MovieChat Forums > What's My Line? (1950) Discussion > More like "The Tux and Gown Show"

More like "The Tux and Gown Show"

posted 7 years ago by ptlm1202
2 replies | jump to latest

After watching this show with my parents, I have noticed that it is very formal. If you don't know or haven't noticed:

1) The attire typically consists of tuxedos, gowns (hence the name of this thread), and gloves for the females.

2) The contestants, panel, and host are all addressed by their last name.

Don't get me wrong, it was and is a good show, but why is it so overly formal? You would think everyone's attending a banquet the way they're dressed.

Avatar made on sp-studio.de

[–] MacallisterBurn 7 years ago

I think it was just a classy show in a classier time than the TV game shows that proceeded it. According to Bennett Cerf:

"There were no costumes, no rehearsals, no props. John and I would get there about fifteen minutes before game time. After a little while we didn't even wear dress coats anymore. We found out that we could get away with a black tie and fake it with a dark suit and a black dress tie, which I would ship off the minute the show was over. Five minutes after the show was over I was on my way out, dressed like a normal human being."

Even when they were "faking it" they were still dressed nice. Keep in mind also that television was brand new, as were TV celebrities. The biggest movie stars of the time were considered glamorous; when they made public appearances, they tended to look their best. So, it would make sense if the upcoming TV stars on What's My Line aspired to follow in their footsteps by dressing very formally when being seen in a "real life" setting by the public.

[–] MissMargoChanning (6630) 6 years ago

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I absolutely love it. The gowns and even the way the contestants are dressed is such a treat to see. So many of the gowns are just beautiful. Red carpet worthy!

I think it was because people dressed nicer at the time. They were on TV and that was a big deal!