Van played the game to the hilt! Far more imagination than many seasoned Hollywood stars. Mr. Cliburn revealed a great wit about himself, a charismatic communicator who was able to translate it into music without ever infringing on the composer's intent.
We had our version of this programme in the U.K. but we would never have had a charmer like Van Cliburn. I did not know he had English ancestors. Lovely gentleman, and a pianist we will never forget.
Every episode of What's My Line is amazing. This one is a standout piece of history, with the exemplary Sargent Shriver, the suave Tony Randall, and the unexpectedly hilarious Van Cliburn. And a lady who peels bananas. This show, and especially episodes like this one, is a pinnacle of American culture and a cruel reminder of how far we have fallen.
Respectfully, you are overestimating the 1960s (height of MAD in the Cold War, all minorities discriminated against in almost every area of life, crimes against humanity in Southeast Asia, nepotism and infidelity in the White House, south ruled bu KKK, northern cities by corrupt mayors) and underestimating today’s culture (longer and healthier lifespan, instantaneous worldwide communications providing access to all arts and sciences from a smart phone, more Constitutional rights). As for personal characteristics don’t generalize elite sophisticated WML panelists and guests with the common man like me.
@@stevekru6518 , is it possible for some things to get worse while others get better? Is it possible that sometimes the meaning of getting worse and the meaning of getting better are matters of opinion?
@@smadaf it’s indeed undisputedly possible. It’s also possible that it’s unnecessary to say “how far we’ve fallen” when communicating how much one is enjoying a slice of historical entertainment. “How far we’ve fallen” is exactly how the nonsensical and harmful MAGA cult was able to take hold. I very much enjoy these episodes as an early millennial. I’m also able to put these in the proper context of history without nostalgia or rose colored glasses. I’m very tired of reading comments about “how far we’ve fallen” and it just reminds me how silly I’ve been to continue reading internet comments and how little willpower and discipline I have to stop myself from reading and commenting myself.
Van Cliburn talks like he could host the show, he does good double talk like John Daly, LOL. I just about spit my pop out too when they asked if he was in the banana family too. :)
It's quicker this way, but I miss the commercials. The old ones, especially the ones performed live, aren't obnoxious, as modern ones are-and they actually make me want the product, unlike 99.9% of modern ads. Two seasons of WML from about 1956 and '7 are available at Amazon Instant Video with the original ads: from one episode to the next, they alternate between Stoppette deodorant and Remington Rand (which alternates between R.R. business machines and the R.R. electric shaver). TV commercials started going downhill in the '60s; nowadays they're an abomination, and I find it almost impossible to believe that they get people to buy stuff. Even when I was growing up, in the '80s, TV commercials were far better than the ones made nowadays. It's amazing how people have forgotten how to do certain things well!
I was surprised to find out that John had won a Golden Globe for his work on WML. Very well deserved. Even more surprising is that John shared the award (For Best TV Star) with some comedian named Bob Newhart.
@@icturner23 No, surprised that the award was given to both men. It was like it was a tie with voters (No surprise that two icons like Daly and Newhart would receive any type of honor.)
Eddie Fisher (He lived in my building) told me that Van Cliburn gave him and Liz Taylor a private concert in their home and there were people standing on the sidewalk listening in.
Yes, this is true. Mr. Fisher related this story in one of the books he wrote. In his writing, he implies that it was part of an almost never ending task of keeping Elizabeth amused. (Well, who really knows about that part of his story).
The most pleasant experience in any concert hall I've ever had was seeing Mr. Cliburn play Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto # 1 - the very work which won him the top prize at the 1958 Tchaikovsky piano competition in Moscow. It was in 2001 when it was announced Van Cliburn was coming to my city and I immediately bought tickets - the hall quickly sold out as I expected. The "Tall Texan," as Mr. Cliburn had sometimes been called, came onto the stage with a shy smile and was greeted like a rock-star - he settled in at his piano and took a few seconds to collect himself - and then proceeded to make magic. It's the only time I've heard a classical music crowd cheer between "movements," but it was that kind of a night. Bless his memory and legacy for always. Cheers and thanks for the wonderful posts!
RivaRidge'72: Love The Meadow Farm connection.... I was a fan of both RR & Big Red. I only had a tiny moment in time with this fellow. Didn't really understand his excellence in his field.... just flew him from DFW to someplace out west. He was a perfect passenger, and happy I was able to help him get from the gate to the wire that day.
@@dieselnine1022 Thanks for sharing your great story. Few people think about the logistics of getting a horse from one point to (often) far away tracks with great care and efficiency. I'm sure Miss Penny Chenery (owner of Meadow Farm) was quite grateful for the good care you showed in getting her beloved horse safely to his destination.
@kappelmeister123 In addition to regular old classical music, Tony Randall was a lay expert on grand opera. When the Met performances were live on Saturday afternoons on radio for many years, I think it was NPR, Randall did the commentary at the intermission with the chaps broadcasting it. And Randall was also an expert in classic theater, i.e. Eleonora Duse et al.
Then I would love to have met Van Cliburn and Tony Randall. Two distinguished representatives of the classical music world with wonderful senses of humor.
This was one of my parents' favorite shows when I was growing up, and one of the few I was allowed to watch past my bedtime (it aired at 9:30 p.m. cdt Sunday during its entire run). The erudition and grace of Mr. Daly and the panel reinforced values my parents attempted to instill, and did so in a fun way.
Were you allowed to watch "Candid Camera," which aired right before "What's My Line?" on Sunday evenings? My parents emphatically forbade us to watch that show - and they didn't watch it, either.
@@jmccracken1963 My brother and I were both allowed (or encouraged) to stay up on Sunday evenings, to watch both Candid Camera and WML. I have fond memories of the entire family sharing these programs together. Especially since I'm now the only family member left.
I don't know the age of the commenter, but if a person had been born in the 1980s, it highly likely they would not know who Tony Randall was. @@kentetalman9008
Bennett was correct: both bananas and plantains are part of the genus _Musa_. But somehow Bennett forgot to mention that the second challenger had a very appealing job.
@@loissimmons6558 Another witty reply! Lois, I find you to be charming, erudite, encyclopedic in knowledge, witty, and, judging by your thumbnail photo, very pretty too!
Sargent Shriver in addition to being head of the peace corps from 1961 to 1964 was director of the poverty program from 1965 to 1967 ambassador to France 1968 to 1970 and vice presidential candidate of the democratic party on the ticket with George McGovern in 1972
I'm so glad John and the panel finally realized that plants are living things! Usually, when the question has been asked, "has it ever been alive?" and the product is something that comes from a plant, John has insisted that the answer is "no," even when the contestant thinks otherwise. I'll be curious to see how they deal with this question and answer in later episodes.
SaveThe TPC Yes! This always drives me batty. Paper was once alive. Natural fabric clothing was once alive. Wooden pencils were once alive. This is another category, like animal classification, where I'm completely baffled how a group of such intelligent people can possibly get it so wrong on such a routine basis!
I'm starting to wonder if Tony Randall's presence isn't the difference. I remember quite a while back seeing an episode where Tony successfully insisted on the interpretation that plants were alive. In fact, I thought the matter should have finally been settled thereby, but I've seen several episodes that happened since then (and did not have Tony on them), including the immediately preceding one, where plants were no longer, nor had they ever been, alive according to John Daly and the regular panelists. However, this time it's Dorothy who forces the correct interpretation. Why she didn't do it last week, I don't understand. I too will be listening closely in the future to see if they backslide in Tony's absence.
Robert Melson Interesting observation! I remember the episode in which Tony correctly insisted on plants being alive too -- not the details, but the fact that he did it. There too I was thankful!
I think it was some standard of the show to only refer to animals as formerly alive. I have heard John state many times that 'by our definition' or something similar to that.
Van was from my hometown of Shreveport. He kept his mother's home here for decades after she moved into his home in Ft. Worth. It was a big house that just sat empty all that time. He was a friend of my two old maid aunts, and I met him a couple of times when I was about 8 and 9 years old. He had huge hands.
I truly didn't know who he was, but as a young captain at American Airlines, I flew him out of DFW to goodness knows where. He was a good passenger, and didn't make a fuss, so I liked him!
Sargent Shriver, founder of the Peace Corps, is one of our country’s greatest heroes. Such a shame that so few selfless people of moral excellence have emerged since his time.
Indeed. Unfortunately nowadays it would be seen as suspect that an agency of government would be created and one of the President's brother in laws would be at the head.
@@obamna666 Of course that could have happened only if McGovern had won, which was an impossibility. The Kennedy family wanted all the elected glory for itself and not for the in-laws. They acceded to Shriver to be the VP nominee in 1972 precisely because there was no way he would win. Incidentally, of course, Shriver was only selected after Thomas Eagleton was forced to withdraw. Like Shriver, Eagleton was also a WML guest, with no blindfold, in the mid-1950s, when he was DA in St Louis.
Van was very tall and strikingly handsome into his late 60's. He had tremendous charisma and, although gay, he appreciated a pretty woman and was exceedingly charming. I gave him roses many times at the end of his performances and he was always very appreciative and kind. He was also well known for his big bear hugs. He was a magnificent concert pianist - a musical genius - and one of the warmest, nicest people I ever met.
I wasn't old enough to watch this as a boy I was just learning to walk and talk then . But I enjoy this show now . To bad that this columnist was murdered in her home after her Sunday night show here on What's my line. .
And person he replaced on the ticket with George McGovern, Thomas Eagleton, also appeared on WML (in 1956). He was the District Attorney of St. Louis at the time, so unknown that the panel didn't need to be blindfolded.
yes, and two others were Estes Kefauver (Stevenson's running mate in 1956, before he was nominated, and Henry Cabot Lodge (NIxon's poor electoral choice for a running mate in 1960, before he was nominated. These were all future vp candidates -- I am unaware of any past VP candidates who appeared. One such past vp candidate did not appear on WML although he was a relative of John Daly's. Dewey's 1948 running mate, Earl Warren, Daly's father-in-law.
Met Sargent and Eunice at the Delta Shuttle. They were flying to Bos and they were having an argument. This was before he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. He forgot his ID and he was blaming Eunice for not helping him with his dilemma.
robinbobilink I have one of Van Cliburn's albums. Come to think of it though, it was from a long, long, time ago, probably not all that long after this episode aired. I wonder whether I could find my record player too. I wonder if it still works... Actually I don't think he would have been nearly as widely known and had the popular recognition if not for the Cold War rivalry between the US and USSR. He became a media sensation when he "beat the Russkies" at their own Tchaikovsky competition. Bobby Fischer will do the same thing for chess in a few years. Both were incredibly talented and much deserving of recognition, but their role as Cold Warriors made them household names.
I wonder if, a year later, Tony Randall bought a copy of Van Cliburn's RCA Victor studio recording of Brahms's Piano Concerto No. 2 in Bb, which he recorded a few months after this episode aired, with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Fritz Reiner.
@@peternagy-im4be Thank you for your enquiry. What I meant was Van CLIBURN's hands were so large that his thumb and small finger could reach 16 keys on the piano. A firm advantage in the piano 🎹 playing world. Capesce?
MsMsmak - I agree. Part of what we have lost too is that back then the audience was so appreciative of the work Eleanor Roosevelt had done for international human rights and the UN in the years since she was First Lady. And here they respect the work Sargent Shriver is doing to help save the world through what is called "soft power" by founding the Peace Corps. People knew then, shortly after WWII, the huge difference in the world that Kennan and Marshall and so many had made by putting money for peace where bombs had once been dropped. We came to see the unbelievable levels of peace and prosperity that were slowly lifting all of humankind through organizations like the UN, the EU, NATO, the British Commonwealth of Nations. So much we had gained, we are now losing.
MsMsmak - You are so right. How the US has fallen. I just want to cry (as if that would help). We could recapture that time again, depending upon this November.
@@shirleyrombough8173 Hit the reply button directly under her comment that is to the right of the thumbs down icon after the number of thumbs up shown. Not a problem. I just wanted you to know you got a wrong number.
I've been enjoying these episodes and have started watching them from the beginning. Thanks to the uploader. At 20:36, Tony Randall say he "taped" Van Cliburn which surprised me. I would have thought VCR's were not available to the public or else were very expensive. I wonder how many people owned them privately.
+teavea10 I am sure that Mr. Randall is talking about audio tape, not video. Reel to reel audio tape was popular at the time and was overtaking the "Hi-Fi" record player. Audio tape made it possible to present music in stereo.
+Lawrence Jagdfeld That makes much more sense. Wiki says the first home use video recorder wasn't until '63 or '65. Tony said CBS but I don't know if that was TV or radio. I don't know if any home TV's or radios had audio output back then. I'm guessing they might have just put a microphone up to the speaker.
Since the music was the main issue, perhaps Randall only audiotaped Cliburn but I would not assume that Randall did not have access to videotape. Pre 1965, very few World Series games were videotaped for instance and were lost forever. Some were taped for the armed forces including amazingly the last 8 innings of Don Larsen's 1956 perfect game for the Yankees. The game that afficionados were truly sorry was not taped was the incredible game 7 of the 1960 World Series that was decided on a walk off homer in a Pirates victory. Bing Crosby was a part owner of the Pirates and he was to leave for Europe before the game. He videotaped the game on home equipment. It was not discovered until decades after his death. It had in fact been videotaped. NBC ran it on TV and had the surviving players of both teams watch it and comment it. Bobby RIchardson, the only World Series MVP to have played for the losing team (it was a bizarre set of games), was still sore about 50 years later, and blamed the loss on Casey Stengel.
He must have made an audio tape from CBS radio or CBS television. It used to be normal for American national commercial radio networks to present classical music. A member of my family was in the NBC Symphony Orchestra.
Someone no longer likes Sara Lee? According to the ingredients on the package, banana puree (made from real bananas) is listed as the number one ingredient (with Ascorbic Acid, aka Vitamin C, added to the puree. The description on the box states that real (not artificial) banana flavor is used as well.
Nice to see an old fashioned banana peeler on the show! But in all fairness, it was rather unfair to continue to ignore the LOCKSMITHS of the world (my Father's profession) while we just threw on banana peelers wily-nily. Right Bennett?
Van Cliburn actually kissed the conductor after winning the prestigious Moscow Piano competition after his brilliant performance of Rachmaninov s 3rd piano concerto
Arlene Francis, like many, called him Mr Van Cliburn, as if that is his last name, since it has the Dutch aristocratic sound. I always wondered if he would have been as famous if he had used his first name, Harvey. Van was short for "Lavan", his middle name. H could have fooled them much longer here if he had used a high squeaky voice.
What did Arlene say after Tony Randall’s introduction of her, mentioning Kingsbury Hall at the U of U and “angelic” ? Can’t quite hear it on my sound equipment.
I sometimes wonder if some contestants were a little embarrassed by having a 'line' that seems a lot less impressive than the one before them, such as 'Head of the Peace Corps followed by "peels bananas".
Sargent Shriver married Eunice Kennedy..Eunice was a sister of John Kennedy,,Bobby Kennedy, and Ted Kennedy. SO.. Sarge was brother-in-law to. JFK, RFK, AND EMK.
What's My Line? Haha! I hate to laugh at my own jokes, but I've got to admit I was giggling a little when I posted that. It was strictly for your entertainment.
Just like the late 1960s/early 1970s-vintage radio (and maybe TV) commercials for prunes: "the funny fruit that does so much for you," as the ad slogan ran.
+jmccracken1963 I remember the commercials for Sunsweet Prunes that Stan Freberg created. Perhaps the best known was the one with the tag line "Today the pits, tomorrow the wrinkles: Sunsweet marches on!" ua-cam.com/video/eRDLaSG6csA/v-deo.html
Okay, I'm really getting tired of this, Paul. Rather than continue posting comments on either of your already existing two threads on this inane topic, you're starting yet another new thread? And this time, you finally say who you think your world famous uncle looks like on the show, but don't mention your uncle this time, you just say, "he". Enough. This was mildly amusing at first in a baffling sort of way. Now it's getting irritating.
The women are checking out the fashions other women are wearing. Haven't you ever heard that women dress for each other? Are you so vain that you thought they dress up for you?
So now you're saying your uncle Al doesn't even have the same last name as you, yet you expected people to have *any* clue at all what you were talking in your first post about this while mentioning only his first name??? And you *still* haven't said who on the show you think he looked like! Really, why on earth would you leave not only one, but a series of comments like this publicly, is completely beyond me. . . There is *nothing* easily findable online about your "Uncle Alvin Jacobs" on Google, whoever he is/was. Note that it's 2:30 in the afternoon and I'm just as baffled as I was at 3am. If anyone else adds a comment here having any idea what you're talking about, I'll eat a bug. [rolls eyes]
Van Cliburn was the first classical pianist that teen girls had on their bedroom walls. He WAS very good looking but unfortunately for them, he was gay.
+poetcomic1 That cannot be proven because of the deaths of so many Texans who were old enough in 1962 to understand what was going on. If you read Van Cliburn's Wikipedia article, you find the following about a civil litigation court case in Texas that might have proven what his sexual preference was, but it ended in obliquity. In 1998, Cliburn was named in a lawsuit by his domestic partner of seventeen years, mortician Thomas Zaremba. In the suit, Zaremba claimed entitlement to a portion of Cliburn's income and assets and asserted that he may have been exposed to HIV, causing emotional distress. The claims were rebutted by a trial court and upheld by an appellate court, on the basis that palimony suits are not permitted in the state of Texas unless the relationship is based on a written agreement. Can we remember these deceased performers for their performances? If you want the state of Alabama to repeal its sodomy laws, you’re wasting your time by obsessing on a dead performer who never lived in that state. You have to focus on boring legal issues, not old gossip.
Oh, I dunno. Franz Liszt, in the 19th Century, rose to something like that status. www.npr.org/2011/10/22/141617637/how-franz-liszt-became-the-worlds-first-rock-star
@@robertproperty8115 I just thought his heart throb status ironic, In the words of Dorothy Parker: As I come closer to the tomb I could care less who sleeps with whom.
Paul Edelstein Well that's a truly baffling observation to make publicly. You do realize that you're the only one who has any idea who your Uncle Alvin is. I hope.
Sometimes a mystery guest talks waaaaayyy too much and won't use much of a disguise and Van Cliburn was a prime example. He gave too much by not using a simple yes or no.
No one is nice 100% of the time. It's called the Shadow side every human has. Hopefully, as we evolve there is less judgment and more understanding and compassion for others.🕊️
"Are you a member of the Kennedy family?" Oh dear. That breaks my heart. Look what we have lost and how far we have fallen as a country. THANK GOD Biden was elected. At least he has stopped the descent.
Biden at best is a joke. Totally and utterly useless and clueless to the same degree. In fact you may just as well put a tailors dummy in the White House. It is extremely difficult to tell if the guy is actually alive. Donald trumps him in every possible way.
![What's My Line? - Allan Sherman; Tony Randall & Anita Gillette [panel] (Aug 15, 1965)](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/C6u9c8XICeE/mqdefault.jpg)
![What's My Line? - Allan Sherman; Tony Randall & Anita Gillette [panel] (Aug 15, 1965)](/img/tr.png)
![What's My Line? - Vaughn Meader; Martin Gabel [panel] (Dec 30, 1962) [UPGRADE!]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/mFL2Xn0uaro/mqdefault.jpg)
![What's My Line? - Groucho Marx; Tony Randall [panel] (Oct 13, 1963)](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n_NzXFs3Rqg/mqdefault.jpg)
![What's My Line? - Norma Nolan; Benny Goodman; Buddy Hackett [panel] (Jul 22, 1962)](/img/n.gif)
What’s My Line was better TV than what we have now.
He has the perfect name for a classical musician.
Tony Randall is.. ..SHARP. ,!
👏👏👏👏👏
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
As Well As a Solid, Underrated Performer. 👏👏
Van played the game to the hilt! Far more imagination than many seasoned Hollywood stars. Mr. Cliburn revealed a great wit about himself, a charismatic communicator who was able to translate it into music without ever infringing on the composer's intent.
Van Cliburn was SO MUCH FUN!!! My Favorite!
Sargent Shriver has always been one of the national figures I most admired. He represents an unusual mix of altruism, humility and vision.
Those were heady times filled with hope and promise.
Mr Shriver - What a great man and a great family
Sargent Shriver remained the Director of the Peace Corps well into the 80s.
Van Cliburn seemed very sweet, modest and charming.
What an amazingly talented man VC was.
We had our version of this programme in the U.K. but we would never have had a
charmer like Van Cliburn. I did not know he had English ancestors. Lovely gentleman,
and a pianist we will never forget.
A lovely gentleman who loved gentlemen.
Nine hundred an hour! One every four seconds.
I really like Dorothy's dress in this episode.
Van Cliburn - what a great performer - I wished I had had the honor of meeting him
I saw him on the Young and the Restless.
Van Cliburn had a wonderful sense of humor...
He sounds like a fun person to be around.
He's only 28 here.
Every episode of What's My Line is amazing. This one is a standout piece of history, with the exemplary Sargent Shriver, the suave Tony Randall, and the unexpectedly hilarious Van Cliburn. And a lady who peels bananas. This show, and especially episodes like this one, is a pinnacle of American culture and a cruel reminder of how far we have fallen.
Respectfully, you are overestimating the 1960s (height of MAD in the Cold War, all minorities discriminated against in almost every area of life, crimes against humanity in Southeast Asia, nepotism and infidelity in the White House, south ruled bu KKK, northern cities by corrupt mayors) and underestimating today’s culture (longer and healthier lifespan, instantaneous worldwide communications providing access to all arts and sciences from a smart phone, more Constitutional rights). As for personal characteristics don’t generalize elite sophisticated WML panelists and guests with the common man like me.
@@stevekru6518 , is it possible for some things to get worse while others get better? Is it possible that sometimes the meaning of getting worse and the meaning of getting better are matters of opinion?
Yes indeed .." ..how far we have fallen" 😢
@@stevekru6518 i speak from a personal experience - now we have rigged elections and fake media and woke/cancel culture - no freedom!
@@smadaf it’s indeed undisputedly possible. It’s also possible that it’s unnecessary to say “how far we’ve fallen” when communicating how much one is enjoying a slice of historical entertainment. “How far we’ve fallen” is exactly how the nonsensical and harmful MAGA cult was able to take hold.
I very much enjoy these episodes as an early millennial. I’m also able to put these in the proper context of history without nostalgia or rose colored glasses.
I’m very tired of reading comments about “how far we’ve fallen” and it just reminds me how silly I’ve been to continue reading internet comments and how little willpower and discipline I have to stop myself from reading and commenting myself.
Van Cliburn talks like he could host the show, he does good double talk like John Daly, LOL. I just about spit my pop out too when they asked if he was in the banana family too. :)
It's great watching these episodes with the commercials deleted.
It's quicker this way, but I miss the commercials. The old ones, especially the ones performed live, aren't obnoxious, as modern ones are-and they actually make me want the product, unlike 99.9% of modern ads. Two seasons of WML from about 1956 and '7 are available at Amazon Instant Video with the original ads: from one episode to the next, they alternate between Stoppette deodorant and Remington Rand (which alternates between R.R. business machines and the R.R. electric shaver). TV commercials started going downhill in the '60s; nowadays they're an abomination, and I find it almost impossible to believe that they get people to buy stuff. Even when I was growing up, in the '80s, TV commercials were far better than the ones made nowadays. It's amazing how people have forgotten how to do certain things well!
JFK’s brother-in-law, Maria Shriver’s Dad.
Yes, Maria has always been beautiful, and even though she appears to get her looks from her Kennedy side, her father was very handsome!
Arnold Schwarzenegger's father-in-law.
I was surprised to find out that John had won a Golden Globe for his work on WML. Very well deserved. Even more surprising is that John shared the award (For Best TV Star) with some comedian named Bob Newhart.
So it was well deserved but you’re surprised he got it?
@@icturner23 maybe he didn't realize there's a GG award for the kind of thing JD did on WML? I didn't.
@@suelutz5364 Exactly.
@@icturner23 No, surprised that the award was given to both men. It was like it was a tie with voters (No surprise that two icons like Daly and Newhart would receive any type of honor.)
Eddie Fisher (He lived in my building) told me that Van Cliburn gave him and Liz Taylor a private concert in their home and there were people standing on the sidewalk listening in.
Yes, this is true. Mr. Fisher related this story in one of the books he wrote. In his writing, he implies that it was part of an almost never ending task of keeping Elizabeth amused. (Well, who really knows about that part of his story).
Yet another overly-loquacious Mystery Guest. It really brings out the hams.
The most pleasant experience in any concert hall I've ever had was seeing Mr. Cliburn play Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto # 1 - the very work which won him the top prize at the 1958 Tchaikovsky piano competition in Moscow. It was in 2001 when it was announced Van Cliburn was coming to my city and I immediately bought tickets - the hall quickly sold out as I expected. The "Tall Texan," as Mr. Cliburn had sometimes been called, came onto the stage with a shy smile and was greeted like a rock-star - he settled in at his piano and took a few seconds to collect himself - and then proceeded to make magic. It's the only time I've heard a classical music crowd cheer between "movements," but it was that kind of a night. Bless his memory and legacy for always. Cheers and thanks for the wonderful posts!
Thanks for sharing your wonderful memory.
RivaRidge'72: Love The Meadow Farm connection.... I was a fan of both RR & Big Red. I only had a tiny moment in time with this fellow. Didn't really understand his excellence in his field.... just flew him from DFW to someplace out west. He was a perfect passenger, and happy I was able to help him get from the gate to the wire that day.
@@dieselnine1022 Thanks for sharing your great story. Few people think about the logistics of getting a horse from one point to (often) far away tracks with great care and efficiency. I'm sure Miss Penny Chenery (owner of Meadow Farm) was quite grateful for the good care you showed in getting her beloved horse safely to his destination.
🙄🙄🙄🙄
Van Cliburn and Debbie Reynolds answer similarly. I would love to have seen them be mystery guests together and tie the panel in knots!
Debbie always did the same amusing patter answering questions and they always knew her instantly, but kept the show going.
Love Van Cliburn
probably one of Tony's favorite mystery guests as he was a classical music afficionado
+kappelmeister123 yeppers
@kappelmeister123 In addition to regular old classical music, Tony Randall was a lay expert on grand opera. When the Met performances were live on Saturday afternoons on radio for many years, I think it was NPR, Randall did the commentary at the intermission with the chaps broadcasting it. And Randall was also an expert in classic theater, i.e. Eleonora Duse et al.
Then I would love to have met Van Cliburn and Tony Randall. Two distinguished representatives of the classical music world with wonderful senses of humor.
I loved this show as a kid but even more, I think, as an adult.
Absolutely! When watching it as a kid, so much was over my head. I can appreciate it so much more now.
This was one of my parents' favorite shows when I was growing up, and one of the few I was allowed to watch past my bedtime (it aired at 9:30 p.m. cdt Sunday during its entire run). The erudition and grace of Mr. Daly and the panel reinforced values my parents attempted to instill, and did so in a fun way.
Were you allowed to watch "Candid Camera," which aired right before "What's My Line?" on Sunday evenings? My parents emphatically forbade us to watch that show - and they didn't watch it, either.
@@jmccracken1963 , what did they dislike about Candid Camera?
@@jmccracken1963 My brother and I were both allowed (or encouraged) to stay up on Sunday evenings, to watch both Candid Camera and WML. I have fond memories of the entire family sharing these programs together. Especially since I'm now the only family member left.
Nice way to put it: turned Russia upside down. Tchaikovsky would approve.
I’d never heard of Tony Randall before watching these episodes here but he seems like a great and talented guy.
You never saw The Odd Couple on TV?
You seriously never heard of Tony Randall? Have you been living under a rock?
I don't know the age of the commenter, but if a person had been born in the 1980s, it highly likely they would not know who Tony Randall was. @@kentetalman9008
Bennett was correct: both bananas and plantains are part of the genus _Musa_. But somehow Bennett forgot to mention that the second challenger had a very appealing job.
Lois Simmons - Ooooh. Bad pun.
@@shirleyrombough8173 Actually, a very clever excellent pun. When it comes to wordplay, Lois doesn't monkey around.
Imagine peeling 900 bananas an hour that is a bunch of bananas!
@@robertfiller8634 I like how you go ape over my puns!
@@loissimmons6558 Another witty reply! Lois, I find you to be charming, erudite, encyclopedic in knowledge, witty, and, judging by your thumbnail photo, very pretty too!
Dorothy to the banana peeler after. unmasking @ 15:41 : "Are monkeys faster (at peeling bananas? (Wince, crickets)".
Savage.
Sargent Shriver in addition to being head of the peace corps from 1961 to 1964 was director of the poverty program from 1965 to 1967 ambassador to France 1968 to 1970 and vice presidential candidate of the democratic party on the ticket with George McGovern in 1972
And daddy to Maria Shriver.
I love how he plays Chopin,,so freely, easily and with feeling.
He also played skin flute
I love skin flute
@@henrygrove100 Me too!
I'm so glad John and the panel finally realized that plants are living things! Usually, when the question has been asked, "has it ever been alive?" and the product is something that comes from a plant, John has insisted that the answer is "no," even when the contestant thinks otherwise. I'll be curious to see how they deal with this question and answer in later episodes.
SaveThe TPC Yes! This always drives me batty. Paper was once alive. Natural fabric clothing was once alive. Wooden pencils were once alive. This is another category, like animal classification, where I'm completely baffled how a group of such intelligent people can possibly get it so wrong on such a routine basis!
I'm starting to wonder if Tony Randall's presence isn't the difference. I remember quite a while back seeing an episode where Tony successfully insisted on the interpretation that plants were alive. In fact, I thought the matter should have finally been settled thereby, but I've seen several episodes that happened since then (and did not have Tony on them), including the immediately preceding one, where plants were no longer, nor had they ever been, alive according to John Daly and the regular panelists. However, this time it's Dorothy who forces the correct interpretation. Why she didn't do it last week, I don't understand. I too will be listening closely in the future to see if they backslide in Tony's absence.
Robert Melson Interesting observation! I remember the episode in which Tony correctly insisted on plants being alive too -- not the details, but the fact that he did it. There too I was thankful!
SaveThe TPC While there may have been rare exceptions, they never changed the nutty interpretation of "alive" on WML.
I think it was some standard of the show to only refer to animals as formerly alive. I have heard John state many times that 'by our definition' or something similar to that.
Van was from my hometown of Shreveport. He kept his mother's home here for decades after she moved into his home in Ft. Worth. It was a big house that just sat empty all that time. He was a friend of my two old maid aunts, and I met him a couple of times when I was about 8 and 9 years old. He had huge hands.
Yes. He is the only truly, internationally famous person ever to be born in Shreveport.
Yes. He is the only truly, internationally famous person ever to be born in Shreveport, my place of birth as well.
He had huge hands? All the better to play the piano with my dear, says the big bad wolf. I don't know why I thought of that.
I truly didn't know who he was, but as a young captain at American Airlines, I flew him out of DFW to goodness knows where. He was a good passenger, and didn't make a fuss, so I liked him!
Sargent Shriver, founder of the Peace Corps, is one of our country’s greatest heroes. Such a shame that so few selfless people of moral excellence have emerged since his time.
This is before my time but not by much. Look at what we have now. A president that's an embarrassment and wouldn't know how to do anything selfless
Indeed. Unfortunately nowadays it would be seen as suspect that an agency of government would be created and one of the President's brother in laws would be at the head.
Should have been Vice President
@@jfallas Not only would it be suspect, it would actually be against US federal law.
@@obamna666 Of course that could have happened only if McGovern had won, which was an impossibility. The Kennedy family wanted all the elected glory for itself and not for the in-laws. They acceded to Shriver to be the VP nominee in 1972 precisely because there was no way he would win. Incidentally, of course, Shriver was only selected after Thomas Eagleton was forced to withdraw. Like Shriver, Eagleton was also a WML guest, with no blindfold, in the mid-1950s, when he was DA in St Louis.
Vanya!!! ❤️
I do believe Arlene had a bit of a crush on Van Cliburn.....but then, she could flirt so beautifully.
Van was very tall and strikingly handsome into his late 60's. He had tremendous charisma and, although gay, he appreciated a pretty woman and was exceedingly charming. I gave him roses many times at the end of his performances and he was always very appreciative and kind. He was also well known for his big bear hugs. He was a magnificent concert pianist - a musical genius - and one of the warmest, nicest people I ever met.
Polly
wiguy3 e
Beautifully? Seemed a little creepy.
Arlene is a chronic flirt
I wasn't old enough to watch this as a boy I was just learning to walk and talk then . But I enjoy this show now . To bad that this columnist was murdered in her home after her Sunday night show here on What's my line. .
Sargent Shriver -- one of a short line of past or future vice presidential candidates that appeared on WML.
And person he replaced on the ticket with George McGovern, Thomas Eagleton, also appeared on WML (in 1956). He was the District Attorney of St. Louis at the time, so unknown that the panel didn't need to be blindfolded.
yes, and two others were Estes Kefauver (Stevenson's running mate in 1956, before he was nominated, and Henry Cabot Lodge (NIxon's poor electoral choice for a running mate in 1960, before he was nominated. These were all future vp candidates -- I am unaware of any past VP candidates who appeared. One such past vp candidate did not appear on WML although he was a relative of John Daly's. Dewey's 1948 running mate, Earl Warren, Daly's father-in-law.
Wow, Van is so hilarious. He's just radiating class.
Mehra Ahsan - But yes Van Cliburn was a comedian as well as a wonderful musician!
Met Sargent and Eunice at the Delta Shuttle. They were flying to Bos and they were having an argument. This was before he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. He forgot his ID and he was blaming Eunice for not helping him with his dilemma.
I love Dorothy’s laugh
I would say this: John ‘I must say’ Daly, it must be said, was the King of Echolalia.
"Brigham Young's house is called 'the Beehive'-understandably"!
Just imagine, a classical pianist appears and the audience actually knows who he is. A long, long time ago.
robinbobilink I have one of Van Cliburn's albums. Come to think of it though, it was from a long, long, time ago, probably not all that long after this episode aired. I wonder whether I could find my record player too. I wonder if it still works... Actually I don't think he would have been nearly as widely known and had the popular recognition if not for the Cold War rivalry between the US and USSR. He became a media sensation when he "beat the Russkies" at their own Tchaikovsky competition. Bobby Fischer will do the same thing for chess in a few years. Both were incredibly talented and much deserving of recognition, but their role as Cold Warriors made them household names.
That's a great point!
I wonder if, a year later, Tony Randall bought a copy of Van Cliburn's RCA Victor studio recording of Brahms's Piano Concerto No. 2 in Bb, which he recorded a few months after this episode aired, with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Fritz Reiner.
and he was a national hero -- yes, a long, long time ago
What do you mean a
Long long time ago?? To some of us it was yesterday!!!!
I read, years ago, that Van Cliburn had a comfortable (!) 2 octave reach on the piano.
What does that mean?
@@peternagy-im4be Thank you for your enquiry. What I meant was Van CLIBURN's hands were so large that his thumb and small finger could reach 16 keys on the piano. A firm advantage in the piano 🎹 playing world. Capesce?
What a cultured time in our country. We've lost so much.
MsMsmak - I agree. Part of what we have lost too is that back then the audience was so appreciative of the work Eleanor Roosevelt had done for international human rights and the UN in the years since she was First Lady. And here they respect the work Sargent Shriver is doing to help save the world through what is called "soft power" by founding the Peace Corps. People knew then, shortly after WWII, the huge difference in the world that Kennan and Marshall and so many had made by putting money for peace where bombs had once been dropped. We came to see the unbelievable levels of peace and prosperity that were slowly lifting all of humankind through organizations like the UN, the EU, NATO, the British Commonwealth of Nations. So much we had gained, we are now losing.
MsMsmak - You are so right. How the US has fallen. I just want to cry (as if that would help). We could recapture that time again, depending upon this November.
@@shirleyrombough8173 Just to let you know that you replied to my reply to MsMsmak, rather than to MsMsmak so she has not gotten your response.
@@philippapay4352 Sorry - I cannot tell the difference.
@@shirleyrombough8173 Hit the reply button directly under her comment that is to the right of the thumbs down icon after the number of thumbs up shown. Not a problem. I just wanted you to know you got a wrong number.
I've been enjoying these episodes and have started watching them from the beginning. Thanks to the uploader.
At 20:36, Tony Randall say he "taped" Van Cliburn which surprised me. I would have thought VCR's were not available to the public or else were very expensive. I wonder how many people owned them privately.
+teavea10 I am sure that Mr. Randall is talking about audio tape, not video. Reel to reel audio tape was popular at the time and was overtaking the "Hi-Fi" record player. Audio tape made it possible to present music in stereo.
+Lawrence Jagdfeld
That makes much more sense. Wiki says the first home use video recorder wasn't until '63 or '65. Tony said CBS but I don't know if that was TV or radio. I don't know if any home TV's or radios had audio output back then. I'm guessing they might have just put a microphone up to the speaker.
And the Sunday-afternoon New York Philharmonic concerts were still broadcast regularly on CBS radio back then
Since the music was the main issue, perhaps Randall only audiotaped Cliburn but I would not assume that Randall did not have access to videotape. Pre 1965, very few World Series games were videotaped for instance and were lost forever. Some were taped for the armed forces including amazingly the last 8 innings of Don Larsen's 1956 perfect game for the Yankees. The game that afficionados were truly sorry was not taped was the incredible game 7 of the 1960 World Series that was decided on a walk off homer in a Pirates victory. Bing Crosby was a part owner of the Pirates and he was to leave for Europe before the game. He videotaped the game on home equipment. It was not discovered until decades after his death. It had in fact been videotaped. NBC ran it on TV and had the surviving players of both teams watch it and comment it. Bobby RIchardson, the only World Series MVP to have played for the losing team (it was a bizarre set of games), was still sore about 50 years later, and blamed the loss on Casey Stengel.
He must have made an audio tape from CBS radio or CBS television.
It used to be normal for American national commercial radio networks to present classical music. A member of my family was in the NBC Symphony Orchestra.
Dorothy: "Well, everybody's people are from SOMEWHERE!"
in these times when Sara Lee used "real" bananas to make their banana cake
Someone no longer likes Sara Lee?
According to the ingredients on the package, banana puree (made from real bananas) is listed as the number one ingredient (with Ascorbic Acid, aka Vitamin C, added to the puree. The description on the box states that real (not artificial) banana flavor is used as well.
Nice to see an old fashioned banana peeler on the show!
But in all fairness, it was rather unfair to continue to ignore the LOCKSMITHS of the world (my Father's profession) while we just threw on banana peelers wily-nily.
Right Bennett?
I mean this... Overly ripe bananas are good with the skin on.
He had aPiano competition that took place inFt WorthTx for many years
When I saw Van Cliburn entering the set I couldn't believe it was not Alvin. Wow, such a lookalike!
?
Peel 900 bananas in 1 hr? 4 sec per banana? Her fingers must hurt after work
I go to Sargent Shriver elementary school his grave is there and his wife and kids have been there
Van Cliburn at 16:16..
I don't recall Cliburn as a panelist prior to this. Must be one of the :missing"
Okay, found it. April of 59 MG was Hermione Gingold
Van Cliburn actually kissed the conductor after winning the prestigious Moscow Piano competition after his brilliant performance of Rachmaninov s 3rd piano concerto
Arlene Francis, like many, called him Mr Van Cliburn, as if that is his last name, since it has the Dutch aristocratic sound.
I always wondered if he would have been as famous if he had used his first name, Harvey. Van was short for "Lavan", his middle name.
H could have fooled them much longer here if he had used a high squeaky voice.
He looks like the Jacobs part of the family
9000 pounds of bananas
What did Arlene say after Tony Randall’s introduction of her, mentioning Kingsbury Hall at the U of U and “angelic” ? Can’t quite hear it on my sound equipment.
I can't make it out either-- the audience applause drowns it out.
+soulierinvestments It sounds like "Was that for the Mormons?"
I sometimes wonder if some contestants were a little embarrassed by having a 'line' that seems a lot less impressive than the one before them, such as 'Head of the Peace Corps followed by "peels bananas".
Sara Lee my hero.
900 Banana's in one hour?!
One every 4 seconds.
Do not squeeze his hands to hard .
Hal Simms does the Allstate ad. Johnny Olson introduces the panel.
Shriver and Kennedy. What link is Sargent Shriver to the wife of the X Governor of California?
Edwin Rivera Her father
Sargent Shriver married Eunice Kennedy..Eunice was a sister of John Kennedy,,Bobby Kennedy, and Ted Kennedy. SO.. Sarge was brother-in-law to. JFK, RFK, AND EMK.
Does anyone else think that Van Cliburn's voice sounds very similar to John Malkovich?
No.
Why did Bennett Cerf always get on the host's back? Especially this e pisode?
Rosa Kohl.... aka Red Cabbage
12:10 Was he referring to himself in a comical way?
Is it must me or does anybody else think Van Cliburn looks like Alvin Jacobs?
Jeff Vaughn You mean the world famous Alvin Jacobs of Nashville? I've heard talk.
What's My Line? Haha! I hate to laugh at my own jokes, but I've got to admit I was
giggling a little when I posted that. It was strictly for your
entertainment.
+Don R. Mueller, Ph.D. hopefully not that much LL was a strain to view
Uncle Van!!!
tony randall says, "this funny fruit..."
Just like the late 1960s/early 1970s-vintage radio (and maybe TV) commercials for prunes: "the funny fruit that does so much for you," as the ad slogan ran.
+jmccracken1963
I remember the commercials for Sunsweet Prunes that Stan Freberg created. Perhaps the best known was the one with the tag line "Today the pits, tomorrow the wrinkles: Sunsweet marches on!"
ua-cam.com/video/eRDLaSG6csA/v-deo.html
Cerf was a Jerk!
It's Dorthy Kilgallen that was murdered after this show at her town house late one night .
He really looks like Van Cliburn
Okay, I'm really getting tired of this, Paul. Rather than continue posting comments on either of your already existing two threads on this inane topic, you're starting yet another new thread? And this time, you finally say who you think your world famous uncle looks like on the show, but don't mention your uncle this time, you just say, "he". Enough. This was mildly amusing at first in a baffling sort of way. Now it's getting irritating.
What's My Line? exactly what do you think you can do about it?
I can exactly do something about this Suzy but don't worry about my comments, surely you have something else to worry about?
Paul Edelstein - That's because he bloody was Van Cliburn.
Arleen always looks at womans behinds when exiting
She and Dorothy often check out the men, too.
Kinda disgusting, like sneaking a peek thinking we don't notice their gawking.
The women are checking out the fashions other women are wearing. Haven't you ever heard that women dress for each other? Are you so vain that you thought they dress up for you?
He looks like my Uncle Alvin Jacobs of Nashville, ring a bell?
So now you're saying your uncle Al doesn't even have the same last name as you, yet you expected people to have *any* clue at all what you were talking in your first post about this while mentioning only his first name??? And you *still* haven't said who on the show you think he looked like! Really, why on earth would you leave not only one, but a series of comments like this publicly, is completely beyond me. . . There is *nothing* easily findable online about your "Uncle Alvin Jacobs" on Google, whoever he is/was. Note that it's 2:30 in the afternoon and I'm just as baffled as I was at 3am. If anyone else adds a comment here having any idea what you're talking about, I'll eat a bug. [rolls eyes]
What's My Line? No, I think Van Cliburn looked a lot more like Simon or Theodore than Alvin! ;)
Ok he is related to me thru my grandmother's brother Alvin and on my dsd's side I'm related to Jascha Heifetz, all distant cousins.
It is 4:52 I bet you are up
Paul Edelstein I don't think you've ever heard of the concept of time zone differences, have you? I give up.
Dorothy was brilliant but was very awkward and didn’t have a sense of humour, unlike Arlene who was very witty and Bennett who was goofy
Tomsriver yand j
who does Dorothy not wear a spec blindfold like the others instead of that awkward cloth around her eyes?
She has the right to use what she wants and risk messing her hair. The eye cover certainly doesn't look professional to me.
She's always worn that one. It's obviously a personal one. Arlene used to have her own version a few years back.
Van Cliburn was the first classical pianist that teen girls had on their bedroom walls. He WAS very good looking but unfortunately for them, he was gay.
+poetcomic1 That cannot be proven because of the deaths of so many Texans who were old enough in 1962 to understand what was going on. If you read Van Cliburn's Wikipedia article, you find the following about a civil litigation court case in Texas that might have proven what his sexual preference was, but it ended in obliquity.
In 1998, Cliburn was named in a lawsuit by his domestic partner of seventeen years, mortician Thomas Zaremba. In the suit, Zaremba claimed entitlement to a portion of Cliburn's income and assets and asserted that he may have been exposed to HIV, causing emotional distress. The claims were rebutted by a trial court and upheld by an appellate court, on the basis that palimony suits are not permitted in the state of Texas unless the relationship is based on a written agreement.
Can we remember these deceased performers for their performances? If you want the state of Alabama to repeal its sodomy laws, you’re wasting your time by obsessing on a dead performer who never lived in that state. You have to focus on boring legal issues, not old gossip.
Oh, I dunno. Franz Liszt, in the 19th Century, rose to something like that status. www.npr.org/2011/10/22/141617637/how-franz-liszt-became-the-worlds-first-rock-star
@@robertproperty8115 I just thought his heart throb status ironic, In the words of Dorothy Parker:
As I come closer to the tomb
I could care less
who sleeps with whom.
*_DIRECTOR OF PEACE CORPS_*
*_PEELS BANANAS_*
He looks like Alvin
Who is "he," and who is "Alvin"?
My Uncle Alvin
Paul Edelstein Well that's a truly baffling observation to make publicly. You do realize that you're the only one who has any idea who your Uncle Alvin is. I hope.
Oh no they are really famous in the south east American Paper and Twine check us out on website
3:51 a.m. Is early you must not be able to sleep well
Wml try yahoo search
Sometimes a mystery guest talks waaaaayyy too much and won't use much of a disguise and Van Cliburn was a prime example. He gave too much by not using a simple yes or no.
He was having fun and entertaining millions at the same time.
I thought he was great.
Van looks a bit like Prince Harry...or vice versa
must be on his father's English side!
francis can not shut her mouth
For the most part I find Tony Randall annoying. I liked im at first, but now he annoys me.
he's been dead over 10 years get on with your life............
You'll have to tell him some day.
Dorothy kilgallen is not very nice
No one is nice 100% of the time. It's called the Shadow side every human has. Hopefully, as we evolve there is less judgment and more understanding and compassion for others.🕊️
"Are you a member of the Kennedy family?" Oh dear. That breaks my heart. Look what we have lost and how far we have fallen as a country. THANK GOD Biden was elected. At least he has stopped the descent.
You've got to be kidding.
Biden at best is a joke. Totally and utterly useless and clueless to the same degree. In fact you may just as well put a tailors dummy in the White House. It is extremely difficult to tell if the guy is actually alive. Donald trumps him in every possible way.
Yes, dementia and paedophilia are wonderful qualities in a president. /s 😫
Jeeze, what meds are you on?
I agree with you, ma'am.
Maria Shriver ROFLMAO