If you can identify at least five people in this pic you're old.....

[Heartstrings]

The CBS 50th Anniversary Special from 1978.
And yes, that’s Betty White. And that’s Lucy next to Don Knotts.



And yes, I’m old!

[OLDMDDEM]

1. I'm older than I thought. nt

[gab13by13]

2. I will start,

I think that's Lassie.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

5. Next to Lassie

Jean Stapleton, Walter Cronkite, Alfred Hitchcock, Mary Tyler Moore, ?, Gene Rayburn

[33taw]

10. I think ? is Ellen Corby from the Waltons.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

16. I'm just old enough for the waltons but only know John Boy nt

[MuseRider]

23. It is.

[multigraincracker]

17. I had dinner with Lassie.

Long time ago.

[GopherGal]

26. I figured Lassie didn't count

against the five that makes me old, since the wording is "five people", but then I started looking and recognized way too many for that technicality to save me...

Interesting to notice how non-diverse the picture is.

[Kali]

63. More diverse than any republican gathering

[sop]

3. Is that Opie up there (5th from the left, 3rd row down)?

[Niagara]

54. I thought so too.

I enlarged the photo so I could see it better and I can't share the enlarged photo for some reason. Who we thought it Ron Howard is actually Jon Walmsley. All The Walton's actors are in this anniversary photo except my dreamboat Richard Thomas.

[sop]

57. You're right, it is the Walton boy.

[Jilly_in_VA]

4. Oh yeah, I'm old.

[Thomas Hurt]

6. George Burns, Bob Keeshan, Telly Savalas, Jack Lord, Jim Nabors.

Lot of tv stars in there.

[ret5hd]

7. And if you are in this picture...

well, you got more problems than me:

[Niagara]

31. Bawahaha :)

[AZSkiffyGeek]

8. Gilligan and Archie Bunker above Lucy.

Also top center, Rob Reiner, with Carol Burnett, Steve Allen and Jim Nabors below him.

[Backseat Driver]

9. Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, pretty sure.

[lisa58]

11. Way more than 5🤣🤣🤣

[MLAA]

12. Bob Newhart, Sally Struthers, Loretta Swit

[AngryOldDem]

52. I'm kind of surprised Alan Alda isn't in there.

If he is, I missed him. MASH was at the top of its game then, widely recognized as one of the top comedies of the TV age…

[MLAA]

61. I love Alan Alda.

My husband and I were talking about M*A*S*H yesterday. We agreed it was the best written and best delivered/casted show ever. We tried to thing of others nearly that good. All I could come up with was West Wing.

What show(s) would you add?

[AngryOldDem]

73. I think The Office will one day join that list.

I didn’t watch it when it was on NBC, but started when I saw Comedy Central’s marathons. At first I thought the show was very mean-spirited, and couldn’t understand its appeal. But the more I’ve been watching, I’m finding that there are deeper insights to both the characters and the work environment that are all too true. Michael Scott is indeed an ass, but you get glimpses into his childhood that explain that, as one example. The Pam-Jim romance was so achingly well-written across the first three seasons that I sometimes teared up.

It isn’t always knee-slappingly funny, but shows like this don’t have to be to be considered great.

In the MASH era, CBS’s early to mid-1970s Saturday night lineup was the BEST — bar none:

All In The Family
MASH
Mary Tyler Moore Show
Bob Newhart Show
Carol Burnett

[MLAA]

75. I'm going to have to watch The office. I worked on corporate America

for years so I’m sure to find it if funny/insightful. I have always loved Bob Newhart. Having spent my career with the company that invented punch cards, I found this sketch hilarious. Might only be funny if you’ve ever had to deal with those damn cards in the old days 😊

[Sneederbunk]

13. Very few still with us.

Some appear to be photo shopped inserted.

[NNadir]

14. I didn't die young. I'm old. Isn't it wonderful to be old? n/t.

[multigraincracker]

19. Sound like me, I don't have an enemy in the world....

..I outlived em all.

[Codifer]

15. I see

Ray Walston next to Dennis Morgan.(?) At least I think it is Morgan... I knew it just a minute ago. Kind of middle left edge.

Weaver ! It is Dennis Weaver... just remembered.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

18. Klinger and Valerie Bertinelli above Walston?

[AZSkiffyGeek]

20. And George Jefferson above Klinger

[OilemFirchen]

53. That's Adrienne Barbeau next to Jamie Farr. (n/t)

[2naSalit]

21. I can identify

At least a third of them!

[Codifer]

22. Carol Burnett next to Steve Allen above

Archie Bunker, I can't recall his real name... but may start with a "C".

Edit to add: Carol O'Conner.

Brings back memories of the "Sgt Pepper" album cover. But I was stoned then..... oh, wait.

[MuseRider]

24. Probably most of them if

I could see them better!

[Donkees]

40. Here's a sharper photo and identity key ....

https://playingintheworldgame.com/2021/07/04/the-cbs-50th-anniversary-photo/

[MuseRider]

43. Cool, thank you!

[ruet]

44. Lol, I didn't even notice Lassie. -NT-

[smirkymonkey]

46. Oh, that's better!

I was only 15 when that photo was taken but I could identify at least half of them, if not more.

Not all by their real name, but at least by the name of the character they played.

[Fla Dem]

25. What's sad is how many of these folks we grew up with are no longer with us.

Happy for the ones that are.

[wryter2000]

27. Is that Esther Rolle?

The images are small enough that it's hard to recognize many of them. Interesting that Alfred Hitchcock is in there. I think one of them is Danny Kaye, and another one is Tommy Smothers. I don't see the other brother. And there's a collie lol, right next to the female star of All in the Family (her name escapes me). Plus, Walter Cronkhite, of course.

And George Burns. George and Gracie were wonderful. I'd happily watch that show again if I could find it.

I'm old.

[TexasBushwhacker]

66. Yup. And John Amos is in the top row next to Bob Barker

And the blonde behind her is Leslie Stahl!

[wryter2000]

28. Curse you

I'm going to be staring at this picture all day.

[demigoddess]

29. I'm old enough to remember most of the faces, but too old to

remember their names.

[Niagara]

30. I think I just strained my eyes.

Last edited Tue Jul 20, 2021, 06:32 PM - Edit history (1)

Top 3rd row- Ron Howard and David Harper
Top 4th row- Sherman Hemsley
Top 5th row- Judy Norton, Mary Elizabeth McDonough and Lucille Ball
7th row- Eric Scott, Kami Cotler and The Loveboat Captain
3rd bottom row- Elizabeth Montgomery and George Burns
1st bottom row- Lassie and Alfred Hitchcock



I'm now going to see what celebrities other DUers found.


Edit: Who I thought was Ron Howard is actually Jon Walmsley. All The Walton's actors are in this anniversary photo except my dreamboat Richard Thomas. It's difficult to identify people when they're the size of ants and I don't even need bifocals yet.

[Nay]

32. Isn't that Robert Redford, upper rt corner? I also see one of the Gabor sisters,

Alfred Hitchcock (front row), Ed Asner, Adrienne Barbeau, Ron Howard, and isn't that Glenn Campbell next to Buddy Ebsen in upper left corner?

[ruet]

35. Pretty Sure The Upper R Corner Guy Is...

James Arness from Gunsmoke.

[Nay]

38. You might be right. nt

[AngryOldDem]

51. It is.

[Sanity Claws]

56. Probably Eva Gabor

She was in Green Acres.

[Solly Mack]

33. Guess I'm old then.

[ruet]

34. I'm up to 59.

Maybe more but I can't be sure given the resolution. I"m, well, under 59 years old.

[Paladin]

36. I stopped counting after IDing 20 stars.

And I knew I was old, already.

[TlalocW]

37. I got

Telly Savalas, George Burns, Ethel Merman, Richard Pryor, Carol Burnett, Lucy, Sherman Helmsley, and Bert Convy. Is that Bob Newhart over on the edge on the upper right?

TlalocW

[Wicked Blue]

39. Dick Van Dyke, upper left corner

Bob Newhart 4th down in right side

[Buckeye_Democrat]

41. I'm old! And as further proof, I can't recall many of their...

... actual names!

I was like, "Edith Bunker, Gloria Stivic, Grandma Walton..."

[ruet]

42. Left to Right, Bottom to Top

Nothing better to do at lunch.

Jean Stapleton
Walter Cronkite
Alfred Hitchcock
Mary Tyler Moore
Familiar but would have to look up
Gene Rayburn
Familiar but would have to look up
Familiar but would have to look up
Unknown
Lesley Stahl ?
Unknown
Danny Kaye ?
Nancy Walker
George Burns
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Telly Savalas
Very familiar but would have to look up
Very familiar but would have to look up
Unknown
Someone from the Waltons?
Unknown
Bonnie Franklin
Orson Wells
Gabor Sister
Gavin MacLeod but maybe not. Also looks like a CBS exec I can't name.
Tim Conway
I know who that is I just can't think of it. Danny something?
Bob Keeshan
Dennis Weaver
Ray Walston
Sally Struthers
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Betty White
News Guy
Ned Beatty
Charles Kuralt
Unknown
Jamie Farr
Adrienne Barbeau
Unknown
Unknown
Lucy
Ed Asner
Gameshow host
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Mike Wallace
Sherman Hemsley
Unknown
Isabel Sanford
Unknown
Bob Denver
Carroll O'Connor
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Art Carney
Tony Randall
Bob Newhart
Dick Smothers
Unknown
Ted Knight
Very familiar but would have to look up
Ron Howard
Unknown
Unknown
Valerie Harper
Unknown
Another Waltons kid?
Unknown
Familiar but would have to look up
Unknown
Glen Campbell
Buddy Ebsen
Unknown
John Forsyth
Know it but can't think of it.
Carol Burnett
Jim Nabors
Unknown
Loretta Swit
Ed Bradley
Andy Griffith
Unknown
Demond Wilson
Linda Carter
Dick Van Dyke
Jack Lord
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Rob Reiner maybe?
Unknown
John Amos
Possibly Bob Barker
Very familiar but would have to look up
Dan Rather
Unknown
OMG! Can't think of it.
OMG! Can't think of it.
James Arness

[Skittles]

59. is that Ellen Corby (grandma Walton)

in the front row

[Harker]

45. The first five I looked at were familiar...

and the sixth is Captain Kangaroo, Bob Keeshan.

[sinkingfeeling]

47. I'm old. Recognize about half of them.

[MissB]

48. I don't think I'm that old

Early 50s. I recognized a fair number of them!

[mnhtnbb]

49. I'm so old that one of these stars was my "celebrity partner"

on a game show I was on about 1978. Jamie Farr (Corporal Klinger from MASH) and I played Cross Wits together. We didn't win.

[MLAA]

62. How cool!

I think M*A*S*H was the best written, directed, casted, performed show ever. Malinger was hilarious. Did he seem like a pretty cool guy when you played Cross Wis?

[mnhtnbb]

64. He was very congenial.

Living in L.A. from 1969-88 I had a number of encounters/sightings with celebrities, including two with other MASH actors. Gary Burghoff (Radar) was a neighbor of friends when they were both renting tiny houses in Malibu in the early '70's. He came to a Halloween party that my friends hosted once they had moved into a house in the Hollywood Hills. MASH was big at the time, and he was wearing an ape mask for most of the evening at the party! Another time I was driving home on Wilshire Blvd to Santa Monica and saw Harry Morgan (Col Potter) coming out of a Baskin Robbins shop with an ice cream cone in hand, getting in his car (a Cadillac).

[AngryOldDem]

50. Then I'm ancient.

I recognized most of them. John Amos looking good in the top row.

Very cool. Thanks for sharing.

EDIT: I wonder what was up will Sally Struthers? Sure doesn’t look glad to be there…

[denbot]

55. Every TV show I watched or at the least grew up with..

Opie/Richie too!

[FakeNoose]

58. Great find! Love this photo

To think that so many of these awesome people are gone now. It makes me sad, but happy to see their faces again. When was photo this taken, and what was the occasion? I'm guessing maybe it was a group photo for Emmy Awards, maybe around the early 1970's?

I recognize many of these people, most of them actually. But recalling their names ... I'd have to google a lot of them. Thanks for posting!

[ProfessorGAC]

60. I'm Old

I got to 25 faces I could name before I finished the third row from the top!

[TexasBushwhacker]

65. Yup. I'm 64. In 1978 I was a junior in college

I recognize a LOT of them.

[Laffy Kat]

67. Don't forget Captain Kangaroo!

My "brush with greatness' story: Bob Keeshan once used my office desk phone. I was totally star-struck.

[Upthevibe]

68. I could identify many, many of those

celebrities. Such talented people who've given me a lot of entertainment through out my life...

[Texaswitchy]

69. Being old is good.

I am surprised I survived my childhood.

I did all kinds of dangerous things.

Must be a picture from CBS.

[Rhiannon12866]

70. Hell, I can name all 6 in the first row!

[wnylib]

71. I got the following:

Alfred Hitchcock
George Burns
Orson Wells
Yul Brenner *
Sally Struthers
Carrol O'Connor (Archie Bunker)
Adrienne Barbeau (TV daughter of Maud)
Loretta Swit (Major Hot Lips Houlihan)
Bonnie Franklin (mother on One Day at a Time)
Gene Rayburn (host of Match Game)
Ellen Corby (Waltons grandmother)
Hattie McDaniel (Mammy, Gone with the Wind)
Buddy Epson (Jed Clampett)
Jim Nabors (Gomer Pyle)
Sherman Hemsley (George Jefferson)
Bob Newhart
Betty White
Bob Denver (Gilligan's Island, beatnick sidekick on Dobie Gillis)

* Oops. After looking at the key, I see that I got Yul Brenner mixed up with Telly Savalas. Two baldies that look alike to me.

Saw many names on the key that I should have recognized but didn't. Does that mean that I am SO old that I am forgetting?

[MichaelSoE]

72. I could only ID about 6 because the faces in the photo are small but a larger version is available

on computer ... right click on the picture, choose open image in new tab/browser window and you will bee at the hosting site. The image can then be enlarged and a bit easier to identify persona

[Vinca]

74. Guess I'm a dinosaur. LOL.

[Bucky]

76. I recognize probably all BUT 5 in that pic

A few I may not remember their names. There's at least two guys in that photo I want to call Eric Severeid, but I know he's only one of them