Short of Lucille Ball, was there ever such a beloved TV icon as Arlene Francis? From 1950 to 1975, on What's My Line, Miss Arlene was the epitome of genteel elegance on a medium which continuously, and rapidly, fell far short of the gracious standards she personified.
Although What's My Line would be her greatest legacy, Miss Arlene was also an accomplished actress, performing in 25 Broadway productions, as well as several motion pictures (perhaps most memorably in the 1963 Doris Day comedy, The Thrill of it All, as a late-life mother-to-be). Married to frequent What's My Line panelist Martin Gabel from 1946 until his death in 1986, Miss Arlene passed away in 2001 following a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease.
As moderator John Daly said countless times, "Good night, Miss Arlene"! Television has been a much more crass and vulgar place since you left us.
No comments:
Post a Comment