Ep 26. What's My Line? - 1955 - Episode 26

What's My Line? was a popular game show that originally aired in the United States in the 1950s. Each episode featured four celebrity panelists who were tasked with identifying the occupation of a series of mystery guests, based solely on a few rounds of questioning.

In the 26th episode of season one, which aired in 1955, the panelists were joined by host John Charles Daly and mystery guests including a knife sharpener, a dietician, a young girl who had just won a national spelling bee competition, and a man who operated a miniature golf course.

As with all episodes of What's My Line?, the panelists were only able to ask yes or no questions in their attempts to discover the mystery guests' occupations. The guests themselves were only allowed to answer "yes" or "no" to the panelists' questions, adding to the challenge of the game.

Throughout the episode, the panelists worked together to try to uncover the identities of the guests. They guessed that the knife sharpener was a barber and the dietitian was a nurse before finally guessing their actual professions. The young spelling bee champion stumped the panelists for much of her appearance, as they asked questions about her hobbies and interests before finally landing on the correct answer. The miniature golf course operator, too, was a bit of a challenge for the panelists, but they ultimately figured out his occupation.

What's My Line? was known for its comedic moments, and this episode was no exception. Daly and the panelists shared plenty of laughs, particularly during the moments when the mystery guests would reveal their identities and surprise the panelists with unexpected answers.

The show also featured a special segment called "Who Do You Trust?", in which panelist Arlene Francis asked a question of a guest who was not a mystery guest, and had to determine whether or not the guest was telling the truth. In this particular episode, Francis had to guess whether or not a man who claimed to own a chicken farm had a bird named "Fidel."

Overall, What's My Line? was a highly entertaining game show that kept viewers guessing right up until the very end of each episode. With its engaging format, quick-witted celebrity panelists, and surprising mystery guests, it's no wonder that the show remained so popular for so many years.