Baltimore+Bangs+with+Bombing+Blooper
Baltimore Bangs with Bombing BlooperBaltimore Bangs with Bombing Blooper In the annals of television bloopers, the “Baltimore Bangs with Bombing” incident stands out as a peculiar and unforgettable moment. It occurred during a 1958 episode of the popular game show “What’s My Line?” The guest panelist that night was none other than the celebrated actress Tallulah Bankhead. When host John Charles Daly introduced the next contestant, a woman named Mrs. Robert Kennedy, the script called for Daly to say, “Baltimore bangs with bombing.” However, in a moment of verbal misstep, Daly uttered the line as “Baltimore bangs with bombing blooper.” The audience erupted in laughter, and Bankhead’s trademark drawl could be heard exclaiming, “Oh, I do like that!” The error was a result of Daly’s attempt to be clever. “Baltimore bangs” referred to a hairstyle popular among women in the mid-1950s, characterized by straight bangs across the forehead. “Bombing” was a slang term meaning “failure.” But the addition of “blooper” turned the harmless joke into a witty quip that became an instant catchphrase. The incident was widely discussed in the media and became a beloved part of “What’s My Line?” lore. Interestingly, the woman Daly had intended to introduce that night was actually from nearby Silver Spring, Maryland, not Baltimore. However, the “Baltimore bangs” reference had already stuck, and the episode became known as the “Baltimore Bangs with Bombing Blooper” episode. Today, the blooper remains a cherished memory for fans of the game show and a testament to the power of a simple verbal stumble to create a lasting impact.