As we get older, nostalgia can figure prominently in how we see the world and how we recall the past. The Chartocks got their first television in 1949. It was an Admiral and I remember that there were three channels, as opposed to the countless (mostly lousy) choices that we have today. I recall watching test patterns early in the morning in lieu of programming. It was hypnotic — sort of like watching the ocean or a fire. But little by little, things got better. It really wasn’t all that long before some excellent television shows came along.
Lately, I have been using my cell phone on my daily five-mile walks to call up an astounding vintage program that really does capture the 1950s and ’60s. That show, “What’s My Line?” had it all. If you’ve never seen it, you should check it out. You’ll get a real sense of what things were like back then.
I love the show because it provides all you need for an in-depth but fun-filled look into how things were. With the exception of Marilyn Monroe and Elvis, virtually every famous person of the time showed up as the top “mystery guest” (the panelists were blind-folded).
One time, even Eleanor Roosevelt was featured. It was a great moment. This was the late ’50s and early ’60s, and protocol demanded that as the guest left, if it was a woman, panelists such as Dorothy Kilgallen and Arlene Francis remained seated while the men, Steve Allen and Bennett Cerf, stood up. It brought tears to my eyes when Eleanor Roosevelt walked past the panel on her way off the set and everyone stood up. What a moment. She showed up because it was United Nations week in America and perhaps across the world. I think the panel was floored by her presence.
Of course, the people who watched liked some of the panelists more than others. John Daly was a top newsman in America. Watching him, you saw that he was really smart, he also had a terrific sense of humor and was incredibly well spoken. You liked him. The inclusion of guests like Sammy Davis Jr. gave you an idea where the politics of the group lay.
When I was a kid, I never really liked Random House publisher Bennett Cerf on the show. I thought he was too pompous, but 70-plus years later, I really appreciate the guy. I suspect that everyone’s favorite was Arlene Francis. She was so smart and so nice.
Some of the mystery guests appeared again and again. Lucille Ball came by herself many times and sometimes Desi was with her. A very sweet Natalie Wood was on long before her suspicious death on the yacht owned by her husband, Robert Wagner. Hearing her, I thought I might be in one of those science fiction stories where you are taken back in time.
You actually got to hear guest Chief Justice Earl Warren. Considering the disgraceful makeup of today’s Supreme Court, it really put into focus how things have changed. When you stop to think of where we were then and where we are going, you can see how very naive we were at the time. Where are our manners these days? The social tensions of the time are hardly apparent as you listen to “What’s My Line?” As things continue to get worse and as we see body-strewn streets, not only in New York City but in places such as Albany and Pittsfield, you want to weep. The planet is burning up. Water resources are diminishing. A former but still aspiring president of the United States is taking the path of Hitler and other scoundrels.
By 1967, it was all over. No more room for shows like “What’s My Line?” What a shame. As I watch all of the past episodes, I mourn for all we have lost and question the path that we have taken. It’s a long way from that first Admiral television set and yesterday’s patterns to our current confusion. Sad.
"back" - Google News
October 02, 2021 at 11:01AM
https://ift.tt/3adKxXT
I PUBLIUS: A trip back in time with 'What's My Line?' - theberkshireedge.com
"back" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2QNOfxc
Shoes Man Tutorial
Pos News Update
Meme Update
Korean Entertainment News
Japan News Update
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "I PUBLIUS: A trip back in time with 'What's My Line?' - theberkshireedge.com"
Post a Comment