Anita Gillette

WHAT’S MY LINE?-Date Unknown

Host: Wally Bruner
Announcer: Johnny Olson

Celebrity Panel:

  • Soupy Sales
  • Anita Gillette
  • Bert Convy
  • Arlene Francis

FIRST GUEST: Francis Kelly (Bronx, NY)

He’s self-employed, concerned with a product

Arlene: Might I possibly have this product?
You Could
Used by both sexes?
Yes
Does it come in contact with the person?
No $5

Soupy: Found in the home?
Yes
Found in one room more than another?
Probably, but Wally calls it a No $10

Anita: Could I hold it in my hand?
Yes
Comes in contact with other places beside the hand?
No $15

Bert: Is this product functional?
“It Lives” Bert heard it, but Francis and Wally deny it.

Go on, you big stoop!

Does it do something?
Yes
Does it perform a task for the home?
Not necessarily $20

Arlene: Is this product is or has every been alive?
Yes
In the animal family?
Yes
Is it a pet?
“It Can Be”
Is it a Bird?
Yes
Is it a Canary or Parakeet? (There’s a difference)
Canary
Does it talk?
No $25

Soupy: “He gains 300 pounds and hollers CHEEP?”
Not a question
Do you train canaries?
Yes

“They kamikaze canaries. They throw themselves in cat’s mouths?”

Train them to sing?
YES

Our bird expert has brought a quartet of his class of 60! Yes! 60! Johnny O. brings them out, after they’ve been flying around the dressing room. Wally says a cat stood by in case they got rowdy. Francis has no problem living with ’em all By listening to what the mic was picking up, they are have bass voices. Wally needs to bring them closer. All you can do is give them time to work out their stage fright. In a contest, birds get up to a half a hour to perform!

Our birds have gotten a little better. In other knowledge, Francis uses a graduate canary to train students. But with only a little taste, another group of birds serenade us. (The Panel)

SECOND GUEST: Dianna Engel (New York City)

She’s salaried and deals with a service.

Soupy: Would I come to you?
Yes (Bert: Can I come with you?)

Are you wearing something other than what you’re wearing?
(Dianna has a typical 60s floral dress) No $5

Anita: Would I use it too?
Yes
Would I enjoy it as much as Soupy?
Aside from some side benefits, Yes
Do you touch people?
No $10

I’m so sorry to hear that?

Bert

Would you say this service would make me feel better?
No therapeutic benefit but Yes
Would I need an appointment?
No $15

Arlene: Are you employed with others in the same line?
Yes

A place where one might wants some relaxation?
Dianna says Yes but Wally doesn’t think so. Arlene’s getting miffed, so it’s a Yes
Do they serve anything to eat or drink?
A definite No $20

Soupy: Is there an office?
Yes
Do you do any paperwork?
Yes
Do people come that have a particular problem involving paperwork?
Dianna was unsure, but time’s up anyway

Arlene guesses it’s a cashier. Soupy guesses a hostess on a patrol wagon. Both wrong! She’s a STOCKBROKER. Her company is Kern Securities. How did a nice girl like you get in a business like this? She just started investing, got good and decided to spread the knowledge. And the men don’t see to mind if you earn their respect. Soupy and Bert are in for sure.

MYSTERY GUEST

The guest welcomes us in a voice sounding like Julia Child.

“It’s one of my mother’s favorite shows and one of the birds is loose backstage.

Bert: Are you primarily known for television?
Yes, giggling with excitement
Arlene: Do you have your own series?
Yes
Soupy: A nighttime show?
No
Anita: Afternoon talk show?
No
Bert: Game Show?
Yes
Arlene: Are you the moderator?
“Yes, and I’m so beautiful”

Soupy: GENE RAYBURN, everyone knew it.

Gene says he’s done plenty of voices with his wife…

IT WASN’T A JOKE, A BIRD IS LOOSE!

Anyway, Mrs. Rayburn says Gene has a certain tone in his voice. The only option was Falsetto. The entire panel has been on “The Match Game”. Along with all those game shows and #1 DJ in New York, what’s left? Two Things: Create a starring role in Broadway and movie. After that, he’ll quit! ANYTHING BUT THAT! Reminisicing about past What’s My Line appearances, there was the time Gene milked a cow with the boy from Illinois. One of the most popular things fans talk about. Soupy says the cow should’ve gotten kid gloves, Gene’s got the coldest hands in the business. Cold Hands, Warm Personality!

Honest Answers:

Marsha Robbins (New Rochelle) for Soupy:
“Do you really wear a Mickey Mouse watch?”
Answer: Yes, and we get the closeup to prove it. When it slows down, he feeds it cheese

For Bert: “What was your occupation before you became an actor?”
Answer: Played in the Philadelphia Phillies farm system

Arlene: Do you have any dogs?
Answer: Not currently, but there used to be Otto Von Bismarck (Dacushand), Sheep dog, Scottie, Russian Wolfhound.

Wait, what about the canary! He flew to the top of the lights and finally began to sing. Don’t call the Humane Society, the bird’s back in safe hands.

What’s My Line? is owned by Fremantle.

WHAT’S MY LINE?-Taped November 7, 1968

Host: Wally Bruner

Announcer: Johnny Olson

Celebrity Panel:

FIRST GUEST: James Proco (NYC)

We already learn he’s an usher right in this theatre and a college student. In between that, he’s salaried and working in a service.

Soupy (After a bit of rambling…) Does it have to do with show biz?

In the broadest sense, on the fringe (“He Makes Fringes”) It’s a Yes

Does it have to do with other people in showbiz?

No $5

Anita: Would I like to use your service?

Indirectly, same for Orson

It doesn’t matter if it’s a man or woman?

It doesn’t matter, Yes

When you perform, do people come to you?

Yes

Do you perform in a building? 

Yes

Do you require a uniform?

Yes     

Anita gets lost finding the next question: Do you use any equipment?

No $10

Orson (who thought Anita was talking instruments of torture): Would people come to you all alone?

No, which means your turn is over, Orson. $15

Arlene: You deal with groups of people?

More Than One

Do you instruct in any way?

James leans to No, but Wally needs a conference.  There may be advice given, but there’s no degree of instruction.  It’s still No $20

Soupy: Do you deal with groups other than people?

No $25

Anita: Do people hire you to take them around a building?

No $30

Orson: Is it a small group/number of people?

Yes

Would it be two?

Not necessarily

Would it help to know what you’re wearing?

Yes

Are you fully clad?

Yes

Wearing a suit like the suit and tie he’s wearing now?

No $35

Arlene: Anything athletic?

No, two to go and 15 seconds left

Soupy: Do you move around?

Another conference after James jumps with a No.  Allegedly, he may have ups and downs.

Soupy: Do you have to touch anything to go up and down?

Wally brings this game to an end

If there’s anything James touches, it might be his nose going up and down the chimney.  Mr. Proco is a DEPARTMENT STORE SANTA CLAUS.  Specifically, at Lord & Taylor’s in NY, and it’s his second year.  It took a while to learn how to get the voice down.  We see some great looking pictures with a wide-eyed kid.  Soupy asks if Jim every got a smack in the face. “Almost!”

Christmas is another story for the panel not figuring this out.  In Soupy’s building, the elevator operator for 18 years is fired because the regular one came back.

SECOND GUEST: Charlotte Drury (Jackson Heights, NY)

After some applause from friends, we learn Charlotte is salaried, in services AND deals with a product

Arlene: A service I might use?

Yes

Requires some dexterity, for her to give it to me?

For the service itself, but let’s focus on the product

Is it a product you can hold it your hand?

No $5

Soupy with the age old Question:  Is it bigger than a bread box?

Yes

A product used by men and women?

Yes

Does it touch the human body?

A quick no, then a conference changes it to Yes

Is it used in the home?

Definite No $10

Anita: Is it used in or near water?

Yes

Is it MUCH larger than a bread box?

Yes

Some sort of boat?

Yes

Do you operate this boat?

The boat is the product, she’s not involved in the operation.  No leeway!  $15 “It’s all yours, Orson”

Orson: Do you instruct in some way?

No $20

Arlene: Boats large enough for three or more passengers?

Yes

Are these decorated by you?

No $25

Soupy: Is it a dinghy?

Too small, “I’m pretty dinghy myself”, We’ll move on

Do you sell boats?

No $30

Anita: Arranging trips on boats?

Yes

Are you a travel agent?

Yes

Is it the liner around Manhattan?

Wally’s had enough!  Charlotte RENTS YACHTS.

Mrs. Drury works for Wakefield Fortune Incorporated arranging cruises.  A new service at the time, Charlotte has become a specialist in this field.  Yachts all have their own crews.  As you’d know from game show history, popular spots include the Caribbean, Mediterranean and Greek Isles.  If Wally and the panel wanted a boat to rent, the smallest they could get would be about 54 ft.  About $206 per person for one week including three meals a day.  A larger, 200ft. power yacht on Mediterranean would take the whole studio.  Total $12,000 a week per person.  The interior is as fancy as any local hotel around here.

MYSTERY GUEST

A strong applause marks his/her arrival

Orson: May I assume that you’re in show business?

Yes

Arlene: Are you known for your work in the theater?

No

Wally says there are some you’d know this guest from theater, but primarily for something else.

Soupy: Would this activity be in motion pictures?

Yes

Anita: Do you live in this city, most of the time?

Wally doesn’t know for sure.  In her business, she would be found in NYC sometimes.

Orson (30 sec. to go): Are you also in TV?

No, not at this moment

Arlene: Are you a singer?

Yes

Soupy: Did you earn your reputation in movies for musicals?

Yes

Anita: Are you in a musical picture right now?

No

Orson: A non-musical picture?

No, 15 seconds

Arlene: Are you appearing in a club or hotel in NYC?

No, TIME’S UP!

It’s Historic Maggie Flynn, SHIRLEY JONES

Honest Answers:

Mark Rafferty (Staten Island, NY) for Anita:  How tall are you?  You seem so little, how do you get into mini-skirts?

Answer: 5’1” in stocking feet, but she often says 5’3”.  And she buys clothes in the Junior Department.  Not many mini-skirts, though

Larry Schmidt (Potsdam, PA) for Orson: “Where did you get the name Orson Bean?”

Answer: He made it up.  His real name is Dallas Burrows which he said “Sounds Like a name a nut like Orson Bean would make Up” One last letter for “Souper Sales” but not enough time.

What’s my Line? is owned by Fremantle