30     February 19, 1953
Bill, Jayne, Henry, Faye

Before we get busy with the games, Garry and the panel recognize Bill’s birthday (actually yesterday) by all donning his signature horn-rimmed glasses and singing “Happy Birthday To You.”  There is cake.

[Mrs. Markham] of Logan, WV: “I’m the youngest grandmother in the U.S.A.” 
Wacky childbirth, and a somewhat dubious record to prove. Mrs. Markham says she was 28 when she became a grandmother.  She claims to have been “hardly 14” when she married, and said her daughter as well was “hardly 14” when she wed.  Period newspapers mention other possible “youngest grandmothers,” but Mrs. Markham is not among them.   

Fred Blesse of Richmond, VA: “I shot down 9 MIG’s over Korea” 
Major General Frederick C. Blesse was a highly-decorated Air Force pilot who served during both the Korean and Vietnam conflicts.  At the time of this appearance, Captain Blesse was considered America’s leading jet ace.   

Special Guest Burgess Meredith: “I have a wig on over my crew haircut” 
The busy and prolific Meredith had hundreds of film and television roles to his credit, but became best known late in his life for three things:  Four notable appearances on The Twilight Zone, his role as Penguin in the Batman TV series (1966-1968), and his Oscar-nominated performance as the trainer Mickey in Rocky (1976).  Meredith had shaved his head closely for a role in The Silver Whistle, a children’s play he was performing in Florida.   

Patrolman De Riggi of the Hempstead PD in New York: “Somebody stole my police car” 
Joseph De Riggi was investigating a burglar alarm at a jewelry store in the Long Island town when a thief made off with his car and later used it in a robbery of a nearby stationery store.  In defending their officer, Hempstead police explained that it was common practice to leave the engine running when investigating a potential crime scene, in order for the police radio to remain on.     

PREVIOUS NEXT