Charming to see Van on What's My Line. As a Concert Pianist myself I met him briefly at the Van Cliburn Competition in Fort Worth (though I didn't compete) .. Amazing inspirational gent.

Mister Cliburn displayed great intelligence in this appearance. Articulate and humorous as well.

Van Cliburn did a lot of barnstorming. Saw him perform as a kid in Nashville, we young students were bused in to see him from our small town, I remember his charisma was striking as we see here on WML.

I had the privilege of meeting Lowell Thomas at a summer resort in Russian River, CA; where many of us kids and families were staying; in or around 1963; as I recall, he rented one of the cabins there for about a month and set up a broadcast station. He was kind enough to set up folding chairs for us kids to listen in on 'live' broadcasts. What a treat that was. We kids(about age 10 or so) knew who he was even then.

So many memories of Lowell Thomas. As soon as he talked in his natural voice I was instantly taken back to my childhood.

God, I love that voice Van Cliburn does. The panel is absolutely fooled!

@margealbus2829

2 жыл бұрын

U

That is SO,.. *SWEET* - -- PROFESSIONAL --- And KIND That They Stood Up Together! 😊😊☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️😊😊😊☺️😊😊👏👏👏👏👏

Per Van Cliburn, I will never forget Victor Borge's words about him on WML once: "He's confined to bed with a very bad haircut."

Van Cliburn (who was sometimes called the "Tall Texan," in reference to the state where he spent most of his life) was to classical music what Babe Ruth was to baseball. His winning of the International Tschaikowsky Piano Competition in Moscow (1958) made world headlines, as this was during the height of the US-Soviet Union "cold war." He played the famous Tschaikowsky Piano Concerto No. 1 and left the Russian judges open-mouthed and shaking their heads - he beat them at their own game - playing a work of the great Russian composer Tschaikowsky. A panicked phone call went out to Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev with the judges asking "what should we do?" Khrushchev asked them if Cliburn was "the best," and they said he was, the Soviet leader simply said that they needed to award Van Cliburn the prize. So at the age of 23 Van Cliburn was given a ticker-tape parade in New York City upon his return the the US. Sometimes true-life is more interesting/fascinating than fiction. Seeing this wonderful WML episode really made me smile. P.S. It was a big thrill for me to see and hear Mr. Cliburn play this same work in the fall of 2001 - the concert hall was standing room only. RIP sir! (Thank you for these great posts!)

@rmelin13231

Жыл бұрын

Excellent story. Thank you for sharing it.

Both Dorothy and Arlene looked so beautiful tonight. What a treat for us all.

Well this is one side of Van Cliburn that I have never seen in my entire life, and he's just really amazing and funny. I had always thought that musicians of his caliber would be so formal and stiff but he proved me wrong. And he's in other episodes too (about 3 in total if I'm not mistaken). My most favorite piano performance of his is Beethoven's 4th piano concerto in G, and a romantic piece called "Widmung" (Dedication) by Schumann (paraphrased by Liszt). Really sad he's gone now. But so thankful that he came to Manila back in the 70s (twice I think). Great artists don't die.

@slaytonp

Жыл бұрын

Van Cliburn and I were born at the same time, yet he is dead and I am not--What a pity that life is so unfair to those with such talent. and lets us parasites who can barely play chopsticks on the piano drone on and on. I can still listen to him however. and that consoles me.

Eddie Fisher told me that Cliburn gave him and Liz a concert at their home and people were standing outside on the sidewalk listening to this excellent pianist. CORRECTION; IT WAS DEBBIE & EDDIE NOT WITH LIZ.

I saw Miss Berholdt perform at the circus in Columbus GA in 1963- I was 8 yrs old. I was terrified for her- I could scarcely watch.

Lowell Thomas's daughter-in-law Tay Thomas wrote a book called Only in Alaska, which was a favorite of my Mom's. The young Thomases experienced adventure after adventure as they settled in Alaska. Tay Thomas describes their harrowing encounters with the wilderness with such joy and enthusiasm that it tended to make the reader want to move to Alaska that instant just to see it firsthand. Stories I remember after all these years include having to have a protective net under the car to keep rocks and pebbles from destroying the vehicle as they passed over unpaved roads at a crawl; mosquitoes that from the description sounded as big as dragonflies; preparing to brave harsh subzero temperatures in winter. Lowell Thomas Sr., the mystery guest here, was well-known as a news commentator. Perhaps under tutelage from Bennett Cerf?, he wrote in one of his books that he kept humble by remembering that he was just a common tater (tater being a nickname for the potato).

@carlajohnson9369

4 жыл бұрын

My Dad was moved to Alaska by Western Electric in the 50's. Mr. Thomas' family and ours were well acquainted; sharing meals and adventures. He and my father spent hours in a '2 prop' job flying over the 'last frontier', swapping lies. I recall him with a moustache and a very kind nature.

I marvel at the human imagination. It astonishes me that someone would wake up one morning and think to themselves, "I am going to learn how to juggle while hanging in mid-air and suspended from the ceiling by my hair." And just think of the beauty salon bills. How dangerous would it be to allow split ends?

The way as John entered the room was so funny, I almost cried of laughing. :)

@TylerDeBoy

3 жыл бұрын

I don’t get the joke. Pardon my inexperience with such a time 😅

@snugglyshadow2049

2 ай бұрын

​@@TylerDeBoyThe president of France at the time was Charles de Gaulle. So, if the the French took over the Rock of Gibraltar, they would name it after him, but to the English it would sound like "the gall stone". I know how frustrating it is when I come upon an old reference that means nothing to me today. (Although, I must confess that frequently I am coming upon new references that mean nothing to me, too)

Dorothy took off her blindfold before she was instructed to and looked at LT foe a good 10 or more seconds before John said his name. I would expect that she would either know him or certainly recognize him, but she gave no indication of that until JCD announced who he was. I loved Lowell Thomas as a great broadcaster. John and Lowell had a very long and nice relationship, evidenced by his calling him Pop as he left.

This is the 3rd time since 1958 that Van Cliburn has been on.

@robbob1234

3 жыл бұрын

And his mom too!

Lowell Thomas makes reference to the recent Alaska earthquake.

@savethetpc6406

10 жыл бұрын

Chris Barat Thank you for explaining that. I was wondering what they were referring to that had happened in Alaska.

@shirleyrombough8173

4 жыл бұрын

Chris Barat - Llowell Thomas - a great philanthropic gesture to ask for help for Alaska.

@shirleyrombough8173

4 жыл бұрын

And Bennett Cerf doesn't change. He still looks the same.

@kentetalman9008

10 ай бұрын

I remember when that happened. Life Magazine had a special issue devoted to the quake. I was terrified by some of the photos.

Allen Ludden mentions FDR's former postmaster, James Farley. Farley was a mystery guest on May 10, 1950.

@loissimmons6558

5 жыл бұрын

James Farley was born in Rockland County (NY), the county where I have lived for over 55 years. Younger people generally do not know that Postmaster General of the United States was one of the earliest cabinet level positions in the Federal Government and will also be unaware of how important a politician Farley was. But I know because he was a native son in my area and continued to get frequent mention in the local newspapers even for a number of years after his death in 1976, one month shy of America's Bicentennial celebration. As chairman of the important New York State Democratic Party from October 1930 to June 1944 and simultaneously chairman of the national Democratic Party from July 1932 to August 1940, Farley is often credited as being the power behind the throne that led to FDR being nominated as the Democratic Party Presidential nominee in 1932 and his election as President in 1936. He was also FDR's campaign manager in his NY gubernatorial races in 1928 and 1930, as well as his presidential campaigns in 1932 and 1936. Predicting huge landslides for his candidate in 1932 and 1936, he is credited with revolutionizing the use of polling data in U.S. politics. It was also Farley who largely controlled the patronage in the White House during FDR's first two terms in office and who pulled together the New Deal coalition of Catholics, labor unions, blacks and farmers. He also helped make the U.S. Post Office profitable during the Great Depression, a rare occurrence in the history of that institution, including expanding and outsourcing Air Mail service. And he is credited for being a leader in the efforts to repeal prohibition. Farley broke with FDR in 1940 over the issue of running for a third term as President. Farley had hoped to succeed to the Presidency in 1940 while FDR said he would not actively run but would accept the nomination if drafted by the convention delegates. Farley finished second in the number of delegates at the 1940 convention, but the rift between him and FDR was widened when FDR announced he would support Cordell Hull as the nominee if the delegates did not want him to run for a third term. In 1947, President Truman appointed Farley as a member of a commission to reorganize the Executive Branch of the U.S. Government. Among the accomplishments of that commission was the advancement and adoption of the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, limiting the office of the President to two terms. It is considered vindication for his opposition to FDR running for a third term and breaking the two term tradition that had lasted for over 150 years. In private industry, Farley used his political influence and government connections during and after WWII to expand Coca Cola into a significant worldwide presence. The Coca Cola logo continues to be one of the best known around the world, promoted largely at U.S. government expense during the 1940's. The soda was shipped to G.I.'s as an essential item on the grounds of being a morale booster. And 59 new Coke plants were installed with U.S. government help as part of the efforts to rebuild Europe. The main post office building in Manhattan bears Farley's name. While the building has been given National Historic Landmark status, portions of the building are being repurposed to serve as an annex to Penn Station located on the other side of 8th Avenue, in particular to house a new concourse for the Amtrak portion of the station complex.

Interesting fact . This episode aired in 1964. Both Lowell Thomas and Allen Ludden would pass away 17 yrs later in the same year 1981.

Van Cliburn's mother once appeared on WML in her job as a piano teacher. Who knew that any distinguished concert pianist this side of Victor Borge could be FUNNY?

@DLAN-jb3hb

9 жыл бұрын

soulierinvestments Which one was that one?

@jmccracken1963

7 жыл бұрын

+DLAN 1122 25 May 1958. She signed in as "Mrs. X."

14:13 I think the BBC version of WML was in the habit of doing this whenever they revealed their contestants' profession to the audience, but this is the first time I've seen the American version showing a picture of a contestant at work! I think it's a very nice touch to be able to see these people "in situ".

From 19:40: a great pianist and a real comedian!

@PersnicketyRed

3 жыл бұрын

I think this is the funniest of all his appearances! ❤️

Van Cliburn was really delightful. Half the age and twice the fun of dour Lowell Thomas. Gee wiz!

@Camop-iz9kt

4 жыл бұрын

Van is only 28 here.

Wow, Bennett Cerf was good, he guessed that the 2nd guest worked for the circus right away.

@elliebellie7816

Жыл бұрын

Guessed? Or fed certain information prior to the show?

@kentetalman9008

10 ай бұрын

@@elliebellie7816 Nonsense. The circus had been in town, and Arlene had already asked about it with Lowell Thomas.

John gave a major clue about the 1st mystery guest when asked if he's on TV John said "it depends on what time" but the panel appeared to have missed it

Very enjoyable episode here. I remember seeing Lowell Thomas frequently on TV. Van Cliburn was fully involved in having fun. I wonder if Glenn Gould was ever a guest. Thank You

@jmccracken1963

7 жыл бұрын

Glenn Gould was never a guest on "What's My Line?" - neither CBS nor syndicated.

That is one great goal Cliburn was trying to achieve, 10 million back then would be worth over 80 million today.

I totally agree with Mr. Lowell Thomas. Help is needed right here in our states and Alaska should be on the top of the list.

Lowell Thomas did a TV show for pbs in 1978

So great to see this side of Van Cliburn. However he made a few mistakes about Interlochen. At that time it was called National Music Camp (NMC) which was founded in 1928. At the time of his appearance on WML, NMC was going into it's 36th season. Interlochen Arts Academy (boarding school) was a year old by then. Much of the fund raising helped secure scholarships, infrastructure, and world class faculty and visiting performing artists like Van Cliburn all year round. His donation of $50 would be close to $475 in 2022 money. This was a FUN episode from beginning to end.

Allen Ludden, was a really cool guy. He was funny, and kind. I felt so bad that he passed. And be left poor Betty White to live without him for like 40 years

Cerf's opening pun was a good one.

@umot6277

5 жыл бұрын

Can you explain it, please?

@michaelclark6223

4 жыл бұрын

@@umot6277 Charles De Gaulle was the leader of the French resistance against the Nazis, and later president of France. The Paris airport is named for him. Gallstones are deposits that form in the gallbladder frequently needing surgery. De Gaulle was president at the time of this program, and making headlines in the news I'm sure. But I'm afraid if the joke has to be explained this much, you're not going to laugh.

@shirleyrombough8173

4 жыл бұрын

Dan Celli - Dang, I didn't catch Bennett Cerf's pun - juggler vein!

Bennett asks if the circus lady works alone or works does a solo... John not only does not object to this incorrect styling of the question, he REITERATES it for her. Please John, only questions that elicit a yes or no answer will be allowed. I think John was still excited by Lowell Thomas.

Lowell Thomas was from Victor Colorado. There is a Lowell Thomas museum there. If you get near Victor you should spend some time there. Van is from my hometown of Shreveport, but no museum for him.

Johnny Olson: "First the young lady who is now appearing at the Yonkers Playhouse in Kind Sir, Miss Arlene Francis." The young lady in question was 56 years old at the time of this broadcast.

@savethetpc6406

10 жыл бұрын

romeman01 For some reason, YT/Google+ won't let me give your above explanatory post a "thumbs up" officially, so I'm giving it a verbal thumbs up instead -- well said!

@WhatsMyLine

10 жыл бұрын

SaveThe TPC I can't thumbs up the comment, either. KZread!!!

@romeman01

10 жыл бұрын

I may also add: 4) Being myself one year older than Arlene Francis was in this episode, I accept Johnny Olson's implied designation of me as a "young man" with a suppressed chuckle and a wry smile.

@romeman01

10 жыл бұрын

To SaveThe TPC and What's My Line?: I abominate the decision of KZread to force us over onto Google+ accounts in order to use KZread to its fullest extent. I ardently desire to get rid of Google+, but they will not allow me to do that and retain the ability to post comments at KZread. So all I can do is do everything I can to keep out of Google+ by not enabling my posts to KZread to be replicated on Google+ and also by not posting on other people's Google+ pages when I reply to their posts here. This last fact may be linked to your inability to like my post. Maybe not; it might be a KZread glitch, as you say. But it may be that they don't like me not playing their game.

@savethetpc6406

10 жыл бұрын

romeman01 Hmm... I understand your feelings about Google+, but I received a notification about your last comments here through Google, and I'm glad I did.

Lowell Thomas,. So long until tomorrow !

Lowell Thomas acted unusual.

Why was Lowell Thomas considered a regular contestant rather than a mystery guest? The panel was blindfolded but was not limited to one question at a time and the panel was asked to guess his occupation instead of his identity.

On this show was another example of Bennet not being able to keep his big mouth shut and giving something away out of turn when the circus performer was on. It always baffled my why the producers continually let him get away with that.

When they took their masks off, it was the most shocked I've seen the panel in a long time. AND I noticed that without his glasses Allen Ludden looks a little like Art Linkletter. Huh?

I don't recall any other of Bennett's puns getting such a reaction from the audience as his "De Gaulle stone".

Lowell Thomas has a building named in his honor at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York,

Bruce Johnston of the Beach Boys trained at Interlochen.

Mr. Daly was such a class act through & through. I can't think of many hosts who would've been so quick on the feet when Mr. Cerf asked Christin to stand up. Mr. Daly made sure she didn't feel as if she was on display.

Saw him in St Louis in 1975

Alaska earthquake in March 1964 registered on the Richter scale at 9, making it the worst / stronger earthquake ever in North America. Talk about an experience that changed the landscape. Literally.

It would be interesting to know how many episodes there were other than this in which there were TWO mystery guest segments and the guests stumped the panel in BOTH cases.

@terrihenricks4160

6 жыл бұрын

Technically, Lowell Thomas was a regular contestant and not a mystery quest. The panel was asked to guess his occupation and not his identity, and the panelists were not limited to one question at a time.

Cliburn gives a pitch for the Interlochen Music Center, where I saw him in 1968.

Music is generally an important part of the circus experience. I presume the second challenger performed with the accompaniment of long-hair music.

@shirleyrombough8173

4 жыл бұрын

Lois Simmons - Groan!

@robertfiller8634

3 жыл бұрын

@@shirleyrombough8173 Lois, the punmeister, strikes again!

14:00 -- just about the only time WML showed a photo of the contestant in action. I suppose the photo was needed because the occupation was so improbably unbelievable. I will refrain from referring to the profession as hair raising.

@savethetpc6406

10 жыл бұрын

soulierinvestments Actually, you did *not* refrain, but at least your pun is better than Bennett's about the "juggler vein!" Your comment also helps to answer the question from *****, above.

@shirleyrombough8173

4 жыл бұрын

soulierinvestments - Another pun? Y'all don't give up, do you?

Hey! The circus lady stood up for inspection by Bennett! John did say that this was highly irregular. To say the least! Quizmaster, is this the only time since the abolition of the "walk of shame" nearly 10 years earlier that a contestant had to perform for the panel? Oh, The Ignominy of It All!

@WhatsMyLine

10 жыл бұрын

Yes, that was a bizarre moment. I kind of surprised John allowed it. I have no idea what information Bennett thought he was going to gleam from seeing her stand up.

@MrJoeybabe25

10 жыл бұрын

What's My Line? Nothing! He just wanted another look! :>)

I assume Dorothy was making a lot of money with all of her exploits...but beyond that was she really "rich"? I know Bennet and Arlene were multi millionaires. Funny how Ludden was left out of Lowell's comment!

Mon dieu- Arleen and Dorothy both lost weight! They look great.

This is not meant as any reflection on Lowell Thomas’s august career, but those long delays he takes in answering many the questions makes it seem he didn’t know the answers. I found it really irritating! Maybe I am just very irritable 😑

@QuadMochaMatti

2 ай бұрын

Perhaps you should switch to Sanka ☕.

I love how Cerf almost aways starts out by showing off his knowledge of geography and industrial associations, none of which hardly ever pays off for him. But it reinforces his intelligence, which I suppose is what he is really after.

Just a few shows ago (2/16/64) Bennett was upset that Buddy Hackett guessed Carol Burnett as the mystery guest out of turn yet tonight Bennett blurts out "juggles" when it was Allen Ludden's turn. Interesting that he would do that when he seemed to dislike it when it was done to him.

@orgonkothewildlyuntamed6301

8 жыл бұрын

+Jeff Vaughn maybe because Allen was probably one of the worst guest panelists(not taking anything away from him as a person) but for this game he was clueless

@Rockaria23

8 жыл бұрын

It always annoys me when you hear Bennett mumbling stuff even though it's not his go.

@preppysocks209

4 жыл бұрын

Well some guys will go after other guys' wives but they won't cotton to other guys going after theirs. If you can't tell, Bennett was an egomaniac.

Lowell Thomas at least seems to enjoy doing this program more than he did "This Is Your Life"!

@bobschaaf2549

2 жыл бұрын

"This is a sinister conspiracy!"

How was Lowell Thomas in the sports world, unless you include exploring?

@savethetpc6406

10 жыл бұрын

Joe Postove At 10:45 he explains that he was involved with skiing and golfing -- both from the management side and "the other side as well," meaning as a participant.

@neilmidkiff

5 жыл бұрын

And he narrated newsreels including sports clips, too.

Arlene Francis was making $!K per episode at this time

Did anyone try Geritol?

What was going on in Alaska at the time?

There's an interesting story behind this episode: It was skipped in 2002 for no reason by GSN. They skipped it again in 2004 for testing of their new website. This episode was thought to be lost to the ravages of time, until 2006, when it, at long last, aired on GSN. It might have aired during the 1990's, though. epaddon, do you know if this episode aired during the 1990's, or not?

@epaddon

10 жыл бұрын

I'm certain it had to because between 1994 and 1997, GSN went through the whole cycle at least once. WML was airing twice a day with different parts of the run in the earliest point in GSN history.

Van Cliburn is still a ham - but great accent.

What is "Facebook"?

Lowell Thomas was a writer, broadcaster, and traveler, best known as the man who made Lawrence of Arabia famous.

😂😂😂😂😂❤❤❤

Van Cliburn was born in July 1934 so he had just turned 30 here. He looks a lot older.

@jmccracken1963

7 жыл бұрын

A few months short of 30. Remember: this is April of 1964.

@QuadMochaMatti

2 ай бұрын

Texans always look odd when compared to Real Americans.

Why did Dorothy and Arlene swap places for this episode?

Uncle Lowie!

@henrygrove100

7 жыл бұрын

He's a distant cousin thought uncle at first.

John said Bennett's pun was a real "Doozer". Does he mean "Duuzy" as in "Duisenberg" the car from which the expression comes from?

@barrykendrick3146

4 жыл бұрын

+Joe Postove The origin of the word "doozy" is unknown, but it clearly did not come from the car as its use predated the car's existence.

*_LOWELL THOMAS, NEWS COMMENTATOR_* *_CIRCUS JUGGLER WHO HANGS BY HAIR FROM TOP OF ARENA_* 00:51 YOUNG lady? 😆

Gulp

Lowell Thomas wrote dozens of books on all sorts of subjects, travel being only one of his fortes. It is easier to think of places he did not visit. His CBS radio newscast continued for a dozen more years. I remember his newscast well: on KSL-AM SLC it came on at 6:00 p.m. MT. However -- his game itself is one of the dullest WML sequences. Why did he not project much in the way of personality or humor?

@johnedwards9148

3 жыл бұрын

An "off" night for Mr. Thomas perhaps. This video, recorded just two weeks before his death, shows us the Lowell Thomas most remembered - kzread.info/dash/bejne/kYqZy8ayaKncn7g.html

19:41 Van Cliburn

Take the title...take the title DOWN, ok there it goes! (DIRECTOR SMACKS GUY WHO'S IN THE MIDDLE OF A SANDWICH.)

I remember a WML where Victor Borge said Van Cliburn was at home in bed, indisposed with a bad haircut, when someone guessed that's who he was. Ha.

@neilmidkiff

8 жыл бұрын

That was December 15, 1963, at 21:03 and following. For some reason the usual "share" button to make a link with a time marker isn't showing up, but it's worth seeking out as one of Borge's best quips.

@charmainemorley2197

3 жыл бұрын

Actually I think Van Cliburn was blessed with a particularly fine head of hair!

Lowell Thomas came across as clueless on how the game is played....he kept answering "yes" to every question to which he had a tangential relationship. The dude is a professional network "News Commentator," yet when Arlene asked him "Are you in the Sports world?" he answered "yes" because he enjoys amateur golf and skiing and unknowingly to the public, helps somehow in its management. Geez. Watching him was like watching paint dry.

What kind of a challenge was this, all the panelists had to do is buy the newspaper the night before, find the entertainment section, see who was going to be in town and they knew most likely it was going to be in the show.

What a dud Lowell Thomas turned out to be.

Lowell Thomas was incredibly tacky to solicit donations like that. Sure it was a good cause but so are thousands of others. I'm sure the people dying of cancer in Florida are suffering every much as an earthquake victim.

@WhatsMyLine

7 жыл бұрын

That's got to be one of the most insane objections I've read all year. So no one is allowed to make a call for charitable donations on TV? For any cause? Just because there are other good causes out there, too? How completely ridiculous.

@orgonkothewildlyuntamed6301

6 жыл бұрын

i agree with you 100%

Amazing that this goofy thing was even a show!

@kentetalman9008

10 ай бұрын

And a damn good one!

Gulp

@bogieviews

2 жыл бұрын

You show up every couple of years. You're due again.