June 2024

TO TELL THE TRUTH-January 8, 1957 (4th episode)

gamespeopleplayed June 9, 2024 No Comments

Host: Bud Collyer
Announcer: Bern Bennett
Celebrity Panel:

• Polly Bergen
• Hume Cronyn
• Hildy Parks
• Dick Van Dyke

FIRST GUEST: Ricky Starr, #1 and #3 are male, #2 is female.

I, Ricky Starr am a professional wrestler with a current string of 136 consecutive wins.  As a professional ballet dancer, I once appeared as a soloist with the St. Louis Municipal Opera and I have also danced with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo.  My hobby is cooking, and I have a library of more than 500 books on the subject.  I swear that the above statement is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth

Signed, Ricky Starr

POLLY:
#1: What kind of a theatre is the St. Louis Municipal Opera?
In a deep voice, I heard “The Midwestern Opera Company”.  It’s a regular theater
#2 agrees.
#3 says is the one of the largest outdoor theaters in the world.

HUME
#3: “What is an entashaw?”
French for weave.
#3: “What is a pas de deux”
A dance for two
#3: What is Lichine’s first name?
David
What is Eglevsky’s first name?
André and Hume’s run out

HILDY:
#2: “When you were with the Ballet and warming up, how long a barre did you do every day?”
At least 20 minutes, generally starting with basic five positions and adaptions into other steps.
“What do you have to do to win a wrestling match?”
Accomplish two out of three Falls

DICK:
#1: What is an arabesque?
To raise your leg
“What did you do at St. Louis Mun. Opera?”
Danced as a Ballet Dancer. He got to Monte Carlo through an audition for a tour.

BACK TO POLLY:
#1: “Is the wrestling champion of the world amateur or professional?”
All three say professional!
#1: Is the hammerlock legal?
All say yes.

HUME:
#3: “Who is Mrs. Beeton”
Don’t know, #2 says wife of Cecil Beeton, while #1 says the wife of Arthur Beeton
#3: “Who is Peggy Harvey?”
#3 and #2 both stumped

HILBY:
Herself: “Who is Mrs. Beeton?”
#1: “Who wrote the Joy of Cooking”
He and #2 are stumped.
#3: “What is the meaning of Saute”
He says a small jump, Hilby meant cooking.  It’ll have to be left in the kitchen.

DICK:
#1: “What is Saute?”
“Something you do in the skillet”
“Were you ever a singer”
Only in the bathtub
“Who’s recognized as the greatest male ballet dancer?”
Nijinsky

POLLY:
#2 “Saute”
To fry in butter
“How long have you been a professional wrestler”
About four years
“What made you go into it?”
After her dancing, she became very friendly with a wrestler who showed me a few holds.
Hey, this is 1957, no room for that kind of smut

HUME:
#2: Name of couple of your cookbooks. 
There’s the Fannie Farmer series and Meta Given’s Encyclopedia of Cooking, and one by Escoffier.

VOTING TIME:

Polly: #3 (“I don’t know”)
Hume: #3
Hilby: #3
Dick: #2

THE REAL RICKY STARR IS…
#3 ($250, Dick shot himself in the foot)

#1: Nicola Mocorner, boss of the Metropolitan Opera

#2: Barbara Terry, Avon Sales Lady from NYC

Dick gets Nicola to sing for real and Polly wants to see Ricky do a dance.  In a small stage, he manages a great series.  Also his trademark in the ring.  Hume’ll send copies of Mrs. Beeton and Peggy Harvey to him.  Polly’s disappointed she didn’t get to wrestle Barbara.

SECOND GUEST: Patricia Saddleman

I, Patricia Saddleman, am the receptionist in Jackie Gleason’s office.  I am also secretary to all of Jackie’s fan clubs and as such read and answer all of his fan mail.  I was a beauty contest winner.  At one time in my career, I was a professional dancer and I have appeared in three motion pictures.  I am an ardent New York Yankee fan.  Incidentally, I have an identical twin sister.  I swear the above statement is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Signed, Patricia Saddleman

DICK:
#1: “What is your name?”
Let’s try again
“What is your sister’s name”
Jean
#2: “You are Jean Saddleman, What is you sister’s name” Ann
#1 “Where were you born?”
Syracuse, New York

POLLY:
#3 “Do you also have an identical twin?”
Easy yes
“Who is the Producer of the Jackie Gleason Show”?
Jack Hurdle, the others agree
#1: “Who is Jackie Gleason’s personal manager?”
Louis Durcum
#2: “Who is Jackie Gleason’s director?”
Frank Satenstein

HUME:
#3: “Where did you make your pictures?”
In New York at Paramount Studios
“Who was your cameraman”
She can’t remember, she was only five.
#3: “Have you got an agent?”
No, and Hume’s stumped

HILBY:
#3: “Where was this beauty contest?”
New York City also when she was five.  The movies came right behind it.
#1: “Where was your beauty contest?”
McConnellsville, New York. Sister Jean was there, too.
“How come they picked you?”

DICK
#2: “Who directed Jackie Gleason’s show last Saturday?”
Frank Satenstein again, #3 doesn’t know and #1 agrees with 2.
#2: “Where were you born?”
Bayside, Long Island 
“Where was Ann born?”
I don’t know (That was Number 2, Dick)

POLLY:
#2: “Where is Ann?”
Can’t tell you, her Dad doesn’t know either.
#1: After correcting whose sister is whose “Who is Jackie Gleason’s agent?”
Neither #1 or #3 seem to know.

HUME:
#3: “What agency represents him?”
Music Corporation of America (MCA), Jerry Katz
“Where is Mr. Gleason’s office?”
The Park Sheraton Hotel, and she works there.
“What are your office hours?” (Polly chimes in, “And What are you doing Later?”) 
9:30 to 5:30, there is a coffee break

HILBY:
#3: “Who sponsors the Jackie Gleason show?”
Bulova and Old Gold
“What is the name of the poodle of Jackie Gleason’s secretary?”
Muffet or Moffit
“How many floors in your office?”
Two
#2: “Where were the motion pictures were made that you appeared?”
In Hollywood TIMES UP!

VOTING TIME

• Polly #3 (First time I’m positive, so I’m wrong)
• Hume: #3
• Hildy: #3
• Dick: #3

THE REAL PATRICIA SADDLEMAN IS…
#3

Her real twin sister, Janet, is in Ohio.

#1: Ann Harden, a housewife from McConnellsville, as she said.

#2: Jean Creelamn, housewife from Bayside, Long Island

Frankly, the whole panel thinks they’re all triplets.  Polly confirms that Patricia’s sister really wasn’t in the same beauty contest.  The movies Patricia starred in were like the Little Rascals.

Oh wait, no score!  That’s okay, they’ll each get $50 for their work.

Good night from:

• Sheena, Queen of the Jungle
• Jessica Tandy
• Anastasia
• Mickey McGuire

To Tell the Truth is owned by Fremantle.