Even way back then, they were reaching way back to nostalgia, remembering vaudeville acts like Van and Schenck. This stuff was so good because it was the best of 70 years of vaudeville. I'm not sure anything worth remembering from vaudeville wasn't recreated during the early days of TV.
Back in the day, George Jessel was a big star. He was a contender to play in the first talkie, The Jazz Singer. But apparently, it was thought that Jolson was the bigger star and would be the draw; contract negotiations between Jessel & Warner floundered, and Jolson was chosen instead.
![What's My Line? - George Jessel; Dana Andrews [panel]; Eunice Gayson [panel] (Jan 10, 1960)](/img/1.gif)
That mic gag is one of the funniest I've seen in a while.
That’s called real entertainment. More quality in 11 minutes than an hour of drivel today.
Even way back then, they were reaching way back to nostalgia, remembering vaudeville acts like Van and Schenck. This stuff was so good because it was the best of 70 years of vaudeville. I'm not sure anything worth remembering from vaudeville wasn't recreated during the early days of TV.
Back in the day, George Jessel was a big star. He was a contender to play in the first talkie, The Jazz Singer. But apparently, it was thought that Jolson was the bigger star and would be the draw; contract negotiations between Jessel & Warner floundered, and Jolson was chosen instead.
I need comments to read please.
He does a good Jolson. And Cantor, though not here.
Not surprising, since he'd done "The Jazz Singer" as a play, and was first choice for the movie.