57     November 11, 1953
Bill, Jayne, Henry, Joan Bennett

Gene Scanlon, a college student at Columbia: “I had a date with Marilyn Monroe (and she paid for it)” 
Scanlon and a buddy (Paul McElaney, not named on the program) were young Jersey City reporters who traveled across the US on $5 each, depending on the kindnesses of strangers and chronicling their adventures. Scanlon claims that while in Hollywood, they got a pre-stardom Monroe to take them to dinner.  A 1950 newspaper article confirms that the two men dined at the legendary Brown Derby, but doesn’t mention Monroe, nor who picked up the tab.  At the time of this episode, Monroe is rocketing to fame.  She would marry Joe DiMaggio in January. Scanlon would return to the show in 1958 ( E284 ).   

Mr. Z: “I shot down 12 enemy planes in World War I” 
Elliott White Springs was a flying ace credited with 12 “kills” and even more planes he downed, all in 1918.  He was considered the third-ranking ace of WWI.  In private life, he wrote books about his war experience, did some barnstorming, and ran his family’s textile business, successfully carrying it out of the Great Depression.  Though the original South Carolina factories have closed, the family name lives on in the Springmaid brand.  Bill, an aviation nut, recognizes Col. Springs, and excuses himself from playing the game.    

Special Guest Patti Page: “I’m going to sing a duet with an Airedale” 
Page is there to plug her latest single “Changing Partners” but Garry (and the Secret creators) can’t help but reference her huge hit “How Much Is That Doggie in the Window?” and have her perform it alongside an actual howling dog. (See E36 and E37 )  Her singing partner “Flash” appeared for two years in Top Banana, a hot Broadway show of the era.