One of the things I LOVE about "WML" is that they weren't afraid, as many TV shows were in the day, to have black performers on, and to treat them as they deserved for their skill. This vid is from 1953, WAY before Civil Rights, etc., and God bless the staff at "WML" for having black luminaries on, despite the negative feedback they must have gotten from some (backward) areas of the U.S. at the time.
They had several blacks as regular guests. I can recall a black parole board member, a woman who ran a camp for boxers, and a couple of others, and I'm not even halfway through the series. There might not be thousands of such cases, but WML did indeed have black challengers.
@@nancypine9952 I've seen every episode so far, and the two you mentioned were the only two black non-celebrities so far. That's out of roughly 200 challengers. However, the parole board member was so light-skinned, and his hair was so slicked back that I didn't even realize he was black until after I watched it and was reading the comments. The lovely and fascinating woman who ran the boxing camp was also relatively light-skinned, Ivy-League educated, soft spoken, demure, and so understated, that I'm sure it was a large part of why she was chosen. Sad times.
If you are referring to the south as having one of those "backward" states you better look at your own states history. Or read black performers own stories about their lives. Remember The Cotton Club only served white people, the Rockettes only integrated in 1988, The Boston Red Sox was the last major baseball team to integrate in 1959. So much for your snide remarks about we "backward" states. Sweep off your own front porch before commenting on others. BTW we have always had twice the black population of you "forward" states so evidently they do not like you either.
Great debate here. I think it's fair to say that on such a high profile mainstream TV show in US during the 50s, it is remarkable that any black guests appeared AT ALL....whether they were ordinary or extraordinary. Even THIRTY years later it was remarkable for a black artist to be included in the schedules of MTV for instance. Right here while this was being broadcast a young good-looking white boy somewhere will have been hearing the revolutionary, exciting musical innovations of black people only for them to be overlooked and his white ass getting the credit. Sorry I couldn't help ending that sentence like that. I could feel irritability rising. I'm not an Elvis fan. This wasn't to say anyone here is unaware of such points but to say that WML could've gone further and had more regular black guests than they did is to suggest something completely incongruous with the progress of popular culture and American society. Meanwhile I loved this mystery guest. It DOES resonate and create waves to have a black man, a truly great one too, on a white man's show even now!!
With many people in the entertainment industry, it's sometimes very difficult to tell what kid of a person they are, but Nat Cole always struck me as a genuinely nice person. He left us much too early. I wish I could've met him. A wonderful man with a wonderful voice.
Nat Cole's major talent was as a jazz pianist, and he was among the best. He didn't sing with the early Nat Cole Trio at all. It was only later in his career that his occasional singing became more popular than his piano work, and he was "stuck with it."
He attributed his distinctive voice to smoking and smoked several packs of cigarettes every day to make sure he kept it. I guess everyone has his superstitions. Too bad his superstition was so deadly.
Nat King Cole was my Uncle Charlie's favorite singer. His daughter Natalie's tribute to him with the created duets was wonderful: so expertly done, so tasteful, so enjoyable, so unforgettable. Now they're both gone from this mortal coil. Over the millennia, there must have been many wonderfully talented performers who humankind had no means to record for posterity. How fortunate we are to be able to do so now. Hopefully we will continue to have performers whose talents are worthy of preserving. And how grateful I am to Gary for preserving these old shows on a number of his channels, including this one. Thank you +What's My Line?
I am a black man born in the 50s in New Orleans and I will never forget or forgive those of our community who casted a shadow of hate upon this man. For those people who don’t know he was assaulted in the South. Nat didn’t retaliate, he didn’t try to gain sympathy, he didn’t try to start an uprising, he just got back up and chose to live his life. He felt that was the best way to handle it and our community leaders at the time tore him apart… I was so angry at those people and I stopped wearing those leather jackets from that day forward. When he died and I got the news, I remember as a young man falling to my knees and sobbing my eyes out, as the report came over the radio. Even now as an old man tears come to my eyes because he was so special to me. To my family and I, he was proof that you could make it no matter who you are or where you come from. I wish he was treated better, he was assaulted by strangers and spat on by family… disgraceful. RIP NKC
The south was majority Democrats. Hopefully in your old age you have learned whom to vote for these days. Its 2022 and they are still trying to control black folks with fear and lies.
And you just brought tears to my eyes. I don't know how to stop hate, but I know more hate isn't going to be the solution. NKC will live on forever, but no one will remember the monsters that assaulted him.
Not only one of the greatest vocalists in Popular music but a trailblazer in Jazz piano. Most, including one of the greatest pianists in Jazz history Oscar Peterson, and many others 'borrowed' from his style. He also had the first trio consisting of Piano, Bass, and Guitar. A very classy gentleman. I love What's My Line, the panel is so smart. I got to meet Steve Allen in the 80s. A wonderfully talented man, and a prolific songwriter. Sorry for this long post.
I believe it was Sammy David Jr. who told the story that before most people sing, you hear them clear their throat a bit. Sammy said with this Nat King Cole, he never cleared his throat, but just started singing. I wish we could have heard more of his voice in this program.
Nat King Cole is one of of my favorite entertainers - he smiled when given the opportunity (especially when playing the piano), so it seemed he enjoyed performing (I like watching Eddie Van Halen, Jimmy Page, and the Miami Sound Machine for the same reasons). I enjoy seeing musicians and entertainers enjoy performing.
+Johan Bengtsson She even catches it mid flight without missing a beat. I guess I'm not a pro. I hate piercings for myself (anyone else can do what they want). I find it easier to get a hairstyle that covers my lobes than to wear earrings. I remember the first time I tried on my mom's clip-ons, the kind that used a vise to keep them on. And that was the last time. While I have a pretty high pain tolerance, I am not looking for reasons to inflict myself with it.
Defending my thesis orally, I had the same thing happen to me, then when I shuffled my notes, an artificial fingernail flew off over the podium; one of the professor's murmured, "What's next; her glass eye?" Might not be PC by today's standards, but it broke the tension and got a big laugh, for which I was supremely grateful at the time and which still makes me smile today, many years later.
Oh boy, do I have a man crush on Mr. John Fulton Short. He seemed so elegant and galant, albeit soft-spoken and genuine. I googled him in hope to find something anything, and I certainly did. As many others in the comments remarked, he was a bullfighter (a matador, to be exact) who moved to Seville to pursue his dream. He spent most of his life in Spain, and eventually died in 1998 at the age of 64. According to the New York Times article: "Mr. Fulton did have his share of romantic conquests. But he never married, apparently in deference to the Spanish-born high school sweetheart who broke his heart -- but not his spirit -- by marrying someone else" ('98). Besides bullfighting, he was a painter, sculptor, writer and jewelry designer. He mostly did it out of necessity, but I must say that his paintings are pretty incredible. You can buy them at auctions on the Internet. In addition of becoming the first American to rise to the rank of Matador de Toros, he was a humanitarian tutoring youngsters interested in bullfighting. Mr. Fulton (he went by his middle name since Spaniards did not know how to pronounce Fulton correctly) also adopted a Gyspy boy, Federico. There is a tribute video/a biography that was made and created with a help of Federico: vimeo.com/17380700. Lastly, he did also appear on To Tell the Truth in 1958, and once again on What's My Line in 1964. Interestingly enough, author James A. Michener wrote a book about bullfighting called "Miracle in Seville" who used Mr. Fulton's drawings in the book and probably used him as a source of information/inspiration for the book. Why do I think it is interesting? Mr. Michener served as a guest panelist in 1959 on What's My Line. While introducing him, Mrs. Francis praised his then-new book "Hawaii" whose publisher was Mr. Cerf's Random House. Random House was also the publisher for "Miracle in Seville". If you really read everything above, thanks... It is pretty riveting how can one whom I have barely heard speaking spark so much interest in a young fella like me. But I am sure for one, John Fulton Short will continue to inspire me for his captivating life. :)
The first contestant, John Fulton Short, was an accomplished painter it seems too. Born in 1932, he studied Bullfighting and Painting in Mexico before moving to Spain to become a professional bullfighter. Ernest Hemingway was a patron of his and he was a stand in for Peter O'Toole in the movie Lawrence of Arabia. He died in 1998 aged 65.
I remember his 15 minute show when I was a little girl. My Grandma loved him and kept a little photo of him after he passed away under the glass on top of hee dresser. I loved him too
Truth be told he was actually a great piano player who just happened to sing a little. A nightclub owner heard him singing and demanded that he focus more on the singing than the piano playing. And the rest as they say is history
At met John Fulton (Short) at least a couple of times in the 1970s in galleries that had in both Sevilla and Marbella. I have a painting and other prints and lithographs hanging on my walls. He is mentioned several times in James Michener's "Iberia." By that time he was basically retired from bullfighting. I believe he was the first US citizen to be accepted as a bullfighter in the major rings of Spain.
Mine too! He died in February 1965 which was a few days after my 10th birthday. I consider his voice as ear candy. I always listen to him when I need help! Calm voice even when singing songs that are energetic.
@@BlankCanvas88 Always! I have looked at the reaction videos on him and people are amazed at his voice. Unfortunate that they get to the age of 25 and have not heard of him
AudiophileTubes Oh God, how old does this make me feel, to find out that someone is so young that they actually have to 'Google' to even find out who Nat King Cole was. I mean, to not be a fan is one thing, but to never even have heard of him... 😞
Arlene's comment at 9:00 about "Rocket Ranger" referred to a short-lived TV series starring Cliff Robertson, "Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers". The series ran for 59 episodes beginning April 18, 1953. The Rangers went around the universe protecting the good guys from evil villains.
Rumor had it that when Mr. Cole had some records out nobody knew he was black. He toured with Frank Sinatra actually opened for Frank. The crowd didn't think N.K.C was black they rushed the stage and started beating him up. Frank and his entourage ran out there pulled the crowd off NKC. He got back to singing and they gave him a 10-minute standing ovation. Love me some Frank
Never heard that story and wonder about it's vitality. Sinatra did help Cole escape form Alabama after he was beaten on stage in a kid napping attempt. Cole and Sinatra were friends. Cole was instrumental in getting Capitol Records to sign up Sinatra.
I've never heard of the Frank Sinatra story. I do know that NKC was the first black person to have a tv show unfortunately it never found a sponsor, pls check out the show on RUclips (totally fabulous).
Bennett Cerf's wild guess is that the first guest smuggles Philadelphia newspapers into New York. Six of the seven NY dailies were on strike at the time. (The Herald-Tribune, which used an outside company for photoengraving, continued to publish when the photoengravers at the other six, supported by their other employees, walked out.)
Nat King Cole (1919-1965) died a month before his 46th birthday of lung cancer. He smoked 3 packs of Kool cigarettes a day. Hard to believe with one of the smoothest, pure-sounding voices ever. He thought heavy cigarette smoking gave his voice the quality and characteristics it had.
Today's RUclips Rerun for 12/29/15: Watch along and join the discussion! ----------------------------- Join our Facebook group for WML-- great discussions, photos, etc, and great people! facebook.com/groups/728471287199862/ 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 follow along the discussions on the weekday "rerun" videos: ruclips.net/channel/UChPE75Fvvl1HmdAsO7Nzb8w
Several years later Nat King Cole would record the Steve Allen composition 'Impossible' (1958) /watch?v=pdgtlErraFc Steve Allen also recorded his own version -- /watch?v=MHsXi_lM_z4
Great point.....Steve was very appreciative of Nat recording that tune, as Nat doing so really put the tune on the map. I use to listen to Steve in New York when he took over the "Make Believe Ballroom" at WNEW in 1987. He loved Nat - and as a fellow piano player, enjoyed Nat's piano playing more than his singing.
In the UK a gentleman would never show such a label, or ask to see one. For reasons of class and money. Maybe after knowing a man well for ten years, one might ask diffidently for “an introduction to your tailor”. It would be seen as a compliment. Imagine the humiliation if Dorothy looked at your label and sniffed disdainfully “Oh, it’s off the rack!” For the same reason, it is very rude to smoke a cigar in the UK while leaving the cigar label on. (It’s seen as boasting, and rude to others who may not be able to afford the brand). On the other hand, it is rude to remove a cigar label in the USA while smoking. Fellow enthusiasts can then identify your brand, compare cigars, and exchange reviews of various types, sizes, and brands.
+Ashoodle We can see that he holds the back of his right hand against Arlene's cheek (checking her temperature?), but I can't say what was going on. 23:11 They've just come back from a commercial and seem to have to rush the goodnights a tad.
They were laughing as they came back from commercial with Dorothy looking to her left. My stab in the dark, as Steve used to say, is that Arlene was demonstrating her ability to whistle.
With today's PC atmosphere, the first guest's occupation would not be received very well. It may still be legal in Mexico, South America, Spain....dont know. Like other viewers, observed Dorothy's earring fall off (good catch). Like many others on here, my mother was a big fan of Mr. Nat King Cole. He had one of the greatest & most recognizable voices in recorded music history.
The first challenger (the bullfighter) is so ahead of his time in the early 50s with that slim tie that would become mainstream a decade later, in the early 60s
the perils of live TV -- Steve honks off that sneeze in first walk by. Sneezes did not happen that often on live WML -- most memorably that night in 1962 when [ UTI? ] Dorothy melted down in sneezes during the introduction and Bennett sneezed toward the end of the broadcast. "Aren't we all?" LOL Arlene on the question of being off the ground.
Anyone else think that Steve was a little bit off his usual game in Game 2? To me, his questioning seems a bit slow and less well-developed than usual -- especially around 13:17, though he manages to get laughs anyway. There's a glitch in the video that prevents us from seeing how his turn ends, so I don't know if he ended up passing to Arlene or if he finally got a "no" on something.
Yeah, I thought the same thing about Steve in the second round (flea powder)-- seemed to me he had been given a gambit line of questioning to ask things implying that people wore the product, but he never got any real traction with it. He was pretty clearly not trying in earnest to solve the line, and he wasn't very funny. A rare off segment for him. I didn't realize till I rewatched this myself earlier today that there are a/v glitches in this one, too (along with about 10 more shows from around 1953-54 that have dropouts). I guess no one mentioned it before now because they're less disruptive than the dropouts in some of the other videos, but it's still a shame.
It seems to me like he was probably fighting a cold or something this night. Aside from the obvious sneeze, he was coughing and clearing his throat throughout the show, and it seems to me like his voice might be just a little bit deeper than usual.
I was looking for a post that mentioned the bullfighting segment. I agree 10000000% with you. I will say it's interesting how certain "things" were found to be alright/ ok. How could torturing an animal until it dies be ok under any circumstances. 🤷🤯🤦
This is how most of America, and I mean the great, great, great majority, go about their lives when they interact with others. Who cares what color you are, just chat and have a good time. No need to mention white, black, asian, hispanic. But now, the media makes everything about color. A video from 1953 shows what we are missing.
don't know on this episode. It has been posted on other episodes when that has happen it has been at times because the guest had to leave for other commitments and somtime by the request of the guest. I was hoping that there would have been some visitation as it looked like he was enjoying himself and I would have enjoyed learning more about him as a person.
@@greydogmusic - Doubt he didn't speak "because the guest had to leave," or "by the request of the guest;" This was 1953 when Racial Segregation was the legal law of the land in America, a fact that we often forget or overlook. TV (and Hollywood) executives and especially powerful sponsors did not support any airwave images that a conversation with Mr Cole would have projected. Some are in denial, but unfortunately this was the state of things in 1953. On a related issue, look up how in 1968 Petula Clark courageously bucked her sponsor's Ford Company Executive who directed her to reshoot a scene in her upcoming TV Special because she touched hands with Harry Belafonte during the performance of a song. The situation was a major event.
@@waldolydecker8118 We would have a great time over a pizza. It is possible you are correct. but, you use the word "doubt" so there is no proof. I was born in the 50's, Tennessee. I am familiar with what went on. Truth is, we don't know, Cole was extremely popular, with whites, going way back before this program. You don't know if he would have projected what the sponsors did not want. Once again, conjecture. I would lean to speculating he did not want to speak as in his early career he did not speak up for equal rights and was shunned by blacks for singing to all white audiences. He was quoted in papers advocating leaving the fight to the other guys. Because of his problems with the Black press he eventually joined the fight for racial equality. .... as far as your other event. Yes there was a lot of that through the 60's. It was a transition decade and continued into the 70's. You can dwell on events like that and cite them, or you can dwell on the people who wanted to change. Like Ed Sullivan, or The Young Rascals, who after many incidents announced a new appearance policy, they would not perform any more if the show didn't include at least one black act. They cancelled several. These are the hero's i champion. I can find a 100 anti black stories. That's easy for the 50's and 60's. As far as Nat King Cole and the show, no one alive today knows unless someone somewhere wrote about it.
@@greydogmusic - Dude, don't try to "lecture" me on Nat King Cole or American racial relations - you are under-qualified in both education and experience on both subjects. Nobody is "dwelling" on anything just because they site facts that you choose to dispute and try to disparage. Everybody knows "Mr Cole was extremely popular with many whites going way back before this (1953) program." Everybody also knows that Mr Cole was violently attacked and blood beaten on stage by whites in Alabama in 1956 AFTER this program. Quit trying to make lame excuses...rattling off about Ed Sullivan, The Young Rascals and your stupid 100 "anti black" stories - in a contest of "anti" stories, you lose like your local Pop Warner team going up against the 1970's Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite his superiority to you, In 1950's Tennessee, you and Nat King Cole stayed on opposite sides of town. It is highly doubtful you are any kind of authority on the details of what occurred on your own side of town, much less the details of what occurred on Mr Cole's. It is understood you believe nevertheless you are an authority on all sides of town, but someone has lied to you...you are not. The original question in this post was "Why did (Mr. Cole) not get to say anything after he guessed?" No one will ever have the definitive factual answer because everyone involved is now dead, but your suggestion that it was probably because the guest had to urgently "leave for other commitments" or the guest "requested" to not have to talk, is lame apologist nonsense. This is 1953, and not only did Mr Cole not chat with the panel after guesting, but neither did Lena Horne, nor Duke Ellington the same 1953 year they appeared. Eddie "Rochester" Anderson was given the same treatment a few months earlier in his 1952 appearance. You want us to believe all four had "urgent commitments" or simply told John Daly beforehand they weren't in a "talking mood." Sure, Mack. Had nothing to do with the social practices of 1953 television and American society; these particular celebrity guests - as distinguished from all the other celebrity guests that year - just weren't in a talking mood. Geez. The past is what it is and was what it was. Acknowledge it and move forward. But you can't do that properly when you try to hide behind lame apologetic whitewashing. Man up.
I hate hearing that term, “credit to his/her race”. It’s condescending. It’s like saying, “If all blacks were like Nat King Cole, they wouldn’t be so bad.” It’s like he was a token black man that lived up to the standards of that of an old fey.
Which caucasian mystery guests would you consider "a credit to his race?" Any of them? All of them? lol....a credit to his race...you sound like a neanderthal.
As a Man, color makes no difference to me, my heart felt good that he made it so big in those times. Until I read the comment that was at the top here. Now, sad.
As time goes on, and I watch these grand old shows that I watched as a child in Canada, I realize that while the show was quite radical at that time when segregation was still such an extreme part of US culture, they never went so far as to have a person of colour as a guest or permanent member of the panel. It is a culture that has made progress but is still saturated with racism as is Canadian culture. When will we rid ourselves of this scourge?!
Other than a few dropout glitches from time to time, this show has perfectly good sound. I'm sorry that I can't diagnose your device settings, but the problem must be there.
![What's My Line? - Steve Allen; Peter Lind Hayes [panel] (Dec 27, 1953) [CORRECTED]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/jLdlfvpoS9k/mqdefault.jpg)
One of the things I LOVE about "WML" is that they weren't afraid, as many TV shows were in the day, to have black performers on, and to treat them as they deserved for their skill. This vid is from 1953, WAY before Civil Rights, etc., and God bless the staff at "WML" for having black luminaries on, despite the negative feedback they must have gotten from some (backward) areas of the U.S. at the time.
They had several blacks as regular guests. I can recall a black parole board member, a woman who ran a camp for boxers, and a couple of others, and I'm not even halfway through the series. There might not be thousands of such cases, but WML did indeed have black challengers.
@@nancypine9952 I've seen every episode so far, and the two you mentioned were the only two black non-celebrities so far. That's out of roughly 200 challengers. However, the parole board member was so light-skinned, and his hair was so slicked back that I didn't even realize he was black until after I watched it and was reading the comments. The lovely and fascinating woman who ran the boxing camp was also relatively light-skinned, Ivy-League educated, soft spoken, demure, and so understated, that I'm sure it was a large part of why she was chosen. Sad times.
@Jim Stark Well said!
If you are referring to the south as having one of those "backward" states you better look at your own states history. Or read black performers own stories about their lives. Remember The Cotton Club only served white people, the Rockettes only integrated in 1988, The Boston Red Sox was the last major baseball team to integrate in 1959. So much for your snide remarks about we "backward" states. Sweep off your own front porch before commenting on others. BTW we have always had twice the black population of you "forward" states so evidently they do not like you either.
Great debate here. I think it's fair to say that on such a high profile mainstream TV show in US during the 50s, it is remarkable that any black guests appeared AT ALL....whether they were ordinary or extraordinary. Even THIRTY years later it was remarkable for a black artist to be included in the schedules of MTV for instance. Right here while this was being broadcast a young good-looking white boy somewhere will have been hearing the revolutionary, exciting musical innovations of black people only for them to be overlooked and his white ass getting the credit. Sorry I couldn't help ending that sentence like that. I could feel irritability rising. I'm not an Elvis fan.
This wasn't to say anyone here is unaware of such points but to say that WML could've gone further and had more regular black guests than they did is to suggest something completely incongruous with the progress of popular culture and American society.
Meanwhile I loved this mystery guest. It DOES resonate and create waves to have a black man, a truly great one too, on a white man's show even now!!
With many people in the entertainment industry, it's sometimes very difficult to tell what kid of a person they are, but Nat Cole always struck me as a genuinely nice person. He left us much too early. I wish I could've met him. A wonderful man with a wonderful voice.
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ppl .
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Nat Cole's major talent was as a jazz pianist, and he was among the best. He didn't sing with the early Nat Cole Trio at all. It was only later in his career that his occasional singing became more popular than his piano work, and he was "stuck with it."
@@slaytonp ...Nat's trio was called The King Cole Trio. Cole was called King Cole until 1950.
He attributed his distinctive voice to smoking and smoked several packs of cigarettes every day to make sure he kept it. I guess everyone has his superstitions. Too bad his superstition was so deadly.
Nat King Cole had a voice to warm the soul and a smile to light a room. The man seemed so full of joy and gratitude.
A very handsome man indeed. I still listen to his music in 2022. 😁
Happy 100th Birthday Nat King Cole! You are unforgettable!
Nat was so adorable and funny here. One of my favorite singers and musicians!
A wonderful voice, likewise Kianna, one of my favourite singers. Taken far too soon.
Yes, he was literally tall, dark and handsome. NAT "KING" COLE ...One of the best of the best...BAR NONE!!!
Nat King Cole -- one of the greatest male singing voices of the last century. Too bad he died young.
Of any century
Way, way too young.
cigarettes.
The way he played the piano is unmatched. Watch "Just one of those things".
@@briansanford1721 - Lung cancer and he was a heavy smoker. So many smoked back then and it was pushed in most movies to smoke. So sad.
Nat King Cole, what a beautiful person.
Nat King Cole was my Uncle Charlie's favorite singer.
His daughter Natalie's tribute to him with the created duets was wonderful: so expertly done, so tasteful, so enjoyable, so unforgettable. Now they're both gone from this mortal coil.
Over the millennia, there must have been many wonderfully talented performers who humankind had no means to record for posterity. How fortunate we are to be able to do so now. Hopefully we will continue to have performers whose talents are worthy of preserving.
And how grateful I am to Gary for preserving these old shows on a number of his channels, including this one. Thank you +What's My Line?
I am a black man born in the 50s in New Orleans and I will never forget or forgive those of our community who casted a shadow of hate upon this man. For those people who don’t know he was assaulted in the South. Nat didn’t retaliate, he didn’t try to gain sympathy, he didn’t try to start an uprising, he just got back up and chose to live his life. He felt that was the best way to handle it and our community leaders at the time tore him apart… I was so angry at those people and I stopped wearing those leather jackets from that day forward. When he died and I got the news, I remember as a young man falling to my knees and sobbing my eyes out, as the report came over the radio. Even now as an old man tears come to my eyes because he was so special to me. To my family and I, he was proof that you could make it no matter who you are or where you come from. I wish he was treated better, he was assaulted by strangers and spat on by family… disgraceful. RIP NKC
The south was majority Democrats. Hopefully in your old age you have learned whom to vote for these days. Its 2022 and they are still trying to control black folks with fear and lies.
As you can see, all white folks weren't racist back then
And this was in 1953. When racism was still in full force
And you just brought tears to my eyes.
I don't know how to stop hate, but I know more hate isn't going to be the solution.
NKC will live on forever, but no one will remember the monsters that assaulted him.
@@AnAdorableWombat Bruh! In 2016 America made a simple minded Klansman President! STFU!
Not only one of the greatest vocalists in Popular music but a trailblazer in Jazz piano. Most, including one of the greatest pianists in Jazz history Oscar Peterson, and many others 'borrowed' from his style. He also had the first trio consisting of Piano, Bass, and Guitar. A very classy gentleman. I love What's My Line, the panel is so smart. I got to meet Steve Allen in the 80s. A wonderfully talented man, and a prolific songwriter. Sorry for this long post.
Nat King Cole the master! Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without hearing his voice every year
Natalie Cole was three years old when this aired.
One of the greatest singers of all time 💖💯
I believe it was Sammy David Jr. who told the story that before most people sing, you hear them clear their throat a bit. Sammy said with this Nat King Cole, he never cleared his throat, but just started singing. I wish we could have heard more of his voice in this program.
Nat King Cole is one of of my favorite entertainers - he smiled when given the opportunity (especially when playing the piano), so it seemed he enjoyed performing (I like watching Eddie Van Halen, Jimmy Page, and the Miami Sound Machine for the same reasons). I enjoy seeing musicians and entertainers enjoy performing.
Dorothy gets so giddy at 21:53 it's adorable
She knew who it was lol.
I don't know what I'd do if I ever met Mr. Cole. I think I would just stare in awe. What a talent he was. God rest his soul.
@ 14:52 Dorothy's left earring falls off but she continues with her questions without any hesitation at all. A real pro!
Johan Bengtsson Then most of the women are true pro's! ;)
SuperWinterborn And we men are the amateurs. :)
Johan Bengtsson Not if you're used to loose earrings! ;)
+Johan Bengtsson
She even catches it mid flight without missing a beat.
I guess I'm not a pro. I hate piercings for myself (anyone else can do what they want). I find it easier to get a hairstyle that covers my lobes than to wear earrings. I remember the first time I tried on my mom's clip-ons, the kind that used a vise to keep them on. And that was the last time. While I have a pretty high pain tolerance, I am not looking for reasons to inflict myself with it.
Defending my thesis orally, I had the same thing happen to me, then when I shuffled my notes, an artificial fingernail flew off over the podium; one of the professor's murmured, "What's next; her glass eye?" Might not be PC by today's standards, but it broke the tension and got a big laugh, for which I was supremely grateful at the time and which still makes me smile today, many years later.
Oh boy, do I have a man crush on Mr. John Fulton Short. He seemed so elegant and galant, albeit soft-spoken and genuine. I googled him in hope to find something anything, and I certainly did. As many others in the comments remarked, he was a bullfighter (a matador, to be exact) who moved to Seville to pursue his dream. He spent most of his life in Spain, and eventually died in 1998 at the age of 64. According to the New York Times article: "Mr. Fulton did have his share of romantic conquests. But he never married, apparently in deference to the Spanish-born high school sweetheart who broke his heart -- but not his spirit -- by marrying someone else" ('98).
Besides bullfighting, he was a painter, sculptor, writer and jewelry designer. He mostly did it out of necessity, but I must say that his paintings are pretty incredible. You can buy them at auctions on the Internet. In addition of becoming the first American to rise to the rank of Matador de Toros, he was a humanitarian tutoring youngsters interested in bullfighting. Mr. Fulton (he went by his middle name since Spaniards did not know how to pronounce Fulton correctly) also adopted a Gyspy boy, Federico. There is a tribute video/a biography that was made and created with a help of Federico: vimeo.com/17380700.
Lastly, he did also appear on To Tell the Truth in 1958, and once again on What's My Line in 1964. Interestingly enough, author James A. Michener wrote a book about bullfighting called "Miracle in Seville" who used Mr. Fulton's drawings in the book and probably used him as a source of information/inspiration for the book. Why do I think it is interesting? Mr. Michener served as a guest panelist in 1959 on What's My Line. While introducing him, Mrs. Francis praised his then-new book "Hawaii" whose publisher was Mr. Cerf's Random House. Random House was also the publisher for "Miracle in Seville".
If you really read everything above, thanks... It is pretty riveting how can one whom I have barely heard speaking spark so much interest in a young fella like me. But I am sure for one, John Fulton Short will continue to inspire me for his captivating life. :)
Interesting! Thanks!
Thanks!
I’m so glad they finally did a way with the awkward walking in front of the panel and one free guess practice prior to starting the questioning.
The first contestant, John Fulton Short, was an accomplished painter it seems too. Born in 1932, he studied Bullfighting and Painting in Mexico before moving to Spain to become a professional bullfighter. Ernest Hemingway was a patron of his and he was a stand in for Peter O'Toole in the movie Lawrence of Arabia. He died in 1998 aged 65.
I've seen his paintings; he was talented.
I remember his 15 minute show when I was a little girl. My Grandma loved him and kept a little photo of him after he passed away under the glass on top of hee dresser. I loved him too
WML is one of the very few TV shows in that period that had black guests !
Truth be told he was actually a great piano player who just happened to sing a little. A nightclub owner heard him singing and demanded that
he focus more on the singing than the piano playing. And the rest as they say is history
That nightclub owner knew his vocals!
At met John Fulton (Short) at least a couple of times in the 1970s in galleries that had in both Sevilla and Marbella. I have a painting and other prints and lithographs hanging on my walls. He is mentioned several times in James Michener's "Iberia." By that time he was basically retired from bullfighting. I believe he was the first US citizen to be accepted as a bullfighter in the major rings of Spain.
A peerless talent and gift to humankind.
He had such a beautiful voice. His Christmas album is still my favorite. I hope he was treated with dignity on this episode
My favorite male voice of all time. A voice like buttuh!
Mine too! He died in February 1965 which was a few days after my 10th birthday. I consider his voice as ear candy. I always listen to him when I need help! Calm voice even when singing songs that are energetic.
@@Maya-bu2rf Absolutely! He could sing anything! And when you see him perform, he always has a nice smile and cheery attitude.
@@BlankCanvas88 Always! I have looked at the reaction videos on him and people are amazed at his voice. Unfortunate that they get to the age of 25 and have not heard of him
He was one of my favorite singers. I have a cd that had a collection of his most popular songs. I used to watch his television program.
Great upload! I so enjoyed watching this! Googled 'Nat King Cole' after listening to some of his old 78 RPM records my mother gave to me!
AudiophileTubes Oh God, how old does this make me feel, to find out that someone is so young that they actually have to 'Google' to even find out who Nat King Cole was. I mean, to not be a fan is one thing, but to never even have heard of him... 😞
maybe the most beautiful voice ever
@@satori03 Amen to that. Rich, smooth, strong, and mellow. I can't think of anyone with a better voice.
@@lindashelley3635 That’s the way it goes
You have hopefully come to learn what a ground-breaking talent he was. Truly an amazing man.
Arlene's comment at 9:00 about "Rocket Ranger" referred to a short-lived TV series starring Cliff Robertson, "Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers". The series ran for 59 episodes beginning April 18, 1953. The Rangers went around the universe protecting the good guys from evil villains.
V huh
Rumor had it that when Mr. Cole had some records out nobody knew he was black. He toured with Frank Sinatra actually opened for Frank. The crowd didn't think N.K.C was black they rushed the stage and started beating him up. Frank and his entourage ran out there pulled the crowd off NKC. He got back to singing and they gave him a 10-minute standing ovation. Love me some Frank
Never heard that story and wonder about it's vitality. Sinatra did help Cole escape form Alabama after he was beaten on stage in a kid napping attempt. Cole and Sinatra were friends. Cole was instrumental in getting Capitol Records to sign up Sinatra.
I've never heard of the Frank Sinatra story. I do know that NKC was the first black person to have a tv show unfortunately it never found a sponsor, pls check out the show on RUclips (totally fabulous).
What a joyful nature he has, one of my favourite celebrity mystery guests
this lineup is the best over all others by far.
Most beautiful and blessed man, God bless his soul. ❤🙏🙏🙏
He had a disinct voice unlike any other. When of the greatest singers of all time
2:10 you can hear John's connection to South Africa in the way he says guest.
Yup, it’s definitely there alright
Nat King Cole was Legend !!
“Do you want to hear an unmarried, masculine whistle?”
🤣.He did it perfectly
Bennett Cerf's wild guess is that the first guest smuggles Philadelphia newspapers into New York. Six of the seven NY dailies were on strike at the time. (The Herald-Tribune, which used an outside company for photoengraving, continued to publish when the photoengravers at the other six, supported by their other employees, walked out.)
Absolutely an excellent show !!
My parents offered to have him sleep at our house because no hotel would let him stay there. He eventually found a place.
This is a disgusting period in our country when people deserve respect but did not receive it.
Always love seeing that signature of Nat's.
Nat King Cole (1919-1965) died a month before his 46th birthday of lung cancer. He smoked 3 packs of Kool cigarettes a day. Hard to believe with one of the smoothest, pure-sounding voices ever. He thought heavy cigarette smoking gave his voice the quality and characteristics it had.
Bless him...
Like Mel Tormé.
Bless him, too.
Mr. Cole was one of the all-time greats.... Breaks my heart to think on how his monumentally heavy smoking left him dead at only 45....
He was just 45 when he passed away. Some of the hardened news media, here in Los Angeles, actually cried when his death was announced in 1965.
@@PeterMcDonald-sl9rt I knew I was spotty on the exact age; thanks. Also, my heart's with you, good sir
Early on in the history of tv. Later on in 1961 he got a much greater well deserved ovation.
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Several years later Nat King Cole would record the Steve Allen composition 'Impossible' (1958)
/watch?v=pdgtlErraFc
Steve Allen also recorded his own version --
/watch?v=MHsXi_lM_z4
Great point.....Steve was very appreciative of Nat recording that tune, as Nat doing so really put the tune on the map. I use to listen to Steve in New York when he took over the "Make Believe Ballroom" at WNEW in 1987. He loved Nat - and as a fellow piano player, enjoyed Nat's piano playing more than his singing.
When I was a “ disc jockey”I love playing Nat King Cole records
So dapper.
They all recognized that mmmhmmm.
Nat is the King in his own right.
That business of asking to see the label of men’s jackets was so tacky and invasive. Thank goodness they got rid of that.
In the UK a gentleman would never show such a label, or ask to see one. For reasons of class and money. Maybe after knowing a man well for ten years, one might ask diffidently for “an introduction to your tailor”. It would be seen as a compliment. Imagine the humiliation if Dorothy looked at your label and sniffed disdainfully “Oh, it’s off the rack!” For the same reason, it is very rude to smoke a cigar in the UK while leaving the cigar label on. (It’s seen as boasting, and rude to others who may not be able to afford the brand). On the other hand, it is rude to remove a cigar label in the USA while smoking. Fellow enthusiasts can then identify your brand, compare cigars, and exchange reviews of various types, sizes, and brands.
i just think he is the sexiest man ever lived!!! The perfect man,what a charm!!!
Who? Bennett Cerf?
@@ChrisHansonCanada of course! who else?
I think this is the first episode where the first two constentants were able to stump the pannel.
...And then like a true pro Steve came up with an impromptu joke about the sneeze a moment later.
I think John lets his native South African accent slip in at 2:10.
I noticed that too.
I wonder what Bennet did at the end of this episode when he said "It works!"
+Ashoodle We can see that he holds the back of his right hand against Arlene's cheek (checking her temperature?), but I can't say what was going on. 23:11 They've just come back from a commercial and seem to have to rush the goodnights a tad.
They were laughing as they came back from commercial with Dorothy looking to her left. My stab in the dark, as Steve used to say, is that Arlene was demonstrating her ability to whistle.
Born Nathaniel Adams Coles. He named his first group the 'King Cole Swingsters' after the nursery rhyme "Old King Cole Was A Merry Old Soul"
Dorothy kilgallen was a beautiful woman and gone too soon in her life and time. RIP
With today's PC atmosphere, the first guest's occupation would not be received very well. It may still be legal in Mexico, South America, Spain....dont know.
Like other viewers, observed Dorothy's earring fall off (good catch).
Like many others on here, my mother was a big fan of Mr. Nat King Cole. He had one of the greatest & most recognizable voices in recorded music history.
The first challenger (the bullfighter) is so ahead of his time in the early 50s with that slim tie that would become mainstream a decade later, in the early 60s
❤️. Beautiful! ❤️❤️.
Could have his daughter Natalie could have been on what's my line in the 1970s?
the perils of live TV -- Steve honks off that sneeze in first walk by. Sneezes did not happen that often on live WML -- most memorably that night in 1962 when [ UTI? ] Dorothy melted down in sneezes during the introduction and Bennett sneezed toward the end of the broadcast.
"Aren't we all?" LOL Arlene on the question of being off the ground.
WML was definitely nothing to sneeze at.
21:27 I would have been able to guess just from that "Um-hmm" 🙂
One if by land and two if by sea... I see what you did there!!
Anyone else think that Steve was a little bit off his usual game in Game 2? To me, his questioning seems a bit slow and less well-developed than usual -- especially around 13:17, though he manages to get laughs anyway. There's a glitch in the video that prevents us from seeing how his turn ends, so I don't know if he ended up passing to Arlene or if he finally got a "no" on something.
Yeah, I thought the same thing about Steve in the second round (flea powder)-- seemed to me he had been given a gambit line of questioning to ask things implying that people wore the product, but he never got any real traction with it. He was pretty clearly not trying in earnest to solve the line, and he wasn't very funny. A rare off segment for him.
I didn't realize till I rewatched this myself earlier today that there are a/v glitches in this one, too (along with about 10 more shows from around 1953-54 that have dropouts). I guess no one mentioned it before now because they're less disruptive than the dropouts in some of the other videos, but it's still a shame.
It seems to me like he was probably fighting a cold or something this night. Aside from the obvious sneeze, he was coughing and clearing his throat throughout the show, and it seems to me like his voice might be just a little bit deeper than usual.
nat king cole is sooo cute
One of the few programs one could see a handshake of white man and black man. Racial segregation was strong
Contestant who sells flea powder had really good time and laugh.
The 'flea' round didn't last long enough. I think Daly was itching to jump to the next round!
In 1965 I saw him in the movie "Cat Ballou."
I don’t know how anybody could ever call bullfighting a sport. It’s barbaric and cruel. 😞 😔
Oh well never mind.
I feel the same about boxing.
I was looking for a post that mentioned the bullfighting segment. I agree 10000000% with you. I will say it's interesting how certain "things" were found to be alright/ ok. How could torturing an animal until it dies be ok under any circumstances. 🤷🤯🤦
What a great musician. Engelbert’s favorite.
This one also has audio/video dropouts.
Did any of the WML panel ever guess a persons occupation during the first guess?
They did, it is the one with Gene Autry (Oct 4, 1953). Also there were some comments on there that it had been done before.
Mr. Daly had those conferences against the Covid rules but never got caught
I love Nat King Cole so i was happy to watch this... that being said, the first contestant has freaky eyebrows! 😠
As with big game hunters, I have always rooted for the animals being gratuitously slaughtered.
Still trying to watch the show I haven't seen yet.
Why is the Voice Muted in some cases ?
Did this game show ever have a Gospel singer as a Mystery Guest?
NAT. WILL. ALL. WAYS. BE. UN FORGETTABLE
Jeesh! I'm surprised Dorothy didn't ask the Philadelphia-based Bullfighter, Mr. Short, to take off his pants!
This is how most of America, and I mean the great, great, great majority, go about their lives when they interact with others. Who cares what color you are, just chat and have a good time. No need to mention white, black, asian, hispanic. But now, the media makes everything about color. A video from 1953 shows what we are missing.
Another bullfighter? Where did they find them all?
The flea powder man got short shrift.
Nat King Cole 1916 - 1965
What is the reason for all the audio dropouts on these episodes? Were they aired this way or is this something to do with the recording?
I don't think the bullfighter would of been so accepted in 2022; how times and attitudes have changed...
💋
Why did he not get to say anything after they guessed?
don't know on this episode. It has been posted on other episodes when that has happen it has been at times because the guest had to leave for other commitments and somtime by the request of the guest. I was hoping that there would have been some visitation as it looked like he was enjoying himself and I would have enjoyed learning more about him as a person.
@@greydogmusic - Doubt he didn't speak "because the guest had to leave," or "by the request of the guest;" This was 1953 when Racial Segregation was the legal law of the land in America, a fact that we often forget or overlook. TV (and Hollywood) executives and especially powerful sponsors did not support any airwave images that a conversation with Mr Cole would have projected. Some are in denial, but unfortunately this was the state of things in 1953. On a related issue, look up how in 1968 Petula Clark courageously bucked her sponsor's Ford Company Executive who directed her to reshoot a scene in her upcoming TV Special because she touched hands with Harry Belafonte during the performance of a song. The situation was a major event.
@@waldolydecker8118 We would have a great time over a pizza. It is possible you are correct. but, you use the word "doubt" so there is no proof. I was born in the 50's, Tennessee. I am familiar with what went on. Truth is, we don't know, Cole was extremely popular, with whites, going way back before this program. You don't know if he would have projected what the sponsors did not want. Once again, conjecture. I would lean to speculating he did not want to speak as in his early career he did not speak up for equal rights and was shunned by blacks for singing to all white audiences. He was quoted in papers advocating leaving the fight to the other guys. Because of his problems with the Black press he eventually joined the fight for racial equality. .... as far as your other event. Yes there was a lot of that through the 60's. It was a transition decade and continued into the 70's. You can dwell on events like that and cite them, or you can dwell on the people who wanted to change. Like Ed Sullivan, or The Young Rascals, who after many incidents announced a new appearance policy, they would not perform any more if the show didn't include at least one black act. They cancelled several. These are the hero's i champion. I can find a 100 anti black stories. That's easy for the 50's and 60's. As far as Nat King Cole and the show, no one alive today knows unless someone somewhere wrote about it.
@@greydogmusic - Dude, don't try to "lecture" me on Nat King Cole or American racial relations - you are under-qualified in both education and experience on both subjects. Nobody is "dwelling" on anything just because they site facts that you choose to dispute and try to disparage. Everybody knows "Mr Cole was extremely popular with many whites going way back before this (1953) program." Everybody also knows that Mr Cole was violently attacked and blood beaten on stage by whites in Alabama in 1956 AFTER this program. Quit trying to make lame excuses...rattling off about Ed Sullivan, The Young Rascals and your stupid 100 "anti black" stories - in a contest of "anti" stories, you lose like your local Pop Warner team going up against the 1970's Pittsburgh Steelers.
Despite his superiority to you, In 1950's Tennessee, you and Nat King Cole stayed on opposite sides of town. It is highly doubtful you are any kind of authority on the details of what occurred on your own side of town, much less the details of what occurred on Mr Cole's. It is understood you believe nevertheless you are an authority on all sides of town, but someone has lied to you...you are not.
The original question in this post was "Why did (Mr. Cole) not get to say anything after he guessed?" No one will ever have the definitive factual answer because everyone involved is now dead, but your suggestion that it was probably because the guest had to urgently "leave for other commitments" or the guest "requested" to not have to talk, is lame apologist nonsense. This is 1953, and not only did Mr Cole not chat with the panel after guesting, but neither did Lena Horne, nor Duke Ellington the same 1953 year they appeared. Eddie "Rochester" Anderson was given the same treatment a few months earlier in his 1952 appearance. You want us to believe all four had "urgent commitments" or simply told John Daly beforehand they weren't in a "talking mood." Sure, Mack. Had nothing to do with the social practices of 1953 television and American society; these particular celebrity guests - as distinguished from all the other celebrity guests that year - just weren't in a talking mood. Geez.
The past is what it is and was what it was. Acknowledge it and move forward. But you can't do that properly when you try to hide behind lame apologetic whitewashing. Man up.
Nat King Cole was a credit to his race and a true class act.
The human race
I hate hearing that term, “credit to his/her race”. It’s condescending. It’s like saying, “If all blacks were like Nat King Cole, they wouldn’t be so bad.” It’s like he was a token black man that lived up to the standards of that of an old fey.
True. Considering the attitudes of people back then.
Which caucasian mystery guests would you consider "a credit to his race?" Any of them? All of them? lol....a credit to his race...you sound like a neanderthal.
As a Man, color makes no difference to me, my heart felt good that he made it so big in those times. Until I read the comment that was at the top here. Now, sad.
The bull fighter seemed so timid!
As time goes on, and I watch these grand old shows that I watched as a child in Canada, I realize that while the show was quite radical at that time when segregation was still such an extreme part of US culture, they never went so far as to have a person of colour as a guest or permanent member of the panel. It is a culture that has made progress but is still saturated with racism as is Canadian culture. When will we rid ourselves of this scourge?!
"Never" is simply wrong here; Harry Belafonte was on the panel on October 21, 1962. ruclips.net/video/dzprpqJ1PQg/видео.html
@@neilmidkiff @C A Campbell And Sammy Davis, Jr. on Oct. 11, 1964. ruclips.net/video/UCQEJAox0cs/видео.html
The sound won't work for this video on my PlayStation 3
Other than a few dropout glitches from time to time, this show has perfectly good sound. I'm sorry that I can't diagnose your device settings, but the problem must be there.