544     November 18, 1963 (LIVE)
Bill, Betsy, Henry, Bess

Ronnie Kroll from Meriden, Connecticut: “I just won the starring role in a Broadway show”                 
On November 21, seven-year-old Ronnie takes over the title role in Oliver! (1963-64). He would continue to play the role, on Broadway and later on tour, through June of 1965.  It would be his only significant acting credit.  On February 9, 1964, Ronnie and the cast (which at the time included future “Monkee” Davy Jones as The Artful Dodger) would perform on The Ed Sullivan Show.  Their performance was somewhat overshadowed by The Beatles, making their Ed Sullivan debut.  Here, Ronnie performs “Where is Love” from the show.   

Mr. X: “I won $79,660 on a $2 bet at the race track”                 
Joseph Mariano of Waterbury, Connecticut made headlines with his longshot win at the Roosevelt Raceway on Long Island two weeks earlier.  He won on a “twin double”, picking four consecutive winners on the last four races of the day.  His record haul would be shattered in 1964 by another twin-double win for over $172K.  The Roosevelt, a harness racing track, would close in 1988.   

Special guest Allan Sherman, the show’s original co-creator and producer, makes a triumphant return as one of the top celebrities of the day.   Sherman and the panel make up limericks on the spot (one line each) based on Garry’s interviews with random audience members.  Sherman released three consecutive #1 comedy albums, My Son, the Folk Singer (Warner 1962), My Son, the Celebrity (Warner 1963) and My Son, the Nut (Warner 1963) which together catapulted him to stardom.  Sherman is performing at the Copacabana nightclub.