Despite a career that would earn him the nickname “Dean of the Game
Show Hosts,” this would be the only time Bill hosted the original version
of I’ve Got a Secret. When a panelist
was needed to step up, the show usually depended on Henry. Bill would host the brief
1976 revival
.
Some two dozen men on stage: “We’re all
expectant fathers”
Wacky childbirth. The producers contacted the local Red Cross
to find their contingent of dads to be, all of whom were taking classes with
their wives. Their pregnant wives are in
the audience. Stage director Joe Papp
and his wife are also expecting, as are Jayne Meadows and Steve Allen.
Lucille Avale: “I sang the first singing
telegram” (July 28, 1933)
Mrs. Avale, Lucille Lipps at the time,
sang “Happy Birthday” to crooner Rudy Vallee on behalf of an avid fan. While Mrs. Avale sang hers into a telephone,
many singing telegrams were originally delivered in person, in an era in which
phones were not as common. As phones
became ubiquitous, the need for telegrams in general waned, and Western Union
phased out its singing version in the mid 70s.
Today the tradition is maintained by many local, independent companies.
Special Guest Gypsy Rose Lee: “My dress weighs
28 pounds.”
Lee, the famous “ecdysiast” (burlesque
stripper) has just released her book Gypsy:
A Memoir (1957) which in turn would inspire the Broadway play Gypsy: A Musical Fable (1959). Lee’s sister, the actress June Havoc (
E33
)
as well as their demanding mother Rose Hovick (
E9
) had each appeared on the
show earlier. “Mama Rose” died in 1954,
which freed Gypsy to write her memoir without fear of a lawsuit.
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