Miss. Umeki was my neighbor in a small town in Missouri for many years. We became very close friends and in her later years, I did all of her food shopping, took out her trash, etc... She always resented Hollywood and spoke of her years there with great antipathy. She considered the Oscar to be a curse. She always said she was going to throw it out in the trash. Sure enough, one day as I went to remove her garbage to the dumpster, there was her Oscar shining bright in the sunlight on top of the garbage. I brought it back to her, and she refused it. She insisted that I keep it and called it a CURSE. Many years later, I tried to sell it at auction but the Academy had a rule whereby you have to OFFER to sell it back to them for ONE DOLLAR. They wanted to buy it back but I refused and still have it to this day. The Oscar is over 60 years old now but still in mint condition. I live in Florida now so I keep it in the fridge to protect it from the humidity. Seeing the look on certain people's faces when they open my fridge still makes me laugh. RIP MiMi.
She wasn't the first actress to consider an Oscar a curse.. One of the very earliest winners, Luise Rainer, who won two in a row, believed that this wrecked her career. She made very few films afterward
Anna Kaminski I do think you're right but nevertheless if they hadn't she would've had to bend forward awkwardly to teach their hand while remaining seared and she even might've fallen over the table! Not great for television!! So I think it's common sense as well as gestural.
The gentlemen always stood to shake hands. The ladies stood only for another lady who was obviously their elder. The great thing about etiquette is that it is often based on common sense and practicality.
And isn't it odd - Putnam acquired Berkley Books in 1965; Dodd, Mead sold out to Thomas Nelson in 1981, who sold them to Putnam Berkley in 1988, who sold themselves to Penguin in 1996, who got merged with Random House by Bertelsmann in 2013. Unfortunately I don't think she's still in print, but in a way, Bennett wound up publishing her, anyway.
This aired in 1958, not quite 13 years after VJ Day. It is heartening to see that there had been enough reconciliation and comity between the cultures that a Japanese actress could be warmly welcomed and regarded, though I'm sure the panelists and many audience members had lost loved ones in the Pacific. It is good that we move on... that we value and aspire to some grace.
Not anymore! Borrowed from good ole Wiki... "Robert Bushnell Ryan was an American actor and activist. Known for his portrayals of hardened cops and ruthless villains, Ryan performed for over three decades. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film noir drama Crossfire. Wikipedia Born: November 11, 1909, Chicago, IL Died: July 11, 1973, New York, NY Height: 6′ 4″ Spouse: Jessica Cadwalader (m. 1939-1972" They had 3 children and 4 grandchildren There's gotta be some more family heritage by now. I had squat. I die alone. Some lives are like mine is.
16:08 Bennett asks who publishes Lee Thayer's mysteries, and praises Dodd, Mead as very good publishers. He's often spoken highly of other firms in his business, and was always an advocate for the whole industry and for libraries as well as booksellers. Dodd, Mead also published Agatha Christie's books in the USA for much of her career.
Ironically enough, less than 7 months later, Miyoshi Umeki would open on Broadway, playing Mei Li in the premiere production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's FLOWER DRUM SONG. Great show, by the way; I think that Robert Ryan does a good job as guest panelist on this one. And did you notice that ALL of the panelists stood up to shake Emma Thayer's hand as she exited following her guest appearance?
Miss Umeki went on to TV fame as Mrs. Livingston on "The Courtship of Eddie's Father". Oddly enough, she lived her last years in a small rural town in South Central Missouri.
Her fame was in Sayanora, which she won an oscar for, prior to courtship of eddie's father. Why is that odd she lived in Missouri? That's where her son lived.
Mr. Vaughn thanks for that info. I thought her name was familiar but not for theater as I was 1 yr. old at this show ‘s air date but loved Courtship of Eddie’s Father. The info you discover on this show not to mention seeing such well known stars much younger is just amazing. I love it.
@@horatiohornblower5626 I think I recall they had the whole The Sound of Music people, or I meant some of them.... mostly standing. But sweet lovers Lucy and Desi could have taken just a chair and one lap.
Ryan who was more often than not cast in a film as a hard case or borderline nut job was known around Hollywood as the nicest kindest guy you could ever hope to meet. Fantastic actor..
I also loved Robert Ryan, who could play a convincing monster in any genre! The fact that he was a loving family man and good citizen all his life is further proof of his immense talent.
@@qkhost One of his finest and chilling performances was his role in the film: ‘Crossfire,’ where he portrayed the character of ‘Montgomery,’ a deranged and anti semitic psychopath.
Miss Umeki would debut in Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Flower Drum Song" later in 1958, in December, where she played a young Chinese woman, and she played the same role again in the 1961 film adaptation of the same name. She could definitely sing and enjoyed playing in musicals -- she had been a night club singer in Japan after World War II ended. She won that Best Supporting Actress Oscar for "Sayonara" and remains the one and only Asian woman to have one an Oscar for acting. As a footnote, I point out they had a difficult time finding sufficient Asian actors to fill all the roles in the Broadway version of "Flower Drum Song", and one of the parts featured Larry Blyden made up to look Chinese. Blyden was the second panel moderator of the syndicated version of "What's My Line?" in the early 1970's. Miss Umeki, reportedly, had a very nice sense of humor and loved singing. She began her career in Japan as a night club singer, having been impressed with big band singers such as Doris Day and Dinah Shore, as well as singers like Patti Page and Peggy Lee.
She was a frequent guest on variety shows of period. Dinah Shore, Andy Williams, Giselle MacKenzie, and others. She also played the role of Mrs. Livingston on the TV program The Courtship of Eddie's Father. She retired shortly after the cancelation of the show.
Heavens to Murgatroid ! I don't think I ever saw the late great actor Robert Ryan on a game show ! He's been one of my favorite stars for as long as I can remember ! A gifted performer and VERY intelligent gentleman. Thank you so much for uploading this very entertaining episode !! :-)
Holy Underwear, Batman ! Deputy Dawg ? That brings back some really fun memories of my 60s childhood ! Haven't thought about that TV cartoon in many moons ! Thanks a LOT for your comment ! :-)
Hey, Huckleberry, me, Mr. Magoo, Magilla Gorilla and Snagglepus enjoyed Top Cat and Adam Ant until Johnnie Quest grew us all a bunch of bigger cartoon brains. But then Josie and the Pussycats sorta grew it back down where we always liked it anyways. That's where we met The Flintstones and The Jetsons! We go over for BBQ and Protein Pills all the time now.
It was so nice and very courteous for the panel to stand up for Ms.Thayer,indicating,a sign of respect.People,presently,do not show much respect toward each other,sadly.I hope that improves,and becomes a norm,once again,in American society.
Civility and manners, not to mention common courtesy fell victim to the steamroller of deconstructionism launched during the 60s. Everything has been reduced to the lowest common denominator in pursuit of fake egalitarianism. I miss those days.
I note that Arlene shot herself in the foot by asking Miyoshi Umeki "Were you born on the Asiatic continent?" rather than "Were you born in Asia?" Japan is part of Asia, but the entire country is situate on a group of islands, so it's absolutely not on the Asiatic continent.
Wrong...Japan is part of the Asiatic continent, just because it lies off the coast doesn't make it a Pacific island anymore than saying if you're born in Long Island, NY you weren't born in North America. So those of you who agree would assume anyone born in Queens NY, or Brooklyn NY or Prince Edward Island are not born on the North American continent.
What? What were your geography grades in school? Japan is part of the Asiatic continent. Just like the Phillipines is. What are you talking about??? So Hawaii isn't part of the North American continent?
@@markxxx21 Things were more defined back then that it wasn't all encompassing. That's why they went to an island question instead of the continental question. Great Britain is certainly part of Europe as a whole, but Mr Cerf asked about GB after having asked about the European continent. They were seen as separate.
It's a shame that most people only remember Miyoshi Umeki for playing Mrs. Livingston the maid on THE COURTSHIP OF EDDIES FATHER. It's also a shame that she left show-biz after COURTSHIP got canceled. It's even MORE of a shame that Miyoshi was such an underrated Academy Award-winning actress!! Arigato, Miyoshi!!!! You've done humanity proud for your being who you were!!
I remember her way before WML as a lovely woman who was in some famous movies and also a wonderful singer who appeared on American television. Such sweetness and beautiful voice!
Please forgive me for another shame I discovered just now, if necessary. I wanted to provide your wonderful comment a 'thumbs up' award with the rest many other people had, but the #44 is sort of special for me and that's where you're at right now at the moment; I didn't want to be the one to break the spell myself. So, I thought I'd leave a thoughtful reply for your comment instead... I could bet a finger i saw Miss Umeki play a victim on The Untouchables, but sadly, I could be mistaken because as you said, "It's a shame that most people only remember Miyoshi Umeki for playing Mrs. Livingston the maid on THE COURTSHIP OF EDDIES FATHER'... me being one of those 'most people', too. Well, I think so but honestly don't recall. I know if I saw her in something else that I was captivated by her charm and her adult innocence. Thanks for using that Japanese word "Arigato". I haven't heard that word since the 70's when I lived in Eagle Rock, CA ... a name I drop just in case any old friends are lurking about RU-vid. They all liked Miyoshi Umeki, so who knows. Okay, I purposely learned how to say "Life is good!" in simple Chinese so I could spring it on an elderly neighbor when he arrived back from his Hong Kong business. Covid had just been declared and flights were getting canceled, so if he was allowed onto a plane, then life would indeed be good! He didn't speak Chinese like I assumed. You should have seen my face when I stated, "Shenghuo Hen Hao!" and he blinked, then said, "Huh?" I'll stop being "fun knee" now. Always leave 'em wanting more, never less! Maine said to sing "Hello" for it. I can't do that on a keyboard though! Can I get you to sing 'hello' to yourself from the great state of Maine? Maybe in the key of "E"? If you have a guitar, break it out for the occasion! "Live well, LAUGH often, Love much". I have a sweet long wooden sign stating just that.
I watched The Courtship of Eddie’s Father also. I’m so glad I can watch these videos if Miyoshi Umeki. I’ve live in Japan for many years but I have seen nothing about her on Japanese tv. Can’t understand that.
Lee Thayer (born Emma Redington Lee) was, I find, the author of such novels as The Mystery of the Thirteenth Floor (1919); That Affair at "The Cedars" (1921); Q. E. D. (1922); Counterfeit (1933); Sudden Death (1935); Dead End Street, No Outlet (1936); Last Trump (1937); and A Man's Enemies (1937). All these titles are online at Archive dot org or Haithi Trust. She lived on after this show for another decade and a half and died only a few months before her 100th birthday. Although she wrote 60 books, "she is largely forgotten today," as one website notes. There is no Wikipedia biography for her.
I'm pretty sure crime mysteries are entertainment. There are literary works like "Crime and Punishment" which have a crime in them, but there's hardly any "mystery" in them
Interesting that if the first gentleman were to say he was from Orlando a few decades later, the first question would be if he was connected with an amusement park.
Miss Umeki always seemed so sweet. She did several things in which she was excellent. Unfortunately parts for Japanese actors in the US were not a dime a dozen. Her talents should have been used much more on Eddie's Father. I wonder why she never returned to Japan where I am assuming she would have had a better opportunity to act. She had one son, a police officer, who unfortunately died by suicide, but she had three grandchildren. The same can be said for Nancy Kwan, Scots-Chinesse, another talented lady who found that work was no longer available either in Britain and the US. She also lost a son, to AIDS he had contracted from his girlfriend. Such a shame, two beautiful, talented ladies, we should have seen more of in the entertainment business.
"Could be a cockroach." Dorothy: "WHAT would you breed THEM for?" Me: *falls over laughing* She sounded almost indignant over that suggestion. I have to say I really appreciate the 'newer' format of taking the contestant straight into the game - not making them walk to the panel, not explaining the rules if they already know them - then letting the contestant 'meet' the panel on their way out. Really does help the pace of the game a LOT compared to the earlier years. As a viewer, it gets old hearing the rules explained again and again, and that time lost while the contestant was walking to the panel was boring. This is a lot better - and they get the same 'experience' on the way out, but for us, the pace of the game is already moving on.
karrskarr They couldn’t do it in today’s retardedly PC environment... can’t ask people where they are from or what they do without supposedly being xenophobic, racist, sexist, etc.
@@ronnelson6007 Reminds me of the episode with Gary Crosby. He stumped the panel then joked about whether he was actually a celebrity. He'd been in a few movies, but probably not as a major star and it was 8 years before he'd be recurring on Adam-12. He also had the misfortune of being better known as the son of Bing than for the accomplishments he made for himself.
At 06:52, Dorothy Kilgallen was correct, a flea does have 4 legs. It also has 2 legs, too! Now, had she asked, "Does it ONLY have four legs?" she would have lost her sweet turn. Big difference in questions being asked and John Daly should have picked it up and ran funny with it! I used the word, "correct" because 'right' refers to an arm, leg or maybe direction. I wish I got a sudden knock on the door saying I won some money for saying all this, but stuff like that only happened when the world was still black and white.
How does being mystery novelist not fall under the category of entertainment? What other purpose would you have other than to give people enjoyment from your stories? If it was something like a dictionary or reference book, I would agree that wasn’t entertaining.
Japan is part of the Asiatic continent, just because it lies off the coast doesn't make it a pacific island anymore than saying if you're born in Long Island, NY you weren't born in North America.
JAPAN IS NOT ON THE CONTINENT OF ASIA, IT IS PART OF ASIA. SO THE ANSWER WAS CORRECT. IT IS LIKE SAYING THE UK IS ON THE CONTINENT OF EUROPE. WHICH IT IS NOT.
They stood up for several members of the US government, including Senator Margaret Chase Smith and Henry Cabot Lodge. I seem to recall that they also stood up for several generals and admirals.
The nature of the format and the live TV aspect make it difficult, but you would think that after 8 years of the show they would have found some way to make sure it doesn't happen!
They must have signalled Miss Umeki to take the pretty ornament out of her hair, it did flash in the light. I missed it when it was removed. A flower would have been better. Loved her traditional dress.
What's My Line? Thank you for clarifying. Japanese entertainers weren't widely accepted into the American film and television industry way back during the 1950's, like they are now. We have come a long way since.
***** Actually Asians still aren't that accepted particularly males. In fact they're less visible on TV and in movies than blacks. But it's true things are better today than in the '50s.
@@christinecatt5391 excuse me....Billy Graham did not live in a mansion....far from it...he lived in a nice house in the NC mountains but NOT in a mansion! He was very humble....he and his wife were buried in caskets made by prisoners...very modest and low cost.
The eddicot of the day was, women don't stand to shake hands except in respect to the elderly, royalty and those of the highest office. Men always stood to shake hands with everyone. Also a man didn't presume to shake a woman's hand upon introduction unless she offered hers. Billy Graham? He wasn't in this episode.
From previous shows, he seems to have been a fan of the New York Giants. But this show, of course, is the year after the Giants departed for San Francisco. I don't know to whom he transferred his allegiance.
John Yang There's an episode from 1963 where he and John Daly are talking about how excited they are that the Mets were playing well at that point. I'm guessing that he transferred his allegiance to the Mets when they came into being in 1962 and was probably a Yankees fan (at least of sorts since they were the only local team at that time) between the departure of the Giants in '58 and the birth of the Mets in '62.
+TomasTigre There's no way to know for sure what any Dodgers or Giants fan did when those two teams moved to the West Coast. For those who switched their allegiance to the Yankees, most likely they remained Yankee fans when the Mets came into existence in 1962. After all, they were rooting for the current World Champions and the Mets were terrible until 1969. My family rooted for the Brooklyn Dodgers. My parents didn't root for much of anyone from 1958-61. My best recollection is that they rooted for the team that was playing the Yankees when we watched on TV. My brother and I remained Dodger fans for many years. He finally switched to the Mets some years ago, but will still root for the Dodgers against anyone else. I remain a die-hard Dodger fan to this day.
Maybe it is me but some of these guessing games from this era....60 years ago...would be so inappropriate, today. I mean, when Umeki says she is from Japan and one of the panel says "It's sukiyaki time"...I almost fell off my chair (as much as I enjoy sukiyaki)...and that they couldn't pronounce her name...though she won an oscar, etc..? Oh dear. It's not a complicated name. Anyway, I just cannot imagine some of these questions and responses and reactions happening today!
It is not a part of the asian continent. Contrast the question about Asia with the one about Europe in which Bennett says "on the European continent." When we say "continental Europe" we refer to the contiguous land mass so its the same thing with Asia.
The comments on Miss Umeki and Mrs. Thayer are very interesting and pleasant. But if you're"touchy" about UN-informed comments, especially regarding geography or biology, you might want to skip many of these. There is an extraordinary amount of not only ignorance but arrogance in setting forth their "opinions".
Wow, hell hath frozen over. They had two Gentiles on the panel for this show. Trivia Robert Ryan sublet his apartment in the Dakota to John Lennon and Yoko Ono. The Dakota was obviously cursed because Ryan only lived to be 63 and we all know what happened to Mia Farrow there.
@6:56: The questions about 4 and 2 legs should've both received a "Yes". Anything with more than 4 legs has 2 and 4 legs. It'd have been "No" if they'd asked about having _only_ (or no more than) 2 or 4 legs. Tsk. Come on, John. :)
www.thebugsquad.com/fleas/do-fleas-fly/ For all general purposes, fleas do not fly, and it was clear that they were separating them from insects that, as a general purpose, do fly.
Fleas cannot fly as they do not have wings, but they can jump many times longer than their own body length. Thus, they are able to jump onto a passing animal or human and latch on their body hair and skin.
It is not a part of the asian continent. Contrast the question about Asia with the one about Europe in which Bennett says "on the European continent." When we say "continental Europe" we refer to the contiguous land mass so its the same thing with Asia.
Sukiyaki is a respectable seasoned meat and vegetables dish and it is also the title if a popular song, both originating in Japan. Is reference to anything associated with a race, ethnicity or culture to be considered racist or cringeworthy? As an American should I cringe upon hearing “hamburger and shake” or “turkey?”
It is almost certainly a reference to a catchphrase. Some sort of advertising campaign. Can’t find it online but I’m sure there are people out there who remember it.
![What's My Line? - Miyoshi Umeki; Robert Ryan [panel] (May 11, 1958)](/img/logo.svg){kind=logo}
