Pat Boone

Dean Martin joked, "I once shook hands with Pat Boone and my whole right side sobered up." Dean wasn't kidding. I was the lead Page on the Pat Boone show. I remember regularly escorting his family into Studio 3, they were there to cheer him on. Dean's studio was next door. Debbie Boone, who later became a big teenage star, was just 9 years old. Great family. There was a segment where Pat headed into the audience w/questions, you could win a new refrigerator, washer or dryer. I got my friends strategic aisle seats, Pat would ask them a question, "Bingo!" they won an expensive appliance. The Holiday's were a "big deal" for Pages. Andy Willams, Laugh In's Geroge Schlatter, others from Hollywood Squares would gift us cufflinks, booze, shirts, ties, you name it. Dean and Greg's present was a signed "ALBIUM" and a bottle of "Jack." Getting back to Pat, his Christmas present was a can of caramel popcorn his wife made. I was good with that. Pat's Agent Mr. Spina, saw the expression on my face, he asked me to come out of Pat's dressing room, he walked me down the hallway, and "whipped out" a $100 dollar bill and stuck it in my pocket. We Italians stick together. I was very lucky that season, I met Elvis, Pat Boone, and future heart throb Debbie Boone.