If we think that television is confined to a tiny parochial society in New York City now, it's nothing like it was back in the 50s when John Daly, Bennet Cerf, Dorothy Kilgallen, somebody's wife whose name I can't remember but I can see her face and some other guy ruled the airwaves with "What's My Line" on Sunday nights. They were all "literary lights" I think but few outside of NY ever had heard of them.
But it was an extremely popular show. Wiki says the other two were Arlene Francis and Steve Allen-Fred Allen-and-then-a-guest panelist (over time).
It's seems to me that if the guest stumped the panel he got something like $50. Times sure have changed.
The last guest of the evening was always a celebrity. The panel was blindfolded for that contest.
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If we think that television is confined to a tiny parochial society in New York City now, it's nothing like it was back in the 50s when John Daly, Bennet Cerf, Dorothy Kilgallen, somebody's wife whose name I can't remember but I can see her face and some other guy ruled the airwaves with "What's My Line" on Sunday nights. They were all "literary lights" I think but few outside of NY ever had heard of them.
But it was an extremely popular show. Wiki says the other two were Arlene Francis and Steve Allen-Fred Allen-and-then-a-guest panelist (over time).
It's seems to me that if the guest stumped the panel he got something like $50. Times sure have changed.
The last guest of the evening was always a celebrity. The panel was blindfolded for that contest.
Ray - don't pretend you are younger than me - they were all journalists - except for the Broadway people. Everyone knew who they were.
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