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Last Update: 10-05-2015

Little Orphan Annie Decoder Pin

"A crummy commercial"

Inside the lid of every jar of Ovaltine was every kid's dream - send in the seal and become a member of the Little Orphan Annie Secret Society - just "Be sure to drink your Ovaltine" This became a part of the story line in Shep's movie - "A Christmas Story" where young Ralphie carefully jotted down the secret code numbers while listening to the radio show and then sat in the bathroom decoding the secret message while his little brother squirmed outside the door needing to use the facility for it's intended purpose. "Be sure to drink your Ovaltine" - A crummy commercial!!! In 1956 Shep appeared on the Tonight Show with host Ernie Kovacs. Ernie did a horizontal split screen, Shep's upper face over Ernie's lower face. While Shep spoke, Ernie 'mouthed' the words. - "Time now for the secret message tonight boys and girls. So set your decoder pins at B-12." Shep had come out with his first record "Into the Unknown with Jazz Music" around 1956 and in the 9th track, he refers to the decoder pin. December 4, 1958 Shep appeared at Princeton University and told an early version of the decoder pin story, this time using a Captain Midnight pin - also from Ovaltine and giving the same secret message.

Associated Documents

Type	File Name	Description
•	into_the_unknown_Track09.mp3	Into the Unknown - 9th track

Where Shep Made Reference To This Subject:

Time	Date	Category	Title


	April 9, 1976	Article	Shepherd raps Madison Ave. approach to American life
	November 18, 1983	Movies	A Christmas Story
	September 14, 1966	Radio	Symbols
	September 5, 1962	Television	Jean Shepherd American Humorist

Links to Further Information:

• Tonight Show with Ernie Kovacs

Photos:

December 05,1958
Princeton Appearance

Courtesy: Steve Glazer

1940 Little Orphan Annie Decoder Pin - Front

1940 Little Orphan Annie Decoder Pin - Back

1940 Little Orphan Annie Decoder Pin - Directions - Cover

1940 Little Orphan Annie Decoder Pin - Directions - Back

1940 Little Orphan Annie Decoder Pin - Directions

"Can you imagine 4,000 years passing, and you're not even a memory?
Think about it, friends. It's not just a possibility. It is a certainty." - Jean Shepherd - 1975