"What's My Line?" (1950)TV series 1950-1967

Directors:

Paul Alter
Frank Satenstein

Seasons:

unknown

Release Date:

2 February 1950 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Game-Show

Plot:

Contestants with unusual occupations were interviewed by the panelists. Only questions that could be answered with a "yes" or "no" were allowed...

Plot Keywords:

Panel | Mask | Quiz Show | Non Fiction

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 3 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

John Daly	...	Moderator / ... (598 episodes, 1950-1967)
Arlene Francis	...	Herself / ... (539 episodes, 1950-1967)
Bennett Cerf	...	Himself / ... (468 episodes, 1950-1967)
Dorothy Kilgallen	...	Herself / ... (438 episodes, 1950-1965)
Johnny Olson	...	Announcer / ... (253 episodes, 1957-1967)

(more)

Series Directed by
Franklin Heller		(338 episodes, 1950-1967)
Alvin R. Mifelow		(8 episodes, 1961)
Frank Satenstein		(5 episodes, 1954-1956)
Paul Alter		(3 episodes, 1957-1961)
Paul Monroe		(2 episodes, 1950)
S. Robert Rowe		(2 episodes, 1959)
Ira Skutch		(2 episodes, 1962-1964)

Series Produced by
Mark Goodson	....	co-producer / producer / ... (351 episodes, 1950-1967)
Bill Todman	....	co-producer / producer / ... (347 episodes, 1950-1967)
Gil Fates	....	executive producer / producer (217 episodes, 1950-1967)
Milt Myers	....	supervising producer (212 episodes, 1963-1967)
Bob Bach	....	associate producer / coordinating producer / ... (106 episodes, 1952-1967)
Ann Kaminsky	....	associate producer (97 episodes, 1953-1967)
Frances Trocaine	....	associate producer (5 episodes, 1953-1965)
Bill Egan	....	associate producer (3 episodes, 1954-1962)

Series Casting by
Helen Marcus		(4 episodes, 1953-1955)

Series Art Direction by
Robert Rowe Paddock		(9 episodes, 1953-1955)

Series Set Decoration by
Robert Rowe Paddock		(59 episodes, 1953-1954)
John Ward		(2 episodes, 1967)

Series Makeup Department
Dee Darnay	....	makeup artist (1 episode, 1964)

Series Production Management
Milt Myers	....	production supervisor (53 episodes, 1953-1966)
Sid Sirulnick	....	production supervisor (13 episodes, 1966-1967)
Anthony Boschetti	....	production supervisor (8 episodes, 1953-1965)
Ann Kaminsky	....	production supervisor (4 episodes, 1958-1965)
James Murphy	....	production supervisor (2 episodes, 1965)
Gil Herman	....	production supervisor (1 episode, 1962-1963)

Series Art Department
Willard Levitas	....	set designer (48 episodes, 1959-1964)
John Ward	....	set designer (40 episodes, 1953-1967)
Jack Landau	....	scenic designer (11 episodes, 1953-1965)
Robert Rowe Paddock	....	settings / set designer (10 episodes, 1953-1954)

Series Sound Department
B.A. Taylor	....	sound / audio (79 episodes, 1953-1967)
A.J. Gulino	....	sound (2 episodes, 1966-1967)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Gene Ulrich	....	lighting director (66 episodes, 1959-1967)
Hal Anderson	....	lighting director / lighting technician (13 episodes, 1953-1966)
Vernon Cook	....	lighting director (6 episodes, 1953-1965)
Stan Alper	....	lighting director (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Lou Busch	....	composer: closing theme "Rollercoaster" (60 episodes, 1953-1965)
Milton Delugg	....	composer: closing theme "Rollercoaster" (60 episodes, 1953-1965)
Raymond Scott	....	composer: alternate closing theme "The Toy Trumpet" (54 episodes, 1953-1959)
Sascha Burland	....	composer: opening theme "Sounds" (45 episodes, 1954-1965)
Wilfred Burns	....	composer: opening theme "Melody in Moccasins" (10 episodes, 1953-1965)

Series Other crew
Bob Bach	....	production coordinator / associate producer (204 episodes, 1950-1967)
Frances Trocaine	....	program manager (122 episodes, 1952-1962)
Carl Schutzman	....	technical director (61 episodes, 1957-1967)
Dan F. Smith	....	associate director (55 episodes, 1957-1967)
Vernon Gamble	....	technical director (27 episodes, 1953-1967)
Barbara Griff	....	program staff / program coordinator (13 episodes, 1953-1967)
Alyce Finell	....	program staff / production assistant (10 episodes, 1965)
Ted Miller	....	technical director (6 episodes, 1953-1964)
Alvin R. Mifelow	....	associate director (6 episodes, 1956-1964)
David Roth	....	associate director (3 episodes, 1967)
Alan J. Shalleck	....	associate director (2 episodes, 1962)
Roland Vance	....	associate director (2 episodes, 1967)
William Guyon	....	technical director (unknown episodes)
Walter Pile	....	technical director (unknown episodes)
Hal Warner	....	technical director (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• CBS Television
• Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions

Distributors

• CBS Television (1950-1967) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Fremantle Corporation, The

Other Companies

• Allstate Insurance  original sponsor
• CBS Studio #50  origination
• CBS Studio #52  origination
• CBS Studio #59  origination
• CBS Studio #72  origination
• Grand Central Studios, New York  origination
• Helene Curtis  original sponsor
• Kellogg's Cereals  original sponsor
• Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company  original sponsor
• Remington Rand  original sponsor
• Standard Brands  original sponsor
• Stopette Deodorant  original sponsor

Also Known As:

Occupation Unknown (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

30 min (876 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White (1950-1966) | Color (1966-1967)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

CBS Broadcast Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

CBS Television

Trivia:

Legendary New York/San Francisco Giants broadcaster Russ Hodges appeared on the October 7, 1962 broadcast. He was in town covering the World Series when he appeared. However, the panel didn't blindfold themselves because he felt confident that the panel wouldn't recognize him because of the fact that he wasn't on television that much, but he did sign in as Mr. X because he felt some of the panelists might have recognized his name.

Quotes:

Steve Allen: Is it bigger than a bread box?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer: What's My Line?: Part 2 (#2.10)" (1997)

Soundtrack:

Melody In Moccasins

Thank Goodness For GSN B/W Overnite!

The best "What My Lines" to me are the ones from the 1950's I tape 7 days a week from the Game Show Network.

There is so much history. I have seen many notable people/celebrities from the 50's--Conrad Hilton (Hilton Hotels), Rodgers & Hammerstein, Jo Stafford, Walt Disney, Jane Powell, Lucy & Desi, just to name a few.

Also, as stated here, there's a class and sophistication that is evident from the very beginning of the shows.

Arlene and Dorothy would be introduced and would gracefully appear in the most glamourous/classy dresses and evening gowns.

I loved Bennett Ceif. He was so intelligent and funny. He was publisher and was well versed on so many subjects.

I am taping every one I can because I know in another 10 to 20 years these may never be available again. I also enjoy watching them every evening--it's just as fresh as when they first aired.