321     February 4, 1959
Bill, Bess, Henry, Betsy

Ann Hertrich from Long Island City: “I was born in Macy’s Department Store” 
Rosemary Pagia from Brooklyn: “I was born in Gimbels Department Store” 
Wacky childbirth.  The rivalry between the two New York department stores located only a block apart was an entertaining diversion for most of the 20th century, and a plot point of the now-classic Christmas film Miracle on 34th Street (1947).  The phrase “Does Macy’s tell Gimbels?” became a popular American idiom used to suggest keeping secrets, especially in business dealings.  Gimbels closed in 1987.  The unusual circumstances behind 7-year-old Ann’s birth were the subject of her mother’s Secret back in 1952 ( E18 ).   

Special Guest Jayne Meadows: “I’m giving Henry Morgan a part in the 2nd Act of my play…tonight”                 
Jayne appears as a guest during intermission of her play The Gazebo, running a few blocks away at the Lyceum Theater.  She changes into her second act costume during the questioning, and takes off with Henry after the segment, leaving the remaining three panelists to play the final secret.    

Joyce Rice from Greenfield, Iowa and Claudette Riley from Knoxville, Tennessee: “We are the finalists in the U.S. Baton Twirling Contest…We will compete for the Grand Championship tonight” 
Baton twirling had become so popular in the 1950s that a National Twirling Hall of Fame was established in 1953.  In her native Tennessee, where she is a member of that state’s Sports Hall of Fame, Miss Riley is credited with introducing the high-stepping style now common among college drum majors and majorettes.  Miss Rice wins this competition, but neither of them lacked for other state, regional and even national titles.  Rice became a motivational speaker.