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Some outstanding verbal blunders of six outstanding people. They, like you, can laugh over them now, but at the time — !
IlNE of my most embarrassing mo" ments occurred during the World’s Fair in New York several years ago. I hadn’t gotten a break on the stage yet and I was working as a guide for Rockefeller Center. My job was to take parties through the buildings, including a few minutes’ stop in the balcony of the Music Hall, which gave the people a chance to catch a brief glimpse of the show.
One day when I was more bored with my job than usual, I sat down in the balcony with my party and relaxed. I relaxed too completely because, I regret to state, I fell asleep. My party was delighted, of course, because they had a chance to see the show free. Needless to say, no one woke me up.
About an hour later, I came to. By the time I got back to my starting point, several parties were lined up, waiting for their guide. My boss, of course, was purple with rage and I was ready to admit that Peck had really pulled the prize boner of all time.
I PULLED my worst boner on Christ* mas of 1943. My husband, now Major Kenneth Trout, had been in the Army only a couple of months and was in town on leave. I decided to give a party for him, inviting as many of my husband’s Army acquaintances as my house would hold. Ken’s commanding officer, a colonel, happened to be in Hollywood at that time and I invited him, too.
By the time everyone had arrived, there were so many officers present, I was confused. I couldn’t remember how many bars was a captain, or what rank was which. The only thing I was sure of was that I mustn’t neglect Ken’s commanding officer. I was anxious to make a good impression on him and made it a point to introduce him to everyone. The only trouble was that I finally became so thoroughly muddled during the introductions that without realizing what I was saying, I introduced him as "Corporal”!
if Y pride in my dog Maxie caused my worst boner. I had just arrived in this country from England with my wife Lisl and we were going through the United States Customs. As an alien, in wartime, I had been permitted to take only a small sum of my money out of England and, not being too practical, I had used up most of what we had brought on the boat coming over.
Lisl and I both agreed that we must watch every penny from that moment on. We had barely enough to get by. While we were waiting for our luggage to be inspected, a man admired our little dog.
Maxie being my pride and joy, and the man being friendly, I entered delightedly into a long history of our Scot tie’s pedigree, making it up as I went along. Because the truth is that while Maxie is a thoroughbred, the blue ribbons I was figuratively pinning on his chest existed only in my imagination. By the time I was through, the man seemed very impressed. I found out why when he said: "It will cost you plenty to bring him into this country.” I learned then, to my very great discomfort, that he was the customs inspector for dogs!
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