Author Topic: Question about Mr. Cullen... (Read 4453 times)

GrandGame1440 · « **on:** February 26, 2010, 11:06:12 PM »

Did he ever publicly discuss the fact that he had polio? Or was it something that everyone knew but wasn't discussed. I don't mean to be crass, but I'm curious if he ever spoke on the subject.

Matt Ottinger · « **Reply #1 on:** February 27, 2010, 12:59:41 AM »

[quote name=\'GrandGame1440\' post=\'236543\' date=\'Feb 26 2010, 11:06 PM\']Did he ever publicly discuss the fact that he had polio?[/quote]
Not often. The best thing I've found is a brief newspaper story from 1957 specifically about that subject. I've quoted the best part of it on my site. Go to "Bill's Biography" and it's in the third yellow box.

billcullen.net

TLEberle · « **Reply #2 on:** February 27, 2010, 01:07:34 AM »

[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'236549\' date=\'Feb 26 2010, 09:59 PM\']Not often. The best thing I've found is a brief newspaper story from 1957 specifically about that subject. I've quoted the best part of it on my site. Go to "Bill's Biography" and it's in the third yellow box.

billcullen.net[/quote]Just for me personally, I wish I had seen that a long time ago. That is a great deal of awesomeness there.

Joe Mello · « **Reply #3 on:** February 27, 2010, 01:35:42 AM »

[quote name=\'TLEberle\' post=\'236550\' date=\'Feb 27 2010, 01:07 AM\']Just for me personally, I wish I had seen that a long time ago. That is a great deal of awesomeness there.[/quote]
Seconded. It may sound silly, but that bio made me just a little prouder to be attending the University of Pittsburgh, plus dabbling in the local radio and improv scenes.

A semi-related question: When/If Bill played for charity, who did he normally play for?

DoorNumberFour · « **Reply #4 on:** February 27, 2010, 02:00:10 AM »

[quote name=\'Joe Mello\' post=\'236551\' date=\'Feb 27 2010, 01:35 AM\']A semi-related question: When/If Bill played for charity, who did he normally play for?[/quote]
The Salvation Army.

TLEberle · « **Reply #5 on:** February 27, 2010, 02:18:19 AM »

[quote name=\'DoorNumberFour\' post=\'236552\' date=\'Feb 26 2010, 11:00 PM\'][quote name=\'Joe Mello\' post=\'236551\' date=\'Feb 27 2010, 01:35 AM\']A semi-related question: When/If Bill played for charity, who did he normally play for?[/quote]The Salvation Army.[/quote]Did you actually remember this? I had to go dumpster diving until I found a clip of Bill where he mentions his charity. And then it turns out that he shanked the big bet anyway...

DoorNumberFour · « **Reply #6 on:** February 27, 2010, 09:44:10 AM »

[quote name=\'TLEberle\' post=\'236553\' date=\'Feb 27 2010, 02:18 AM\'][quote name=\'DoorNumberFour\' post=\'236552\' date=\'Feb 26 2010, 11:00 PM\'][quote name=\'Joe Mello\' post=\'236551\' date=\'Feb 27 2010, 01:35 AM\']A semi-related question: When/If Bill played for charity, who did he normally play for?[/quote]The Salvation Army.[/quote]Did you actually remember this? I had to go dumpster diving until I found a clip of Bill where he mentions his charity. And then it turns out that he shanked the big bet anyway...
[/quote]
I did, actually! I remember hearing it on the Card Sharks tournament, as well as an episode of Celebrity Trivia Trap. On CS, he mentions that he "always" plays for the Salvation Army.

golden-road · « **Reply #7 on:** February 27, 2010, 10:21:07 AM »

[quote name=\'TLEberle\' post=\'236553\' date=\'Feb 27 2010, 03:18 AM\']And then it turns out that he shanked the big bet anyway...[/quote]
In what fashion?

Matt Ottinger · « **Reply #8 on:** February 27, 2010, 10:52:10 AM »

[quote name=\'DoorNumberFour\' post=\'236559\' date=\'Feb 27 2010, 09:44 AM\']I did, actually! I remember hearing it on the Card Sharks tournament, as well as an episode of Celebrity Trivia Trap. On CS, he mentions that he "always" plays for the Salvation Army.[/quote]
I'm impressed. I didn't even remember that, but as soon as I saw your response, it was "Oh, yeah, that's right, he did."

Meanwhile, for those of you who'd like to see the entire article Bill wrote about his leg, here it is.

Tim L · « **Reply #9 on:** February 27, 2010, 11:36:15 PM »

[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'236562\' date=\'Feb 27 2010, 10:52 AM\'][quote name=\'DoorNumberFour\' post=\'236559\' date=\'Feb 27 2010, 09:44 AM\']I did, actually! I remember hearing it on the Card Sharks tournament, as well as an episode of Celebrity Trivia Trap. On CS, he mentions that he "always" plays for the Salvation Army.[/quote]
I'm impressed. I didn't even remember that, but as soon as I saw your response, it was "Oh, yeah, that's right, he did."

Meanwhile, for those of you who'd like to see the entire article Bill wrote about his leg, here it is.

[/quote]

While I always enjoyed, respected and admired Bill Cullen..I do so even more now..

TLEberle · « **Reply #10 on:** February 28, 2010, 12:29:48 AM »

Twenty-nine year old me really wishes he could go back in time and show that to four, five or six year old me.

That was full-to-bursting with awesomeness. Thank you very much, Matt.

BrandonFG · « **Reply #11 on:** February 28, 2010, 02:47:44 AM »

To say that was a great article would be perceived as a slight. I can't even find the right adjective to describe it. Thanks for sharing.

GrandGame1440 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 28, 2010, 09:05:55 PM »

Wow, thanks so much Matt. I'm glad I asked, amazing article. Another quick question after reading his biography, his interview with Alan Combs in October 1988, was that from WNBC radio's last broadcast? I've always been curious about that interview.

BillCullen1 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 13, 2010, 02:57:44 PM »

Cullen mentioned he had polio on one episode of the 70s TTTT where he was a panelist.
At least he saw the cure for polio come in his lifetime.