George Jessel was the emcee on the short-lived The Comeback Story, a 1954 reality show on ABC in which mostly celebrities shared stories of having overcome adversities in their personal lives. He was replaced as emcee by Arlene Francis, but the program soon folded. Also, In 1925, he emerged as one of the most popular leading men on Broadway with the starring role in the stage production of The Jazz Singer. The success of the show prompted Warner Bros.-after their success with Don Juan (1926) with music and sound effects only-to adapt the The Jazz Singer as the first "talkie" with dialogue and to cast Jessel in the lead role. However, when the studio refused his salary demands, Jessel turned down the movie role, which was eventually played by Al Jolson.
A year later, Marlo Thomas, Danny Thomas' daughter, would star in one of the most groundbreaking single-camera sitcoms, "That Girl". It was groundbreaking, because it was one of the first television programs with a totally independent, capable, and liberated woman. It set the tone for future programs of the same scenario, such as "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", which came out four years later.
In the final segment, Tony and Marlo get into one of the strangest and silliest arguments I've seen thus far on WML, about the size of the hands of a challenger who is sitting right in front of them. As time is short, John finally decides to try to call a halt to it and flip the cards. The challenger concurs with Tony, but points out that his hands were well-calloused. Oh for the days when WML had the "walk of shame" and Dorothy would ask to see the challenger's hands. Someone might have also asked about the lapel pin he was wearing.
He may very well have been. He said he operated the Powell-Hyde line. That was the cable car from which Rod Taylor stepped in the opening scene of Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds, just two years earlier. The building he enters (from the front, anyway) is next to my old dentist's office bldg. Anyway, Mr. Moore might have been that driver in the shot.
At 8:57, Bennett asks an innocent question that makes note of the fact that the second challenger is from the same part of Long Island as where the first challenger was currently performing. Bennett is merely trying to rule out some trickery on the part of the WML staff, but Tony misunderstands and is incredulous, mentioning how large the population is on Long Island. This triggers Tony's silly laugh, laughter so hard from John Daly that he has a coughing fit, and frequent jokes throughout this segment at Bennett's expense. Even Arlene chimes in at one point. The only one who doesn't join in is wide-eyed, innocent newcomer, Marlo Thomas. Bennett doesn't look very pleased at how he was being made fun of, all because he engaged in what he thought was good game play that sometimes led to a quick solve by one of his fellow panelists. At one point even the challenger, Adele May Jower, joins in on the laughter. It was the one exception to an observation I had made about the rest of her appearance. For the most part, she looks like someone very self-contained, walking stiffly, not projecting her voice or showing much sign of even breathing. I suspect that based on her actions, her apparent age, and her shape (also wearing dark colors) that she had on some very heavy-duty shapewear which produced the desired effect.
Lois Simmons I think Bennett took it well and didn't let any irritation show... if indeed there was any at all. The only time I thought Bennett looked a little tired of a repeated item was when Daly called him Chuckles throughout one episode several moons ago.
Jessel obviously wanted to be guessed immediately. He did his best to give away as much information as he could, and didn't do much to disguise his voice.
With the passing of Phyllis Newman, there are very few living panelists. As of 1965, they include Woody Allen, Paul Anka, Orson Bean, Jeannie Carson (obscure from England from 1957!), Jane Fonda, Steve Lawrence, William Shatner, Marlo Thomas, Dick Van Dyke, and Betty White.
George Jessel was also a film producer, along with being *the* professional toast master and after dinner speaker of his generation. I can’t quite decide if it is funny that he impersonated Marlo’s father as his disguise.
19:16 tomorrow the Lord willing I speak at San Diego for Israel, the following day for a Catholic college in Chicago Hmm, Chicago Tribune archives show nothing for Jessel in April. He was in town in July to emcee a celebration of Israel's founding, where Catholic nun Sister Francetta Barberis spoke. She was president of Webster College in Missouri and was to begin working in DC for Pres. Johnson's "War on Poverty"
Bennett must have been very satisfied when he said: "there are some clowns named Daly who don't need make up." :) The young John Daly was very cute but nervous. 7:24
In the UK we call them (or ones similar to them) Nehru jackets, after the first prime minister of India. But I think the young Mr Daly was aiming for the look of The Beatles' collarless suits designed by Pierre Cardin.
Tonight was a double-dose of Tony Randall, as earlier that same night, the August 15 episode was recorded. Tony also introduced the woman filling in for Dorothy in that episode, Anita Gillette as "her first time on this show". Which technically was correct, even though it was taped before her AIRED appearance.
I wonder if John Daly the circus clown was coached to appear especially serious and even glum to throw off the panel. But Arlene seemed to have ESP for performers. Bennett's line @ 7:24 and the deadpan delivery is one of the biggest laughs I can remember on WML. John's comeback was priceless.
The next episode will be interesting: The reconstructing of the Marian Anderson mystery guest appearance, which was badly mutilated by the assembling of "What's My Line At 25".
Thanks for mentioning it-- I remember you asking about this months ago! Yes, in tomorrow's video the Marian Anderson segment is back in its proper order for the first time since the show originally aired in 1965.
soulierinvestments It is just too bad he still doesn't have the Bert Lahr episode from January 1963 (sorry for constantly bringing it up). All because one trader acted like a jerk about it. There are two other people that I know are confirmed to have it: Brandon Bolton and Chuck Donegan. Wonder if Gary has negotiated a trade with either of these two yet? wildjackmonroe.weebly.com/whats-my-line.html illustriousgameshowpage.com/gameswz.html
Joe Postove No-- but up till 2007 I was living in the same neighborhood as the Catholic school she went to as a girl, The Star of the Sea Academy. Made me think of her every time I walked by. :)
First contestant. WML had an affinity for employed boys. Too bad to hide that cuteness under heavy makeup. Also too bad that style of suit coat never caught on. Lapels are such a waste.
There is a word they often use that I don't know how it's spelled. It concerns clothes and clothing and it rhymes with "Carol" but starts with a "p". I can't find it in my Dictionary. Can you enlighten my ignorance?
Johan Bengtsson I remember from earlier episodes, I had some trouble with that word too, but finally I found it in the dictionary. This is one of the real problems I have when it comes to certain words in this program, Not knowing how they're spelled. :)
Some people pointed out that Marlo's hair in the first four seasons of "That Girl" was really just a wig, and that her hair during the final season was her original.
I think Marlo's hair was her own in the 1st season or two of THAT GIRL! After, she went to a fuller, thicker, more "helmet" industrial strength version of her flip. Last season was her lacquered, more modern center part with a fall to fill it out, big time. Love you, Marlo Thomas.
Gil Fates apparently did not like Jessel much. He wrote in his book that he showed up, sometimes in his own uniforms, to publicize whatever war the USA happened to be in. When he appeared once in syndicated WML, when Arlene asked him how we were going to get our troops home from South East Asia, he launched into a long defense of the virtues of the Vietnam War. That'll leave them laughing.
If Jessel could defend the Viet Nam he could more easily explain why spitting into the wind and shooting yourself in the foot are great strategies. As is often the case, Arlene was perspicacious.
Panelists were so smart. You don’t see that kind of intellect today on game shows; quite the contrary. Today’s contestants can barely speak proper English.
How right you are..! Have you seen the current game show 'Family Feud '..? The questions on that show need to be censured.. including the host and the contestants.. I am genuinely surprised that trashy show is still being aired..??. Steve Harvey is classless, loud, and crude...and seems to encourage the double entendres and sexually explicit answers and crude comments.. I'm sure he's laughing all the way to the Bank..!!
RE: Fluffy I wonder whose bright idea it was to team Tony Randall , Shirley Jones, Howard Morris, Edward Andrews, Ernest Truex, Jim Backus, Frank Faylen and with a lion, yet. What on earth was up with Tony, all that intense horselaughing? What’s up John with all that guffawing and coughing? He had a cigarette habit I hear and there is some of the evidence of it tonight with the hacking.
Whatever it was, it certainly looked difficult to walk in! Funny that this period produced a sort of updated hobble skirt; I guess slits were once again deemed unnecessary. Dorothy wears a similar style on numerous episodes, as well.
![What's My Line? - Marian Anderson; PANEL: Abe Burrows; Anita Gillette (Apr 18, 1965) [CORRECTED!]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/NQ2Viw_jEXA/mqdefault.jpg)
![What's My Line? - Marian Anderson; PANEL: Abe Burrows; Anita Gillette (Apr 18, 1965) [CORRECTED!]](/img/tr.png)
![What's My Line? - Floyd Patterson; Victor Borge [panel] (Feb 7, 1965)](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/GDQMhItcKLw/mqdefault.jpg)
![What's My Line? - Betty Grable; Steve Allen [panel] (Aug 29, 1965)](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/6Yc6HmXfbJ0/mqdefault.jpg)
![What's My Line? - Tony Randall; Buddy Hackett [panel] (Aug 16, 1964)](/img/1.gif)
This show, old as it is, is IMO the very best panel show EVER. When I feel down all I have to do is watch one of these and they cheer me up.
Ditto
John Daley's response to Bennett's clown remark we pure genius.. and pitch-perfect timing.
He is brilliant
Love the touching mentions of Dorothy. She was quite a character and the show was just never quite the same without her.
wiguy3 Ernest Hemingway said she was "the most powerful female voice in America." This show was really just light relief from her proper work.
Wonderful person...special woman
It's hard to believe
@@Deejaay83urj38 MI
I still can't bring myself to watch any of the WML episodes from after her passing. I'm sure I WILL eventually; just putting it off.
Marlo has her great, early THAT GIRL! look a year before her series would premiere!
George Jessel was the emcee on the short-lived The Comeback Story, a 1954 reality show on ABC in which mostly celebrities shared stories of having overcome adversities in their personal lives. He was replaced as emcee by Arlene Francis, but the program soon folded.
Also, In 1925, he emerged as one of the most popular leading men on Broadway with the starring role in the stage production of The Jazz Singer. The success of the show prompted Warner Bros.-after their success with Don Juan (1926) with music and sound effects only-to adapt the The Jazz Singer as the first "talkie" with dialogue and to cast Jessel in the lead role. However, when the studio refused his salary demands, Jessel turned down the movie role, which was eventually played by Al Jolson.
A year later, Marlo Thomas, Danny Thomas' daughter, would star in one of the most groundbreaking single-camera sitcoms, "That Girl". It was groundbreaking, because it was one of the first television programs with a totally independent, capable, and liberated woman.
It set the tone for future programs of the same scenario, such as "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", which came out four years later.
Yes, it was groundbreaking at the time. But now it's extremely cringey. I just can't watch it. TMTMS was much better.
Yes. And more to the point in particular . . A woman, first on a show, who was unmarried
The younger John Daly looks more like Michael Landon.
Plenty of giggles in this ep, from EVERY source.
Cerf's joke at Daly's expense to close the clown segment is an absolute gem. Lovely!!
Marlo was one delicious piece of womanhood! Smart, funny, cute. She checked all the boxes.
I loved That Girl. She was really funny, quick and assertive. Plus all the things you said, off course.
How interesting that the audience was applauding that somebody was 67 years old!
I know! I'll be 67 in two years myself and I'm just a kid! It was old, old, old back then. Lifestyles were remarkably different back then, of course.
@@shuroom57 I'm 78. Back then, I'd be dead.
Marlo Thomas was so cute when she was young.
Mr Jessel, you seem a humanitarian and a good man.
This is one of the episodes that busts the myth that Arlene Francis never took off her heart pendant. She obviously wasn't wearing it that evening.
Marlo Thomas is super-cute here.
seriously!
I can't take my eyes off of her.
Yeah that kid is representing my home of Des Moines, Iowa!!! WWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
That was my grandfather, he has passed now but we carry on the tradition. We just performed here in Des Moines at the shrine circus
Arlene wasn't wearing her trademark necklace tonight.
Right at the beginning the picture flip flops. Don't see that anymore!
In the final segment, Tony and Marlo get into one of the strangest and silliest arguments I've seen thus far on WML, about the size of the hands of a challenger who is sitting right in front of them. As time is short, John finally decides to try to call a halt to it and flip the cards. The challenger concurs with Tony, but points out that his hands were well-calloused. Oh for the days when WML had the "walk of shame" and Dorothy would ask to see the challenger's hands. Someone might have also asked about the lapel pin he was wearing.
Floyd Moore is a very hsndsome cable car operator. He should be in the movies!
He may very well have been. He said he operated the Powell-Hyde line. That was the cable car from which Rod Taylor stepped in the opening scene of Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds, just two years earlier. The building he enters (from the front, anyway) is next to my old dentist's office bldg. Anyway, Mr. Moore might have been that driver in the shot.
At 8:57, Bennett asks an innocent question that makes note of the fact that the second challenger is from the same part of Long Island as where the first challenger was currently performing. Bennett is merely trying to rule out some trickery on the part of the WML staff, but Tony misunderstands and is incredulous, mentioning how large the population is on Long Island. This triggers Tony's silly laugh, laughter so hard from John Daly that he has a coughing fit, and frequent jokes throughout this segment at Bennett's expense. Even Arlene chimes in at one point. The only one who doesn't join in is wide-eyed, innocent newcomer, Marlo Thomas. Bennett doesn't look very pleased at how he was being made fun of, all because he engaged in what he thought was good game play that sometimes led to a quick solve by one of his fellow panelists.
At one point even the challenger, Adele May Jower, joins in on the laughter. It was the one exception to an observation I had made about the rest of her appearance.
For the most part, she looks like someone very self-contained, walking stiffly, not projecting her voice or showing much sign of even breathing. I suspect that based on her actions, her apparent age, and her shape (also wearing dark colors) that she had on some very heavy-duty shapewear which produced the desired effect.
Lois Simmons I think Bennett took it well and didn't let any irritation show... if indeed there was any at all. The only time I thought Bennett looked a little tired of a repeated item was when Daly called him Chuckles throughout one episode several moons ago.
Jessel obviously wanted to be guessed immediately. He did his best to give away as much information as he could, and didn't do much to disguise his voice.
OMG this has been the most entertaining What's My Line I have ever seen!
Michael Knittel Yeah it was a good'un. I think the anniversary one for their five hundredth show takes some beating.
No Bennett, a lobster bib is not apparel.
With the passing of Phyllis Newman, there are very few living panelists. As of 1965, they include Woody Allen, Paul Anka, Orson Bean, Jeannie Carson (obscure from England from 1957!), Jane Fonda, Steve Lawrence, William Shatner, Marlo Thomas, Dick Van Dyke, and Betty White.
Great list. The only other one I can think of is Harry Belafonte.
Sadly, three years later Orson Bean and Betty White have passed on.
So has Harry Belafonte.
Hang in there, Dick!
(Van Dyke, of course. You know what I mean.)
They boast about Mr. Jessel turning 67 whereas Mr. Cerf turned 67 one month later.
George Jessel was also a film producer, along with being *the* professional toast master and after dinner speaker of his generation. I can’t quite decide if it is funny that he impersonated Marlo’s father as his disguise.
Here's Georgie on Mike Wallace in 1957.
www.hrc.utexas.edu/multimedia/video/2008/wallace/jessel_george.html
Joe Postove Thanks for the link, Joe! Quite a fellow! ;)
George Jessel actor-producer singer and more - a giant
He was huge. Massive in fact.
The day I was born
That Girl is so gorgeous!
Class act
Hey, where is Arlene's heart shaped necklace?
Wish for those wonders times would come back!
George Jessel is one of those celebrities that I wonder why they were ever popular
Gilbert Gottfried's favorite MG segment
19:16 tomorrow the Lord willing I speak at San Diego for Israel, the following day for a Catholic college in Chicago
Hmm, Chicago Tribune archives show nothing for Jessel in April. He was in town in July to emcee a celebration of Israel's founding, where Catholic nun Sister Francetta Barberis spoke. She was president of Webster College in Missouri and was to begin working in DC for Pres. Johnson's "War on Poverty"
The first contestant, John Daly, looked like a young Elvis. That was a wild suit he had on, what style is that?
Bennett must have been very satisfied when he said: "there are some clowns named Daly who don't need make up." :) The young John Daly was very cute but nervous. 7:24
Joe Postove This style of suit is very common in India/Asia. I like it. :)
+Joe Postove It looked like a suit that was made popular by "The Beatles" at the time. Commonly called "A Beatle Suit".
That kid, was my late grandfather. He got the "Elvis" comparison quite a bit. Thank you for the compliment to such a fine man
In the UK we call them (or ones similar to them) Nehru jackets, after the first prime minister of India. But I think the young Mr Daly was aiming for the look of The Beatles' collarless suits designed by Pierre Cardin.
Tonight was a double-dose of Tony Randall, as earlier that same night, the August 15 episode was recorded.
Tony also introduced the woman filling in for Dorothy in that episode, Anita Gillette as "her first time on this show". Which technically was correct, even though it was taped before her AIRED appearance.
It wasn't very sharp of Tony to do that with what he knew was a taped episode of Gillette!
Why didn't Marlo Thomas just say George Jessel? She obviously knew who it was!
Sweet way that George Jessel acknowledged the audience.
Little John looks like he could be related to Elvis!
As usual, Bennett thinks at 14:40, that there are only two ways his questions can be answered: yes and an in correct no.
Check out 12:25! Arlene is about to become STRAPLESS!
John Daly, the first contestant, was the Fifth Beatle.
I wonder if John Daly the circus clown was coached to appear especially serious and even glum to throw off the panel. But Arlene seemed to have ESP for performers.
Bennett's line @ 7:24 and the deadpan delivery is one of the biggest laughs I can remember on WML. John's comeback was priceless.
The next episode will be interesting:
The reconstructing of the Marian Anderson mystery guest appearance, which was badly mutilated by the assembling of "What's My Line At 25".
Thanks for mentioning it-- I remember you asking about this months ago! Yes, in tomorrow's video the Marian Anderson segment is back in its proper order for the first time since the show originally aired in 1965.
and thanks to Gary for his careful work with these episodes. For all intents and purposes, this channel is the What's My Line archive.
soulierinvestments It is just too bad he still doesn't have the Bert Lahr episode from January 1963 (sorry for constantly bringing it up). All because one trader acted like a jerk about it.
There are two other people that I know are confirmed to have it: Brandon Bolton and Chuck Donegan. Wonder if Gary has negotiated a trade with either of these two yet?
wildjackmonroe.weebly.com/whats-my-line.html
illustriousgameshowpage.com/gameswz.html
***** How is it that only three guys have this tape. Was it never run on GSN and they have the original kine'?
Joe Postove It was run on GSN. At least one or two times.
There could be more people who have it, but those few are the only people I can think of.
Say, Gary...do you know Floyd Moore? He lives in San Francisco too!
I don't even know who lives in the apartments on either side of mine.
What's My Line? Is there any kind of Gracie Allen museum, or birthplace in SF?
Joe Postove No-- but up till 2007 I was living in the same neighborhood as the Catholic school she went to as a girl, The Star of the Sea Academy. Made me think of her every time I walked by. :)
What's My Line? Does San Francisco have any formal (city or otherwise) acknowledgement that she grew up there?
Joe Postove Not that I'm aware of. There's a street named after her in L.A., which intersects with a street named for George.
Was on to tell the truth also
Physician, meet thyself.
Georgie had a beautiful comb over!
And he grabbed John's glass of water and threw the water onto the floor... :/
THAT comb over went in all directions, over here, over there, over everywhere! Hmm, wait. I might try that.....
First contestant. WML had an affinity for employed boys. Too bad to hide that cuteness under heavy makeup. Also too bad that style of suit coat never caught on. Lapels are such a waste.
soulierinvestments As Joe mentioned above here; he looked like a young Elvis. This suit you will find many places in Asia. It's nice. :)
3:13 Would you look at that, "The Name's the Same" haha!
There is a word they often use that I don't know how it's spelled. It concerns clothes and clothing and it rhymes with "Carol" but starts with a "p". I can't find it in my Dictionary. Can you enlighten my ignorance?
apparel
Johan Bengtsson "Apparel"? Doesn't start with P, but it's close enough, and that would explain why you're not finding the word you're looking for.
***** We must have typed our replies at exactly the same minute. :)
What's My Line? Thank you! I thought they said 'a parel' instead of apparel. No wonder I couldn't find it. :)
Johan Bengtsson I remember from earlier episodes, I had some trouble with that word too, but finally I found it in the dictionary. This is one of the real problems I have when it comes to certain words in this program, Not knowing how they're spelled. :)
Marlo introduced Bennett as “The man i’m going to seduce…”. 😂😂😂
Some people pointed out that Marlo's hair in the first four seasons of "That Girl" was really just a wig, and that her hair during the final season was her original.
Her hair looked like a helmet.
I think Marlo's hair was her own in the 1st season or two of THAT GIRL! After, she went to a fuller, thicker, more "helmet" industrial strength version of her flip. Last season was her lacquered, more modern center part with a fall to fill it out, big time. Love you, Marlo Thomas.
After the first couple of seasons, only the bangs were fake. I have read that she referred to the hairpiece as “the moustache”
You wouldn't know it to look at him at age 67, but Georgie Jessel had many scandalous affairs in his younger days.
which continued on to his death. I knew he wouldn't leave Marlo alone; he just couldn't.
Creepy
Doesn't surprise me. He sounded a little bit crude. Also, Bennett looks a much younger 67 than he does.
Gil Fates apparently did not like Jessel much. He wrote in his book that he showed up, sometimes in his own uniforms, to publicize whatever war the USA happened to be in. When he appeared once in syndicated WML, when Arlene asked him how we were going to get our troops home from South East Asia, he launched into a long defense of the virtues of the Vietnam War. That'll leave them laughing.
Tony Curtis in his later years took up the uniform wearing thing, with medals and the works. I think he thought it made him look younger.
If Jessel could defend the Viet Nam he could more easily explain why spitting into the wind and shooting yourself in the foot are great strategies. As is often the case, Arlene was perspicacious.
I read he was quite a leach!
Panelists were so smart. You don’t see that kind of intellect today on game shows; quite the contrary. Today’s contestants can barely speak proper English.
How right you are..!
Have you seen the current game show 'Family Feud '..?
The questions on that show need to be censured.. including the host and the contestants..
I am genuinely surprised that trashy show is still being aired..??.
Steve Harvey is classless, loud, and crude...and seems to encourage the double entendres and sexually explicit answers and crude comments..
I'm sure he's laughing all the way to the Bank..!!
Thankfully i stopped watching TV many years ago.
Last contestant: Imagine a time.. when you could be proud of being from San Francisco!
You still can??
RE: Fluffy I wonder whose bright idea it was to team Tony Randall , Shirley Jones, Howard Morris, Edward Andrews, Ernest Truex, Jim Backus, Frank Faylen and with a lion, yet. What on earth was up with Tony, all that intense horselaughing? What’s up John with all that guffawing and coughing? He had a cigarette habit I hear and there is some of the evidence of it tonight with the hacking.
Is Arlene wearing canvas tonight?
Whatever it was, it certainly looked difficult to walk in! Funny that this period produced a sort of updated hobble skirt; I guess slits were once again deemed unnecessary. Dorothy wears a similar style on numerous episodes, as well.
Not one of her more flattering outfits. I just noticed she wasn't wearing her heart necklace on this showing.
Tony Randall could be a real jerk on these shows.
No he wasn't. OK?
Couldn't stand Tony Randall
He's one of my favorite celebrities. I always look forward to him being on WML.