What's My Line? - Bennett Cerf hosts

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  • Опубликовано: 24 ноя 2024
  • Originally aired: September 29, 1957. John Daly was in Europe during this time, so Bennett took over the hosting duties for this week's episode. This marked the first time in the show's history of a guest host being used.

Комментарии • 131

  • @IceSkater8491
    @IceSkater8491 Год назад +16

    Bennett Cerf did a good job on his first time out. He kept things under control and moving along. Not an easy thing to do!

  • @englishcountryside4581
    @englishcountryside4581 3 года назад +16

    Not only are these episodes fun; I learn of people I never heard of before.

  • @zapkvr
    @zapkvr 6 месяцев назад +7

    What a delight to see Caesar in this format. And Mr Cerf was a sheer delight. Nice

    • @telebob5983
      @telebob5983 4 месяца назад

      Seeing both Cesar Romero and Ernie Kovacs here reminds me that both appeared about two years after this episode in ABC's Take A Good Look, only with Ernie as the regular host/moderator.

  • @fintan3563
    @fintan3563 4 года назад +15

    I love this program! ❤️

  • @bookwoman53
    @bookwoman53 2 года назад +5

    This is a fun program. My husband doesn’t understand what I see in this black & white, old school, formal show. My grandfather loved quiz shows and so do I.

  • @calvinsweet3400
    @calvinsweet3400 Год назад +12

    This whole panel, including John Daley, are so genuine, well mannered, fun to watch. John is a magnificent moderator, but it was fun watching Bennett fill in.

    • @LANCSKID
      @LANCSKID 9 месяцев назад

      Daly.

    • @georgimihailov4906
      @georgimihailov4906 5 месяцев назад

      This whole panel, including John Daly, IS so genuine, well mannered, not are.

  • @gingerhiser7312
    @gingerhiser7312 11 месяцев назад +15

    Bennett learns that hosting is more difficult than it looks.

  • @googoo-gjoob
    @googoo-gjoob 2 года назад +18

    it was at THIS moment Bennett _truly_ appreciated John Charles Daly

  • @1122DLAN
    @1122DLAN 11 лет назад +15

    Bless you for downloading this because I have been looking this for a long time!

  • @randysills4418
    @randysills4418 8 лет назад +55

    Arlene was such a sweetheart in complimenting Bennett. I would have enjoyed meeting her so much!

  • @johnsiebelink8790
    @johnsiebelink8790 6 лет назад +13

    Mr. Cameron was nice enough to give each of the panelists toothpicks! How generous of him

    • @RonGerstein-tf5tp
      @RonGerstein-tf5tp 10 месяцев назад

      One toothpick for each panelist, so 4 toothpicks, costing $0.001 .

  • @trainliker100
    @trainliker100 3 года назад +8

    Henry J. Kaiser made a huge contribution to the WWII effort by completely changing how ships could be built. Using ideas for assembly and production line techniques he learned by talking with Henry Ford, he had pre-made sections brought together for a final assembly. In one publicity effort, they were able to make a ship in just four days. These were cargo ships famously called the "liberty ships" and Kaiser built 2,710 of them. On average, 3 ships every two days (in 18 shipyards). Remarkable. Many people at the time this show aired would have been very familiar with that. Today, not so much. People today are more likely to know of "Kaiser Permanente" which he started with his foundation.

    • @chope6786
      @chope6786 8 месяцев назад

      I had never heard of him, but I did wonder if he had anything to do with Kaiser Permanente!

  • @mitchweiner
    @mitchweiner 7 лет назад +49

    Bennett did a fine job. He wasn't as exuberant as John but he kept the show moving.

    • @KayBarsotti
      @KayBarsotti Год назад +1

      John, being so easy to understand is hard act to follow

  • @keithnaylor1981
    @keithnaylor1981 Год назад +11

    Arlene looked stunning!!!

    • @LANCSKID
      @LANCSKID 9 месяцев назад

      Yes, you got that right, stunning.

    • @antoinettewitt2098
      @antoinettewitt2098 7 месяцев назад +1

      Looking at these old shows gives u insight into how our culture has changed. People r not as mannerly & respectful now.

  • @hare7777
    @hare7777 12 лет назад +16

    This was cute. Bennett is obviously no John Daly, but he gave it a good try. Especially with Ernie and even Dorothy giving him a bit of a hard time.
    Pretty amazing to see someone like Henry Kaiser show up. And Bennett was right, Kaiser Permanente and the Kaiser Family Foundation are still well known today.

  • @mikesaunders4775
    @mikesaunders4775 4 года назад +6

    To the manner born , Bennett Cerf was impeccable .

  • @TheEmp48
    @TheEmp48 Год назад +4

    Bennett did a FANTASTIC JOB 💯👏

  • @davidevans3175
    @davidevans3175 12 лет назад +7

    Fun to see this, and no offense to Bennett who did his best, but you really see how good John Daly is at this job when someone else is doing it.

  • @SweetChicagoGator
    @SweetChicagoGator 3 месяца назад +1

    Pleasant surprise to see Bennett Cerf be temporary moderator !!

  • @obamna666
    @obamna666 5 лет назад +9

    Henry J. Kaiser isn’t well known today, but his name has gone down in history in the form of his foundation!

    • @shuroom57
      @shuroom57 Год назад

      Keeping a low profile these days.

  • @norelcopc2431
    @norelcopc2431 8 лет назад +25

    Cesar Romero was a real "joker".

    • @jackrobinson5974
      @jackrobinson5974 4 года назад +1

      Ernie Kovac.

    • @ivangranger8494
      @ivangranger8494 4 года назад +1

      Jack Robinson The Abraham Lincoln, comment was great, by Ernie. We lost him too soon. I will always remember his part in the movie, 'Bell, Book, and Candle' With Kim Novak and James Stewart. Hermaine Gingold was in it, also. Caesar, was the best 'Batman,' Joker.

  • @randysills4418
    @randysills4418 8 лет назад +25

    I think that Bennett did a pretty good job. This was a first time effort, and I believe he did well.

  • @grandexandi
    @grandexandi 12 лет назад +19

    It would be great to see arlene and dorothy hosting too, it would also be really interesting to have john on the panel! Has this ever happened?

  • @sportsmedia25
    @sportsmedia25 4 года назад +6

    Bennett loved the pretty ladies. I like how he thinked

    • @MrMatteNWk
      @MrMatteNWk 2 года назад

      And Cesar Romero on the other hand? Let's just say orange wedges were involved.

  • @sandrageorge3488
    @sandrageorge3488 4 года назад +10

    Bennett did such a wonderful job!

  • @kenlieberman4215
    @kenlieberman4215 2 года назад +2

    At the time Kaiser was best known for aluminum, but nowadays its best known for the healthcare company originally created for his own employees.

    • @RonGerstein-tf5tp
      @RonGerstein-tf5tp 5 месяцев назад

      Kaiser built cars from 1946 on so the public knew about Kaiser cars

  • @cresentltd
    @cresentltd 10 лет назад +35

    You can tell Bennett was very nervous hosting this show.

    • @AllenMQuinn
      @AllenMQuinn 8 лет назад +15

      Well who can blame him? How could anyone fill John Dalys shoes. I think John Daly is the best Television Host of all time. That's just my personal opinion. Always so quick on the draw.

  • @ZanHecht
    @ZanHecht 10 лет назад +7

    The Chrysler guess for Henry J Kaiser wasn't too far off, as Kaiser Motors bought Willys (the original manufacturer of the Jeep) and was later renamed Kaiser Jeep. When Kaiser got out of the auto business, Jeep was sold to AMC who later sold it to Chrysler.

  • @soulierinvestments
    @soulierinvestments 12 лет назад +5

    Fall 1957: Goodson-Todman hired Ernie Kovac as guest panelist for 10 out of 13 weeks auditioning him as the 4th panelist after Fred Allen died. Kovacs was on the verge of becoming hot hot stuff on early TV comedy; he did not want to be tied to a game show that was 3/4ths of the time played straight. His questioning of industrialist Henry J Kaiser illustrates why the producers seriously considered him as a panelist. Would the president of Toyota ever appear on a game show today??

    • @tommoore3586
      @tommoore3586 9 месяцев назад

      This was an amazing program and everyone was courteous and polite 🙏☘️Even our Eamon Andrews was a Host on what’s my line

  • @Cris43130
    @Cris43130 12 лет назад +5

    I'm a little surprised that Bennett dismissed Mr. Daly's trademark formality and addressed the panelists by their first names.

    • @Celisar1
      @Celisar1 4 года назад +4

      Cris43130
      It would have been a bit ridiculous to suddenly call them by their family name.

  • @tommoore3586
    @tommoore3586 2 года назад +2

    Bring back what’s my line 😅

    • @LANCSKID
      @LANCSKID 9 месяцев назад +1

      These days it would be called ‘Let’s All Snort A Line’.

  • @soulierinvestments
    @soulierinvestments 12 лет назад +22

    John Daly made moderating WML look so effortless. This broadcast illustrates it takes work and talent to time a live unrehearsed program while adding witty comments off the point of your head. Plus those explanations that give neither too much info or too little while baffling the panel and delighting the audience. Bennett Cerf is . . . well, OK. He is a publisher, though; panel moderating is not exactly in his job description.

    • @Celisar1
      @Celisar1 4 года назад +2

      soulierinvestments
      I think it doesn’t take much to be a really good moderator of this show in particular. The panel is just so great reg. Wit, intelligence and funny banter that Daly mostly just had to laugh along.

  • @fanboy2015
    @fanboy2015 10 лет назад +5

    They still had time for Julie London! Look at all the time after that. Mr. Daly would at times just say "folks we don't have much time left, good night from What's My Line." He would skip all the good-byes. Producers should have told Bennet to keep going.

  • @larchmontmark1
    @larchmontmark1 Год назад +2

    While of course we miss John, I had my biggest laugh ever on any What's My Line with Ernie's question at 15:44. (Best to start listening for it at 15:29 to get the context....)

    • @shuroom57
      @shuroom57 Год назад +1

      I too think it's the funniest remark ever on What's My Line! Ernie Kovacs was the spearhead of the new comedy movement of the 1960's, apolitical division. If David Letterman never saw an Ernie Kovacs appearance, I'll eat my shoe.

  • @fever_spike
    @fever_spike 5 лет назад +8

    OMG BENNETT I’M SO PROUD OF YOU 😭👏🏻♥️

  • @bramlintrent1145
    @bramlintrent1145 4 года назад +6

    I'm sure it wasn't at all easy for Mr. Cerf to host the show. There's an episode in which Miss Kilgallen is the Mystery Guest, and she tells the panelists afterwards that she was extremely nervous being on the show in a position other than her normal function. Mr. Cerf was probably experiencing the same phenomenon as host.

    • @Celisar1
      @Celisar1 4 года назад +1

      Bramlin Trent
      Mrs. Kilgallen.

    • @suible
      @suible 4 года назад +1

      @@Celisar1 actually, Miss Kilgallen. Her husband's last name was Kollmar. Socially, she was Mrs. Kollmar. Professionally, Miss Kilgallen.

  • @williamelgin6873
    @williamelgin6873 2 года назад +1

    When I was young our neighbors had a Henry J.

  • @chope6786
    @chope6786 8 месяцев назад

    Bennett was surely nervous, though he covered it well! But it sure shows by contrast how much flavor and joy John Daly brought in that seat over the years! Also I admit I have never heard of Henry Kaiser, though he may have gone down in history in the industry arena. The Hawaiian Village is still on Waikiki Beach although I think it’s obviously been updated and is now owned by Hilton?

  • @observerguy5031
    @observerguy5031 11 лет назад +14

    In an oral history interview many years later, Bennett admitted his performance as the guest moderator was pretty bad. He never did it again. In the 3 other times WML needed a guest moderator they used Clifton Fadiman and British WML host Eamonn Andrews (twice).

    • @AllenMQuinn
      @AllenMQuinn 8 лет назад +6

      Well, when you go from being a panelist who asks questions and has brief dialogue to running the entire show, it can't be easy. Think he's being too hard on himself. He did his best for someone who has never hosted.

    • @theblake5356
      @theblake5356 4 года назад +1

      Uh.... NO. He guest hosted the very next week and then again in 1961.

    • @Celisar1
      @Celisar1 4 года назад +3

      Observer Guy
      why on earth did they solely consider men when there were two absolutely brilliant women directly in front of their nose?

    • @Celisar1
      @Celisar1 4 года назад +3

      Observer Guy
      PS
      And Arlene had already worked as a host before.

  • @SweetChicagoGator
    @SweetChicagoGator 6 дней назад

    Bennett did a good job ! 💟🤠

  • @gingerhiser7312
    @gingerhiser7312 11 месяцев назад +1

    I knew Julie London only from Emergency! She was gorgeous.

  • @lorihansen8674
    @lorihansen8674 5 лет назад +6

    "Improves one's appearance--" only in terms of removing food from teeth. If it's hanging out of one's mouth, not so much.

  • @snowden67
    @snowden67 12 лет назад +3

    I have noticed Arlene usually speaks of Bennett Cerf in more glowing tones than she does of her own husband, Martin Gabel

  • @wholeNwon
    @wholeNwon Год назад +1

    Front and back, not bow and stern but Kaiser made a huge contribution to allied victory.

  • @Karen-nn6kg
    @Karen-nn6kg 6 месяцев назад

    Bakelite toothpicks? Cool! I can carry them in my Bakelite purses while wearing my Bakelite bracelets.

  • @RonGerstein-tf5tp
    @RonGerstein-tf5tp 5 месяцев назад

    When playing the JOKER on Batman on ABC, Cesar Romero never shaved off his moustache but applird all the make up on top of his moustache.

  • @caroler01
    @caroler01 4 года назад +3

    Romero. “Ocean’s Eleven”.

  • @LANCSKID
    @LANCSKID 9 месяцев назад +1

    The ladies’ bare-shoulders look always does it for me. Julie London … 👨‍🎓❤

  • @PREGO1966
    @PREGO1966 11 лет назад +4

    True, but Wally Bruner and Larry Blyden kept it alive for my generation after this version ended

  • @BecentiComposer
    @BecentiComposer 3 года назад +4

    7:05 she was checking her FB feed

  • @kateym7836
    @kateym7836 6 лет назад +1

    I liked Bennett better as he didn’t give away as much info to help panel guess. He let the guest give the answers. I felt Mr Daly in some shows made it more about him.

  • @tporchia7751
    @tporchia7751 5 лет назад +3

    Funny looking dress Dorothy has on

    • @shuroom57
      @shuroom57 Год назад

      Just to keep up with Ernie Kovacs!

  • @1122DLAN
    @1122DLAN 11 лет назад +3

    i believe Arlene has in this series with John, but John has never ever sat on the panel.

  • @glenbinnie2086
    @glenbinnie2086 3 месяца назад

    Free toothpicks for the panel!

  • @jimamato456
    @jimamato456 2 дня назад

    I heard Cesar Romero was paid in orange wedges for his appearance.

  • @curtcollett2893
    @curtcollett2893 2 года назад +1

    I would like to have seen Garry Moore try hosting also.

  • @susanrutherford866
    @susanrutherford866 3 года назад +1

    You did well bennett not an easy job

  • @augerontgen8240
    @augerontgen8240 7 лет назад +3

    At least Bennet made it.

  • @soulierinvestments
    @soulierinvestments 12 лет назад +4

    You can't see it, but Arlene Francis was recovering from a broken foot/ankle. She was notoriously accident prone in the period 1952 - 1963: eye injuries, on crutches for weeks here, arm in a sling for weeks after an auto accident, her housekeeper accidentally killed a tourist when she knocked a barbell out the window of the Gabel townhouse.
    This broadcast also illustrates that Kovacs could be a creative pain in the you know what. Cerf sometimes looks as if he wants to slap him.

  • @bigred997
    @bigred997 7 лет назад +5

    time management would have been much better if kovacs hadn't been so disruptive. cerf did the best he could to deflect that nonsense without blowing up.

    • @jaysmith1408
      @jaysmith1408 5 лет назад +1

      bigred997 General Motors? 🤣

    • @shuroom57
      @shuroom57 Год назад

      Gotta have SOME levity, Sarge!

  • @caroler01
    @caroler01 4 года назад +2

    Cerf was a pain in the butt. After the way the show treated Hal Block, I have lost some appreciation for the show.

  • @richardrice8076
    @richardrice8076 Год назад

    Kaiser automobile maker of the Manhatten and the Kaiser Darren. Another in the long line of orphan cars.

  • @grandexandi
    @grandexandi 11 лет назад +3

    Thanks, but it could have been a lot shorter, lol

  • @georgecherucheril9947
    @georgecherucheril9947 7 месяцев назад

    Julie London was stunning!

  • @mattmammone2338
    @mattmammone2338 12 лет назад +3

    there ws a lot of drinking going on and pill taking before bed. so Im not surprised if she was a lil clumsy because of that, if she did drink. . Jackie Gleason and Art Carney were always swiggin something behind the set of the honeymooners. 50's tv....fun fun fun.

  • @LANCSKID
    @LANCSKID 9 месяцев назад

    Cerf sounds like a chipmunk …

  • @andrewgilmore7669
    @andrewgilmore7669 11 лет назад +5

    He did these shows because he needed the money- he would have been the first to admit that he was out of his element. His comic genius was on his own shows which consisted primarily of *visual* humor.

    • @libertyann439
      @libertyann439 7 лет назад +1

      Andrew Gilmore
      Who are you referring to ?

    • @okjoe5561
      @okjoe5561 5 лет назад +3

      @@libertyann439 Ernie Kovacs.

  • @AventuraLuver
    @AventuraLuver 10 лет назад +20

    .They should have used Dorothy instead/

  • @John-ih2bx
    @John-ih2bx Год назад

    Amazing to have two folks on the show that must compete about who is the the most corrupt. Bennett Cerf or Kaiser. What Kaiser did was fantastic in WWII for building ships so quickly. Cerf was part of The Famous Writers School, Kaiser's intentions for Kaiser Permanente, discussing its objective with Nixon (on the infamous tapes), were amazing. Puts an unfortunate light on them.
    I cannot imagine folks complementing Cerf as a host or a panelist. He must have been very hard to work with if the wonderful John Daly had to put him in his place at times, and done so politely (Daly was phenomenal). Cerf constanting tried to prove he was right, that he was given the wrong answers to his questions, and with his horrible Westchester accent, specifically done to be an elite. His comments (in the press) about his involvement in The Famous Writers School scam were infamous.
    Thank you for the upload. Watching such classics is a double-edged Xacto knife. Like watching the episode about the Tonkin Gulf Incident, and now knowing that the information on the show was "erroneous" (no fault of the show). Such history. The ethics of John Daly and most of the panelists were exemplary.

  • @rickcharles5064
    @rickcharles5064 11 лет назад +3

    Plastic toothpicks? That went over like a lead balloon. Was Dorothy a little drunk this night?

    • @carlfalt174
      @carlfalt174 2 года назад

      Remember the 'chairman' of the board wasn't there that night to be the MC.

    • @shuroom57
      @shuroom57 Год назад

      Without a breathalyzer test, we may never know.

    • @LANCSKID
      @LANCSKID 9 месяцев назад

      A little? Never … a little.

  • @timothyball7502
    @timothyball7502 Год назад

    6-9-2023.
    What a super show. I want to see it done for 2023-24. Host Jim Carrey or Demi Lovato, born Albuquerque, 8-20-1992. Yes please some rich corporation do this!!!!!!!!!!!

  • @Smuley_ROA
    @Smuley_ROA 11 лет назад +3

    where is the volume??? no volume!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • @travis7310
      @travis7310 8 лет назад +2

      It must just be you. Plenty of volume here!

    • @mitchweiner
      @mitchweiner 7 лет назад +3

      I had to switch earphones.

  • @jakelocker2394
    @jakelocker2394 11 лет назад +2

    Are you Abraham Lincoln? I didn't hear the answer! Is he or isn't he?!
    Was he serious?

    • @stonent
      @stonent 9 лет назад +1

      +Jake Locker It's Ernie Kovaks. He's a bit over the top.

    • @shuroom57
      @shuroom57 Год назад

      Are you?

  • @paperclip27828
    @paperclip27828 Год назад

    Bakelite toothpicks eh

  • @jmccracken1963
    @jmccracken1963 11 лет назад +2

    In short: No, no, and no.

  • @JohnParks-zc1pn
    @JohnParks-zc1pn Год назад

    7:05. The booze and pills were causing her to be sleepy?

  • @toddvaughan3709
    @toddvaughan3709 10 месяцев назад

    Dixie McCall

  • @kenyongray2615
    @kenyongray2615 4 года назад +2

    Julie London could not be appreciated in black and white. She was gorgeous. Arlene Francis was always classy. Nothing personal against Ernie Kovacs but he was not a good panelist.

  • @shirleymccartney5304
    @shirleymccartney5304 8 лет назад +2

    John Way ne

  • @tonycevallos7513
    @tonycevallos7513 6 лет назад +3

    I never liked Ernie Kovacs

  • @allenlewites2541
    @allenlewites2541 11 лет назад +3

    am i the only one that thinks john charles was not very good, never asked the good questions, always seemed flustered with mystery guest