Pennsylvania couple celebrates 70 years after marrying on reality TV
HERSHEY, Pa. (KDKA) - A Central Pennsylvania couple is celebrating 70 years together after they got married on reality TV.
In 1952, 25-year-old Claude Swatrzbaugh Jr. and 21-year-old Louise Bartenslager were set to be married but didn't have a lot of money, so they applied to be on the CBS show "Bridge and Groom" where they'd get everything for free, CBS 21 reported. Six months later, they were on TV.
Louise said the studio managers would open the doors and people would come in off the street, becoming the congregation.
"Everything was live, live TV," Louise said. "Claude could not wear white; my gown was ivory. He wore glasses at the time, he could not wear glasses, and it was live and if you made a mistake, oh well!"
CBS 21 said the couple honeymooned in Atlantic City before moving to York to work as teachers. They started a family, moving to Cumberland County before settling down in Hershey, where they still live.
On July 9, they'll celebrate 70 years. Their secret?
"Maybe we liked each other, that had something to do with it," Louise said.
"Something like that," Claude added.