My mother was also name after Ms Gibson.  My Grandfather was very big tennis fan in her early days when she played in ATA  (American Tennis Association) which  was formed at the time because people of color were not allowed in the USTA

Contestant number 2, for August 10, 1958, Florence Martin, is my Mom! She's gone now, but she became Mrs. Sidney Dry. She was a Model, and an Artist, and a beautiful Mom.

I'm taking a Sociology of Sport class at my college, and we watched a documentary called "Althea." Part of her mystery guest appearance was included in the documentary!

LOVE Althea Gibson.  Twenty years later she competed on Superstars on ABC, and did quite well even though she was much older than everyone else.

The year after this appearance, Althea GIbson acted in the John Ford/John Wayne Civil War movie, "Horse Soldiers."   Her character was a slave and the screenplay called for her to play the part with a stereotypical dialect.  According to TCM, she told Ford that she would not play the character that way and, uncharacteristically, he acceded to her wishes.  So far as I can tell, that was her one and only acting performance.

The Pajama lady had an amazing delightful charming and engaging personality!

What a charming mystery guest Althea Gibson was.

It's tough enough to compete in sports, especially against elite competition. To succeed with the added pressure of being a trailblazer, while dealing with prejudice and the hopes of your people on your shoulders takes a remarkable champion.  To do it with grace takes a remarkable person. Althea Gibson was all those things.

people really did have fantastic handwriting in the 50's.

"What's My Line" was the best!!!

Althea was quite beautiful and multitalented! An impressive woman! Lovely voice 🥰

Bennett seems to give a premonition for the "Battle of the Sexes" years later between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs by his question at 19:33

The WML panel always extended complete courtesy to various black celebrities that appeared on the show.  This was during a time when black people (or the then term "colored") were relegated to either servant or comic/buffoon roles on TV.  They were way ahead of their time.

I think the pajama model was fangirling when George Sanders was asking questions, she got a little excited.

Althea's begins at 17:09

althea gibson won the u.s open 2 days prior, she won in 1957 too. it was an amateur sport then so there was no money in it, that's why she should would retire from tennis right after this show and pursue other venues to make a living. in 1959 she got a part in a john ford movie as a "slave maid".  she would take up professional golf at the age of 37 (1964) and face even more discrimination.   if althea had been born today she would have been rich, but as it was during her prime she had to rely on benefactors to compete and live.

Ms.Gibson was such a modern,up to date,person at a time in the USA!! I think she could,fairly well,playing against a male player.I admire her tenacity of spirit,her guts,courage,CHUTSPAH!!

Bennett's question to Althea Gibson presaged the Billie Jean King/Bobby Riggs matchup by about 15 years!  Ms. King, memorably, won.
Of course Bobby Riggs wasn't one of the ranked Australians that Bennett asked about, but the idea of a men's/ladies' match was already brewing in '58!

George Sanders stole the show in "All About Eve".

Love the highly intelligent George Sanders.