456     October 23, 1961
Bill, Betsy, Henry, Bess

Two female guests: “The evening dresses we’re wearing are actually nightgowns.” 
MC Schrank was a 20th century lingerie company that reached its peak in the 1960s.  One of its more provocative innovations was a line of five outfits that could be worn both as evening dresses and as nightgowns.  All were designed by Ralph Montenero, a young up-and-coming designer at this point who would later start his own label.  The gowns range in price from $90 to $275.  Some sources say that Bess did the modeling here and participated in the secret.  At the very least, she would have been in on the bit.  Bess was making public appearances in 1961 on behalf of the Schrank company and their loungewear.

Special Guest Joan Crawford brings poor-quality merchandise for the panel to sell The panelists had been told to bring their address books.  They call friends from four separate phone booths and try to persuade them to purchase shoddy products (A fan with missing blades, the top half of a bird cage, a pair of two left shoes).  All the proceeds will go to UNICEF, but they can’t tell their prospective buyers that.  The junk was donated by Filene’s Department Store in Boston.  Crawford will star in “The Zigfield Touch,” a musical biography of the impresario, on October 29 on NBC.

The Joan Crawford secret is available for viewing on YouTube and appears to come from the private collection  of a Joan Crawford collector.  The rest of the episode is unavailable for viewing.  Details of the other secret come from alternate sources, and that secret may not be an exact quote.