What’s My Line?

In November 1954, Elizabeth appeared on the hit CBS game show, What’s My Line? Each week, the show’s celebrity panelists would attempt to guess the occupation of a contestant. The show would also welcome a weekly “mystery celebrity”. The panelists, this time blindfolded, would ask a series of questions to guess the identity of the celebrity, who would typically disguise their voice to further throw the panelists off the scent.

Elizabeth, walking on stage to rapturous applause, signed her name on the chalkboard and sat down next to the show’s host, John Daly. The panelists—Dorothy Kilgallen, Fred Allen, Arlene Francis, and Bennett Cerf—then set to work asking their questions. Bennett Cerf was up first. “Well, the reception that was accorded you makes me feel that your face is reasonably familiar to the public. Is that correct?” Elizabeth, effecting a nasally voice, replied, “Well, sir, I just don’t know…” The rest of her response was hardly audible over the laughter of the studio audience.

Bennett Cerf: Am I correct that this is a lady who is at present talking through her nose?
‍Elizabeth: Well, I should hope to tell you!
‍Bennett Cerf: Is your name one that might be familiar on the pages of Variety?
‍Elizabeth: Well, yes, at times I’m sorry to say so and other times, well, it’s alright I suppose.
‍Bennett Cerf: In other words, it appears in Variety with some degree of frequency?
‍Elizabeth: I guess so, uh huh.
‍Bennett Cerf: Would you be a familiar sight among the big studios in Hollywood?
‍Elizabeth: Well, one particular one I’m terribly fond of, yes.
‍Bennett Cerf: Are you also a lady who has shown her talents on the Broadway stage?
‍Elizabeth: Well, thank you for calling me a lady and for saying that I have talent, but no.

As Cerf got the question incorrect, it was now Dorothy Kilgallen’s turn. After several questions, Kilgallen ultimately guessed Elizabeth’s identity: “Well, let me put it this way, is your husband Michael Wilding?” “Oh, he sure is,” Elizabeth replied. “Then you must be beautiful Elizabeth Taylor.” Daly complimented Elizabeth on her performance, and Elizabeth shared that she was in New York for the premiere of her latest film, The Last Time I Saw Paris.

She appears to be wearing the same dress suit she wears on Talk of the Town, which aired the same day.