Some Surviving Mystery Guests ...

[church mouse guy]

"May-December romances....The last Confederate widow, Maudie Hopkins died on Aug. 1, 2008, at age 93. The last Union widow, Gertrude Janeway, died Jan. 17, 2003, also at age 93. The last Civil War veterans themselves, both Union and Confederate, died in the 1950s. Both men were more than 100 years old."

Stated in this 2016 article:

US News & World Report - North Carolina woman is daughter of a Civil War veteran, and still collects his benefits

"'One beneficiary from the Civil War [is] still alive and receiving benefits," Randy Noller of the Department of Veterans Affairs confirms. Irene Triplett – the 86-year-old daughter of a Civil War veteran – collects $73.13 each month from her father's military pension."

"Triplett's father was Mose Triplett, born in 1846. He joined the Confederate army in 1862, but later deserted and signed up with the Union. His first wife died and they did not have any children. He later married Elida Hall who was at least 50 years younger....Mose Triplett was 83 when Irene was born"

I don't what I read now. Maybe it was a widow alive at the time of the war.

 

[Jerome]

1969, Lansing Michigan newspaper:

Marie S. Keil last Civil War Widow [in Michigan] - Newspapers.com

"Last Civil War Widow Dies....Funeral services were held today for a woman believed to have been Michigan's last Civil War widow. Buried today in Woodmere Cemetery was Marie S. Keil, who was 97 when she died Sunday in a nursing home"

 

[RighteousnessTemperance&]

What attracts me is the culture of that era. There was a politeness and decorum among the guests, panelists and host that doesn't exist much today. The maximum cash award stayed $50.00 for ages. Of course $50.00 then in today's equivalent is worth a lot more. But it wasn't about huge cash awards and "A brand new car!"

I am interested in the way people spoke back then. Naturally there were lots of accents, but Arlene Francis as an example, spoke in a dignified manner, but with no affectation. She remains my favorite panelist with a fine sense of humor. She was quite the pioneer in early television, even hosting some programs.

Some enterprising young person could do a doctoral dissertation on the program, or at least on American game shows of the mid-twentieth century. Fascinating things could be unearthed.

The show may have been a standout even back then:

So, what was the secret to What's My Line's success. Here's the answer according to the Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows: 1946-Present

That little game, by itself, hardly warranted an 18-year run, when other panel shows of the early 1950s came and went every month. But What's My Line was something special, both for the witty and engaging panel, and for a certain élan which few other shows have ever captured. There were no flashy celebrities-of-the-moment or empty-headed pretty faces on this panel: they were obviously very intelligent people all, out to have some genteel fun with an amusing parlour game.

What's My Line? was hosted by John Daly, a journalist and radio and television personality. It was known for its manners and the formal attire of its host and panelists. When the show began, the women wore street dresses and the men wore business suits. From 1953 on, however, the female panelists wore fancy gowns, jewels and sometimes gloves. The men wore black suits and bow ties. Host John Daly referred to the panelists as "Miss Kilgallen," "Mr. Cerf" and "Miss Francis. The sign of his desk read "Mr. Daly".

(excerpted from TV BANTER . . . with Joanne Madden: Dorothy Kilgallen of What's My Line?: Why was her death linked to the JFK assassination?)
​

 

[church mouse guy]

The fifties used to be called the golden age of America.

 

[Scarlett O.]

Actually that gentleman was on "I've got a Secret"

Ah, another favorite!! Thanks for the link. I watched it again.

 

[Salty]

As of May 2017 one civilian is still receiving a pension from the War between the States!
https://www.usnews.com/news/article...ments-payroll-151-years-after-last-shot-fired

 

[Adonia]

A lot of those shows are on YouTube, as you know. I think the panel and moderator are gone. We watched that show every week. The newspapers used to print names of celebrity visitors to New York so the panel always checked the newspapers and they had good clues that way. I saw one this morning that had Audie Murphy, America's most decorated soldier.

I'll have to check that one out. I remember reading a story about how after returning to the states and wearing those Lt's bars, he was stopped by some MP's and questioned about how someone so young (He did have a baby face) could have been a Commissioned Officer who had all those decorations. if I remember correctly, they kept him in custody until he could prove he was the real deal.

 

[Salty]

I'll have to check that one out. I remember reading a story about how after returning to the states and wearing those Lt's bars, he was stopped by some MP's and questioned about how someone so young (He did have a baby face) could have been a Commissioned Officer who had all those decorations. if I remember correctly, they kept him in custody until he could prove he was the real deal.

So we even had stolen valor problems back in the day.

 

[Rippon]

Okay, what mystery guest did not disguise their voice though well-known in the movies? Just a normal speaking voice was used.

Okay, since nobody has taken the challenge, I will have to reveal the answer: comedian Joe E. Brown (1897-1973). He was one of the funniest guys in the movies.