Sunday night television has provided us with many long-running traditions through the years: The Ed Sullivan Show. Bonanza. Lassie. The Wonderful World of Disney. Often overlooked amongst this list is What's My Line. In 1956 Walt Disney made an appearance on this program.

What's My Line was one of the first shows developed by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman who have produced some of the most successful game shows in television history including To Tell the Truth (a new show in 1956), I've Got a Secret, Password, Match Game, Family Feud, The Price is Right (which also began its original run in 1956) and dozens more.

The format of What's My Line was simple: four celebrity panelists took turns attempting to guess a contestant's occupation or a product associated with them by asking yes or no questions. Each "no" response was worth $5. If the contestant stumped the panel (or time ran out) a total of $50 was awarded.

Premiering on February 2,1950 and hosted by newsman John Charles Daly, What's My Line aired live from New York City weekly on CBS until September 3, 1967. It would return in a slightly modified five-day-a-week, first-run syndication version from 1968 to 1975. The major highlight of each show was the appearance of a famous "mystery guest." For this segment the panelists were blindfolded and could ask one question at a time moving clockwise. The round ended when either 10 "no" answers were provided, time ran out or the person was identified. To make things more fun, the mystery guest could disguise their voice to make identification more difficult.

The show of November 11, 1956 featured regular panelists Arlene Francis, newspaper columnist Dorothy Kilgallen and publisher/author Bennett Cerf. The fourth spot for that night was filled by Jerry Lewis, whom nobody knew was going to be on the panel until it was revealed on the air. This was certainly an unusual situation. What was not unusual was how the show was conducted: the host and panelists wore formal attire and were generally addressed as "Mister" or "Miss" (in keeping with this nomenclature used throughout the original 17-year run of What's My Line, I will use this manner of address when referring to the host and panelists over the following paragraphs).

The two contestants included a professional mind reader and a woman who packaged prescription diet pills. Her unfortunate obese size was the target of some obnoxious questioning by Mr. Lewis, who nonetheless guessed her profession correctly. After doing so, he asks, "Doesn't she take [the pills] at any time?" Mr. Daly responds that she had in fact lost 40 pounds with the intention to lose more! Following a commercial for sponsor Remington Rand Typewriters, it was time to bring out the mystery guest.

"Will our mystery challenger enter and sign in please?"

Out walks Walt Disney to thunderous applause. Questioning begins with Miss Francis, who asks if the person was associated with show business.

"Ah, yes," said Walt in a deep voice.

Next, Mr. Lewis queried if the person is a performer. Walt responds with "Oui."

Miss Kilgallen follows and wants to know if the person is involved with motion pictures. "Si," says Walt.

"I can't see see," replies Mr. Cerf who asks if it is possible that the person's chief fame is by reputation rather than visually. Walt again responds in French.

It is clear that Walt is enjoying this experience as the questioning returns to Miss Francis. She is stumped but seeks to clarify that the guest is more or less known for his behind-the-scenes work. "Si, si," replies Walt.

Mr. Lewis figures that the mystery guest in known both in front of and behind the camera. He then asks if the person works alone. Walt answers in a deep, "Oh no, no!"

Miss Kilgallen's next question is to find out if the person is involved in the production end of motion pictures. "Oui, mademoiselle, oui," replies Walt.

It is now back to Mr. Cerf and he thinks he knows who it is:

Walt is congratulated on doing quite well. Next, Mr. Daly informs the panel and audience of an upcoming article about Walt in the Saturday Evening Post written by daughter Diane. Walt jokes by saying the article is a "conspiracy by all the women in my family to get the lowdown."

Mr. Cerf then asks Walt about some new additions to Disneyland including Tom Sawyer's Island and the Skyway. Walt reveals they have been completed and that he's already at work on next year's plans. Mr. Cerf says of Disneyland, "I think it's the most wonderful place for kids and adults I've ever visited in my life." What a glowing endorsement (and definitely true)! But then Mr. Lewis decides to chime in with a sarcastic question: "Walt, have you checked with the government to see if they've needed any money lately? Do you know how much money he put into this place?" An unidentified voice (either Miss Francis or Miss Kilgallen) responds, "Oh, for Heaven's sake!"

The discussion then turns to television. In 1956 Mr. Daly was also the anchor of ABC's nightly 15 minute newscast and Walt had just started the third season of his Disneyland series on Wednesdays (it would not become a Sunday night staple until 1960).

Acknowledging that the two basically worked at "another network," Mr. Daly asks Walt what he thinks of working in the new medium:

Walt leaves to greet the panel and the program concluded with a plug by Mr. Lewis and Mr. Daly for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Everybody says their goodnights and the credits roll as CBS announcer Hal Simms reminds viewers to tune in for what would be another long-running favorite: "Remington Rand's great new program Gunsmoke, Saturday nights on this same network." Gunsmoke was actually in the second of its twenty years. Likewise, the distinctive voice of Simms would later become associated with a popular soap opera that began a 28 year run in 1956: The Edge of Night (Simms's emphasis on the word "edge" during the opening and closing titles was a hallmark of that show for many years).

Although aired live for much of its 17 years on CBS, most of the original What's My Line shows were preserved on kinescope film, thus insuring a whole new generation to discover this early television gem when it began re-airing on Game Show Network in 1994. The Walt Disney episode has aired a few times and provides a rare, somewhat candid glimpse of Walt during an especially active time in his career.

- Essay by Bill Griffiths
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