69     February 3, 1954
Bill, Jayne, Henry, Polly Bergen

Special Guest Merle Oberon: “My entire wardrobe cost less than ten dollars” 
The clothes came from Ohrbach’s, a discount department store chain founded in 1923 that expanded greatly, especially in New York and Los Angeles, following World War Two.  The last of the stores closed in 1987.  She also wore costume jewelry from Woolworth’s, another discount retailer with an even longer and richer history.  Oberon was an exotic beauty who made many films in the 30s and 40s.  Her Oscar nomination for The Dark Angel (1935) was the first for an Asian-born actress, but no one in Hollywood knew it at the time. Fearing discrimination, Oberon hid the fact that she was born in Mumbai, India (what Westerners then called Bombay) and instead claimed to be from Tasmania, Australia.

This episode has not been reviewed.  Details come from alternate sources.  Except where noted, “secrets” are not exact quotes.