Often called John Charles Daly
by his punster-panelist friend, Bennett Cerf, Bennett on at least two ocassions announced him by his full name: John
Charles Patrick Croghan Daly. John Charles Daly was one of the most beloved
and admired moderators of the popular show, "What's My Line?." With John Charles Daly at the helm, "What's
My Line?" remained a part of CBS' Sunday Evening programming for 16.5 years.
John was born in Johanasburg, South Africa on February 20th, 1914. When John was only nine years
old, his Father, John Charles ll, passed away. John's Mother, Helene, decided to bring her two sons to the states where their
Uncle Leo was living in Boston, Ma. The trip to Boston, Ma from Johanasburg, S. Africa, was a LONG six weeks in the August
heat! Perhaps she was hoping that her two sons would see their Uncle Leo as a "father figure."
When Helene arrived in Boston, she began looking for schools in which she could place her two sons.
She finally settled on the prestigious Tilton School, which was located in Tilton, New Hampshire. She enrolled her two sons
as boarding students. At the time, John was in the 5th grade. Helene moved to a small town near Tilton to be closer to her
two sons.
When John graduated from Tilton, he moved to Boston, Ma. John was interested in going to Boston college,
but his Uncle Leo tried to talk him out of the idea. Although John's Uncle had gone to college himself, he had the opinion
that college was a "waste of time" and tried to talk the young JCD out of going to Boston college, suggesting he go to sea. But
John didn't seem interested in the idea. However John's older brother WAS, and he DID go. While John's brother was
at sea, John enrolled in the Boston college for three years.
