(added December 28, 2022)
In the episode, “Beaver’s Prize,” Beaver wins a bicycle at the movie theater. He tells Larry to keep it for him. Larry’s mother asks her son where he got the bike.
Larry: I was walking along the street with Beaver. And this big black limousine stopped, nearly a block long. And a millionaire got out and he gave me the bike. And all I got to do to keep it is not tell where it came from.
Mrs. Mondello: Well, I never heard anything so ridiculous in my life.
Larry: Well, sure, Mom. It’s just like on television, only this millionaire gives away bikes instead of million dollars.
As I was writing the book, I was not aware of the TV show to which Larry Mondello alludes. The show was called The Millionaire. The show ran from 1955-1960. So, without saying the name of the show, Larry Mondello does refer to The Millionaire.
Just today, as I was researching some special bonus material for this website or for a newsletter, I found a website with a nice write up on The Millionaire.