This is my Grandfather, Master Sgt Peter Lomagistro. He was an amazing man, who lived a long life, yet towards the end was only able to remember the horrific aspects of war, when he was able to remember anything at all. I love to watch this video, and remember the happy, funny man, he once was able to be. Toughest man I have ever met...ever....
+Scott Lomagistro -- I was fascinated by the beautiful name when he wrote it. When I was a kid in the '50s in Ohio, the skirt blowing machine would entertain people for hours. Good clean fun.
I wish I had a video of my long lost father. At the age of 7 my father was lost in a fatal auto accident. Your grandfather shown here is the exact twin of his. My god I'll show my mother tonight. I'm now 57 years old a wish nothing but happiness.
Thank you for posting this. 1958 was the year you first saw women's hairstyles that had been set in rollers. Arlene is sporting this brand new look, a "bubble" hairdo. Sandra Dee made it famous in "A Summer Place," released in 1959. Dorothy's hair is still being set and styled in a more "fifties" look.
The Whats my line cast would go after doing the show and bowl at Falaise a private estate in Sands Point Long Island NY. The ex chicken coupe was made into a 2 lane bowling alley. The estate was of the late Capt. Harry F Guggenheim. My grand father and great uncle and I all worked their for a great man. He always treated his help well.
"I would say this: That there is an element of application here in the performance of the service insofar as is necessary for Peter to have contact with the inanimate something which moves that he touches." .... Nobody crafts a sentence like John Daly ;)
Ahhh. You have not watched “Yes Minister”/“Yes Prime Minister” and the creative ways Sir Humphrey could speak English. If you want a laugh look up some clips on RU-vid.
I just watched an episode of To Tell The Truth and Tom Poston gave a long, drawn out sentence. Then said something like John Daly isn’t the only one who can do it.
I think the reason that this man was such an amusing contestant was that he was so enthusiastic in his answers: "I do!" "I do not!", etc. He must have really enjoyed his job!
I applied for his job when he retired,the interviewer to me I would have to go to Lands End I said "Is that where the interviews are being held ?" he said " No that's the end of the Queue".
I think it’s also the fact that he answered in a variety of ways (“That’s right”, “Correct”, “They do” &c.) with that intonation you mention. I don’t think it’s so much that he really enjoyed his job in particular, which likely became rather mundane in itself, but that he enjoyed life in general and really fed off the audience’s, host’s and panel’s responses.
There are people who just love their jobs that no amount of $$ can replace. I had an old neighbor back in HS who passed away in his sleep and all he did for 40 years was turn on the roller coaster at the nearby carnival. Told us many times he won't want to do anything else, and will do it until he dies. Indeed, he did.
If you look into why she did it's quite shocking. She had gotten an exclusive interview with Jack Ruby in prison, and told everyone that she had gotten an amazing story and was going to break open the truth about the Kennedy assassination to the whole world. She ended up dead, and all of her notes taken and never found again.
So fun when the guest is clearly having a good time! His delivery is part of it; the mischievous smile and twinkling eyes were most entertaining. Wish we had shows like this today!
Social justice warriors today would have a field day deriding this contestant as sexist and abusive. They would fail to see the humor in him or his job.
I don't see the humor in it, and never did. For women, anyway. I see what men liked about it, but i don't think most women in the 50s wanted to show their underwear to strangers.
@@ammaleslie509Lighten up!! It was just a bit of fun at an Amusement park, why can't people today just see it for what it was.All this woke crap today started with the "political correctness" movement. You Americans have a lot to aslnswer for!
The clarification by Dorothy about what part of New York City was she referring to is the long continuing problem that even NYC dwellers have in describing what is the City of New York. Since 1898, the City of NY has consisted of the 5 Boroughs or Counties comprising the unified City of NY-New York County ( Borough of Manhattan), Kings County( Borough of Brooklyn), Queens County and Borough, Bronx County and Borough, and Richmond County ( Borough of Staten Island).
She was great. Did you know she quite publicly doubted the conclusions of Warren Report on President JFK’s assassination and was shortly found dead by what was reported as an accidental overdose combination of alcohol and barbiturates.
Andrews: These services you perform....would I enjoy them? Peter: DEFINITELY! Andrews: And could you do those services for either of the two young ladies in the panel Peter: I MOST CERTAINLY COULD! LMFAO!!
Sadly, these skirt puffing machines have all but disappeared from amusement parks, likely as a result of fewer women wearing skirts and objections from feminist snowflakes. I operated one in 1969 (17, just before the Army) and none on the receiving end ever complained. The few objections always came from uninvolved third-parties.
The brilliant Bennett Cerf came within an ace of it at the end, "blowing the wind in the tunnel of love" in the blizzard of flying theories as the time wound up.
His wrangling with Bennett was my favorite part of the show. Once, one of them spoke a line from a classical Greek play... in the original... and the other one understood.
I don't know if it was true for What's My Line, but in a media studies class a few years ago, I remember we watched a documentary that said (among other things) the problem with old, single sponsor game shows was that many of them were actually fake/scripted. Contestants were told the answers ahead of time and it was decided who would "win" and who would "lose." Again, I'm NOT saying definitely that it was the case for this particular game show, but if it was true for other shows, it's possible it could be true for this one as well. If you do a Google search for: "single sponsor" "game show" scandal (with quotes), you'll probably find what I'm talking about.
alvallac21 As a kid in the 70s, I read the what’s my line book (wish I had it now, it’s super expensive used on amazon) by the producer. Once in a blue moon, in the early days, they would give Steve Allen on the panel a ‘lead’, a hint that if he went in a certain direction he would get laughs. It was not in any way to help him or anyone else solve it, quite the contrary. I think of the one where they had a young lady on who worked on zippers, and Steve’s question, “Well would every young woman who works in an office know how to work one of these?” sent the audience into howls of laughter. I don’t know if that’s one where they gave him a direction to head in for laughs, but they never gave any panelist the answer. And he said in the book after the quiz show scandal of the late 50s broke, they even stopped doing that. So the three regulars (Dorothy, Arlene and Bennett) really were that clever. Bennett was very good at nailing voices of mystery guests, and with sports guests. Dorothy could follow trails like the investigative reporter she was. And Arlene was super intuitive. They really were a deadly combination and it’s why they were so rarely stumped. It’s too bad they never really found a great fourth panelist after Steve Allan left for his own show and Fred Allen passed away. Tony Randal was probably my favorite of the subs, and Arlene’s husband guesting was always fun.
Thank you for this clip. I laughed so hard my family asked what was so funny. I worked in Playland from 1974 - 1976 summers as the Cotton Candy Girl, and the Waffles and Ice Cream Girl (seriously). Mr. Lomagistro was no longer there by then but I would give anything to have met him. Scott, you were very blessed to have him in your life.
The sponsors used to run the content and the network was more like RU-vid where they network didn't procure and choose the content, but just deliver it. This changed when the FCC chairman told the networks that *they* need to run the network. This is according to an Andy Griffith interview. After that statement, the networks became leaders of setting content, rather than servants to the sponsors. The networks didn't know they had the power to lead, since the airwaves we're seen as their property. They they began to capitalize their business like the motion picture industry and try new shows from writers and producers. With that, the industry changed and content improved and evolved (and the sponsors loved it). The network would go forward and look mostly at viewership rather than ask sponsors to fund a show and make decision regarding content (remember announcers would say long ago "brought to you by...").
I love how Mr Lomagistro barks out his answers at the panel! On one side you have the witty urbanity and polished manners of the panel and on the other the blunt, never mind the baloney abruptness of a hardened military veteran. In a sense it's like mixing oil and water but in this case everything blends beautifully and very entertainingly. I also love how non PC the whole thing is to the delicate sensibilities of much of our modern society. They knew how to let their hair down in those days and have fun without all the tight lipped pseudo political nonsense. RIP Peter Lomagistro and thank you for your service.
Bennet Cerf is sneaky and clever: when he asks 'athletics or entertainment?', he knows that a contestant will fall into the trap of saying which it is. Also, he reads the audience's laughter when he uses the word 'titillating' - they were clearly titillated in a way that was surely risque in 1958. A great show with a very simple format that allowed people to think and talk in a witty, suspenseful way.
Dorothy Kilgallen was the most insightful and best panel member. Time and again she would either find the answer - almost eerily - or as she did here, ask questions which led to it. I am really in awe of her. I know that Frank Sinatra famously had a long-running feud with her and mocked her in his acts. It is really a black mark on Sinatra's character and legacy that he was so easily upset by this brilliant woman.
inkyguy It's very similar to Trump and Hillary. Despite their great success in their field, some men seem threatened by accomplished women for some reason. I think it will sadly be a good while yet before we have a female president.
I don't know, Bennett Cerf figured it out fairly often (even if one question too late). Dorothy's questions may have frequently got them (or her) on the right track, but also frequently tended to get way too complex and make it harder to figure out.She overthought things way too much. Also, even Arlene figured out Dorothy's dad in one episode just before Dorothy did.
@@brch2 in a media's created society of lies.. With media's technology... The end of the Kennedy Oz enigma begins with Dorothy death and the monkey virus.. The media's mandella effect is A Oz enigma to Os enigma... The original Kennedy story was an Oz enigma.. Due to Mandela lies.. Kennedy Os enigma.. Mandela effect stands for media's altering Perceptions of the past... The Kennedy Oz homage to three dead Disney associates and Dorothy and monkey virus... Media's rule earth in lies and Illusions.. Humans first lie they learn is media's santa clause.. Using parents to lie to THIER offspring..
Oh really? So sexual harassment masked as entertainment is 'intelligent'? I think not. We know better now than we did then. Less ignorance in some respects. Unfortunately there are plenty of people who happily wallow in ignorance, and others who can't afford the time to educate themselves, but we still are better off all around, regardless. (We only need get rid of those who happily spew ignorance, like our leaders for the moment, for instance.)
It requires a certain level of intelligence to take a joke. If they can live through and laugh at the concept of some skirts being lifted then it's fine. Offense is only taken and never given. We could really do with some politically incorrect and light-hearted comedy like in the old days.
Just out of curiosity, I did a Google search on this guest. He passed away in 2007. He was awarded a Bronze Star during World War II. Sad. He lived a nice long life though (b. 1919) and made for a perfect guest on "What's My Line?".
Can't he be both? Does a man really have to appear tough to be tough? (Not to seem insulting; sorry if I do appear that way. Just that I really hate macho stereotypes.)
I wonder how those involved would have reacted back then if you told them ‘ over 60 years from now people (lots of people) will be interested enough to sit and watch this segment right through and find it entertaining on its own terms’.
I bet they would have been delighted to know that, probably with a hint of doubt but delighted nonetheless. I myself just happened to come across this old show this year during lockdown. :) I love it!
They would respond "Isn't that whats so? Folks sitting at home and in these stands behind watching this performance of wit and comedy, purely for pleasure and close interactive enjoyment".
I don’t ever remember seeing a show like this in Australia 🇦🇺 but I think they should bring back this show, much better than these reality (non-reality) rubbish shows they have these days - an innocent genuine laugh 😁😂🤣 ❤️
The best and most amusing guest ever on WML. I love how John, the emcee, looked after Peter's first answer and other answers, of course. He lived to be 87 years old and actually served in the Army during WWII, earning a Bronze Star. And his grandson below (Scott Lomagistro) speaks of his sad memory, only remembering the horrific aspects of war. I wondered what he meant and received an answer after reading his obituary, stating that any contributions be made The Alzheimer's Association. So sad, so ad.
Extremely intelligent speaking people while on a game show! How far, society has declined . Look how regal everyone on the show, dressed each week; tuxedos and formal dresses
What a nice norm! With manners and speech to go with it. ... not anymore, over 60 years hence. For some reason, when humanity hits a peak, it declines, instead of maintaining a beneficial high standard.
John Daly wanted it that way and so that's the way it was. It's not an indictment on modern times that the host of a show from the 50s had a particular idea of how he wanted the show to me and got his way. There may be more vulgarity on television these days, but that's just one aspect of society. Personally, I think it's better to live at a time when women aren't so subservient to their husbands, when mental ill-health is something people aren't afraid to acknowledge, etc.
i must admit that i had a big smile on my face the entire appearance. hands down the most amusing guest and i have seem almost all. i was impressed by him and even more now, now that it appears he is a war veteran. love this guy. simply wonderful
I've met very few people under the age of 40 who even know what a Mid-Atlantic accent is. And fewer still who know what Upper Received Pronunciation accent is.
I was 14 when this aired and may have seen it back then, my parents let me stay up late! It was on at 10:30 PM Sunday night in NYC. It was a fun and lighthearted way to be amused by famous, and not so famous, people. I am so glad these old TV shows are available on You Tube. I have watched this one two or three times. Your grandfather was a nice man.
My favorite part of this game is at 8:35 when he tricks Dorothy into asking a question that required a "no" answer. Great timing. Mr. Lomagistro was a great guest.
@@freeguy77 ah, the wind city. Well as it were, I hardly believe women wear skirts, they need to feel akin to a man and never want to feel attractive to fit into current societies ideals. I find more poor people with dresses than rich...as though this is some lost symbol of merit. And not a comfort in the winter, and an extra breeze in the summer since skirts were flowing and let air circulate throughout giving the wearer a pleasure of staying cool and formal.
@@WitchKing-Of-Angmar Such nonsense. Men and women are equal and really no one wears trousers for any other reasons than it being very practical and comfortable.
Kilgallen was a master of leading questions that were vague enough that she wouldn't receive a "no" answer but would gain information by John's explanation. Daly and the other contestants tolerated it, because nothing was at stake (each contestant got a fixed fee for appearing, regardless of the score), and because Kilgallen was popular with viewers.
And in the end, it turned out the show was rigged. Funny how the panel on this guest was so far afield of what he did they looked hopeless, until Kilgallen pulled the amusement park out of her ass and Cerf goes right for the wind machine when they were still miles away? This show and I've Got A Secret got in hot water when it was discovered the panels were given "hints" ahead of time.
Tom Barrister ... Kilgallen was murdered a year or two after this video. She was also a respected columnist,...and she was working/investigating on the JFK murder.
This was hysterical, I was laughing out loud. Plus this man spoke so clearly and loud..loved it. This episode was the loudest of all the others. Usually I have to turn my volume on loud this time I didn't. Thank you for this wonderful upload. :)
This version of the show requires so much more intelligence than the version on television today. Today's version has the panel behaving so much more juvinile, which is pervasive throughout our current culture.
It's been an anti-intellectual society ever since. Back then it was space race and no social promotions in school. You earned it and the best and brightest were highly desired, not diversity for the sake of diversity.
With the exception of Dorothy, these people wouldn't get past the first round of Jeopardy. You're confusing intelligence with social niceties. As evidenced by David's assumption that diversity has no benefit in itself, when everything from food to housing is a product of it.
@@tiawilliams5690 I voted up David, and after your comment I voted for you also. You both have valid points, and David was so into smarts ( that's necessary !) that he kinda got carried away. And I might remind you that different to be different is not correct either. Different to contribute something different is what you had in mind perhaps.
It was a great show but only worked because of erudite and articulate people like Daly, Cerf, et. al. It would be very difficult to assemble a comparable cast from our population these days.
+wholeNwon agreed--networks would not be able to find one literate classy person in the entertainment industry if the show was resurrected (maybe Meryl Streep).
There must be some! There are always young musicians coming up in ALL genres. Hip hop may have replaced rock & roll in some populations, but far from all, and unfortunately, it's too stuck in its gangsta roots to reach its potential as an agent of change in the foreseeable future. There are plenty of movie stars with brains and a keen awareness of today's world issues. George Clooney and Leo DiCaprio come immediately to mind. I haven't heard Meryl Streep discuss world affairs, but she's a GREAT actress. I don't watch much TV, though.
Cerf was a publisher and humorist, Kilgallen was a newspaper columnist, Francis was an actress and radio/TV personality. They were New Yorkers. Most TV doesn't originate in New York, now. It's from LA, and it's dumbed down. There are still intelligent, witty people around, but nobody's going to put them on network TV today.
I am a Native midwesterner, and I have lived in New York City. When I lived in Brooklyn, I put "Brooklyn." When I received mail at my job in Queens, it was addressed "Jamaica," or 'Spring Gardens," and when I lived on 110th Street in Manhattan it came to "New York, NY." "New York" is the name of the county in which Manhattan Island ("Manhattan" happens to be the name of one of the islands located in New York City). Brooklyn, for example is in "Kings" County.
Funny guy. Check out Debbie Reynolds on "What's My Line?" channel. She was unexpectedly hilarious and absolutely adorable. May she rest in peace, as well as her daughter, Carrie Fisher.
I love your grandfather. I bet your grandpa was having a great time during his appearance on WML. John Daly seem to have a hard time keeping from laughing at several points during the questioning by the panel. Your grandpa was a natural entertainer. I bet he was quite a comic in his family. I remember going with a friend when I was about 8 years old-- along with our two mothers. Our mothers went through that very same attraction where your grandfather worked. They may have even met him. I may have met him from a distance. It truly seemed to be a fun experience for all as I recall.
This show had intelligent erudite panels. Educated and sophisticated. The opposite of any panel's you see on the boob tube now. Wish they would show reruns
I’ll give it to you for American quiz shows. But try watching some British game/quiz shows. Like “Eggheads”, or “Mastermind”, or “Countdown” (the real one, not “8 out of 10 Cats”). Or, above all, “University Challenge”.
Was popular way before that. Some old films of amusement parks showed this contraption and the ladies went through because they thought it was cute and fun ... and a little risqué.
@@auapplemac1976 you are so right. The idea came from burlesque, vaudeville maybe even naughty cavemen pulled this ?! Anyway, lots of early silent comedy shorts featured this kind of humor and THAT most likely is where the MM blowing dress got its genisis.
Goddd...I just said the exact same thing to my dog. Where did they get that chalk...I need it..I'm trying to pay attention but I'm just thinking about the chalk
My grandfather operated a skirt-blowing machine when he first arrived in America. Kids today wouldn't do a job like that because they don't want to work hard.
Many, many people would take such a job, even if it only payed minimum wage. BTW, this guest was probably payed way above current minimum wage if you adjust for inflation. Poor paying jobs back then were not on the same low level as those today.
David Maxfield I'm guessing you have never worked around actual people, ever, or at least not for a very long time. People work very hard, everywhere, every day. Yes, even in the modern world.
@@BillGreenAZ Something happened to the people of this once great land. Maybe it was far too much government encroaching on personal and economic freedoms, and the hard money of silver coinage/dollar-gold link that existed then.
They are all good as well as Mr. Lomigistro. Two that come to mind for mare Ms. Toni West and she can be seen under this title: _Toni West (Marilyn look-alike Judo Instructor) on What's My Line?_ And the other is: _Game Show Deja Vu! ("Name's The Same" Recycles "What's My Line?" Gag Questions)_
I miss such dignified, civilized behavior so much. You can tell the men from the women and Madames Killgallen and Francis exude charm, intelligence, and femininity all without the aid of tatoos! Everone has now passed but I did get to shake hands with Bennett Cerf when he spoke 55 yrs ago at a high school. Such class will never be seen again
Yes, it was real. It was hidden underneath a grating that was set up at the exit of a ride. You stepped off the ride, walked on the grate on your way out and the fan would go off and blow your skirt up in front of everybody in the amusement park. (It happened to me and some school friends once.) If you were a girl wearing a dress it was very embarrassing.
Look up the iconic photo of Marilyn Monroe wearing a white dress standing on a grate having her dress blown up. This is the same thing ~~ Marilyn graciously posed for the photo circa 1954 during the filming of "The Seven Year Itch". The scene infuriated her husband, Joe DiMaggio, who felt it was exhibitionist, and the couple divorced shortly afterward.
Yes, I read that they divorced because he couldn't stand the way she was made a spectacle and the way other men ogled her. But he never stopped loving her, and he brought roses to her grave regularly.
And Jim Crow still ruled the Solid South. Sucks the rest of the US had to drag them kicking and screaming into the modern world. Sucks their resentment destroyed so much. Sucks Jim Crow discrimination was still alive and well when our economy was strongest. Sucks.
