for the enlightening and beautiful experiences.
Marian Anderson has a regal bearing to her.
YES
I like that they all stood for Ms Anderson.
+Purple Capricorn Yes they did! You never know what white people are going to do...nice to see.
No, it's that it just hard to stay sit down when such a national monument is present.
Purple Capricorn So did I!
Something called RESPECT - respect for one's dignity, respect for one's talent...
Actually it's all covered by the rules of etiquette. Gentleman always stand when a lady enters the room, rises at the table or approaches. Ladies, when greeting another lady, may remain seated unless the approaching lady is older than them or obviously of higher social standing, in which case they also rise. Ms. Anderson was obviously a person of enormous stature so pretty much anyone short of the Queen would be expected to rise in her presence.
Marian Anderson: Legend!
A friend of mine was at the concert in Washington when she sang at the Lincoln memorial years later she was at the same place for the I have a dream speech !
My mom saw Marian Anderson in the mid 50s. Said it was an incredible experience. The Daughters of the American Revolution won't allow this classy lady to sing.
Boo to the DAR
DAR was wrong and they know it.
The DAR really missed a golden opportunity and cheated themselves!
It didn't matter. Eleanor Roosevelt then arranged for her to sing at the Lincoln Memorial.
Ms. Anderson's snub by the Daughters of the American Revolution was not unusual for Black entertainers of that era. Even in the '60s, this happened to Black entertainers.
@@fertusherring3476 Going to disagree. Sure it matters. Ms. Roosevelt’s acceptance doesn’t erase the racism then, and that is still with us today.
For the first time, I noticed what a great job the cameramen did focusing in on the panelists and their reactions to in this instance, Marian Anderson
Marian Anderson was 100% pure class.
I love that the speaking voice that Miss Anderson's uses for "yes" and "no" is light years away from her natural contralto voice. How sneaky of her!
She was so graceful and classy!
'A voice like [hers] came along only once in a hundred years': Arlene Francis stood to shake her hand.
Gorgeous at almost 70...wow.
Holy crap, she was born in the 1890s damn!
When I heard Ms Anderson's rendition of Deep River, I was so moved.
I had never heard anything like that.
I was very pleased that John introduced her as MISS Marian Anderson, a form of respect that was not frequently accorded Black artists - in ANY field (at that time).
I LOVE watching this show! I can't get enough! It's so delightful, entertaining and just so much fun! The comradarie is wonderfully uplifting! ❤️👏❤️👏❤️👏❤️👏🥰
I just finished watching a Marian Anderson documentary that featured a brief clip of her 1965 farewell concert at Carnegie Hall . She was, indeed, wearing the same gown she appeared on WML? in; so she must have gone directly from Carnegie Hall to the taping...
YES!
Thank you for presenting this and for you labor in correcting it! If anyone deserves to be presented 'true to life', it is this extraordinary woman. What a beautiful human being.
So glad you appreciated it-- and thanks for the comment!
@douglaso6428 I agree wholeheartedly with you!!!
Arlene's look at NOT guessing this magnificent supreme artists identity- gold!
Miss Anderson's handwritting is amazing.
What isn't mentioned in the episode is that April 18, 1965, is also the date of Marian Anderson's farewell performance at Carnegie Hall, which is what had occasioned _The New York Times_ to publish the article that Arlene and John referred to.
The farewell tour ended at Carnegie Hall, as you say, but it began at Constitution Hall in Washington, where Ms Anderson had been denied the ability to preform due to her race in 1939.
You have done a flawless job re-editing the segment, Gary. I'm impressed.
It doesn't throw me off all over the place, like the butchered version did.
It's always beautiful to hear her singing. She's so serious and beautiful in what she did.
Marion Anderson had a beautiful voice. An amazing singer.
This woman was truly a Grand Lady . So proud of MRS Roosevelt stood strong behind this historic Lady !!!
Been wanting to see this episode for awhile.in elementary school I wrote a paper on Marion.Thanks Gary.
My pleasure!
Those panelists were so smart, especially Bennett Cerf, Arlene Francis and Dorothy Kilgallen.
Burrows's son, James Burrows, became an influential television director whose credits have included The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Cheers.
Cool!
The first guest Sharon is my first cousin once removed. Pretty cool.
Glad you were able to find the video! I regret not having listed the names of all the contestants back when I was posting these, which would have made a lot easier for folks like you to find videos with your friends/relatives. Hindsight's 20/20. :)
@@WhatsMyLine It is posted! That’s what counts the most. You’ve done a GREAT job.
Gary, GREAT job editing this program. It is very nicely and tightly cut.
Thanks, Joe. :)
+Joe Postove Whoa! That's about 6 days before my sister Judith Marie Alabaso was born in San Diego, California. How about that great video post-production editing? Thank you all so very much, Joe Pstove.
Jose Dennis Alabaso Great editing, Jose'!
Thank you "What's My Line?", for correcting this gem, in fact I am a fan of "What's My Line?" too, and like Mr Cerf was like: "It was a great honour to have Miss Marian Anderson" on that programme!!...
It's a pleasure-- thanks for the comment.
But, of course, he didn't wish Dorothy to come back soon like John, Abe and Arlene did. As much as I like the banter between Bennett and John, his continuous slighting - and I'm holding my temper - of Dorothy is just down right rude, especially is you look at the way he treats the guest women panelists in the post-Dorothy era. He couldn't be kinder and more welcoming to them.
🎇✨🎀One of the TRUE LEGENDS of the 20th Century - Miss MARIAN ANDERSON! 🎇✨🎀
While 18 April 1965 was the final concert-hall concert of Marian Anderson's official "farewell tour," she sang at at least one more concert a couple of years later, when she appeared as a soloist in concert with the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra during their summer concert series in Chicago. The conductor that evening was her nephew, James DePreist, who went on to a long and highly distinguished career as an orchestral conductor, particularly as Music Director of the Oregon Symphony Orchestra. (I remember some wonderful Grant Park Symphony Orchestra concerts conducted by James DePreist in the late 1980s, when I was working as the supervisor of the ushering crew for those concerts at the Petrillo Music Shell.)
How do I know this? A couple of years ago, WFMT-FM re-ran a Studs Terkel interview with Miss Anderson and Mr. DePreist on its weekend "Best of Studs Terkel" presentation; the interview originally aired a few days before Miss Anderson's performances with the orchestra. And 1967 sticks in my brain as being the year that that interview aired originally.....
I love that the entire panel stood up for Marian Anderson! 👏👏❤️❤️❤️
Marian Anderson was 68 years old here. She look wonderful, especially for that time.
Unless my ear deceives me, Miss Wilhoit has been living in Texas much of her life, not a recent transplant from Illinois. I've only spent any significant time in Chicago and Champaign, so can't speak from knowledge of every region of the state, but I've never heard a Midwesterner drawl Teh-ix-uz that way, as at 3:55.
She moves like a princess! Such an elegance!
By inference then, only princesses can be elegant ? Jeez.
Miss Anderson got more consecutive NO's from the panel then any of the Mystery guests. It went straight to 50 dollars fast. How could you just forget about the concert stage?
Lovely show and lovely Mystery Guest. 🤩
Interesting that the frame of reference for entertainment here that the panel can extend to encompasses movies, stage, television, theatre, nightclubs but not to CLASSICAL performance in the concert hall. They just don't think of it. Strange because in the 60s and 70s people were still buying classical records avidly and on the BBC there was even a TV quiz show on classical music called "Face The Music" which my father loved.
As a music teacher in my fifties I've witnessed the concert hall and classical music become increasingly remote from people to the point now where it's entirely absent from almost everyone's lives, let's face it. If you asked anyone now about Toscanini, at best they might think it was a type of pasta. But hey this was 1965!!.....I didn't expect to see the beginning of it THIS early!
Fortunately Daly makes up for the panel's shortcomings with an impressive speech about the woman before she leaves.
“Oh Cosmo!” Anita Gillette’s character, Mona, from the 1987 film “Moonstruck”. Mona accepts the gift of a gold bracelet that has charms of birds and stars.
I LOVE that movie!!!! Hilarious! The birds fly to the stars........🥰👏
Great job restoring this episode. Seeing Ms. Anderson is a real treat. It is a shame that the producers and editors of the 25th anniversary WML program treated the kinescope so poorly in reassembling the portions they had removed.
I've only seen the women stand to greet one other female guest, and that was Eleanor Roosevelt. That says everything :-).
direfranchement
And I love the wonderful history between Marion and Eleanor!
direfranchement They stood for other Senior Citizen Ladies, too.
And Anna Magnani...
+direfranchement The women also stood for Ethel Barrymore back in the early 1950s.
Regal. She was a queen and one must always rise in the presence of royalty.
20?!!! Are you kidding me?!!! Go head Dr. Anderson!!!
Anita Gillette is still around as of 12/19/24, and is 88 years old.
De Zwaan Windmill in Holland Michigan is operational and open...on the National Historical Register. It's quite the structure to see.
man can i even freaking get shows like this anymore? id have to look at non-mainstream venues for this level of professionalism nowadays
Marion sang at a church just a few miles from where I live now while visiting Richmond Va. for the 30th NAACP conference. Good story on wikipedia leading up to the occasion.
Marian Anderson should have a statue. Right in front of Abe's.
Or right in front of Constitution Hall.
Apparently Marian Anderson gave the last concert appearance of her career on the very day that this program was broadcast! "She launched her farewell tour starting on October 24, 1964 at Constitution Hall concluding at Carnegie Hall in New York City on April 18, 1965." www.greatblackheroes.com/entertainment/marian-anderson/ PBS has a well-written biography covering the challenges and triumphs of her career www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/biography/eleanor-anderson/ .
And no mention of this made in the WML program? Surprising. Thanks for the info!
at that time (assuming it was known that those were farewell concerts) it would have been impolite to say that on the show.
LordMgls I don't see on any level what would have been "impolite" about mentioning something of such significance. On any level.
What's My Line?
Loved John zinging Bennett when he asked the windmill question!
I'm a late comer here. The episode looks fully complete and perfect. Was the episode originally missing Ms. Anderson's appearance? Possibly because maybe southern stations didn't carry the segment?
22:20 No, but the second Barbra Streisand appearance will be the next episode.
Which will also be the final return of Dorothy Kilgallen.
Back when America still had manners, class, command of the English language and a sense of decorum.
In 1965, our country had Miss Marian Anderson; today we have Kanye West. Dear God help us all...
@@johnfd0210 Yes. Those are the only two African American musicians. The only ones.
@@philomenaweekes9796 Good point
Sorry Wendell, but I must take issue with your extreme generalization about "Back when America..." This delightful TV show featured a small group of elite Americans, a publisher, distinguished actresses, etc. Another popular show at the time was The Beverly Hillbillies, which portrayed a slightly different set of "manners, class..." And one of the things that made Ms. Anderson so extraordinary was how she had persevered and overcome the vile treatment she'd faced from fellow Americans who also had manners and command of our language, but who thought themselves civilized despite being grossly racist, a mindset that persists as we head into 2022.
and ordinary Negros lacking celebrity had to ride in the back of the bus, and were refused service in restaurants.
WOW...20 honorary doctorates! Very special woman.
April 9, 1939:
"[Marian Anderson] was invited to sing in Washington by Howard University as part of its concert series. And because of Anderson's international reputation, the university needed to find a place large enough to accommodate the crowds. Constitution Hall was such a place, but the Daughters of the American Revolution owned the hall.
'They refused to allow her use of the hall," Keiler says, "because she was black and because there was a white-artist-only clause printed in every contract issued by the DAR.'
One of the members of the DAR was first lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Outraged by the decision, Roosevelt sent a letter of resignation and wrote about it in her weekly column, "My Day." "They have taken an action which has been widely criticized in the press," she wrote. "To remain as a member implies approval of that action, and therefore I am resigning."
The DAR did not relent. According to Keiler, the idea to sing outdoors came from Walter White, then executive secretary of the NAACP. Since the Lincoln Memorial was a national monument, the logistics for the day fell to Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes. It was Ickes who led Anderson onto the stage on April 9, 1939."
(An estimated 75,000 people were fortunate to see and hear Ms. Anderson sing that day. She actually eventually got to sing in Constitution Hall years later, after the DAR had changed its rules and apologized. In 2014 they hosted a 75th anniversary concert in the same hall to commemorate her performance at the National Mall. )
This is the first mystery guest on WML that I ever had to look up, to see who they were. Never heard of this woman before.
Glad you looked her up. She was American Royalty, with a voice for the ages, given to her by the Creator.
Nor had I.
It's fun seeing everybody excited about the new Astrodome.
Marian Anderson was a force of nature.
i'm humbled , and sad for what people of her race endured during jim crow in america
Abe Burrows actually predicted who would appear as mystery guest the next week. That did not happen very often in WML.
He might have unintentionally given them the idea.
Miss Anderson had concluded her farewell tour earlier that day, on Sunday, April 18, 1965, at Carnegie Hall. She is wearing the same beautiful dress on "What's My Line", that she appeared in during the concert.
Anita appeared on the new "What's My Line?" in the 70's, as well as on a slew of celebrity panel game shows at that time, especially on the Bob Stewart games (most notably, the New York-based $10,000, $25,000, $20,000, and $50,000 Pyramids).
Marian was a great classical black singer who broke many barriers of racial discrimination in her field in the United States. However, in Europe she was free from it and commanded immense success. She lived in her own village,
“It was a great honor, ma’am. “. John Daly is just the best.
I attended a performance by Leontyne Price at Carnegie Hall. When she took the stage she let the audience know Marian Anderson was sitting in a box seat (right across from mine!) WOW, the audience went wild. That was a privilege X2!
My Lord, what a morning!
Wow, Marian Anderson was a legend, unfortunately way before my time. I did get to experience Leontyne Price in Porgy and Bess as part of a film appreciation class. 2/24/19 #BlackHistoryMonth
I saw Leontyne Price in Aida. The thrill of a lifetime.
Entertainment? Theater? Beauty? Ballet? For once, the panel was fooled!
Shout out to the host for honoring her!
Abram Solman Borowitz (Abe Burrows) helped write "Duffy's Tavern" on radio. He and Goodman Ace also wrote that comedy program with Danny Kaye -- Eve Arden -- and Lionel Stander. Hard to explain why a show with that kind of talent was short-lived. His own radio shows originated from KNX in LA. On Broadway Burrows wrote, doctored, or directed such shows as "Make a Wish," "Two on the Aisle," "Three Wishes for Jamie," "Say, Darling," "Guys and Dolls," "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," "Cactus Flower," "Four on a Garden,"" Can-Can," "Silk Stockings," "Breakfast at Tiffany's," "Good News" (1974 revival). Abe had a son named James Burrows who became with "Mary Tyler Moore" and then "Cheers" one of the great TV directors.
soulierinvestments
Thanks for the info. I never realized that Abe and James Burrows were father and son. I didn't even think of the connection.
Coincidentally, I went to see a local community theater production of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" this weekend. It's a cute show, but very dated now and rather cynical.
Marian Anderson starts at 18:36
While watching the windmill segment, it occured to me that not once, not ever, has any panel member ever used the term white collar or blue collar in a question or comment. "Blue collar" was first used in 1924, so I find it incredible that the one term that best broadly describes the nature of a job is never used. I believe this must be intentional, given that white/blue collar has class connotations.
Wow, Anita Gillette on the panel of the original WML. Of course, she would be on the panel numerous times on the syndicated WML. Also, it was classy for John Daly to state that Marian Anderson was known for her beauty, though to clarify, Ms. Anderson was not, in any way, being down on herself after she said no to Abe's question about being known for beauty. To top it all off, she stumped the panel, one of the few who pulled it off.
The stumping was fairly easy, given the presumptions that go along with the general lines of questioning associated with celebrities, though. The seeming rule that a famous entertainment figure is by default connected to film, television, Broadway theater or popular music make it fairly easy for classical musicians who don't have extramusical notoriety (Van Cliburn, for example, whose fame had less to do with his prodigious musical talent than with how it won him a Russian music competition at the height of the Cold War). Leontyne Price was almost able to stump the panel as well more than a year later for the same reason, but for Arlene's more timely presence of mind after a good Woody Allen guess. 😉
One of the few times when the women on the panel also stood as the guest leaves.
Wow! This is the first time I've seen the mystery challenger stump the panel! GO Marian Anderson!! 😁
Robert Mitchum did it just a few weeks earlier. Always more entertaining when the MG wants to win and does not think they are not a famous person if they are not guessed.
Ann Sheridan was another who beat the panel.
The Houston Astros were an expansion team created the same year as the Mets, 1962. They were originally named the Houston Colt .45s and changed their name to the Astros concurrently with moving into the newly constructed Astrodome in 1965.
Wow, our Astrodome has been around for a long time. Even though it is now closed.
Such a shame the panel didn't get it but it is hard to guess an icon of that stature would be mystery guest unless they thought opera or classical music but they were thrown off by primarily.