The Tortoise and the Hare
You recently ran a classic in which school children told the tale of the tortoise and the hare. One young girl told an outlandish story about the tortoise calling up all his friends and tricking the rabbit. A few days later, my family discovered where she got such information. It was from an old “Merry Melodies” cartoon called “The Tortoise Beats the Hare.” What we thought was humorous was actually a word for word telling of Bugs Bunny’s version! My family and I love your show and we watch every chance we get.
—Tekoa Miller
Holmesville, Ohio

Naked Memories
Back in the late 1960’s Allen Funt produced a movie called “What Do You Say to a Naked Lady?” The movie never played in my small town, but I saw clips that were hilarious. Is this film available?
—Frank Trapuzzano
Washington, Pennsylvania

I’d like to see the classic of the “Naked Lady” coming out of the elevator wearing only a hat.
—Ray Staab
Bradenton, Florida

Peter’s reply: You’re both referring to a theatrical film that my Dad used to say was “the cleanest dirty movie ever made.” We don’t have the rights to it. But it still shows up on pay-cable networks every now and then.

Watching ‘Forever’
It seems like I have been watching Candid Camera forever! I began watching it many, many years ago. Could there be anyone in the U.S. who hasn't heard of Candid Camera? We need good clean fun on television. Peter, you are filling your father's shoes very nicely. Dina Eastwood has a lot of class. I especially enjoy the stunts in which she participates. I hope Candid Camera remains on the air to the end of my lifetime, at least!
—Sue Black
Dunkirk, Maryland

Real Reality
What I like about Candid Camera is not just that it's the original reality show, but also that it's one based on humor! If you look at the other reality shows out there, most of them go for a kind of soap opera setup. No thank you! So, Candid Camera, thanks for the laughs all these years, and keep them coming!
—Peter D. Marshall
Vienna, Virginia

Not Funny
I have seen so many different segments of people answering the phones and they are put in some very funny situations but I don't see it as very funny. These people are trying to earn a wage no doubt because they need the money and they are probably hoping for a full time job. Instead they are put on TV and made fools of for the benefit of your show. It gives you and your staff a good salary but what about those poor people who are hoping for a job and are disappointed?
—Ron Blosser
Barberton, Ohio

Peter’s reply: Obviously, we disagree. Most of the people you’re referring to are clerical “temp” workers who are not looking for fulltime work. They’re happy when they learn that they’ll be paid for four hours, even though they only “worked” for 15 minutes. And, of course, no one is ever shown on Candid Camera unless they give us their signed permission for the footage to be used.

Dream Job
I love the candid camera show and never miss it. My dream job would be doing what you do. Keep up the good work! Nothing relieves my stress more than watching an hour of Candid
Camera. It is true that laughter is good for the soul.
—Tim Edwards
Field Controller
Kraft Maxwell House Coffee
Jacksonville, Florida

No Eyes or Tongues, Just Smiles
Candid Camera is the funniest show on TV. And the whole family can watch it. We crack up each week. We need a great show like yours. Not everyone wants to see people eat the eyes of this animal and the tongues of that animal like some other shows would have us think.
—John Faix
Yucaipa, California

Caught Twice?
I enjoy watching Candid Camera on the PAX channel in L.A. I remember watching the show in the 60’s. I wonder if, during the many years you and your family have been doing the show, you have managed to "catch" anyone twice? After all, this fun nonsense has been going on for more than 50 years!
—Rod Heathcote
Ridgecrest, California

Peter’s reply: I don’t recall it ever happening. But if you were watching a few weeks ago you heard us report that we caught a father and daughter in Texas 40 years apart! Have we caught you at least once, Rod? If not, don’t be surprised if sometime, somewhere…

Good Memory for Smiles
I've been an avid fan of Candid Camera for better than 50 years. I always think at the end of each show, "it will be a long time before they can top this show." It never fails the next week you come through with a show that is as good or better. My memory is not as good as it use to be, but there are hilarious scenes I'll never forget. The first was when you folks set up a pair of railroad crossing gates, no tracks, on a road in a town where there had never been a railroad. A local lady, with a carload of kids stops for the flashing lights and quickly gets all the kids out to watch the train when it passes. The second funniest scene I remember was when you had a young lady drive a Volkswagen "Bug" into a service station for gas. This was when service stations filled your gas tank for you. You folks had installed an enormous gas tank on the Bug. The young man kept watching the meter as the gas poured in. He would stop the pump and look under car for signs of a leak. I'm not sure how it ended but I do know that poor fellow was about to go nuts trying to figure out where all that gas was going.
—Ralph W. Coleman
Wilmington, North Carolina

Those Annoying Calls
In a recent program, Dina played a clerk who talked on her phone while customers were waiting. I didn't find this funny because it's happened to me twice! The clerks were chatting on the phone while they were using the register. I didn't blame the one lady for walking out in the segment. I complained to the owner of one store where it happened. Needless to say, she was not pleased! So, if you could please not focus on poor customer service, I'm sure people would appreciate it. It happens too often for real.
—Barbara Fay
Painted Post, New York

Peter’s reply: The reason we often focus on poor customer service is because it DOES happen so much! That’s part of our mission, to point out little frustrations in hope that some things will be improved.