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00:00Ralston, makers of wheat checks, rice checks, instant Ralston, and rye crisps.
00:13The Ralston Purina Company, a famous checkerboard square in St. Louis, Missouri, presents the
00:18exciting television game, The Name's the Same.
00:21And now let's meet our panel of famous names.
00:28Our lovely radio and television actress, Joan Alexander.
00:35Star of the Broadway musical hit, Fanny, Walter Slaza.
00:43The leading panelist of The Name's the Same program in England, here in the United States
00:46on a special visit, Lady Catherine Boyle.
00:52The creator of the comedy arc known as Droodles, Roger Price.
00:58And now a name everybody knows, the moderator of The Name's the Same, Dennis James.
01:07Thank you very much, everybody. Hi. Welcome once again to Name's the Same.
01:10And hello to you, panel. Now, you know that you're in competition to one another.
01:14The ones who guess the name correctly keep their money.
01:16The ones who do not have to write out a check for $20.
01:19I explain that because we have two new panel members for tonight.
01:22Audrey Meadows is on vacation. We have stepping in here today Lady Catherine Boyle.
01:27Now, will I call you Lady Catherine or Lady Boyle?
01:29Heavens, I take lady as an insult. Please call me Catherine.
01:32Thank you. All right, Catherine. Walter, certainly it's a pleasure having you on board.
01:36So let's not waste any time. Let's get you going as quickly as possible.
01:39So let's meet our first guest. All right?
01:46Now, don't tell me your name, sir. Just tell me where you're from.
01:49I'm from New York. And what do you do?
01:51I work for Time Magazine. All right, sir.
01:53And that's about all the information we'll give them for right now.
01:56Panel, it's up to you to find out who this gentleman is.
01:58He is related to a very, very famous name.
02:01And it's up to you to find out what that name is.
02:03So we're going to show everybody at home, sir, just exactly who you are.
02:16All right, ladies first and guests first. So, Catherine, supposing you start.
02:21Now, remember, he's related to a very famous name.
02:23This is my first question. I'm remembering that, too.
02:26Well, now, is your relative the same sex as you are? Is he a man?
02:30Yes.
02:31And is he about the same age as you are?
02:33No.
02:34Older?
02:36Yes.
02:37Is he your father?
02:38No.
02:39No.
02:40Brother?
02:41No.
02:42Not you.
02:43All right, Walt, you have ten questions.
02:45You say you work for a magazine. Are you related to Henry Luce?
02:50No, I'm not.
02:52I thought. It is not a brother and is not a father?
02:56No.
02:57It is a cousin?
02:58No.
03:00Is there a blood relation?
03:01Yes.
03:03What else is there?
03:06Well, with eight questions, you'll have time to find out.
03:08I pass to Joan.
03:10Your grandfather?
03:11Yes.
03:12That's what else there is.
03:14Is he living?
03:15No.
03:17Was he in the arts?
03:19Yes.
03:20Was he a performer?
03:22Yes.
03:24Was he connected with any special branch of the performing arts?
03:27Yes.
03:29Was it the drama?
03:34No.
03:35Four questions, Joan.
03:36Was it music?
03:38Yes.
03:39Music?
03:40Yes.
03:41He was a conductor?
03:42Yes.
03:43Two questions.
03:44Two questions? I pass.
03:46How about you, Rog?
03:47Your grandfather was a famous conductor.
03:50Yes.
03:51Was he an American?
03:52Yes, he was.
03:55My musical education is limited about the Toscanini and the man who conducted The Streetcar Named Desire.
04:04I hope...
04:09Walter Damrosch?
04:11No.
04:12I think Lady Boyle. This is more up your alley, if you'll excuse my...
04:16I was happy that you were going to keep it down your street, because my knowledge of American music, I have to admit, is very bad.
04:23How long ago did he die?
04:26No, no. Yes and no in America.
04:28What?
04:29Just yes and no questions here.
04:31You're only allowed to ask a question that demands a yes or no answer.
04:34Oh, I see. Well, I think I'm going to pass straight on.
04:36All right.
04:37Was he primarily a conductor?
04:39No.
04:40Or was he a creative artist, too?
04:42Well, you're asking, is he primarily a conductor, or are you changing your question, Walter?
04:47Well, I'm adding two questions into one, but that's...
04:49We can't answer with one. We can charge you for the first, if you like.
04:52All right. Was he only a conductor?
04:55No.
04:56He was also a composer?
04:57Yes.
04:58I see. Couldn't have been Victor Herbert?
05:00No.
05:01Good. I pass.
05:02Was it by any chance a brass band that he was famous for?
05:04Yes.
05:05John Philip Sousa?
05:06Yes.
05:11Good for you.
05:16See, I thought you were way down right on it the first time, and I reminded you that you had two questions.
05:20I thought you were leading right into it before, Joan, before it passed down the line.
05:23I was, but I thought I better be polite.
05:25All right.
05:26Sir, I want to thank you very much on behalf of all the folks for playing the game.
05:29Pick up your checks from everybody but Joan Alexander. Thank you.
05:34You ought to be very proud of him.
05:44Bertha, I think the word that you wanted was smorgasbord cracker.
05:47Rye crisp, the smorgasbord cracker in the checkerboard package.
05:51Now let's meet our famous guest.
05:53This is a gentleman of motion pictures, actor, director, producer, Mr. Gregory Rathoff.
06:03How are you, sir?
06:07All right, Mr. Rathoff, won't you sit down?
06:09It certainly is a pleasure having you here in New York and on our program.
06:12I just mentioned that you not only act, you write.
06:15I apologize for one second. I've got to see what's your name.
06:19Mr. James, I'm glad to meet you.
06:24This is wonderful.
06:25Now you're an actor, aren't you? Or a director? Which?
06:27Right now I'm an actor.
06:29James, are you any relative to Harry James?
06:33No.
06:34No, because I made pictures with Harry James. He married to Betsy Grable.
06:38Who?
06:39Harry James.
06:40Is married to who?
06:41To Betsy Grable.
06:43I don't know her.
06:44You don't know Betsy Grable?
06:46That just shows you, Walter.
06:49I'm sorry, I don't want to... I just, you know, I don't see anything and so many new people.
06:54Now...
06:55You know everybody over there is Joan Alexander, Walter Slezak, I heard him say my friend.
06:59That lady is a... This is her first time on television in the United States, Lady Catherine Baldwin.
07:04I am here to make the prediction that it is not her last time.
07:09She is pretty and she told me backstage that she is half Russian.
07:13Which half?
07:15Well, the nice half.
07:16Oh, fine.
07:17If there is one.
07:18You later tell me what you consider the nice half.
07:20And the other fellow downstairs sitting back there is Roger Price.
07:22Yeah, that's my friend, Mr. Price.
07:24That's the funny man.
07:26Yes, sir.
07:27Now, you told me you were an actor and a director and that you want to direct this whole game that you're playing here.
07:32You know...
07:33Well, every one of our guests has a wish.
07:35I wish you were a little bit more exact.
07:38You see, I don't want to direct it, but you see, as long as I'm here,
07:42I'm very happy to be here, incidentally.
07:44This is the greatest coincidence.
07:46I'm not doing it to make happy the sponsor.
07:49But, Walter, I just lost 36 pounds eating Rye Crisp.
07:55Did you see such a coincidence?
07:57Where did you lose them?
07:58Where did I lose them?
07:59I'll show it to you backstage after the show.
08:02So, anyway, I have never seen this show because I was in Europe recently.
08:07But I must tell you, this is not the first time on a panel show.
08:11Do you remember in the good old days there was a show called Information, Please?
08:15Oh, yes.
08:16Yeah, that's...
08:1750, 60, 65 years ago?
08:19Well, something like that, you see.
08:21So, I've been on that show several times.
08:24But, you know, I must tell you that recently any panel show I saw, it was a bit dry.
08:30You know, it was a bit...
08:31I mean, I like to see a panel show, what I would say, with the...
08:40So, now, if I am allowed in these few minutes...
08:43Now, incidentally, how many minutes am I allowed to be here?
08:46What's my contract calls for?
08:49Six.
08:50Six.
08:51A minute I'm here already.
08:52No, no, no.
08:53One minute is already over.
08:54In these five minutes now, I would like to put something, really,
08:58that is not like in every panel show.
09:01For instance, I see four lovely contestants.
09:03Two lovely ladies and two lovely gentlemen.
09:06I'd like them, when they'll be asking me the questions,
09:10just don't ask me in an ordinary way,
09:12I'd like them to act these questions.
09:15Now, I'm sure Mr. Slezak can do it.
09:19I've never seen this show, so I cannot...
09:22She can do it.
09:23She can do it, yes.
09:24Now, do you think I'll be allowed when it comes to them asking me
09:27that I can come to them and explain to them how I want them to ask me?
09:30Oh, do it now, yes.
09:31Make your preparations now, and then we'll go into the game.
09:33Even now?
09:34In other words, what is going to happen is
09:35you're going to have to try to find out what the wish is that Mr. Ratov has,
09:38but you must use a direct method to get to the questions,
09:41which he'll explain to you now.
09:42All right, now, I can get up now and come to them?
09:45You certainly may.
09:46Now, the camera will follow me?
09:47Everything.
09:48This is like Hollywood.
09:49Everything will be there when you ask for it.
09:51We'll have it there.
09:52Now, you don't mind if I just put my glasses on and see what's your name?
09:56You can do anything you like.
09:57Now, if anybody can read that?
09:59It's Joan Alexander.
10:00Hello.
10:01Hi, darling.
10:02I'm very glad to see you.
10:03I want you to know we've known each other for about 15 years.
10:07My God!
10:09You and I know each other for 15 years?
10:11I apologize.
10:12Will you tell me later?
10:13He didn't recognize you because he has a beard.
10:19Miss Alexander, I would like you to ask me the questions.
10:23You've got to imagine that you are talking to a little tiny baby.
10:29Just imagine that I am 8 months old or 10 months.
10:33Oh, I give you a year.
10:35You've got to talk to me like you would talk to a year-old baby.
10:39I'd ask you to sit on my lap, but at the moment this is a little baby.
10:42No, I don't advise you to ask me to sit on your lap.
10:46You get the idea.
10:47I get the idea.
10:48Just talk to me like I'm one year old.
10:51And I must tell you, as long as I feel that this is real, I'll answer you.
10:57But if you talk to me not like I'm a year old, but three years old, no answer.
11:01Now, Walter, my friend, here comes the situation.
11:04The producers of this show were very worried about my asking you to do what I will.
11:09I assured them that you and I are all good friends.
11:13Walter, I am one of the few people here in America who not only heard about your great father,
11:22but I saw your great father, Mr. Leo Slezak, in a Schatz opera in Vienna.
11:27That's right.
11:28He was a teeny little baby.
11:30One kind of a baby that looked like Mr. Alexander.
11:32Talk to me now.
11:33Now, your father was a great tenor.
11:35Yes.
11:36Now, I know, and don't deny it.
11:39You may be the comedian.
11:40You may wear the beard.
11:41You may get big salary in funny making people laugh.
11:45But your wish, your wish is to be the tenor.
11:48That I know.
11:49Yeah.
11:50Now, any...
11:51All right.
11:52I get that.
11:53So far, no offense.
11:54So far, you're happy.
11:55All right.
11:56Now, anything you want to ask me, you've got to sing.
12:00You have to ask me singing in tenor and the famous arias.
12:05Like, for instance, if you want to ask me what's my name, you must say...
12:10What's your name?
12:13So you have to ask me everything in a tenor voice and with some aria.
12:18And some aria.
12:19That's right.
12:20Now, you start thinking about this.
12:21I gave you lots of time to prepare.
12:23Now, Lady Boyle.
12:24Lady Boyle.
12:25I also knew that you're a peer on the program.
12:27I don't know why, when they told me Lady Boyle, I thought that it is a davenger, you know.
12:33An English lady, you know.
12:34One of the ladies, you know.
12:36But my...
12:37Beautiful, beautiful.
12:41There is no question about it.
12:43There is no question about it.
12:45I will talk to your business later.
12:48When I say business, I am making a picture.
12:51I cannot plug the name of the picture I will make.
12:53Later they will allow me, this is in my contract, that I can plug the picture that I have made already.
12:58Now, I've got a part for you.
13:00Now, I've got a part for you.
13:02One year after I saw you, you are Russian, but speak with a perfect English accent.
13:07You can do that.
13:08That's very fine.
13:09Now, you are going to answer me, please, all the questions.
13:14You know, of course, English history.
13:16You know that there was a king called Henry VIII.
13:18I was brought up in Italy.
13:19In Italy?
13:20Do you speak Italian?
13:21Yes.
13:22I came from Italy.
13:23I was in Milan three or four days ago.
13:26But my name is Italian.
13:28What is your name?
13:29Caterina Imperiali.
13:30Caterina Imperiali.
13:31Caterina.
13:32Caterina.
13:33Caterina.
13:34Am I now, can I say no?
13:37I've still got time.
13:38We've got time.
13:39I don't like to talk to you too much Italian, but we'll discuss the situation.
13:44Now, oh yes, about the business.
13:45Now, look, you're going to answer me thinking that I am Henry VIII and you're one of my wives.
13:53Now, that's up to you.
13:54Which one?
13:55Don't be bullying.
13:56Anybody you want.
13:57Well, I'm Catherine Pollock.
13:58Why don't you be bullying?
13:59Be bullying.
14:00This is my business.
14:01You're bullying.
14:02What do you think?
14:03Am I funny?
14:04Talking to Pinza?
14:05What's the matter with you?
14:06Do you understand?
14:07Yes.
14:08I survived you.
14:09I'm Catherine Pollock.
14:10All right.
14:11Now, my good friend, the funny man.
14:12You see, when I asked you about you, they told me this man is really funny.
14:15He works for Buck Hope, or used to work for Buck Hope.
14:19You're responsible for Buck Hope's success.
14:22Now, you must ask me the questions by making me laugh.
14:27I mean, you don't have to kill me.
14:29But you must at least make me like the woman saying,
14:33nothing will do but the right things.
14:35You know, that woman.
14:36Fair enough.
14:37Give me at least that chance, you know.
14:39And I tell you, I'm a good audience.
14:41You don't have to work very hard.
14:43Now, is that understood, Mr. Alexander?
14:45Like a baby in a tenor voice.
14:47In a tenor voice.
14:48Boy, my darling, as Anna Boleyn, and you make me funny.
14:51Now, is that the place when I go back to my...
14:54The camera is following me.
14:56All right.
14:58All right.
15:02Okay.
15:04All right, you all set?
15:05Now, we have to show everybody at home what your wish is.
15:07So, let's show everybody at home what Gregory Rotthof's wish is.
15:12All right?
15:22All right, Joan, we'll start with you.
15:24Now, remember your instructions.
15:26Oh, thanks so much, Dennis.
15:29Darling.
15:30No, that's not...
15:31I can't think of you as a baby, Gregory.
15:36How can I answer you that?
15:38How can I answer that?
15:39All right, I tell you something.
15:40In the case of Miss Alexander, I will give her a break.
15:45I'll give you a break.
15:46Ask me any way you want.
15:47Really?
15:48Yeah, but, I mean, don't let that fool you people.
15:50You're going to answer me the way I told you.
15:52What do you mean, no?
15:53Don't you think I'd call a year old baby darling?
15:55Yeah, but not with that voice.
15:56You say,
15:57Give me a baby talk, Joan.
15:59A baby talk.
16:00That's, you know, what I really want.
16:01Not in progressive education.
16:03Come on, you used to do...
16:04I remember you used to do soap operas together.
16:06You used to play little kiddie parts and stuff.
16:08Come on, do it for her.
16:10Give me a baby talk like...
16:11I don't talk to babies like that.
16:14Darling, I only got five minutes on my computer.
16:19Do you want to be an actor like your father when you grow up?
16:21Yeah, I wish my father was an actor.
16:23No.
16:24Does this wish have anything to do with the panel?
16:26With the panel, yes, definitely.
16:28If it does, I'll pass, because I want to hear Walter sing.
16:30Uh...
16:31You're finished.
16:32All right.
16:33She's passed.
16:34She's passed.
16:35That means what?
16:36Now, Roger's going to ask you a question.
16:37Well, I got a joke first.
16:38I got to tell you a joke, right?
16:39Right.
16:40Okay.
16:41Once upon a time, there was a Russian actor
16:42who was very shy and quiet.
16:43Well, I'll tell you another joke.
16:44Now, wait a minute.
16:45Repeat that.
16:46I couldn't understand that one yet.
16:47There was a Russian actor who was very shy.
16:48Why?
16:49And quiet.
16:50I got to tell you another joke.
16:51Didn't go very well.
16:52No, I tell you why.
16:53Huh?
16:54I can tell you why he was shy.
16:55Oh, no, if you interrupt, I get to ask you a question.
16:56All right.
16:57I got another way.
16:58You've been doing pretty good
16:59kicking around the English language.
17:00Now, maybe I speak to you in Russian.
17:01Good.
17:02It'll be funny to you, right?
17:03Good.
17:04Как поживаете, господин?
17:05До свидания, Мак.
17:06This is funny.
17:07Go ahead.
17:08Go ahead.
17:09Did you ask me anything about my wish?
17:10Does this wish have anything to do with Russian accent?
17:11With Russian accent?
17:12No.
17:13No.
17:14No.
17:15No.
17:16No.
17:17No.
17:18No.
17:19Does it have anything to do with Russian accent?
17:20Nothing.
17:21I think this is an international question.
17:22I think this is an international question.
17:23I think this is an international question.
17:24I think this is an international question.
17:25Gather.
17:26Sire.
17:27Sire.
17:28Would I be impertinent to suggest
17:29that this may have something to do with your circumference?
17:32Well, it ain't got nothing to do with how fat I am.
17:41That's not what I said.
17:43No, no, it ain't got nothing to do with how fat I am.
17:46But sire, has it anything to do, it has got something to do with another member of this illustrious, excluding me, panel
17:55No, unfortunately no
17:56No
17:57Top weight
17:58I'm not saying it
17:59I thought it was your weight too, you wanted to compare
18:01I don't know
18:02Yours, mine?
18:03Yes
18:04How did you lose so much weight?
18:09Right Chris, don't tell me that
18:11Now wait a minute, that is mezzo soprano, that is Carmen singing that
18:14Well I am a mezzo
18:15No, I want you to sing it in tenor
18:17Tenor I can't sing, I'm a baritone
18:19No, you wanted to ask me how much, how we put together
18:22How did you manage to lose so much weight, because has your wish to do anything
18:25All right, now I will show you how you should sing that
18:28All right, how should I sing it
18:29And ask the question
18:30Come on
18:31How could you lose so much weight?
18:36Why didn't you do that the first time?
18:39Walter Finn, you must ask me the question because I'm dying for you to guess it
18:44Well four minutes and fifty seconds have passed
18:46I pass to John
18:47All right, I think time is up
18:49We'll have to get Gregory Radoff to tell you what his wish was
18:52I don't think you've ever gotten it
18:54Well this is the most embarrassing situation
18:57My wish was that I could get more money for my appearance here
19:09This is very, this is very prosaic
19:13But that's what it is
19:14He also had another wish too and it's surprising that both of you get on this subject
19:17Tell him what your wish was
19:18Now Walter, this wish only in connection really with my great friendship for you
19:23Yes
19:24And really I love you and I worship your father
19:27Yeah
19:28And I know that no matter what I ask you to do for me
19:31Or whatever my wish could be
19:33You will take it in a spirit in which I say it
19:36I will
19:37Walter, I want to know but definitely
19:40Who weighs more, you or me?
19:43Have you got the scale?
19:44Everything's all set
19:45The scale, no I can't
19:46Yes, bring in the scale
19:47Sorry, bring it in
19:48No, my wife is listening and she's not supposed to know
19:50You can fight that out
19:51Oh no
19:54So we've got the scale, so away we go
19:56Let's go, now come on
20:00All right, now you do it any way you want
20:02He says he has a problem here with his wife
20:04So Gregory, you'll have to take care of the problem
20:06I tell you, as an old married man
20:08Silhouette
20:09Yeah
20:12Well of course I must tell you
20:15I wouldn't guess but I think you are much younger than I am
20:19You are the first
20:20Let me guess first
20:22You weigh
20:23This is not a question
20:24Under who? Under who?
20:26This is not the question
20:27235
20:30You guess that I'm 235
20:31Yeah
20:32Well I say that despite of your exterior look
20:37You weigh about 210
20:39That's right, Chris
20:40I can see that
20:41210
20:42Right
20:43How much you bet?
20:44I don't bet anything
20:45I tell you what I bet
20:46All right
20:47Anything they pay me more than they contracted me for, it's yours
20:50That's how it goes now
20:52Now wait a minute
20:53Now this, we've got to remember everything director told us
20:57Now wait
20:58Don't hold, take your feet off the ground too, Walter
21:02Now take the hands off, Walter
21:07Don't even tell him because this scale is not right
21:12You don't look it
21:14How much did it say?
21:16It says 290, that's impractical
21:18That's wrong
21:19I know that
21:20That's right
21:21Now you remember that it's wrong
21:22Now whatever you see mine, that's wrong too
21:26I don't want any problems here, you know
21:33How much?
21:34255
21:36255, this is wrong
21:37255
21:38All right, very good
21:39We got the weight back
21:40Very good
21:46Now I get the checks
21:47Now you pick up your checks for your favorite charity from everybody on the panel
21:51Thank you very much
21:52Gregory Randolph
22:01Now ladies and gentlemen, this is the most embarrassing moment of my life
22:04During the rehearsals the director told me that that's where I must stand and take the bow
22:09To the applause of the audience, where is that applause?
22:16Ladies and gentlemen, this is my opportunity to plug my picture
22:20I have just made a picture in which I play
22:22The name of the picture is Abdullah the Great
22:25And I play an oriental king
22:27And in that picture I bow like this, salam
22:31And I thank you very much
22:35All right, now let's have an accounting
22:37Joan?
22:38I lost $20, Dennis, but I made up Mr. Randolph's check for $2,000
22:41And signed your name because I want him to get his wish
22:44Bye
22:45Walter, you can at this time, if you like, correct your weight problem
22:49Here the scale showed 290
22:50And if you'd like to tell them what it actually is
22:52It is 85 pounds too much
22:5485 pounds too much?
22:56Yes, not the scale, I weigh 85 pounds too much
22:59Oh, I see, all right
23:01And I lost $40
23:04And how about you, Lady Catherine Boyle?
23:06I lost $40 too
23:08Goodbye, boy
23:09So I lost $40, exciting, wasn't it?
23:11Good night
23:12Listen, I appreciated your joke, I got it
23:15If nobody else did
23:16All right, this is Dennis James speaking for the entire panel
23:18And for the Ralston Purina Company out of Checkerboard Square in St. Louis, Missouri
23:21Inviting you to join up with us again next week, same time
23:24Bye now
23:31United Airlines, the nation's fastest airline
23:33In less than eight hours, coast to coast
23:35United's luxurious new DC-7 mainline
23:41The Name's the Same has been a Mark Goodson, Bill Todman production
23:46Executive producer
23:47Don't miss an all-new season of the most extreme show on television
23:50The only thing I can't promise is live animal sacrifices
23:53Extreme Gong begins June 1st
23:55Television will never be the same
23:57The Name's the Same, brought to you by the Ralston Purina Company