Emmett Kelly - What's My Line? 

A real life hero who saved many lives in the 1944 Hartford Ct circus fire.

i met him when i was a child in the hospital....he made me laugh.

There's maybe a single moment when he breaks character, notice the vigor and pride in how he signs his name. Every other motion thudding, lumbering, about, but just for that brief moment in that clear autograph you can see the artist behind the mask

emmet kelly brought many smiles, a VERY RICH CLOWN! When he walked in i thought, what beautiful hand writing!

My uncle took me to the circus in the 50's. I think it was at the old MSG, in NYC. We sat ringside watching Emmett Kelly try to sweep up the spotlight, I began to cry because he looked so sad. He came over and hugged me.

Emmett Kelly. God bless him. He was the best.

When I was very small, I saw him at the circus sweeping up the spotlight. I will never forget it.

Emmett Kelly (1898-79), Clown 'Weary Willie,' Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus from (1942-56.) I met him as a child of 6 on grounds in Shamokin, Pennsylvania. We carried water to the elephants! Then he gave me a small tour! "Turn all your thoughts toward bringing joy to hearts." ~ a Baha'i quote that flashes in my mind when I fondly think of him.

What an absolute gem. When I was very small and my sister still a babe in arms, we went to the circus where we saw him in person. He came over during his act and took my sister during the act, much to my outrage. My mother had to restrain me as I yelled "Bring back our baby! Bring back our baby!" Which brought forth chuckles from the crowd to my further consternation. Needless to say, she was returned totally unharmed. Perhaps his most famous routine: He seems to notice all of a sudden that a spot of light is following him around. After a few tries at eluding it, he grabs a broom and starts sweeping it up until it is just a small circle, and then he disposes of it.

Normally I'm a hater of clowns and mimes but he's absolutely brilliant.

I love that they panel is smart enough (and well-informed enough) to know what Broadway shows, acts, and other events are in town at the moment. They often use this knowledge to accurately guess the identify of the Secret Guests. A delightful panel, and I would love to see a version of this today. It would be a challenge to assemble such an erudite group, but it could be done (any ideas?). And of course, they absolutely would have to wear evening dress!

He inspired me for so many reasons. I have a clown ministry and two awesome characters and of course the hobo is one in memory of this incredible man and the art of silent hobo clowns every where. ❤️ 🤡 Love you Emmett Love always, Patches Can-String

Stephen King ruined clowns.

What a beautiful man to be able to tug at our heartstrings.

I love his signature!

Real life hero❤

I took care of his other son pat Kelly, a great friend of mine. We have so many books and pictures and history of all the boys. RIP to the Kelly's.

Not only do the male members of the panel stand to shake his hand (as they do in every episode of course), Mr. Kelly removes his hat, like a proper gentleman, when shaking hands with the ladies. These small niceties have been lost.

He entertained and spoke(out of costume) with our actors and students in Cleveland in 1971 and there was a rift bewteen he and his son who was later impersonating him when he retired. So he lived on after this episode.

Sadly he died in 1979 but his son, Emmett Kelly Jr. carries on the tradition :)

His hand is among the most magnificent that I've ever seen, worthy of copperplate, yet written in chalk on a blackboard.

He indeed had a 'little clown' who later on stole his entire act against his father's wishes and performed it with little talent, cheapening his own father's one creation.

I cannot figure out how she got the line of his costume and makeup, and then the circus. I just don't get it.

It's amazing how he is so funny just by making simple expresions! Genius!!

Emmett is a hero❤🤡🎪

I really believe that this is staged because, of all pathways to her questions, she chooses that of a costume.

In 1956 when this show aired live, many American cities still had streetcar systems, and the term "motorman" is used (and understood) to mean the driver of a streetcar.

I came here hearing and learning about him for the first time after I found a emmet Kelly musical figure at good will today brand new working with tags for only 5.99! Same figure is on amazon for $135 now wanting to learn more about emmet Kelly and his son

Glad to have found this! As a lid I saw Ringling Bros. on TV in the mid 70'2 and Kelly performed his "Sweepng the spotlights" bit..I was enchanted...and still am. Thank you Mr. Kelly.

Emmett Kelly is my Great Great Great Great Uncle. I SWEAR. My mom meet him before i was born. RIP ='(

He's well known for being the subject, of some very famous paintings as well. :)

I had the privilege of seeing him in person 70 years ago.

artist thy name is _Emmett Kelly_

He didn't say a word, but he still made me laugh

I WAS 9YRS OLD AND IN THE HOSPITAL FOR SURGERY AND HE CAME AND VISITED ME!!!!! I LOVED IT AND I LOVE HIM!!!!!🤡🤡🤡🤡

I believe Arlene Francis was cheating. She had a hole in her blindfold, left side. ;) Probably wouldn’t have been as noticeable on old TV sets of her era.

I’m happy that emmet was a happy person I believe underneath the makeup

Emmett Kelly was my great grandmas cousin, he grew up in Kansas while my grandma grew up in Oklahoma. It’s funny they both lived such exciting lives from why I’ve heard.

How bout Arlene figuring it out without any help??

He is so sad, he is my favorite clown

Sad clown is sad. :-(

Poignant. A tear in my eye. Good night Fred.

Gone but not forgotten. Class acts all of them.

I'm just barely old enough to remember this era of television. We were a much more civilized society back then.

Red Skelton as Freddy the Freeloader reminds one of the great Emmett Kelly. Some names stand out over others; John Wayne, Andres Segovia, Enrico Caruso, Joe Louis, Babe Ruth, John Holmes... Emmett Kelly is a name that will forever be synonymous with the word "clown." He was truly an original.

I was lucky and got to meet Mr. Kelly in Cleveland where he spoke sans make-up to us young actors and was very erudite and inspiring. A great cartoonist. Thx for the clip..I always love when John and Arlene would banter back and forth..How they are all missed!

He died of a heart attack. As it was, WML was on his doctor's short "OK list" of projects, as the grind of all those radio shows did a number on him through the years. He was also writing another book at this time. I sure wish he had lived longer...

Steve Martin used to say "I have a fear of clowns and I don't know why. Maybe its because of the time I was a little boy at the circus and a clown ran into the audience and stabbed my father to death."

Who knew you could make people smile by frowning

Wow Arlene was really sharp in this one haha she wasn't letting John get away from her :P

i wouldn't say a lack of education, at least in a scholastic sense, more than i would say a lack of education of a proper upbringing, caused by lazy parents who failed to pass on good values, such as good etiquette, and a value of respect for their fellow human being.

50 bucks would be 500 today.

This happened all the time where the gadfly socialites on the panel always knew who was in town or on broadway coincident to the guest. It still annoys me.

I believe the fear of clowns really started after a horror movie about killer clowns came out (It). However, uneasiness about clowns can also be due to the fact that all the factors that allow us to read someone (facial expressions, body language) are disguised by their costumes and face paint, making it difficult to determine what the clown is really saying (hence determine trustworthiness). I don't fear clowns, but I have only ever really enjoyed clowns from around Kelly and Skelton's time.

Emmett's son stole his Sad Willie act. It drove Emmett crazy to have anyone take HIS character and do it not well. If a son struggles to make his own mark but doesn't measure up that is one thing... but to exploit your own father!

Mr. Daly: How misleading can you get? *Of course* Mr. Kelly is immediately recognizable. Circumlocution, anyone?

Well said!

In Hartford a fire broke out when the Ringling Brothers Circus was playing, and 1600-something people died. There is a famous photo of Emmett Kelly carrying a bucket of water to help extinguish the flames. Pictures showing him were taken and put in the papers where he was crying. Some say it's one of the few times they've ever seen him cry.

“Are you wearing a costume of any kind, sir?” “Mmmmmmmmmm hmm.” 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Emmett Leo Kelly (9 de diciembre de 1898 - 28 de marzo de 1979), nacido en Sedan, Kansas, fue un artista de circo estadounidense, que creó el memorable payaso "Weary Willie," basado en el personaje de la persona sin hogar a causa de la época de la Gran Depresión. Kelly inició su carrera como trapecista. Hacia 1923 Emmett Kelly trabajaba en el trapecio del circo de John Robinson cuando conoció y se casó con Eva Moore, otra trapecista. Posteriormente trabajaron juntos como los "Aerial Kellys", con Emmett todavía actuando ocasionalmente como un payaso con la cara blanca.

Yes this is Fred Allen's last appearance on "What's My Line?" As this was filmed live on Sunday, the 11th of March, 1956 and sadly Fred Allen died of a heart attack, (I believe in the evening, on his way home) the following Saturday, the 17th of March, 1956 🕊💞 At the request of Fred Allen's wife, "What's My Line?" was filmed live on Sunday the 18th of March, before a live studio audience, as usual, not quite 24 hours after her husband's sudden death 💔

I know it's only makeup, but I felt so sad for him!

Where this language has been gone?

That's the saddest looking clown I've ever seen...

I thought he was Red Skelton as Freddie the Freeloader.

That handwriting!

my dads dad said Emmett Kelly is in my Family.

Fred Allen's last episode :(

I'm impressed with Arlene; first getting a refund on that 'no' from John, then getting the both occupation and man behind it all in one go.

A truly meaningful, insightful and articulate response. I rest my case. Be Well.

Emmett Kelly and Fred Allen on the same stage. Life is good.

Wow they actually talk like people on the gameshow and not mindless dregs

All the questions she's asking is all right, and take a good look at her blind fold design, is this gonna fool you?

A native of Bazaar, Kansas, he was elected to the Kansas Hall of Fame a few years ago. Few were more deserving of the honor.

It seems like you hardly even hear him say anything or make a sound just mmm mmm and mumble sounds.

Arlene looks like she could be a relative of Carrie Underwood.

You mean Arlene Francis? She was a truly dignified and elegant woman! She was the "grande dame" of WML!

A maquiagem dele é otima. Essa boca, maravilhosa!!!

For a miunte there I thought red scklaten

I thought this to be awsome, Myself as a professional clown I was in awwe of all he does, I had the great fortune to see many of his works I see many other famous clowns pick up on alot of his style. Spangle The Clown

I am confused. According to the written box above, this was his last appearance on What's My Line (March 11, 1956) because he died on March 17, days later. Yet, all of the biographical information that I read about him, including from Ringling Brothers.... he died March 28, 1979? His son, Emmett Kelly, Jr. died in 2006. So the blurb above makes no sense.

Emmett Kelly died at the age of 80 of a heart attack on March 28, 1979, at his home in Sarasota, Florida.

What beautiful handwriting! The mark of a true artist...

He looks so sad. This is depressing.

I have a tattoo of his face

The word play is on point

@bigkevcxza now that is a mith. And actually not true at all. Never has there been any picture or movie with Emmet with that tear in his make up. If you can find one that would be a historical break thru!!

he is my hero

Just Awesome!!!

He had a beautiful hand!!

One of the great entrances in the whole history of WML. Considering how important this kinescope is in TV history, G-T did not do a good job of preservation. The second mystery guest sequence is completely missing. For those who accuse Dorothy Kilgallen of being argumentative, ( 2:00 ) get a load of Arlene confronting John over definitions.

I want an emmet Kelly tattoo

One of the greatest clowns who ever performed in the iconic three-rings, Kelly should be held in the same esteem as Chaplin, Keaton, and Laurel & Hardy for genius physical comic timing.

"Weary Willy"

Very lovely indeed! :-)

is it just me or does Mr. Allen look a lot different from previous episodes from not so long ago? What happened to him?

@awsomedudejacob He died of pneumonia complications on the 26th of november 2006, in sierra vista, he will be remembered forever, i am doing a school project on him, R.I.P

@cheeriosinabowl Especially when they park at the elementary school in a black van and offer you candy if you'll get inside.

Flawless.

@bigkevcxza in public @ least , who is it you know that knew him that would tell you what he did in private??