During their weeks in Key West, Curtis spent his spare time with wife Janet Leigh (daughter Jamie Lee had just been born the previous November­ whether she or her sister Kelly accompanied their parents to town isn't known.) Grant, on the other hand, roamed the island in search of whatever he could find. One of his discoveries was the artwork of Mario Sanchez. Enamored of Sanchez's work, Grant purchased several. (One is now back in Key West and on display at the Custom House.) Grant also persuaded director Delbert Mann to hang them as part of a set in the 1962 film, That Touch of Mink, where they can easily be spotted in the background during one scene.

And, of course, there were parties. Key West hosts and hostesses were clamoring to welcome Hollywood stars into their homes (see issue #14.)

Operation Petticoat was, by any measure, a huge hit. The movie was the biggest moneymaker Universal Pictures had ever seen. And Cary Grant, who had a piece of the back-end, took home a $3 million paycheck. (That's in 1959. In today's money, that's the equivalent of $81,965,850.77.) Plus it was a hit for the city of Key West, as it brought huge sums of money to the town. The Navy didn't do too poorly with all the publicity, either­ scores of young men probably chose to don the Navy whites at the prospect of meeting beautiful stranded nurses.

The saga of the pink sub has also proven to have very long legs. The movie pops up on cable constantly and is on the "special interest" shelf for rental out at Blockbuster on the boulevard.

Special thanks for his assistance in the preparation of this article go to Norman Aberle, Key West Art & Historical Society curator. Mr. Aberle was also of great assistance with the Carib Gold story.