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The year is 1961
and the Four Coins are big, really big, TV, Ed Sullivan Show, doing
Vegas, hit songs played on radios everywhere.
A newly commissioned
Naval Officer arrives in San Diego just weeks after marrying his college
sweetheart. As expected the new bride believes every story ever
told her by her dashing prince.
A few weeks after
reporting to his ship assignment in San Diego the couple decides to
drive up to LA and Hollywood. They tour around and see the
sights. It's Sunday morning and after mass they decide to have
breakfast at the local IHOP. Nothing but the best for his new
bride - International House Of Pancakes.
The Naval Officer
graduated from Canonsburg High School, a very ethnic community with lots
of Italians. His real name is Pasquale and in English it's Patsy, very
common for the area. Two high school teachers were named Patsy,
the mayor was Patsy, his father was Pasty and a judge had the name of
Patsy. So in High School everyone knew the now Naval Officer as
Patsy.
The IHOP was packed,
this was new and a popular idea, a restaurant that served pancakes, all
day every day. Having gotten their waiting number the couple waits
in a very crowded lobby.
Then from afar
someone calls out PATSY!, PATSY! Not being a common name in Los
Angeles, the young naval office looks around to see if it might be his
name being called. Being a tall fellow, he looks over the heads of the
crowd and see who's calling him. By golly it's George and James
and the Mahramas brothers (George & Michael). It's the FOUR COINS!! And
they are calling Patsy! The young Ensign and his wife squeeze their way
over and reacquaint themselves and, more importantly, Patsy introduces his
new bride to the FOUR COINS. Wow! Was she impressed. It was true
the prince does know the Four Coins. And she was very impressed
that they identified an old school chum and called out his name.
So at the peak of
their career, they weren't too big to call out for an old friend.
Their success didn't turn their heads. They still remained down to earth
by calling out Hey! Patsy! |
