To Tell the Truth, 1964

To Tell the Truth


Luke Halpin, 16, was a guest on the TV game show To Tell the Truth. His appearance was broadcast March 30, 1964.

The following is the transcript of Luke's appearance. The reader can "play along" and then find out the "real" Luke Halpin by clicking the "stand up" link near the end of the page.

(transcript provided by Alan R.)



Announcer: What is your name, please?

#1: My name is Luke Halpin.

#2: My name is Luke Halpin.

#3: My name is Luke Halpin.

Bud Collyer (host): Follow along once again, if you will, panel, while I read you this story:

"I, Luke Halpin, played in my first movie about two years ago. In the movie I played the part of a boy who becomes great pals with an unusual character named 'Flipper'. The part of Flipper was played by a female porpoise named 'Mitzi'. Since porpoises will respond better to people who have helped train them, I had to learn porpoise training. The training sessions went on for about two months. Mitzi learned to come when I called, fetch objects for me, and tow me around on her back. The movie Flipper was so successful that we made another, called Flipper's New Adventure. In this sequel my co-star is another female porpoise named 'Suzy'. Signed, Luke Halpin."

(The contestants proceed downstairs and take their seats.)

BC: Panel, these three young men all claim to be Luke Halpin, Flipper's co-star in the movie by the same name. Let's start this round with 'Flipper' Bean, Orson Bean.

Orson Bean: Thank you, Buddy, old buddy, but I must disqualify myself, because I know one of these three young gentlemen. We were on an exhibition to the highest Himalayas; I don't wanna go into the details...

BC: I thought you were gonna say you knew Flipper. OK, that'll go as an incorrect vote. Kitty, suppose we start with you in that case.

Kitty Carlisle: #1, how old were you supposed to be in the first Flipper series about two years ago?

#1: 13.

KC: You were supposed to be 13? #2, which Flipper did you like best, Suzy or the first one?

#2: There was only one.

KC: I thought in the first film there was another Flipper, another porpoise.

BC: The movie you're talking about, that he made with him, was the ONE. There was only ONE in that.

KC (to #2): But you made two pictures.

#2: Yes, I did.

KC: And there was only one porpoise?

#2: There were two porpoises; one porpoise for one picture, one porpoise for the other...

KC: Well, that's what I said: which one did you like best?

#2: Oh, which one did I like best? I liked Mitzi better.

KC: You liked Mitzi better? #3, did you like Mitzi better?

#3: Yes —

KC: Why? Is she more affectionate?

#3: She was easier to handle.

KC: #1, did you have to get in the tank with Flipper?

#1: Yes.

KC: What did you wear?

(#1 hesitates and smiles.)

KC: Well, you could have worn a tank suit or someth — I don't know, or grease all over you to keep warm...?

#1: Cut-down blue jeans.

KC: Cut-down blue jeans? You see! It wasn't just a bathing suit. (Bell sounds.)

BC (chuckling): Tom Poston.

Tom Poston: Yeah, it wasn't just a ba— Which one did you like the best, #1?

#1: Mitzi.

TP: That's the first one?

#1: Yes.

TP: Uh, why did you prefer Mitzi to Suzy? ...I hope you're not listening, Suzy! We're just kidding around here, I mean.

#1: More affectionate.

TP: Is that so? #2, do you swim well?

#2: Uh, pretty well, yessir.

TP: Do you know what the difference between an overhand stroke and an Australian crawl is?

#2: Yes, I do.

TP: Oh, good. #3... (Audience laughs.)

BC: You didn't ask him what it was!

TP: You're right. #3, what's the difference between those two strokes and the freestyle?

#3: I don't know, sir.

TP: I guess I should've asked you if you swam; I didn't do that. (Bell sounds.)

BC: Peggy Cass.

Peggy Cass: #2, who produced Flipper?

#2: Ivan Tors.

PC: Uh, #3, was Flipper in color?

#3: Yes, it was.

PC: Uh, #1, did you work in the ocean, in the outside ocean, or just in tanks?

#1: We worked in a pen.

PC: In a pen? Oh. #2, where was your girlfriend Mitzi from?

#2: She's from California.

PC: Uh, #3, was it shot like out of Marineland out there?

#3: No, it wasn't.

PC: Oh. #1, what color was Flipper?

#1: Gray.

PC: Uh, #3, there's a new movie about a porpoise. Do you know the name of the new movie about a porpoise?

#3: The one that we...I did?

PC: Oh, I meant another one in, uh... (Bell sounds.)

OB (to PC): ...is not a fish... (OB and PC arguing.)

BC: Well, you can bicker about this one later, because I want you to mark your ballots now, if you will, please; that's all the time we have; and I don't want you consulting while you're marking. Simply mark it once without change, and vote for #1..... #2..... or #3. (pause) All balloting completed? All right; Tom, for whom did you vote?

TP: I voted for #1. I saw pictures of the movie; I didn't see the movie, but I saw pictures of it. And I must admit that he had a face mask over, so I couldn't tell anything about him except he had a cute turned-up nose; and #1 has a turned-up nose, so I think it's he.

(#1 smiles.)

BC: Peggy.

PC: I voted for #2, 'cause I thought that he was the right size to have made that picture two years ago [#2 is the tallest contestant] ...and, also, he was kind of, like, talking very [mouth stiffened] ...as though we'd catch on. I don't know, but I think it's 2.

BC: Ha ha ha. Orson, you disqualified yourself; so, your vote is, (laughing at seeing that OB's card is marked with a '$') your vote is “money”; you're quite right! (Chuckles.) And Kitty, what is your choice?

KC: I voted for #1 for the same reason that Peggy voted for #2. I thought that if he was supposed to be 13 two years ago he would have looked 13. It's quite true I very often vote for the right one for the wrong reason. #2 might've supposed to've been 15 and he might've looked 15 two years ago. Uh, but that's why I voted for #1.

BC: Well, the votes are all in. Let's go for the truth now, shall we?, and learn quickly, before the suspense abates, just which one of these three young men actually did co-star, as you can say, with Flipper. Will the real Luke Halpin please stand up?

*********

BC: Thank you very much, Luke. And continued success to you, young man; I hope you make a big career out of it.

Luke: Thank you.

BC: Uh, now let's check your two friends here. [first impostor], what is your real name and what do you really do?

[f.i.]: Well, my name is Mark Diamond, and I'm a sophomore at Collegiate School here in the city. [New York]

BC: And [second impostor], what is your real name and what do you do?

[s.i.]: My name is Phil Sear, and I'm a part-time design engineer for 'Southtown' [unclear] Corporation.

BC: Well, gentlemen, I'm sure you've probably...spent the money already [discusses money and prizes based on number of incorrect votes, at $250 per wrong vote including OB's disqualification]. Our thanks to you, and I hope you had fun with it; we did. Good-bye, and God bless you.

OB: Don't you wanna know who I knew?

BC: Oh, yes! Hold everything, hold everything. (to OB) I wanna find out how and which one you know.

OB: I know the real Luke Halpin because he's a splendid actor and he played my kid in a TV show [Studio One, A Christmas Surprise, Dec 24, 1956].

BC: Ah, that's the reason you know him!

(Luke chuckles and the other panelists applaud.)

OB: He was a lot smaller, too.

BC: I almost forgot to clear that up; thank you very much, Orson! Good night again to you, gentlemen. Oh my! ["Lukes" leave.]