I had an unexpected call one day in April many years ago.
We’ve all had one of those moments in life when you remember exactly where you were and what you were doing.
It was morning.
The phone rang in the kitchen.
"Hello, this is Ann Kaminski calling for the television production What’s My Line? Can you come to New York and be on the show? The panel will try to guess your occupation as Space Needle Elevator Operator at the Seattle World’s Fair.”
This was real.
I didn’t even question that it might be a prank.
I said, "Yes!!!”
It was a resounding – huge – and surprised – unbelievably shocked “Yes!”
Because in 1962 the idea of flying to New York and being on a network TV show was thrilling.
They sent me a first class ticket and I was on the next champagne flight to the Big Apple. I felt like I’d won the lottery. (There will be more New York adventures posted here, so stay tuned!)
What’s really amazing is that all these old shows are on Youtube. If you watch this clip of me on the show (I appear at the 3:15 mark), please keep in mind that I’d never been on a plane or traveled outside the State of Washington.
I was young, scared and I was told before showtime to answer with a “Yes" or “No”.
This is why I appear to be doing my “deer in the headlights” impression. I was nervous beyond description. And, was Merv Griffin hitting on me? As we learned later, I was in no danger from Merv.
Pictured up top is my “What’s My Line” 1960’s showtime red and white polka dot silk dress, 25 years after I was on the show. I’m wearing a vintage 1950’s big white silk flower, red plastic belt with gold buckle, white ruffle petticoat, big plastic clip earrings, white cotton gloves, gramma’s fun “pop” beads and my 1980’s red and white silly polka dot shoes.
Love those shoes!
Everything is still in my closet, except for those “Texaco Guys” (the wooden cutouts behind me in the photos). They’ve moved down the road to another station ... much to my husband’s delight. 😆
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