I said it last time he was on and I'll say it again. Hollywood legends come and go on this show but when it's Astaire you're talking a different level of STAR. That's a superstar right there.
Fred Astaire was the ultimate dancer that graced the movie screens! He was such a humble character who entertained so many millions of people through several decades.
I read in a book (can’t recall title right now) that he didn’t really like Ginger Rogers & she wasn’t fond of him either. Apparently he had to have control of everything they did together! I wish I could recall the title of the book I read..it was quite interesting!!
I always love how excited Dorothy is to see Fred. I remember Fred's appearance in 1955 and how that was her first adament exclamation of Fred's ability to sing.
Probably the absolute greatest person to be born in Nebraska. I am a Nebraskan and VERY PROUD to have been born in the same state as this great great dancer singer entertainer and truly great gentleman
Astaire seemed so humble and gentlemanly in this. He was shaking his head when Dorothy claimed him to be one of the greatest singers, he genuinely didn't like the way he sang which is so awful because he had such a wonderful voice.
He did answer he was no singer in his other appearance two years before and the panel got furious, Lewis having bought his last album. Actually Astaire recommended even his friends, like Mel Tormé revealed in a book, to downplay his singer's art. The reason is easy to guess. He was number one dancer, while being "only" one of the great american popular singers. But that he considered himself a singer is proven by the quantity of recordings he did.
Astsire has been on the show twice and Dorothy has said the same thing each occasion after his singing being claimed not his main line during the segment.
@@trickydick6152 Oscar Levant said Fred was the best ever singer in movies, and he was right. Fred was no Mario Lanza, but he could get to the heart of what a song meant, and how it fit into a film's story, like nobody else. He acted them out. That was why the best composers formed a line for Fred to launch their latest works. He was their first-stage rocket on the way into orbit as standards. The inventory of classic songs he introduced is without equal: not even Jolson, Crosby or Sinatra matched it.
@@esmeephillips5888 Yeah, but most of those songs became classic only after Sinatra gave them his treatment in his Capitol recordings. He was a great singer, no doubt. But not as great as he was as a dancer. He knew it. Otherwise his own attitude towards his singing wouldn't make sense.
Fred Astaire with his light 'pretty good' voice introduced more great songs in the movies than ANYONE. Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Gershwins etc. and they appreciated his brilliant phrasing and appeal.
I'm an old guy and have great memories of watching What's My Line on Sunday Nights. In the early days, when I was maybe 7years old, I was allowed to stay up 30 minutes late to watch it before I went to bed. I had a little boy's crush on Arlene Francis,(Dorothy was too bossy)and Bennett Cerf was very smart. Many years later, I had lost track of Arlene and read that she was ill with cancer and Alzheimer's, in her 90's. Her husband Martin had died in 1986 and her son Peter had moved to be near him in San Francisco. She died in 2001, aged 93 from Alzheimers and cancer. Her son was an attorney and taught law in San Francisco for 30+ years and was also an author of several law books. I also read a month or so ago that Peter died at age 75.
I thought that they would get Fred Astaire, but seeing them stumped on the rest is quite unusual. Fred was perhaps the classiest man ever to be in entertainment.
Peter Cushing was a very classy and gentle man too, to the point Carrie Fisher found it difficult to see him as the villain because he was such a charming gentleman on set of Star Wars. He didn't quite understand what it was all about, but he accepted the role because he knew it would be something his fans would like to see him in.
Yes this is the way the world used to be its called respect and being good !!!Since the 1980s people generally are lousy and don,t give a damn about right and wrong anymore only thing that matters is money, greed and lust and being no damn good !!!!!!!
I have enjoyed watching all of the incredible guest panelists that have "come through the door" over the years; and, yet, my favorite combination of panelists are the four that are on this episode: Arlene, Martin, Dorothy, and Bennett (and, of course, John Daly). They just worked well together, as they showed a deep respect for each other, often while sharing his/her wonderful humor. I also appreciated their engagement of the most enlightening and erudite use of language.
Am I the only one who noticed that Miss Levein seemed particularly smitten with Mr. Daley? The quality of manners and social graces of the 1950s is some of the "Good" from the Good ol' Days that we need to bring back.
Yes you're so right. One of the things I enjoy about this show is the level of politeness between the panel members and the moderator. I'm so happy to have found this show on UA-cam, brings back the flavour of times sadly gone by. I was born around the time they were making the last WML shows, so didn't see them until recently.
true story 2 old ladies at a bus stop and one says to the other i think fred astaire was the greatest dancer ever and her old friend said i think ginger rodgers was the greatest dancer because she did everything fred did backwards and wearing high heels 😂😂
@@kevinmarkey9441 Problem with the story is that Ginger did not do everything Fred did plus Fred did all the choreography (albeit with Hermes Pan as co-choreographer much of the time). Furthermore, after partnering with Fred, Ginger barely danced at all in the movies while Fred continued to dance at the highest level for decades. Ginger was in no way his most skilled dance partner. This "story" is a cliche thrown around without an objective look at their careers.
"As a dancer he stands alone, and no singer knows his way around a song like Fred Astaire." - Irving Berlin, quoted in Puttin' on the Ritz, BBC Programme Acquisition, 1999. "He has a remarkable ear for intonation, a great sense of rhythm and what is most important, he has great style - style in my way of thinking is a matter of delivery, phrasing, pace, emphasis, and most of all presence." - Bing Crosby in Crosby, Liner notes for Attitude Dancing, United Artists Records, UAS29888, 1975. (M).
Other than being a devoted husband and father of three brats mine claim to fame in life is that I did a electrical work in the house where Mr. Astaire was born In Omaha, Nebraska.
So great. An electrician friend gave me his Los Angeles address in 1980 and I wrote a fan letter. Got an autograph from his office. It’s tucked into my Fred bio..
Catching up on some old WMLs while TTTT is taking a break. I just adore Fred Astaire, great to see him here. And he's even one of the few celebrities who took Arlene up on her request to do a little of his act. :-) After watching TTTT, one thing I miss from WML is the chance to talk with the contestants after the game and learn a little about them. On the other hand, Bud Collyer was much less likely to speak for his contestants during the game. :)
I love watching these shows back when even the audience dressed up in dresses and suit and ties 👔. Love that ladies wore white gloves , I remember women in my family wearing them when going out and children dressed like Sunday when going out , no jeans . The vocabulary is most stimulating and raised people IQ not like the garbage on TV today .
The first contestant was so sweet natured and smiling often and she had such a nice voice. She reminds me of Diana Dennis when she was young. She was one of my mom’s good friends, then she became very busy and famous in the “body building world” of the 1980s and 1990s, so we didn’t see Diana nearly as often. But I remember that she was so beautiful in her 20s and 30s and as a child, I always wished I could grow up to look like her.
Miss Levein shows up on a 1960 episode of I've Got A Secret (with all sources spelling her last name wrong). 2/3/60. She was still doing the doormanning as of 1963, as per an article which explains she went to Barnard, took the doorman job to make some extra money, and worked days as a secretary. She may be the same Levein who, at some point in the 70s, moved to Arizona, and eventually, at age 64, climbed Mt. Killimanjaro in honor of a friend who died of cancer. Levein as a spelling is fairly unique, and the Killimanjaro Levein went to Barnard at about the right time. The main reason I don't know whether it's the same person or not is because the Killimanjaro Levein is described as having been an ad executive at one point. But job transitions do happen, so it certainly could be the same person. Edited to correct Miss Levein's name, because a gent on G+ pointed out I had done the usual thing, and made typos in a post complaining about typos. (It is not inevitable, but certainly fairly predictable.)
It is the same Rona Levein. In addition to her doorman job, she took jobs as a secretary and writer, but would later take employment up the corporate ladder in cosmetics and advertising. At 35 she became the vice-president at 'one of the world's largest advertising firms', but felt something was missing and (two years after a river trip in the Grand Canyon) moved to Marble Canyon in Arizona. She would delivery mail, provide shuttle services (and probably other jobs). These jobs would allow her to go on numerous worldly adventures across many continents incorporating various safaris, skydiving (at least seven times), rafting down the Grand Canyon (at least fifteen times) and elsewhere, climbing Mt Kilimanjaro and Mt Kenya, plus continue her life-long learning (including online classes, plus dance and martial arts classes) and marry a canyon guide. You might enjoy her travel story 'Joy on Kilimanjaro' from "A Woman's World Again: True Stories of World Travel" that collects 33 true travel stories. At age 82 she took a week-long whitewater rowing class and was looking forward to trips on the Rogue river and another Grand Canyon trip before passing away at age 85 in 2017. Some of her favorite places were Marble Canyon, Lee's Ferry and the Vermilion Cliffs. Her beautiful smile and personality is wonderfully captured here (and elsewhere).
@@borbetomagus Thank you so much for this recounting of her life! Wow wow wow! What an extraordinary life Ms. Levein led, the definition of someone doing mostly simple jobs in order to live their life with exceptional passion.
The story (perhaps slightly apocryphal) is the initial assessment by a talent appraiser at MGM was along the lines of: "Can't act, slightly bald. But can dance a little." Goes to show what they knew
This comment is a bit out of context but I can't understand the bashing of John Daly in some of these comments. I can't imagine the show with another host.
John Charles Daly was very good except that he couldn’t laugh at himself. As the years went on, he took his introductions from Bennett Cerf rather poorly I thought and stepped out of his professional role at times with his responses.
I’ve been binge watching these WML episodes for a few weeks now , and absolutely love them. I am curious however to some of the comments I see about people being offended by the behavior of the people ‘back then’ with the whistles, cat calls, etc. I mean really, compared to what’s on tv today , this is nothing. And before anyone gets into all the racism , sexism, and all the other ‘isms’ from ‘ back then’ . I’m specifically referring to this show. I was born in the 70’s and I am female and not at all offended ( I even liked Hal). Having been born when I was, I’ve seen and heard much, much worse. Things have definitely not improved as far as tv/entertainment. I’ll take ‘back then’ any day.
When Fred Astaire answered "yes" to the question, "are you a singer?", John Daly then felt the need to interject "yes and no". Granted, Fred was most known for his glorious dancing, but he was also a fine singer. John was off the beam on this one.
+Ginny Lorenz Well, I was foolish to write the above before finishing watching. Very glad to see that it was addressed and all cleared up at the end. I was a little hasty in my defense of an artist I love so much! My apologies.
yes, john Charles explained and basically apologized but the question was 'are you a singer?' and not 'are you only a singer?' or 'are you mainly a singer?' so you are right, john was wrong. he was a singer and no need to mention anything else. if Picasso were on the show and were asked 'do you sing or dance?' and he did one or the other or both, john Charles would have no business saying 'but he does something else too' 'do you sing?' 'yes I sing'.
Ugh! The one line of questioning I wish they had disallowed was (in modern parlance) "did we hang out the other night?". It doesn't pertain to a mystery contestant's occupation and it seems an unfair advantage. I really appreciate when a member of the panel disqualifies themselves on the basis of a personal knowledge and I wish they would do the same in this case. Other than that, this was a fun episode and Martin Gable was especially funny.
Jolar70 -- I think when one of the panelists suspects (s)he knows who the mystery guest is, one way to determine if (s)he is correct is to ask, "Did we meet earlier this week?" or "Did we encounter each other at the 21 Club last week?" If the answer is yes, then the contestant can, with assurance, come up with the name of the mystery guest. If no, there's no embarrassment of naming the wrong person. It isn't the sort of question they typically ask when they're a long way from knowing who it is. If the mystery guest is sufficiently disguising his/her voice, I can see no problem with having encountered the individual in person recently that should require a recusal -- and, in fact, if they don't figure out who it is, a panelist can say, "And here we just saw each other last week!"
I disagree. Part of the charm of this series for me is insight into the lives of the panelists and the celebrity guests at that moment, and what was happening in Broadway theaters and cinemas at the time. To strictly follow The Rules would rob us (me) of that joy. Honestly, JOY. But I'm a historian interested in primary source material, not a gamer. That being said, THANK YOU FOR UPLOADING!!
The reason they are blindfolded for the Mystery Guest segment and occasionally other segments as well as that the round is played with a likelihood that one or more panelists will know who the challenger is. If they were required to disqualify themselves because they know the mystery guest personally, there would be a lot of mystery guest segments with no panelists left to play the round.
Jolar70 although the show is What's My Line, when it comes to the special guess it's more like Who am I? because once you know who it is, you know what they do. Additionally I love when the panelists bring up some little private tidbit to let the special guests know that they know who it is and it just undresses the mystery guest internally it just shows immediatly on their face then they give up the accent the Rouge and the contest
We're in 2023 now... We cannot bring back those times, although as a Christian I must say ;" we should look ahead, 'cause we're in the end of times"... But because (sorry for some😣) of what's to be seen nowadays on tv, broadway, the musicworld, etc., I prefer movies and tv-programms out of the fourties/fifties and half way up to the sixties, 👍💯‼️ Where there's still class to be found. Watching the language, manners and conduct is soothing to me, the black and white doesn't bather me !! But next to this, my favourite game-show here with "Dorothy still in it"💝👀🕊️, movies like "sudden fear" or a feelgood movie like "meet me at the fair"... Al these make me feel like having some breathing-space in this world today 🤗‼️ And as a Christian I feel blessed by it !! So, thank you/those from the bottom of my heart for sending me recordings of those years 👍😘. May God bless you and your extended ones 💐 Sincerely in Christ Jesus My Lord and Saviour,💖🕊️
These are the best shows. Live to watch the fashions and wish they were in color. Such grace and professionalism from all. Love the ladies gloves ..remember that era
As a kid I had heard the name Fred Astaire, but could not pick him out of a crowd, but when he appeared on the original Battlestar Galactica, I thought that this guy was a very good actor and a natural...then I saw the end credits...and was surprised because he only acted during the show.
Concerning Miss Rona Levein from this guy's perspective, I found her to be exceedingly charming! She displayed a most beautiful smile that complimented her attractive personality. She just seemed "alive" and in love with life. Refreshing, indeed!
Could very well have just been a mannerism but I noticed that when she shook his hand upon leaving, she put her other hand under his forearm for a second. :D
This is my favorite “mixture” of panelists. Love when Martin G. Joins the crew. I wonder if the panel ever notices that he always starts with the person on the panel that has some kind of involvement or interest or relationship to the guest.
That first contestant was extremely well-built I would have guess she was a construction worker if it was current times I would have guess you was in MMA fighter
After Arlene Francis asked if the 1st guest worked for a profit-making organization, she made a comment about not making much profit this year, with a question in her voice. What was that about?
"That the background ground level of radiation in this room is 9 times what is was a year ago........ Don't cha know that....?.......Nine Times!! We're all Doomed, ya know........The whole Silly, drunken, pathetic lot of us. Doomed by the air we're about to breathe....." Fred Astaire from On the Beach, 1959.
A qualified "yes" for the question if wigs once were alive would have been fair. Biology is not the strength of Daly, but it is impossible to make no mistake within 17 years WML live on air.
20:20 Arlene did it again... she had a habit of often asking a star to perform their trade as they exited. She repeatedly did this..its an intrusion you would expect from a common fan, not someone of her polish, sophistication, and "insider" status. Most stars aren't interested in 'working' on their off days. She means well, and its not the end of the world, but not necessary.
There’s no harm of celebrities asking it of other celebrities. It would be a bonus for us audience too. I don’t see why y think that that’s an intrusion or “rude.” Since audience in this show never gets to ask Qs, her asking is a great I thot. I’ve always Arlene super charming, smart and funny.
@@nh6870 - You are confused. Arlene being "super charming, smart and funny" has absolutely zero to do with the issue at hand. You act like you don't understand how you can love a person, yet they still occasionally do something you prefer they not do. Its a simple concept. It has been my observation that most professionals in the entertainment business do not like to be imposed upon to to do any kind of public performance - regardless of how minor - when they are not scheduled, expecting, or prepared. On off-days, they just want to relax and step out of their "stage persona" character for a day or few hours. Arlene knew this as well as anyone. Its like someone seeing Arlene on the street and asking her to recite a few of her lines from one of her recent Broadway performances - its an unnecessary imposition - yet Arlene repeated it with multiple guests over years.
John Daly: Let’s begin with Miss Kilgallen Dorothy Kilgallen: You are self-employed and provide a service? Mystery Guest: Yes Dorothy Kilgallen: Are you Jesus of Nazareth? Mystery Guest: Yes!
1:57 "Panel mawdahwaydah." 2:40 I wonder if that first contestant had any weirdos showing up at her workplace, trying to get a glimpse of her? 13:00 Bennett could have used those lessons himself.😀 17:30 Fred Astaire was 59 at the time. 22:18 Cancel her! Cancel her!
I feel bad for the panel on the first woman. They were really thrown for a loop with the vehicle comment. What does a doorman, or in this case, a doorwoman, have to do with automobiles?
Wow thank you so much I had to scroll and scroll and scroll through so many comments in order to find this answer! (This baffled me so much every time I watched this episode. I didn't -think- it could mean shooting baskets but I couldn't come up with anything else either!)
![What's My Line? - Milton Berle; Martin Gabel [panel] (Feb 16, 1958)](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/h2rvn5MRa5s/mqdefault.jpg)
![What's My Line? - Robert Young & Jane Wyatt; David Niven [panel] (Sep 21, 1958)](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/o91Yxd0XN4Q/mqdefault.jpg)
I said it last time he was on and I'll say it again. Hollywood legends come and go on this show but when it's Astaire you're talking a different level of STAR. That's a superstar right there.
Sweet how Fred Astaire did that little dance step at the end.
Nothing but class from head to toe! An all-time favorite of mine
FRED ASTIRE. & GINGER RODGERS. ARE. BURRIED. AT. THE. Sme. Cementry. As. My parents. OAKWOOD. IN. CHATSWORTH, CALIFORNIA
Yep!
So much respect for each other on the panel and for John.
Sorely missed today 😪
Fred Astaire was the ultimate dancer that graced the movie screens! He was such a humble character who entertained so many millions of people through several decades.
I read in a book (can’t recall title right now) that he didn’t really like Ginger Rogers & she wasn’t fond of him either. Apparently he had to have control of everything they did together! I wish I could recall the title of the book I read..it was quite interesting!!
Truly one of the classiest gentleman to ever grace the stage or screen.
I always love how excited Dorothy is to see Fred. I remember Fred's appearance in 1955 and how that was her first adament exclamation of Fred's ability to sing.
A true gentleman in every sense of the word, modest, unbelievably talented and despite what he thinks he was a great singer.
He was an ok kinda singer
Such a humble man. The look he gave when we was truly beloved shows he was in now way self absorbed. God bless you Fred.
Fred Astaire. Still COOL after a hundred years in popular culture.
Probably the absolute greatest person to be born in Nebraska. I am a Nebraskan and VERY PROUD to have been born in the same state as this great great dancer singer entertainer and truly great gentleman
Great episode everyone was really funny and in good form! Dorothy was especially light hearted. Love Arlene and Martin together :)
Martin had a wonderful voice! He was trained as a stage actor.
Arlene was so beautiful,it did not matter what kind of hairdo!
There will never be another Fred Astaire ♥️
Gene Kelly
Astaire seemed so humble and gentlemanly in this. He was shaking his head when Dorothy claimed him to be one of the greatest singers, he genuinely didn't like the way he sang which is so awful because he had such a wonderful voice.
He did answer he was no singer in his other appearance two years before and the panel got furious, Lewis having bought his last album. Actually Astaire recommended even his friends, like Mel Tormé revealed in a book, to downplay his singer's art. The reason is easy to guess. He was number one dancer, while being "only" one of the great american popular singers. But that he considered himself a singer is proven by the quantity of recordings he did.
Astsire has been on the show twice and Dorothy has said the same thing each occasion after his singing being claimed not his main line during the segment.
@@trickydick6152 Oscar Levant said Fred was the best ever singer in movies, and he was right. Fred was no Mario Lanza, but he could get to the heart of what a song meant, and how it fit into a film's story, like nobody else. He acted them out.
That was why the best composers formed a line for Fred to launch their latest works. He was their first-stage rocket on the way into orbit as standards. The inventory of classic songs he introduced is without equal: not even Jolson, Crosby or Sinatra matched it.
@@esmeephillips5888 Yeah, but most of those songs became classic only after Sinatra gave them his treatment in his Capitol recordings. He was a great singer, no doubt. But not as great as he was as a dancer. He knew it. Otherwise his own attitude towards his singing wouldn't make sense.
Fred may not have possessed a trained singer’s voice but it was easily recognizable. His phrasing was impeccable.
I love how Fred Astaire bowed to the audience. That was very classy.
Mr. Astaire was absolutely delightful! ❤️
Fred Astaire with his light 'pretty good' voice introduced more great songs in the movies than ANYONE. Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Gershwins etc. and they appreciated his brilliant phrasing and appeal.
He was Irving Berlin’s favourite singer. His first choice for his own songs.
Fred Astaire was so elegant.
@@LM-bn1wt Unless you get to see something running around in the wild.
I'm an old guy and have great memories of watching What's My Line on Sunday Nights. In the early days, when I was maybe 7years old, I was allowed to stay up 30 minutes late to watch it before I went to bed.
I had a little boy's crush on Arlene Francis,(Dorothy was too bossy)and Bennett Cerf was very smart. Many years later, I had lost track of Arlene and read that she was ill with cancer and Alzheimer's, in her 90's.
Her husband Martin had died in 1986 and her son Peter had moved to be near him in San Francisco. She died in 2001, aged 93 from Alzheimers and cancer.
Her son was an attorney and taught law in San Francisco for 30+ years and was also an author of several law books.
I also read a month or so ago that Peter died at age 75.
Did not know he died.
same crush on Arlene
there will be no other of the likes of Fred Astaire....
I love when the mystery guest bow or nod, acknowledging the audience.
Me too, and it didn’t happen very often.
Yes and Mr Astaire did on arriving and departing ...
I thought that they would get Fred Astaire, but seeing them stumped on the rest is quite unusual. Fred was perhaps the classiest man ever to be in entertainment.
Classier than Bruce Jenner? who incidentally was born in Bennett’s hometown.
Peter Cushing was a very classy and gentle man too, to the point Carrie Fisher found it difficult to see him as the villain because he was such a charming gentleman on set of Star Wars.
He didn't quite understand what it was all about, but he accepted the role because he knew it would be something his fans would like to see him in.
It's refreshing to see men act like gentlemen, and women act and dress like ladies.
Yes this is the way the world used to be its called respect and being good !!!Since the 1980s people generally are lousy and don,t give a damn about right and wrong anymore only thing that matters is money, greed and lust and being no damn good !!!!!!!
Still like that in my mansion.
I have enjoyed watching all of the incredible guest panelists that have "come through the door" over the years; and, yet, my favorite combination of panelists are the four that are on this episode: Arlene, Martin, Dorothy, and Bennett (and, of course, John Daly). They just worked well together, as they showed a deep respect for each other, often while sharing his/her wonderful humor. I also appreciated their engagement of the most enlightening and erudite use of language.
Am I the only one who noticed that Miss Levein seemed particularly smitten with Mr. Daley?
The quality of manners and social graces of the 1950s is some of the "Good" from the Good ol' Days that we need to bring back.
Yes you're so right. One of the things I enjoy about this show is the level of politeness between the panel members and the moderator. I'm so happy to have found this show on UA-cam, brings back the flavour of times sadly gone by. I was born around the time they were making the last WML shows, so didn't see them until recently.
Wonderful show and so classy and polite. X
Arlene looks fabulous uber blonde! nice to see these 4 on the panel. they always have the most fun and so at ease.
Fred Astaire Is The Greatest Dancer And Singer And My Favorite Actor
true story 2 old ladies at a bus stop and one says to the other i think fred astaire was the greatest dancer ever and her old friend said i think ginger rodgers was the greatest dancer because she did everything fred did backwards and wearing high heels 😂😂
I really liked that true syory & watching them dannce.
I really liked that true syory & watching them dance.
I really liked that true story & watching them dance.
@@kevinmarkey9441 Problem with the story is that Ginger did not do everything Fred did plus Fred did all the choreography (albeit with Hermes Pan as co-choreographer much of the time). Furthermore, after partnering with Fred, Ginger barely danced at all in the movies while Fred continued to dance at the highest level for decades. Ginger was in no way his most skilled dance partner. This "story" is a cliche thrown around without an objective look at their careers.
Fred Astaire: the very definition of CLASS.
They just don't make 'em like that anymore...
"As a dancer he stands alone, and no singer knows his way around a song like Fred Astaire." - Irving Berlin, quoted in Puttin' on the Ritz, BBC Programme Acquisition, 1999.
"He has a remarkable ear for intonation, a great sense of rhythm and what is most important, he has great style - style in my way of thinking is a matter of delivery, phrasing, pace, emphasis, and most of all presence." - Bing Crosby in Crosby, Liner notes for Attitude Dancing, United Artists Records, UAS29888, 1975. (M).
Fred Astaire dances even when he signs his name on the blackboard.
Fred was the man.
Yeah he was.
Fred Astaire - from the top branches of any tree of great talented people!
Other than being a devoted husband and father of three brats mine claim to fame in life is that I did a electrical work in the house where Mr. Astaire was born In Omaha, Nebraska.
Illuminating.
Big fucking deal!!!
Terry Niblett Your crude and angry post is not appreciated.
So great. An electrician friend gave me his Los Angeles address in 1980 and I wrote a fan letter. Got an autograph from his office. It’s tucked into my Fred bio..
Can my claim to fame be that I live in Omaha Nebraska?:/🤣
Catching up on some old WMLs while TTTT is taking a break. I just adore Fred Astaire, great to see him here. And he's even one of the few celebrities who took Arlene up on her request to do a little of his act. :-)
After watching TTTT, one thing I miss from WML is the chance to talk with the contestants after the game and learn a little about them. On the other hand, Bud Collyer was much less likely to speak for his contestants during the game. :)
I love watching these shows back when even the audience dressed up in dresses and suit and ties 👔. Love that ladies wore white gloves , I remember women in my family wearing them when going out and children dressed like Sunday when going out , no jeans . The vocabulary is most stimulating and raised people IQ not like the garbage on TV today .
The first contestant was so sweet natured and smiling often and she had such a nice voice. She reminds me of Diana Dennis when she was young. She was one of my mom’s good friends, then she became very busy and famous in the “body building world” of the 1980s and 1990s, so we didn’t see Diana nearly as often. But I remember that she was so beautiful in her 20s and 30s and as a child, I always wished I could grow up to look like her.
Miss Levein shows up on a 1960 episode of I've Got A Secret (with all sources spelling her last name wrong). 2/3/60. She was still doing the doormanning as of 1963, as per an article which explains she went to Barnard, took the doorman job to make some extra money, and worked days as a secretary.
She may be the same Levein who, at some point in the 70s, moved to Arizona, and eventually, at age 64, climbed Mt. Killimanjaro in honor of a friend who died of cancer. Levein as a spelling is fairly unique, and the Killimanjaro Levein went to Barnard at about the right time. The main reason I don't know whether it's the same person or not is because the Killimanjaro Levein is described as having been an ad executive at one point. But job transitions do happen, so it certainly could be the same person.
Edited to correct Miss Levein's name, because a gent on G+ pointed out I had done the usual thing, and made typos in a post complaining about typos. (It is not inevitable, but certainly fairly predictable.)
She's stunning.
It is the same Rona Levein. In addition to her doorman job, she took jobs as a secretary and writer, but would later take employment up the corporate ladder in cosmetics and advertising. At 35 she became the vice-president at 'one of the world's largest advertising firms', but felt something was missing and (two years after a river trip in the Grand Canyon) moved to Marble Canyon in Arizona. She would delivery mail, provide shuttle services (and probably other jobs). These jobs would allow her to go on numerous worldly adventures across many continents incorporating various safaris, skydiving (at least seven times), rafting down the Grand Canyon (at least fifteen times) and elsewhere, climbing Mt Kilimanjaro and Mt Kenya, plus continue her life-long learning (including online classes, plus dance and martial arts classes) and marry a canyon guide. You might enjoy her travel story 'Joy on Kilimanjaro' from "A Woman's World Again: True Stories of World Travel" that collects 33 true travel stories. At age 82 she took a week-long whitewater rowing class and was looking forward to trips on the Rogue river and another Grand Canyon trip before passing away at age 85 in 2017. Some of her favorite places were Marble Canyon, Lee's Ferry and the Vermilion Cliffs. Her beautiful smile and personality is wonderfully captured here (and elsewhere).
@@borbetomagus Thank you so much for this recounting of her life! Wow wow wow! What an extraordinary life Ms. Levein led, the definition of someone doing mostly simple jobs in order to live their life with exceptional passion.
5 years later and no one gives a fuck about what you have to say
Fred Astaire s popularity can be guaged by the way Dorothy gets thrilled like a schoolgirl when she realizes its him
The story (perhaps slightly apocryphal) is the initial assessment by a talent appraiser at MGM was along the lines of: "Can't act, slightly bald. But can dance a little." Goes to show what they knew
That doorman lady made me want to time travel and go to LeVallois restaurant ... what a classy and stunning woman!
This comment is a bit out of context but I can't understand the bashing of John Daly in some of these comments. I can't imagine the show with another host.
John Charles Daly was very good except that he couldn’t laugh at himself. As the years went on, he took his introductions from Bennett Cerf rather poorly I thought and stepped out of his professional role at times with his responses.
Hes fantastic as host
I really like John Daly.
@@leesher1845 i
The show wouldn’t be. John could only make this what it was 😊
10:55 "Mr Ford, do you wish you were born in Detroit?" Arlene's reaction is marvelous.
he is so shy how adorable!! I would guess by that silent "airy" laugh he does
I’ve been binge watching these WML episodes for a few weeks now , and absolutely love them. I am curious however to some of the comments I see about people being offended by the behavior of the people ‘back then’ with the whistles, cat calls, etc. I mean really, compared to what’s on tv today , this is nothing. And before anyone gets into all the racism , sexism, and all the other ‘isms’ from ‘ back then’ . I’m specifically referring to this show. I was born in the 70’s and I am female and not at all offended ( I even liked Hal). Having been born when I was, I’ve seen and heard much, much worse. Things have definitely not improved as far as tv/entertainment. I’ll take ‘back then’ any day.
You could do that kind of stuff (cat calls, whistles, etc back then and not be offensive because people back then weren’t so bloomin’ perverted!
@@raylenenielsen5943 good point
Mr.Fred Astaire was first class!
When Fred Astaire answered "yes" to the question, "are you a singer?", John Daly then felt the need to interject "yes and no". Granted, Fred was most known for his glorious dancing, but he was also a fine singer. John was off the beam on this one.
+Ginny Lorenz Well, I was foolish to write the above before finishing watching. Very glad to see that it was addressed and all cleared up at the end. I was a little hasty in my defense of an artist I love so much! My apologies.
+Ginny Lorenz I am glad that Dorothy strongly brought it up that Fred Astaire was an excellent singer....
yes, john Charles explained and basically apologized but the question was 'are you a singer?' and not 'are you only a singer?' or 'are you mainly a singer?' so you are right, john was wrong. he was a singer and no need to mention anything else. if Picasso were on the show and were asked 'do you sing or dance?' and he did one or the other or both, john Charles would have no business saying 'but he does something else too' 'do you sing?' 'yes I sing'.
Ugh! The one line of questioning I wish they had disallowed was (in modern parlance) "did we hang out the other night?". It doesn't pertain to a mystery contestant's occupation and it seems an unfair advantage. I really appreciate when a member of the panel disqualifies themselves on the basis of a personal knowledge and I wish they would do the same in this case. Other than that, this was a fun episode and Martin Gable was especially funny.
Jolar70 I agree with you.
Jolar70 -- I think when one of the panelists suspects (s)he knows who the mystery guest is, one way to determine if (s)he is correct is to ask, "Did we meet earlier this week?" or "Did we encounter each other at the 21 Club last week?" If the answer is yes, then the contestant can, with assurance, come up with the name of the mystery guest. If no, there's no embarrassment of naming the wrong person. It isn't the sort of question they typically ask when they're a long way from knowing who it is. If the mystery guest is sufficiently disguising his/her voice, I can see no problem with having encountered the individual in person recently that should require a recusal -- and, in fact, if they don't figure out who it is, a panelist can say, "And here we just saw each other last week!"
I disagree. Part of the charm of this series for me is insight into the lives of the panelists and the celebrity guests at that moment, and what was happening in Broadway theaters and cinemas at the time. To strictly follow The Rules would rob us (me) of that joy. Honestly, JOY. But I'm a historian interested in primary source material, not a gamer. That being said, THANK YOU FOR UPLOADING!!
The reason they are blindfolded for the Mystery Guest segment and occasionally other segments as well as that the round is played with a likelihood that one or more panelists will know who the challenger is. If they were required to disqualify themselves because they know the mystery guest personally, there would be a lot of mystery guest segments with no panelists left to play the round.
Jolar70 although the show is What's My Line, when it comes to the special guess it's more like Who am I? because once you know who it is, you know what they do.
Additionally I love when the panelists bring up some little private tidbit to let the special guests know that they know who it is and it just undresses the mystery guest internally it just shows immediatly on their face then they give up the accent the Rouge and the contest
We're in 2023 now... We cannot bring back those times, although as a Christian I must say ;" we should look ahead, 'cause we're in the end of times"... But because (sorry for some😣) of what's to be seen nowadays on tv, broadway, the musicworld, etc., I prefer movies and tv-programms out of the fourties/fifties and half way up to the sixties, 👍💯‼️ Where there's still class to be found. Watching the language, manners and conduct is soothing to me, the black and white doesn't bather me !! But next to this, my favourite game-show here with "Dorothy still in it"💝👀🕊️, movies like "sudden fear" or a feelgood movie like "meet me at the fair"... Al these make me feel like having some breathing-space in this world today 🤗‼️ And as a Christian I feel blessed by it !! So, thank you/those from the bottom of my heart for sending me recordings of those years 👍😘.
May God bless you and your extended ones 💐 Sincerely in Christ Jesus My Lord and Saviour,💖🕊️
He's humble, that's why he was different, and he was so talented and good looking, but he seems self-concussion about it? Which is cute lol
When handshaking never was awkward.
These are the best shows. Live to watch the fashions and wish they were in color. Such grace and professionalism from all. Love the ladies gloves ..remember that era
Fred is so shy, modest...
My first Fred Astaire movie was the terrifying ghost story 1981. That's how talented he was
"Ghost" ("Dance with me, you toad"). What a film!
As a kid I had heard the name Fred Astaire, but could not pick him out of a crowd, but when he appeared on the original Battlestar Galactica, I thought that this guy was a very good actor and a natural...then I saw the end credits...and was surprised because he only acted during the show.
You know it's a good show when even the sign in is interesting
Interesting how the second guest's sport began with Martin Gabel -- who was a famous horseplayer ...
Agree with Zac - Daly is the PERFECT counter to this crew, and the mix is on purpose.
Concerning Miss Rona Levein from this guy's perspective, I found her to be exceedingly charming! She displayed a most beautiful smile that complimented her attractive personality. She just seemed "alive" and in love with life. Refreshing, indeed!
I think the first contestant was quite taken with Mr Daly. :)
Sheila B I noticed that too, she could barely take her eyes off of him!
+Sheila B i took her reaction to daly as being nervous and not knowing what to focus on
Could very well have just been a mannerism but I noticed that when she shook his hand upon leaving, she put her other hand under his forearm for a second. :D
Arlene and Martin are so cute together ❤
"None profit from Scotland?" Damn cheek
Don't think A & M will be allowed to sit next to each other for a while after this
that lady door person was quite lovely,,,🥰
Fred Astaire is mine.
Dorothy's dress...it's beautiful ⭐
when they said for Fred to dance I’m all like "come on Fred dance!" 🙃
This is my favorite “mixture” of panelists. Love when Martin G. Joins the crew.
I wonder if the panel ever notices that he always starts with the person on the panel that has some kind of involvement or interest or relationship to the guest.
I prefer Steve Allen to Martin but I’d say this is my second preference
Who first thought of this show? Was it a group idea, or did it come from one head. Answers will be read. 😊
The first lady is beautiful and the hair cut is courageous for that times!
That first contestant was extremely well-built I would have guess she was a construction worker if it was current times I would have guess you was in MMA fighter
I loved when Arlene Francis introduced Martin Gabel. Of course that button couldn't fool her. That's her husband.
After Arlene Francis asked if the 1st guest worked for a profit-making organization, she made a comment about not making much profit this year, with a question in her voice. What was that about?
Most likely Arlene was reacting to what she sensed was a bit of hesitation before the yes answer was given.
Dorothy's giggle is so cute.
When the female guests are Miss, does ol’ Daly fumble with their left hand?
The first contestant has a beautiful smile.
dorothy had the giggles tonight
There was something about Lena Levine that was so sweet and she was always smiling.😊
"That the background ground level of radiation in this room is 9 times what is was a year ago........ Don't cha know that....?.......Nine Times!! We're all Doomed, ya know........The whole Silly, drunken, pathetic lot of us. Doomed by the air we're about to breathe....." Fred Astaire from On the Beach, 1959.
Fred Astaire had massive hands!
Splendid!!!
I bet these people loved their job. You get to hang out with friends, meet celebrities, and just joke around.
At 20:55 as Fred Astaire dances off, another camera comes into view. Then you see that cameraman shoot a finger signal to John Daly.
Sadly missed xo
A qualified "yes" for the question if wigs once were alive would have been fair. Biology is not the strength of Daly, but it is impossible to make no mistake within 17 years WML live on air.
20:20 Arlene did it again... she had a habit of often asking a star to perform their trade as they exited. She repeatedly did this..its an intrusion you would expect from a common fan, not someone of her polish, sophistication, and "insider" status. Most stars aren't interested in 'working' on their off days. She means well, and its not the end of the world, but not necessary.
There’s no harm of celebrities asking it of other celebrities. It would be a bonus for us audience too. I don’t see why y think that that’s an intrusion or “rude.” Since audience in this show never gets to ask Qs, her asking is a great I thot. I’ve always Arlene super charming, smart and funny.
@@nh6870 - You are confused. Arlene being "super charming, smart and funny" has absolutely zero to do with the issue at hand. You act like you don't understand how you can love a person, yet they still occasionally do something you prefer they not do. Its a simple concept.
It has been my observation that most professionals in the entertainment business do not like to be imposed upon to to do any kind of public performance - regardless of how minor - when they are not scheduled, expecting, or prepared. On off-days, they just want to relax and step out of their "stage persona" character for a day or few hours. Arlene knew this as well as anyone. Its like someone seeing Arlene on the street and asking her to recite a few of her lines from one of her recent Broadway performances - its an unnecessary imposition - yet Arlene repeated it with multiple guests over years.
John always blabbers at the worst thing. Not necessary. He killed it.
50.00 today would be 490.86 in 2022
John Daly: Let’s begin with Miss Kilgallen
Dorothy Kilgallen: You are self-employed and provide a service?
Mystery Guest: Yes
Dorothy Kilgallen: Are you Jesus of Nazareth?
Mystery Guest: Yes!
Arlene has a great Marilyn Monroe dress on.
1:57 "Panel mawdahwaydah." 2:40 I wonder if that first contestant had any weirdos showing up at her workplace, trying to get a glimpse of her? 13:00 Bennett could have used those lessons himself.😀 17:30 Fred Astaire was 59 at the time. 22:18 Cancel her! Cancel her!
I feel bad for the panel on the first woman. They were really thrown for a loop with the vehicle comment. What does a doorman, or in this case, a doorwoman, have to do with automobiles?
A doorman for a restaturant in NYC probably hailed cabs and opened the doors of cabs for people arriving curbside.
Kevin Markey, I really liked your trie story! I liked watching them both dance.
Nina Lawson, the last contestant, had a wonderful career at The Met: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nina_Lawson
"Non profit from SCOTLAND?!" XD
You can see Dorothy look that first gal up and down when she left lol
They didn't ask Gene Kelly to dance...
Yes they did on one of his appearances. He did a small shuffle.
What is a horse player?
+Ray Izard Seems to be as Mr. Daly explained toward the end...someone that bets on horses.
Wow thank you so much I had to scroll and scroll and scroll through so many comments in order to find this answer! (This baffled me so much every time I watched this episode. I didn't -think- it could mean shooting baskets but I couldn't come up with anything else either!)
Even for this Icon the gals remained seated - turns my stomach
At 15:30 Bennett has the nerve to tell his co-panelists to be quiet. Bennet... who WILL NOT SHUT UP EVER.
ummmmmm, what is a 'horse player' ?
Yeah same question, someone else answered - it's racetrack betting
@@melnikhoogland7545, please and thank you
I read that he was impressed with Michael Jackson's dancing; my guess is he would love Dancing With the Stars 🫶
The lady called Francis reminds me a little of Helen Mirren.
I've seen the comparison in the comments many times.
Kevin Markey, I really liked your true story! I liked watching them both dance.
Shut up already.