Was there ever a classier lady on television than Arlene Francis? Most people today would have no idea about the magnitude of her stardom back in the day - She was truly a giant.

Arlene Francis always had me smiling! What a beautiful and enchanting woman! ❤

As a footnote to this interview, Arlene Francis and Martin Gabel's only child, son Peter Gabel, passed away on October 25, 2022 (aged 75).

What a treasure to find this rare interview. Arlene Francis herself was a treasure. In the 1950's she was the second most famous woman in America, after Eleanor Roosevelt. By the time she died of Alzheimer's in 2001 she was forgotten. Newspapers all over the country published a photo of another woman with her obituary by mistake and nobody noticed. This interview was done within 6 months of her husband Martin Gabel's death in 1986. You can still see the sadness in her eyes. I was surprised how mentally sharp is here because it is said on Wikipedia that she began exhibiting signs of Alzheimer's Disease in the mid-80's, right around this time. There is only a faint sign of it here, perhaps, when she can't remember Fred Allen's last name. ("How 'bout that?" she says, when she struggles and fails to remember a name she knew as well as anything.) It's also sad to hear her talk about the precious heart-shaped diamond pendant her husband gave her on their first anniversary, knowing as we do now that it would be snatched off her neck by a thief as she was exiting a cab two years after this interview, in 1988. She was a smart, kind, witty person. Watching her on very old What's My Line reruns on KZfaq is a joy.

Rest in peace Peter Gable. He passed away in October. He’s with his loving parents now.

She had more charm and charisma in her little finger than most people these days have at all.

Loved Arlene Francis. Arlene was rarely stumped on Whats my line (Celebrity part). Always guessed Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett and Carol Channing. I sure miss her. Broke my heart when mugger took her diamond heart shaped necklace given to her by her beloved husband ❤️

I am glad to have come across this interview with Arlene Francis. My memories of her go back to my mother watching her on daytime television in the 1950s--I did not know her from WML yet--I was too young at the time to stay up late on Sundays. I had also known she had worked in the New York theater, but I had not known the extent of her Broadway career until I checked the Internet Broadway database--an amazingly long list of credits that spanned the late 1920s to the mid 1970s. What a wondeful career Miss Francis had!

Arlene Francis was born too early. We could see her now had she been born at least 30 years later than she was actually born. I have been a huge fan of hers since I saw a clip of “What’s My Line” on KZfaq about a decade ago. She was more fabulous than Dorothy Kilgallen. A number of videos featuring Arlene are great comforts to me. Thanks a lot for uploading this video, which I will treasure very much.

A wonderful lady plus a fascinating interview. After Arlene's passing, I contacted Peter Gabel about the Center he and his friends were constructing in honor of his Mother. Peter was a man of many accomplishments. Sadly, he passed away in October. One of Peter's dearest friends Jonathan Cerf spoke at Peter's funeral. He was the son of Bennett Cerf who also appeared on What's My Line. Peter and Jonathan had been friends since they were six years old. Martin and Arlene were wonderful parents.

A truly class act. Gone but never forgotten. RIP ❤

This was a wonderful interview, Arlene Francis was a true class act, very smart, hard working and a lot of fun too. You can pick up from What's My Line, she liked a good time. Love it when Martin was on the panel with her, they did have a great bond. Thanks for sharing this with us.

Arlene was a good natured person. She radiates it.

Arlene looks to be in her late 70s here. I just adore her!!! She is my favorite person on What’s My Line! …to think I never knew about her until about 6 years ago! :(

Ms. Francis was 80 years old there Amazing!

How wonderful to see this. Taped in NYC 1987

I grew up listening to Arlene Francis because my mother had her on her kitchen radio every day on WOR!

Both Arlenes are wonderful. I'm grateful this interview is archived here on KZfaq.

Ms. Arlene Francis was a treasure to many including myself. She was a class act and would also be one today. She had such a delightful smile that was genuine. She was beautiful in so many ways. I could go on talking about Ms. Francis forever. God Bless You lovely lady and may you forever Rest In Peace. You are gone but in my heart you will never be forgotten. ❤❤❤

Arlene Francis was such a lovely lady. RIP, Arlene!

She really was delightful! RIP Arlene Francis

Classy, beautiful lady. She was a national treasure.

Fred Allen had such a great delivery/timing and voice, very funny. He died of a heart attack out on a night walk.

I discovered what's my line by accident, surfing around on prime it has the 1955 season after that I was hooked, I've now devoured everything WML.

I watch What’s My Line too see the mystery guests and what Miss Arlene & Miss Killgallon are wearing. They were so elegant . I wish it was colorized.

I’ve been binge watching What’s My Line and found her to be compelling viewing. A very clever and funny lady and such a beautiful personality. A very sad end to a fascinating life. I’m so glad that these videos exist so that her legacy for entertaining lives on. R..I.P. Arlene.

Arlene Francis was such a remarkable lady. I could listen to her wonderful speaking voice for hours. What a shame a mugger stole her trademark diamond pendant as she was exiting a cab in NYC in 1988.

I adore Ms. Francis. She is a darling classy lady.

In 1988 as Miss Francis was getting out of a taxi a mugger raced up to her & snatched her precious heart of diamonds necklace away & it was never found. The gift from her hus band who died in 1986.

Arlene was Magnificent. RIP

There’s a real sadness about Arlene Francis here 😔

Such a CLASSY Act! Truly refined and the epitome of kind heartedness. Gregg Oreo long Beach Ca

Boy Arlene hit it on the head when she talked about the presidency.

Classy Lady, truly missed!

Thank you so much for sharing and posting this show with Arlene as the guest! I’d never heard of this show until today!

Martin Arlene Peter rip lovely family

I was so surprised when Arlene said that the studio audience did not know the contestant’s occupation. I had to listen to it three times. Of course the audience knew the occupations, that was half the fun.

Arlene became my hero from the Home show. Later, she was still a hero listening to WML on armed forces radio. What a charming lady of the media, who was losing it, a little, on her last 1975 series on the Match Game. She was told by other panelists that she didn't understand the matches.

It has been such a long time, but amazing how many views this has received. Arlene was just lovely.

Graceful. Under appreciated. Ms Francis. :)

Thank you so much for sharing, that's a great treasure ❤️

Thank you for this interview

I love Arlene and dorathy and Bennet

Wonderful!!! Thank you so much for posting!

I WAS IMPRESSED WITH ARLENE & MARTIN AS A BLESSED & VERY TALENTED COUPLE , WHO ADORED THERE SON PETER ! RIP !

Her Husband-Martin Gabel,worked with Orson Welles and the Mercury Theater.

I love What's my Line. Arlene was the best panelist on that game show!

omg... Love Arlene Francis - heart aches for her broken heart that seems to have never mended after the death of her dear husband... TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF KNOWING SOMEONE'S STORY TO ENSURE ONE MAINTAINS RESPECT FOR WHAT THEY HAVE ENDURED... Francis was born on October 20, 1907, in Boston, Massachusetts,[2] the daughter of Leah (née Davis) and Aram Kazanjian.[3] Her Armenian father was studying art in Paris at the age of 16 when he learned that both his parents had died in one of the massacres perpetrated by the Ottoman government in Turkey between 1894 and 1896, known as the Hamidian Massacres.[4] He emigrated to the United States and became a portrait photographer,[2] opening his own studio in Boston in the early 20th century. Later in life, Kazanjian painted canvases of dogwoods, "rabbits in flight", and other nature scenes, selling them at auction in New York.[5] When Francis was seven years old, her father decided that opportunities were greater in New York and moved the family to a flat in Washington Heights, Manhattan.[6] She remained a New York resident until she entered a San Francisco nursing home in 1993.[1] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlene_Francis

It’s so sad to see Arlene being interviewed. She was just full of life. She was beautiful. I’m sad that she got Alzheimer’s.

I'm of a fan of her work on What's My Line. Wow. Great American personality.. I never knew anything until KZfaq recently. Never to late to discover talented people. She's no longer with us, but, she lives forever via the archives.

Arlene to Arlene ❤❤ Much impressed 😮 My Favourite WML Panelist😊 So true to Herself as always May Her Great Soul RIP 😢

You can see she panicked a bit when she forgot who Fred Allen was!

We miss you Arlene! God bless.

The interviewer is so false and sycophantic. Whereas Arlene is so natural, open and genuine. Such a lovely, extraordinarily talented woman. RIP Arlene.

She’s wonderful.

The Definition of Lady...( From Websters Dictionary )...." See Arlene Francis "....

Sadly, she was mugged while getting out of her car in 1981 and the necklace was ripped from her neck and never recovered.

wish they talked bout Dorothy .

Total class.... women miss out on this today.

She proved you can be feminine and still professional!

I don't like the hosts interviewing style but Arlene was lovely to watch and listen to.

The saddest event would come to her a year later when a robber ripped her heart pendant off of her neck when she was coming out of a NYC cab. Who would do such a thing to an 81 year old woman? I always wonder who has that pendant now.

This is not an interview, it's listening to Ms. Herson monopolize the conversation by asking the windiest questions in the history of television.

Arlene was amazing in What's my line. Sharp, witty and funny at the same time. Her son Peter was a mystery guest 3 times and she failed every time.

During What's my line Arlene was a stunning beauty with lots of sexuality and class.....

Loved her on WML.... She was the best...

Arlene Francis's voice sounds older, but her face has barely aged. Who is Arlene Herson? She doesn't even have a Wikipedia article.

always thought that she was so pretty

Francis was such a classy lady and so beautiful, she has a small part in the 1932 universal horror film Murders in the rue morgue starring Bela lugosi, she plays one of his victims. Just a though, Francis would have made a solid miss moneypenny behind lois Maxwell.

Arline and Kitty Carlisle were two nice lady's and Im not old at all and when i met them years ago and had pictures with thern and both of them talked to me for like a half hour. It was a great talk i had with both.

Arlene's son, Peter Gabel, was on "What's My Line" 3 times and no she never guessed it was him. But Soupy Sales did once.

(born ; October 20, 1907 - May 31, 2001). Francis died at the age of 93 on May 31, 2001, in San Francisco, California, from Alzheimer's disease and cancer.

Arlene was my favorite on WML.

The hair styles, clothes, comments just scream 1980's!!!!!!

Fred Allen was the comedian she was trying to name...❤

Why did this interviewer say “ You were just too rude to cut anyone off”? Who else caught that?!😮

Sadly, Arlene's beloved diamond pendant would be stolen by mugger, as she was exiting a New York City taxi not too long after this interview.

What's My Line was a great show...

She's wearing the heart pendent.

She is still wearing her famous heart necklace!

You could see the start of her all simers Disease by forgetting longtime friend Fred Allen's last name and also the infamous diamond pendant was stolen from her by a Mugger when she was getting out of a cab in 1988 and it devastated her the rest of her life

Arlene was talented - but remember we’re talking about mostly being on a game show panel - her acting career was inconsequential. She wasn’t doing Shakespeare.

She was talking about Freddie Allen.

What's My Line? Was huge in the early fifties!

What year was this recorded?

He was a mystery guest twice and she didnt guess him twice

Was this interview taped in the 1980's?

Fred Allen!

Now that Arlene can GO to China she'll stubbornly NOT go. -but don't blame Arlene down for turning down TODAY SHOW. It's also what makes Howard Stern so remarkable to me - decades of huge success at that way-early-a.m. time slot. Arlene, Howard and Barbara - three people ahead of their time. Great interview @ Arlene Herson. Just so relaxed perfect moment in time.

This is before her diamond heart necklace was snatched off her neck getting out of a taxi :(

What was the approximate date of this interview?

The interviewer seems so ill prepared. Her questions are somewhat superficial and her understanding is limited.

She forgot Fred Allen and would develop Alzheimer's soon after.

Do we know what year this is?

I'm a little upset that the interviewer didn't help her remember who Fred Allen was that annoyed me.

WHEN WAS THIS RECORDED ?

What year is this from?

Her accent changed to modern American accent.

NEVER heard of Arlene Herson…..

I feel like she’s so sad here.