What's My Line? - Bert Lahr; Peter Ustinov [panel] (Jan 6, 1963) [UPGRADE!]

Рет қаралды 58,377

6 жыл бұрын

NOTE: This video replaces a prior version in poor video quality. To see the many great comments left on the prior version, please click here:
• Video
With thanks to Ron Gomes for once again providing a copy of a show from his vast collection. This was a very tough episode to find originally-- I didn't know Ron back then, and had a lot of trouble finding anyone who had a copy. I believe this one was only rerun on GSN once or twice!
MYSTERY GUEST: Bert Lahr
PANEL: Dorothy Kilgallen, Peter Ustinov, Arlene Francis, Bennett Cerf
---------------------------
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@WhatsMyLine 6 жыл бұрын

Great news, folks! Because this Jan 6, 1963 episode with Bert Lahr was voted as the episode we'll watch for tonight's live chat in our Facebook group (*), I was finally reminded to check around for a better copy of it. . . and Ron Gomes to the rescue! This was the single most difficult GSN rerun of WML to find a copy of, in fact the very last episode of the GSN run I managed to find. I think it was rerun only once, maybe twice. The prior version was cobbled together from a couple of not-great quality sources; this version from Ron is far superior. I also did a bit of audio cleanup, so it should actually sound quite a bit better than the average WML episode we're accustomed to. Many thanks, once again and as so very often, to Ron for always being so completely generous in sharing his collection of recordings. Thanks, too, to Chuck Donegan for providing the prior complete copy of the episode that I'd been seeking for so long (I hadn't met Ron yet!) And thanks to you folks for voting for this episode this week, because that's what reminded me to try to find an upgrade for it in the first place. Hope you see lots of folks join in tonight. A significantly upgraded WML, and the YBYL ep is an uberclassic. Who needs the Golden Globe Awards when you've got 60 year old TV shows to watch? (*) The live chats are every Sunday night in the WML Facebook group, starting at 10pm eastern. Join the group and check it out-- it's always a blast. The hour FLIES by every week! WML Facebook group: facebook.com/groups/728471287199862/ Link to prior version of this video, if you'd like to read all the great comments people had already left: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/guCmlNlinLi2p4k.html --------------------------- Please click here to subscribe to the WML channel if you haven't already-- you'll find the complete CBS series already posted, and you'll be able to get notifications of new video posts: kzfaq.info/love/hPE75Fvvl1HmdAsO7Nzb8w

@LarsRyeJeppesen 5 жыл бұрын

Would you consider doing a KZfaq live episode as well, once in awhile...it's a great idea with a live episode watching a show

@kenyongray2615 4 жыл бұрын

The Cowardly Lion is probably one of the most beloved characters in movie history.

@allenjones3130 Жыл бұрын

Bert Lahr's characterization of the "Cowardly" Lion is one of the most hilarious performances in the history of the cinema!

@donnacook8994 Жыл бұрын

Bert Lahr was amazing at every role , and just a wonderful guy! So happy I was able to see this episode. Thank you for airing this!

@neilmidkiff 6 жыл бұрын

Peter Ustinov's comic cringe when Arlene says "they're beard barbers" at 7:32 is classic!

@andreamiller3578 5 жыл бұрын

To those asking about the newspapers: The 1962-63 New York City Newspaper Strike ran from December 8, 1962, until March 31, 1963, lasting for a total of 114 days. Besides low wages, the unions were resisting automation of the printing presses.

@preppysocks209 4 жыл бұрын

The strike was completely counterproductive. When the strike began, NY had 5 daily newspapers. The strike was a significant contributing factor to the end of a few of those papers within a short time,including Dorothy's. The NY Review of Books began publication at this time since the papers were not printing book reviews.

@1928gerry 4 жыл бұрын

John: "Thanks Bennett I'm glad you said only a few things at random tonight." Love the dig at Bennett always trying to steal the last moments of the show.

@shirleyrombough8173 2 жыл бұрын

1928gerry- John: Bennett only said a few things "at random" tonight. Me: Groan

@garyzerr8134 6 жыл бұрын

The update is appreciated! In the first segment, the haircut gentleman in the back looks like Bill Cullen on a bad hair day. He also looked utterly miserable while standing there.

@lemmann6362 5 жыл бұрын

I was born on Sunday 06 JAN 1963.

@cgeubanks 6 жыл бұрын

Enjoyed this very much -- and it's always special when they have extended conversation with the Mystery Guest!

@teriannebeauchamp254 6 жыл бұрын

Bert Lahr, Ray Bolger and Judy Garland did, Frank Morgan died the year before the program started and I cant find a listing by googling for Jack Haley or Margaret Hamilton appearing, Does anyone remember them appearing?

@Gwaithmir Жыл бұрын

I always liked Bert Lahr's commercials for Lay's Potato Chips.

@rokyericksonroks 23 күн бұрын

Yes, Lahr did a hell of a job with that.

@Klm242 Жыл бұрын

He was a great comic and a great cowardly lion! Love their guy.

@bethe192 4 жыл бұрын

Goodness, The Wizard of Oz was just 24 yrs young here.

@nadiazahroon6573 5 жыл бұрын

Peter Ustinov great actor.

@davidsanderson5918 3 жыл бұрын

Nadia Zahroon An even more brilliant raconteur. Our finest ever possibly.

@lauracollins4195 5 жыл бұрын

I was surprised that Bennett got Bert Lahr so quickly!

@Marcel_Audubon Жыл бұрын

I think when he barked in response to Arlene calling him Lassie, it gave it away - very recognizable

@bigbeefscorcho 2 жыл бұрын

Such an interesting vibe on this show. It was like, just casual enough to be chill and funny but also serious enough that they could act natural and still have a good time. And I love how loose they were with the rules, it adds to the entertainment. It’s like Whose Line, the points don’t really matter :)

@frankwetzel3090 Жыл бұрын

I am German - the very artikulate language which is spoken in this show is good to learn and train English! Recommended for my children! Beside this, this show is so entertaining, no need for "special effects" and stuff like this.

@Farrah300 2 жыл бұрын

Marjorie Goodson would go on to be a model on the game show, "Classic Concentration", hosted by the late Alex Trebek.

@40isthenew40 6 жыл бұрын

Great episode! I love this show.

@shirleyrombough8173 2 жыл бұрын

Arlene: They sell them to gentleman bugs, I assume. She's so witty.

@sandrageorge3488 3 жыл бұрын

The cowardly lion. Loved him.

@dadaevan Жыл бұрын

That classic voice... so many fond memories. Loved that insanely talented actor.

@QuadMochaMatti 4 жыл бұрын

They sure were inexplicably fascinated with barbering on WML.

@davidsanderson5918 3 жыл бұрын

ModMokkaMatti Absolutely. I have to admit I'm fed up with barbers on this show now.

@debbigray1752 Жыл бұрын

As the family signed in, I thought "they are barbers" . I wonder if the panel thought so too and were gracious enough to play the game for a little while.

@JaxAunt 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks for posting!

@balconi89 6 жыл бұрын

Great video, thanks for the upload

@Scottwilkie18 6 жыл бұрын

Marjorie Goodson would be a model on Classic concentration with Alex Trebek

@dejpsyd0421 Жыл бұрын

By definition a Barber = men, beautician = women and men. So there’s nothing to be surprised about

@dejpsyd0421 Жыл бұрын

How many men’s barbers are they gonna put on this show?

@donnacook8994 Жыл бұрын

WOW! Arlene's dress is stunning! 💕

@susanb2015 Ай бұрын

I love how nice people used to be.

@kenyongray2615 3 жыл бұрын

Is there a person who has not seen at some point The Wizard of Oz? The cowardly lion is a character that will live in for a very long time. Unless of course, some organization complains about the treatment of lions. Anyone find it surprising that the panel seems not to know that Lady Bugs were and are used by farmers to control insect pests. Thanks for the video.

@juanettebutts9782 3 жыл бұрын

It was a surprise they managed to get insects into the Animal category! 😉😉

@ccvisions Жыл бұрын

Them city slickers don't know nothin' about what farmers do.

@lynnettemisciskia9075 6 жыл бұрын

Nice copy!

@eguirald 6 жыл бұрын

Bennett Cerf was certainly an urbane and very smart man and had a flair for this medium (and others).

@TheCometHunter 6 жыл бұрын

Yes. Except for all the times he'd get snotty and impatient when the mystery guest didn't answer his questions as quickly as he would have liked.

@erichanson426 3 жыл бұрын

I swear Bennett Cerf has esp. I'm kidding, but I will say he does do his research.

@joycejean-baptiste4355 7 ай бұрын

It's interesting how Mr. Daly pronounces Mr. Ustinov's name, I never heard it pronounced that way.

@paulchristopher8634 Жыл бұрын

Sad to say but he died 4 years later

@thebayonneguy 6 жыл бұрын

Was there a labor strike of the NYC newspapers?

@rob585 3 жыл бұрын

Hello! I read in the description of one of these videos that it was possible to contact someone to get DVDs of all the episodes. I cannot recall which one. I remember that this episode that I watched, from this channel, had the ads with it, and were of lower quality. The lovely person who runs this channel then spliced the commercials into the higher quality copy in the finished video. This is all the information I have, and I’ll keep searching for the video. Any information or help would be appreciated! Thank you in advance.

@JayTemple 6 жыл бұрын

Just a stray thought ... How many cast members of "The Wizard of Oz" were MG's at some point?

@AnnieKCleary 4 жыл бұрын

Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr (as seen above), and Margaret Hamilton have all been MG's on this show :)

@1776TomPaine 6 жыл бұрын

Gentleman Bugs buy Lady Bugs!

@shirleyrombough8173 2 жыл бұрын

1776 Tom Paine- Why do people consistently criticize this program, when it's consIstantly better than most?

@1776TomPaine 2 жыл бұрын

@@shirleyrombough8173 This is one of the best TV shows ever made. I love watching these old episodes. It takes me back.

@patriciamooney928 2 жыл бұрын

A go-to service. As Bennett says: manicuring, barbering,, or massaging.

@mrchitlin6255 2 жыл бұрын

Dorothy always seems so shy and uncomfortable in front of the camera

@christopherdunne7848 6 жыл бұрын

Kinda ironic....with Kellogg's as a sponsor, Bert Lahr wasn't happy with Daws Butler's voice of the cartoon character Snagglepuss, whose voice was close to that of Bert Lahr. Folk apparently thought it WAS Lahr, so Lahr took action---unlike the other Hanna-Barbera characters who pitched Kellogg's cereals, all ads with Snagglepuss (some here on KZfaq) had a video disclaimer: "Snagglepuss voice by Daws Butler."

@paulesposito5856 10 ай бұрын

Arlene was so elegant

@tomklock568 5 жыл бұрын

Was there a strike on the newspaper in those days?

@2dance4Ulife 2 жыл бұрын

Oppressive work conditions and an attempt to cut heard earned union benefits. My mom's family were all printers. If we had decent unions today, minimum wage would be a livable $22 + and CEO'S would NOT be making 300 times what hourly workers earn.

@2dance4Ulife 2 жыл бұрын

Hard-earned

@TheGadgetPanda 6 жыл бұрын

When you have someone so painfully shy like the Ladybug Wrangler, you often find John pretty much taking over, not even waiting for the guest to try to answer. It must be mortifying for them, to have to sit back and watch him play for them.

@christopherdunne7848 6 жыл бұрын

That's John for you! I personally get a kick outta his "clarifications".

@loissimmons6558 5 жыл бұрын

+TheGadgetPanda "Ladybug Wrangler" ... I love it! What a great description! I can just picture a Disney movie in the sixties, "The Ladybug Wranglers", starring Don Knotts, Wally Cox and Arnold Stang. And of course Dean Jones and Michele Lee would need to be in it.

@patriciamooney928 2 жыл бұрын

IMHO Arlene covered for Dorothy who dropped part of Peter Ustenov's introduction. Dorothy seemed off in her articulation. Of course Arlene seemed tipsy too.

@dinahbrown902 Жыл бұрын

Geez John answered all the questions. Irritating. Lady Bug segment

@enriquesanchez2001 Жыл бұрын

yessssssssss

@geoffm9944 3 жыл бұрын

Peter Ustinov was a brilliant entertainer but frankly wasn’t particularly good at this sort of panel game. He was skilled in clever repartee, but he lacked the questioning skills and the ability to identify clues given by the guests.

@steventuck1524 2 жыл бұрын

Yes I agree...who in the heck watches t.v. anymore???

@red-eyedmagister1595 25 күн бұрын

and did you know Bert Lahr was a Leo? ha ha

@shirleyrombough8173 3 жыл бұрын

Oh groan. John Daly's pun. That's usually Bennett's role.

@shirleyrombough8173 2 жыл бұрын

Was that the "random" comment? I thought John usurped Bennett's role. Shame on him.

@tnschmitt1 3 жыл бұрын

@lanasbrain987 6 жыл бұрын

Damn my mom was 2 years old in 1963

@thecatspajamas8918 5 жыл бұрын

Damn, I was 2 years old in 1963.

@nadiazahroon6573 5 жыл бұрын

Lana's Brain I was three

@bethe192 4 жыл бұрын

6. Damn. 😄

@su8483 3 жыл бұрын

I'm the oldest. Is there a prize?

@deejay8403 3 жыл бұрын

I was five months in conception when this was taped

@joycejean-baptiste4355 7 ай бұрын

I wonder if the men on the panel were hot, they had shifted tied jackets and even vests and undershirt as well probably. The women on the panel had necks, shoulders and arms are all all out a lot. The studio must have had AC on low. The men panelists just had to take it. However they all looked cool, calm and collected and very well dressed. Well, except Steve Allen when his tie fell off, Lol;

@HelloKitty-wd6gj 11 сағат бұрын

He look like the lion with out the custume

@gbrumburgh 3 жыл бұрын

Dorothy's intros since her sneezing incident has been short and terse. She still shows signs of some problems.

@keithhyttinen8275 Жыл бұрын

What's the "sneezing incident"?

@nelsonricardo3729 6 жыл бұрын

John Daly is not an expert on insects. Four legs?! Thank goodness Dorothy knows her creepy crawlies.

@tomtriffid 6 жыл бұрын

John Daly just meant that, quite literally, the product has four legs (i.e., he meant that it had at least four legs).

@TheCometHunter 6 жыл бұрын

That's interesting.......I don't recall Mr. Daly ever claiming to be a bug expert! You, on the other hand, are quite good at acting like a twit.

@lisahinton9682 3 жыл бұрын

@Nelson Ricardo, if you listen carefully, John says, "Yes, we can agree it _has_ four legs, yes." Kind of like if your lunch consists of a sandwich, a slice of pie, a cup of tea, and a pile of chips, and someone is trying to guess your lunch, and says, "Do you have a sandwich?", well, that _is_ technically true. Think it through. You'll get it.

@geoffm9944 3 жыл бұрын

Bennett Cerf must have been tipped off that the celebrity guest would be Bert Lahr. It’s inconceivable that he could identify Lahr so quickly, since Lahr didn’t utter any actual words but only made a high pitched sound of affirmation to three questions. Consequently it ruined that segment of the show for both the audience and the other panelists.

@neilmidkiff 3 жыл бұрын

Why do people like you always assume that the panelists are tipped off when they get something right, but never bring it up when they fail to guess? Note that Bennett mentions that since Lahr was starring in a successful Broadway production, they were expecting him to be the MG around that time. And Lahr's distinctive nasal vocal timbre comes through even when he's forcing his voice into a higher pitch than usual. It's only "inconceivable" if you don't take all the evidence into account.

@washoe4827 3 жыл бұрын

@@neilmidkiff conspiracy theorists aren't easily dissuaded...

@gailsirois7175 3 жыл бұрын

He CHEATED !! Everyone should know by now

@shirleyrombough8173 2 жыл бұрын

- Why do people criticize Bennett so much?

@geoffm9944 2 жыл бұрын

@@shirleyrombough8173 I liked and admired Bennett Cerf because he was an amiable, witty, intelligent and knowledgeable panelist. His contributions when endeavouring to guess the identity of the ‘ordinary’ guests were always entertaining. However, in the show business section of the show, the celebrity was often too quickly identified by Bennett or Dorothy after only a few basic questions. In the case of Bert Lahr, it beggars belief that Bennett could have guessed his identity so quickly when Bert didn’t actually speak or articulate any words.

@su-rv2uq 4 жыл бұрын

Bennett Cerf cheats! Somehow or other he always knows who the guest is, even when the questions aren't anywhere near. How could he know who Bert Lahr was in three seconds.

@davidsanderson5918 3 жыл бұрын

Whoever is flavour of the month on the Broadway stage is bound to turn up on the show. So each week, if it's a performer on the stage they can narrow it down to a small number who are 'big named' enough to come on that week. Once he heard they were male and able to do a hugh pitched croak like thst he probably reduced to two or three people who he knew was in town.

@shirleyrombough8173 3 жыл бұрын

Bennett does not cheat. He reads up on who is performing in New York. He does his research before the episode.

@gailsirois7175 3 жыл бұрын

CHEATER

@joycejean-baptiste4355 7 ай бұрын

@@shirleyrombough8173Mr. Bennett Cerf , the book worm, that's probably why he squints his eyes when he is putting his eye glasses back on. Well read man. Good point.

@edwinfjennings2756 6 жыл бұрын

The

@QuadMochaMatti 4 жыл бұрын

Word up, g.

@kentetalman9008 11 ай бұрын

The panelists' knowledge of insects is appalling.

@alexad5395 6 жыл бұрын

why do the men always stand up to shake hands but hte women never do?

@nadiazahroon6573 5 жыл бұрын

alexa d manners

@lindashelley3635 4 жыл бұрын

Jeff, the God of Biscuits That seems a little harsh. Judging by her picture @Alexa d seems to be a fairly young lady, so may not be aware of what was considered to be good manners at that time. She asked a perfectly polite, respectful question and I feel that she deserved better than your somewhat snide reply.

@lisahinton9682 3 жыл бұрын

@Jeff, the God of Biscuits Why are you shaming this person for an innocent question? How about I quiz you in the etiquette of the 1920s? Or the 1870s? The 1830s? Are you _really_ so unaware of past cultures and their etiquette? People don't know something until they know that thing. People find out information by asking questions. It would have been polite for you to simply answer the question, or keep your big fat yap shut.

@gailsirois7175 3 жыл бұрын

They DO..pay attention..it depends

@gwenniegirl50 2 жыл бұрын

It was a sign of good manners. Apparently that’s gone by the wayside.😢

@shirtless6934 5 жыл бұрын

The show was corrupt. As Bennett Cerf would admit on November 27, 1966, in a show featuring Frank Sinatra and Mia Farrow, his wife frequently knew in advance the name of the mystery guest. We are expected to believe that she did not give him the name. That is not the point. What we need to know is why the show was giving the name of the mystery guest to wife of one of the panelists in advance?

@neilmidkiff 5 жыл бұрын

Shirtless: You're leaping to an illogical general conclusion based on a mischaracterization of the facts of one particular episode. Bennett's wife helped convince Frank Sinatra that Mia Farrow would be watching that show at home with her. That was a special prank for one show featuring two mystery guests, a married couple appearing separately, as a surprise for Frank. It had nothing to do with the regular running of the show; it was unusual for the first mystery guest to take a chair on the panel. Bennett noted in his oral history that the panelists would not have been good enough actors to pretend they didn't know the mystery guests' names if they had actually been tipped off. But as Gary often notes, it's impossible to dissuade most conspiracy theorists who have already convinced themselves that the show was rigged. You're free to fail to enjoy it if that makes you happy.

@shirtless6934 5 жыл бұрын

@@neilmidkiff Okay, but what is up with Mrs. Cerf knowing the names of the mystery guests? Why would that information be disclosed, on a regular basis, to a panel member's spouse? Given the game show corruption that occurred during the 1950's, you would think they would be smarter than that.

@neilmidkiff 5 жыл бұрын

@@shirtless6934 I don't quite understand what is your evidence for "on a regular basis". Can you give the specific words that back up that claim, who said them, at what time, on which episode?

@shirtless6934 5 жыл бұрын

@@neilmidkiff Watch the video, "What's My Line? - Frank Sinatra, Mia Farrow; PANEL: Phyllis Newman, Mark Goodson (Nov 27, 1966)," beginning at 8:30, and you will hear Bennett Cerf admit that his wife, Phyllis, has known several times the name of the mystery guest, and that she let it "slip" that it was going to be Frank Sinatra that time. Why would she know ANY time who the identity of the mystery guest was going to be? The show was corrupt. QED.

@neilmidkiff 5 жыл бұрын

@@shirtless6934 Bennett says: "In all the years I've been on this show, my wife Phyllis has known several times who the Mystery Guest was going to be, and never once gave it to me." I have to assume that in some, perhaps all, of these cases, the Mystery Guest was Phyllis Cerf's cousin Ginger Rogers, and in this case Mrs. Cerf would have learned it from her cousin, not from the show's production staff. Watch the Ginger Rogers guest appearances to see Bennett's surprise and amusement at being tricked by his wife; I remember at least one case where Ginger was staying as a house guest with the Cerfs and Bennett had been told misleading information about their plans for the evening. Yes, for this one 1966 show, Goodson conspired with the Cerfs to play a prank on Sinatra, and remember that Bennett says "slip" early in the show, so as not to tip off Frank that a plot is in the works for the second Mystery Guest. But I don't think you've made your case for "frequently" in your initial post and especially not "on a regular basis" in your first reply. You can believe whatever you like, of course.

@karenedmiston5964 4 жыл бұрын

The Ladybug man was was annoyingly shy. He just sat there like a dummy.

@erichanson426 3 жыл бұрын

And yet people wonder why Daily does the answering

@lisahinton9682 3 жыл бұрын

@Karen Edmiston, people come with all kinds of personalities, not to mention, he may have had a cold, or not slept well the night before, or found out bad news 5 minutes before going on the show. You never know what someone is going through. Further, people were not used to being filmed or being in front of a camera back then. He may have come from a very sheltered background, and even where he was from and living was a small city back then, and still kind of is. I thetefore think your comment is very rude. Keep in mind, a lot of these people's grandchildren r children watch these reruns here on KZfaq. How would you feel reading something like that about your mother or father or grandparent? You are very rude. Please consider deleting your nasty comment.

@behniwal08 3 жыл бұрын

To be fair after a while it didn't really seem like he even gave the man a chnace to answer.

@TheBlackhawkbrat Жыл бұрын

He could have had stage fright.

@Sheila02181 2 жыл бұрын

Bennett has to be cheating!

@kristabrewer9363 3 жыл бұрын

There he goes flipping those STUPID cards again!!! (I honestly AM trying not to dislike John, but it really keeps getting harder and harder after all these years of his flipping the cards over and longwinded talks!

@lisahinton9682 3 жыл бұрын

@Krista Brewer Typical snowflake, fast-food culture response. If you don't like the show or the format, go back to your Kardashians twerking bullsh.